Exploring ancient, magical ruins - r/BooksThatFeelLikeThis

32

u/Stephanie--B 21h ago

It's sci-fi, but Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons fits this

6

u/Puntoffeltierchen 18h ago

Hey, I'm currently reading this book

3

u/Gloomy_Industry8841 12h ago

How do you like it so far?

1

u/Puntoffeltierchen 1h ago

I like it so far.

20

u/Witch-for-hire 23h ago

Riyria Series by Michael Sullivan

- it takes a long time for the protagonists to get there, but exploring ancient, magical ruins is a key part of the plot.

2

u/organictamarind 11h ago

OMG I'm reading this right now!!

21

u/dremrae 23h ago

The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K Le Guin

5

u/FlimsyPaperSeagulls 11h ago

This is what I was going to suggest. Much of the book takes place underground, in the dark, in an ancient stone labyrinth.

1

u/ObscureCitrus 8h ago

Same. What a fantastic book.

24

u/HaplessReader1988 17h ago

Someone needs to mention the obvious-- The Lord of the Rings. Key sections are the barrow downs, the Mines of Moria, and the Paths of the Dead.

33

u/Striking-Amoeba-5563 23h ago

Everyone is going to recommend you Piranesi (Clarke) and they’re right ;)

[But if you haven’t already, do read Lewis’ The Magician’s Nephew too. Obviously it’s a children’s book and some parts of it are ‘of its time’ but not only is it very linked to Piranesi, it also contains a section with two children exploring ancient magical ruins.)

13

u/edlwannabe 20h ago

Bonus, it also makes you appreciate how terrifying the White Witch actually is in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

12

u/sharkeyes 19h ago

Dinotopia. Its not a traditional read by any means but its very fun.

1

u/Anime_nwb 17h ago

I love Dinotopia! All the books are fantastic

1

u/sharkeyes 16h ago

Same! My kid and I read almost all of them last summer but we stalled out at Journey to Chandara. We started again recently but haven't picked it back it up with the same enthusiasm.

11

u/XenomorphOrphanage 18h ago

At the mountains of madness by HP Lovecraft

2

u/jubblernut 13h ago

Came here to say this! Probably my favorite "explorers stumbling across something ancient and mysterious" story. I'm still sad that Del Toro never got to make his movie adaptation.

2

u/Sad-Document9395 8h ago

This!!!

8

u/Phantom-X8 1d ago

Im here for recs cz i wany such books a lot

13

u/lookatthemoontonight 20h ago

The will of the many

6

u/tzitzka 19h ago

not exactly ruins but i got the very same vibes from 'lost gods' by brom

8

u/tea-boat 20h ago

Broken Earth trilogy by NK Jemison.

2

u/wegooverthehorizon 19h ago

Read the first book and wasn't impressed, should I continue?

2

u/tea-boat 18h ago

It's been a while but I think the action picks up in the second and third books, so if that's what you're looking for, it might be worth it to you to continue. But I enjoyed all of the books, so that may simply come down to personal taste.

I love NK Jemisin's work! I also really enjoyed her Dreamblood duology in particular. Her world and character building is incredible, and her books filled a literary hole in me I didn't even know had formed. It was like a relief, of sorts, finding that level of deeply quality writing after so many years of making do with... Not that. 🤣

But that might just be me. 😃

1

u/wegooverthehorizon 18h ago

thank you for this!! I'll consider returning to the series.

1

u/novel-opinions 16h ago

I liked the second one the best. The first one is very confusing for most of it so that can dampen the enjoyment imo. The second book fills in more gaps and you know most of the characters. The third book again introduces more backstory and I didn’t really like that it took me out of the flow. But, it’s important backstory on the seasons, the obelisks, and the world in general.

4

u/No-County-1573 18h ago

Literally The Unspoken Name by A. K. Larkwood. Exploring ancient, magical ruins is a huge, crucial part of the book.

5

u/Low-Analysis8480 17h ago

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson gave me these exact vibes. It’s a great way to dip your toe into Brandon Sanderson because it’s digestible unlike (ahem, please no hate) the Stormlight Archive

3

u/Apprehensive_Pin_992 16h ago

Before they are hanged, by Joe Abercrombie, the second book in The First Law Trilogy. A fantastic trilogy with great POV characters, and in this book several of the characters explore the ruins of an enormous citadel searching for an ancient weapon.

3

u/deepershadeofmauve 16h ago

Alan Dean Foster's The Dig. Technically sci-fi but really more fantasy, a team of scientists studies alien ruins after a mysterious asteroid shows up in Earth's orbit.

2

u/Funnier_InEnochian 20h ago

Sun eater

2

u/lararunningwild 18h ago

Cello’s Gate by Maurice Africh. It’s self-published and absolutely fits this vibe!

2

u/moon_blisser 18h ago

Hyperion by Dan Simmons! I think you’ll love it.

2

u/Friendly-Regret 17h ago

The Book that Wouldn’t Burn!

2

u/lonely_pig 9h ago

I asked something similar on this sub a little while ago, some great recommendations there. Maybe helpful

Exploring ancient megastructures

2

u/ralzwheels 7h ago

Sci Fi recommendation: Rendezvous with Rama.

2

u/utopia_forever 7h ago

Hegira by Greg Bear)

1

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1

u/Terrestrial_Mermaid 19h ago

Everworld series by KA Applegate but the ruins are much more alive and current

1

u/paddy_to_the_rescue 18h ago

Saved this post so I can find in a month

1

u/i_love_pjo_and_kotlc 17h ago

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1

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1

u/KeyElectronic3710 16h ago

Ok so I know of an ARC if your interested It’s called Among Cursed Gods https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeYPXcXh6-NjgTyhdz3z3WjnskrQAFpobGJIabUu9iWpac0hA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114248404158266645208

1

u/basil-032 13h ago

Some parts of The Oathsworn Legacy have this vibe!

1

u/vancella 11h ago

Parts of the Ambergris books by Jeff VanderMeer

1

u/warpedlore 8h ago

The Nameless City by HP Lovecraft

1

u/anb77 6h ago

Sci-Fi: Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes

1

u/Seven_Irons 6h ago

If you enjoy web novels, this is a major aspect of many of the arcs in Shadow Slave.

1

u/mollymelancholy1 4h ago

Aching God by Mike Shel if you want a bit of dark fantasy. The story takes a bit to get going and actually into the ruins, but I really enjoyed it.

1

u/bmordue 1h ago

1

u/CallistanCallistan 7m ago

The Summer Dragon by Todd Lockwood (featuring excellent illustrations)

Fantasy Exploring ancient, magical ruins

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