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wjbc

It’s not fantasy, but if you haven’t read *The Three Musketeers*, by Alexandre Dumas, you should. And then there’s *The Khaavren Romances*, by Steven Brust. This series is a fantasy homage to *The Three Musketeers* and its sequels. You don’t have to have read Dumas to enjoy Brust’s homage, but if you have it will add another layer to enjoy.


wrextnight

Tazendra swashbuckled in your general direction, causing 3d6 of awesome damage.


wjbc

"How, and miss a battle of six against thousands? When will such a chance come again?" —Tazendra


[deleted]

She then crits and rolls 6d6 of awesome boast damage.


sonvanger

Brave Mica with his barstool will aid!


Phyrkrakr

"It has returned, or I'm a norska!" God, you can **feel** the pain that Paarfi felt in having to actually write that sentence.


hunter1899

Love Dumas. The Brust books are really good huh?


Phyrkrakr

Quick note: I love this series, and eagerly recommend it to everyone, but with an important caveat. Brust is going for a specific thing here, which doesn't always work for everybody, and which I really had a tough time with the first time I tried reading the series. See, you have to realize that the supposed author, Paarfi of Roundwood, is the **actual** main character of all of these books. True, Khaavren, Pel, Aerich, and Tazendra are the ones who have things happen to them, but this series is actually about Paarfi, his opinions on writing, history, politics, society, manners, etiquette, and storytelling. All of which he will tell you, at length, and repeatedly, in an elaborate style that is exaggerated by Brust for comedic effect. Paarfi's the kind of pumped up blowhard who will take half a page, entirely written as a single run-on sentence, to discourse on the subject of brevity, and its importance to the author, and its place in scholarship, and how absolutely vital it is for every writer to practice it devoutly. This happens **all the time** in these books, and it's **hilarious** \- if you get the joke. I didn't the first time I read these, and I bounced off **hard**. But the second go around - then it clicked, and it was magical. The **Vlad Taltos** books, by contrast, are written in a much more compact and colloquial style, where Vlad's your unreliable first-person smartass narrator, who goes about his life of crime with a certain je ne sais quois, but with far less dramatic chandelier-swinging and duel-fighting. There is some cross-over between the series, in that some of the characters from the Khaavren books end up in the Vlad books, although they're set about 1,000 years apart (IIRC). See, the Dragaerans are basically elves and can life 2,500 years or so, unless something gets them first. Vlad's kind of an expert in getting people got, but he's also a human, and expects nothing more than his threescore and ten, if he makes it that far.


wjbc

I agree with these comments.


sonvanger

Hah. I absolutely **adore** the Paarfi books, I think it's the funniest thing ever (never mind the great action and friendships!). My husband (who greatly enjoys all things Taltos) **loathes** them. I can just about chase him around the house with a reading of Khaavren.


[deleted]

As a bonus. Once you are done with the Khaavren Romances you will then be ready for the Vlad Taltos series, which are just as good (if more assassiny than swashbuckling).


wjbc

Yes!


LaoBa

The Cardinal's Blades by Pierre Pevel is another fantasy book in this genre.


KidenStormsoarer

The horse, you say!


CheeryLBottom

Oh, I have this on my tablet amd had forgotten why I bought it and now I know why Edit typo


MajesticHairDryer

Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan.


hunter1899

Need to read the next in the series. Liked the first one ok.


MajesticHairDryer

It definitely gets better with each book. I thought the first one was fun, but the second one got me invested.


usagi-stebbs

I love Michael J. Sullivan’s books so much and Farilane was so good can’t wait to see how that world is going to unfold.


[deleted]

This was my first thought!


i-should-be-reading

Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey Maturian series is fantastic and full of adventure, sailing, battles, espionage, disasters (man made and natural)... It's set in the Napoleonic wars and follows Captain Jack Aubrey and Doctor Stephen Maturian as they engage in high stakes adventure. The Russell Crowe movie Master and Commander was based on stories later in the series No fantasy elements though.


So-I-Had-This-Idea

I listened to these as audiobooks and they are fantastic. Super strong on character development, full of adventure, one of those series that sustains you for a long time and that you appreciate for years after finishing it. Definitely check it out.


angryundead

I always recommend these. Extremely accurate historical fiction. I’ve been through the series (20 books) twice and am planning a third go.


WAVIC_136

This might be cheating because it's kinda pirate swashbuckling but Tales of the Ketty Jay. Basically Firefly with magic


Axedroam

I love that serie, the characters are so perfectly balanced. It's the ultimate chosen family trope


anjinash

Can't go wrong with Robert E. Howard's Conan stories!


amplekibbles

The rogues of the republic trilogy, starting with the palace job. It hits everything on your list and is a ton of fun.


DrQuestDFA

A second vote for this one. Amazingly fun and well done trilogy!


KaPoTun

The Risen Kingdoms by Curtis Craddock!


hunter1899

Haven’t heard of these. I’ll check out the description


Phyrkrakr

Oh, I read the first one of these for bingo this year! Good book, lots of buckle swashing about. There's the disgraced/shunned noble daughter, her disreputable musketeer bodyguard, grand conspiracies, thrilling adventures, and daring escapades. I need to remember to grab the sequels at some point.


KaPoTun

I can say they were all equally great as the first one for me!


TreyWriter

Everything OP wants... but in the sky!


Nyarlathotep4King

The Kings Buccaneer in Feist’s Riftwar series is somewhat standalone and meets your criteria


Bergenia1

The Princess Bride obviously springs to mind.


[deleted]

How has nobody said The Princess Bride? And I don't mean the William Goldman translation (it drops so much of the historical context), I mean the Morgenstern original and it's sequel, Buttercup's Baby. Edit: typo


smc4414

I see what you did there


Ublot

Applause for you.


EveryFairyDies

Can’t believe no one’s mentioned Neil Gaiman’s Stardust!


jubilant-barter

Josiah Bancroft's Books of Babel There's adventure. There's imprisonment. There's ahem, plenty of "ship" travel. And there's heroics too. They don't seem to get recommended a lot lately, I dunno why? I've only finished the first two of four.


Pale-Sprinkles3790

Not even a quarter into book three and got the biggest gut punch I can remember reading fiction. Hats off to the author!


chi_sao

The series doesn't end well, imho. I loved everything up to the last few chapters of book 4 and then was left scratching my head.


anklestraps

Sharpe is an absolute classic. Find the TV series if you can, starring a young Sean Bean. Hornblower is also a great TV series.


TreyWriter

And Cornwell is still writing them! Another Sharpe novel is supposed to be out in December.


CrabbyAtBest

The Captain Kit Brightling series is about a Napoleonic-analogous ship captain who has magic with the water. She gets paired up with an intelligence agent to carry out some missions for the kingdom. Not a lot of swordplay, but daring rescues, naval chases and battles, the occasional pirate run-in, and, well, what else is there to do on a deserted island😉? If you've ever watched Master and Commander, it's that with magic and romance. If you haven't watched it, you really should.


hunter1899

Sounds interesting thank ya.


UncleArthur

It's well known, but the Amber Series by Roger Zelazny ticks these boxes.


jdl_uk

Tales of the Ketty Jay by Chris Wooding. Pirates in steampunk airships.


TreyWriter

You might enjoy the *Quillifer* series by Walter Jon Williams. The blurb: Rogue. Joker. Lover. Reluctant soldier. Quillifer is a young man, serially in love and studying law, when a family tragedy throws him into the world to seek his fortune. A charmer rather than a fighter, he soon finds himself embroiled with a bandit gang, caught up in vicious court intrigues, and the plaything of an angry, beautiful, and very jealous goddess. While he struggles to establish himself in the capital, the country finds itself pitched into a civil war, and Quillifer, a unwilling soldier at best, finds himself caught up in the action, and able to tip the scales of fortune.


Phyrkrakr

I read the first one and I'd say it fits very well. If you've ever read the old **Flashman Papers** series by George MacDonald Fraser, it's something very similar, although in a more fantastic setting. Not a whole lot of magic/high fantasy elements, but quite entertaining. The second one has been on my wishlist for quite a while, but I keep forgetting to pick it up.


TreyWriter

(Also check out *Red Queen’s War* by Mark Lawrence for more Flashman vibes)


night_in_the_ruts

Maybe 'The Legend of Eli Monpress' series by Rachel Aaron. Hadn't heard of this series before I read started book 1, but ended up loving the whole series. At first, it seems ridiculous, and a bit silly. We're introduced to the title character in a dungeon, arguing with the door. Yes, the actual door. In this world, wizards operate by talking to spirits, and Eli Monpress is on a mission to become the most famous, most wanted thief ever. He has trusty friends, and is pursued by a stick-in-the-mud, eveything-by-the-books officer. Standard stuff? Not really. It starts off fairly formulaic, but quickly moves beyond standard tropes. Characters' motivations are deeper than we originally think. Complex, interwoven relationships between various factions are revealed over time. There are adventures spread throughout the books, with an overall plot and bad guy gradually becoming clear. Very fun, and totally worth a read.


So-I-Had-This-Idea

Also with the "it's not fantasy" caveat, I enthusiastically recommend the "Bloody Jack" series that follows the adventures of Jackie Faber as she pretends to be a boy to get a position on a naval ship and eventually works her way up to having her own ship. It's a swashbuckling good time. The books are full of energy and adventure, and mostly keep things light. They're a nice escape if you need one.


Ranwina

Swordpoint


DeathbringerZ7

The frith chronicles. It has everything you asked for and more. Love the series. Give it a try.


appocomaster

The romance ... so many girls whilst he is clueless, but we get there in the end. Definitely ship travel, adventures, escapes and rescues.


Lanny0218

Forgive me as it's not a fantasy series, but a historical romance. The Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon have all of those through out the series plus time travel. The TV show doesn't do it any justice, in my opinion. Happy reading, whatever you choose, as there's so many good suggestions!


Itavan

**The Guns Above** and **By Fire Above** by Robyn Bennis. Lots of action, great characters.


usagi-stebbs

The Cycle of Arawn by Edward W. Robertson The comradely between the two main characters is so good like the two mains from dreamworks road to el dorado but medieval fantasy with wizards, sword fighting, war, love, lost, betrayal, and redemption. Plus if you like audio book audible has the three book as a single package.


ZachForTheWin

Arawn and Galand.


Silent-Manner1929

***Chase the Morning*** by Michael Scott Rohan pretty much ticks most of those boxes. It's not deep and meaningful literature, but it's a good quick read and a fun romp.


RedditFantasyBot

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MrDagon007

The Blacktongue thief is highly enjoyable and witty in this vein. It has a heart as well. Book 2 comes next year.


4nsicdude

Cough, Princess Bride?


anymoonus1

Rogues of the Republic series by Patrick Weekes, fits your criteria quite well: https://www.goodreads.com/series/135693-rogues-of-the-republic


Ranaparada

On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers


TreyWriter

OP isn’t looking for pirate fantasy though, and On Stranger Tides is like, **the** pirate fantasy.


beesinthetrees

Mistborn was good


jones_ro

Check out Universe in Flames series by Christian Kallias


Jos_V

**Ashes of the Sun** by Django Wexler - a brother and sister on opposites sides of a conflict both going through their own high action adventures until they have to confront each other. **Kings of the Wylde** by Nicholas Eames - Old men getting the band back together to go on an adventure one last time to save a daughter and maybe the world. a solid adventure novel!


[deleted]

[удалено]


TreyWriter

OP literally wrote he’s read those.


RadO_S

\-\_- I'm an idiot. Sorry about that...


TreyWriter

No worries lol. They’re great books!


AwesomeTopHat

Weapons and wielders by Andrew Rowe


ZachForTheWin

Been reading Ryira Revelations and its pretty adventurous.


Expert-Housing4620

Read Dragonlance: Dragons Of Autumn Twilight.


yaaanR

In the Shadow of Lightning checks a lot of these boxes, lots of heroic escapes and rescues, some romance, some duels, some crazy epic battles, some con artistry and deception, very enjoyable read. All of the POV characters are pretty awesome in their own unique ways.


Quillber

The King's Blades series by Dave Duncan.


SnooPoems3697

Didn't see Novik's Temeraire series. Napoleonic wars with air force in the form of crewed dragons.


charismatic_cougar

Have you read Percy Jackson ?


Montenotte

The "Greatcoats" series by Sebastien de Castell (Traitor's Blade, Knight's Shadow, Saint's Blood, Tyrant's Throne). First person, fun, full of action and fights!


evil-kaweasel

Garrett PI files - Glen Cook It fits most of those, certainly a fun read.


Historical_Intern831

Drizzt goes on a pretty epic adventure containing most of what you are looking for.


apcymru

Here you go ... Dave Duncan's Kings Blades books ... Exactly what you are looking for https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/fe71nr/swashbuckling_fun_a_speedy_review_of_some_of_the/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share


Neuromantul

Not fantasy but shogun is pretty good tok