Author: David and Leigh Eddings

I go back to this series when I'm looking for a comfortable set of books to curl up with for a few days. The cast of characters have become old friends, and I only wish their story could have been continued beyond these books.

The creation of an entire world, with its own customs, culture, races, and belief systems is always fascinating to me. The Eddings succeed at it, providing rich description without bogging us down. We get to know fascinating characters with wildly different personalities, and experience the special gifts of each member of the group. From sword-play to spying to cooking to a kind of magic, there is enough here to keep things exciting.

The story is an adventure, a quest, a coming-of-age story, with interesting familial relationships explored with humor. Even though The Belgariad series could stand alone, The Mallorean series picks up right where The Belgariad series ends, continuing the story.

It is true that the story uses the old Tolkein scheme of a group of travelers seeking something out or going off to perform a task, but then, LOTS of fantasy series use this concept for a good reason--because it works! These aren't complex books, and they are quick reading. After the two sets of five books each, the Eddings wrote two sequels that take us back to the lives of two main characters before the series took place. These books are better written than the series books and are a good addition to the series, filling in gaps and answering lots of questions.

Series:

The Belgariad:

Book One: Pawn of Prophecy
Book Two: Queen of Sorcery
Book Three: Magician's Gambit
Book Four: Castle of Wizardry
Book Five: Enchanter's End Game

The Mallorean:

Book One: Guardians of the West
Book Two: King of the Murgos
Book Three: Demon Lord of Karanda
Book Four: Sorceress of Darshiva
Book Five: The Seeress of Kell

Sequels to the series, but going back many years:

Belgarath the Sorcerer
Polgara the Sorceress