One great underrated anime with an epic story is 'Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic'. It has a richly detailed world filled with different kingdoms, magic, and djinn. The story follows Aladdin, a young and powerful magician, as he travels and meets various characters, each with their own motives and backstories. It has elements of adventure, political intrigue, and a lot of character development that make its story truly epic.
I think 'The House of the Spirits' by Isabel Allende is an underrated gem. It's a family saga filled with love, politics, and magic realism. It follows the Trueba family over generations in Chile. Allende's writing is so vivid that you can almost feel the South American landscape and the passion of the characters.
The anime 'Shiki' is also underrated when it comes to plot twists. It's set in a small village where people start dying mysteriously. The story unfolds slowly, introducing the characters and their relationships, and then there are some huge revelations that turn the whole story on its head. It's a horror - mystery anime with a great deal of depth in its plot twists.
One underrated NoSleep story is 'The Man in the Window'. It's a creepy tale about a person who keeps seeing a strange figure in their neighbor's window at odd hours. The descriptions are really vivid, making you feel as if you're in the protagonist's shoes. Another great one is 'The Whispering Woods'. It has an amazing atmosphere that builds up slowly, with strange noises and a sense of being watched. And then there's 'The Haunted Elevator'. It plays on the common fear of small, enclosed spaces and adds a supernatural twist that makes it a truly underrated gem.
'Boxers & Saints' by Gene Luen Yang. It tells two parallel stories about the Boxer Rebellion in China from different perspectives. The art is distinct and helps to bring the historical events to life in a vivid way.
The best underrated fantasy novels usually have a distinct narrative voice. For instance, 'The Thief' has a very matter - of - fact and yet engaging voice. They also often explore moral and ethical themes in a unique way. In 'The Black Company', the characters have to make difficult decisions in a world full of grey areas. And they may have a setting that's not your typical high - fantasy landscape. 'The Night Circus' has a very unusual circus - based setting that adds to its charm.
'Shinsekai Yori' is an underrated gem. The story is set in a post - apocalyptic world where children have psychic powers. It shows a society that is both utopian and dystopian at the same time. The story slowly reveals the dark secrets of this world and how the characters deal with them, which is really fascinating.
One underrated horror novel is 'The Croning' by Laird Barron. It has a very Lovecraftian feel to it. The mystery and the sense of an ancient evil lurking is really well - done. 'The Only Good Indians' by Stephen Graham Jones is also a great pick. It tells a story about Native American folklore and revenge in a modern - day setting. It's very atmospheric and disturbing. 'The Troop' by Nick Cutter is also quite good. It's about a group of Boy Scouts on an island who encounter a terrifying parasite.
Maybe 'The Chrysalids' by John Wyndham. It's not as well - known as some others but it's a great dystopian novel. It deals with themes of genetic mutations and the intolerance of society towards those who are different. In the story, a post - apocalyptic society has very strict rules about what is considered 'normal' genetically.
The 'Maisie Dobbs' series by Jacqueline Winspear is great. Maisie is a detective in post - World War I England. The books are not as well - known as some big - name mystery series but they are full of great period detail, complex characters, and interesting mysteries.