Recs if you like Pawn of Prophecy (The Belgariad, #1)...

Fantasy novels where the horses are not right.

One of my favorite newly-discovered tropes is that of the reluctant hero. They're not a chosen one, not good at everything right away, don't want to be saving the world. They're dragged kicking and screaming on adventures, complaining about it the whole way, and maybe even suck at the job they have to do at first.

Only including the first book in a series unless they're standalones. Suggestions for all fiction genres welcome!

series + standalones that actually feel like a different world (and are more about fantasy-type things than romance-type things). lemme know if i’m missing one of your faves and i’ll give it a read!

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!

i am a girl but the length of this list suggests i am in fact a boy.

because some of that stuff is a wee bit problematic

*editor’s note: lowkey some of these are problematic too but in a manner i could stomach