This Rec League request from Reader Patricia. She’s do for surgery next month and is looking to load up on some good books to keep her occupied during recovery time. Here’s her request:
Okay, I’m seeking a lot of book recommendations. I’m headed in for my third major abdominal surgery next month (damn you, endometriosis), and I’m looking to stock up on book recs from the Bitchery for what appears to be a 4-6 week recovery.
Here’s the deal – I read almost exclusively historicals; definitely can’t get into small towns, and rare is the contemporary that keeps my interest (and sports bore me in general, can’t imagine an entire book with that as the backdrop).
So, I’d like to dip my toes into the realm of the paranormal. I’ve tried the Sookie Stackhouse and Merry Gentry series and didn’t care for them, largely because I can’t get into stories where EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. falls in love with the main female (or can’t combat the fire of their loins, or whatnot). I did read Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster, and enjoyed that, but not sure if that counts?
So – paranormals, maybe historical ones? Alpha heroes welcome, no TSTL heroines, magic, urban fantasy, steampunk, shifters, wolves, vamps, ghosts, packs of selkies, all those could work.
Redheadedgirl: Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series. The first book is Soulless ( A | BN | K | G | AB )
Elyse: Anything by Bec McMaster! A Taste of Blood and Wine ( A | BN | K | AB )!
It’s not historical but A Discovery of Witches ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au )is really good and no TSTL heroine or everyone falling in love with the heroine
Sarah: Kristen Callihan’s Darkest London series. Book one, is Firelight ( A | BN | K | G | AB ). And the Blades of the Rose series by Zoe Archer, starting with Warrior ( A | BN | K | G | AB )!
Amanda: Strapping on my recommendation hat!
The Native Star by MK Hobson ( A | BN | K | G | AB ) is an American Historical with steampunk and magical elements that I really enjoyed, though it’s been forever since I’ve read it. The Drakon series by Shana Abe starting with The Smoke Thief. (DRAGONS IN LONDON!). The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook ( A | BN | K | G | AB | Au ) is steampunk, but it’s a bit dark and is set in England. And I haven’t read Kathryne Kennedy’s Relics of Merlin series, but we’ve featured a few of the books in the past and those are fantasy historical romance. The first book is Enchanting the Lady ( A | BN | K | G | AB ).
What are you favorite historical romances with paranormal and fantasy elements? Any series you’d recommend? Tell us in the comments!
I am always trying to find a reason to recommend the Prospero’s War series by Jaye Wells. It is light on the romance, but there is one involving the main character and it does have a resolution. It’s got great world building in an urban paranormal setting and a fantastic female protagonist.
It’s kinda like if Charmed and Criminal Minds had a baby!
I would also vote for Ilona Andrews/Patricia Briggs/Michelle Sahara.
If you decide you want to try something more traditions fantasy rather than romance/paranormal, I highly highly recommend the Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks. The world building is incredible and it’s full of interesting, well drawn characters. There are romantic elements but no true HEA (at least not yet – the 4th book just got released).
I also recommend Judith Merkle Riley’s books. They are historicals with a touch of paranormal. I particularly liked the trilogy about Margaret of Ashbury, but all of them are very good. You may want to get them from the library, because the ebook editions are usually expensive.
Gillian Bradshaw wrote a book called Wolf Hunt, which is a book about werewolves set in France in the middle ages. It is one of her older books, and I am not sure if it is available as an ebook. I bought it years ago at a used book store and still have my copy.
Some of Barbara Michael’s older books have paranormal elements, I think now it is called time slip. I think that some were written under the name Elizabeth Peters. One of my favorites is Patriot’s Dream (which I think was actually written as a contemporary around the time of the bicentennial).
If you are looking to expand to more contemporary paranormals that have some humor, I liked Vivian Arend’s books about shapeshifters. They are set in Alaska/Canada and some are shorter than others. Jennifer Ashley also has a contemporary series about shapeshifters (includes fairies too) that is set in Texas, Nevada and at least one in North Carolina. Last, but not least is Shelley Laurenston/G.A. Aiken. The shapeshifter books are more contemporary, but the dragon shifters (written as G.A. Aiken) are definitely more medieval (armor) in nature.
I hope that your surgery is successful and that your recovery is swift (and your painkillers don’t prevent you from enjoying some uninterrupted reading time).
Anything Susanna Kearsley! Time travel and ghosts and romance in one tidy package.
Coming so late to the the thread, I know I’ll be seconding and thirding recs, but I can’t help myself!
– Seanan McGuire – her October Daye series came first, but her Incyptid series is fun, has great family dynamics and has dancing competitions!
– Gail Carriger – Start with her Parasol Protectorate steampunk series and branch out from there. And! And! She’s started self-publishing stand-alone romances feature side characters! I just finished the first one today and I want to Kermit flail everywhere.
– Naomi Novik – her Temeraire series isn’t romance but IS fantastic (the audiobooks are wonderful) and Uprooted is romance and is probably right up your alley.
– KJ Charles – m/m historical romances. The Charm of Magpies series has magic and magical tattoos!
– M. K. Hobson – American steampunk romance!
– Mary Robinette Kowal – I’ve only read a few short stories and “Ghost Talkers” (WWI, romance, ghosts, LOVED IT), but I’ve heard her regency series is “Jane Austen with magic.”
– Simone St. James – gothic/ghosty romance mysteries in the 1920’s – 1930’s. Absolutely wonderful.
– Ilona Andrews – of course!
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Just about every book/author/series I thought of has already been mentioned. I’ll add one more recommendation for Patricia Briggs (anything) and Thea Harrison (Elder Races series).
Two new suggestions ~
Transcendence by Shay Savage (this is an ultra historical romance set in prehistoric times)
and The Last Hour of Gann by R. Lee Smith (a very unusual romance)
The Magicians and Mrs Quent series by Galen Beckett is good. Jane Austen meets The Turn of the Screw meets Chthulu.
SORCERER TO THE CROWN by Zen Cho. Not only is it historical romantic fantasy, but it features people of color in lead roles in a Regency England setting. I’d also recommend Mary Robinette Kowal’s “Glamour” books for the same reasons. The first is SHADES OF MILK AND HONEY, and it has a delightful romance in it, also in a Regency setting.
Having spent eight weeks in the hospital, across the holidays, my heart goes out to you!! 🙁 Three times is unimaginable.
I’d be happy to send you a boxed set of my historicals – digital or print, your choice. Also throwing in my two cents on Gail Carriger, because awesome.
Also under the bought but haven’t read yet column, I bought the first couple of books in a yet-to-be completed trilogy by Ken Liu which is steam punk based on Chinese mythology. Luckily, Liu seems to be a comparatively fast worker considering the length of his books. The first book was released last year and the second came out this year. The series is the Dandelion Dynasty and the first book is The Grace of Kings.
And a review of Liu’s work I read described him as Guy Gavriel Kay from a Chinese perspective or something like that; I’m paraphrasing.
Colleen Gleason’s Gardella vampires series are a great read. Feel better soon!
Tim Powers has written some great paranormal historical novels. “The Stress of Her Regard”, “Hide Me Among the Graves”, “The Anubis Gates” and “On Stranger Tides” are all quite enjoyable. Cherie Priest’s Lizzie Borden novels “Maplecroft” and “Chapelwood” are also awesome.
Totally read Bujold’s The Sharing Knife. Love love love it!!!
And anything and everything by Elizabeth Hunter.
Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series is complete and amazing. The world building and secondary character are great without being over your head boring.
Also check out Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series.
These are not new but Jill Barnett wrote several historicals with a light magical touch. Bewitching and Dreaming are two of my favorite books and her Wonderful, Wild and Wicked series is fun too.
@Matt K: *waves* Hello!
Matt is a friend with whom I shared this post , knowing he would come up with ideas.
Zen Cho’s “Sorcerer to the Crown” is a Regency paranormal which is equally informed by Georgette Heyer’s archness and a refreshing awareness of race (with a wonderfully diverse cast of characters).
I swallowed whole the first books in C.J. Archer’s Ministry of Curiosities series – a Victorian steampunk-ish paranormal series that’s romantic and mysterious.
I’m grabbing a lot of other recommendations from this bunch, myself. What a great thread!