Need help with a fantasy title

cauliflower · Jan 9, 2021

Hi everyone, I’m nearly finished with a 250k word fantasy novel with a science fiction twist. I might split it into two books. It started with the title Mastha’s Realm, but then Mastha ended up not playing nearly as big of a role as I originally intended. Now I’m having trouble coming up with a title. Knowing nothing about the book, what title would entice you guys to pick up the book the most? I tried to avoid titles that are already in use… which meant a lot went out the window.

Mastha’s Realm
The One-Armed Prince of Nothing
Zaladhar
Realm of the Zaladhar
Zajgonen
Forest in the Desert
Boole
In a place that does not exist
Slaves of the gods (my friend told me this one, but I believe this title is taken)
To make the world whole
Swords and Carbines
The Man Without a Face
The Beije Kingdom
The Shatterlands

Any ideas welcome.

Thank you!

InkFinger · Jan 9, 2021

In a place that does not exist or perhaps Forest in the Desert

Cindyt · Jan 9, 2021

I like Slaves of the Gods.

Titles can't be copyrighted. I once own two books called Daddy.

Or you could tweek it:

Chattel of the Gods
Victims of the Gods.
Captives of the Gods
Peons of the Gods

You get the idea. Good luck!

frimble3 · Jan 10, 2021

'The One-Armed Prince of Nothing' has a sort of 'zing' to it.
I would certainly at least look at the blurb for it.

I would skip 'Swords and Carbines' unless it looked to be alt-history, because that's what it sounds like.

frimble3 · Jan 10, 2021

If it's going to be a two-parter, how about
Shatterlands I: The One-Armed Prince of Nothing
Shatterlands II: The Man without a Face
(and I really hope they aren't the same poor guy.)

Magpie720 · Jan 15, 2021

Agree with frimble, Shatterlands would be a good series name. I would cut down your prince one so it becomes: Prince of Nothing.

Cobalt Jade · Jan 15, 2021

My Faves:

Zaladhar

The Shatterlands (I think this one might be similar to another title though? "The Shattered World" or the like?)

MaryLennox · Jan 17, 2021

Magpie720 said:
Agree with frimble, Shatterlands would be a good series name. I would cut down your prince one so it becomes: Prince of Nothing.

I agree with Magpie720, but I also like Realm of the Zaladhar. However, I'm always weary of using a possibly difficult to spell/fantastical word in a title.

CathleenT · Jan 18, 2021

I like Frimble's suggestion in post #5.

NINA28 · Jan 19, 2021

You could pair some title up here.
Have like series name and a book name.
But try looking closely through your manuscript because often the best title is in the work itself. I don't tend to like titles that are a mouthful, and some of themI'd have no idea how to even pronounce. The only one I would use is "shatterlands".
The best title sum up the sum of the story in as fewer words a possible.

TurbulentMuse · Jan 20, 2021

I like “In a place that does not exist” but it is a bit long. Perhaps just “A Place That Doesn’t Exist”

TheKingsWit · Jan 23, 2021

I quite like 'Prince of Nothing' or 'The Prince of Nothing' (The one-armed prince of nothing is getting a bit unwieldy for my taste), 'A Man without a Face', and 'Slaves of the Gods' They all have an intriguing dark fantasy vibe.

pharm · Jan 23, 2021

Unfortunately Prince of Nothing is already the name of a pretty popular fantasy trilogy from not that long ago. I like Shatterlands and frimble's subtitle suggestions for the series. Second favorite for me is Forest in the Desert followed by In a Place That Does Not Exist.

Need help with a fantasy title

cauliflower

InkFinger

Cindyt

Gettin wiggy wit it

frimble3

Heckuva good sport

frimble3

Heckuva good sport

Magpie720

Cobalt Jade

MaryLennox

CathleenT

I write

NINA28

TurbulentMuse

Muse

TheKingsWit

pharm

profoundly de minimis