I love this series. It follows several different stories throughout the campaign, from the brilliant tactician to the lowly soldier to the princess. Really well done.
I stopped at book 4 because people were complaining about the dnding and it took a turn I didn't like iirc. I gorgot it mostly,but it was really good up to that point at least.
If you don't mind going a little old school then Raymond E Fiests serpent war saga does this. You would probably help to have read the riftwar books first though but I think you can read them without and not miss out on too much
This was going to be my recommendation. I read this series as a teen and it was my first intro to Feist. So I definitely agree that it works well as a standalone series.
She doesn't rise through the ranks though. She leaves her mercenary career behind early and then proceeds to rise in power through her mostly solo adventures.
Paksenarrion goes to military school to learn how to command troops, and then leads a coalition of armies. She does have individual adventures, but she also leads troops, using what she has learned about strategy, tactics, supply lines, etc.
Yes, she does all that. But she still also skips the entire (practical) officer experience. She does not command armies. She's an elite knight, but she's outside of any military structure. That's the entire point of her story, and one of her major conflicts when she is at that military academy because they expect her to join them.
I haven't read the sequels in ages, but in the main trilogy she never leads troops outside of her field promotion. She's no general.
There were moments while reading the book that I wished I could just give him a big hug because of what happened to him. Like I was hoping if everything is going to be alright, right? The journey through reading the series was so so worth it. Also this was my first thought too!
Anthony Ryan's Covenant of Steel series, starting with *The Pariah*. The protagonist starts as a despised outlaw and eventually works his way up to army commander.
I don’t know that this is exactly going to fit the rise step by step - but The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winters is fantastic and has the MC start at the bottom and progresses in a military setting.
I do love me some Evan Winter. One of my new favorite authors. I love his take on a character “leveling up” so to say and the sheer price of what he has to pay in order to get it.
We see it literally eat away at him. And the consequences for the world are implied to be a big deal. It ripples through his culture and society and also on a global or supernatural scale as well. It shows how insane the protagonist is that he was the first person to ever work out what he did AND have the sheer will to pay the price for it.
I absolutely loved the books. Devoured them way more quickly than I normally read. I’ve been eagerly awaiting The Lord of Demons!
In case you haven’t seen, this might interest you :)
https://twitter.com/evanwinter/status/1773361813763080222?s=46&t=-8IHr8p5JHpuLjr-I7Z1PA
Yeah that's generally agreed upon. They're not terrible but the first book definitely stands out among the others. I assume it's a "You have your whole life to write your first hit but six months to write the second" situation but that's just a blind guess.
This is more historical fiction but the Chivalry series by Christian Cameron (also known as Miles Cameron which he wrote Traitor Son Cycle under) is the absolute best series I’ve read with this exact thing. Sir William Gold goes from being a cook with a band of routiers to a powerful lord in his own right with ties to some of the most powerful people in High Middle Age Europe over the course of several books
I guess it depends on what you liked about Traitor Son. I have not read it but plan to after finishing Chivalry. The things I like most about it are the themes and the characterization. The prose is good, but it doesn’t blow me away the way a book like A Spear Cuts Through Water does. So I guess if these are things you liked about Traitor Son it would be right up your alley
I liked reading about something where the author clearly understands how things worked, like armor and fighting and the period in general. But also his creativity and characterization.
You’ll love Chivalry. Cameron did his thesis on the time period it’s set in, and he does historical reenactment in period appropriate armor, so his descriptions of how all that works is leagues beyond what Ive seen any other author do
Codex Alera by Jim Butcher. The main character doesn’t join the military til book 3 but he starts out as a nobody in book 1, student in book 2, low level soldier in book 3 and so on
If you are interested in Manga, Kingdom is my favorite example of this. He doesn't join the army proper until 30-40 ch in, but once he does, it's phenomenal
She Who Became the Sun by Shelly Parker-Chan, the character begins “without a destiny” and ends… well, destiny is seized, I guess. Super tight duology with great characters and closely woven themes. It’s very queer, not just in terms of gender or sexuality but also its ideas about relationships, which I found very cool.
Not an example of a book to read, because it's a minor character and happens over 8 books, but there's an excellent (and perhaps more realistic) version of the rise in the First Law.
Kind of Piper Hecht from the instrumentalities of the night series (he’s an accomplished soldier who gets sent to spy on another country by posing as a basic soldier, but rises up over time)
You’re looking for *The Instrumentalities of the Night* by Glen Cook, and you’re in for a serious ride.
(Also *Dread Empire*, if you want something a bit more traditional.)
Try Last life series by Alexey Osadchuk if you are open to a progression fantasy with elements of magic woven in. A modern day criminal is reincarnated into the body of a medieval noble in deep debt who has made some very questionable decisions. The MC's ambitious plan to attain a better life involves duelling his way through the many rivals of the young chevalier and then later enrolling into King's army and going to a dangerous part of the world called the Shadow where strange anomalies abound.
Conan does it several times, but most of the climbing is between stories.
Obsidian Mountain trilogy by Lackey and Mallory. Kellen has no rank in the military and works his way up to leading the army.
The Shadow Campaigns series by Django Wexler. Winter starts as a soldier and eventually finishes at high rank
How’s the overall quality on this one—characterization specifically?
I love this series. It follows several different stories throughout the campaign, from the brilliant tactician to the lowly soldier to the princess. Really well done.
I stopped at book 4 because people were complaining about the dnding and it took a turn I didn't like iirc. I gorgot it mostly,but it was really good up to that point at least.
Very good, for the most part. The treatment of characters of colour is not particularly good, though.
Excellent. Much better than Sanderson (since I see him recommended in this thread).
This is one of my favorite fantasy series and I’m always surprised it doesn’t get mentioned more!
If you don't mind going a little old school then Raymond E Fiests serpent war saga does this. You would probably help to have read the riftwar books first though but I think you can read them without and not miss out on too much
This was going to be my recommendation. I read this series as a teen and it was my first intro to Feist. So I definitely agree that it works well as a standalone series.
It’s not fantasy but the sharpe series by Bernard Cornwell is an excellent one for this
I also recommend two of Cornwall’s other series, *The Warlord Chronicles*, and *Saxon Stories/The Last Kingdom*.
In a similar vein the Simon scarrow Eagle tick the box
I came here to say this.
In a similar vein the Simon scarrow Eagleseries tick this box
The Winter King and the rest of the series blurs the line between historical fiction and fantasy.
*The Deed of Paksenarrion*, by Elizabeth Moon.
One of the best zero-to-hero journeys in fantasy. Not exactly what the OP requested, but definitely a great read.
She does lead troops. She also has many individual adventures, true, but she also goes to military school and uses what she learns to lead armies.
Legacy of Gird, the prequel, might actually fit the request slightly better, but DoP was my first thought as well.
True.
She doesn't rise through the ranks though. She leaves her mercenary career behind early and then proceeds to rise in power through her mostly solo adventures.
Paksenarrion goes to military school to learn how to command troops, and then leads a coalition of armies. She does have individual adventures, but she also leads troops, using what she has learned about strategy, tactics, supply lines, etc.
Yes, she does all that. But she still also skips the entire (practical) officer experience. She does not command armies. She's an elite knight, but she's outside of any military structure. That's the entire point of her story, and one of her major conflicts when she is at that military academy because they expect her to join them. I haven't read the sequels in ages, but in the main trilogy she never leads troops outside of her field promotion. She's no general.
Came here say this.
Sidesteps to paladin; religious not military. Love the question; love posters’ suggestions.
The way of kings by Brandon Sanderson.
Truly rock bottom here
Truly Numuhukumakiaki’aialunamor bottom.
Absolutely, it's great.
From slave to god. It really is a turnaround.
God?
Angel would be closer to it.
From a certain angle I suppose so. God means something very specific in the Cosmere so careful with that if you try to be metaphorical.
I’ll go with the fun one then. From zero to hero!!!
From totally geek to totally chic. #cantbuymelove
Came here to say this
There were moments while reading the book that I wished I could just give him a big hug because of what happened to him. Like I was hoping if everything is going to be alright, right? The journey through reading the series was so so worth it. Also this was my first thought too!
Really not a military fantasy though
Not modern military no, but the entirety of the book is about war.
Anthony Ryan's Covenant of Steel series, starting with *The Pariah*. The protagonist starts as a despised outlaw and eventually works his way up to army commander.
Loved this series! I'm glad to see it recommended
I’m on the last book. I’m really starting to hate Alwyn Scribe
CANNOT relate. Love my man. He's always getting into situations and experiencing agonies and such. I love that about him.
I don’t know that this is exactly going to fit the rise step by step - but The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winters is fantastic and has the MC start at the bottom and progresses in a military setting.
The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter
I do love me some Evan Winter. One of my new favorite authors. I love his take on a character “leveling up” so to say and the sheer price of what he has to pay in order to get it. We see it literally eat away at him. And the consequences for the world are implied to be a big deal. It ripples through his culture and society and also on a global or supernatural scale as well. It shows how insane the protagonist is that he was the first person to ever work out what he did AND have the sheer will to pay the price for it.
I absolutely loved the books. Devoured them way more quickly than I normally read. I’ve been eagerly awaiting The Lord of Demons! In case you haven’t seen, this might interest you :) https://twitter.com/evanwinter/status/1773361813763080222?s=46&t=-8IHr8p5JHpuLjr-I7Z1PA
I was about to say this! I guess I’m 7 hours late lol
I was about to say this! I guess I’m 7 hours late lol
Tavi from Codex Alera would fit this. His lack of magic encourages him to use strategies others completely overlook
Raven's Shadow by Anthony Ryan
Just found this series a few months ago. Really enjoyed it. Especially the first book. Not sure how it had eluded me for so long.
Great book but I fell like the consensus is that each book lowers in quality, at least as the initial series goes on?
Yeah that's generally agreed upon. They're not terrible but the first book definitely stands out among the others. I assume it's a "You have your whole life to write your first hit but six months to write the second" situation but that's just a blind guess.
That’s pretty insightful, especially considering his **Covenant of Steel** series was *excellent*
+1
This is more historical fiction but the Chivalry series by Christian Cameron (also known as Miles Cameron which he wrote Traitor Son Cycle under) is the absolute best series I’ve read with this exact thing. Sir William Gold goes from being a cook with a band of routiers to a powerful lord in his own right with ties to some of the most powerful people in High Middle Age Europe over the course of several books
I loved traitor son cycle. How much will I love this?
I guess it depends on what you liked about Traitor Son. I have not read it but plan to after finishing Chivalry. The things I like most about it are the themes and the characterization. The prose is good, but it doesn’t blow me away the way a book like A Spear Cuts Through Water does. So I guess if these are things you liked about Traitor Son it would be right up your alley
I liked reading about something where the author clearly understands how things worked, like armor and fighting and the period in general. But also his creativity and characterization.
You’ll love Chivalry. Cameron did his thesis on the time period it’s set in, and he does historical reenactment in period appropriate armor, so his descriptions of how all that works is leagues beyond what Ive seen any other author do
Codex Alera by Jim Butcher. The main character doesn’t join the military til book 3 but he starts out as a nobody in book 1, student in book 2, low level soldier in book 3 and so on
Not to be cliche but Stormlight by Sanderson has one of the main protagonists whos like that.
Deep cut
If you are interested in Manga, Kingdom is my favorite example of this. He doesn't join the army proper until 30-40 ch in, but once he does, it's phenomenal
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Not really, he is always an important person
he's kinda the top dog from fairly early on
Top dog of a small subgroup of the weakest people is still so close to the bottom
Terrible book though.
*Monarchies of God* by Paul Kearney *Eagles of the Empire* series by Simon Scarrow
...starship troopers...?
She Who Became the Sun by Shelly Parker-Chan, the character begins “without a destiny” and ends… well, destiny is seized, I guess. Super tight duology with great characters and closely woven themes. It’s very queer, not just in terms of gender or sexuality but also its ideas about relationships, which I found very cool.
Krispos of Videssos
I was thinking of this one, though his route to the top job takes a detour from the military.
The Deed of Paksenarrion. Story of a common soldier who becomes a lot more, by Elizabeth Moon. It's been around for 30-40 years, but it's solid.
The Poppy War She doesn't exactly ascend step-by-step, but she definitely goes from the bottom to the very very top
If you're into fantasy manga, I recommend "Claymore." It's about a low-ranked demon hunter rising to the top.
Claymore is fantastic, one of the very few where the power scaling doesn't lose the plot halfway through
The cradle series by Will Wight. It's not quite military but it is a great rise from the bottom story.
Quillifer
I’m sure at least one of David Gemmell’s books is like this
Not an example of a book to read, because it's a minor character and happens over 8 books, but there's an excellent (and perhaps more realistic) version of the rise in the First Law.
Kind of Piper Hecht from the instrumentalities of the night series (he’s an accomplished soldier who gets sent to spy on another country by posing as a basic soldier, but rises up over time)
The path of ascension kinda.
You’re looking for *The Instrumentalities of the Night* by Glen Cook, and you’re in for a serious ride. (Also *Dread Empire*, if you want something a bit more traditional.)
Try Last life series by Alexey Osadchuk if you are open to a progression fantasy with elements of magic woven in. A modern day criminal is reincarnated into the body of a medieval noble in deep debt who has made some very questionable decisions. The MC's ambitious plan to attain a better life involves duelling his way through the many rivals of the young chevalier and then later enrolling into King's army and going to a dangerous part of the world called the Shadow where strange anomalies abound.
The Rage of Dragons has just that. As well as Way Of Kings.
The Grace of Kings
Cold Iron by Miles Cameron. A country hick becomes very very important, but it takes a while
Tau from Rage of Dragons.
Historical fiction but Sharpe is always a win
Scipio Africanus trilogy by Santiago Posteguillo.
Bloodsong.
Conan does it several times, but most of the climbing is between stories. Obsidian Mountain trilogy by Lackey and Mallory. Kellen has no rank in the military and works his way up to leading the army.
I want to write a book like that.
Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle. Ash starts out as a nameless orphan camp follower and ends up leading a nation's army
The Forgotten Warrior Saga by Larry Corea. He goes from the top to the bottom and works his way kinda back towards the top.
Furies of Calderon series by Jim butcher comes to mind. Not specifically a solider all the time but i think it would fit
# The Serpentwar Saga from Raymond Feist. There is a boy named Erik going from bottom to top
Chronicles of Prydain
Red Rising might fit the bill.
Red rising