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A Natural History of Dragons
RECOMMENDED: A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan is $1.99! This is the first book in the Lady Trent series, which Carrie really loves. Readers say the book is pretty awesome in terms of concept, but they surprisingly wanted more dragons. Have you read this book or series?
You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon’s presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one’s life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . .
All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.
Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.
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Brooklynaire
Brooklynaire by Sarina Bowen is $2.42 at Amazon! Elsewhere, it’s $3.99. This is the fourth book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series. Though this could be reads as a standalone, readers say there’s a lot of build up to this romance in the previous books. It has a 4.2-star rating on Goodreads.
A sexy new standalone from USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen.
You’d think a billion dollars, a professional hockey team and a six-bedroom mansion on the Promenade would satisfy a guy. You’d be wrong.
For seven years Rebecca has brightened my office with her wit and her smile. She manages both my hockey team and my sanity. I don’t know when I started waking in the night, craving her. All I know is that one whiff of her perfume ruins my concentration. And her laugh makes me hard.
When Rebecca gets hurt, I step in to help. It’s what friends do. But what friends don’t do is rip off each others’ clothes for a single, wild night together.
Now she’s avoiding me. She says we’re too different, and it can never happen again. So why can’t we keep our hands off each other?
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Song of Scarabaeus
Song of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy is $1.99! I thought for sure we had featured this book in some capacity before, but I couldn’t find anything. This is a scifi romance with a literal forced proximity element. If the heroine gets too far from the hero, he’ll die. Some readers don’t think this is a full on romance, but more of a scifi novel with romantic elements.
Trained since childhood in advanced biocyph seed technology by the all-powerful Crib empire, Edie’s mission is to terraform alien worlds while her masters bleed the outlawed Fringe populations dry. When renegade mercenaries kidnap Edie, she’s not entirely sure it’s a bad thing . . . until they leash her to a bodyguard, Finn—a former freedom fighter-turned-slave, beaten down but never broken. If Edie strays from Finn’s side, he dies. If she doesn’t cooperate, the pirates will kill them both.
But Edie’s abilities far surpass anything her enemies imagine. And now, with Finn as her only ally as the merciless Crib closes in, she’ll have to prove it or die on the site of her only failure . . . a world called Scarabaeus.
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The Goblin Emperor
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison is $1.99! This is a fantasy novel with some steampunk elements, and I’ve seen this one mentioned a ton in Whatcha Reading comments. Readers say the writing is amazing, though I don’t believe there’s any romance here (if you’re wondering).
A vividly imagined fantasy of court intrigue and dark magics in a steampunk-inflected world, by a brilliant young talent.
The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an “accident,” he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir.
Entirely unschooled in the art of court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment.
Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naïve new emperor, and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while, he is alone, and trying to find even a single friend… and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne – or his life.
This exciting fantasy novel, set against the pageantry and color of a fascinating, unique world, is a memorable debut for a great new talent.
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I LOVE the goblin emperor!! And no, it’s not st all romantic—for the most part Monette (Addison is Sarah Monette and ALL her work is so so so good for anyone into really thoughtful, complicated, honest fantasy and horror) doesn’t really do romance as a focus, but the way she writes about all relationships and how messy and complicated it can be to navigated them, is so good. I recommend the Bone Key too if you like horror, and it might have the closest she gets to romance.
SLIGHT SPOILERS FOR GOBLIN EMPEROR IN THIS COMMENT! (Content warnings only, but you may not want to know!)
There is romance in The Goblin Emperor! It’s very subtle and slow-burn but it’s definitely there. (Hint: it has to do with those offers of arranged marriage mentioned in the blurb…) Also, the book is absolutely wonderful, especially if you’re feeling sad about the world. The names and formal language used by the imperial court are a bit tricky to get your head round at first, but it’s worth persevering even if you’re not normally a fantasy reader. I reread it whenever I want those warm fuzzy book feelings – though it is worth a content warning for ‘offscreen’ childhood (emotional and physical) abuse.
END SPOILERS!
I second Carrie’s enthuasiasm for Lady Trent, too. The first book is more like the first volume of her ‘memoirs’, though, and if you want the romantic HEA you have to keep going (but you’ll probably want to anyway)!
Also on sale: “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo is $2.99 for Kindle.
Does anyone know if “A Natural History of Dragons” works on an eink reader?
I love dragons, but it seems like something that would have a bunch of illustrations, which don’t tend to do well on my paperwhite.
Although technically a standalone, I really think BROOKLYNAIRE is a much better experience if you read the previous Brooklyn Bruisers books first because the h&h’s story threads through the backgrounds of the other books.
@Lostshadows: There’s a full-page “sketch” every few chapters. Even on my old, tiny-screened Kindle, the image quality seems fine.
Lostshadows
Apart from the beautiful cover there are no illustrations at all, so you’d be fine reading it on your paperwhite.
Oops, forgot about those, sorry! In my pperbck coppy they are black and white.
I read Song of Scarabaeus a long time ago and remember liking it but feeling that it was definitely SF with romantic elements. The relationship is secondary to the SF plot.
I also read and enjoyed The Goblin Emperor though the writing is very dense and I had some trouble with the naming conventions. It has extremely light romantic elements that mostly happen at the end.
I re-read The Goblin Emperor at least once a year. The audiobook is stellar. Addison/Monette’s 4 book Doctrine of Labyrinths series is also quite spectacular (the first book is another I frequently re-read), although they are very different from TGE and very adult, while TGE comes across to me as bordering on YA (which I normally loathe without fail). Still, outstanding stuff all around.
@Ren Benton: Thanks!
Another vote for The Goblin Emperor. My book group will be reading A Natural History of Dragons, so this sale comes at a great time.
“Bayou Dreams” by Lynn Lorenz is $0.99 on Kindle. M/M werewolf dates mate kind of series.
A tip for anyone planning to read The Goblin Emperor – Before the first chapter, there’s a kind of forward titled “EXTRACTS FROM A HANDBOOK FOR TRAVELERS IN THE ELFLANDS”. It’s worthwhile to read that because it explains the naming conventions and forms of address used in the book. If you skip it, you’ll have to muddle through on your own and will likely be confused for a good portion of the book.
*fated mates. Sheesh, autocorrect.
Does anyone happen to know if Song of Scarabaeus ends on a cliffhanger? I saw that it’s a two book series, and I’m leery of being left hanging.
@AnnaB – I don’t remember, I’m sorry to say. I don’t think it was an abrupt cliffhanger because I would’ve been ticked and then probably would remember. It may depend on what your definition is. My vague memory of the ending is that it was something like “this crisis is over, we’ll never really be safe, what do we do about xyz.”
I didn’t read the second book because book one was pretty intense SF and I was there for the relationship that turned out not to be the focus.
“If the heroine gets too far from the hero, he’ll die.” SIGN ME UP!!! Also, please make Sara Creasy’s novel into a third movie starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.
@AnnaB, it is a mild cliff hanger. The two characters deal with the immediate threat (kidnappers) but they aee still MIA from the empire and making plans to work as liberators. I liked the first, haven’t read the 2nd
“Her laugh makes me hard” made me eyeroll massively.
I love TGE, am rereading it now, actually. It’s so kind. But new readers should definitely take MaryK’s advice, although the main text also give pronunciation and understanding clues. Addison has announced a new book in the Ethuveraz, with THara Celehar as the main character. Can’t wait!
I much enjoyed the Lady Trent books, particularly the gorgeous illustrations. Watching Isabella making herself into a scientist and adventurer is fascinating.
@cbackson I get what you’re saying, but Sarina Bowen’s books actually are better than that line makes them sound. Er, but it really helps if you like hockey. Brooklynaire is related to the Brooklyn Bruisers books, which are, in turn, connected to the Ivy League books.
Also, did I mention you really need to like hockey…?
Ooo, The Goblin Emperor has been on my library queue, but I caved this time and bought it.
I’m sure it’ll be worth slightly breaking my “read books you already own (or get from the library)” challenge for 2019.
Curse you, rogue italics tag.