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Post by Kypriotha on Jul 21, 2017 20:00:07 GMT 10
I have read some terrible and some not so enjoyable books lately. So! I am now looking for recommendations for less terrible books, so that I can read a whole book without rolling my eyes.
Books I have enjoyed this year: Peter Grant/Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch, We are all completely beside ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler, The Rook by Daniel O'Malley and anything by Sharon Shinn.
If you don't have any recs, what have you read recently?
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Post by Seek on Jul 22, 2017 3:24:03 GMT 10
Well, the immediate question is: what do you consider terrible and what are you looking out for?  Books I enjoyed this year include: Django Wexler's Shadow Campaigns (devoured all four of them), Yoon Ha Lee's Raven Strategem (this is a sequel book), and a bunch of Shadowrun novels which (fair warning) are trashy but were fun to read. There might be a couple more, but they don't immediately come to mind, so I take it that I didn't enjoy them enough to leave an impression. Raven Strategem is part of the Machineries of Empire series, which is military space opera built in a setting where common consensus/belief in the calendar powers technologies. If people do not believe in the calendar system and start using their own system and they reach a critical mass, technologies start failing and the Hexarchate sends in forces to brutally crush rebellions and enforce consensus. Long story short: warfare with lots of psychology and mathematics. Yoon's great with prose too. (Also as a point of amusement, there are *lots* of people with the surname Kel.) Shadow Campaigns is a fancy-dress version of the Napoleonic wars and the French Revolution (so more gunpowder military fantasy), with one or two great twists and compelling characters. I should've found the plot and stuff predictable--I didn't, and I went through the books in rapid succession, so. Also, it's more or less set my new gold standard for female characters: lots of them, lots of different orientations, an amazing number of Alannas women absconding to join the army, which culminates in (not very spoilery), female-only elite battalions and one of the greatest military minds of the age being female. Speaking of space opera: I liked Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy as well, but it's mostly because the characters kept talking about tea at points and I more or less flipped between tea references. |
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Post by Kypriotha on Jul 23, 2017 17:07:34 GMT 10
Well, the immediate question is: what do you consider terrible and what are you looking out for? Okay, yes, I suppose that would help! I am looking for good fantasy mostly. I like Tammy (obviously), Sharon Shinn, Gail Carriger, Garth Nix, Phillip Pullman, Harry Potter, Diana Wynne Jones, Peter Grant...um...and stuff. Sorry, I have a cold, not thinking straight. What I have read lately that I haven't enjoyed as much has mostly not been fantasy, now that I think about it. Maybe that is my current problem! I like books where the characters talk about tea a lot 😊 |
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emberly
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Post by emberly on Jul 23, 2017 17:43:35 GMT 10
The Penhaligon Trilogy by D.J. Heinrich is really good if you haven't read/heard about it. It's a fantasy and has a strong female character who becomes the protagonist after the first book. It's not a kids series though. I'm also a huge fan of the Dragonlance series.
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Post by Seek on Jul 24, 2017 19:48:56 GMT 10
Well, the immediate question is: what do you consider terrible and what are you looking out for? Okay, yes, I suppose that would help! I am looking for good fantasy mostly. I like Tammy (obviously), Sharon Shinn, Gail Carriger, Garth Nix, Phillip Pullman, Harry Potter, Diana Wynne Jones, Peter Grant...um...and stuff. Sorry, I have a cold, not thinking straight. What I have read lately that I haven't enjoyed as much has mostly not been fantasy, now that I think about it. Maybe that is my current problem! I like books where the characters talk about tea a lot 😊 Okay, I notice some of the works you mention are urban fantasy works. If you haven't already read Robert Jackson Bennett's Divine Cities Trilogy, I would strongly recommend that one. The characters don't talk as much about tea, but the main character practically lives off tea and it's kind of amazing to see, actually I am 50-50 about recommending The Obsidian Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory. In some ways, it's a straight-up epic fantasy traditional story, yet I love the magic system, and how much the characters obsess about what the right tea to be drinking is. It's a guilty favourite. Other recs floating about in my head: The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe, by Kij Johansen. (This is Lovecraftian, but hopeful and involves a middle-aged librarian learning she has to go after an absconded student to save the world as she knows it except with lots of beautiful scenery), and anything by K.V. Johansen. If you haven't read The Goblin Emperor, I recommend it wholeheartedly for feelings of heartwarming and chamomile tea; Max Gladstone writes an eclectic series of speculative fiction (more so than fantasy) but I really enjoyed all of his books in the Craft Sequence. Which of Sharon Shinn would you recommend someone start with? |
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Post by Kypriotha on Jul 25, 2017 8:46:41 GMT 10
Thanks for all the recs! Which of Sharon Shinn would you recommend someone start with? Ahhh, you have asked one of my favourite questions!  I would recommend starting with Mystic and Rider, which is the first of the Novels of the 12 Houses. It's fantasy, magic, romance and political drama and I love it  The whole series is amazing. For adult fantasy by Shinn, I also love the Elemental Blessings series and the standalone Summers at Castle Auburn. Her young adult fantasy series starting with The Truth-Keeper's Secret is also alright. I tend not to like her urban/modern fantasy as much (i.e. the shapeshifters books). She also has a sci-fi series, which I think is called Samaria, starting with Archangel. I haven't read it, but I think Lisa likes it, so you might too? |
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Book recs
Jul 25, 2017 11:56:52 GMT 10
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Post by mistrali on Jul 25, 2017 11:56:52 GMT 10
I didn't even know there was a market for fantasy books featuring discussions about tea I've been... shall we say, dipping into John Keay's China: A History. It's certainly well-researched, informative and interesting (to a beginner like me), but heavy on the detail. I'm finding his style a little wordy, as well. Obviously, I can't say how it compares to contemporary works on China, but if you're interested it's a good general book. Have also been rereading Tess of the d'Urbervilles because I need a good dose of Hardy every so often. As for other books, I'm also looking for anything halfway decent, please. I rather enjoyed the Temeraire books, but all the recs in this thread are pretty much up my alley. Although, to be frank, I'll gladly read trashy stuff like Philippa Gregory because it's fun |
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Post by wordy on Jul 25, 2017 13:51:35 GMT 10
Speaking of space opera: I liked Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy as well, but it's mostly because the characters kept talking about tea at points and I more or less flipped between tea references. That's hilarious. I've read the Imperial Radch trilogy and really enjoyed it, though there's a bit of a learning curve at the start. Once I got the gist of the characters though, it was riveting. I've been a bit busy recently and haven't done a lot of reading so am lacking in recs, but I'll always push Kate Elliott on anyone who'll give her work a try. Her Crossroads trilogy is one of my favourites. |
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Post by Seek on Jul 25, 2017 13:57:58 GMT 10
Speaking of space opera: I liked Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy as well, but it's mostly because the characters kept talking about tea at points and I more or less flipped between tea references. That's hilarious. I've read the Imperial Radch trilogy and really enjoyed it, though there's a bit of a learning curve at the start. Once I got the gist of the characters though, it was riveting. I've been a bit busy recently and haven't done a lot of reading so am lacking in recs, but I'll always push Kate Elliott on anyone who'll give her work a try. Her Crossroads trilogy is one of my favourites. Kate Elliott's currently on my read-list! I just finished Baru Cormorant but am hesitating to rec it to people: I enjoyed the writing but it's way too dark fantasy for me and I felt the characters had inexplicable motives. I think my issue with the Radch was just that I'd read two extremely excellent space operas right before it, and so by the time I hit the Radch, I wasn't impressed--just awed at the repeated mentions of tea. Maybe I'll try it again sometime. I didn't even know there was a market for fantasy books featuring discussions about tea I've been... shall we say, dipping into John Keay's China: A History. It's certainly well-researched, informative and interesting (to a beginner like me), but heavy on the detail. I'm finding his style a little wordy, as well. Obviously, I can't say how it compares to contemporary works on China, but if you're interested it's a good general book. Oooh, I definitely want to pick that one up, thanks! (Looks more appealing than the Needham tomes in the library...) |
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Post by wordy on Jul 25, 2017 14:03:41 GMT 10
Kate Elliott's currently on my read-list! I just finished Baru Cormorant but am hesitating to rec it to people: I enjoyed the writing but it's way too dark fantasy for me and I felt the characters had inexplicable motives. I think my issue with the Radch was just that I'd read two extremely excellent space operas right before it, and so by the time I hit the Radch, I wasn't impressed--just awed at the repeated mentions of tea. Maybe I'll try it again sometime. I think I understand what you mean about 'too dark fantasy' - I haven't read Baru Cormorant but in general I'm not super into the whole 'grimdark' subgenre etc. and reading about dark stuff. See, I only read scifi/space opera now and then, so I wasn't fatigued and found the concept really interesting. |
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Post by Rosie on Jul 25, 2017 19:19:47 GMT 10
Thanks for all the recs! Which of Sharon Shinn would you recommend someone start with? Ahhh, you have asked one of my favourite questions! I would recommend starting with Mystic and Rider, which is the first of the Novels of the 12 Houses. It's fantasy, magic, romance and political drama and I love it The whole series is amazing. For adult fantasy by Shinn, I also love the Elemental Blessings series and the standalone Summers at Castle Auburn. Her young adult fantasy series starting with The Truth-Keeper's Secret is also alright. I tend not to like her urban/modern fantasy as much (i.e. the shapeshifters books). She also has a sci-fi series, which I think is called Samaria, starting with Archangel. I haven't read it, but I think Lisa likes it, so you might too? Shinn has two modes; fantasy and romance. I'd say the 12 Houses and Elemental Blessings are of the fantasy-bent, and I love them very much, and they (particularly 12 Houses) would, in my view, be appealing to Pierce lovers. I wouldn't mind if my Samaria books caught fire. Speaking of space opera: I liked Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy as well, but it's mostly because the characters kept talking about tea at points and I more or less flipped between tea references. That's hilarious. I've read the Imperial Radch trilogy and really enjoyed it, though there's a bit of a learning curve at the start. Once I got the gist of the characters though, it was riveting. I've been a bit busy recently and haven't done a lot of reading so am lacking in recs, but I'll always push Kate Elliott on anyone who'll give her work a try. Her Crossroads trilogy is one of my favourites. Excellent - I read Elliott's Spiritwalker trilogy, but haven't read any of her other works. |
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Post by Kypriotha on Jul 28, 2017 19:49:43 GMT 10
I didn't even know there was a market for fantasy books featuring discussions about tea Gail Carriger has many excellent tea references in her books I will have to add Kate Elliott to my to-read list. |
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mageprincess
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Post by mageprincess on Jul 29, 2017 20:07:09 GMT 10
I would like to put forward The Lunar Chronicles as an excellent read.
Think futuristic fairy tails, in which Cinderella is a Cyborg mechanic.
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Post by Vala on Aug 2, 2017 17:50:38 GMT 10
mageprincess I love that series! I'm going to recommend my current read, The Queen of the Tearling series by Erika Johansen. Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco is another good read. Victorian London murder mystery - right up my alley, with a strong female lead.
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Post by Kypriotha on Aug 3, 2017 20:47:44 GMT 10
Ahh, I have heard good things about Melissa Meyer's books, so I've added Cinder (along with many of the other books mentioned here) to my (very long) to-read list.
What Kate Elliott book would people recommend starting with?
I now have a book rec of my own - I remembered I still hadn't read all my loot from Supanova last year and finally got around to reading Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman (author of Eon/Eona). I really loved it! Regency supernatural fantasy, with good characters and a really believable Regency world.
I've also had various people lend me books, so the pile of books on my bedside table has grown to include The Handmaid's Tale and The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue.
So many good books, so little time...
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Post by Lisa on Aug 17, 2017 5:42:35 GMT 10
Don't know if it's been mentioned here, but I was a MASSIVE fan of Leigh Bardugo's duology, Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. They're far better plotted/paced/characterized than her Grisha Trilogy. It's fantasy heist!
(Regarding the past discussion of Shinn's Samaria book... they're incredibly problematic in their themes and characters. I really only love one of the five, and unfortunately it's the second in the first trilogy and loses its power without reading the first and third. The stand alone books and short stories are pretty meh for me. But if you like broody angels who swoop around being Romantic, you might like them. I prefer female angels to male, which is probably why Jovah's Angel is my favorite of the series)
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Book recs
Jan 18, 2018 16:13:54 GMT 10
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Post by Kypriotha on Jan 18, 2018 16:13:54 GMT 10
I've now read the first two books of Kate Elliott's Court of Five series. Just need to get my hands on the third! I've also read (and loved and now bought) the Six of Crows duology as recommended by Lisa. Highly recommend it to others Thanks to this thread and other book recs, my to-read list on Goodreads is huge, but at least I know I won't run out of things to read this year! |
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Book recs
Feb 7, 2018 20:54:24 GMT 10
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Post by Vala on Feb 7, 2018 20:54:24 GMT 10
I have recently become a massive fan of V E Schwab/Victoria Schwab’s books! Her A Darker Shade of Magic series has excellent worldbuilding and great characters in my mind. Monsters of Verity is dark and lots of fun and I greatly reccomend both . My current read, The Foxhole Court, has proved interesting so far, though it covers a lot of serious issues and has graphic content and may not be up everyone’s alley. Like Kypriotha, my to-read list is huge, but to the point where I’m worried that I’ll never finish it!! |
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Post by Rosie on Feb 16, 2018 0:39:56 GMT 10
Connie Willis is sci-fi rather than fantasy, but Lisa gave me Crosstalk which I recently finished, and (after a slow start) I loved it. Also, To Say Nothing of the Dog is beautiful (<--- Kypriotha!), and Blackout/ All Clear should probably be one book (whatever happened to editors?? never mind, I used to live with one), but is wonderful all the same. Non-fantasy, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr are both outstanding books, and I'm currently working my way through The Underground Railroad. |
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mageprincess
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Post by mageprincess on Feb 19, 2018 21:15:14 GMT 10
I recently read a series called The School for Good and Evil and I can highly recommend it! I seriously tore through all four books in a matter of days. The storytelling is excellent.
Essentially the story is about a town where every four years two children are abducted, only to reappear in fairy tales delivered to the book store. The children are taken to the School for Good and Evil, one child sent to the School for Good and the other the School for Evil.
They're amazing books, with lots of interesting twists - and quite a high body count for books aimed at 13-16 year olds.
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The whole series is amazing.
