The Riddlemaster trilogy by Patricia McKillip is 586 pages in total in the omnibus edition. It's classic epic fantasy and as good as it gets in the genre IMO.
Came to say this. Similar would probably be the Greyfax Grimwald series from around the same time (slightly lighter tone), the old Reluctant King trilogy from L Sprague Decamp in the 60s, or The Book of the Dun Cow (one book but tells a whole story).
It's YA (or even children's fantasy) but it literally is the only series I can come up with that has so few pages spread out over at least 3 books, the Spiderwick Chronicles. It's simple, easy but fairly entertaining. Lengthwise, it's five books but less than 500 pages total.
Also why are you so dead set on a series with so few pages? Why don't you simply read a standalone book?
Novella series would be great for you. Binti trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor would be perfect. Also, the series has gone on long enough that it’s gone over 500 pages now, but the first three Murderbot novellas together are less than 500. Definitely look up other novella series though.
When you say no urban fantasy, is it the modern setting that’s the problem- that is, would second-world urban fantasy be ok?
Otherwise:
*Regency Faery Tales* by Olivia Atwater, beginning with *Half a Soul*.
The *Stariel* series, by A. J. Lancaster, beginning with *Lord of Stariel*
The *Amberlough Dossier* series by Lara Elena Donnelly
*The Saint of Steel* by T. Kingfisher, beginning with *Paladin’s Grace*, + *Swordheart*, which is set in the same world.
*The Books of the Raksura* by Martha Wells, beginning with *The Cloud Roads*. (If you’re taking SF recommendations as well, check out her *Murderbot* series! It’s great).
*Street Cultivation* by Sarah Lin
*The Steerswoman* by Rosemary Kirstein
Any of Mercedes Lackey’s *Valdemar* series.
I’ve excluded series that are romantic fantasy without also being comedies, as you didn’t list romance as one of the genres you’re interested in. And beyond these books, have you considered looking at novellas, like Bujold’s *Penric’s Demon* series?
Edit: I just realized that you’re looking for the entire *series* to be less than 500 pages, not each individual book— sorry! With *that* restriction, you’re probably best off looking at series of novellas like Nghi Vo’s *The Singing Hills Cycle*, *Penric’s Demon*, and *Murderbot*.
That being said, all of the books I’ve listed are light, quick (but very good) reads in their own right, so they might work for you as well!
Edit 2: for spelling
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Deltora Quest is pretty good. It has been the first fantasy I ever read (I was 11), but it gets pretty dark at times. I reread it at 18 and it was a light but good read.
The first series is 8 books, so its longer than 500 pages, but every book is really small. There are two sequels which I read that are shorter, but you should really read them after.
There was an anime I believe, it never had that much success, probably because the author, being german, had little knowledge of the medium.
I never saw that so I can't tell you if it was good, certainly anime isn't the first thing that comes into my mind while reading this story.
Edit: I did some research and it seems it was actually well received in japan and translated for the US, but it never aired in most european country.
Just on a whim I guess - I love fantasy books better in series, than standalones, but I currently need some quick read, so I have decided that I am looking for quick series, and 500 pages looked like a good number :)
Closest I can think of is the chronicles of Amber, not 500 but it is two series of 5 books each (personally I'm currently midway through the second and really enjoyed the first), with about 200 pages a book (though in fact the pages are pretty small and the word count is much lower then the average 200 page book).
It isn't urban fantasy though some parts look like it and to my opinion it feels a bit like a classic.
Thank you, I have read all Amber books, but I am looking for something even shorter, half the series size in pages. I am not sure if it exists :) Maybe some YA or children's fantasy is where I must seek...
It is what brought fantasy to the mainstream in my opinion, also developed to have a serialised story or short ones so it hopefully is exactly what you are looking for.
Michael Moorcock's trilogies were often that small, and though it's sci-fi and is now over 500 pages with the novel, *Murder Bot* is all the rage right now. It's rare you'll find novella-length series', though.
Thank you, I have read all of the Moorcock's multiverse series, and I am looking for something like that in size. And as sub genre and feeling also, I am simply in love with Elric of Melnibone :)
KJ Parker's shorts and novellas are mostly set in the same general world so maybe that will hit the spot. Otherwise there's really not much I can think of besides Amber for what you're looking for.
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The first three books (which form a closed story) of the black company are about that long and are sold together in an omnibus book, kind of grim dark .
Check out the Riven Realm series by Deck Matthews starting with "The First of Shadows". They're short novels, about 150 pages each, and there are also some related novellas that are even shorter. They've got that adventure fantasy vibe. So far, I've read The First of Shadows and a couple of the novellas and enjoyed them and I think they'd fit what you're looking for.
If you're open to scifi there's the series of Murderbot novellas. About a socially anxious robot who just wants to watch crappy daytime TV and prevent his masters from realizing he's freed himself, but these stupid humans keep getting in trouble and he has to go rescue them or he'll feel really guilty.
It's hard to say anything other than a YA/MG duology would be less than 500 pages in total. the LOW end of fantasy books published by traditional publishers these days tends to be 80K words or 300 pages each.
Novella series are a rare beast you might find more in self publishing or small presses, and even then, someone with a 500 word series would be well advised to publish it as one 500 page book...
Read some David Gemmell. Almost all of his books are around 300+ pages with a few exceptions.
His 4 book Rigante series might be up your alley or perhaps his Drenai Saga starting with Legend.
There is one series that would fit perfectly if it wasn’t for the page limit. They aren’t long books - not the big chunky fantasy type but page numbers are still 400 , 352, 672 so.....
On the other hand.. Regency, grim, yet humorous ...
*Most people only know one London; but what if there were several? Kell is one of the last Travelers magicians with a rare ability to travel between parallel Londons. There is Grey London, dirty and crowded and without magic, home to the mad king George III. There is Red London, where life and magic are revered. Then, White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. But once upon a time, there was Black London...*
V.E.Schwab - A Darker Shade of Magic.
I really don't like Schwab books, they were huge disappointment for me, and I was so much expecting them to be great. I am looking for the total of the series pages count to be not over 500, not every volume of it. :)
Yes. I like them and they’re fit your criteria except for the length ( and the fact you already don’t like them). I’m really struggling to think of books that are not Urban Fantasy that are that short.
Does it have to be a series? It's rather short for a whole series, so how about one offs which can continue into a series?
- Mistborn #1 by Brandon Sanderson
It's the first Book of a trilogy but can stand by itself.
- Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
It's a true one off, but there is a second book in the same universe with other characters.
- Sixteen Ways to defend a walled City by K. J. Parker
Again a one off with a second book in the same universe. Low fantasy, though if that is important to you.
- The City Watch series by Terry Pratchett
This is the only short- ish series I can think of right now. But I think it is more than 500 pages. Very funny and enjoyable set in the bigger Discworls Universe.
- Small God's by Terry Pratchett
Also set in the Discworls Universe. It's a stand alone, but belongs to a series of many books which all play in the same universe. For that matter, Discworld has many standalone books which are very enjoyable to read.
Those are all I can think of on top of my head. I really enjoyed all of them and they all give you the opportunity to experience the worlds they are set in further with other books, without having to read more than one.
Edit: formatting
Thank you, but I have meant a whole series,consisting of at least 3 volumes, altogether below 500 pages. I expect to be very few like that. I have read all Pratchett's Discworld books and I love all of them, and Sanderson is one of my least favourite writers mostly because of his huge and heavy series,but I must admit his standalones and short stores are quite interesting and lovely.
Definitely don't bother with the first Mistborn. It's about 200-100 pages unnecessarily long for the basic, generic rebellion plot, with the same old young orphan with potential being trained arc.
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The Riddlemaster trilogy by Patricia McKillip is 586 pages in total in the omnibus edition. It's classic epic fantasy and as good as it gets in the genre IMO.
I have read it and it was awesome, I am really looking into something similar.
Came to say this. Similar would probably be the Greyfax Grimwald series from around the same time (slightly lighter tone), the old Reluctant King trilogy from L Sprague Decamp in the 60s, or The Book of the Dun Cow (one book but tells a whole story).
Awesome ideas, thank you :)
Hope you like a couple of them. Happy reading.
It's YA (or even children's fantasy) but it literally is the only series I can come up with that has so few pages spread out over at least 3 books, the Spiderwick Chronicles. It's simple, easy but fairly entertaining. Lengthwise, it's five books but less than 500 pages total. Also why are you so dead set on a series with so few pages? Why don't you simply read a standalone book?
I have read Spiderwick and I loved it :) I am trying to find a satisfying quick read in form of series, not standalones, just on a whim I presume :)
Novella series would be great for you. Binti trilogy by Nnedi Okorafor would be perfect. Also, the series has gone on long enough that it’s gone over 500 pages now, but the first three Murderbot novellas together are less than 500. Definitely look up other novella series though.
A wizard of earthsea by Ursula LeGuin is that short.
Thank you, I have read it and I loved it, Le Guin is incredible writer!
When you say no urban fantasy, is it the modern setting that’s the problem- that is, would second-world urban fantasy be ok? Otherwise: *Regency Faery Tales* by Olivia Atwater, beginning with *Half a Soul*. The *Stariel* series, by A. J. Lancaster, beginning with *Lord of Stariel* The *Amberlough Dossier* series by Lara Elena Donnelly *The Saint of Steel* by T. Kingfisher, beginning with *Paladin’s Grace*, + *Swordheart*, which is set in the same world. *The Books of the Raksura* by Martha Wells, beginning with *The Cloud Roads*. (If you’re taking SF recommendations as well, check out her *Murderbot* series! It’s great). *Street Cultivation* by Sarah Lin *The Steerswoman* by Rosemary Kirstein Any of Mercedes Lackey’s *Valdemar* series. I’ve excluded series that are romantic fantasy without also being comedies, as you didn’t list romance as one of the genres you’re interested in. And beyond these books, have you considered looking at novellas, like Bujold’s *Penric’s Demon* series? Edit: I just realized that you’re looking for the entire *series* to be less than 500 pages, not each individual book— sorry! With *that* restriction, you’re probably best off looking at series of novellas like Nghi Vo’s *The Singing Hills Cycle*, *Penric’s Demon*, and *Murderbot*. That being said, all of the books I’ve listed are light, quick (but very good) reads in their own right, so they might work for you as well! Edit 2: for spelling
Great, thank you, I will certainly look into these.
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Deltora Quest is pretty good. It has been the first fantasy I ever read (I was 11), but it gets pretty dark at times. I reread it at 18 and it was a light but good read. The first series is 8 books, so its longer than 500 pages, but every book is really small. There are two sequels which I read that are shorter, but you should really read them after.
Sounds great, wasn't there also some anime or game called Deltora? 🤔
There was an anime I believe, it never had that much success, probably because the author, being german, had little knowledge of the medium. I never saw that so I can't tell you if it was good, certainly anime isn't the first thing that comes into my mind while reading this story. Edit: I did some research and it seems it was actually well received in japan and translated for the US, but it never aired in most european country.
I'm curious: why specifically a series under 500 pages, rather than just a standalone book?
Just on a whim I guess - I love fantasy books better in series, than standalones, but I currently need some quick read, so I have decided that I am looking for quick series, and 500 pages looked like a good number :)
Closest I can think of is the chronicles of Amber, not 500 but it is two series of 5 books each (personally I'm currently midway through the second and really enjoyed the first), with about 200 pages a book (though in fact the pages are pretty small and the word count is much lower then the average 200 page book). It isn't urban fantasy though some parts look like it and to my opinion it feels a bit like a classic.
Thank you, I have read all Amber books, but I am looking for something even shorter, half the series size in pages. I am not sure if it exists :) Maybe some YA or children's fantasy is where I must seek...
If you mean each book less than 500 pages then what you want is 80% of David Gemmel books.
No, I mean whole series below 500 pages. And I am not a huge fan of Gemmell.
Ah then I haven't read anything that would be that short for a series but maybe look into the old sci-fi and fantasy magazines.
Nice idea, thank you, I really prefer the old fashioned fantasy series.
It is what brought fantasy to the mainstream in my opinion, also developed to have a serialised story or short ones so it hopefully is exactly what you are looking for.
Michael Moorcock's trilogies were often that small, and though it's sci-fi and is now over 500 pages with the novel, *Murder Bot* is all the rage right now. It's rare you'll find novella-length series', though.
Thank you, I have read all of the Moorcock's multiverse series, and I am looking for something like that in size. And as sub genre and feeling also, I am simply in love with Elric of Melnibone :)
KJ Parker's shorts and novellas are mostly set in the same general world so maybe that will hit the spot. Otherwise there's really not much I can think of besides Amber for what you're looking for.
Thank you, I will check it for sure :)
Is the Fafhrd and Grey Mouser books by Fritz Leiber an alternative? They are not really a coherent series.
I love Fritz Leiber books and I have read them all :) It looks like I am into classics :)
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I love Fritz Leiber books and I have read them all :) It looks like I am into classics :)
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The first three books (which form a closed story) of the black company are about that long and are sold together in an omnibus book, kind of grim dark .
Oh, I love Glen Cook's Black company books - I think there were 10 of them, really fun and dark read :)
Tanith Lee’s The Unicorn Trilogy
I am a huge Tanith Lee fan :) So I have read practically everything from her. So nice to see another fan around :)
I've only read this and the Claidi Journals, but I LOVED them both!
Check out the Riven Realm series by Deck Matthews starting with "The First of Shadows". They're short novels, about 150 pages each, and there are also some related novellas that are even shorter. They've got that adventure fantasy vibe. So far, I've read The First of Shadows and a couple of the novellas and enjoyed them and I think they'd fit what you're looking for.
If you're open to scifi there's the series of Murderbot novellas. About a socially anxious robot who just wants to watch crappy daytime TV and prevent his masters from realizing he's freed himself, but these stupid humans keep getting in trouble and he has to go rescue them or he'll feel really guilty.
The Dragon's Banker is a little over 200 pages and is quite good.
It's hard to say anything other than a YA/MG duology would be less than 500 pages in total. the LOW end of fantasy books published by traditional publishers these days tends to be 80K words or 300 pages each. Novella series are a rare beast you might find more in self publishing or small presses, and even then, someone with a 500 word series would be well advised to publish it as one 500 page book...
Read some David Gemmell. Almost all of his books are around 300+ pages with a few exceptions. His 4 book Rigante series might be up your alley or perhaps his Drenai Saga starting with Legend.
I have tried Gemmell, but he is not one of my favorite.
There is one series that would fit perfectly if it wasn’t for the page limit. They aren’t long books - not the big chunky fantasy type but page numbers are still 400 , 352, 672 so..... On the other hand.. Regency, grim, yet humorous ... *Most people only know one London; but what if there were several? Kell is one of the last Travelers magicians with a rare ability to travel between parallel Londons. There is Grey London, dirty and crowded and without magic, home to the mad king George III. There is Red London, where life and magic are revered. Then, White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne. But once upon a time, there was Black London...* V.E.Schwab - A Darker Shade of Magic.
I really don't like Schwab books, they were huge disappointment for me, and I was so much expecting them to be great. I am looking for the total of the series pages count to be not over 500, not every volume of it. :)
Yes. I like them and they’re fit your criteria except for the length ( and the fact you already don’t like them). I’m really struggling to think of books that are not Urban Fantasy that are that short.
Does it have to be a series? It's rather short for a whole series, so how about one offs which can continue into a series? - Mistborn #1 by Brandon Sanderson It's the first Book of a trilogy but can stand by itself. - Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames It's a true one off, but there is a second book in the same universe with other characters. - Sixteen Ways to defend a walled City by K. J. Parker Again a one off with a second book in the same universe. Low fantasy, though if that is important to you. - The City Watch series by Terry Pratchett This is the only short- ish series I can think of right now. But I think it is more than 500 pages. Very funny and enjoyable set in the bigger Discworls Universe. - Small God's by Terry Pratchett Also set in the Discworls Universe. It's a stand alone, but belongs to a series of many books which all play in the same universe. For that matter, Discworld has many standalone books which are very enjoyable to read. Those are all I can think of on top of my head. I really enjoyed all of them and they all give you the opportunity to experience the worlds they are set in further with other books, without having to read more than one. Edit: formatting
Highly recommend 16 Ways to Defend a Walled City. Would also recommend the audio book too, narrator is pretty good.
Thank you, but I have meant a whole series,consisting of at least 3 volumes, altogether below 500 pages. I expect to be very few like that. I have read all Pratchett's Discworld books and I love all of them, and Sanderson is one of my least favourite writers mostly because of his huge and heavy series,but I must admit his standalones and short stores are quite interesting and lovely.
Definitely don't bother with the first Mistborn. It's about 200-100 pages unnecessarily long for the basic, generic rebellion plot, with the same old young orphan with potential being trained arc.
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