Looking for a fantasy story that fits my tastes

[circa81]

I'm thinking of getting into the fantasy genre, and I have some prerequisites for story characteristics.

I think I would prefer Hard Fantasy, where every fantastical element, especially magic is explained.

I don't want a game of thrones level of story complexity or character volume. I don't really care how long the book is though.

I want highly detailed and realistic characters, no pure good and pure evil.

Other species, like elves and such must be prevalent and make up a good amount of the main and secondary characters.

While I love world building, Tolkien takes it much too far for my tastes. Endless details about unimportant things are not wanted.

I don't really care about romance, so that can't be a main aspect.

Thanks in advance.

-- 12 Sep 2016, 20:29 --

Anything?

-- 13 Sep 2016, 18:29 --

Anyone?

[Paliden]

Try the Anti-Matter Chronicles by P.G. Thomas.

[Mashadar86]

Brandon Sanderson - Mistborn. No elves etc though.
Terry Brooks has elves, dwarves, gnomes, Druids etc, though he is definitely not hard fantasy (and not my favourite either)

Your post has made me realise that I haven't read all that many fantasy books that focus on non-humanoid races as main characters (apart from Tolkien and Brooks).

Will have to remedy this!

[Lincoln]

Try the Anti-Matter Chronicles by P.G. Thomas.

Haven't read this one, will check it out.