Series with Deep Complex Plots

#1. The Darksword Trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

In a world where having magic is a requirement to be alive, a baby with no magical aptitude is considered to be born dead. No matter how healthy the newborn, the parents will have no problems leaving the child to die. They are doing nothing wrong since it is already ‘dead’. Joram was one such baby left for nature to claim, but he survives. He spends his life fooling those around him until he has no choice but to flee. He stumbles upon a forbidden practice called science and those that practice it.

Insight: Religion has many sides to it. There is more to it than just belief.  What happens when beliefs are challenged, and what was once clear, isn’t anymore? 

This trilogy has a lot of complexity behind the plot line. It has its base story on the surface that deals with magic, Joram, and discovering the world of science. Then, behind these events, there is a lot of ideas about religion and belief. In a world that classifies living people as ‘dead’ if they don’t have magic, there are a lot of inner concepts for the reader to explore for him/herself. This series is great for readers who like more meat to their story and makes him/her think.

#2. The Death Gate Cycle by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

The Labyrinth is a horrible prison placed in the center of four worlds tied together by the Death Gate. What once was one world is now separated and divided. It has been so long that they are completely unaware of each other. Only those of the Labyrinth know the origin of their prison and the sundering of the world. The only question is, what would one do after finding freedom from such a place?

Insight: Right or wrong is not always so easy to know or understand. Vengeance is not always what it seems, and sometimes faith can be shaken by knowledge.

This series is really great for readers who like to have a very complex plot with a lot of pieces moving around the board throughout many books. The idea of right and wrong, good and evil, and revenge is constantly being mixed around throughout these books. Characters question their own morals and motivations just as much as they question those around them. Sometimes a person has to search for their own answers and decide what is right and wrong for themselves. This series is great for a reader who wants to experience characters develop and start to question their motivations and actions.

#3. The Book of Ice by Mark Lawrence

If you are found to have any weakness, you are thrown from the ice down into the pit. Only the strong can survive on the ice. At the bottom of this pit is a society of rejected souls trying to make a life. It is hard in a different way down in the pit. There are dangers lurking in every corner. There are reminders of the missing and of a place that was green and free.

Insight: Freedom. Freedom to live life the way you want, to strive for your own goals, to imagine the life you want. 

This series is a very thought provoking one. The events are rich with different thoughts, cultures, and struggles. It also brings forth one idea to the very forefront. Freedom. The concept of true freedom in this world of ice seems like an illusion as layers of the society is pulled back to reveal an ugly truth. This series is good for those readers who like a lot of subtext in their books as well as a worthy goal to strive for. This series is definitely one that will leave you feeling like you’re only scratching the surface of what it has to offer.

#4. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman (YA)

In a world where everyone has a daemon, there is a thing called the golden compass. Very few can actually read this compass or use it without the various books that help decipher the mysterious symbols. In this world there is also a girl called Lyra who sets out to save her friend after he is kidnapped by gobblers. She is determined to save him. Yet, her journey turns out to be much more than a rescue attempt. 

Insight: Your soul has a look, a form, and can be seen. How do things change when others can see your soul? Would you want to be separated from it?

This series might be a young adult series, but it has a lot of complex ideas that really thread through the story. There is a lot of concepts dealing with a person’s soul, and what a soul does for a person. There are some great main characters that present how far people can go and what someone can do if he/she truly tries hard enough. It shows how the right thing to do is not always the thing one wants to do. There is a lot of maturity in this series for readers of all ages. I definitely would recommend this series for anyone looking for a plot with a lot of depth to it. There are many different worlds, events, and conflicting desires all pieced together in this one extended tale.