Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish that other bloggers are welcome to join in, to create Top Ten lists on varying topics. This week, books that I feel are under rated within the genre of Fantasy. (Trying to not run over too many books I’ve previously mentioned, I’ve added some I think are OVER rated.)

Underrated

1 The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

I loved this story, but general consensus is that it’s likely to be because I knew WHEN it was set before the get go. I’m not sure that that is ever anything I pay too much attention too, I tend to let the story tell itself if I can stand the way it does it. Of the reviews I’ve seen, I did feel they were picking on things that, had they paid attention, wouldn’t have been an issue, but who hasn’t been guilty of that in the past? I actually liked the slow build in this instance. I felt it hyped up my anticipation till I was almost beside myself with excitement.

2-4 Last Herald-Mage trilogy by Mercedes Lackey

This is my favourite, Though I do believe it is so because I knew the legend  that was Vanyel before I read of him. I’ve put this here because I dont think I’ve ever heard anyone else talk of them and they class as the elusive male/male story that isn’t all about the sex. There’s even *GASP* a proper storyline!!!

5-7 Owl Mage Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey

This is my other favourite set of the world that Last Herald-Mage also belongs to, it happens at the opposite end of the timeline and this one is about an ‘ordinary’ hero, not a fancy, flashy one.

8 Emelan storyline by Tamora Pierce

Baring Battle magic (see below), I don’t feel this series receives enough attention. Everyone’s heard of Alanna, the Song of the Lioness, but what about Sandry? Tris? Daja? Briar? These kids are nothing to be sniffed at and they don’t even realise it. My favourite kind of book

9 Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

 I read this two years ago and loved it. I decided at the time I wouldn’t read more till book 3 was out (SO SOON!) And then I could recap 1 and storm on through to 2 and 3. Lately I’ve been seeing some hate about this book and I really can’t remember enough to counter it. But as with Tearling, good stories and slow build ups go well together, just saying.

10 False Prince by  Jennifer A. Nielsen

Not sure this one IS under rated, but go read it anyway!!

Overrated

1 Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

This was meant to be the epic finale of an amazing series, except, at the end, I was left somewhat lost and confused. Is there another book? It certainly felt like there should be. It actually felt like the end was missing or that it was a cliff hanger, but two years later and there’s no evidence of more, so I guess that was indeed it.

2 Battle Magic by Tamora Pierce

I HATE that this book has to be on this list. HATE it. It was the one I was most looking forward to too, set between Street Magic and The Will of the Empress, two epic favourites it was such a let down. A friend of mine and I were almost convinced we had different copies to everyone else because people were loving bits we thought we didn’t have. Half the plot was hinted at in Empress so there wasn’t much more needed, which is perhaps the problem, trying to go back and fit something in, but also, the story seemed less…big, it’s hard to describe and maybe one day I’ll feel less let down and maybe like it more.