Recs if you like Furies of Calderon...

I wanna be the very best like no one ever was

in honor of Pokémon’s 30th birthday, I put together a list of books that feel like pokemon, from just having a lil buddy hanging out to monster battles and more.

as always, taking any and all recommendations!

Books with druids as main characters or major plot points.

First books in series only. This could exclude series where druids appear in later books.

Note: may contain nature magic, herbalists, shamans and nature themed witches based on vibes

These series openers feature ensemble casts and secondary plot arcs that stretch over multiple books. Multiple genres and eras of fiction are represented, and most series are complete while others are ongoing.

Books where the protagonist is anywhere from smart to genius, and that intelligence gets them through the plot. (Ie lots of characters are smart in dif ways, but these characters solve plot-based conflicts intelligently)

Books inspired by the Roman Empire but make it ✨️fantasy✨️

Another item of the list of "things I don't like irl that I'm eating up in books" : Military Fantasy

A lot of classic fantasy features a farmboy—who might be more than he seems—going on an adventure and discovering the wide world beyond his agrarian sensibilities. While this list is called “farmboy,” I’m open to farm people of all genders. For series, only the first book is listed. As always, open to recs!

Books that give Merlin vibes that are not related to the Arthurian legend. We have the banter, the atmosphere, the magic, but no sword in the stone for this one! Some will fit better than others, but I wanted an expansive list!