Hello! I just finished Sword of Kaigen by ML Wang last night and I just loved it. It was deeply satisfying to me in a way so few fantasy books have been.
I’m looking for something similar, but a lot of the books suggested for people who enjoyed Kaigen seem to mostly focus on the setting, aesthetic, and magic system. What I really want is a book that achieves similar levels of emotional writing. I loved the way Misaki’s arc moved, I was so surprised by where it went, and one of my favorite parts of the book is the conflict between her and Takeru (and what happens as a result). The themes of family, regret, and ultimate hopeful ending were great. And I loved the unique pacing. The book takes its time on both the fast-paced action scenes, but really gets introspective with the characters. I also appreciated how serious Kaigen was. I’m really not looking for anything hopeless and dour, but I liked that Kaigen took its world, premise, and themes so seriously.
I am planning to read Blood over Bright Haven, ofc, but what are some other fantasy books can scratch this itch?
This is a difficult question, and I suspect you will get more misses than hits.
Legacy Of the Brightwash by Krystle Matar
Has two MC's one of who is a Regulation Officer (who regulates magical people), who believed in the system enough not to use influence when his son was arrested for not registering his magical talent and is now seeing that the system he supported and believed in is more corrupt than he thought and regrets his choices and is begining to act to change things.
The other is a fugitive for that system, living under an alias, raising her daughter, who is both his neighbor and newly assigned case.
There are also a lot of very cool side characters who like Misaki's sister-in-law, have their own stories and backgrounds that are compelling and have their own stories. Setting is also Victorian dystopia, which fits as distinct.
This is my closest match.
Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold, perhaps?
Read years ago so I don't feel like I have much to say (other than a re-read is coming soon). But I suspect others will see this and go Yes!
Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb
Lots of family Drama with more perspectives and more secrets and a very distinct feel. Lots of regrets and early mistakes. A few more totally awful characters and hopeful ending, distinct magic and setting. Less attention on a single character.
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer! I know it’s a very particular request, and I expect there might not be many books that fit the bill. Legacy of the Brightwash sounds exactly like what I’m looking for, and I have Liveship on audiobook + at the very least Curse of Chalion at my library. Thank you!!!
Just FYI the Liveship narrator is an... acquired taste. Some people seem to like her but I had to stop within a chapter and get a physical copy instead, no way I was putting up with that over the length of those books
I liked her, but sampling is always good. I also listened to the Brightwash audio and it has two narrators and is excellent.
Yea it's definitely a subjective thing, but I did notice a large number of people celebrating over on /r/robinhobb when they announced they are coming out with new recordings lol
agreed, it's a tricky one
i think the jade city trilogy probably does this (i only read the first one) - it is also an east asian fantasy setting with jade magic, but the focus is intra and inter family conflict with a serious tone that focuses more on the relationships than it does any kind of magic or combat
it's a novella and doesn't tick every box but this is how you lose the time war kind of fits in a more literary way (and only two characters), i might just be shoehorning that in because i love it
the fifth season probably works, it's been a long time since i read it but i thought it was phenomenal. character driven, heavy focus on relationships, pretty grim at times but not grimdark. people have mixed feelings on the sequels, the first can be read as a standalone quite nicely though
weird suggestion but red rabbit could also work, it's a big genre mashup of weird west, horror, and found family but there is a significant amount of character work and focus. slightly more melancholy than kaigen and the lows aren't quite as low, but i really liked it
but i've yet to find a protagonist with a voice like kaigen's, i had a reaction similar to yours after finishing it
This is how you lose the time war is beautifully written, I agree it's nowhere near Sword of kaigen structure but I see why do you recommend it
I read sword of kaigen in September and I still haven’t found a book that measures up to yet. It was such a great read 🥲
Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation by MXTX is more emotionally intense, has more interesting themes and messages, complicated family relationships, and a beautiful romance. But the prose and pacing aren't as good. And, there's some awkward sex scenes in there, lol.
I have to second the recommendations for The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee and The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb. Liveship Traders is phenomenal—I started that trilogy last year and am planning to pick up book 3 very soon—but Hobb excels in character arcs and gut punches to the soul in what I've read of the Fitz books too, so I'd recommend them all!