What do you look for in a good fantasy novel?

Question

What do you like in a good fantasy novel? What makes it good?

I like strong characters, a bit of humor and romance, adventure, new worlds/creatures, and your classic 'evil guy is taking over, a young hero steps in and saves the world' type of thing done well so it is not cliche and boring.

Terry Brooks does a great job of this!

Answer 1

I just read the back and if it sounds good then i read it.

You should read Stephanie Rowe. The first book is called "Date me baby one more time"

Theres also the bartimaeus trilogy

Blood and chocolate

Silver kiss.

Answer 2

The Night Land written by William Hope Hodgson .

:0)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hop...

Answer 3

I enjoy multi-dimensional characters who sound like someone who could live next door to me in another life.

I like shocking plot twists- betrayals, deaths, you name it- so that even someone who has read many fantasy books is still surprised.

Again, I like the characters human-like in thought, so a bit of romance, a bit of adventure, a bit of boring whatever, and whatever else happens in life makes for a great novel.

Please, no dragons or talking animals though.

Terry Brooks is good.  Not my favorite, but up there.

Answer 4

a s**y , well educated man

Answer 5

multi-dimensional characters ( just another fancy way of saying strong characters lol )

good writing style

it must have a mythical or magical feeling about it. a lot of novels fail at that

depth to the story and the morals it teaches

Answer 6

I like good characters that i can really fall in love with and feel what the characters feel but i also love it when you can read the book and sort of escape from the real world and it makes you feel like anything can happen.

It gives you hope and because of that,  it makes you happy just to read it. Seeing the characters achieve their dreams and get their happy ending, make you happy as well because you then feel like it is possible. You can loose yourself in the words, and not care about anything but the book for a while. I think that is the best thing an author can give to his or her readers. ♥

Answer 7

I agree that I like strong characters. I also like a fantasy world that has consistent rules and is interesting. I do appreciate humor as in Piers Anthony's Xanth world.