Reddit's List of Underrated Fantasy Works: Part 1

/r/fantasy recently had a vote for the most underrated or overlooked books in fantasy, chosen by the forum's members. Imagine my surprise when I found several of my favorite recent reads on this list! These were great books, written by great authors, and I couldn't believe everyone else hadn't heard of them as well. So to correct this horrible wrong, I'm going to discuss the books on the list that I loved and think everyone else should too. You can disagree with me if you must, but at least read them first.

First up is The Lives of Tao, by Wesley Chu. The book is the first in a series, with the third book in the series expected later this year. The story focuses on Roen, a pathetic IT worker with no real life or goals, and Tao, the ancient alien being who has just taken up residence in Roen's head. Tao's race crash landed on Earth in the planet's infancy and they have been looking for a way off ever since. After splitting into two factions, the aliens have been in a state of civil war for millennium and have influenced the human race at nearly every step of our development.

Tao can be Roen's best friend or a biggest nag.. He brings Roen into a world that offers personal betterment, a thrilling life, and the opportunity for death at every turn. The story is fast paced, the conversations are funny and witty, and the book simply should not be missed. Wesley Chu has a very promising career starting up, and The Lives of Tao is the perfect way to get in on the ground floor of his career.

Cover Photo Courtesy of Goodreads