For me, the first time this happened was with The Royal Assassin Saga from Robin Hobb, and then Metro 2033.
This year, it’s The Witcher saga… (I can’t move on) I love all those introspective books with thoughtful heroes trying to make sense of the world they are forced to evolve into.
Do you have any other book like that?
Charlie Huston’s “Caught Stealing Trilogy” or “Hank Thompson Trilogy”. One of my favourite modern noir pieces of work. A damn solid 3 book series about a guy who gets mixed up in shady stuff and can’t seem to find an exit.
I actually found and read the last book first, not knowing it was a trilogy. Which made me think it was trés cool how things in the past were referenced and added more weight to the main character/world. Turns out it was book 3 of 3. 🤪
All three made/make it hard to get into clunky modern pulp/noir style fiction since.