Sakura Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Hi guys. I badly need some more reading material. I'll be having a lot of free time on my hand soon, and need to gear up. I'm very much into modern fantasy right now, but I'm not sure that is the right term. What I mean is fantasy set in a world pretty much like our modern day world, with the addition of magic and/or some other supernatural elements, like mystical creatures, gods or the like. What I don't like are romance driven books and pretty much anything with a lot of focus on vampires. Examples that I enjoyed include: Dresden Files, Anita Blake (before it became a porn-filled daily-soap), Rivers of London Series, American Gods, most of Scarlett Thomas stuff Any and all recommendations are very much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Have you tried China Mieville? Perdido Street Station is very different and well worth a look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakura Posted July 29, 2013 Author Share Posted July 29, 2013 I've only read Kraken, as of yet and liked it well enough. Very lovecraftian though. I know my boyfriend has Perdido Street Station, but that one always seemed to be a bit too far on the absurd scale for me. But maybe I should give it a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 (edited) Some others you could have a look at are Tim Powers, Stephen Gallagher and Kelley Armstrong ETA: oh and Jasper Fforde Edited July 29, 2013 by Karsa Orlong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vimes Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 (edited) Well here areba list of books that might fit what you are looking for. Bedlam Bard series -Mercedes Lackey (they are about a bard and all of the stuff be go,'s through. I have read most of them they are really good.) The Serrated Edge series-also Mercedes Lacky (elves raceing cars what more do I have to say?) And the Elmental Masters series (set in london also very good, they are all based on fairy tales and don't have all of the same people through out the books.) :-) hope this are what you are looking for! Edited July 29, 2013 by Vimes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakura Posted July 29, 2013 Author Share Posted July 29, 2013 I wasn't aware Lackey also did modern fiction. I know I own something from her that's more high fantasy. I have to keep an eye out for them. Sadly the first books are so old I can't get them easily anymore. Is the whole Elemental Masters Series modern fiction, or just some of them? I read some synopsizes for the books, and some mention the early 20th century or Victorian times as setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 How about Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman? or London Falling by Paul Cornell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 SM Reine's Descent Series might fit your criteria - Gods, demons and angels, but not a vampire in sight! If you are not put off by a Young Adult tag, then I would also recommend John & Carol Barrowman's 'Hollow Earth' and it's sequel 'Bone Quill'. The main protagonists are youngsters but the story has an original and pacey edge to it that I really enjoyed (and I'm well old!) I would also give a nod for the Neil Gaiman suggestions, and the very clever Jasper Fforde. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Jasper Fforde, all the way through! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakura Posted July 29, 2013 Author Share Posted July 29, 2013 Neil Gaiman is a good suggestion, but I already read pretty much all of his novels. Jasper Fforde I tried. I read The Eyre Affair, but I never got into the rest. Not sure why, it should be up my alley, but it kinda doesn't click for me. The rest sound pretty good. I believe I'll have to make a big order now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vimes Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 (edited) Is the whole Elemental Masters Series modern fiction, or just some of them? I read some synopsizes for the books, and some mention the early 20th century or Victorian times as setting. To be honest I am not really sure, I have only read the first one and yes it was more set in victorian times than modern mordern. But where they are and what era the story is set in is very much secondery to the story itself so you don't notice it so much. Or at least I didn't :-) Edited July 30, 2013 by Vimes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewpmm Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 Hi Everyone I am new to this so please bare with me. Love reading but only found it in later life, well once i turned 30. really enjoyed a gothic horror phase when i started out but now looking for somthing different. I really get what youre saying about somthing new and set in the 'real world' but didn't find very much so i wrote my own. (don't worry not selling as i never published, probably too scared of sombody actually reading it!) but i have to say i really enjoyed the process and probably understand more about what i do like. so if anyone has any recommendations i would love to hear about them. I would like to find somthing dark and thought provoking but really gives a taste of atmosphere and set anywhere between 1900 to present please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian Posted August 15, 2013 Share Posted August 15, 2013 I've read a couple of books by John Connolly, that might fit the bill. He writes books that are crime thrillers, but have a supernatural twist to them. Well worth a look at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakura Posted August 15, 2013 Author Share Posted August 15, 2013 Thanks, I'll try him. I've ordered the Book of Lost Things and The Gates. If anyone else is interested in this genre, I'm currently reading the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne. It fits my criteria very well and is funny and well-written, with a big variety of gods and supernatural beings covered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kreader Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Hi Sakura, I'm currently reading a book by Benedict Jacka, its called Cursed, the other three in the series are Fated, Taken and Chosen. Have you tried Kelly Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series starting with Bitten? Kim Harrison has a Hollows series starting with Dead Witch Walking. I.ve enjoyed the Iron Druid Chronicles that you mentioned. There is a Kate Daniels series starting with Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews. Patricia Briggs has a Mercy Thompson series starting with Moon Called. Charlaine Harris has a Sookie Stackhouse series starting with Dead until Dark. They made tv series called Trueblood which is mostly based on it. Yasmine Galenorn has an Otherworld/ Sisters of the Moon series starting with Withchling. Katie McAlister has an Aisling Grey, Guardian series starting with You Slay Me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted August 18, 2013 Share Posted August 18, 2013 Thanks, I'll try him. I've ordered the Book of Lost Things and The Gates. I loved both of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muggle not Posted August 18, 2013 Share Posted August 18, 2013 (edited) Neil Gaiman is a good suggestion, but I already read pretty much all of his novels. Jasper Fforde I tried. I read The Eyre Affair, but I never got into the rest. Not sure why, it should be up my alley, but it kinda doesn't click for me. The rest sound pretty good. I believe I'll have to make a big order now. Did you read : Ocean At The End Of The Lane The Graveyard Book If not you missed two of Neil Gaiman's best books. Edited August 18, 2013 by muggle not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakura Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 @Bookworm: Thanks, that's quite a list. I've ordered Cursed, You slay me and Magic Bites for now. @Muggle: I've read the Graveyard book, but I found it rather meh compared to his other works. More on the forgettable side. Ocean at the end of the Lane is still on my SUB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 This is for children/YA, I think, but if that's okay with you, maybe you could try Inkheart by Cornelia Funke? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakura Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 I often read YA books, but Tintenherz (might as well go for the original) never quite tickled my fancy as it was so popular around here. It seemed to go mostly for the rather young audience (~10) and seemed a bit simplistic. Or did I get that wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 (edited) I often read YA books, but Tintenherz (might as well go for the original) never quite tickled my fancy as it was so popular around here. It seemed to go mostly for the rather young audience (~10) and seemed a bit simplistic. Or did I get that wrong? What is simplistic? The series has a few fans over here, and they/we are well past our teenage years Edited August 19, 2013 by frankie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakura Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 What bothers me about children's books is often the easified plot. Easier language is usually not so bad, if the author can write well. Do you know Skulduggery Pleasant? That's a good example of what I mean. I liked the style of writing, but found the plot flat, simple and uninspired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vimes Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I agree with Sakura on this. I also fine most YA books to be far to simple for me to read with any enjoyment. And if I am honest, is the reason that even when I was a "YA" I never read young adult books unless they were so good I didn't notice . I think that the big mistake that a lot of YA authors make is that they tend to think just because to are not 30 you can't follow a plot. There is a huge jump in what you can understand plot wise from being a young reader (under 10th) to being a bit older (14 and upwards) that they don't write for IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sakura Posted August 19, 2013 Author Share Posted August 19, 2013 Actually, I make the divide between YA and children's books at the point where the author can have a plot that's interesting and involved enough for most adults to enjoy. Which is why I read quite a bit YA. Some authors are just more creative and whimsical when they write for young adults. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vimes Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 I think that most authors could write far more complicated books for far younger readers than they are at the moment. At the moment you have very simple books and then suddenly you have very complicated books and no in-between. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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