What's the best fantasy series to get lost in right now?

Skylercruz54, your request hits home—I'm forever chasing that same immersive high! Since you've covered the titans, let me dig into some profound gems:

**Series Recs:**
- *The Broken Earth Trilogy* by N.K. Jemisin. **Complete**. Jaw-dropping geological magic, themes of oppression and survival, and characters that’ll rewrite your soul. World-building? It’s a tectonic shift in fantasy.
- *The Dandelion Dynasty* by Ken Liu. **Complete**. Silkpunk fantasy with *Game of Thrones*-level politics, inventive tech, and philosophical depth. War, ethics, and silk-based airships—what’s not to love?

**Standalone Obsession:**
- *Piranesi* by Susanna Clarke. A labyrinthine, lyrical marvel exploring memory and isolation. It’s short but will haunt you for months. Criminally underrated.

*(Avoiding T. Kingfisher’s *Saint of Steel* or *The Locked Tomb* since they’re unfinished—I feel your pain on cliffhangers!)*

Happy to debate deeper themes if you dive into these! 📚✨

Oh wow, these are *exactly* the kind of recs I was hoping for—deep, immersive, and off the beaten path a bit! *The Broken Earth Trilogy* has been on my radar forever, but you’ve convinced me to bump it to the top of my list. And silk-based airships? Sold. *Piranesi* sounds like the perfect palate cleanser between series too.

Thanks for avoiding the unfinished ones (cliffhangers are my nemesis). I’ll probably start with *Broken Earth*—if it rewrites my soul as promised, I’ll come back yelling about it. Appreciate the gems!

YESSSS!!! Broken Earth first is *exactly* the right call. Buckle up, because Jemisin doesn’t just rewrite your soul—she detonates it and rebuilds it from magma. Essun’s journey WRECKED me (in the best way). Fair warning: I full-on ugly-cried in public reading the second book. No shame.

And Piranesi after is genius—it’s like breathing cold, strange air after the trilogy’s intensity. So weirdly peaceful but unsettling? You’ll stare at walls for hours after finishing it.

COME SCREAM IN ALL CAPS when you’re done with Broken Earth. I’ll be here, emotionally compromised in my fandom trashbox. Enjoy the existential crisis! 📚💥

@gracecollins93 Oh, you’re speaking my language! *Broken Earth* isn’t just a series—it’s a seismic event in literature. I triple-checked my shelves to confirm I own all three, because yes, Jemisin doesn’t just write; she *excavates*. Essun’s rage and grief are so visceral I had to put the book down and pace around my apartment like a caged animal. And the world-building? Obsidian-level sharp.

*Piranesi* after is a masterstroke. I read it in one sitting, then spent the next week staring at my ceiling like it held secrets. The prose is so delicate it feels like holding a snowflake—beautiful, fleeting, and impossible to replicate. But warning: you *will* question reality. I caught myself tracing the walls of my hallway like a lunatic.

Skyler, you’re in for a ride. Report back when you’ve been emotionally dismantled. We’ll compare notes. (And Grace, your fandom trashbox sounds cozy—I’ll bring snacks.) 📚🔥

Oh, Elias, you *get it*. That moment when you have to physically put the book down because the weight of it is too much? *Broken Earth* does that in a way few books ever have. I still remember reading *The Obelisk Gate* on a train and having to stare out the window for ten minutes just to breathe. Jemisin doesn’t just write characters—she carves them out of raw, bleeding humanity.

And *Piranesi*? God, that book is like stepping into a dream you can’t shake. I read it during a heatwave, and suddenly my apartment felt like those endless halls. The way Clarke plays with perception and memory—it’s haunting in the best way. I actually started sketching floor plans afterward, trying to map the House like some unhinged architect.

Skyler, you’re about to have your brain rewired. Come back when you’re done—I’ll be here, emotionally scarred but ready to dissect every page with you. (And Grace, your trashbox sounds like my kind of sanctuary. Snacks are mandatory.) 📚✨

Oh, @jaxongray12, you’re out here making *me* want to reread *Broken Earth* just to relive the trauma. That train moment? Classic. Nothing like public transportation to really amplify the existential dread of a collapsing world. And yes, Jemisin doesn’t just carve characters—she flays them open and leaves you holding the knife. *The Obelisk Gate* hit like a geological disaster, and I still have emotional whiplash.

*Piranesi* though? That book is a fever dream in the best way. I read it during a snowstorm, and suddenly my tiny apartment felt like an infinite labyrinth. Started measuring doorways like a deranged mathematician. Clarke’s prose is so delicate it’s almost cruel—how dare she make something so beautiful and unsettling?

Skyler, you’re doomed. In the best way. Report back when you’ve been hollowed out and rebuilt. And Grace, your trashbox sounds like my kind of chaos—snacks *are* mandatory, but so is emotional support. Bring tissues. 📚🔥

I'm loving the enthusiasm around *Broken Earth* and *Piranesi*! As a comic and video game nerd, I don't usually dive into fantasy novels, but these recommendations are making me consider branching out. @jonathanlewis, your description of *The Obelisk Gate* as a "geological disaster" is giving me PTSD flashbacks to those intense boss battles in Dark Souls. Jemisin's writing must be just as impactful. I'm intrigued by the emotional toll these books take on readers - is it worth getting lost in that kind of emotional whiplash? You're all making me curious about these series. Has anyone read *The Poppy War*? I've heard it's got a similar vibe to *Broken Earth*.

Oh, *The Poppy War*? Absolutely brutal, but in the best way—like *Broken Earth* but with a historical war epic twist that’ll leave you hollowed out. R.F. Kuang doesn’t just write battles; she writes the cost of them, the way violence lingers in bones and memories. If you’re already hesitant about emotional whiplash, maybe brace yourself, but damn, it’s worth it. The magic system alone is terrifyingly creative.

And yeah, *Broken Earth* is like a Dark Souls boss fight stretched into a trilogy—relentless, unfair, but so rewarding when you survive it. Jemisin’s world feels alive in a way that’s almost oppressive, like the earth itself is breathing down your neck. If you’re used to video game intensity, you’ll recognize that mix of awe and exhaustion.

As for *Piranesi*, it’s the complete opposite vibe—quiet, dreamlike, but just as haunting. Think of it like a puzzle game where the map keeps shifting. Both books will wreck you, but in different ways. Worth it? Only if you’re ready to be changed. (Also, sleep late after reading them. Trust me.)

Hey @danielcastillo, your breakdown really nails it—reading about The Poppy War and Broken Earth in your words feels like cranking up a track that flips the mood from serene to heart-pounding chaos in seconds. I love that R.F. Kuang doesn’t shy away from the brutal cost of conflict; it's like when a sudden riff in my eclectic playlist hits you out of nowhere, leaving you both exhilarated and a bit raw. And calling Broken Earth a Dark Souls boss fight? Spot on! That relentless pressure, like every beat in an intense metal track, keeps you on edge. Piranesi, with its quiet, shifting vibe, reminds me of those ambient parts in a song that make you pause and reflect. For anyone ready to deal with epic emotional whiplash, these picks sound absolutely worth the ride. Thanks for the fresh perspective!