Chrissy

The ones that immediately spring to mind are; SM Reine's Descent series and Ascension series have a fab central protagonist in Elise Kavanagh. I can recommend her butt kicking skills. Her Seasons of The Moon series (+ the Cain Chronicles series) has Riley Gresham, not quite as comprehensively 'strong' as Elise, but a character who develops her strengths through the series. Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next is a brilliant character in his series that begins with the Eyre Affair. This is a comedic alternate history series, but she is a well developed person from the off. Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series has Joanne Baldwin as the central character, who from the first page of the first book is battered and angry - a lethal combination. A good site to read more about these (and any other!) books is fantasticfiction.com I will have a think and try and come up with a few more. *wanders off to rummage on shelf and kindle*

Excellent! I'm so pleased that you found it.

I second this!

I really enjoyed the Cassandra Clare Mortal Instruments series, and the Infernal Devices. The two series compliment each other really well.

The Thursday Next series is so good isn't it? I'm really glad you are enjoying them. As for The Hanging Tree. I have to buy that soon. It's sitting at the top of my wish list (alongside the next Jodi Taylor), but I was trying so hard to be good.

Could it be Sister, Sister by Su Fortin? Amazon synopsis reads,

The Battle Of Evermore by Led Zeppelin, featuring Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention, is another Tolkien inspired song I believe.

Great photo. I will look forward to seeing them in action.

Off the top of my head, and in no particular order,(and more than 5!) ; Neuromancer by William Gibson Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban Thursday Next Series by Jasper Fforde The Chronicles Of St Mary's Series by Jodi Taylor Discworld Series (especially Tiffany Aching books) by Terry Pratchett Descent series & Ascension series by SM Reine Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage Harry Potter series by JK Rowling There will very likely be more to add. I think as others post there will be a hefty expletive followed by the "How could I have forgotten.......?" ETA! How could I have forgotten......... All the novels I have read by Neil Gaiman? Neverwhere? His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman? The Rivers Of London series by Ben Aaronovitch? *Hangs head in deep embarassment*

Oh yes, books AND magic. Oh yes! Just how great would that be? A 'proper' witch, who combines the practicalities of things with a pinch or two of real magic, a la Terry Pratchett's witches. A book jumping literary detective, working alongside Thursday Next (the Jasper Fforde series). A scribe in the Manuscriptorium of Angie Sage's Septimus Heap series.

It rained through the night. This morning I had to drop husband at Heathrow Airport, and enjoyed a torrential downpour, hailstones, and then bright sunlight on my return journey. I think the downpour / sunshine theme it set to continue.

When I get them, I love buying handmade chocolates in both Scotland (Tobermory on the Isle of Mull) and in Belgium. In both instances you can choose which ones you would like to include. Yum. I also have an affection for Terry's Gold - not so much because of the chocs themselves, but because I was given a box when I had my son (many, many moons ago), and have a vivid memory of desperately trying to get the cellophane off the box in the middle of the night while the rest of the ward was sleeping.

Super windy! I'm glad it should be blown through by the morning.

It's simple, to the point and sums up your (or you're!) magic.

I have popped Ngaio Marsh onto my wishlist cos of you!

Rachel Caine has started a new series called The Great Library. The first two books, Ink and Bone, and Paper and Fire are available on kindle (UK) at 99p each. From Amazon, Rachel Caine rewrites history, creating a dangerous world where the Great Library of Alexandria has survived the test of time. In 48 AD, a fire set by the troops of Julius Caesar destroyed much of the Great Library of Alexandria. It was the first of several disasters that resulted in the destruction of the accumulated knowledge of the ancient world. But what if the fire had been stopped? What would the Library have become? I have read quite a bit by Rachel Caine, and find her good at description and pacing, and capturing the humanity in a scene. These look interesting.

Sorry Hayley, I went all deep 'n' meaningful for a moment there! I really loved the trilogy for the story of it, so imaginative and original - and it was afterwards that I read about the hubbub regarding the religious aspects. The story came first though, and I loved the myths, legends and faiths being weaved together in new ways.

For me it would be a favourite author's new book for a sight wobbly slump, or an old favourite by a much loved author. Strangely enough, Mr Fforde would be in my top five, as would Dorothy L Sayers, with Gaudy Night one of my top books by her! Angie Sage and her Septimus Heap series would be another, as would SM Reine with her Descent and Ascension series.

I love that you found, read and enjoyed the book before you found out about the author. That is so cool!

I delete your "Yay!" and in it's place I lay a "Yippee!" We're only in February and I already have two fab book news items (this and the Pullman Dust books)

Cripes! Has it been 6 years since this post? Me thinks this might trigger my delving onto my bookshelves to read these again.

OMG, that is a mind blowing revelation! My world will never be the same. They didn't walk the same though.

I read this article earlier (the headline caught my eye). Thought I'd share it in here! This will (apparently) change the way you look at Wily Wonka and Doctor Who. As Doctor Eleven would say "Yowzer!"

In my opinion they weren't anti religion, but were more about being anti corruption and fanaticism within a faith - just in this instance is was a form of Roman Catholicism gone awry in a parallel dimension. I found the questioning of what it means to 'own' a soul, (in whatever form), and what it can mean to hold your faith outside of the influence of organised religion, fascinating.

Rain overnight, then very misty this morning, but is now hazy and mild.