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Thursday, March 21, 2024

Books! Please.

I have another post I'll get to publish later, but yesterday I woke up in Houston, worked a few hours out of our Houston office, flew to Dallas, worked more hours at my desk here, drove home, took Claire to an admitted students night for a new school she might go to only for that to be something of an anxiety-filled disaster, drove back home, unpacked my suitcase, and sat back down to work until 11 pm only to crawl into bed at 11:30 pm, open up my little Kindle app on its dark screen setting so James doesn't wake up and tell me to go to sleep and I had... nothing to read. 

 Nothing. 

In the last 6 months I have re-read almost all of my favorite books, read a few new series that were fine-to-good, and now I either have to dig deeper into my archives (interesting note, now that my anxiety is properly recognized and controlled, I don't re-read books nearly as much, though I do still enjoy diving back into true favorites) or spend hours I don't have trying to find new authors and series. Please help.  I read 2-3 books a week, use the Dallas public library to borrow and download them to my Kindle app, and I really only like to read things that are completely beyond our current reality. 

An unranked and unorganized list of things I've read lately:
  • From Blood and Ash, by Jennifer Armentrout. Enjoyed the first few books, grew less interested by book 4. Haven't even checked if there's a 5. 
  • Fourth Wing, by Rebecca Yarros. Delightful, loved it, look forward to the rest of the series. 
  • House of Flame and Shadow (Crescent City Book 3), by Sarah J. Maas. Loved Crescent City 1 and 2; enjoyed having this one to read, but ultimately didn't think it was nearly as good. Some parts were too long, others far too quick, and Bryce felt like a different character at times. Still love the world and other characters and will immediately read anything published by the author. 
    • A Court of Thorns and Roses series: Didn't love the first two books, but enjoyed them enough to keep reading. Interestingly the most recent one, A Court of Silver Flames (about Nesta) was my favorite. Hoping for more in this world.
    • Throne of Glass series: Really loved this. All of it. My favorite of her series. Would like more please even though I know this arc is done.
  • Divine Rivals, by Rebecca Ross. Fun. Not perfect, but enjoyed it. Haven't downloaded book 2, which probably says something, but I'm sure I'll read it. 
  • The Serpent and the Wings of Night, by Carissa Broadbent. Enjoyed this and #2 (The Ashes and The Star Cursed King). I think there will be more books in this world (?) and I will read them. Like From Blood and Ash and Divine Rivals, these are good, but they are definitely not Tier 1 Ilona Andrews or Sarah J Maas series.  
  • From the Grave, by Kresley Cole. SHE FINALLY FINISHED THE ARCANA CHRONICLES. For as highly anticipated as this book was for me, I knew before I started it couldn't possibly end in a way that was truly satisfying. And it didn't. I really enjoyed this series and all the characters we met along the way and I felt like the world was too narrow by the end. Still enjoyed it, and would still recommend it, but feels like it had potential that didn't fully get realized.
  • Immortals After Dark series, by Kresley Cole. Cole is finally releasing a new book in this series (March 26!) so I went back and read some favorites. It's still great and I was surprised how much I liked her last two Sweet Ruin and Wicked Abyss. 
  • Blood Heir, by Ilona Andrews. I really loved this book. Also Iron and Magic. And Magic Claims and Magic Tides. And not just because I love Kate Daniels, she's actually become a more settled less interesting character (which is good, she deserve it), but because Ilona Andrews are doing a great job giving other characters a chance to shine in this great world they've made. Eagerly anticipating all new books from them forever. 
    • Hidden Legacy series: Loved this series so much. Hoping there's more here too. I re-read these often.
    • Innkeeper series: Also love this one. Same and same. 
  • Psy/Changling Series, by Nalini Sing. I enjoy this series and continue to enjoy it as she puts out new books. 
    • Archangel Guild series. I don't like this one as much, but usually catch up on it when new books are made available for free through my library downloads.
    • Rock Kiss and Hard Play series. These are light, but fun non-fantasy more modern day romance series. Not my usual thing, but I liked them. 
  • Mercy Thompson series, by Patricia Briggs. I've enjoyed this, though I feel like it's gone a little long? I'll still read anything new once I can borrow it though. 
Please share your recommendations! 

26 comments:

  1. Robin Hobb's Farseer books (definitely fantasy, less romance than maybe some in your recent list) are amazing. There's the core trilogy to start with (Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin, Assassin's Quest) but then there's a whole bunch more books set in the same universe...a total of five series and yes, I absolutely devoured them all during the pandemic.

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  2. Ilona Andrews is my favorite, too. A few others who fit the fantasy/sci-fi niche, especially with some romance:
    - IA recommended Jessie Mihalik and I've ended up loving her work. She has a few completed SF romance series. I'd start with the Consortium Rebellion's first book, Polaris Rising.
    - Seanan McGuire is prolific and I really enjoy her InCryptid series (ongoing, starts with Discount Armageddon). Her October Daye series is also great; a little heavier into the fantasy mythology.
    - Have you tried Gail Carriger? Her Parasol Protectorate is Victorian paranormal romance; it's great.
    - T Kingfisher is maybe my favorite current author. Swordheart is currently a standalone romance in her main fantasy world; her Saint of Steel series starting with Paladin's Grace is delightful (and ongoing), and I end up loving everything she writes - even some of her more recent forays into horror.

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  3. You and I have very different reading tastes, so I'm not real helpful there. But, just acknowledging the hard that is the anxiety-inducing student night at a new school - currently experiencing the same with my teen who is doing their very best to manage their anxiety disorder (and newly diagnosed autism which we're hoping opens new avenues for managing the anxiety).

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  4. I really enjoyed 1,000 Recipes for Revenge & A Feast for Starving Stone by Beth Cato. Fantasy, a little romance, excellent world building…

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  5. Holly Black - The Coldest Girl in Cold Town and The Cruel Prince Trilogy are both excellent.

    Leigh Bardugo Ninth House series

    Maggie Steifvater - Raven Cycle series and The Scorpio Races

    Melina Marchetta - Finnikin of the Rock series

    Kristin Cashore - Graceling. Fire.

    Sabaa Tahir - Ember and the Ashes series

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  6. Ooh! Ooh! I have suggestions!

    If "completely beyond our current reality" encompasses sci fi set in space, try Becky Chambers. I don't think I've read everything she's written, but everything I have read is lovely. There is interesting tech stuff, but it's not sort of "hard", dude-bro science; it's very character driven, also addressing a lot about how people (in this case, from different species from different planets) who are incredibly different and have completely different needs can work and live together and support each other. The thing that really stands out to me about all the books is that they're incredibly kind, and yet completely interesting. The characters are all appealing and sympathetic (even where they have issues) and yet conflict is believable. Also often very funny. Really wonderful stuff.

    If "completely beyond our current reality" allows for a real-world setting, the Greta Helsing trilogy by Vivian Shaw is super entertaining. It's about a human doctor who has a practice on Harley Street in London where she treats otherworldly creatures (vampires, ghouls, mummies, etc.). This has plenty of clear cut bad guys and drama/action/violence - more like the Sarah J. Maas books in that respect, although lacking the porny bits.

    Those are my leading contenders. :)

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  7. I am normally not into fantasy or sci fi but recent ish books I’ve read that checks those boxes and we’re both good:
    - the invisible life of Addie Larue
    - ready player one
    Honourable mention: very video-game, sci-fi themes but more of a drama- “tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”

    Other books that don’t fit that genre but that I think any mother/parent would love:
    - stranger care (just buy tissues now)
    - this is how it always is
    - the smallest lights in the universe

    Happy reading!

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    1. Oops replying bc I forgot to un-anonymize myself in my original comment

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  8. Babel, or the Necessity of Violence Novel by R. F. Kuang Same author as Yellowface, but a very different genre. An alternative history of Britain and 1840s Oxford university, with wildly different economic and power dynamics quite separated from reality. Learns heavily into the power of language and friendship.

    Fantasy or even sci-fi aren’t my genres, yet I hugely enjoyed this.

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  9. Books are my escape from reality (especially when life gets stressful).

    I second Robin Hobb's books (Farseer trilogy, Live Ships trilogy, and beyond)!
    A Song of Ice and Fire series by GRR Martin (even though he hasn't finished it!) - also his "Dunk and Egg" (much lighter)
    Katherine Arden's trilogy starting with "The Bear and the Nightingale"
    Andrzej Sapkowski The Witcher series
    Not fantasy but an excellent escape: The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
    T. Kingfisher's books: Thornhedge, Swordheart, Nettle and Bone
    The Golem and The Jinn by Helene Wecker
    The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
    Pierce Brown's series starting with Red Rising (a bit reminded me of Hunger Games but I liked it better)
    Juliet Marillier - Blackthron and Grim series and Wildwood series
    Airborn, Skybreaker, and Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel

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  10. I also love Sarah J Maas! Here are a few you might be interested in:
    -Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson (I picked this one up bc of its cover and learned later he is a prolific author, but I’ve never read anything else by him)
    - Bride by Ali Hazelwood (romance author who added some fantasy)
    - The Adventures of Amina Al-Sarafi
    - The Priory of the Orange Tree
    - anything by V.E. Schwab
    Happy reading ♥️

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  11. Second the recommendation for anything Leigh Bardugo! Ninth House is her most adult series, but all the books in the 'Grishaverse' are fun, too. I would recommend anything by Ali Hazelwood--Bride is her only fantasy book, but I really liked all of her STEMinist romcoms, even though I also usually won't read anything set in the present day. You could also try the Crave series by Tracy Wolff: sexy vampires, witches and werewolves in high school, super fun!

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  12. I am not a huge fantasy girl (Though I did love Fourth Wing, enjoyed Iron Flame and anxious for the 3rd). I don't think my rom-coms will interest you - but I do suggest the very intelligent YA series - Inheritance Games.

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  13. Definitely Robin Hobbs - more of a “traditional” fantasy choice than most of your favourites, though.
    Murderbot - so so so good, so unexpected!
    Jennifer Estep (suggest Kill the Queen to start)
    Hailey Edwards (suggest the Foundling Series or Black Hat White Witch series)
    Meghan Ciana Doidge (start with Cupcakes, Trinkets, and other Deadly Magic)
    Michelle Sagara (Elantra Series)
    Freya Marske (The Last Binding trilogy)
    Forthright (Amaranthine Saga)

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  14. I wonder if you might like Threadneedle, by Cari Thomas? It's really fun, about magic/witches and has some YA romance aspects for sure. I loved it. The 2nd in the series comes out in June in the UK, so hopefully soon after that in the US!

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  15. Have you tried anything by Naomi Novik? I am currently enjoying Uprooted and I liked books 1-2 of the Scholomance series (didn't finish book 3 though). I enjoyed Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher and Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse books.

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  16. I can empathize with that bookish dread when I have no good books [elibrary loan] on my Kindle. I'm always happy to share titles, but not fantasy. -Amanda

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  17. Have you read anything by Laini Taylor? Her style is lush and a little YA-histrionic but also AWESOME and romantic. Both the Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Strange the Dreamer series, which are/will be connected. Second Naomi Novik. Everything that she has written outside of the Temeraire books, and about the first half of the Temeraire series are absolutely wonderful. Don't recall that you've read Mercedes Lackey but I grew up on her and still mostly read her new books (though prefer the older stuff).

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  18. Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs. It’s fantastic. Fantasy about magical books, blood ink and family.

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  19. No recommendations from me that are different than others have already posted but wanted to say thank you for the Hidden Legacy rec, as we’re on spring break and I’ve now blown through the entire series <3

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  20. I am currently wrapping up a re-read of Hidden Legacy and heading into a re-read of the Inn Keeper books soon! I am pretty sure I gave Ilona Andrews a chance based on your recommendation years ago, and I owe you many thanks.

    I had similar reactions to the From Blood and Ash books and Crescent City 3. Love SJM, but I don't think she stuck the landing on that one.

    Whoever said T. Kingfisher above, yes, I discovered her last year and I love the Paladin and Clocktaur books! Some of her horror stuff is too much for me, but my pre-teen son and I had a great time reading A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking together.

    Have you tried Milla Vane/Meljean Brook? I like her books. Also, Kristen Callihan's Darkest London series is similar.

    I adored Jess K. Hardy's Come As You Are, and she does have The Curse of Nona May Taylor which has more of a supernatural element to it.

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  21. I'd second Tress of the Emerald Sea. Bride is fun, but there's a weird supernatural smut component that made me feel a little dirtier than I like (I'm not against supernatural smut, just this particular component of it.) If you haven't read Iron Flame yet, do that! (it's the sequel to Fourth Wing.) I loved Butcher & Blackbird

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  22. We have very similar reading tastes. I haven't seen anyone mention The Black Jewels trilogy (and many, many follow on books) by Anne Bishop, which I loved and have reread many times. Also, Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (also a series) and The Nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling (the romance here takes a while to build).

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  23. Not exactly where you mean to go, genre-wise, but just read Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Don’t read reviews or anything about it, just start reading.

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  24. I do not have any reading suggestions, but do want to give you a virtual hug for the not great admitted student night with Claire! I am sure you will post more about it, but I wonder if you are considering an all girls school for her. If you are, I just wanted to say that I went to one for high school and it was an amazing experience. Regardless of where she goes next year, she is lucky to have you in her corner!

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  25. I know you said only books that have nothing to do with reality. But, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver is a powerful, beautifully written, and important read. I think you would like it a lot. Parts of it are hard to read. But, what an amazing story of resilience. -Kristen C. (Can’t login and comment via Google on my phone for some reason.)

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