Novel suggestions with Monks as main character

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**predutur**

Hi,

i am looking for some novels that have a Monk (the archetype of a fantasy martial artist) as a main protagonist or one of the main protagonists like Avelyn Desbris in The DemonWars Saga.

Any suggestions ?

**BrianDavion**

assuming you haven't read it already you'd be well served to read the Clerical Quintet by RA Salvatore. same guy who wrote the Demon Wars Saga. it MIGHT be to your liking

the LEAD character isn't a Monk, but his girlfriend is and she's a fairly major figure in it.

**BobtheInquisitor**

Initiate Brother is part one of a duology, followed by Gatherer of Clouds. The main character is a monk who is well versed in martial arts. The setting is a mix of China and Japan, and the monks are pretty much Buddhist. There are a few plots going, mostly court intrigue but also a search for a true teacher as the order has gradually lost its way, and eventually a mongol-ish invasion. It starts slowly, building up to a satisfying conclusion.

https://www.amazon.com/Initiate-Brother-Book-1/dp/0886774667/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=initiate+brother&qid=1611821591&sr=8-3

**Mr Morden**

I enjoyed The Left Hand of God (novel) by Paul Hoffman with a sort of (dark) monk like character

The world is in a pre-industrial state. Many nations are dispersed across the globe; most important of which are the Roman-like Materazzi, fanatical Redeemers and their eternal opponents, Antagonists. The novel focuses the most on the conflict between Redeemers and Antagonists. The Redeemers train their new soldiers by either kidnapping or buying small children, bringing them into a half-prison, half-military training centre called the Sanctuary and through fear and pain transform them into soldiers (with a 50% death rate during the process).

**Mad Doc Grotsnik**

For medieval murder mystery, there’s Cadfael

**Tannhauser42**

May not be exactly what you're looking for, but Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett has a monk-in-training for a main character.

**MDSW**

I read it many moons ago, but Piers Anthony's God of Tarot series (I think 3 books?) The first book was so good and shook my beliefs to the core.

It does deal with religion, but with a futuristic/sci-fi approach from the main character's (a monk) POV. I am not religious much, but the education I gleaned from the book for multiple world religion's basic beliefs was mind-blowing. Piers is one of the best fantasy writers. He is mostly known for his Xanth novels.

**Voss**

MDSW wrote:
I read it many moons ago, but Piers Anthony's God of Tarot series (I think 3 books?) The first book was so good and shook my beliefs to the core.

It does deal with religion, but with a futuristic/sci-fi approach from the main character's (a monk) POV. I am not religious much, but the education I gleaned from the book for multiple world religion's basic beliefs was mind-blowing. Piers is one of the best fantasy writers. He is mostly known for his Xanth novels.

Back in the 80s, maybe. These days he's better known for creepy porn victimization porn and a nasty rape fetish.
Even the Xanth novels are pretty twisted if you're paying attention, with forced mind control breeding, bestiality and dancing around the edge of explicit pedophilia, which was pretty messed up for teen marketed fantasy novels.

**MDSW**

Voss wrote:
MDSW wrote:
I read it many moons ago, but Piers Anthony's God of Tarot series (I think 3 books?) The first book was so good and shook my beliefs to the core.

It does deal with religion, but with a futuristic/sci-fi approach from the main character's (a monk) POV. I am not religious much, but the education I gleaned from the book for multiple world religion's basic beliefs was mind-blowing. Piers is one of the best fantasy writers. He is mostly known for his Xanth novels.

Back in the 80s, maybe. These days he's better known for creepy porn victimization porn and a nasty rape fetish.
Even the Xanth novels are pretty twisted if you're paying attention, with forced mind control breeding, bestiality and dancing around the edge of explicit pedophilia, which was pretty messed up for teen marketed fantasy novels.

That's too bad, as I have not read any PA in probably 30 years and really enjoyed his early work.

However, you want a writer that went WAY over the edge, John Norman's Gor series - good lord, what a crackpot he turned out to be and you can witness his descent as each successive novel bore on. I had to stop about 3/4 of the way through... I think about 12 in the series and I got to 9 before I could stomach no more. Maybe Piers read too much JN.

**greenskin lynn**

While i can't think of specific examples beyond what others have posted, you should be able to find some books if you look into light novels and serial novels
https://www.novelupdates.com/ lists a lot that are being translated, if you don't mind hunting through lists

**predutur**

I really want to thank you for your suggestions.

Whats your opinion about Diablo III novels ? (Some of them feature monks)