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You are here: Home / Readers / The Book Recommendation Thread

The Book Recommendation Thread

Readers, Recommended Read POST A COMMENT June 6, 2022 by Moderator R

From Ilona:

Like most prolific readers, I started reading in childhood. My regular library haul, which I carried over two tramway stops to my home in a canvas bag, usually required me to stop a few times and rest, because dragging 8 hardbacks over long distances was a bit much for a 9 year old. Some of those books left a huge impression on me. So of course, when I had my own children, I wanted them to read the same books.

Except that I realized as an adult that some of those books I used to love have problems. My children don’t need to be exposed to USSR-spawned propaganda, not matter what feelings I have attached to it. If I let them read something like that, it came with a caveat of “see how you are being manipulated.”

Books are no longer static things. Ebooks make editing even a published book a snap. The book you have read as a child might be very different now.

The great thing about human beings is that we learn and adapt with the circumstances. Our society is very different from the way it was 30, 20, or even 10 years ago. The past already happened. The more important thing is what we do going forward.

With that in mind, let’s get to the reason for this post.

It’s that time again! The old book recommendation thread is too long and cumbersome, so Mod R made a new one.

From Mod R:

We want your new favorites! Please post your book recommendations and your requests for books to read in the comments, all genres welcome. The recommendations on posts following this one will be removed to keep those discussions on topic.

Four Things to Keep in Mind

To make this post as helpful as it can be, we ask you to keep in mind four things.

First, before you recommend something, ask yourself how recently you read or reread it. If it’s a childhood favorite, does it hold up? Please do your due diligence, especially if it’s a recommendation aimed at a young reader. Do you feel comfortable handing this book to a child today? Skim it, you might be surprised. Some books are timeless, others…not so much.

Second, please try to focus on newer books. We all have read and admired the genre classics, such as the work of Mercedes Lackey and Ray Bradbury, but this is your opportunity to let people know about your new finds.

As an aside, last time Ilona did this, an author made a sock puppet account (fake account) and recommended her own books. She found them amazing. Please don’t do that.

Third, when responding to people asking for books to read in the comments, please make sure your recommendations are on topic. We all like books, and we get enthusiastic, and it’s easy to hijack the discussion. If the person is asking for PG 13 books about teenage vampires being bullied in school, recommending books by Julia Quinn, as awesome as they are, probably won’t help.

Fourth, please limit your comment to one favorite title, unless you are responding to someone asking for something specific. If you list every Urban Fantasy author in your comments in a giant wall of text, people will just skim it. Pick one and tell us why you liked it so much.

As usual, if you see your favorite book already recommended, please feel free to reply to it with your own take on it or just drop a +1 rather than making a separate thread on it, otherwise it just becomes too unwieldy and people’s eyes start to twitch. I received a scathing email on the previous recs post about not knowing how to do my job, because there were too many threads about the Murderbot Diaries series and the reader was NEVER, do I hear, EVER going to touch it after having to scroll past it so many times. Heh. So if I trim things here and there in repeat conversation, don’t begrudge me.

So to reiterate:

  1. If it’s an old favorite, reread or at least skim before recommending.
  2. Try to focus on new books.
  3. Keep the recommendations on topic.
  4. Limit your comment to one favorite title and list the reasons you love it.

There’s something else I’ve been meaning to address for a while. This blog has a newsletter, which goes out to several thousand people as a reminder that there has been a new post. Because it has to reach so many addresses, it usually has a 1 day delay from when the article goes live on the website for everyone. That’s just the nature of the beast, things are not being kept from you. If you reply to the newsletter reminder email- please know that those comments aren’t public. They do not count as recommendations for your fellow fans, or as contest entries, nor are they a contact form etc. The blog posts and comments are here, on the Ilona Andrews website and you can access them by clicking on the title of the post you receive in your email or the “Read in Browser” link at the end. So if you have books to share today and you’re reading this in an email, please click below and come to the websites to join the discussion!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ranjani says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:35 am

    I used to love reading the Septimus Heap series.

    • Ginny says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      My daughter loved that series

  2. Ashley says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:39 am

    As a mom and an avid reader I’m always looking for books for my 2 year old. I fell in love with Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster. Originally I bought it because the main character deals with anxiety, but then I read it and realized the main character was a princess who decided to become a knight instead. My brother is a trans man and the book made the discussion about his transition SO MUCH EASIER. It’s a picture book for children, but it has so many layers. There are lessons about dealing with anxiety, being yourself, there is the hero’s journey, there is a dragon! It really has everything.

    • Moderator R says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:41 am

      That sounds amazing! I’ve actually found kid’s books so helpful with emotional regulation- if you weren’t taught how to deal with that as a child, there is really a part of you that only responds to that level!

      • Vonnie says

        June 6, 2022 at 8:52 am

        Any examples ModR?

        • Natasha Johnson says

          June 6, 2022 at 8:56 am

          The sport series is good. It is different colored spots that represent different emotions

          • Natasha Johnson says

            June 6, 2022 at 8:57 am

            Spot* not sport

        • Moderator R says

          June 6, 2022 at 9:05 am

          Keeping it Cool by Melissa Boyd- on dealing with change
          Be Mindful of Monsters by Lauren Stockly – on embracing all emotions, rather than blocking those perceived as “negative” away and pretending you don’t have needs. Everyone has needs 🙂
          It’s ok, Slow Lizard by Yeorin Yoom- on meditation and mindfulness and patience

        • Deb says

          June 6, 2022 at 9:06 am

          Wilma Jean the Worry Machine and Ish are great examples of this. As a therapist I know not all of my clients are readers but most liked these when they read them in my office.

        • S says

          June 6, 2022 at 2:50 pm

          The Pout Pout Fish books have a lot of emotional regulation stuff, and they are not terrible even on the 100th reread for the parent.

          • Shinta says

            June 6, 2022 at 4:23 pm

            +1

          • Virginia says

            June 17, 2022 at 8:24 am

            Ah yes the favorites get to the point you could probably both recite them and you dassn’t try to skip over any bits because they will call you on it.

        • KimberlyR says

          June 6, 2022 at 8:08 pm

          The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Gary Rubinstein and Mark Pett for children struggling with perfectionism and being too hard on themselves for making mistakes

      • Danielle H says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:24 am

        Grumpy Monkey has been super helpful in teaching my 2 year old the concept of ‘grumpiness’ and in how to react both as a friend and when you’re experiencing it

      • Anny says

        June 7, 2022 at 5:42 am

        I’m really enjoying the preschool series bluey for precisely this reason. The kids are realistic and the parents are wonderful but not perfect. It’s really good for promoting empathy without too much moralising.

        • Erin says

          June 7, 2022 at 7:32 pm

          BRILLIANT series. I’m jealous only Australians get season 3. 😄

      • Ashley says

        June 14, 2022 at 6:20 am

        I used to run a Sunday School based on Children’s Books– I loved Fancy Nancy and Mo Willems just for that very reason.

      • Tiffany says

        June 14, 2022 at 9:58 pm

        We have loved the Rabbit Listened with our 4 year old. I feel like both his and my own empathetic listening skills have increased dramatically due to this book.

    • Karyn says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:36 am

      +1

    • SJ says

      June 7, 2022 at 2:14 pm

      I LOVE this! What a beautiful, immediate gift to your family. I’m excited to add this to my PreK classroom collection!

    • Marijke van Nieuwstadt says

      June 9, 2022 at 8:27 pm

      Bad Guys books were a hit with my grandson. Recently made into a movie too.

      • Salma says

        June 13, 2022 at 9:37 pm

        +1 My kid loved them (It’s a series of graphic novels) and we all enjoyed the movie

  3. Kevin says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:40 am

    Here’s a recommendation and a question:

    I love the Bobiverse series, about a current era IT guy (Bob) who is sent into the future and plays a key role in helping humanity. There is some good hard science and lots of humor. The first book is We Are Legion (We Are Bob).

    Question: I’m looking for more modern sci-fi books. What would you recommend? (lots of people recommend the Expanse, I’m caught up on that series already thanks)

    • Astha says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:51 am

      +1

    • Vonnie says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:55 am

      Have you read the Murderbot series yet? Ignore the name, it’s all about love. The MC is a cyborg who is basically learning how to be here real self in a universe that sees her as a robotic slave. At the same time, she’s finding that some humans, her found family, are definitely worth saving. Snark and humor abound

      • Elena Linville-Abdo says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:10 am

        Definite +100 to Murderbot!

        • stacey e. says

          June 6, 2022 at 10:55 am

          yes! +100 for Murderbot!

        • Sara T says

          June 6, 2022 at 11:24 am

          Love Murderbot

        • Judi says

          June 6, 2022 at 12:52 pm

          Definitely Murderbot series, it just keeps getting better.

      • Julie Melendez says

        June 6, 2022 at 10:18 am

        Sooo good!

      • Kathryn says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:02 am

        +1. As well as Martha Wells Stories of the Raksura.

      • Maria R. says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:18 am

        +1

        • Lisa Smith says

          June 6, 2022 at 11:40 am

          Love Murderbot, and loved it enough to go back and read the rest of Martha Wells, which I also really enjoyed.

      • Terri says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:56 am

        Love this series. Highly recommend it. It is written by Martha Wells.

      • Christina says

        June 6, 2022 at 12:21 pm

        Excellent series!

      • Angela Anderson says

        June 6, 2022 at 12:23 pm

        Love that series!

      • Sheri says

        June 6, 2022 at 12:25 pm

        YES 100% for Murderbot.

      • Anonymous says

        June 6, 2022 at 1:11 pm

        I read Murderbot as a “he,” at least from a physiological standpoint (height, lack of sex characteristics– ie no breasts, etc). For the uninitiated, Murderbot is referred to throughout the series as an “it,” hence the disagreements when readers start assigning gender… 😉

        • Julie says

          June 6, 2022 at 1:19 pm

          Murderbot was a great chance for me to practice using the singular they in conversations, because they are clearly not an “it” in the conventional meaning, but neither are they male or female. They do tend to read more male to me, so I had to fight against calling them “he” at first, but given that they self identify as a genderless construct, I try to stick to that.

          • Franky says

            June 6, 2022 at 3:14 pm

            +1

          • Shannon from Texas says

            June 6, 2022 at 5:28 pm

            +1 Well reasoned, well said.

            I hadn’t thought about it, but I read them as “he” as well. Thanks, all.

          • Alice says

            June 7, 2022 at 2:06 pm

            +1

          • Farhiya says

            June 8, 2022 at 1:19 am

            Murderbot read as female to me, if I ever thought about gender. I love that series so much because the plot and characterization has absolutely nothing to do with gender. I had never read anything like it.

          • Bec D'Cunha says

            June 8, 2022 at 5:50 pm

            It’s definitely a great series for reminding yourself that whatever is in someone’s pants is their business not ours, and practising using they them. It was a steep learning curve for me with my friends who prefer they them I think mainly because I knew them under their old/dead name. I do love the level of violence balanced with neuroticism.

        • Wendy S says

          June 6, 2022 at 9:02 pm

          Since Murderbot has no genitalia, I see him as a sort of male eunuch. So could be she as well. But in my mind, a “he.” Wonderful!

        • Sarah K says

          June 7, 2022 at 8:15 am

          This is so interesting – I read Murderbot as a “she” – not that it really matters/ed 🙂 This is a great series and definitely highly recommended. I even follow murderbot on twitter!

          • jewelwing says

            June 7, 2022 at 4:22 pm

            +1 Always seemed female to me, but there’s nothing to indicate either way. It is what it is, as it were. Doesn’t affect the story.

        • Lael says

          June 7, 2022 at 5:24 pm

          I’m pretty sure Murderbot chooses to refer to itself as “it” in at least one of the books.

          Definitely recommend too though.

      • Nl says

        June 6, 2022 at 2:28 pm

        Murderbot for sure

      • Claudia says

        June 6, 2022 at 2:29 pm

        +1
        .. but weak noticed that it was already mentioned in Mod Rs Intro, Right?

      • Kevin says

        June 6, 2022 at 3:18 pm

        Yes, I’ve enjoyed that series thanks!

      • Ruby2 says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:05 pm

        The Murderbot series is THE BEST.

      • Carolyn Plank says

        June 7, 2022 at 6:23 am

        The Murderbot Diaries audio books are excellent, too!

      • Derply Moved says

        June 7, 2022 at 1:53 pm

        For those that read the Murderbot diaries and found it less than murdery, i think that one should at least mention Tik-Tok by John Sladek.

        • MamaOfThree says

          June 7, 2022 at 7:36 pm

          I recently read a very good series that gave me very strong Murderbot vibes. Fortune’s Pawn by Rachel Bach. It’s a trilogy and though the main character is human, she’s almost always in her suit that she calls Lady Gray.

          • CitCat says

            June 9, 2022 at 3:10 am

            I love Rachel Bach trilogy. Loved it the first time I read it. Now it’s become my go to comfort read.

          • Keek says

            June 10, 2022 at 2:42 pm

            +1

          • Kylie in Australia 5.17pm sun12/6 says

            June 12, 2022 at 1:17 am

            If Sigouney Weaver in Alien met Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica, you’d get Deviana Morris — a hot new mercenary earning her stripes to join an elite fighting force. Until one alien bite throws her whole future into jeopardy.

            just read the blurb on this one, yeap, i want in

      • Drew says

        June 8, 2022 at 12:52 pm

        +1 Amazing series

      • Brightfae says

        June 10, 2022 at 10:18 am

        Thank you! I have been searching for something new and kept getting disappointed. And then the Book Angels gave me this thread. AND then you gave me Murderbot. I am soooooo in love!!!!

      • Kate says

        June 10, 2022 at 4:49 pm

        Those who enjoy Murderbot might also enjoy Tamsyn Muir’s Locked Tomb series, starting with Gideon the Ninth. It’s not quite like anything else I’ve read: space opera with political inrigue and necromancers in space. Fair warning, though, that the language is hilariously filthy!

    • Elena Linville-Abdo says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:09 am

      Have you tried The Divide series by JS Dewes? The first book is called The Last Watch and it came out in 2020. The next one is called The Exiled Fleet.

      It’s fun, fast-paced, and I absolutely love the protagonists. The author has a knack for writing relatable characters you can’t help but root for, even when they appear only for a few pages.

      • Kevin says

        June 6, 2022 at 3:17 pm

        Thanks, I’ve added it to my list!

      • Emi_Mei says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:32 pm

        +1
        loved The Last Watch and am eagerly waiting for next book.

      • Felis C says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:03 pm

        +1

      • Sfc says

        June 9, 2022 at 1:10 pm

        +1 working through the first one it’s great!

      • Grace says

        June 24, 2022 at 3:09 pm

        + 1

    • Debby says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:21 am

      Oh, I LOVE the Bobiverse series as well! I found it humorous, intelligent reading with clever world-building, intriguing political, social, economic problem solving as well as ethical issues of interactions with aliens and terraforming. I especially enjoyed the philosophical examination of what does it mean to be human (how much physiological/physical species drift before you can’t call yourself “human” anymore)! So I want to share my new favorite sci fi series with you:
      The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells ❤️ (The first book title is All Systems Red and free with Kindle Unlimited). The are currently 8 titles available.

      The MurderBot series has many of the same elements of a “created” sentience struggling to find identity and purpose- but from an opposite viewpoint. Where the Bobiverse protagonist is derived from Homo sapien, MurderBot was an intentional organic “tool” manufactured to replace a variety of specific manual labor tasks and becomes self aware enough to desire freedom. It was an incredibly fun read and I devoured the entire series; anxiously awaiting it’s continuation!

      • Dee says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:52 am

        Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers series might be worth checking out – shades of Firefly with some interesting relationships

        • Gabrielle says

          June 6, 2022 at 11:46 am

          +1

        • Julie says

          June 6, 2022 at 1:20 pm

          +1

        • Jenny says

          June 6, 2022 at 1:23 pm

          +1

        • Joy says

          June 6, 2022 at 4:34 pm

          +1 enjoyed this series.

        • MrsSoule says

          June 6, 2022 at 7:22 pm

          +1

        • Ginger says

          June 6, 2022 at 8:07 pm

          Love this series.

        • Robin says

          June 6, 2022 at 8:59 pm

          + 1. Lovely, gentle, thoughtful books.

        • Sarah says

          June 7, 2022 at 7:17 am

          +1

        • Sheryl says

          June 7, 2022 at 8:49 am

          +1

        • Ista in Sydney says

          June 7, 2022 at 8:50 am

          +1

        • Lavendel says

          June 8, 2022 at 9:32 am

          +

          I love them

        • P de Langen says

          June 9, 2022 at 11:58 am

          Oh yes, such beautifully written books 🙂

        • Liz says

          June 9, 2022 at 12:10 pm

          LOVE BeckyChambers!!!!

        • susan says

          June 11, 2022 at 4:21 pm

          +1

          I love Becky Chambers. Her new Monk & Robot series is great too.

      • Dave says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:55 am

        Crossover by Joel Shepherd. Similar to Murderbot, Uber soldier android claims political asylum.

        • Kerri says

          June 6, 2022 at 11:23 am

          +1 for this series. Cassandra is awesome. I must have a reread.

        • H.M. Clarke says

          June 6, 2022 at 1:32 pm

          I love that series – I even have a signed copy of Crossover 🙂

        • Kevin says

          June 6, 2022 at 3:17 pm

          Thanks! I’ve added it to my list. I’m a fan of the Spiral Wars series so this is a natural!

        • AndrewC says

          June 9, 2022 at 6:08 pm

          +1! A great series that thoughtfully looks at what it is to be human, what is love and does it matter, as well as examining bigotry and geo/interplanetary politics. The protagonist, as all the characters, has great depth, and it is a well built world. The interplay between Sandy and the rest of the folks in the series is great. Reminds me of Kate and her world crossed with the Kinsman series. Sandy is honest and snarky, as well as caring.

    • Melanie says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:25 am

      +1 for Bobiverse. Have you read Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers series? I thought the series had interesting characters and world-building.

      • Caitlan says

        June 6, 2022 at 10:56 am

        Thirding the Wayfarers series. It has almost a slice of life feel with diverse characters and just almost reads like a cozy only SF if that makes sense?

    • Sherri says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:41 am

      Perhaps you would like Children of Time by Tchaikovsky. The audio version is very good as well.

      • Mary Beth says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:28 am

        +1

        • Meg says

          June 7, 2022 at 7:18 pm

          +1

    • Illogicerr says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:49 am

      You might enjoy ‘The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant’. I’m working my way through this series. Very dry sense of humor, as one might expect.

      • Mary Beth says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:29 am

        My Hubby hooked me on those. Fantastic fun! +1

      • Dana says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:37 am

        Hmpff. I just went on B&N to see if that was available. The “sample” of the book was a copy of the cover page. Some sample! Very disappointing.

      • Karyn says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:43 am

        +1

      • FBR says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:51 am

        +1 Fred is very fun to read.

      • Paula R says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:58 am

        Pretty much anything by Drew Hayes. I like Fred, but I prefer “Super Powereds”, “Villian Code”, and “Spells, Swords, and Stealth” I bounce between them and the House Andrews catalog for my comfort reads.

        • Paula R says

          June 6, 2022 at 12:04 pm

          And apparently I can’t read the directions. Doh!

        • Andy Lawler says

          June 6, 2022 at 3:00 pm

          A new spells and swords book just came out!

        • jasmine scott says

          June 7, 2022 at 9:36 am

          Me too!😁🤣😋

        • Hannah W says

          June 8, 2022 at 9:48 am

          +1

        • Steph A says

          June 9, 2022 at 11:20 pm

          +1
          Ilona Andrews and Drew Hayes are my favorite of all time. In addition to the series mentioned above by Mr Hayes I’d also recommend Second Hand Curses.
          Hayes has a wonderful imagination, he constantly manages to surprise me!

      • Susie says

        June 6, 2022 at 2:08 pm

        +1 loved the series of these

      • Kevin says

        June 6, 2022 at 3:19 pm

        I’m a huge Drew Hayes fan, thanks! I love Fred and can recommend his other series as well. My favorite by him is the Villain’s Code series

      • Rose says

        June 13, 2022 at 1:24 pm

        If you enjoyed this series you would also chuckle out loud at Oddjobs by Heide Goody and Iain Grant which is a hilariously British-style-humor book about ensuring that the apocalypse goes as smoothly as possible.

    • Martha L says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:06 am

      +1

    • Stephanie says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:10 am

      Any Ilona Andrews fan interested in sci fi should check out everything by Jessie Mihalik, if you haven’t already (IA has recommended her books on this blog in the past)! Her books feel more similar to IA books than anything else I’ve found (the highest compliment, imo!), but they’re sci fi/space opera-with-strong-romantic-subplots rather than fantasy-with-strong-romantic-subplots. Her Consortium Rebellion series is an excellent place to start.

      • Maria R. says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:19 am

        +1
        Read it because Ilona Andrews recommended writer

        • Dianna Kilgore says

          June 7, 2022 at 3:46 pm

          Me too!

      • Sara T says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:26 am

        She’s on autobuy after she was recommended by IA.

      • Bobbi T. says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:31 am

        +1. Love that series!

      • Mardee says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:37 am

        I like her books but I hope that she starts developing her plots more. I found them a bit predictable, although I like her writing.

      • Veronica says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:52 am

        Yes, absolutely!

      • FBR says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:52 am

        +1 Read and reread all her books. I really like her Queens Gambit series, but I’ve read them all multiple times.

      • Suz says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:57 am

        +1

      • Anne says

        June 6, 2022 at 12:22 pm

        +1 for Jessie Mihalik. I’ve read everything she’s published at least once. Thanks to IA for introducing me to her works in the first place.

      • T Helms says

        June 6, 2022 at 1:24 pm

        +1

      • Sarah says

        June 6, 2022 at 2:46 pm

        +1 for Jesse mihalik, and for comparing her consortium rebellion to house A writing. It’s awesome.

      • Julie says

        June 6, 2022 at 3:40 pm

        I would say that T.A. White is comparable too. I recommend The Broken Lands series and The Firebird Chronicles series. But, neither are for children.

        • Claire says

          June 6, 2022 at 3:58 pm

          I really love T.A. White! I would add that the Firebird Chronicles might be more YA-appropriate. I have loved them as a mid- to older teenager, and I would say that while there are difficult and disturbing elements, they are not gory, graphically sexual, or in any way gratuitous. I like that the series gets a bit more mature as it goes on. It’s an incredibly satisfying space fantasy with a very light romantic element.

          • Cora says

            June 6, 2022 at 4:15 pm

            The Firebird series has excellent world building. It isn’t until the second book you find out the driving force of the series.

          • KimberlyR says

            June 6, 2022 at 8:12 pm

            +1 for TA White and some of her books are on Kindle Unlimited for people who have it

          • Allu says

            June 7, 2022 at 1:54 am

            So true, I have read the three series, by T. A White, and have to say Firebird is my favorite, Kira is awesome. So far the best sci-fic series I have come across.
            And I have also read Jessie Mihalik’s Polaris Rising, which was also good.
            Recently, I started the Class 5 Series by Michelle Diener, and I really enjoyed it. Even though the first book was released in 2015, the series is ongoing, and features a different couple through out. So I guess as Sci-fic, I would be recommending Dark Horse, (book 1 of class 5 series) by Michelle Diener. I guess the book is ok for teenagers? There is nothing explicit, and would consider it softer than Rules of Redemption, but honestly, I have no idea what is ideal for different ages.

            • Lynn Sanborn says

              June 7, 2022 at 6:00 pm

              Upvote Michelle Diener. The Class 5 books are my favorites but she writes in all different genres and they’re all good.

              • Karma Calling says

                June 9, 2022 at 5:30 pm

                Excellent Series!!

        • KGB_SC says

          June 6, 2022 at 8:07 pm

          +1 Love T.A. White! All of her series are rereads.

        • Dani says

          June 6, 2022 at 8:12 pm

          +1

        • Wendy S says

          June 6, 2022 at 9:06 pm

          I’m as addicted to The Firebird Chronicles as I was to Kate Daniels series. So exciting!

          • Andrea says

            June 10, 2022 at 3:08 pm

            +1 so excited for book 4 of firebird

        • Ginger says

          June 6, 2022 at 9:07 pm

          Agree T. A. White is a new favorite

          • Olga says

            June 7, 2022 at 6:37 pm

            +1

        • Dani says

          June 6, 2022 at 11:10 pm

          +1 great reads

        • Farhiya says

          June 8, 2022 at 1:21 am

          +1

        • Page says

          June 8, 2022 at 10:28 am

          I just started The Firebird series because of this thread and I can barely sleep, reading it on my breaks at work even.

          • dawn says

            June 9, 2022 at 3:36 pm

            HA! Excellent books.

        • Jwharmby says

          June 8, 2022 at 10:15 pm

          I started reading that author because they’re on kindle unlimited. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read so far, but my favorite is the newer series, the firebird chronicles.

        • BelleBok says

          June 8, 2022 at 10:24 pm

          Definitely love T.A. White too!!!

        • Salma says

          June 13, 2022 at 9:43 pm

          +1

      • Jennifer says

        June 7, 2022 at 2:43 am

        + 1

        • Linda says

          June 7, 2022 at 10:13 am

          + 1 I love T A White.

      • Sheryl says

        June 7, 2022 at 8:58 am

        +1 Love Jessie Mihalik!

      • Audrey says

        June 7, 2022 at 12:57 pm

        +1

      • Kathy says

        June 8, 2022 at 7:57 pm

        +1000!! I love Jessie Mihalik – especially the Consortium Rebellion. Such a good series.

      • BelleBok says

        June 8, 2022 at 10:15 pm

        +1 love her series too!!

      • Samantha says

        June 9, 2022 at 2:19 pm

        +1 good books
        very good

      • Siobhan says

        June 10, 2022 at 12:19 am

        +1 for both T.A White and Jessie Mahilik. Awesome authors.

        For those interested, Jennifer Estep has a sci-fi series coming out this September which should be good. I am really enjoying her fantasy romance series.

        • Danette B says

          June 12, 2022 at 7:05 pm

          I’ve really been enjoying the series that starts with the book, ‘Kill the Queen’. I have read it several times now. One of my go to series, along with IA, for when I am desperate to read something.

      • Janelle says

        June 15, 2022 at 10:47 am

        +1! Jessie Mihalik’s sci fi is fantastic!

    • JILL says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:33 pm

      ILOVED Bobiverse as well! I recommend another series (the 14th and final book comes out tomorrow!)called Expeditionary Forces by Craig Alanson (read by RC Bray on Audible) – aliens come to earth and the journey begins…not for age 16 or under? There is a strong overarching humor provided by a character I can’t name or it will spoil things. Highly recommend it.

      • Heidi says

        June 6, 2022 at 3:18 pm

        yes.. waiting for it to come onto my account now.. here it’s the 7th already.. it should be there … lol..

        I didn’t realise it was going to be the last book.. but at the same time.. it has started to drag a bit.

    • Jean says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:33 pm

      SE Smith the Lords of Valdier series. Really funny. The later novellas of their children are cute as well.

      • Liz says

        June 17, 2022 at 11:58 am

        I tried based off this recommendations, and I have to say, I strongly disagree, did not care for these books at all. Not to disparage this recommendation, but just so you go in with the knowledge!

        • Moderator R says

          June 17, 2022 at 12:00 pm

          Mileage always varies, I’m sorry the books didn’t work for you! Any particular reasons you want to warn others of?

    • Magdalen Braden says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:43 pm

      It’s YA but still very good (I’m 66 and I loved it): Naomi Kritzer’s Catfishing on Catnet. Makes a great double feature with Murderbot because of the overarching question of AI having emotions and value systems.

      • lisa says

        June 7, 2022 at 6:16 pm

        yes very good!

      • Ria says

        June 8, 2022 at 12:46 pm

        ok…i just bingeread Catfishing on catnet…iy is brilliand and the sequel is out

    • Oli says

      June 6, 2022 at 3:05 pm

      Try expeditionary force by Craig Alanson. Very funny. Tomorrow is coming out new book in the series and I can’t wait. Stupid monkeys(humans) kick ass.

    • Karen says

      June 6, 2022 at 4:41 pm

      You might look at The Interdependency Series by John Scalzi. A series about the universe literally flipping on it’s head. Science, mystery and relationships.

      • Kayla says

        June 8, 2022 at 1:51 am

        Also by John Scalzi is The Kaiju Preservation Society. Absolutely hilarious and a stand-alone (at least for now since it recently came out). Recommend for anyone who likes the Kaijus (i.e. Godzilla)…

    • laura says

      June 6, 2022 at 7:03 pm

      + 1. i love bobiverse!

    • Sam J says

      June 6, 2022 at 7:39 pm

      In a similar AI frame, have you tried the Imperial Radch series? I liked Leckie’s portrayal of an AI’s view of humanity and human customs a lot. From modern sci-fi I read most recently though, I adored Arkady Martine’s Teixcalaan series, with the ambassador having the memories of the old ambassador to guide her, also the introduction of the aliens in the second book. That was fun, especially the infection scene.

      • Ista in Sydney says

        June 7, 2022 at 8:57 am

        +1 for the Radch series by Anne Leckie.

        I’ll look for your other rec

        • Sydney Girl says

          June 7, 2022 at 4:49 pm

          +1 for Arkady Martine’s Teixcalaan series. Really enjoyable.

      • Lavendel says

        June 8, 2022 at 9:36 am

        Ever thing from Leckie is just good!

    • Rt Boyce says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:52 pm

      I recently enjoyed two books in Elizabeth Bear’s White Space series, “Machine” and “Ancestral Night”. The series is a solid mix of space opera (spaceships, aliens, danger), character arc (hard choices, friendships, coming to terms with the past), and old-school SF exploration of what makes us human. Well written!

    • Annamal says

      June 7, 2022 at 5:50 am

      Have you tried John Scalzi. He tends to be good for sci fi with some hard science and humour. The latest book is the stand alone Kaiju Preservation Society which is entertaining but also takes it’s premise seriously.

      • Sarah K says

        June 7, 2022 at 8:18 am

        +1 on Scalzi’s books

    • Jennifer says

      June 7, 2022 at 6:57 am

      My husband is into humorous sci-fi fan; he likes the Bobiverse fan and also Craig Alanson’s Expeditionary Force series. First book is Columbus Day.
      (also echo Murderbot +1k; not the same style but fun and funny and also depth)

    • Asia says

      June 7, 2022 at 9:56 am

      I would recommend T.A White series The Firebird chronicles (3 books) – light and fun reading with a twist 🙂

    • T says

      June 7, 2022 at 3:02 pm

      The Starship’s Mage Series. Also +1 to Spiral Wars and Crossover.

      • Liz C says

        June 14, 2022 at 6:14 pm

        I love these. In fact pretty much anything by Glynn Stewart

    • DeeDee says

      June 7, 2022 at 7:49 pm

      On long road trips, my spouse, son and I enjoy listening to Craig Alenson’s Expeditionary Force audiobook series.

      Bobiverse is great. We’re still following that series too. We like the fact that they have a Skippy group, which references Skippy from the E.F. series.

    • Jessi says

      June 7, 2022 at 8:05 pm

      +1

    • Ben says

      June 7, 2022 at 8:51 pm

      If you don’t mind paying, Frank Chadwick has a good military science fiction novel called Chain of Command. If your looking for a more comedic bent, Lindsay Buroker has a great series on kindle unlimited called Star Kingdom about a nerdy mad scientist who invents his way through saving his solar system.

    • Rosa says

      June 8, 2022 at 12:26 pm

      My recommendation would be the honor series by Rachel Caine. It’s a trilogy. It has living ships and is just really cool.

    • Hannah says

      June 8, 2022 at 12:37 pm

      I really enjoyed the Class 5 series by Michelle Diener – the first one is called Dark Horse. It’s alien abduction with some AIs in there too. It’s light-touch on the Science side which I prefer – I find that big chunks of confusing Science explaining why something works in Space really puts me off a lot of Sci-fi. I prefer when authors just write well enough to make me believe it does!

      • Eileen Johnson says

        June 9, 2022 at 10:47 am

        I agree. After reading Dark Horse I had to read all her books.

    • Karen M. says

      June 8, 2022 at 8:18 pm

      Definitely second Murderbot. However others that I have enjoyed include: The Martian and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, Lock In and sequel by John Scalzi, Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky and Hell Divers by Nicholas Sainsbury Smith.

    • David says

      June 10, 2022 at 10:11 pm

      Preach!

      U probably already read these, but can’t hurt to make sure:
      David Weber Safehold series and Honor Harrington series

  4. Mistfox says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:40 am

    I swear the Penric and Desdemona books by Lois McMaster Bujold got me through the worst of the pandemic. I needed books where the protagonist cares and tried to make things right. And Bujold’s writing is lyrical.

    • MariaZ says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:44 am

      Penric and Desdemona are dream team.

      • Claudia says

        June 6, 2022 at 2:32 pm

        LOVE it. Plus Miles Vorkosigan books
        … anyone else holding out for Peter Dinklage in Komarr? He could still do the Imperial Auditor books, agewise. Somehow.

        • LauraR says

          June 6, 2022 at 3:32 pm

          +1

        • MicheleMN says

          June 6, 2022 at 5:54 pm

          +1

        • Felis C says

          June 6, 2022 at 11:08 pm

          +1 for LMB

      • Paula says

        June 9, 2022 at 2:27 pm

        +1

    • bdhforever says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:48 am

      +1 and her vorkosigan books too!

      • Carol B says

        June 6, 2022 at 10:30 am

        + 1000 for vorkosigan series

        • Donna A says

          June 6, 2022 at 11:03 am

          +Infinity

          • Lisa Smith says

            June 6, 2022 at 11:41 am

            +Borders of Infinity (hardy har)

            • Donna A says

              June 6, 2022 at 11:43 am

              🤣🤣 Also one of the best short stories ever

      • Stephanie F. says

        June 6, 2022 at 10:52 am

        +1 for the Vorkosigan books.

    • Kathi Moran says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:03 am

      I just read these and can attest, LMB is with reading! Any of her books.

      • Gillian says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:54 am

        My favorites are the Sharing Knife series, which lean romance, but I also love the Chalion books.

        • Karen says

          June 6, 2022 at 10:57 am

          Oh Yes and Yes!

        • Dana G says

          June 9, 2022 at 11:49 am

          Definite thumbs up to these two, after Miles!!

    • Kathleen says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:06 am

      +1

    • Amy says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:22 am

      Very enthusiastic +1

      • Elizabeth says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:48 am

        +1 and love the audio books as well, especially Penric!

    • Rexy says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:04 am

      +1000 for Penric & Desdemona!
      I also loved the Sharing Knife books.

      • FBR says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:53 am

        +1 I really enjoy Penric &Desdemona.

    • Louise says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:16 am

      + 1000! Love Penric and Des. And Lois McMaster Bujold has recent examples of their adventures. She’s an author I go back to all the time, mainly for Pen and her Sharing Knife series, but she does Sci Fi too.

    • Anna says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:23 am

      +1

    • Jules says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:32 am

      +1 Anything by Bujold is magical. Love all her works, and have reread them all so many times.

      • Brian K says

        June 6, 2022 at 1:20 pm

        +1

    • Emma says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:36 am

      +1

    • Denise M Kurreck says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:48 am

      +1

    • Meg says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:56 am

      + 1

    • Mariam Zama says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:03 am

      +1

    • SL says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:31 am

      I just re-read a number of the Vorkosigan books and was reminded how much I love them. Fun and yet really thoughtful and thought-provoking. Plus, the parents are (imo) perfect.

    • Peggy says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:04 pm

      + 1. Bujold herself says she likes “lucid” writing. SHE is a lucid writer.

    • Aida says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:04 pm

      +1

    • joan says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:39 pm

      +1

    • Julie says

      June 6, 2022 at 1:21 pm

      +1. Amazing!

    • Ronnie says

      June 6, 2022 at 1:22 pm

      I haven’t read those but do love her Vorkosigan series!

    • Vera says

      June 6, 2022 at 1:53 pm

      Her writing is great and I love her heroes, those characters who know how hard doing the right thing can be and still do it.
      I think that´s one of the things that make “The Curse of Chalion/Paladin of souls” one of my go-to comfort reads when life get’s nasty 🙂

      • Ryssa says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:18 pm

        +100

      • Ista in Sydney says

        June 7, 2022 at 9:00 am

        +1

    • skeeter59 says

      June 6, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      +1

    • Claudia says

      June 6, 2022 at 2:30 pm

      LOVE +1000

    • Nl says

      June 6, 2022 at 2:31 pm

      You put that so well. Penric and Desdomena are fabulous. Orphans of Raspay is maybe my favorite.

    • Teresa says

      June 6, 2022 at 2:53 pm

      + 1 for anything Lois McMaster Bujold writes!

    • LauraR says

      June 6, 2022 at 3:33 pm

      +1

    • Claire says

      June 6, 2022 at 4:01 pm

      Yes! I loved these so much. Something that this reminds me of is the Scholomance series by Naomi Novik. These are YA-appropriate (though they deal with difficult themes and do a great job), and just incredible. The heroine is just so grumpy (for good reason) and yet so committed to doing the right thing, even while grumping about it. She is incredibly funny (and the audiobook is really good). The friendships and character growth are awesome, and the writing is beautiful.

      • Miriam says

        June 6, 2022 at 4:31 pm

        Yes – I love these books. The writing is excellent and the plotting unpredictable (in a wild, rollercoaster, very good way). The only downside is that we still have another year (I think) for book 3.

        • Bexx says

          June 6, 2022 at 7:39 pm

          Book 3 comes out late September! Not long at all now. I’m already excited because in about a one month span I get Ruby Fever, Scholomance # 3 AND the latest October Daye book!!

          • Cathy R says

            June 7, 2022 at 9:15 pm

            I like the Seanan McGuire Incryptid and October Daye series, not so much if her other series.

            • Debra says

              June 9, 2022 at 11:03 am

              I love the Incryptid books but can’t get into the October Daye series.

              • Rene O says

                June 10, 2022 at 9:54 am

                1+

      • Louisa says

        June 7, 2022 at 12:10 pm

        +1

      • Tapati says

        June 7, 2022 at 2:36 pm

        I also love the Scholomance series. Can’t wait for the next book!

      • Dianna Kilgore says

        June 7, 2022 at 3:56 pm

        Love these too. Eagerly waiting for the next. Her dragons and fairytale series are excellent too.

      • jewelwing says

        June 7, 2022 at 4:28 pm

        +1 The Scholomance is this generation’s Harry Potter, only darker. You can read it on so many levels.

      • Ines says

        June 7, 2022 at 7:33 pm

        +1 totally loved the Scholomance books and have book 3 on pre-order. Fun nostalgia to high school way back when.

      • Cathy says

        June 7, 2022 at 7:43 pm

        +1 for Naomi Novik’s Scholomance series! Love them!

      • Penty says

        June 8, 2022 at 6:40 am

        +1 Thank you for this recommendation. I devoured the first book yesterday and it was great!

      • Sarah says

        June 8, 2022 at 5:03 pm

        +1

      • Kathy says

        June 8, 2022 at 8:00 pm

        +1 for Naomi Novik, and the Scholomance series!! I can’t wait for book 3!

    • Kaelin says

      June 6, 2022 at 6:50 pm

      +1000 All Bujold, all the time. She is phenomenal

    • Alice says

      June 7, 2022 at 2:13 pm

      +1

  5. Katy says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:41 am

    More recent favorite Naomi Novik A Deadly Education

    • VICTORRIA says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:52 am

      Just finished Devon Monk’s Reed sisters series. Loved them. Looking for recommendations myself!

      • Jenna says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:03 am

        Check out A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark. Magic-infused steampunk set in early 20th century Cairo. Super rich in detail, so it’s a bit dense, but soooo interesting.

        • Aaron says

          June 6, 2022 at 9:23 am

          Both it an the sequel, The Haunting of Tram Car 015 are delightful reads, if you enjoy an urban fantasy set more in a Noir setting.

        • B says

          June 6, 2022 at 11:32 am

          +1 on this books and audiobooks. Well worth multiple reads/listens.

        • Tina says

          June 6, 2022 at 9:20 pm

          +1

        • Felis C says

          June 6, 2022 at 11:09 pm

          +1 for Master of Djinn, so good!

        • Misty says

          June 7, 2022 at 8:11 am

          +1! It is so good!

      • Jennifer Mosier says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:10 am

        I really like A magical romantic comedy ( with a body count) by rj blain

        • kommiesmom says

          June 6, 2022 at 9:57 am

          The whole series is great! (I think the book count for this series is 20 at this point.) Her characters are real people, even when they are also shape-shifting unicorns, gorgons, vampires, and others.

          I also like her “Royal States” series for something more serious. (Pen name for this series is Susan Copperfield.)
          She addresses the problems of child marriage in her alternate world (and also in ours.)

          • Anna says

            June 6, 2022 at 10:42 am

            Personally, I like the Royal states series (pen name Susan Copperfield) better than the Magical romance with a body count (pen name RJ Blain). But that’s just personal preference. Both series er fun, easy reads with a funny take on urban fantasy genre.
            The style is a bit repetitive occasionally, but great books when you are stressed and just want to escape from the world for a little while.

            • Peggy says

              June 6, 2022 at 12:09 pm

              I liked the first books of the series, but as they went on, I realized there was a whole lots of talking about why the Royal Bodyguards were doing X, Y, or Z and little plot movement.

            • Nancy says

              June 6, 2022 at 6:18 pm

              Me too. I really enjoy Blain’s rom/coms, but I love the Royal States books. I also love Honor Raconteur’s Case Files of Henri Davenforth (a recommendation from Ilona in fact.)

              • Jo says

                June 6, 2022 at 7:20 pm

                Second the henri davenforth case files. On kindle unlimited currently. Have stood up well to multiple re-reads.

              • Tina says

                June 6, 2022 at 10:06 pm

                Adore the Case Files of Henri Davenforth – I have reread them so many times. I hope there will be more !

                • Richard says

                  June 7, 2022 at 8:15 am

                  +1 for Case Files of Henri Davenforth. I find them very fun to read and I really like the characters, especially Henri.

                  • Christine Fox says

                    June 12, 2022 at 2:31 pm

                    +1

                • Nancy says

                  June 17, 2022 at 5:39 pm

                  Next one is slated for August at this moment. Fingers are crossed.

        • Beth says

          June 6, 2022 at 9:58 am

          ±1 for that. Fun and ongoing plot arc through out the series. Her Client from Hell series ties in as well, thats more comedy less romance. I also enjoy the Booknapped series.

        • Karyn says

          June 6, 2022 at 11:47 am

          +1

      • Carol B says

        June 6, 2022 at 10:31 am

        +1

      • Cypressdeb says

        June 6, 2022 at 10:55 am

        +1

      • Cynthia says

        June 6, 2022 at 4:44 pm

        +1

      • Helen says

        June 10, 2022 at 11:37 am

        I second the recommendation of the “Ordinary Magic” series by Devon Monk. The Reed sisters are the sheriffs of Ordinary where the gods lay down their magic to vacation. The first book is titled “Death and Relaxation”.

    • Kimberly au Telemanus says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:04 am

      One of my very favorite books/series of all time! I can’t recommend The Scholomance books(starting with ‘A Deadly Education’) enough. I feel like they’re right up your alley if you particularly love The Edge books.
      Think Harry Potter for adults, except Hogwarts is trying to kill you at all times. Truly the only series I recommend to everyone I meet, aside from The Innkeeper Chronicles and The Edge books.

      • Anindya says

        June 6, 2022 at 10:31 am

        Thank you for this! The original comment was a brief but after this reply and reading up the summary, I am interested. Will start reading it today.

      • Denisetwin says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:20 am

        This. My sis hates scifi/fantasy and I gave her Scholomance telling her, it’s not what you think, it’s about character growth, accepting both who you are and how you relate to the people in your world and how your actions affect both. The MC grows so much in just the first two books, and the journey is amazing. She loved them and cannot wait for the third.

      • Michelle says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:55 am

        +1
        I also love this series. Can anyone recommend anything similar please? The September wait for book 3 is killing me!

        • Cathy says

          June 7, 2022 at 7:46 pm

          Naomi Novik’s books “Spinning Silver” and “Uprooted” are excellent ways to pass the time while waiting for the third Scholomance novel.

          • Steph A says

            June 9, 2022 at 11:23 pm

            +1

            • Erika Schmidt says

              June 12, 2022 at 1:34 pm

              +2

      • FBR says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:55 am

        Scolomance was so good! +1+1+1 I love the main character so much.

        • FBR says

          June 6, 2022 at 11:56 am

          Dang typo: Scholomance.

      • Jenny says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:56 am

        +1 for sure. Couldn’t put them down and eagerly awaiting #3.

      • lyn knowles says

        June 6, 2022 at 12:07 pm

        I was wondering why no one had mentioned the Scholomance series. I’ve recommended it to so many people. Did you see that book 3 is coming out in September?

      • Courtney M says

        June 6, 2022 at 2:53 pm

        As if Hogwarts wasn’t trying to kill the students at all times… it would not surprise me if the germ of the Scholomance idea wasn’t reading some meme about why people would continue sending their kids to Hogwarts when the death toll was so high, and then coming up with a reason WHY people would do so.

        Related: the cartoons My Life as a Background Slytherin by Emily McGovern are fantastic. (I think they can be found on her instagram?)

        • Moderator R says

          June 6, 2022 at 3:00 pm

          The Scholomance is based on a mythical and secret school of Black Magic in the mountains of Transylvania. It is absolutely NOT Ms Novik’s invention, having been taken from the folklore of the region and medieval writings- nor is it a retelling of Hogwarts.

          • LVD says

            June 6, 2022 at 7:07 pm

            Ahhh I hadn’t realized. That definitely fits with her recent stand alones of Spinning Silver and Uprooted that are retelling of folklore. Thank you!

          • Cathy says

            June 7, 2022 at 7:48 pm

            Thanks Mod R! I didn’t know that – makes me appreciate the books more!

      • Miriam says

        June 6, 2022 at 4:36 pm

        Also Rachel Caine’s the Great Library series – starting with Ink and Bone. The writing is wonderful. They are YA but for adults too and have books and magic and contemporary themes in an alternative universe – more or less present day but where the Library at Alexandria was never lost.

        • Cindy says

          June 7, 2022 at 10:06 am

          +1

      • LVD says

        June 6, 2022 at 7:04 pm

        +1 Also love her Uprooted. A stand alone.

      • Deb Ritter says

        June 13, 2022 at 2:22 pm

        +1

    • Ellen LeGros says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:21 am

      I recommend anything by her!! She is such an amazing storyteller.

    • Jamic says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:35 am

      I love Naomi Novik’s works. I will check this out. Thank you

    • Colleen says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:37 am

      I agree. I love all her writing!

    • Sharon says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:47 am

      Naomi Novik writes amazing books – everything I’ve read is good.

    • Gillian says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:53 am

      +1 Eagerly awaiting the next book!

    • Debi says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:00 am

      +1

      After reading the first I was glad to find out there was 2 more… then realized my mistake of reading them now as the third isn’t out until September! 😭😂

      • Kerri says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:27 am

        I thought it was a duology and waited for the second only to get hit by book 2’s cliffhanger. Bring on Book 3.

        Also loved Novik’s Uprooted.

    • Mina says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:04 am

      Second that! Amazing take on the „magical education“. And oh the snark!

    • Kathy says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:06 am

      +1 !

      • Sarahcraig6 says

        June 6, 2022 at 10:38 am

        +1!

    • Elizabeth says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:51 am

      +1!

    • Michelle Donnan says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:54 am

      +1 but be warned the ending of book 2 is going to make you think the wait until September for book 3 is impossible!

    • Annie says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:54 am

      + 1000

    • Karen W says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:20 am

      +1 on the Deadly Education series. Can’t wait for the third one!

    • Lupe Lopez says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:23 am

      +1

    • Evie says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:01 pm

      Yeyyesyes! So excited for the next book! I also really loved Uprooted by her.

    • Kirsten says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:10 pm

      Love it, but I’ve been hanging off the cliff at the end of The Last Graduate (second in Deadly Education trilogy) for far too long!

    • Angela Anderson says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:28 pm

      +1

    • Amy says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:50 pm

      +1

    • Kathy says

      June 6, 2022 at 1:16 pm

      +1 for A Deadly Education and the Last Graduate

    • Julie says

      June 6, 2022 at 1:23 pm

      I’ve loved the “Her Majesty’s Dragon” series. The rest of her books are on my “to-read” list next.

      • CLB says

        June 7, 2022 at 7:52 pm

        So much yes to Her Majesty’s Dragon.

      • Melissa B says

        June 11, 2022 at 5:49 pm

        One of the best series!

    • Adriane R says

      June 6, 2022 at 1:32 pm

      I’m enjoying her Scholomance series, but I *loved* UPROOTED. Outstanding plotting, fast-paced narrative, engaging characters, everything you could want in a modern fairytale.

      Along the “modern fairytale” lines, I highly recommend Holly Black’s “Folk of the Air” trilogy, starting with *The Cruel Prince.* It has a young, smart, driven female protagonist; the thread of moral ambiguity/horror that is so common in Black’s books; and the combination of strong writing, characterization and plot that makes her books so enjoyable. Her characters “win” not by bashing things with swords (though they’re often good at that too), but by thinking, planning, strategizing to stay one step ahead of enemies… and always by making the best of often terrible choices.

      • Claire says

        June 6, 2022 at 4:04 pm

        Oh yes the Folk of the Air series is incredible. It felt real but also like a fantasy in a really enjoyable way– showing individuals successfully fighting back and thriving in societies that are weighted against them.

      • Lyndi L says

        June 6, 2022 at 6:30 pm

        +1 for both Holly Black’s Folk of the Air and Naomi Novik’s Scholomance & Uprooted!

    • Jenny says

      June 6, 2022 at 1:40 pm

      +1 loved this

    • Vic says

      June 6, 2022 at 2:17 pm

      +1 – Me too, gritty Steampunk/magic version of the whole boarding high school experience. Great primary character ‘voice’.

    • Ramon Delatorre says

      June 6, 2022 at 3:24 pm

      Love this! I love her other books too like Uprooted and Spinning Silver.

    • Evelyn says

      June 6, 2022 at 3:57 pm

      The Last Graduate is the sequel to A Deadly Education and I am desperately hoping it will have another book following to make a trilogy. I also love her Temeraire series, Spinning Silver, Uprooted… okay, anything she writes is an automatic purchase. The Temeraire series is YA friendly and has some great plot threads about gender roles.

      • Elaine says

        June 7, 2022 at 6:41 am

        +1 for Temeraire – so good

      • Victoria says

        June 7, 2022 at 2:03 pm

        Re: last graduate sequal: Next one is coming out this fall….

      • Kayla says

        June 8, 2022 at 2:07 am

        Golden Enclaves is Scholomance #3. Supposed to be out Sept 27…
        Yes, I am another eager and desperate reader.

    • Alice says

      June 7, 2022 at 2:13 pm

      +1

  6. MariaZ says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:43 am

    Rivers of London Novel by Ben Aaronovitch. The series is known as either the Rivers of London or the Peter Grant series. I prefer listening to audiobooks but I would read the book. There are graphic novel novellas in the series available from your local public library as well either on Hoopla (a library streaming platform).

    It is difficult to find new quality urban fantasy novels to either read or listen to. Too many authors self publish (not a bad thing), but the quality is simply not there. I was in heaven when I discovered this series last summer.

    • Dandufrenger says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:52 am

      +1

      • Sally says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:10 am

        So I also read Harry Dresden a lot. If I’m not reading Ilona Andrews I’m reading the Jim butcher series Dresden.

        • Angela Anderson says

          June 6, 2022 at 12:30 pm

          Love his books. He is so funny and his books are all so unique and hardly ever predictable. Definitely one of my favorite authors.

        • Sarah says

          June 8, 2022 at 5:07 pm

          +1

        • LeAnn says

          June 10, 2022 at 5:08 am

          My mom and I don’t always agree on book series but we have on three. Keeping within the guidelines, the one I continuously go back to is the Firebird Chronicles by T A White. I love the descriptions (not too much but not just a blurb, like Ilona), the tribulations and trials, the interactions of 4 different races, all of it. I can’t wait until she expands the series or completes an epilogue. Awesome read and a must.

      • Christina says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:56 am

        Love that series too

      • Sydney Girl says

        June 8, 2022 at 4:38 pm

        +1 Couldn’t agree more. Loved this series.

    • Leonard says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:54 am

      This is an awesome series. Best description I’ve seen for it is
      Harry Potter meets Hot Fuzz.
      Basically it’s similar to a police procedural novel where the main character has become the first apprentice wizard in 70 years and has to serve in the Folly, which is a part of the London policing organiation.

    • Ela says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:02 am

      +1
      I love the series and I re-read it more or less every time a new book comes out.

    • Kathy S says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:17 am

      I absolutely love the Rivers of London books, because the worldbuilding is so amazingly entwined with modern day London and so clever! And watching the characters develop over all the books is incredibly rewarding.

    • Elizabeth says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:49 am

      Big +1!

    • Tana Reeve says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:18 am

      +1

    • BrendaJ says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:26 am

      One of my favorites 👍

    • Lisa Grayson says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:45 am

      +1 amazing series!

    • Serena says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:50 am

      I love the whole series, both the books and the audiobooks. Ben is a wonderful talented writer and Kobna a fantastic narrator. +1000!

    • Valery says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:10 pm

      +1 for sure for Rivers of London. My tastes run to the snarky, and Peter Grant fulfills that brilliantly. Love the gods and goddesses of the various English rivers (especially Mama Thames), the fae and other demimonde, and the mysteries/policing is excellent as well. The audiobooks are really great, with a fantastic reader. Highly recommended!

      • Alison says

        June 6, 2022 at 7:33 pm

        +1 for the audio books. Really loving the whole series.

    • reeder says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:17 pm

      +1 Thanks to the earlier rec thread.

    • Veronica says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:34 pm

      +1

    • Jenn K says

      June 6, 2022 at 3:40 pm

      +1

    • Audrey says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:41 pm

      My favorite author aside from House Andrews! I also love the narration by Kobna Holbrook-Smith.

    • Jenya says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:28 pm

      +1

    • Alice says

      June 7, 2022 at 2:14 pm

      +1

    • Carol says

      June 7, 2022 at 4:22 pm

      +1

    • Keri says

      June 8, 2022 at 12:46 pm

      +1

    • LauraR in Chico says

      June 8, 2022 at 11:35 pm

      +1
      The audio narration is terrific.

    • RMP says

      June 9, 2022 at 10:42 pm

      +the river of london Ben aaronovitch series. Always hanging for the next book!

    • Holly Corin says

      June 13, 2022 at 9:31 am

      +1 +1 +1!

    • SJ says

      June 14, 2022 at 8:44 pm

      Rivers of London audiobooks are fantastic! I wish my library had them all. The pronunciations are spot on.

    • Mary says

      June 25, 2022 at 3:44 am

      Didn’t read this before I put in my two bob’s worth. Fabulous series!

  7. Birgitte says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:44 am

    The house in the cerulean sea by T.J Klune

    It just gripped my heart and sqeezed. It is just such a magical gem of a book.

    • Colleen C. says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:52 am

      I felt the same and rec’d it below before I saw this.

    • Elizabeth says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:13 am

      +100000000. When I started reading the book, it *felt* so dreary. I honestly wasn’t sure that I’d be able to finish it. Then I got a few chapters in and realized TJ Klune did that on purpose. Prepare for emotions, especially if you have wild children.

      • KimberlyR says

        June 6, 2022 at 8:29 pm

        Yes! I started and it was good writing but dreary is the perfect word for it. Then it started to pick up, in both pace and tone, and it just flew by.

    • DameB says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:47 am

      +1

    • Kat in NJ says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:36 am

      Yes, this!! I also loved his books ‘Under the Whispering Door’ and ‘The Bones Beneath My Skin’, and plan on reading more of his books. Every one of them has grabbed me by the heart (and tear ducts!) Such beautiful writing…

    • Phyllis says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:42 am

      Love everything by TJ Klune, but Cerulean and Under the Whispering Door are among the very best

    • Sal says

      June 6, 2022 at 2:28 pm

      +1!!

    • Kirsten says

      June 9, 2022 at 4:16 pm

      If you liked that I recommend “Light from Uncommon Stars” by Ryka Aoki. Similar heartfelt found family theme.

  8. MariaZ says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:46 am

    Tinker by Wen Spencer is a good read and could be considered young adult.

    • Sharon Bailey says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:59 am

      Agree along with the 5 or so sequels to Tinker. Very strong female characters.

    • Mina says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:06 am

      +1

    • Priscilla Mixon says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:21 am

      +1
      Love this series and have enjoyed the other books Wen Spencer writes as well.

      • Kerry Baker says

        June 7, 2022 at 3:51 pm

        I love the series, she’s great but not perfect. Fabulous secondary characters she’s not even really aware of but fighting the fight.

    • Elizabeth says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:53 am

      Love the Tinker series. I just started reading the newest book.

      • Donna A says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:08 am

        +Infinity
        Also her standalones and other series’ are worth reading too, all good stuff 👍

        • Brian K says

          June 6, 2022 at 1:30 pm

          +1 – Tinker is definitely my favorite of her books, but the standalone novels, like Endless Blue, A Brother’s Price, and Eight Million Gods show the range of her writing and provide good entry points for those new to her work.

      • Jennifer says

        June 7, 2022 at 2:51 am

        The new book is great but don’t miss the latest short story- Monsters in our Midst. It’s great

    • Valery says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:12 pm

      +1 on the whole Tinker series. Love the twins!

      • Kayla says

        June 8, 2022 at 2:15 am

        +1 for Tinker
        And thanks for the rec mentioning the new book. I have been waiting for the next book forever and hadn’t realised it had finally come out. Just placed a library hold…

        • Manda Rowe says

          June 8, 2022 at 8:50 am

          I love Tinker. I just noticed last week that there is a new novel. Yee!

          • Brian K says

            June 9, 2022 at 10:16 am

            Be aware before you start that Harbinger is a serious cliffhanger.

  9. Leonard says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:51 am

    A series I’ve been thouroughly enjoying is the Cradle series by Will Wight. To take the description from wikipedia:

    On the Iteration known as Cradle, Wei Shi Lindon is born a weak Unsouled, forbidden to seek power as sacred artists do. However, he is faced with a looming fate that he must defy his family’s rules to avoid. The Cradle series follows Lindon’s journey as he forges a Path for himself.

    Basically the series follows a boy who is regarded as someone with no power and abilities as he leaves his village to try and become powerful enough to save said village when several years in the future it will be destroyed by a creature larger than mountains.

    The series has massive depth and has really both thrilled and entertained me and frequently reduced me to gales of laughter.
    Definitely worth a read.

    • Darlene Brown says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:14 am

      +1

    • House DeMille says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:40 am

      +1 – it really picks up the pace from Book 2 onwards and is a pretty addictive ride! Not my subgenre at all, but really fun characters and fast pace. Before you know it, you’re really invested… The next book is coming out soon!

      It’s available on Kindle Unlimited. The ebooks are also cheaper to buy in the box sets than individually. The first few will likely be offered free or on sale before the release of the next installment (11 out of planned 12). The author releases about 2 books per year.

      • Emi_Mei says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:39 pm

        +1

    • Calley says

      June 6, 2022 at 5:01 pm

      Came here to recommend this as a new favourite!

    • MeggsH says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:58 pm

      +1 i had trouble getting through the first book- the pacing was a bit slow but it picked up match faster after book 1- love the whole series!

    • Madam Librarian says

      June 7, 2022 at 10:07 am

      +1

    • Bill says

      June 21, 2022 at 8:19 pm

      Yes, Cradle, OH MY YES. IA’s recommendation. My Brit Lit PhD spouse does NOT APPROVE my taste in books. I begged and pleaded and finally promised unspeakable duties to listen to the audiobook together. Made it through a couple chapters of highbrow, snooty complaints…then they stopped, and the gushing began.

      We’re now eagerly waiting book 11. And She’s now unashamedly recommending it to every friend she’s ever had (including the people she studied with at Oxford years ago).

  10. Sarandipity says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:53 am

    I highly recommend The Goblin Emperor (2014) by Katherine Addison, a pseudonym of Sarah Monette. It has a thoroughly likable protagonist, and beautiful narrative. My one caveat is that the names of people and locations are difficult to read. I listened to the audiobook and it was splendid.

    • Kathleen says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:10 am

      +1 and the Witness for the Dead spinoff is great. Low angst, good people coming out on top, bad guys don’t get away with things – great escape

      • Michael I says

        June 6, 2022 at 10:14 am

        And the sequel to Witness for the Dead is out on June 14.

        • Michael I says

          June 6, 2022 at 10:21 am

          The title of the sequel is “The Grief of Stones”.

          • Mariam Zama says

            June 6, 2022 at 11:06 am

            Ooh, didn’t know that there was another book in the series! Thank you

        • tee says

          June 6, 2022 at 12:54 pm

          +1 squee

        • Linde says

          June 7, 2022 at 12:47 pm

          Can’t wait! Goblin Emperor is so good!

      • Veronica says

        June 6, 2022 at 12:35 pm

        Yes, I really enjoyed Witness for the Dead

      • Felis C says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:14 pm

        +1 forgot Katherine Addison books. Looking forwards to the 3rd one (grabby hands)

    • Elaine says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:43 am

      +1 – my top book of the year! Have been recommending it to everyone. It’s like a warm hug. Very different from your usual fantasy – more like a cozy. Kind and gentle protagonist. Read it twice already.

      • Elaine says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:50 am

        P.S. I had no problems with the names, probably because I don’t care about pronunciations. I just process them as sight words.

        Actually I liked how the author took the trouble to have a proper naming system…

    • FBR says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:58 am

      +1 I have to agree. The names were a bit boggling, but the MC and story were very good.

    • Claire says

      June 6, 2022 at 4:06 pm

      +1 for sure! I read this as a child (maybe 12?) and it was so lovely and poignant

    • Martha E says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:38 pm

      +1 I discovered this on an NPR list of recent recommended recent sf/fantasy and have passed it on to friends.

    • Erika Schmidt says

      June 12, 2022 at 1:43 pm

      I was waiting for someone to mention The Goblin Emperor. I loved how a biracial just-adult thrust into a world from where he’d been exiled his entire life, treading water while staying true to himself.

    • Rose says

      June 13, 2022 at 1:52 pm

      +1 This is my all-time favorite novel. And the names/locations are part of the writing as our main character is also thrown into the situation with little/no knowledge of the names/places/relations of those around them. I re-read it at least once a year. The audiobooks are also lovely.

  11. Laurel says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:53 am

    A book I can strongly recommend is C.J. Cherryh’s novel, Cyteen. It is epic space opera dealing with issues of large- and small-scale genesis of cultures, communities, and individuals, and it is SMART.

    • Amy says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:25 am

      +1 The Cyteen books are awesome, as are a lot of other Cherryh books

      • Matt Cory says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:09 am

        CJ Cherry’s is in my top 10 authors, and I loved Cyteen as well… hard to believe now that it was 1st published over 30 years ago!

        • Brian K says

          June 6, 2022 at 1:39 pm

          Foreigner is another fantastic novel by CJ Cherryh. It is 28 years old now, but still relevant and interesting. There are 20 newer books in the series, with the latest published in 2020.

    • Anonymous says

      June 6, 2022 at 1:37 pm

      +1 C.J. Cherryh is in my top 5 favorite authors. *Love* Cyteen, love the Chanur series (which, yes, has held up over time).

      • tjc says

        June 6, 2022 at 7:53 pm

        OOOH, the Morgaine set—my favorite Cherryh books!!

    • MicheleMN says

      June 6, 2022 at 6:02 pm

      +1 for all of C. J. Cherrh’s works!

      • Mary says

        June 25, 2022 at 3:48 am

        CJ Cherry books are still on the bookshelf. May never get rid of them. Am feeling the need to revisit the past!!

  12. Liz Bullock says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:54 am

    I think my favorite book last year was “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Vampire Slaying”. I listened to the audiobook, which I believe added to the experience.

    • Moderator R says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:56 am

      That attic scene where she’s hiding from him and the insects crawl on her ear will HAUNT me for years! So well done scary.

      • Norbert says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:22 am

        I would like to recommend the Union Station series by E.M. Foner. Fun fact: the first book of the series (Date night on Union Station) was actually reviewed by Ilona on this very blog! She liked it, but thought the resolution of the book a bit rushed… Well, by now this first book has turned into a prolific series and an epic saga of mankind in space sponsored by a vastly superior and benevolent (while somewhat quirky) AI race. We get vast space stations, aliens, romance and lots of comedy and fun. If you care to look a little deeper, you will also find deep insights and critique about our real world economical and political systems.

        • Norbert says

          June 6, 2022 at 9:26 am

          Oops. pressed the wrong reply button… this is not a reply to Mod R…

        • J D says

          June 6, 2022 at 12:32 pm

          +1 for the Union Station Series! As well as the spinoff series. We need way more funny, lighthearted scifi in the world.

    • Stephanie says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:36 am

      I absolutely adore Grady Hendrix. If you have not yet read Horrorstor, it is the single most resonating horror story I have ever read. I can’t even explain why, but years later that book still terrifies me.

      His book “Satan Loves You” is an absolute delight as well. Despite the title, it is a workplace comedy (sort of 😂).

    • Dawn Black says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:37 am

      I enjoyed this book as well.

    • Sharon says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:49 am

      Yes, lord, Grady Hendrix is AMAZING – he captures so many southern subtleties and the snark that flows deep in the southeast. Read ’em all!

  13. Vonnie says

    June 6, 2022 at 8:57 am

    I think on another thread the author asked about fantasy for a young reader. Fablehaven is a fun young reader fantasy-creature story about a family that keeps a rare zoo.

    • Jenna says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:05 am

      +1 I was Obsessed with Fablehaven when I was younger. Also everything Rick Riordan wrote.

    • Rose says

      June 13, 2022 at 1:57 pm

      I adore Brandon Mull! Dragonwatch is also lovely

  14. Judi says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:00 am

    Susan Cooper’s Dark is Rising series of 5 still keeps me hooked and gave me a love of the Welsh countryside and myth. The movie of one of the books never did it justice.

    • EdwardConway says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:11 am

      Well said, I loved those books growing up. The poems are one of the best examples of prophecies done well. The way she integrates the land into the stories is inspiring. There’s a Facebook fan page where she posts every so often, great books 🙂

      • Tom says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:01 am

        +1000

        Love these books – they’re my Christmas Eve go-to to settle down for sleep after the excitement of the day!

        • CJ Krause says

          June 7, 2022 at 4:40 pm

          They never get old. I often re-read them during the winter holidays. (I used to read them over Christmas. Now, it closer to New Year’s.)

    • SoCoMom says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:23 pm

      +1 There is a timeless quality of melding history, folklore, and and epic battle between good and evil that is satisfying to read and gives levels to the story. The characters are relatable and start to feel like old friends with re-reads.

    • Robin says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:12 pm

      +1, I adored these.

    • Misty says

      June 7, 2022 at 8:19 am

      +1 – love the Dark is Rising series! I read it so many times as a kid and reread again during pandemic. Just as good as I remembered!

  15. Deb says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:00 am

    Recent YA read I enjoyed – Kalynn Bayron’s ‘This Poison Heart’.

  16. Jenna says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:00 am

    At least four books immediately popped in to my head, but if I have to pick one, I’d go with The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab. The style of it is unlike anything I can remember reading, and almost every page had a line or three that made me feel like someone had rooted around in my brain. I felt seen, and even though the story itself isn’t my usual fare, it’s such a beautiful book, I’ve been telling everyone I know about it.

    Anyone looking for fantasy recs, I have a couple to share.

    • Shelley McQuown says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:29 am

      +1. I really enjoyed this book too

    • Akiva says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:52 am

      Came here to recommend it…

    • Joy says

      June 6, 2022 at 5:00 pm

      +1
      Really enjoyed this book too.

    • JW says

      June 6, 2022 at 6:46 pm

      I too was going to recommend it. It had amazing character development, and I was unable to put it down. It was a truly engrossing read.

    • LVD says

      June 9, 2022 at 8:02 am

      +1

  17. Lisa says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:00 am

    Just started Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven. It’s my first book by her and I am enjoying it.

    • Patricia Schlorke says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:17 am

      It is a very good book. Lots of ups, downs and trust issues between the two main characters.

    • Rose says

      June 13, 2022 at 1:58 pm

      I thoroughly recommend *anything by Grace Draven

  18. Vonnie says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:01 am

    Indie book: The Books of Binding- by Lowan. Readers who like a mix of weres, demons, witches, found family, romance, fighting evil, and a string female MC will probably like it as long as they do not mind non-monogamy in a doors-closed fashion. I slurped the 3 out in a very BDH manner.

    • Vonnie says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:02 am

      “strong” (sigh with the Swype)

    • Kim Beck says

      June 12, 2022 at 10:35 am

      This made me instantly think of Shelly Laurenston

  19. Ela says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:04 am

    Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley
    https://www.goodreads.com/series/46160-flavia-de-luce

    • Sandy says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:39 pm

      Love the series!

    • Edie says

      June 6, 2022 at 3:16 pm

      Yes, Flavia de Luce! So smart and funny.

    • jewelwing says

      June 7, 2022 at 4:39 pm

      Such a great series, that reminded me more than almost any books I’ve read about the way we grew up before travel teams and nonstop parental supervision. Not the part about the mansion, of course, or the fully equipped chemistry lab or a few other trappings of faded English grandeur. But the part about going everywhere on your bike, and showing up mainly for meals, because there was just so much exploring to do.

  20. Natasha Johnson says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:04 am

    For a clean and funny series that would be good for 14-adult age check out The Court of Midnight and Deception trilogy by K.M. Shea

    It’s about a half Fae named Leila who wants nothing to do with the Fae but ends up their Queen. It’s really funny.

    • Jamic says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:46 am

      Oooh! I’ve read that. I couldn’t put it down. It was like watching Kdrama. Bargaining with myself, telling myself one last chapter and then I’ll finish it tomorrow. Nope, didn’t happen. Finished it at 3 in the morning, lmao. And to top it off, I did not even notice I was on the last page until there was no more page to turn to, and I was so devastated because I had to wait for the next book for a few months. But all worth it.

      • Natasha Johnson says

        June 6, 2022 at 10:02 am

        Yes!!! I keep rereading it because my mind is like hey you know what we haven’t read lately lol! I really enjoy the whole series set but Leila is my favorite.

    • Kaylynn says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:22 am

      +1

    • Kaitlin says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:30 am

      +1
      I absolutely adore KM Shea in general, but this is by far one of her best.

    • Anne Luree says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:35 am

      Yes, The books are so enjoyable. Magiford is a quirky city, and the related books are good as well

      • Deb says

        June 6, 2022 at 3:17 pm

        +1! Agreed, because it’s fine! I adore KM Shea too, especially because her books are so laugh out loud funny. I was laughing so much when reading her books that my teenage son and daughter as well as my husband started reading them too!

    • Autumn says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:10 am

      +1… The KM Shea Magiford Supernatural City series are written in trilogy format…the order of reading the trilogies begins with:

      1. Hall of Blood and Mercy (vampires and wizards)
      2. Court of Midnight and Deception (fae)
      3. Pack of Dawn and Destiny (wolf shifters)

      She is working of the 4th one now but all of them are nice clean reads featuring different types of supernaturals with some crossover cameos.

      • Kai says

        June 6, 2022 at 2:33 pm

        +1

    • Kai says

      June 6, 2022 at 2:39 pm

      Consort Rigel’s abs for the win lol

      • Deb says

        June 6, 2022 at 3:18 pm

        Yes!!!!!!

      • Natasha Johnson says

        June 6, 2022 at 8:48 pm

        🤣🤣🤣

    • Madam Librarian says

      June 7, 2022 at 10:34 am

      +1 I really LOVE KM Shea – each series captures you and the Court of Midnight and deception was AMAZING, all the funny stunts leila pulls on the court plus the magical creatures she corrals makes for a menagerie of magic and mayhem!

  21. Elena Linville-Abdo says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:06 am

    The Serpent Gates series by A.K. Larkwood is one of my new favorite fantasy offerings. The first book is called The Unspoken Name and it came out in 2020. The second book came out last year.

    I love the worldbuilding in this and the magical system. Also, Csorwe is an amazing protagonist.

  22. Sarah M says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:06 am

    I think one of my current favorite series I’d let a kid read, are the books by Honor Raconteur. She does all kinds of fantasy, but I particularly enjoy her “Case Files of Henri Davenforth” series. The first book is “Magic and the Shinigami Detective” series. Its basically a mix of detective mysteries, fantasy, a bit of steam punk.

    Basically a human FBI agent from our world is snatched through a magically portal and dumped in another world by a rogue witch. The Agent promptly kills her captor in the first chapter and then goes off to find her place in this new world and gets a job as a police detective with a Magical CSI (Magical Examiner) for a partner. The series follows their combined cases. There is a minor romance thread that takes place over the course of the series, but it’s mostly cool stuff about her bringing techniques from her world to this new magical one and all the cool cases they solve together with other fun characters. It also has really good audio book narrators for the first three books in that series so far for those who prefer to listen.

    • Judy Schultheis says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:09 am

      I love the Henri Davenforth books, too. I first heard about them here.

      • Deborah says

        June 6, 2022 at 10:27 am

        And she introduces them to curry!

      • Jazzlet says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:27 am

        Me too!

        • Donna A says

          June 6, 2022 at 11:45 am

          +1 Henri Davenport
          I keep meaning to try some of her other books and never get to it but meanwhile these are autobuy

          • Sarah says

            June 6, 2022 at 2:08 pm

            +1 I was charmed by the series!

    • Anne Luree says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:38 am

      I read Deepwood first. All of her books have lovely characters, and are appropriate for younger readers as well.

    • Richard Cartwright says

      June 6, 2022 at 1:35 pm

      Love the Davenfourth books. Her Tomes books are excellent also

    • Madam Librarian says

      June 7, 2022 at 10:28 am

      +1 I love Henri and Jamie!!! A great series for kid and adults alike 🙂

    • Hannah W says

      June 8, 2022 at 10:19 am

      LOVE this series!!!

  23. Natasha Johnson says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:07 am

    For a hilarious adult series check out The Devils Angel’s M.C. series by Lola Wright.

    This series will have you laughing so hard you could pee yourself. There is a McCaw that is extremely sassy and a few other characters but Mac the McCaw will steal your heart!

    • Natasha Johnson says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:13 am

      Macaw** not McCaw

  24. Judy Schultheis says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:07 am

    Next after high adventure mixed with low comedy – for which, Ilona Andrews is the best among the authors I have found – I like genres-thoroughly-mixed.

    I have no specific recommendations among the books for the author I like best – I have my favorites, but all of them are good. Celia Lake blends magic with mystery with history with romance with whatever else catches her fancy.

    Celia Lake’s characters and relationships are almost as real to me as the ones House Andrews comes up with, and her history is as accurate as she can make it and still play with the magic.

    I have a Kindle, so I get her books through Amazon; but I know she publishes other e-formats as well. Check her out.

    • Kelly says

      June 6, 2022 at 3:33 pm

      Sarah Addison Allen is another author you might like – romance touched with a bit of magic.

      • CJ Krause says

        June 6, 2022 at 4:16 pm

        +1
        I love SAA’s books.

      • Lada says

        June 7, 2022 at 10:50 am

        I recently discovered Heather Webber who writes sweet, southern stories with a touch of the mystical. Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is great for anyone in the mood for a gentle story about family and forgiveness.

  25. Vanna Renee’ says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:07 am

    I highly recommend The Murder of Crows series by Chris Tullbane. It’s a post-apocalyptic superhero series. The MC is a 18/19 year old orphan who can see the dead. It has amazing world building, a great anti-hero, and the character growth is to die for. I love a character who grows up on the page, learning from their past mistakes and making better choices or at least new bad choices and learning from them. There are also several strong female characters and an amazing friendship story that made me tear up. It’s gory and has some spicy language so definitely for adults and older teens. It was one of the best things I read last year.

    • Chris Tullbane says

      June 12, 2022 at 9:25 pm

      Much appreciated, Vanna!

  26. Jenna says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:08 am

    +1

    Urban Shaman is definitely one of the best urban fantasy series I’ve read lately.

  27. Kathleen says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:11 am

    +1 The audiobooks are awesome

  28. Cindy W says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:12 am

    I recently reread Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart, which is classified as romantic suspense. I think it holds up very well aside from some outdated slang. It was written in the late 50s and set in France. When I first read her books as a teenager, they gave me a deep desire to travel.

    • Sam Fleming says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:40 am

      All the Mary Stewart books are awesome, i was so excited to get them on kindle

    • Dana G says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:10 am

      Mary Stewart’s books are always a favorite re-read of mine. “My Brother Michael”!!!!

    • Carol B says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:36 am

      +100 for all Mary Stewart. I also particularly liked Nine Coaches Waiting.

    • CJ Krause says

      June 6, 2022 at 4:34 pm

      Yes! Mary Stewart remains the grande dame of romantic suspense, even after all these decades. I read my aunt’s copies when I was a teen. My three sisters remain fans, and collected used copies of all of her books when many were out of print. We were happy when they finally came out as ebooks. All of them (but one, IMO) are great. Her first book, “Madam, Will You Talk?” remains a favorite. Her fantasy series about Merlin is also excellent.

      • CJ Krause says

        June 6, 2022 at 4:37 pm

        “My three sisters” and I “remain fans…”

    • Erika says

      June 6, 2022 at 7:40 pm

      YES! Touch Not The Cat

      • Katie B says

        June 8, 2022 at 1:27 pm

        Me too.

    • SoCoMom says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:10 pm

      +1 My grandmother got me started on Mary Stewart (“Nine Coaches Waiting” and “The Moonspinners”).

      “Thornyhold” is my go-to comfort re-read about a woman at a crossroads after WW II finds and makes her home and happiness … and “Touch Not the Cat” is a guilty pleasure of a mystery buried in a family home, with some psychic romance for spice. “The Crystal Cave” and “The Hollow Hills” are unsung masterpieces of the making of King Arthur and the soul of a classic legend.

    • jewelwing says

      June 7, 2022 at 4:44 pm

      And her Arthurian quartet, from Merlin’s POV, is one I reread every so often. The Crystal Cave is the first.

    • Marie says

      June 9, 2022 at 1:24 pm

      Love Mary Stewart. I also recommend her Airs Above the Ground.

  29. Kathleen says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:12 am

    +1

  30. Nancy says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:13 am

    I like books from different parts of the world, so was pleased to find a series located in Tasmania. I found W. R. Gingell’s The City Between series is a great series, imho, with many twist & turns, big surprise ending, unique world building, plenty of mysteries and all around good read. The romance is very low key with no sex. Bonus: my library had the audio version so got to hear the Australian accent.

    • Kathleen says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:20 am

      +1

    • Aimee says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:46 am

      Alice Worth series by Lisa Edmonds was my Covid Lockdown find…. It helped me escape the blah, and embrace the….rah? 🤦🏽‍♀️😁

      • Josée P. says

        June 6, 2022 at 5:56 pm

        +1

    • Kaylynn says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:25 am

      +1

      • Linda says

        June 7, 2022 at 10:37 am

        +1

    • Karen says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:29 am

      I love all of Gingell’s books. In addition to the urban fantasy series City Between, she has also written a clean fantasy romance/fairy tale retelling series, The Two Monarchies. It’s great!

    • Jenna says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:23 am

      Check out N. K. Jemisin’s The Killing Moon. Worldbuilding heavily based off ancient Egypt, loved it and its sequel soooooo much

      • bdhforever says

        June 6, 2022 at 5:41 pm

        +1 for NK Jemisin. I especially loved the Inheritance series, which starts with the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.

        Truly amazing world building. Gods, through an ancient war, are tied to a royal family. The heroine had been a black sheep who is recalled to the capital and has to deal with life or death politics while uncovering the truth behind ancient myth. Each book in the trilogy expands on the world.

        • Mariette says

          June 8, 2022 at 10:00 pm

          +1000 for NK Jemisin. Love her newest as well – The City We Became.

    • Bonmotnot says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:23 am

      +1

    • Denisetwin says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:26 am

      I’ve been scrolling trying to find someone that recommended The City Between series so I could comment without having to do a new post. I LOVE this series. The twists and turns, the mystery, the way each book built on the foundation of the prior ones while at the same time turning them on their head, the ending truly surprised me, while at the same time I could nod and say okay I can see it as opposed to being disgruntled like books where the ending comes out of left field… I loved the Australian setting, I loved that Pet started out strong willed, but still grew and changed as the series progressed. The whole idea of the Fae taking her as a Pet and her embracing that to get her way just did it for me.

      • mz says

        June 6, 2022 at 2:30 pm

        I binge read the Between series when I first found it too. Love it

    • Alison says

      June 6, 2022 at 7:29 pm

      +1 I really liked this series. I thought it had an original take and world building. bonus for the aussie location.

    • KimberlyR says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:45 pm

      +1. I raced through The City Between series

    • MeggsH says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:06 pm

      I love JinYoung!!!!!!!! And I love Pet as an unreliable narrator. Great series.

  31. Sheryl says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:16 am

    It’s so hard to recommend only one, but I recently binge read Hailey Edwards’ Necromancer series. She’s indie, and I don’t read a lot of indie books, but she came highly recommended in my reading groups. So glad I gave her a chance. That series is finished and so is the spin-off from it.

    • Josée P. says

      June 6, 2022 at 5:58 pm

      I enjoyed her Foundling series. The Necromancer series is on my ever-expanding TBR list.

    • Lyndi L says

      June 6, 2022 at 6:42 pm

      +1

    • Erika says

      June 6, 2022 at 7:43 pm

      I was going to recommend this series too! Glad I read the comments first. Loved this series! You do not end up where you think you are going, at all. Really good!

    • Tapati says

      June 7, 2022 at 2:49 pm

      I enjoyed her Necromancer series as well.

      • Manda Rowe says

        June 8, 2022 at 8:56 am

        The Black Dog series has been my favorite of hers.

    • Jwharmby says

      June 8, 2022 at 10:25 pm

      +1

    • Rose says

      June 13, 2022 at 2:08 pm

      AHH!! I can’t believe someone recommended this! (Not because it’s bad, but because I didn’t think anyone *knew* about it!) These are *SO* good! Some of my favorite tropes (found family, Southern Charm, matriarchal society, ghosts, etc.) are included and make me smile.

  32. Ellen LeGros says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:18 am

    I teach high school, and I always recommend Intisar Khanani’s Thorn. Actually, anything by her is phenomenal. Her writing style is beautiful; her characters have integrity and courage.

    • Moderator R says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:19 am

      I love Thorn! Such a beautiful retelling.

      • Kim Beck says

        June 12, 2022 at 10:48 am

        Please forgive me for posting here. If there’s a specific place to post questions I am unaware of it. Is there a bookfinder website you know of? I’ve been trying to find a book I once read and I only remember a few character’s name and a small part of the plot.

    • House DeMille says

      June 6, 2022 at 1:12 pm

      +1 – Thorn is wonderful retelling of the Goose Girl. I actually like her Sunbolt Chronicles even better! Hope she writes more of those…

      The closest thing to Tamora Pierce in terms of style and quality that I’ve seen.

    • Rose says

      June 13, 2022 at 2:09 pm

      +1

  33. Donna says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:18 am

    Loved Iron Druid Chronicles Series by Kevin Hearne – Hounded (Book 1)

    • Cindy W says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:21 am

      +1

    • Sara Weiss says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:36 am

      +1000 Audio is amazing too!

    • AJ Rother says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:57 am

      +1 Oberon the Irish wolfhound rocks!

      • KGB_SC says

        June 6, 2022 at 8:20 pm

        +1

      • Rhonda Daniel says

        June 6, 2022 at 8:49 pm

        +1

    • Stephanie F. says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:08 am

      +1

    • Jenna says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:24 am

      +1000000

    • WendyK says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:23 pm

      +1
      The audiobooks for the Ink and Sigil series are fabulous!

    • reeder says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:40 pm

      +1 for Ink & Sigil. I started with Hearne on the first Ink & Sigil and prefer it over the Iron Druid series.

      • Chris says

        June 6, 2022 at 2:29 pm

        +1 Ink & Sigil surpassed Iron Druid for me too

      • Rose says

        June 13, 2022 at 2:10 pm

        +1 Agreed Ink&Sigil I ended up preferring to Iron Druid

    • Angela Anderson says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:41 pm

      Yes those are so fun!

    • Julia says

      June 6, 2022 at 2:24 pm

      +1

    • Mariya M says

      June 6, 2022 at 8:05 pm

      +1

    • Fatima Hyde says

      June 7, 2022 at 7:48 am

      +1

    • CLB says

      June 7, 2022 at 8:06 pm

      +1

    • laura says

      June 8, 2022 at 8:46 am

      +1. i love the iron druid series!

  34. Kathleen says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:19 am

    Just read and liked “A Little Too Familiar” by Lish McBride. It’s paranormal romance in a slightly different vein, but full of nice people of the friends-make-the-best-family variety, great banter, inclusive characters, animals, etc.

  35. Ellen LeGros says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:19 am

    I really enjoy Sherwood Anderson’s Inda series. They are full of adventure and thrills, but also diverse characters and life lessons in integrity.

    • Elizabeth says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:33 am

      You might mean Sherwood Smith! I recall enjoying her novels, but I haven’t re-read them in ages.

      • Lael says

        June 7, 2022 at 8:44 pm

        Sherwood Smith’s Crown Duel/Court Duel is a very good duo for early teen (or even young adult).

      • Ellen LeGros says

        June 8, 2022 at 1:22 pm

        Yikes!! Definitely meant Smith. Thanks for the save!

  36. Michelle D says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:20 am

    One of the best debuts I read last year – Sistersong by Lucy Holland. It’s a brilliant retelling of the folk tale The Two Sisters. Every time we got it instore, it flew out in hardback. I’m pretty sure the paperback just came out. We recommended it to anyone who reads Song of Achilles or Ariadne or Naomi Novak’s Uprooted or Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale. I happen to know Sistersong was published in the UK and US – managed to grab the UK cover…

    • Michelle D says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:23 am

      UK Cover

  37. Sandra says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:21 am

    The Black River Chronicles by L G Surgeson
    Fantasy story loosely based on a LARP campaign – it’s an awesome series

    • Michelle Donnan says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:00 am

      + 1 start with the girl who wasn’t Min, it’s a good jumping off point if you aren’t sure if you want to commit to learning the world mythology before you know the author!

  38. Jessica Haluska says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:21 am

    Uprooted by Naomi Novik. AH-mazing.

    • Kathy says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:07 am

      +10000 for Uprooted!!

    • Stephanie F. says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:55 am

      +1 for Uprooted, an excellent book.

    • Denise M Kurreck says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:22 am

      +1

    • Deb Ritter says

      June 13, 2022 at 2:31 pm

      +1

  39. Dean Krafft says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:22 am

    I would strongly recommend “A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking” by T. Kingfisher. It’s funny, a bit scary, and totally captivating. Great characters with interesting strengths and flaws. Our main protagonist, 14-year-old Mona, has very limited magic abilities that only work on bread, so she has to get very, very creative to help save her city. I’ll also recommend pretty much anything else by T. Kingfisher (the pen-name of Ursula Vernon), though you should be warned that many of her other books are much darker and scarier than this one.

    • Elizabeth says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:32 am

      +1!! The title caught me on this one, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

      • Sara Weiss says

        June 6, 2022 at 9:35 am

        I just bought that a couple weeks ago. It’s on my summer reading list.

    • Yarilla says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:36 am

      +1

    • Dee says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:56 am

      +1!

    • Denisetwin says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:29 am

      Loved A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking. I loved that the character was not overpowered and instead made do with what she had. The story is so well told and the characters well developed.

      • Samantha says

        June 9, 2022 at 2:37 pm

        +1 definite possibilities with sentient sourdough starter

    • B says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:35 am

      Both Wizards Guide and Minor Mage are great for anyone who has trouble valuing themselves (and don’t we all) because they are not doing conventionally great work.

      • Donna A says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:54 am

        +Millions
        I just finished Nettle and Bone and as is often the case I was moved – saddened, angered and disquieted but also amused, sympathetic and hopeful and of course ultimately happy with the story.
        It’s a rare writer that gets all that.
        She reminds me of the late great Diana Wynne Jones. Quirky surreal stories but oh so sadly human emotions and reactions.

    • Tricia says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:47 pm

      I was looking for T. Kingfisher/Ursula Vernon! I loved Wizard’s Guide, Minor Mage, the White Rat books and shivered over The Twisted Ones & Nettle & Bone.

      And my husband’s 2nd Graders love the Dragonsbreath Series. Hilarious!

      • Jeff says

        June 7, 2022 at 9:15 am

        +1. T. Kingfisher is one of my new discoveries. I love that she decided to publish her own YA/adult books when her publisher wouldn’t publish them because she was “a children’s author.” Just finished the Clockwork Boys and Swordheart series. She’s promised us two more, but that was several years ago. She says that some of her books take years, so there’s still hope.

    • Felis C says

      June 7, 2022 at 12:09 am

      So much +1 for . Kingfisher

    • Rose says

      June 13, 2022 at 2:11 pm

      +1 I really enjoyed this series!

  40. Virginia Sullivan says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:22 am

    There is a series of stayed abc books that are fun to read to kids. T is for Tarheel is the one for North Carolina and I have enjoyed reading it to nieces and nephews and telling the about the state I live in. The series would be fun for teaching about the various States I think.

  41. Terrel says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:22 am

    Wow. This is so much harder after reading the guidelines! Anyway, I am a huge fan of Frank Tuttle. Your can’t go wrong with anything of his. His Markhat series is great. Excellent writing, character development over a long story arc, each character is distinct and real and consistent, and the stories have good plots with lots of excitement. Clearly fantasy genre though with a touch of realistic romance. Some stories are VERY dark, most aren’t and there’s humor in all of them. Enjoy!

  42. Amy says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:23 am

    I really enjoyed Zoraida Cordova’s duology Illusionary and Incendiary. The two books are fantasy with a nice romance subplot that is explored more in the second book. These have great world building and are a nicely plotted story. I’m excited to read her upcoming Star Wars High Republic book.

  43. Sabrina says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:26 am

    Yona of the dawn by Mizuho Kushanagi is a 38 (so far) volume manga, I have read to 25. It’s mostly fantasy/action/adventure with a hint of romance, that picks up a bit later in the series. Some sad parts with a ton of funny ones and so many great characters it’s hard to have a favorite. Basically the story is a princess on the run becoming stronger in all ways, while picking up friends along the way and helping those in need. There is also a 24 episode anime that does not get too far into the story.

    • Kel says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:43 am

      +1

    • Noémie says

      June 7, 2022 at 8:12 am

      + 1

  44. Elizabeth says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:29 am

    Limit one! How provoking!

    I’m going to go left field and recommend the Seven Seas publication of Tian Guan Ci Fu (Heaven Official’s Blessing) as an excellent introduction into the light novel structure. I enjoyed the storyline, though the short thought structure took some getting used to – but excellent for expanding your worldview!! I particularly enjoyed that the cultural references were NOT just swapped for English-similar idioms. Instead, the translators added footnotes to explain the Chinese idioms and references.

    In short, you get an excellent love story with interesting characters AND an expansion of your worldview. Highly recommended!

    • Kaylynn says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:32 am

      There’s a cartoon of this on netflix and it is wonderful, though there’s only one season so far.

  45. Jamic says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:30 am

    I just finished re-reading Kristen Ashley’s Fantastical and Wildest Dreams from her Fairytale Series. 5 books, these 2 are my favorite. It is intended for 18 and up and book 2 has a lot of triggers for those who do not like dark romance/fantasy. I like books where women are portrayed as strong and smart, and not airheads who cry and wait for prince charming to come save them. That said, another book I would recommend that is from Kristen too is the Girl in the Mist which is I think her latest. It is for mature audience too. Mostly because the protagonists are in their 50s.

    • Maria R. says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:28 am

      +1
      Interesting series, quite the romp with the different MC’s. Definitely 18+ readers

    • Angela Anderson says

      June 6, 2022 at 12:55 pm

      Yep, some sexy good books there! I just read her short novella set in Fantasyland called “Gossamer in the Darkness” that she did for the 1000 Dark Nights series on Amazon. It was a new romance but included a reunion of all the main characters from the series. Really fun.

      • Jamic says

        June 8, 2022 at 7:30 am

        Did not know about Gossamer, but I quicky found it and finished it today. Absolutely awesome read. I am hoping for more on that series. Thank you for the info.

    • Josée P. says

      June 6, 2022 at 6:11 pm

      +1…Golden Dynasty is one of my favorites.

  46. Kelticat says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:31 am

    I’ve been getting into Japanese light novels lately. My recommendation is A Late Start Tamer’s Laid Back Life by Yuu Tanaka. The lead is given a choice early on, on whether to restart his video game or continue with his original character and make the best of it, and you get to read about his making the best of it adventure. Lots of humor, little to no violence.
    The author does have another series, but I think that parents should read it before handing it over to kids, because violence. I once went to a Hans Christian Anderson museum and the docent told me about a woman coming in to yell at her. The woman had downloaded a list of Christmas stories, which included Little Match Girl, which she then cold read to her children. Not a warm, uplifting story, to say the least. I don’t want parents coming after me because their youngster was exposed to dismemberment.

  47. Shelley says

    June 6, 2022 at 9:32 am

    The Others series by Anne Bishop
    I really enjoyed the series and the spin off books as well!

    • Shelley says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:36 am

      I’m sorry. I didn’t add a description. Oops. Blood prophet Meg can see the future when her skin is cut and was enslaved by a controller that sells her prophecies. She escapes to a business district controlled by the others; vampires, shape-shifters.
      I enjoyed it very much and have read the series multiple times.

      • Judy says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:35 am

        +1000!!!

      • Patti says

        June 6, 2022 at 12:14 pm

        +1 to infinity!

      • Angela Anderson says

        June 6, 2022 at 12:57 pm

        +1

      • Marcia B-C says

        June 6, 2022 at 4:01 pm

        I like this series, but prefer Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series for different human variants sharing a planet.

        • Mary says

          June 25, 2022 at 3:56 am

          Was just thinking that there’s no mention of Nalini Singh. LOVE this series, which is now morphing into a new one as she keeps developing her universe.
          Also love her Archangel series, almost as much.

      • Dana Siegel says

        June 6, 2022 at 4:39 pm

        +1000, one of my favorite series by an author I love. Reread it frequently

      • bdhforever says

        June 6, 2022 at 5:51 pm

        + infinity

      • Raye says

        June 6, 2022 at 6:12 pm

        +1000 Love the Others!

      • Lyndi L says

        June 6, 2022 at 6:40 pm

        +1!

      • laura says

        June 8, 2022 at 9:21 am

        + 1 and a million more! i absolutely love this series and i highly recommend it! my only problem is i’m too impatient and i want more more more!!! but i just devoured the most recent release and now have to wait for the next one to be written. *dramatic sigh*.

        • Mary says

          June 25, 2022 at 3:58 am

          Out soon – counting the days!!

    • Sam Fleming says

      June 6, 2022 at 9:42 am

      +1

      • Diane Peters says

        June 6, 2022 at 10:49 am

        +1

    • Natasha Johnson says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:05 am

      I love this series and reread it quite a lot (actually rereading written in red right now!)

      I also love the World of the Others spin offs lake silence is my favorite of those!

      • Katherine says

        June 6, 2022 at 2:08 pm

        I love the spin offs and would love to work at The Jumble with Ms. Vicki!

    • Mina says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:11 am

      Great series in an awesome world!

    • Caroline says

      June 6, 2022 at 10:19 am

      I think this is a wonderful series as well. It has a slow burn romance element but is really a great series.

      • Lyn says

        June 6, 2022 at 11:00 am

        Anne Bishop’s ‘Black Jewels’ series definitely comes with many trigger warnings. That being said, her world building is amazing. The different worlds, brings, types of magic still wows me when I reread her books. Her characters, while sometimes broken and flawed, persevered. Loved it so much I wanted to name my son Lucien 10 years later (went with James instead :)).

        • Nifty says

          June 7, 2022 at 6:28 pm

          The Black Jewels series is one of my all-time favorites. Amazing world-building and such an interesting magic construct (with the combination of raw power and caste). As a woman, I appreciate the woman-centric power structure, and I also like how being good stewards of the earth is integral. (These two are fairly common themes in all her series.) Lucivar is, and always will be, one of my most beloved Book Boyfriends.

          But yes — MAJOR trigger warnings (for all her books, really; she has a lot of dark elements).

        • Sabrina says

          June 8, 2022 at 4:54 am

          House of Gaian especially I felt was very dark and should come with some serious trigger warnings – there’s violence in all of them, which I’m personally fine with but your mileage may vary, but I’ve reread all the other series yet never the House of Gaian ones, especially after I had a kid…

    • Emily07 says

      June 6, 2022 at 11:14 am

      One of my very favorite series. Love it. +1

    • Donna A says