We’ve heard you loud and clear: w*iting p*tiently for the next House Andrews offering would be a lot easier if the Horde had new books to devour in the meantime.
Please help your fellow bookworms, and post your book recommendations and/or requests for book suggestions in the comments. Most people seems to be looking for escapism, comfort reads, cosy fun or feel-good fiction, so you may wish to focus on that.
First, a few guidelines! I knoooow, it’s so hard to be a pagethirsty Horde these days, so many rules, such meanie strict moderators. The heart bleeds :P. But this is the 4th or 5th installment of the recommendations thread, so we’ve learned the lessons on making it more efficient and accessible for all:
- Keep it Current:
We’re looking for relatively new reads—ideally nothing published more than a decade or so ago. We know the Horde is well-read on the classics, and we’ve had hundreds of comments for the perennial favorites like Tamora Price, Mercedes Lackey and Anne McCaffrey etc in the previous posts. Please let us know about something you’ve read more recently.
We want to make room for fresh finds and maximize discovery!
- One Recommendation Per Person:
Whether it’s a standalone book, a series, or a beloved author, please keep your comment to just one. It’s easier for everyone to read and make up their mind if they’re not overwhelmed by a wall of text mentioning all the Urban Fantasy authors ever.
If you’ve already +1 replied to someone who recommended your preference, please don’t start another thread for the same books or author.
CTR+F is a shortcut that allows you to quickly search a webpage for key words, if you want to check for previous mentions of your favourites. Here’s how to do the same thing on your mobile phone.
- Stay on Target:
If you’re replying to someone who made a specific request, please try to keep your recommendation tailored.
Steering a fellow Horde bookdevourer who wants to read cosy, feel-good LitRPGs towards gritty miliary sci-fi won’t help, as great as your intentions are. We love all genres, but should respect everyone’s comfort preferences. If OP mentions specific triggers they wish to avoid and you can’t remember whether your book rec contains them, please err on the side of caution.
- Suggestions for Ilona
Ilona is looking for a particular type of read, something similar to Kinsmen or Jayne Castle’s St. Helen series. It can be SF or present day. If you are looking for that type of read that’s more recent, Ilona recommends Jennifer Estep and Jessie Mihalik. They are both amazing, and she has read their entire backlist. If you are an author who would like to recommend your own book to Ilona, please label your comment with Author Recommendation.
Looking forward to your suggestions!
Any chance this is a first? (Sorry all my book recommendations would be older than a decade – I reread a lot!)
Certified 🥇!
Off by two minutes! 😀
The witch queen of Halloween is technically a novella and part of the immortals after dark series but it can be read as a stand alone. It’s a fantasy romance where the fmc and mmc get trapped in a house but the fmc has a curse that brings spooky Halloween things to life. Really fun read on its own and won’t spoil anything if you later want to read the main series.
Yay!!! I actually sat and stared at the empty comments section for a solid 30 seconds because I couldn’t believe there were no comments yet! 🙂
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries
By Heather Fawcett
This would have been my rec if no one had posted it. First of a trilogy; second is Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands. Neurodivergent MC, hilariously academic, a sweet (for a given value of sweet, anyway) romance, and overall just so well done in every way.
+1! By far my favorite read this year!
+1
+1
+1
+1! currently reading the first in the trilogy and it’s delightful
Omg, thank you!
I was sitting at home pitying myself with a severe case of strep throat. And these books saved my day!
+1
I’ve done this before 🙂
The Goblin General by Autumn Dawn and also by the same author The Convergence series, brilliant books.
I am enjoying the book of Autumn Dawn right now. They have dragons, werewolves, goblins, and monsters oh my. Enjoying these series so much I am rereading them!
Suggestion for SF (with a hint of romance) for Ilona!
Rules of Redemption by TA White
It’s so freaking good!!! <3
+1000. I reread this series a LOT.
SO happy that Aileen is coming out soon. One of my most favorite authors and one of the few remaining auto-buy.
re- reading this series now.
support author, but I rate the Pathfinder series highest.
I put Firebird first, Dragon Ridden second, Pathfinder and Aileen tied for third.
Totally!! Firebird
Who are these by? TA White? I couldn’t find them. Found Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card, and Dragon Ridden by TA White, but Firebird eludes me.
I found it further down – Firebird Chronicles by TA White. But what is Pathfinder?
T.A. White’s Broken Lands series starts with ‘Pathfinder’s Way’. Presumably they mean that book.
Thank you, muchly.
I agree!
The Midlife in Greta Green series, by Linzi Day. Seven books out of ten have been published. I can’t recommend this series enough
Agreed
Seconded! Every time a new one comes out, I re-read the previous ones. Linzi Day’s books remind me of HA. I like her attitude, and the books are light, fun, and entertaining.
+100 on this one, Linzi Day is excellent!
I adore TA White and the Firebird Chronicles is my fav.
+1 This is my number one recommendation for folks when they run out of Ilona Andrews books!
YES! Absolutely LOVE this series!
Note: it is not complete yet so be ready for a wait if you devour all currently published books 😉
+ 1000… loved this series !
Whats the Author??
T.A. White
+1,000! I love everything by her. Currently re-listening to one of her series now!
love the author and reread all books frequently 🙂 Would have been my recommendation for Ilona
Ilona recommended/introduced TA White to the hoard ages ago though I’m too lazy to find the original post. 😉
ANYTHING TA White is a recocmend 💚
just went and bought the first 4. Can’t wait to read them
came to recommend this! favorite science fiction romance series.
Thank you for this recommendation! I just picked it up on Amazon and I’m starting it now on my Cloud Reader. I’m liking it so far.
+1! I came here to suggest Firebird Chronicles by TA White too. Great reads!
THIS!!! Honestly anything by this author is really good but this one in particular really shined for me. I often recommend her books to fans of Ilona’s as well.
Completely agree on anything TA White, and I have a vague recollection of a post by Ilona where she herself was recommending Firebird Chronicles, which I suspect is why I read them in the first place 😁
+1 … just like Ilona Andrews … I pre-order the books in this series as soon as the pre-order link is available.
Agree!!!!!
Absolutely agree with TA White. All her stuff is good.
Just bought my 1st T.A White book. Thanks for the suggestion. Firebird I think I’mbrand new to her stuff.
+1
Obsessed with this series!
Absolutely YES!!!
+1000 from me too. I started with Pathfinders Way, and read the Broken Lands series, then jumped to Firebird Chronicles. I have downloaded Aileen but haven’t read it yet. Waiting for new Firebird books is like waiting for anything from HA…..I devour as soon as it’s released. 😁
I have re-read this series twice in the last few months. It is sooo good.
+1 also
Ok, I’ll try again. Don’t know what happened to my first post. It might have gone to who knows where.
The Galatic Bonds series by Jennifer Estep. I finished Only Cold Depths a week ago. It’s really good.
Your first comment recommended two series, which was against the rules. One per comment, pls!
Oops, sorry Mod R.
+ 1 on Galactic Bonds. If you love Jessie Mihalik, you need snag these.
+1 for both Galactic Bonds and Jessie Mihalik.
+1! I devoured the series and pre-ordered the final one. Another impatient waiting game.
+1 on Galactic Bonds, so good!
I agree
I binged all of Jesse Mihalik’s books in the spring. I guess I need to move Galactic Bonds up my TBR. Thanks!
Dark Planet Warriors series by Anna Carven. Long story arc, unique aliens, great writing. Short blurb: love with the reformed baddie saves Earth from other baddies.
+1 for the good Kordolians
+1. I love it in audio.
+1
Another “pick myself up from the dirt and make something of myself” (sound familiar?) book / series comfort reads for me is the Heartstriker series by Rachel Aaron. Urban fantasy, starts with “Good Dragons Finish Last.”
Unfortunately it’s only available through Amazon.
Love it.
I love this series too!
+1 unusual protagonists, non violence advocacy, interesting ideas and world!
+1 on this!
+1
I’m collecting for my Christmas list and looked it up. I only found ‚Nice dragons finish last‘. That’s the correct one, or are you referring to yet another one?
That’s the one! I just ordered it, too. 💖
+1
also available on audible
I have them all
+1
Deepwoods by Honor Raconteur
love love love Honor Raconteur
Ilona has read one of Honor’s series. I can’t remember if I was already reading the Case Files of Henry Davenforth when Ilona mentioned reading one or if I started because she mentioned it. I like all her series.
I loved the Henry Davenworth books and still think about them a lot more than I would have expected.
Really enjoyed the Tomes series of hers to get lost in while I ‘turn off’ the world.
Oh, yes, Deepwoods is such a lovely comfort read that I go back to from time to time. It just feels so cozy.
But I’m going to recommend her Artificer series as my favorite if you want a slow burn sweet romance in it. I just really liked the way it crept up–HE crept up on her without her knowing it.
I really loved “The Tainted Cup” by Robert Jackson Bennet. It’s a kind of Watson-and-Holmes mystery, but set in a very different empire that is battling kaiju while the mystery is being solved. And the Holmes-type is female. And the Watson-type has his own tricks up his proverbial sleeve.
Seconding this. It’s a surprising read and has a kind of world that will be familiar to anyone that has heard of Attack on Titan.
+1 — sequel, Drop of Corruption will be published April 2025
Good to know!
+1
Can’t wait! Loved! Fav book by this authot
+1 I gave this one 5 stars, which I almost never do. Steampunk vibes.
+1
Seconded! Holmes and Godzilla with a fantasy twist.
+1
It’s very much not a romance, but if you like kaiju, I *strongly* recommend John Scalzi’s “Kaiju Preservation Society”
For context, this is the gloriously silly alt-universe book that he wrote during the pandemic when he decided the original book he was under contract for was too dark for the time period. A down-on-their luck food delivery driver signs up to be an assistant at an animal rights organization…which turns out to be in an alternate universe with nuclear-powered behemoths. 😉 Snarky and awesome story.
Plus 1 – loved this story – was tremendous fun.
Would also recommend the Unholy Island series by Sarah Painter – just finished and really enjoyed.
+1 to KPS by Scalzi, it made me buy the Humble Bundle last Christmas.
+1. I actually made myself slow down so I could stretch it out for longer; it was so good!
+1, also his more recent books sound like fun:Starter Villian and a yet to release book about the moon is made of cheese
+1 waiting patiently for the next book!
At first I wasn’t sure I had a suggestion that the BDH and HA weren’t familiar with. (In other words, authors that had been featured in posts before.) Then I came up with multiple ideas. Great.
So, I shall show restraint and follow the rules. * whimper *
I’m going to rec Michelle Diener’s The Verdant String series. Intriguing world building and great characters. Currently at 7 novels and two prequel novellas. That should hold the BDH for a couple of days.
I loved Class 5 series by the same author, I would definitely recommend!
I am enjoying Victoria Goddard. start with either Stargazy Pie or Hands of the Emperor. A bit slow, but great world building, interesting magic, and a love of literature and family.
+ 1 — Love all the books by this Canadian author!
+1 for Victoria Goddard – delightful!
+1 Victoria Goddard
+1
I am currently obsessed with Victoria Goddard. Currently reading Th Redoubtable Pali Avramapul, then I may go back and read some of the other Red Company books – I’m putting off reading At the Feet of the Sun until I have some time off from work!
+1 on Hands of the Emperor.
+1 for Hands of the Emperor – my first choice. It is so good – great world-building, wonderful characters and makes me laugh out loud (literally) in places. (The family of the main character misunderstands how truly big a deal he has become in the capital, and the scene of the Emperor “outing” his actual power and importance at a family gathering makes me laugh out loud every time I read it). I reread it at least once a year now – a favorite cozy comfort read.
I love the BDH – such good recommendations – not a dud on the list so far! I can +1 just about all of them. Keep ’em coming please!
Yes! I had trouble deciding on which to rec, so I’m glad you added this.
+1 excellent series, a new one just came out
Oops mine was for Class 5 series
Big +1 on this!
+1
I came here to recommend this too. Michelle is an Australian author.
Love Class 5 series! I am rereading it now ❤️
Yes! I’m just reading #6 Collision Course right now!
+1
Can you please help me get through the first book? I want to read the series but stall out every time. Too much info dumping in Book 1. If it’s not ok to do that here let’s figure out how to take it outside.
Definitely Pathfinders by T.A. White!!! Soooooo good 😍, ngl I’ve read it five times now and still can’t get enough of it!!!
+1 Michelle Diener all of her series are very good
+1 Love Michelle Dieners style both in fantasy and historical.
It’s not quite ‘urban’ fantasy, but Ida’s Awakening by Tony Corden is a fabulous modern fantasy (or very soft sci-fi) in which a meteor that fell on earth changed DNA worldwide, resulting in radical changes that restructured the world (sensing a common thread here?). In this world, folks adopted the names of races from Tolkien’s fiction, although there’s only a very, very loose association between the Tolkein race an the modern one. Features a very strong female lead who is also older, wiser, and crochety-er than most others I’ve read, which was truly delightful. (There’s also a second in the series already published, if you like the first, but be warned that Tony is rather slow on releasing, not at all like House Andrews.)
Got the first book on KU yesterday and flew through it. Great story and characters. Took some adjusting since it’s set in Australia, but I adapted easily. Hope to start the 2nd book this week, too.
+ loved the first two books, can’t wait for the third
Just one — so hard! This is historical/mystery fiction — Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear — the last Maisie Dobbs novel, set just after the end of World War II. The entire series of 20+ novels are wonderful.
+1
+2 I wouldn’t call them a comfort read but still excellent reads
+1 Classic British mysteries – easy reads
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong was really good.
Cozy fantasy.
+1
I recommend The Case Files of Henri Davenforth series, the first book being titled Magic and the Shinigami Detective.
It’s by Honor Raconteur, and is a mix of feel-good books with fun world-building and a mystery to solve in each book.
+1 Really like many of her series of books.
+1, I love Henri
+1 and have re-read twice.
+1 as well
And I like how the Fish-Out-Of-Water gets to fit in and thrive.
+1 It’s a good re-read also. I’ve done that 2 or 3 times now.
+1
+1
+1 it is a charming series
+1, although the first chapter setting up the story was, to my taste, hard to read because of the violence. After that though, the books are delightful with humorous banter, fun characters, and inventive stories.
+1
For cozy SF I would recommend A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. Basically a warm hug from a robot and a tea slinging monk.
+1- this was so sweet!
+1
+1 Anything by Becky Chambers is great.
I came here to say this. It’s so genuinely wholesome and honest.
As the request is for something on the lighter end of the scale, from my (fairly) recent reads I’ll recommend The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal. A cosy crime in space – a genre mix that works out rather well, it turns out!
I liked the main character’s snark, and that it kept me entertained and guessing without ever getting angsty or high stakes. Technically it is sci-fi, but low impact, no big science needed.
+1 — Great SF mystery, reminded me of the Nick and Nora Charles movies from the 1930’s.
Loved this book! Also her Lady Astronaut Series
Oh definitely! Less cosy, but so we’ll done.
Ilona- I’m sure you’re familiar with Natasha Pulley and it’s a stand alone, but so so good.
https://share.libbyapp.com/title/10197840
The Mars House
It’s not paranormal, but the otherworldly tech of SF is really magic (I think). Takes place on earth/Mars lots of deep issues addressed if you want to look closely, very timely issues even if you don’t, but also a love story with enough grit to make all the cozy parts more memorable.
I’ll also make Natasha Pulley my overall rec. The Watchmaker of Fillagree Street starts the series and it’s a banger too. Set in England and Japan so more historical than urban, but otherwise right up the hordes alley IMO.
+1 – loved The Mars House. But definitely less cosy and more very gripping sci-fi with an amazing love story.
+10000 for Natasha Pulley! Her books are just gems, every one.
The Sword of Kaigen. By M.L. Wang.
Stand alone. Has a more Asian fantasy theme. I could not put this down. The story stuck with me for months. It’s about a mom. I would even go so far as to say this is in my top 10 fantasy novels.
Scholomance series by Naomi Novik- a magical school series where the heroine is destined for terrible things and refuses constantly. check for trigger warnings, as it touches on some heavy topics but is mostly light.
plus 1, great. so much better than similar stories
+1 I loved this series so much.
+1, though that last book kind of ruined the series for me. such odd choices by the heroine.
Agree! Last book just felt off.
I enjoyed this triology so much. It was recommend it the last time the did one of these.
Love this author! Her standalone book, Spinning Silver, is on all time favorites lists. Moving and beautifully written.
Love this book too! Listened to it on Audible and the narration was excellent.
+1 to Naomi Novik in general, I love her stuff!
+1 love how this whole trilogy resolves, and excellent main character
+1 love this series and this author!
Yessssssss one of my favorites of all time!
I adore her Temeraire series, especially the first 3 books. Everyone needs a Temeraire.
+1 🙌
+1
I also enjoyed the Scholomance books. Different from the Temeraire books but still good story.
I found The Lady Jewel Diviner by Rosalie Oaks to be very cosy and easy reading. It’s the first in a trilogy with a spin off as well. It’s set in an alternative history with magic and has romance.
I recommend Violet Fenn’s Netherweird series. #6 is being released tomorrow.
I do have to say these books don’t have as many funny bits as can be found in House Andrews’ books, but I have enjoyed them thoroughly.
The first in the series is Red & Dead, and it was released in 2022. Have fun.
G.P. Robbins’ Partner in Crime (second in Magic, Mayhem, and the Law) releases next week and I’m expecting another wonderful read (author has shared first several chapters and first book was excellent). There’s a serial killer the police are trying to find, but there are unicorns, dragons, and shapeshifters along with other magical abilities to provide hilarity and confusion along the way.
It’s amazing. Definitely recommend!
G.P. Robbin’s is one of the pen names of R.J. Blain. So far I love all of her books under all of her pen names! My favorite is the series “Magical Romanic Comedy (with a body count)”. First book is “Playing With Fire.” It’s both hilarious and thought provoking. I rarely laugh out loud, but I’ve learned not to read these in quiet places because my random snorts and guffaws draw weird looks 😂. The rest of her pen names are more serious, but the main characters have lots of snark which gives them a lighter vibe than they might have had.
+1
The Indranan War series by K. B. Wagers is pretty good. It’s sci-fi/space opera, and the first book is Behind the Throne. Also, thanks all for all the recommendations!
I really enjoyed this entire series.
+1 KB Wagers writes great scifi, my fav series is the NeoG adventures
The Witches of Eileanan by Kate Forsyth
+1
KM Shea has a great world called Magiford Supernatural City. It’s fun, light and a perfect comfort read. It includes 5 trilogies so far, each with different main characters.
The first trilogy is Hall of Blood and Mercy and it starts with Magic Forged and features Hazel, a wizard, who loses her magical house and family in a coup and escapes to a live among the vampires.
+1
all the +1! ❤️
I love these too — and am waiting for The Paragon to get his SO
Definitely!
+1 These were as stated above fun and light.
ADORE Kitty’s books – her fairytale retellings are amazing too!
+1! I was coming to recommend this series. Love all the trilogies except the elves one – I think I may need to re-read it – but my favourite is her freebie on her website of the email exchange between the council.
Hilarious and totally reminds me of the Kate and Curran texts!
To add even though they say don’t need to read the trilogies strictly in order I think you really should do and probably why the elves trilogy is my least favourite.
Also the author up until recently was very profilic but has taken some time out so be aware that whilst the final book in the trilogy ends in an HEA there is an overall story arc still needing to be completed and likely won’t be for a while.
+1. I initially read these out of order and also wasn’t so keen on the elves trilogy, but I recently did an in-order reread/audio listen and loved it! Pack of Dawn and Destiny, which was my on-ramp, is still my favourite. Also love the website freebies, there are some gems in there.
+1
+1
super +1 I’ve reread these a few times and love them every time. I think the night fae series within magiford is my fave, but they’re all really good and Killian is definitely my fave mmc out of the bunch
I accidentally added a +1 to the previous post, but meant it for this one. I love the Magiford trilogies. The fae trilogy is my favorite. I love all the magical creatures and one non-magical donkey!
+1
+1
5 trilogies (15 books) so far, and there should be at least 1 more to close out threads that cross all the series.
In my mind, these are next to the Innkeeper series.
Tress of the Emerald sea by Brandon Sanderson. It was one of his secret projects, you dont need to be familar with the cosmere and it was inspired by a question of what if Buttercup in Princess bride did not wait for Wesley but instead went to find him and have own adventure. Also some really cool physics world building with flowing sand and spores
+1 for Ilona – I’d say this series is an “also like” for Jayne Ann Krentz readers.
also, the trilogy with the vampire and the vampire hunter was hilarious!
Oops, meant to reply Katharina on KM Shea. I also like Brandon Sanderson, so I’ll check this out too 🙂
+1 to this and it is on Graphic Audio as well!
+1 I’ve yet to read anything by Sanderson that wasn’t good/great.
+1
+1 lovreeee tress
+1 My fave cozy fantasy! And a great way to get into Brandon’s Cosmere. 💜
I’ve recently enjoyed Xeno-Archaeologist series by Jenny Schwartz: creative scifi with a touch of romance.
One recommendation per person, not per comment. Please don’t post multiple OP comments, your further ones have been deleted.
Binging YA lot, but the most fun recently is Belladonna by Adalyn Grace.
+1. This was almost my rec.
+ this was my recommendation for Ilona or anyone. Found this author after reading JE who Ilona had mentioned above.
+1
Very much enjoyed Elizabeth Wheatley’s Daindreth’s Assassin series. Fantasy romance, the lead female is very cool, there’s magic, demons, good versus evil, court intrigue… the lead male is not an alpha hole. He’s a nice guy. Triggers for evil step parents, kids getting transformed against their will. Overall, I really love this author. There are fun side characters as well. I’m not sure why she is not more well known!
I have this series on my TBR shelf!
the authors book goblin TikTok are spot on and hilarious!
Hahaha yes, Book Goblin would fit in well here. 😆
Book Goblin does not yet have all the books?
+1 😆
I’ve never posted before but T J Green’s White Haven Witches books are keeping me going through a difficult patch.
Beware of Chicken by casualfarmer
books 1-3 on KU with book 4 coming out this month
fantasy humor isekai – the hero is transmigrated (?) as a poor martial arts student, then runs away to start farming instead. And he has a pet chicken.
+1000
+10000000
Great series!
+1
I love this series. It’s a slow starter but just gets better as it goes on. The characters absolutely make it.
I zoomed through Benedict Jacka’s new series. An Inheritance of Magic is the first one, and the second one (An Instruction in Shadow) just came out in October! Its an urban fantasy, and has an interesting take on magic that feels very ‘new’ compared to a lot of things I’ve read lately.
+1
+2
Liked the Alex Verus series so will check this out. Thanks
I love Michelle Sagara’s (also writes as Michelle West) Cast series!
Mackenzie Green series by JS Kennedy fit right in while I was waiting for a new release from Ilona Andrews.
+1
+1
Rebecca Zanetti Laurel Snow series starting with You Can Run
Disclaimer: this recommendation is not Urban Fantasy but it is an enjoyable read with creative plots, fun setting, and engaging characters— author is Jana DeLeon and the series is Miss Fortune Mysteries. First book is Louisiana Longshot.
+10,000 😆 Love this series! This was going to be my recommendation.
+1 I love reading these when I am looking for something fun.
its not SF or urban fantasy but if you want a character as dangerous and as driven as Kate, then the Bloodsworn Trilogy by John Gwynne is right up your alley. its high fantasy and is so absolutely STUNNING and action packed that I cannot recommend it enough
Love vs the ooze monster by Cassandra Gannon. A fun quick read
+1 for anything by Cassandra Gannon. Her WUB Club series I’ve reread multiple times.
My Dark Beast by Olivia Wildenstein was very enjoyable—and the audiobook is excellent too.
Similar-ish to Hidden Legacy, though of course never really the same.
I love Lochlann books by Robin D Mahle and Elle Madison. It’s enemies to lovers, low spice, with castles, and small magics, and authors you can trust to let things work out the way they should. Scenes written from multiple POVs (like the Curran POVs we love!)
Rowan – Lochlann Feuds – 4 books in 1 (Scarlett Princess, Tarnished Crown, Crimson Kingdom, Obsidian Throne). The individuals are on Kindle Unlimited. The compiled version has a bunch of bonus content and alternate POVs. They also wrote books from the MC POV.
They also have 2 more series within the same world telling the stories of other family members. The authors recommend starting with Rowan.
Anything by Sherrilyn Kenyon is a great read. I love her League series.
Somewhere beyond the sea by T.J. Klune sequel to the House in the Cerulean Sea
I loved Wolfsong as well. Amazing.
My “I have no idea why this isn’t much much much more popular” recommendation is always the Daniel Faust series by Craig Schaefer. First book is The Long Way Down, the series is into the teens of books by now. Dark high-stakes urban fantasy with a relatively high body count, fantastically well written, plenty of spin-offs if you’re into that sort of thing. Unfortunately only available on Amazon to the best of my knowledge.
Love them too
I am rereading the entire first world narrative. Its a great series
Anything by Victoria Nelson. (See hoe I finessed my way around the “one book only” rule heh heh heh)
Okay. Okay. Most current series is just into Book Two but it starts with A Usual Suspect.
Vanessa – but yes, just read book two in the recent series and all her other series over the last few month – love her stories.
Oops! I don’t know what was in my brain but thx
Agree, Vanessa Nelson is amazing.
She has a few completed series you can dive-in!
good read, good writing
I’m rereading Maggie M. Lily’s Circle series. The first book, The Call, starts off like a conventional romance, albeit one with a heroine who has cerebral palsy. But hang in there — it ends with some woo-woo that grows with each successive book. Call it urban fantasy — the principal characters channel energy but know nothing about how that’s done and have to learn A LOT on the fly. (A bit like Nevada not knowing…well, you get the idea.)
Devon Monk – have enjoyed everything I’ve read by her. For audiobook lovers look at her Ordinary Magic series which is done by Graphic Audio with a full cast.
+1 Love all Devon’s books. She gives me IA lite vibes.
Kate Daniel’s ➡️ Allie Beckstrom series
Innkeeper ➡️ Ordinary Magic series
The Edge ➡️ Infinity Bell series
Yes! Love the series on Graphic Audio.
He Who Fights With Monsters by Shirtaloon
currently an 11 book LitRPG series that, while it has some romance, isn’t a “harem” book where the main character is seemingly irresistible, where everyone woman just has to sleep with him
eagerly awaiting the next book
+ a million!!
Recommendation for Ilona
The Tinkered Starsong series by Gail Carriger
First book Divinity 36
Kind of K-pop band building in space.
Great characters and world building.
Oh definitely +1 – this is the series that got me watching K and J-pop audition shows 😂 There is some romance there but low heat/all the feels. I have read them cover to cover multiple times!
+1 – absolutely. But really, anything by Gail Carriger. 😀
+ 1 for anything by Gail Carriger.
+1. Enjoyed her other series as well. 🙂
For everyone who like Legends and Lattes check out the Weary Dragon Inn Series!
Would you happen to have an author name for that please? My local e-tailer seems to have some trouble finding it. Thx!
I think she meant the Wandering Inn series. (Spellcheck may have struck her post).
Nope. The Weary Dragon Inn series. S. Usher Evans is the author.
The first book is Drinks and Sinkholes. There are somewhere around ten of them out.
I just bought the 1-3 and 4-6 bundles and I knew where to find them on my Kindle, which is how I answered this about a minute after reading it.
S. Usher Evans
Thanks all!
this author!
Ditto!
This Will Be Fun by EB Asher. I am not all the way done but I am really enjoying it. “Four friends and former flames reunite on a mayhem-spike quest in this cozy romantasy perfect for readers of Legends &Lattes and lovers of Shrek”
“Cursed Wolf” is the first book by Brogan Thomas
I am loving everything by Heather G Harris these days. Three of her series are in the same world and timeline with different main characters. Werewolves, witches and gargoyles – and lots of sarcasm.
+1
This has to be inspired by Hidden Legacy, right?
The first heroine (Jessica, goes by Jinx) is a truthseeker working as a private investigator. She starts dating a dragon (Nevada sees Rogan as a dragon) who has his own security team. Her dog is a hellhound (Matilda’s dog is at least once called that).
It’s called The Other Realm Universe in goodreads and it’s really very different from HL despite the similar ingredients.
Police/investigator/detective protagonist, dating a shifter/vampire and having a cooky magical pet/familiar are all super-established tropes (not to call them cliches) of the Urban Fantasy genre 🙂 .
Although it’s very possible the author has read House Andrews books because the BDH is legion, tropes and ideas cannot be copyrighted or traced back to one definite origin.
Sure, I’ve read plenty of them myself. I just love Hidden Legacy the most and see it as a good thing if something feels inspired by it!
If only we could get Arabella…
author?
+1
+1
I love Anne Bishop’s side series in the “World of the Others”. My favourite is Lake Silence. Vicki DeVine doesn’t have special powers, in fact she suffers from low self-esteem, she’s a normal person trying to establish a rustic lodge, living in a world occupied by shapeshifters, vampires and other paranormal beings. I think the reason why I re-read this book over and over is that by keeping an open mind, and accepting others, Vicki becomes the keystone in her community. Anne Bishop came to our local bookstore, and I was a blubbering mess when I had my book signed.
+1 — It starts with Written in Red but I agree with LauraKC’s view on which book in the series in best!
This would have been my suggestion 😊Another favorite reread – although I adore and prefer the first books with Meg/Simon’s arc.
The worldbuilding here is top notch, and Anne is really masterful at blending darker themes with lighter moments, and dare I say comic effects, to balance the story.
Vicki’s books are my favorites in the series
+1
+1 but my fave is Written In Red.
I read them in order, so Written in Red was my first introduction to this world. Loved the idea that humans were not the dominant species. Great mind twist for me.
+1 Great Series
I see that Anne has written that her series starts with Written in Red, and Lake Silence is based in the same world, but (in my opinion) it is better to read Written in Red and that series first. The genre is fantasy/ horror and the books are a fantastic read!
+1 to both, Vicki and Meg
I love the Others novels, especially the ones with Meg & Simon. Her Black Jewels trilogy is also very good, but beware it is very dark and has some disturbing content. I haven’t read any of her other series yet
Absolutely agree – love this series. Meg and Simon’s books are the closest to my heart because I read them first and they were something completely different. But all of the books in this series are great reads.
+1
Elizabeth Hunter. several good series’.
I was going to recommend this author as well. I’ve enjoyed all her books, but a particular standout was her Irin Chronicles series. She also recently released book 1 in a new portal fantasy series, First Light.
Elizabeth Hunter definitely, but I prefer her books set in the Elemental Universe.
I love Ben and Tenzin, Carwyn and Brigid…
+1 for Ben & Tenzin. But first Elemental Mysteries: Giovanni & Beatrice
Sue Wilder – Sentinel Falls trilogy. It’s got it all – excellent writing, world building, characters and story arc. Loved it!!
Rachel Bach’s Paradox series. It’s divine!! Fans of Mihalik’s Consortium series will love Bach’s books
Oh! +1 – I almost re-rec’d this and then thought to search for Paradox.
It checks so many boxes:
SF Mercenary Shenanigans
Strong female protagonist
EMOTIONS! Including but not limited to: Amusement, Occasional eyerolls, and frequent cheering for underdogs
A solid ending. I was delightfully distracted by these books.
Yeeees +1!!
It’s one of my most fervent re-reads, with a super competent and bad ass FMC and a swoony but tortured MM in space! With aliens! And something like the force!
+1 here – I loved all three books. She wrote this series as Rachel Bach and writes fantasy as Rachel Aaron. I much preferred the Paradox series
If you are looking for a fun audio series to play this winter while you do some busy work (ie: knitting), check out “The Wandering Inn” series by pirateaba. *warning, series is ongoing.
Imagine you woke up with a need to utilize the little girls room and while making your way down the dark hall realized you are no longer walking on carpet and infact, are in a dark cave. Also, there seems to be a dragon occupying said cave because it breaths fire at you! You run screaming from the cave into a forest full of goblins who chase you until you find an abandoned Inn. It happened to Erin and now she’s an Inn Keeper in a world full of DnD characters complete with dungeons.
Since everyone is eagerly waiting for Maggie I have a recommendation with a similar theme. The Ugly step sister series by Aya Ling.
Does anyone have anything similar to Fated Blades by Ilona Andrews or Firebird Chronicles by T.A.White? something with SF or Alien romance but not monsters and more sober.
Sci-fi romance and aliens, have you tried the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers? Although it’s not a Romance romance, it’s really about all kinds of relationships between all kinds of people, human and alien and AI. Four books, loosely connected. Starts with The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet.
(PS @ModR, I have already posted a recommendation, and I’m not sure if another is allowed even if it is a direct response – please delete if this breaks the rules!)
Wayfarers series is a continual re-read for me. Love. LOVELOVE.
looooooove.
Quest Academy: Silvers by Brian J. Nordon
A LitPRG that has a happy, adventurous feel to it. Reads like a Japanese Light novel without the random Ick.
Anything by KN Banet. I love the mixture of supernaturals
YES! She is absolutely amazing!
+1 to KN Banet. I had seen her books recommended several times and finally started reading the Jacky Leon series. Really enjoying it! Great and distinctive world-building.
I have really loved reading the Building the Circle series by Maggie M Lily. The Trellis family is so bonkers and funny. It’s a fun, cozy read.
Christie Meierz. The Tales of Tolari Space is a (5 books so far) short series, with the newest (Outcaste) coming tomorrow.
(There are also a short book w/ 2 novellas and at least one short story. They are fun but can be skipped and still keep up.)
Basically boils down to – Spacefaring Earth has contacted several alien (some vey alien!) civilizations, including one that looks very much like humans. They seem to be living in a pre-industrial age. Except the Tolari seem to have magic powers. Why are all the other civs telling Earth to leave them alone?
Then the ruler of the planet asks for an Earth-language tutor for his young daughter…
The Lizzie Grace series by Keri Arthur
witches and werewolves in Australia
yes absolut and it is now complete, for all those who don’t start unfinished series 🙂
+1 !! Loved the series!
+1
If you like LitRPG then you might want to check out the “The Pathof Ascension” series by C Mantis. From the Amazon page for book 1: This [series] is a mix between LitRPG and Xianxia. It’s like a car that looks like a LitRPG with dungeons and skills, but the interior and engine are all Xianxia. It features a magic system and progression system that are logically and internally consistent, as well as realistic fight scenes and a rational MC.
Looking for excellent clean fantasy and world building I suggest Melanie Cellier. Hers always have fun twists and turns and I never know what’s going to happen next!
Mystic Bayou series by Molly Harper. Low anxiety, super cozy, super fun read; currently available in Audible’s Plus Catalog.
For a twist in magic world building, check out author Meghan Ciana Doidge. The first book in her new Conduit series is Awry, it just came out in the last year!
“Just Stab Me Now” by Jill Bearup. It’s a “fantasy” romance novel with a twist. The book’s not a fantasy with magic and races beyond human. It’s more a fantasy in the setting. The author breaks that 4th wall by having the fantasy author’s point of view. It’s a light read and a sweet romance, not a spicy romance. I would classify it as a cozy read.
Tinker by Wen Spencer – the city of Pittsburgh is magically transported between Elfhome and Earth once a month. Elves, magic, a girl genius and lots of crazy action.
One of the things I like best about House Andrews books is the mix of humour, action and fantasy, and Wen Spencer has a nice dollop of humour in hers too.
+1. And not just because it’s a great title.
+1 I have re-read Tinker countless times. I love this book. The audio version is good, too.
A great series that I have reread multiple times, as well as reading anything else by Wen Spencer I could get my hands.
+1 Wen is a fantastic writer but really slow! Often 2 years between books. Fortunately they’re really meaty tomes 🙂
+1 for every book in the series. Worth rereading many times.
Yes, +1 for the whole series.
Tinker, the girl genius, is really well written. A lot of authors just slap a “Genius” label on a person, Wen Spencer shows Tinker actually doing genius-level things. And it is written from Tinker’s perspective, which is more difficult to pull off than a Watson/Holmes-type tale. Spencer makes it believable.
In the later books, Tinker shares the spotlight with other protagonists, but it’s always a hoot to see Tinker through somebody else’s eyes.
if I understood correctly, I am allowed to ask for recs from the horde? otherwise please disregard/delete
I am looking for Urban Fantasy with either:
a) focus on sibling dynamics and less on romance, but it’s fine with it as well
b) romance but less classical, I would love to read sth about bisexual protagonists. And or OT3!
You can absolutely ask for specific recs!
Mod R please delete if this breaks the rules as I’ve already posted but wanted to respond to this.
For book 2 I recommend Becky Chambers ‘A long way to a small angry planet’.
It is sci-fi with many alien species so sexuality and gender of course is very different for each of the characters.
thank you! I’ll check that out!!
For option b., how spicy are you comfortable with? Author Gail Garriger under her own name has written several steampunk/fantasy Regency-series, but as G.L. Carriger she has written modern day m/m urban fantasy romances (which technically tie in with her other work).
However, the spice level is high, so explicit bedroom scenes, and while the group dynamics (well, pack dynamics – werewolves) play a big part, the romance is definitely more front and centre.
The kick-off novella, Marine Biology, gives you an idea of the setting, but expect the full length novels to up the spice a lot from there.
thank you!!
I grew up on fanfiction.net before trigger warnings were a thing, I can read anything 😅
I love this comment
ok I will go after point a) I recommend Band Sinister by K.J. Charles – great siblings, fun gay male romance, historical but really wonderful read .. Mod R can I also add rec for point B? or just 1 in tottal?
oh this is so great to get so many cool recs! thank you, I will check this out!
A J Sherwood’s books are urban fantasy, M/M, light fantasy, moderate spice…and can be hilarious. I would start with either The Tribulations of Ross Young, Supernatural PA, or Jon’s Mysteries Case Books (series title). Each ties into another short series by her.
(I hope this doesn’t use up my one rec, Mod R!)
thank you so much!!!
I think you might like CM Waggoner‘s Unnatural Magic for option B. It’s urban fantasy in an alternate universe with a bisexual human protagonist who has a relationship with a troll ( who have quite different ideas about both gender and romance to their human neighbours ). There’s also a sequel with a group of female protagonists with sibling and friend dynamics, inc a bisexual lead. There are romances in both books but there are also main characters without romantic plots.
For #2 Katee Robert The Dark Olympus Series. This series has all kinds of romance/sexuality components. There are other series, but have only just been reading this one.
Try Mel Todd twisted luck seried
+1
check out The Tea Princess Chronicles by Casey Blair, most of the above and a cute dragon familiar
I don’t think I saw it listed but my go to series for new releases and to reread other than Ilona Andrews: Chronicles of Elantra series by Michelle Sagara. Epic urban fantasy with a strong plot and amazingly well written characters!
Always way up on my re-read list
+1 !!! Great secondary characters and found family, 17 book series, LONG books, complex and absorbing – if you are looking for escape, here it is!
+1 for Michelle Sahara. I also liked the Wolves of Elantra for the backstory on Severn Hundred.
Sagara and Handred, not Sahara and Hundred!
Darn autocorrect!
Cosy fantasy- the Tea Princess Chronicles by Casey Blair
It’s a finished trilogy available about a princess who decides to leave her life as a princess and discover who she is and wants to be. There’s a lot of Japanese tea ritual and manners, but a totally fantasy land with magic and found family and light political intrigue. Very light romance and lgbtq inclusive. Very cosy feel good books
+1
+ 1 indeed!
This series was such a great read!
With a couple of novellas and a book of (very) short stories as well. I’ve bought all of them – great fun.
+1, I was looking for this! so delightful, the definition of cosy
It’s very rare I find a book or books that hold my attention like anything from House Andrews but I must say Kel Cade’s series Kings Dark Tidings was enthralling. Give it a try! 😊
My most recent new author/book discovery is When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A Parker. It’s a fast-paced fantasy romance that ends on a cliffhanger. The sequel will be released in October of 2025.
I genuinely LOVED this book. I felt empty when it ended
+1
+1!!!! I loved this book so much and can’t wait for the next book!
One of my favorite authors is Theresa Lambe. She has several novellas out this year.
I LOVE the Linzi Day series, Midlife Recorder. It includes change of life path, magic, humor, multi-universe, a bit of time travel, romance, and a sentient house. Her first book is “Midlife in Gretna Green”. Linzi’s book are meaty, upwards of 400 to 700 pages, and she includes both epic themes and satisfying sub plots. I just finished her seventh in the series, and already want to read it again. I don’t know how she writes so quickly, and yet keeps her quality level, but I surely appreciate that she does!! She stands up to re-reads as well, (having just done one this past couple of weeks), just as well as House Andrews!
+1
I recommend Bound by Ravens by Jesikah Sundin.. Its fantasy romance.
Devoted fan of House Andrews, of course, but another of my favorite authors need love so I’m happy to mention him here. Anyone like superhero stories? Marion G. Harmon writes some excellent novels exploring the idea of how the world would change is super heroes suddenly lived among us. they start with the book “Wearing the Cape” and they are so good! Harmon ought to have his own Horde!
Have you tried Jennifer Estep’s Bigtime series? It’s all about superheroes and supervillains. The main character from the first book accidentally becomes a superhero.
I love the Stariel series by A J Lancaster. A no nonsense protagonist who feels like a real person, fun family dynamics, and attractive fae princes. It is a bit like a cross of Downtown Abby with the Brothers Grimm.
Light novel and isekai rec— Ascension of a Bookworm. The series is finally finished. All about a book obsessed reincarnated MC into a fantasy world.
Quof for best translator!
I didn’t see it listed yet when I searched the page, so here’s my recommendation:
Between by LL Starling
I absolutely loved this book and am (im)pat*ently waiting for the sequel. This is a cozy/funny/ridiculous romp from our world into Between, the ramshackle fairy tale kingdom that sits between Earth and the Otherworld.
From the Amazon page: “Between is the spellbinding first novel in The Chronicles of Between fantasy series. Filled with feisty, fairytale-savvy heroines, swoon-worthy sorcerers, slow burn romance, morose minotaurs, and bawdy witches it’s a laugh-out-loud fairy tale romp.”
Seanna Kelly has two linked series, but since I can only pick one, I’m going with the Sea Wicche Chronicles, because the main character appeals to me a little more.
I got your back – I recommend Seana Kelly’s Sam Quinn series. A little grittier than the Sea Wicche Chronicles and more backlist. I’ve reread it multiple times and it’s well worth it each time.
I liked both series, and I’ve pre-ordered the next book.
I like these also and have the latest on pre order.
I’ve loved Sam Quinn’s series since Seana Kelly started it. Recommended it on another one of these earlier. Wonderful books
+100
+1!!!!
100% loved Sea Wicche. Haven’t checked out Sam Quinn yet, but might once my TBR pile gets down a bit.
An author I love recently blew me away by venturing out of her comfort zone. Elizabeth Hunter’s First Light is a not quite romantic sort of portal fantasy. It was very richly developed with some mystery, some action, maybe some love triangle… I think the BDH would enjoy! It’s in KU right now too.
“Just Stab Me Now” by Jill Bearup
A funny story, (well actually three of them) with twists. I do hope she writes a follow up.
Alex Gilbert write great series. He has an historical 1800 vampire urban fantasy series and a modern franch female soldier isekai series that has totaly no war crimes happening at all and no one is catapulting wasp hives. He also has some other interesting stories. Great humor on his writing and interesting realistic characters. Worth reading.
https://www.amazon.com.br/stores/Alex-Gilbert/author/B08DLXMGNJ?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine. I’m 50% into her sequel My Vampire Plus-One and it has no business being THIS FUNNY! Like, zero business. Since I don’t want to spoil anything for my friend (who I’m ‘suggesting’ read it), I’m making a list so we can review and be like, “yes. so good.”
Silly, lovely, lite, and fun.
Michelle Diener: her sci and fantasy series and stand alone. Adventure and romance with capable female leads. Also has period romance series but not read them as I’m a scifi girl at heart.
I’ve just finished Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan and I loved it 😀
I was going to recommend this too! It’s absolutely wonderful!!
Was just searching to see if someone recommended this one. Same type genre as Maggie might be (from what we know) as the MC travels into a book world but is most likely where any similarities end. Really entertaining and wow does it accelerate at the end. But it does end on a cliffhanger. Can’t wait for the next one
I’m going to take a left turn and recommend a non-fiction book that I recently read and really enjoyed – The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper by Roland Allen.
Keeping a notebook or journal is commonplace today. This book tells you how we got here (and it is an interesting journey) in a very engaging way.
I did that last time and recommended nonfiction! I’ll take a look. any non fiction book narrative built enough to make a fiction list is worth a look😀
Time Marked Warlock by Shami Stovall
Closer to the Sun series by Lisa J. Morgan. Has Hidden Legacy vibes, with a unique spin on worldbuilding.
The best series I read this year is Mages of the Wheel by JD Evans.
It has a fantastic well-drawn medieval Levant-inspired fantasy world featuring court intrigue and geopolitics, with each book featuring different romantic leads in a shared larger story.
Each book in the planned six novels of the main story (four plus a prequel published so far) feature the powers of two of the spokes of the six-spoked ‘mage’s wheel’.
The magic in the series is a bit like bending in Avatar the Last Airbender and Legend of Korra, heavily elemental but with some twists.
+1!!! I just read this series and it was excellent. The prequel is my favorite but all of the books are very very good. If you’re into romantasy with an actually well-developed fantasy plotline and worldbuilding, I cannot recommend this enough. It’s also on KU for those who have it.
This book has been out for a few years but I absolutely loved and devoted Graceling by Kristin Cashore.
Graceling is great and the author is still writing new books in the series.
Will always be one of my favorite books. Karma was amazing.
Katsa dang you autocorrect.
+1
For a soft sci-fi/cozy, try The Midsolar Murders Series by Mur Lafferty: https://www.goodreads.com/series/339385-the-midsolar-murders
Good SF, 3rd book, Infinite Archive, scheduled for publication July 2025.
Yes! +1000! I love this series and I can’t wait for the next one.
Helen Harper – she writes UF set predominantly in Scotland that isn’t as gritty as KD, but her world building is really good, her characters are quite likeable and she has multiple series that might appeal. My favourites are The Firebrand and The Tattered Huntress series’
yes discovered her recently too – can confirm this is a fun read!
Agreed. This is an author’s keep an eye on.
Also love her. Great characters
If you like a good read with quirky characters, that has heart, and a murder mystery then please read Louise Penny’s Three Pines Series. I have one or two non fictional books that I would recommend but they are a little older.
Can’t wait to read everyone’s recommendation and its rainy and finally gettingcold here, so its perfect reading weather!
Cheers!
Vivian Shaw’s Greta Helsing series. Urban paranormal with all sorts of vampires, ghouls, and werebeasties. FMC is a monster doctor in practice in London. Delightfully dry humor in the best British tradition. Shaw has three full books and a short story out, with the fourth book coming in 2025. I come back to these routinely for comfort and giggles during dark/scary times.
+1
+1
And for sheer batshit crazy sci-fi/fantasy: The Locked Tomb Series by Tamsyn Muir. Hard to describe, but worth it. Except book 4, which should be the final book in the series, has been “to come” for years and who knows when it will finally come out.
I recommend Seanan McGuire all her series are urban fantasies but given the series you’ll pick you’ll have different mood and settings
Seanan also writes SF and horror under the name Mira Grant and has a portal fantasy series under the name A Deborah Baker.
Love Seanan McGuire and buy each of her new books as soon as they are released. The October Daye series is similar to Kate Daniels, and the Incrypted Series reminds me a little bit of Hidden Legacy. All are great reads and re-reads!
T. Kingfisher’s World of the White Rat books https://redwombatstudio.com/fantasy-romance/ Great relationship building, beautiful friendship dynamics and the bestest most practical church ever … the Temple of the White Rat, an order of god-touched social workers, healers, and public defenders
+1
+1 Not sure about what to recommend as the reading order though, there are 2 series set in the same world. Chronological start would be the Clocktaur War series, but the Saint of Steel series are more traditional fantasy setting Romances and to some more appealing 🤔
+1 for T. Kingfisher and her World of White Rat novels. Her books always make me smile and are filled with characters who are just trying to do some good in the world. I would recommend the BDH starting with either Swordheart or Paladin’s Grace which is the first book in the Saint of Steel series. Swordheart is a standalone (for now, she has plans for a book 2) that is set slightly before Paladin’s Grace, and there are a few crossover characters. Swordheart and Paladin’s Grace both have a lot more romance than the duology (Clocktaur War starting with Clockwork Boys). The duology is set before both Swordheart and Paladin’s Grace chronologically, but I do not think it needs to be read first.
I will warn that her books always have a touch of horror to them, and she does write horror novels under the same name (so be careful when buying her books if you want to avoid her horror ones). She writes children/young adult books under the name Ursula Vernon. For one of the Saint of Steel books, she joked that she tried to write a romance, and it still ended up with severed heads in it.
+1 – just listening to the whole Paladin audiobooks – I keep giggling while driving to/from work – they are wonderful!
+1 Saints of Steel series! I laughed so hard at some of the inner monologue.
+1 love the sain y s of steel series!
I havent read this one yet! i need to pick it up. Her Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking was the cutest cozy read ever!
+1 on T. Kingfisher novels.
Luck series by Mel Todd
As many of us now find ourselves bombarded by tiktoc book recommendations, it’s refreshing to find a new read through the bdh.
The Witchstone by Henry H Neff is a hilarious standalone urban fantasy. The fast paced story, world building and characters all
I recently stumbled across the “Valkyrie Bestiary” by Kim McDougall. Ended up buying all the books. This blurb sums it up. “When Kyra finds an abandoned baby dragon, she doesn’t want to bring him home. But until she can hunt down his thunder and stop the dragon killers, she’s on babysitting duty. As a pest controller with a soft heart, Kyra already has an apartment full of rescues, including a basilisk who thinks he’s a turkey, a banshee nanny, and even a pygmy kraken. She might take care of them, but they also fill her need for family. And when that family is threatened, she’ll risk everything to save them. She’ll even join forces with the handsome and irritating captain of the city’s vigilante Guardians, who never fails to be around at her most undignified moments.”
I enjoy the books by Kit Rocha. especially her Mercenary Librarian series.
+1 on the Mercenary Librarians
I am reading “The Body Shop” series from Hailey Edwards. It says “Dark urban Fantasy”. Necromancer, Vampires and all other stuff. Lovely characters and chosen family. Lots of secrets and unknown power to discover. Not a lot of fight scenes though, but then it’s difficult to come up my expectations after reading HAs books, so better no fight scenes 😉
Hailey Edwards is one of my favorite authors. I was coming to rec her here but the series world that The Body Shop lives in (Beginners Guide To Necromancy). She has several series, all good, and she writes fast! Great side characters and world building.
+1 for Hailey Edwards!
I discovered her recently and devoured all her books. I love her writing, her characters, and her stories. She makes her characters feel so real as you read about their lonely struggles to do what’s right, and you just want to read about every side character to find out what happens to them.
No mention of Murderbot yet? This is what first person POV is made for. Murderbot is a disaffected security who just wants to watch media but sometimes has to rescue stupid humans instead.
Start with All Systems Red. The first four books are novellas so they go by fast. #6 should be read before #5, so that it’s in chronological order.
*security unit
It’s because everyone only recommended Murderbot in the previous recommendation post. People got upset about how many comments there were about it.
I was one of the ones who tried it out from the recommendations. I really liked them. Thanks, Horde!
I started it because of the horde and I’m in book 6 now. great series, +1
The Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovich is one of my favorites.
definitely a favourite, unfortunately not all the books are available in Canada
This is why I keep my American Amazon account live.
Some of the novellas aren’t really available in the US either. I had to order from England. By now I have everything except the one that was only released in audio.
Definitely +1!
Not scifi or cozy, but if you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced thriller in which the antagonists are dispatched in extremely creative ways:
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
Four women have been assassins for decades, but when they are accused of freelancing and almost forcibly “retired,” they have to go on the run and find out who’s been messing with their good name.
(Sequel coming next March)
LOVED THS ONE. Huge +1.
I second this recommendation and the sequel, Kills Well with Others, being released March 2025. Deanna Raybourn also writes the Veronica Speedwell series, which is another favorite of mine.
Thank you — I hadn’t seen that a sequel was expected. Loved the 1st book. I related to the older protagonists.
+1 It was a great read and the audiobook has great narrators!
I would like to recommend the Alice Worth series by Lisa Edmonds. The newest book just came out in the last couple of weeks and I am doing a series re-read before reading it. Some parallels with KD for sure. Let’s just say that Alice’s found family is better than her actual family…
+1 just finished book 9 and i really liked it. I thought when i started it that it was going to be very cliche with Vampire Werewolf thing. Sometimes it strays close but avoids for the most part. It well done interesting plots and fast paced. I like Alice’s growth a lot and 9 books in it works.
+1
Been reading her for years
I am obsessed with the ongoing serial “Super Supportive” by Sleyca on Royal Road. The author also has a patreon where chapters are posted first. It is slice-of-life slow-burn with wonderful characters. Short description from RR: “a person growing up and finding his place in a universe with Systems, superheroes, and alien wizards”.
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/63759/super-supportive
Penric and Desdemona series by the great Lois McMaster Bujold – wonderful worldbilding, lovely deep characters, interesting action.
came here to recommend this one as well! Each book is such a delightful fantasy romp grounded in character.
Vorkosigan series as well, but that one is older so oh well
+1 — Great series of novellas and novels!
I really like Bujold’s wordsmithing, in all of her series. The descriptions of the Gods in the Penric books gives me chills.
The gods have no hands in this world but ours. If we fail Them, where then can They turn?
one of my comfort rereads would be Deborah Blakes take on Russian fairy tales with her Baba Yaga-series. Love the heroines, the romance, the humor.
These are fun light reads. enjoyed them.
I have recently read all that there is by Vanessa Nelson – so far 4 Series with cool Heroines – slow burn background romance and a good dose of detective story thrown in – so right down the line for BDH 🙂
+1
LOVE this author. The pacing can be a bit slower at times, the action is great and her heroines are actually shown to be intelligent… not just praised by other characters.
Her most recent completed series is the Grey Gates, but my favorite complete series is Ageless Mysteries. Each series is a world unto itself, so you aren’t going to be lost if you pick up a recent one.
Autumn Dawn’s convergence series
Agreed
Best book I’ve read this year, on the cozy side, but not too cozy as it’s action packed is T.M. Baumgartner’s latest UF: Theoretical Magic. I love all her books and this is the first in her latest series. Great stuff.
Sorceress comes to call by t kingfisher
Historical fantasy more than uf but a lovely read
“Empire of Shadows” by Jacquelyn Benson
It’s a great historical adventure story with some romance and mythical elements. It reminded me of The Mummy (Brendan Fraser version) except in South America.
The Disabled Tyrant’s Beloved Pet Fish by Xue Shan Fei Hu
4 volumes total, 2 out now with no.3 coming out in early December
First, check out the gorgeous covers (from Thai translation edition; English one is using the same covers): https://x.com/littlejune_p/status/1679901278628085760/photo/1
This is a lighthearted fantasy danmei (male-male relationship) set in fictional ancient China. Also, it’s mpreg (features male pregnancy) if that matters.
I was hooked the moment I finished reading the synopsis; Lu Yi gets transported into the novel he was reading before he fell asleep.. and becomes a fish! His given mission is to make the Prince falls in love with him.
Not only is one male protagonist a fish, the other protagonist is also (supposedly) mute.
So many questions! How are they going to meet, interact, communicate, and fall in love?! Well, kudos to the author because she managed such feat 😀 I had a lot of laughs reading this novel. Highly recommended if you’re looking for something cute & funny to read.
this sounds fascinating!
Was my post against some rule I didn’t know about?
Or was the Author a “bad one” not to be included?
Or did it vanish into cyberspace?
It didn’t sound much like a recommendation, more like a bashing of an author, with other authors thrown in for good measure.
For this post, and in general on the blog, we’re trying to focus on the books we love, not speculate on the people behind the ones we have trite and repetitive 🙂.
Sorry
It was intended as an honest *eyes open*
Recommendation
I just didn’t want people to think it was on par with Tolkien.
I personally liked her series it a lot.
But it is very fluffy.
Sorry if you read that it was a bashing.
Definitely not my intention.
Hi there. I usually lurk but needed to put in a plug for Juliann Whicker’ s Singsong City series. From blurb “Paranormal romantic comedy featuring elves, werewolves, witches, vampires and angel assassins. “. I loved the fact there there was a world with musical magic that holds this city together.
+1!
K.D. Edwards- The Tarot Sequence.
currently at 3 volumes. the next comes out early 2026, but the author swears we’ll never have to wait so long again!
Atlantis has fallen and New Atlantis is an island off Massachusetts.
The characters are divided into houses of the Tarot deck.
Rune, the son of the fallen Sun King, is searching for his father’s murderer and building a new family as he goes.
I couldn’t gulp these down fast enough!
Author: Kate Stradling
My particular favorite of hers are “Brine and Bone”, “Deathmark”, “The Heir and the Spare”, “The Legendary Inge”, and “Goldmayne”. While the books are not perfect, they’re fun reads with interesting plots, which has made me go back to reread them.
I loved Brine and Bone so much. Such a sweet romance!
I highly recommend Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire mysteries. There are 21 books in the series out at this time. The series tells the story of Sheriff Walt Longmire of Wyoming’s Absaroka County. Each book is a separate story, and as the reader progresses through the books, Mr. Johnson deftly handles the issues of middle age aging into old age such as the effect of close and not so close friends becoming frail and passing, watching your children age and no longer needing you as they once did, as well as the effect of prior injuries on the body and mind through living life. As the books progress an overreaching arc is developed detailing Walt’s reluctant experiences with the spirit world. This is a series I keep re-reading.
There was a Netflix series based on the first part of the series, but the books are better.
I have to say that the TV series is pretty good. At least the actors who play the characters look sort of how I pictured them when I read the books. Not like the terrible Tom Cruise as Reacher movies. TV series better IMO
In case I didn’t say it yet, good series of books
Anything by RJ Blain or her various pen names. Love her sense of snark/humour.
The Immortality Thief by Taran Hunt. Hard sci-fi with a very unusual but well-done setup and main characters. Written in 2022 so pretty new.
Paranormal comfort Read: Trixie Silverstone, The Mitzy Moon Mysteries. Not a lot of hot and steamy, quick, fun reads.
Meghan Ciana Doidge
If LitRPG is eligible, I’m re-listening to Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. I prefer the Audible version to reading it, the reader is pretty awesome. Six books, seventh is due out in February. At first, it feels like just fun, but the world building gets politically complex as the series goes on and you realize we have a lot to learn yet.
+1
I adore this series. it is dark, funny, touchimg, emotional and one of the lead characters is a cat.
+1. I just started this series recently and I’m currently romping through Book 2. It’s so much better than I expected and the game stuff actually adds a lot of humour rather than being jarring like I worried it might be.
Bit worried I’m going to be going down a LitRPG rabbit hole after this… 😂
Galactic bonds by Jennifer Estep
Sorcery and Small Magics
The Wildersongs Trilogy #1
by Maiga Doocy
I loved this book. Loved it, like I haven’t loved a book in a while. Definitely has that first-in-a-series vibe. It’s not romantic, per se (& I’m glad it wasn’t, given the situation the two main characters accidentally find themselves in), but it does tease a romance.
The October Daye series by Seanan McGuire. First book is past the cutoff date but the series extends to 13 or 14 books. Bonus: Found most of the ebooks via Libby at my local library.
She’s almost to 20 books now. She switched publishers and put out 2 books last year so no more until 2025. Great series, and like Joss Whedon McGuire will kill off anyone.
I love this series so much! It’s so beautifully written and the author did her research on all the fae folklore. The fae are beautiful and grotesque and terrifying, and the stories will keep you spellbound.
Midlife in Gretna Green series by Linzi Day. There’s a sentient house who makes fab coffee and unicorns and dragons and… well read the books and see!
The comedy/mystery Liz Danger trilogy by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer, starting with Lavender’s Blue. First person narrative alternating heroine and hero, and with the coolest 7 year old kid ever! Also a giant stuffed red bear.🐻
I can’t remember much about the Liz Danger series, but they have another series called Rocky Start that I like. Second book just came out.
Taran Matharu is a new Fantasy author to that I’ve so far enjoyed pretty much everything he has written. his Summoner series is complete, and the second book in his Dragon rider series is out soon.
I have really enjoyed Lauren Dane’s Goddess with a Blade.
Michelle Diener has a new book Collision Course in her Class 5 series. She returns to the characters in her first book in the series Dav, Rose, and Sazo. Rose is pregnant so you have an interspecies baby on the way. I love the whole series. It is a comfort read for me. I would compare it to the Innkeeper series by Ilona.
Sarah Beth Durst has a new book out called “Spellshop” which is not urban fantasy but has main character that fled from a city that was ravaged by a revolution and when she left she saved books from the library where she worked. She returns to the village where she grew up, and discovers she has a really nice male neighbor…
I’ve enjoyed all of her books and really liked this one too.
I think the series started a decade ago but didn’t finish that long ago.. I think.. but
the Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning is a good read.
Her highlander series also ties in with this world but you don’t need to read both to understand, but both are worth a read!
+1 love love love this series!
For Ilona, Cozy mystery with SF twist. Blue Moon detective series by Steve Higgs.
Jenny Schwartz and her Pax Galactica Corps. Fun quick reads. There’s currently 3 books in the series. Earth has entered the galactic stage and found out that we’re very far down the pecking order of the universe. Humans have to adapt to aliens of all kinds and find their place in the universe. There’s human/alien or human/human romance, a conflict to resolve and relationships are built. The first book is Doctor Galaxy.
For Ilona (and everyone else)
Fleet of Malik series by Liana Brooks. Only 2 books so far but bk 3 is due next year.
Scifi, enemies to lovers romance with psionic powered people dealing with the aftermath of a internal war in a fleet now grounded on a planet far from home. Great, engaging reads, plenty of action and characters that you will love.
The Charlie Davidson series by Darynda Jones!
A fantastic read, if you love sarcastic humour it’ll have you giggling and saving quotes non-stop (it did for me 😂).
Her other work is worth a read too 👏🏼
+1
I wear my “I see the assassins have failed” t-shirt to work all the time . 🤣
Autopsy of a fairytale. Nicole scarano
Good fast reads. No super hot scenes police mystery fantasy with good touch her I’ll un-alive you male character. Strong female lead police detective. And of course a dog. Each book is a different take on a fairytale/case.
The very secret society of irregular witches
By Sangu Mandanna
If you like spicy, I recommend the Dark In You Series by Suzanne Wright. Adult content, so be wary if you don’t like that sort. 😁
Travis Baldree:
Legends & Lattes
Bookshops & Bone Dust
Cozy fantasy. Hugo finalist.
They were on Kindle Unlimited for a bit, but I bought them so I could have them whenever.
+1!
the goblin emperor, by katherine addison. Excellent book, and is the first one in a very loosely linked series. The first is about a young man who has been shunned and isolated, and finds himself the emperor of a planet, by accident (literally since all the other possibilities die)
I reread these books regularly. Her new book is due out early next year.
Same. They are just wonderful. The world building, the characters, everything.
Second (fourth?) the recommendation. The new emperor’s most-important challenge is to remain a good person while navigating imperial politics, and Addison makes that one of the book’s strengths.
I just finished the Phoenix Feather series by Sherwood Smith. 4 book set set in a fantasy Asian empire. Magic (essence) manipulation, ninjas (gallant wanderers), a prince in disguise, flying swords, lovely protagonists. A lovely, intriguing read with so many great side characters. Such a perfect cozy read for the times
Try MA Carrick’s wonderful Rook and Rose trilogy which starts with Mask of Mirrors. Heroine is worthy of House Baylor.
Villain’s Code book series by Drew Hayes
Audrey Faye’s Ghost Mountain Wolf Shifter series. Book 11 just came out.
Each book focuses on one or two members of the pack, with POV from others. Some books have romance, others don’t. There’s a slow natural growth of all the relationships as a damaged group rebuilds itself. It’s a cozy read and really fascinating to see how each character develops through the books
+1
+1
+1
+1
The Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score
Our heroine starts the book at a pretty low point (recently divorced, broke, soul sucking job), but the cast of characters is non-stop delightful chaos while she stumbles from one problematic scenario (becoming a suspect in her problematic neighbor’s death which she… accidentally foresaw) to another (undercover at dive bars, running for her life, crazy getaways, dog rescues!) while investigating her neighbor’s death with extra hot PI Nick. It’s just a lot of fun. Do recommend and if you like it there’s 3 more. They’re all great
Marjorie M Liu, the Hunter kiss series
That series might be past the date requirement of the post, but she does a series of comic books called Monsters, I think. I didn’t read them because I’m not into comic books, but if you’re into that medium then they’re probably pretty good. I don’t know if they’re still being written, but I get notices of them on Kindle periodically.
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo.
I searched and didn’t find this, so hopefully it hasn’t been recommended, but that is Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi. I wasnt sure about it when I first started it, but there is something very peaceful about the way the main character moves through the world of the halls and stairways amid the statues and tides. It’s about another world that I didn’t think I would like, but I did, because of the main character. I just read it last week. Now I want to buy it so I can reread it whenever I want!
I adore Piranesi. I’m not sure if it’s directly inspired or just has a very similar vibe with my favorite short story, The House of Asterion by Borges https://klasrum.weebly.com/uploads/9/0/9/1/9091667/the_house_of_asterion.pdf
+1
I just read that this weekend! Excellent and unlike anything else.
I am getting ready to dive into her new book. The NY Times had a good article on her life and books a few weeks ago.
I just finished a new series by Constance Fay, the series is called uncharted hearts. This is a newly published author, she reminds me very much of Jessie Mihalik. Very strong world development and strong female characters.
I adored her! Just found her this summer, two rereads already because it’s so good. Can’t wait for more in the series!💜
Also forgot to add I think it fits with Ilona’s request—it is similar to Jessie Mihalik, Jennifer Estep, Amanda Bouchet’s Nightchaser, etc.
+1
I just read that this weekend! Excellent and unlike anything else.
I am getting ready to dive into her new book. The NY Times had a good article on her life and books a few weeks ago.
The City Between series by W.R.Gingell is a completely original and quirky read. The first book is called Between Jobs and I believe there are 10 books with several spin offs and companion stories as well.
I got sucked into this series and loved it as well.
The Silverblood Promise by James Logan. This is as fresh as it was published in May 2024.
Anything by Nathan Lowell, but especially his solar clipper series. Sci-fi with a human touch about making your own way. Not too technical heavy, with some light romance. He concentrates more on the people inside the space ships and what drives them.
I agree.
I haven’t read his sci fi books yet. I started with the wizard’s butler and it was awesome. working on tanith’s story now
A slow story that burrows into you heart, eh? The Wizard’s Butler. He’s working on a sequel tentatively called The Wizard’s Cat. Can’t wait.
I’d agree on Nathan Lowell, I’m re-reading the Solar Clipper books now (4 inter-connected series)
The only series/trilogy I reread regularly aside from House Andrews, Sharon Lee’s Carousel Tides. Sharon writes a long running SF series w/ her husband Steve Miller, but this is a solo contemporary fantasy she wrote on her own. HIGHLY recommend!
I like those but adore the space opera they write in The Liaden Universe series— start with Agent of Change, Ilona!
+1000! I first started reading this series because Anne McCaffrey said that their books were on her comfort re-read shelf. I didn’t know anyone else who did that!
Fun fact – The Liaden Universe has its own version of the BDH who got the series restarted 10 years after its first publisher dropped it. Pretty impressive pre-social media.
Also ++1 on the Liaden books. Waiting on the next one now, along with everyone else
I’m an “everyone” too!
Ms Lee just announced on her blog on Monday that she’s publishing an ebook collection of all the Archer Beach short stories. It will be out in the next month or so.
I am eagerly awaiting Hugh’s second book.
Ghost mountain shifter series by Audrey Faye.
I don’t know if it’s already been recommended, but anything by Meljean brook or her alias mills vane! The first book in her steam punk series the iron duke is really good!
***Milla
Love and reread all her books! Love Steampunk! 💜
+1
I’d like to recommend Kira Hagen’s debut novel, Strangeling.
“2049: The elves returned from the stars to save Earth… and broke everything.” It’s a fun blend of fantasy, mythology, sci-fi and pop culture, with unique worldbuilding and engaging characters. I’m looking forward to finding out where the story goes in book 2!
Oooh! I really like this YA author, too! I really liked “Namesake” which you didn’t mention. For some reason I really liked the jaded and sarcastic teenage narrator—which is probably I also liked “Oliver Invictus” by this author, too.
Hi, Kira here, thank you Christina for recommending my book! Jerrica, you’re thinking of another author; “Strangeling” is borderline New Adult but definitely not YA – all three MCs are in their mid-to-late 20s or an elven equivalent, and they’re a bunch of disaster bisexuals careening around a post-apocalyptic Minnesota, so… I mean the spice is closed door but the lead -up definitely isn’t for kids. Nor are many of the jokes. The FMC describes herself as “like the hard-drinking Jedi lovechild of the Flash and Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.
I think the books you recommended are by a Kate Stradling?
Anyway, also a long time BDH member here, and Ilona Andrews is my favorite author and anyone reading this book will see a lot of influences! It’s based using the Irish Battle of Moytura and Norse Eddas as backstory for space opera
I’d like to please request wlw/queer fantasy, urban fantasy, and scifi books that do not: bury the gays, have only one queer character/couple in the book (we are not labeled for individual sale, queer people group up), or have queerness be a central *conflict.* No homophobia, please. Strong yes themes would be strong not-cis-male protagonists, battle, there-was-only-one-bed, puns, and clever protagonists. Thank you!
A Ferry of Bones and Gold kicks of Haily Turner’s Soulbound series which is one of my all-time favorites. There are also two spin-offs featuring side-characters that I really enjoyed. If you enjoyed Kate Daniels, I think you’d enjoy these: great urban fantasy vide, action, mystery, a dynamic couple, and a diverse array of mythological actors.
I don’t want to run afoul of the rules but if you search this thread for K.D. Edwards and G.L. Carriger, the books others have put forward by these authors fit your ask as well.
So, the short novella “Humanity for Beginners” by Faith Mudge might meet all your requirements. It’s out of print but the author posted it free on her blog from April 26 to May 6 2020 after a reviewer on SBTB recommended it as a favorite comfort read. I recommend tracking it down. Essentially it’s a slice of life, cozy fantasy: The protagonist set out to run a B&B and accidentally ends up with a halfway house for lesbian werewolves.
To be clear that book rec (“Humanity for Beginners” by Faith Mudge) was for the post by Anna. Unfortunately, Faith Mudge’s blog (Beyond the Dreamline) isn’t active, but the short novella is wonderful and there’s also some interesting details about Arthurian legends from 2020.
As you specify non-cis male, I’ll point out the Brimstone series by Angel Martinez. At first glance it appears to be the weirdest mash up of sci-fi and fantasy as it features demons in space, but it has all the feels. The central characters are an exiled demon prince and a dashing human, but the cast expands over the series. Found family is a theme, lots of romance (high spice level, that has to be your thing!), polyamory iirc, and the protagonists are definitely clever but also trouble magnets. It’s been a while since I read these, so can’t speak to other tropes. Series start is Potato Surprise.
Also in other recs on this thread, in addition to the other tips, look up Travis Baldree, Natasha Pulley, KJ Charles, and Jordan L. Hawk, to name a few.
I think this series fits your criteria: Tones & Tea by Rebecca Thorne. Includes Can’t Spell Treason without Tea & A Pirate’s Life for Tea so far. Cozy fantasy! Easy, fun read.
The Last Sun by K D Edwards features a queer protagonist. There’s three books out, the first book is the only one with an explicit (consensual) sex scene, but be aware that the mc has problems because he was raped and his family murdered. Him trying to figure out who did this and why is the central plot, and I found some of the descriptions incredibly hard to read. But the found family parts are awesome, and because they are fay there’s no homophobia that I remember, though it is set in an alternate earth. The world and culture is really unique to what I’ve read, so it’s hard to describe, but there are other central same gendered couples as well.
+1 !!!! KD is the king of world building and interpersonal relationships …! Cant recommend enough and also the author seems like a genuinely cool dude.
You’ll like A Taste of Gold and Iron (Alexandra Rowland), A Strange and Stubborn Endurance (Roz Meadows, first of 2 books) – both set up in very non-cis accepting worlds and very well written
Have you read the Beacon Hill Sorcerer series by Sheena Jolie (might also be under SJ Himes)? Pretty much all the characters are queer, it’s urban fantasy set in Boston. Vampires, necromancers/mages, mentioned werewolves, family + found family and a bit of Hatfields vs McCoys. I thought it was pretty good.
I checked. not listed yet.
Assistant to the Villian – Hannah Nicole Maehrer
What do you do when the best boss around is the local evil lord?
YES! Currently inhaling book 2 and it is SO MUCH FUN.
Absolutely loved this one!
A new SF book called Calamity by Constance Fay
Ilona would like these—Calamity and Fiasco! Reread already!💜
Susannah Rowntree has just dropped the 5th book in her “Miss Dark’s Apparitions” series: ‘A Stab in the Dark’.
Take a cast of loveable, (mostly) noble thieves, a world started in her previous series “Miss Sharp’s Monsters” populated with Vampires, Werewolves and Ghosts, add a large helping of Phantom of the Opera and you have a delicious trip through pre Great War Paris.
Bonus: she just announced the 6th and last book in the series ‘Dark Secrets’, due out next year.
For something that is probably lesser known – The MacLee Chronicles by Jina S. Bazzar.
And if you love Jenny Schwartz, T.A. White, and Michelle Diener, then I think you will like this series
If I had to recommend just one book I’ve read recently, it would be the Will of the Many by James Islington.
It’s not easy to describe but here goes. I think it was Dina who said that if a civilisation’s technology is advanced enough, it would look like magic. If you take that concept, make the civilisation a version of the Roman Empire and throw in a main character with a deadly secret and an elite boarding school with a mystery, you would get this book.
It’s not a cosy read, terrible things happen to people, but it is amazingly well written, the world building is off the charts and main character is competent yet flawed enough to be interesting. Also, it is the first of a series and book 2 is expected in 2025 (no release date but edits are complete).
My first two already having been nominated, my next couple just a bit too old, I’ll say the Arcane Casebook novels by Dan Willis
Magical dectective in 1930s N.Y.
Honor Raconteur has an excellent series The Artifactor. It’s. Combination of fantasy and magic with a touch of mystery. I love all her series!
+1
Fred the Vampire Accountant series by Drew Hayes is really good
I thought that this was a fun series too. The first book in the series is “The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant”.
And it gets better from there.
Author Recommendation – for Ilona or anyone
Seeing a lot of authors I enjoy on this list and finding some new to me. Yay!
Midnight’s Pawn – by me, Heather Greye
Futuristic romance set in Seattle
Thanks for the opportunity – and the great new book recommendations
MA Carrick’s Rook and Rose series, which starts with The Mask of Mirrors.
Con artist women, masked heroes, high and mighty nobility, street gangs, evil plots, and two magic systems based on the two cultures clashing in the city which is the setting.
Burn Rate [Rachel Peng book 5] By K.B. Spangler
This series is hard to define but I’d describe this as contemporary with tech & slight paranormal twists. The series is frequently impacted by current headlines (e.g. one of the books was being written at the time of the Boston Marathon bombing and it’s story line is described as being hijacked by that event).
The House Witch series by Delemhach.
As a plug, for those who like cats, you will appreciate one of the characters.
Enthusiastic Ditto for the House Witch series.
YES! Just super fun series. Definitely laugh out loud and easy reading.
+1
I love all the books by Honor Raconteur!!
Threads that Bind by Kika Hatzopoulou. It’s a YA PI fantasy that focuses on minor greek myths (the MC is a third sister of fate) and has a gritty feel that reminds me of early Kate.
Just got Jennifer Estep’s new book, Only Cold Depths – part of her space fantasy series.
I also so many of the above, didn’t see this one – The Rook by Daniel O’Malley, was such a fun book, I think this group would like it.
“Myfanwy Thomas awakens in a London park surrounded by dead bodies. With her memory gone, she must trust the instructions left by her former in order to survive. She quickly learns that she is a Rook, a high-level operative in a secret agency that protects the world from supernatural threats. But there is a mole inside the organization, and this person wants her dead.
Battling to save herself, Myfanwy will encounter a person with four bodies, a woman who can enter her dreams, children transformed into deadly fighters, and terrifyingly vast conspiracy.”
Author recommendation – for anyone!
Brews and Clues (by, well, me- A.N. Payton) is a fantasy forensic murder mystery with a magic wagon and (sort of) man-eating frog. I call it CSI meets fantasy with a dash of cozy!
I also love all the recommendations here and checked out a few from the Libby app. Can’t wait to start reading!
The Green Rider series by Kristen Britain! I know it’s been out for a while but it’s still being released and I really need more ppl to go crazy about it with. The author just announced book 8 will be coming in fall of next year!
Abigail Kelly is amazing! Her world-building is great, strong characters and emotional growth, monsters are people, too, super spicy and dark at times but also super cozy. They make my heart so happy! The New Protectorate Universe starts with either the novella collection, Fragile Beings, or the full novel, Consort’s Glory. And I reread them often! 💜
Seconding Abigail Kelly! The NPU are in the same auto-buy and comfort read category with House Andrews books for me
Hayley Edwards – Beginners guide to Necromancy series
For Ilona SF – anything by Andy Weir!
Particularly “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir! Read it ten times. Can’t wait for the Ryan Gosling movie in 2026.
+1 excellent read! can be technical at times
Sarah Painter, Crow Investigations series. Set in London. A bit (a bit) Rivers of London meets Guy Richie. Protagonist is a private investigator, but there’s a through story with the stakes ramping up fairly sharply. No idea where we are going, which is, of course, part of the attraction of the books. Don’t think the series is finished yet, but I think it’s 8 books in and she seems committed. Other series by the author are available, but I haven’t read those.
Yes, I absolutely agree, I really liked this series and she has also started writing another series about a mysterious island (Unholy Island). The first one is called The Ward Witch, however I think its better to read the ‘crow’ books first as one of the characters turns up in the Unholy Island series.
me too. Loved the Crow series and now thoroughly enjoying Unholy Island
I’m not sure it’s fair to recommend this series because I don’t know when the next book will be coming out but, it’s really good. ‘ A Gathering of Dragons’ by Milla Vane. It’s not SF or Urban Fantasy. It’s great fantasy romance books. It has two books and a novella in the series right now.
“Under Your Spell” by Laura Wood was one of my favorites this year. It was published in 2024.
Recommendation:
J. P. Valentine – This trilogy is broken
Easy and enjoyable read that doesn’t take itself to seriously.
“Doesn’t take itself too seriously” ROFL
that’s quite a knack for understatement you have there!
Stacia Stark books: Deals with Demons series and Kingdom of Lies series….both sets were incredible!M
The Horde is great and many may have already suggested it but a cosy read I had recently that absolutely delighted me was « The Spellshop » by Sarah Beth Durst
Absolutely lovely, good feelings and fluff !
Cool! I’m looking forward to perusing the offerings! Here’s mine.
Mackey Chandler. Family Law (book one of seven).
His books are more sci fi/space opera and could qualify for young adult, too. There are two interconnected series, but I’ve only read the Family Law set so far. Lots of action, conflict between earth and all her colonies, aliens etc. The main characters are a young female human and her adoptive alien parent. She is of course too amazing to be believable, but the side characters, the plots and world(s) building are very interesting. North America is one nation (Texas of course seceded 😆) and it is the bad guy, heh. My main complaint is the author really needed a better copy editor, but I’ve also seen much much worse. Fast enjoyable reads and his books are all on kindle unlimited, too. I kinda doubt you’ll find them in the library, tho, sorry.
So this series sort of reminds me of Ilona Andrew’s Hidden Legacy Series, in it’s an alternate Earth where Magic / Abilities have caused the world of today to be familiar, but also different. Incredible World Building. This is NOT a romance. But it is full of relationships and life building. And Magic. LOTS OF MAGIC.
Note, the first few chapters have the main character in pretty bad straits and it seems depressing… but push through, because things turn around for her and once they do, she starts gathering power, allies, and resources and is h*ll bent for leather to succeed.
Metaworld Chronicles by David J. Wuto – Main character is Gwen Song, an Australian business woman (30s? 40s?) who has reached to top of her field , owns her own business, and is celebrating her success… then wakes up in the fifteen year old version of herself. Also she’s in an alternate world where magic is what will determine your success, and the lack of magic means failure. She’s not only gone back in time, but the entire world is both familiar, but also utterly strange because history is rife with magical events that have reshaped her new, current world.
This is an EMENSE and EPIC series. Gwen Song starts at 15 but by most recent chapters she’s about 23 or so? There are no time jumps. Book 6 just dropped on Amazon, but it’s written far beyond that on Royal Road where the most recent material is available for free.
In fact the whole series was free on Royal Road but just recently, all the parts that are now published on Amazon in Kindle format have been removed from Royal Road. You will find these parts on Kindle Unlimited where you may read it ‘free’ in KU or buy them. All the parts not yet put into books on Amazon are still freely available on Royal Road and the author drops a meaty chapter every 2 or 3 weeks on the regular. It’s SO GOOD and I re-read this series constantly. As each book comes out on Amazon, I BUY THEM. Cannot recommend the ongoing saga of Gwen Song enough. It’s a fun read. So this is my single recommendation, out of the bazillion series, books authors I’ve read to date.
Not the usual bdh recommendation but my standout read this year was “Unruly” by David Mitchell.
a very funny history of English royalty – 300 pages of me going wtf?- googling something, and yes that did actually happen 🤯
Great book, needs a sequel
The Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch are amazing. In the UK most if them are available on Spotify if you have a premium membership. They’re read by Kobna Holbrook-Smith who is absolutely perfect for the series.
The premise of the books is that rivers have a goddess, Genus loci, who can effect and deliberately involve themselves in things which affects their rivers. The local police have a very small department consisting of one DCI, Thomas Nightingale, who is a very powerful wizard. He recruits Peter Grant to be his apprentice.
It’s all set in modern London where very few police believe in magic etc so have to navigate working with the police and the demomond (the supernatural bits). London actually has loads of rivers and small tributaries so there are loads of characters.
If you can listen to it on Audible or Spotify, especially listeners from elsewhere, you will love it!!
Ben Aaronovitch has written maybe 15 books(?) and I’ve read every single one. Him and Ilona Andrews are the only authors I have done that with…I feel other long running series books fall apart after a few books and get stale and repetitive.
Recommend Rivers of London 10000x!!
+1 for this series! And you’re right – the audiobooks are definitely the way to go. Kobna Holdbrook-Smith does an amazing job and makes all the voices really distinct. I particularly love that his Nightingale sounds like he’s being played by a world-weary Trevor Howard, which is just perfect! 🙂
Alice Degan/Aj Demas. She has three series under her two names. All very good with both MM and MF romance.
Under her real name she writes an urban fantasy series (7C) about supernaturals living in a magical apartment, and a more historical fantasy one, taking place in the 1920s, WW2.
Under the AJ Demas pen-name she writes romances that take place in an alternate ancient Mediterranean world. No magic, but not the real world. Some also contain murder mysteries, but mostly cosy.
Andrea K Höst. Her touchstone series is YA fantasy but her other series and stand alones are more mature. Favourite author after Ilona.
Love her Silence of Medair duology
I recommend Stewart Glynn, he has several series in Military SCifi genres, but they’re not dark and gloom.
And the Starship’s Mage is a glorious union of magic and scifi.
Any of the series by Nalini Singh – she has three different series so far, plenty of escapist romance with supernatural twists.
Awesome books and amazing author
+1 for Nalini Singh!
+1 Psy/changeling series
+1 For Nalini Singh!! Absolutely amazing author and I adore all of her books. Guild hunter and psy changeling are favorites of mine and always rereads!
So did a quick search for two names to see if anyone had recommended them. both really good and no one appears to have talked about them. Sticking to the rules- I’m only going to mention 1 of them in my recommendations, as I’m sure the more wellnpwn author will be mentioned at some point.
so my recommendation is a series by Byrd Nash = Ghost Talker: A Gaslamp Ghost Mystery Volume 1
I think they may be relatively new to the scene so ticks the not older then 10 yrs requirements.
one of those Amazon recommendations based on my reading. Relatively short stories 177 or so pages. Engaging characters, and made me buy books 2-3 straight away.
I only stopped myself buying and finishing the whole series, as my TBR pile is long.
so i’m trying to sandwich older books from the TBR pile between these and my equivalent of the top ends pastries ( the new books like some mentioned in this thread by authors recommended in the past who shsll not be named so that I’m stickingto the rules 😇); until I’ve read all of the others- in a bid to save those for as long as possible before I devour them!
Patricia Briggs, (Urban Fantasy) the Mercedes Thompson series. Recently “Winter Lost” 2024 release. Awesome characters, kick ass female, shapeshifters and magic galore 😁
And a sense of humour. One of the best.
+1 love love love Patricia Briggs!!
+1
series I’ve come across and love, have reread three times already is shelly laurenston’s honey badger series. If you love hilarious dysfunction and fights and shapeshifter, every book is a sprint. Three sisters with the misfortune of sharing the same fathers messed up genetics mean they are honey Badgers not to be messed with. they’re constantly getting into mess that can all be traced back to their dad, who’s asking for money weeks after stealing millions, and looking for a place to stay even when he’s only sold them to drug cartels a few times. first book mostly follows the eldest sister, but you get everyone views and thoughts. honestly it’s fantastic. absolutely hilarious dark humor.
I haven’t read that particular series yet, but several others and really enjoyed the humour. She also writes under the name G. A. Aiken.
I ADORE Shelly Laurenston and G.A. Aiken. I’ve read all of the catalog multiple times.
the audiobook version of this series is the absolute best. the reader should get “all the donuts” because she does a bang up job. i agree with the above, if you want light and funny and refreshing tied with good worldbuilding, character development and dialogue then this series is a nice addition to anyone’s TBR.
Some people know Charlaine Harris for her Sookie Stackhouse vampire books, on TV as True Blood. More recently she’s written an alt history series with a kick ass heroine young woman guard with gun for hire, Gunnie Rose.
In the series of four books so far, the Russian Tsar wasn’t killed. He and his family fled to America. Some of their descendants have magic abilities. Wild West Texas/ Mexico type setting with later books including time in the city of San Diego. First in the series is An Easy Death. It has a slow build romance, action, and a young woman finding out secrets, thanks to a young male grigori (magic user).
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38136877-an-easy-death
Just finished this series. The last book is scheduled to be published late next year.
Love, love, love this series. It might be my favorite of hers.
+1
Only ONE??
Coziest read I know of is the dragon heart legacy (series) by Nora Roberts. It’s a fantasy modern day series that is set in the Irish countryside and it’s so adorable. There’s some romance and an amazing mix of feel good moments, action, training/learning and just a wonderful ambiance.
It just gives the most cozy vibes. I love.
Absolutely!! Many of the Nora Roberts trilogy are like that.
+1 great series!
I want to make all of the recommendations but if I have to make only 1 then Kate Canterbary 100% her doctors series❤️❤️❤️
Piper J. Drake, Wings Once Cursed and Bound and Fangs so Bright and Deadly. Set in Seattle with mainly Asian American characters and Asian folklore beings. Lots of fun.
I loved both of these book so much!
the Cainsville Series by Kelly Armstrong
So I don’t think I’ve seen it mentioned yet but my latest recommendation is the Villan’s Code series by Drew Hayes.
It’s fun with lots of action, centred around a young thief who gets introduced to a villains guild and joins their ranks. The books focus on her but also cover viewpoints from other villains and superheros in the story. There are 3 books so far, all very long and with good world building. Definitely on the SF spectrum.
To Kill A Necromancer and Citadel, both by C.M. Alongi.
MCA Hogarth’s Earthrise series. Great characters and fabulous world building.
I like Carol Van Natta’s Central Galactic Concordance series, it’s romantic space opera. Series of interconnected standalones with new main couple each book, currently 5 book series with additional novellas.
I started with Overload Flux but there’s a novella Last Ship Off Polaris-G set before it. Psychic powers in space are a win for me 🙂
I loved a new series I found by Colleen Helme “Carrots”!
The Ever King by LJ Andrews
Was I enticed by the last name? Perhaps. Is it one of the best romantasies I’ve ever read? Absolutely. And bonus, the narration is stellar if you’re an audiobook person
I enjoyed Annette Marie’s series Guild Codex: Spellbound; the first book in the series is called Three Mages and a Margarita. Urban fantasy where a ‘normal’ human bartender looking for a job discovers that mages, sorcerers, alchemists, etc. exist in her city but most humans never know it. Series has a long story arc where the heroine finds love and gradually morphs into a ‘combat mythic’ with a bit of magic of her own.
There are also 3 other interlinked Guild Codex series:
Demonized where a woman trying to get her rightful inheritance ends up mixed up with a demon.
Unveiled where a witch is trying to survive her probation but ends up learning more about herself than she expected.
Warped where a mythic who thought he was the only one with these sorts of powers works for the wrong people and gets arrested.
The last book in the last series is due to be released in May 2025. At that point, there will be 31 books/short stories. But all series are stand alone.
The series run concurrently with each other. I especially love demonized.
Yes! All of her Guild Codex and related/spin off series are amazing! I just finished Kit’s latest Warped and I want the next on SO BAD!
I loved the book ” a wizard ‘s guide to defensive baking”
I adore the Saints of Steel books by this same author! I’ve re-read them at least five times now. And the audiobooks are great. T. Kingfisher forever! That inimitable D&D romance adventure worldbuilding flavor! I bet future fans of Maggie the Undying would love them!
Because it is extraordinary writing – ‘Wintering: The power of rest and retreat in difficult times’ by Katherine May. On the face of it, it is a simple account of one woman coming to terms with the cold and dark of winter, recovery after family crises, and, giving up her vocation – a career that no longer worked for her.
This makes it sound like a misery memoir or a trudge of a read – it is not.
It was published in 2020 and was a BBC Book of the week and UK Sunday Times bestseller for a reason – it is lovely: an elegant and restorative read for those times when you might feel depleted, burned-out, or, want to retreat a little from real life.
A little off-topic in terms of genre, however!
Anything by Canadian author Tanya Huff. She wrote the series that the tv show Blood Ties was based on. Feisty female ex-cop turned P.I. teaming with a vampire. Unfortunately I think the e-books are only available on Amazon (I have all of her books in paperback)
+1 on Tanya Huff. I really like her The Gales series, first one is Enchantment Emporium, only three books, wouldn’t have minded more 😉
They won’t be for everyone though, I would definitely describe them as quirky. Let’s just say if you have a family made powerful by fertility magic, there will be a lot of fertility rites going on. So ymmv, try before you buy 😊
+1 Tanya Huff
I can’t see that anyone has recommended her yet – Elizabeth Moon.
She does High Fantasy and SciFi, and I have really enjoyed all of it.
In the 2020s she has written 2 additional books in the previously 5 book Vatta series. I have finished the first and started the second.
the Vatta’s War series was the best. graphic audio did them and i so enjoyed the entire series. plucky heroines and wise, crafty elder women are my go to stories.
+1
I’ve read everything she’s written, and loved all of it. Currently rereading Sheepfarmer’s Daughter, first in her high fantasy series.
Mead Mishaps series by Kimberly Lemming, starting with That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon. Really funny, good adventure, and spicy.
I just read The Witchwood Knot, by Olivia Atwater, who instantly became an author whose books I want to read. More Gothic fantasy, with deep fairy lore. Sort of like if Jane Eyre were a witch, and Mr. Rochester some kind of rat demon.
Partwolf on inkitt app or literotica is one is not embarrassed by their browser history.
His shifter stories are well written, his females as capable as the males.
As with most shifter stories there is violence.
I love reading fantasy/ paranormal and one of my favourite authors is TJ Green who has written a series of books based on the White Haven witches although there are shifters and vampires sometimes involved in the stories. The stories involve a group of witches (male and female) who solve mysteries and murder. The stories can be quite thrilling as you get involved with the characters but not bad enough to give you nightmares!
The first one is Buried Magic: Paranormal Witch Mystery (White Haven Witches Book 1) available on Amazon.
Very good stories. Totally enjoyed them.
Just one? Now that’s a fantasy! I haven’t seen this recommended prior, but I have found a series by the author, Markus Matthews, the Bounty of series. It is great fun to read. Superhero turned bounty hunter now that’s different.
And available in kindle unlimited
Beware of Chicken. It is a light hearted hilarious litrpg with minimal game elements. 3 written and a 4th on the way. Our hero is transported to a world of magic and hates his sect. He runs off to hid and feeds his chicken too much. Includes mud fights, confused cultivators, lot of laughs.
I recommend the twisted luck series by Mel Todd, Not too dark and an asexual heroine so only romance with secondary characters . Found the world building (earth) original. Eight books
Anything by Susanna Kearsley, but I would start with The Winter Sea. It’s historical romance with some fantasy in it. I’ve read everything by her over and over again. If you visit her website, you can read the first chapter of most of her books for free to see if you like them. Highly highly recommend!
Just finished a reread of Shadowy Horses — my favorite. She loves Scotland!
Helen Harper
The Firebrand Series
It is loaceted in London. There are a Lot of supernaturals in. The typical vampires and werewolfs, but also some new not so common ones.
The heroine works as a Police man, and in the First Book, she Discovers, that she belongs to the supernaturals, too. I don‘t say, what she is, read the First Book!
I Like it very much, but be careful, once you start, you read until the end of the Book.
I don’t usually read funny books, because humor is difficult and if something is billed as laugh out loud, etc, it usually doesn’t work for me. But Alexandra Rowland came out with Running Close to the Wind and I downloaded the audio without even looking at the description because I loved her previous work so much. This was very different, but still fantastic and the narrator only added to it. Funny, colorful, magical and over the top. Also pretty cozy, about a family of ragtag and ramshackle pirates.
Anything by Nalini Singh, I especially love her ongoing Guild Hunter and Psy Changeling series. She writes fantasy, contemporary or even mystery.
Starter Villain by John Scalzi…could stop snickering. A fun light read
+1 — Talking dolphins and cats — a riff on all the James Bond villains. Very funny!
Mark Hayden’s King’s Watch series. Not cozy as such, but very funny and very British. At the moment you get 12 books out of it, but the series isn’t finished yet. This one definitely made me laugh, as friend as well, and the stories are good, too.
So glad someone mentioned this – it would have been my second choice.
What I like about it in addition to what you have said is that he is self published and breaks some of the rules of publishing/ authorship as a result. Some of these things I enjoy, some of them I don’t as much but I am utterly fascinated by his choices.
For example, his protagonists originally started out in a straight thriller series (which is referred to in this series) and as far as I know that had no paranormal elements in whatsoever. And then suddenly in this series, there are. It’s a bit like what would happen if before Maggie there had been a book about her as, I dunno, a normal detective series heroine.
KF Breen Sin and Chocolate, the Demigod of San Francisco co series. Yum.
the dark fairy tales series and the demon days, vampire nights series are great, too. she has a knack for writing funny, quirky fmc who are also bada**. I love her almost as much as Ilona andrews. 🙂
Her Magical Midlife series is one of my go-to’s when I need a light hearted, slow burn, with side characters that make me chuckle out loud (Edgar!)
+1, This series makes me laugh. Graphic Audio version is great too.
Lindsay Buroker – shadows of Winter
+1
+1 Great and prolific author
+1
She’s funny and a very fast writer. Writes good action sequences and slow burn romance.
Elizabeth Hunter just published the first book in a portal fantasy series, it’s called First Light and it was a lovely read. The second one is already listed to be published in April, she tends to be a fast writer.
I love her. I’ve read all of her vampire series, sheesh, I think there are at least 3 series there.
Junkyard Cats series by Faith Hunter is an excellent SciFi series.
+1
also her Soulwood series (although it contains spoilers for the Jane Yellowrock series so you need to read the JY series first which is also very good IMO).
Would anyone be willing to summarize the books? Sometimes I have a hard time tracking the posts. Worst case like the top 10 most recommended?
That’s actually a great idea. I have some spare time in the evening (7:00 ish EST), and I can spend it compiling a list of the recommendations. How did you want me to do it? (I can do a google doc, which would probably be easiest and most painless, but I’m open to other suggestions)
Daine Duvall’s Immortal Guardians series.
I recently discovered the books by Lisa Cassidy, love all of them!
I recommend an Indie author named Elm Jed. She has a couple of series, one paranormal and one mafia.
Both center on found family, the mafia series does delve into ptsd with the FMC. Learning coping mechanisms and therapy and how to navigate all of that while in a relationship. It can get very heavy at times but there is plenty of humor around balance it out.
Both series do a good job with representation of LGBTQ as well as hetero characters, all the colors of the human rainbow are represented in both series.. well, the whole rainbow in the paranormal series. (Maroon succubi)
Elm is also a Ilona Andrews fan.
I discovered books by BR Kingsolver. There are multiple series and they are all fun reads.
DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL!!!!! (Audio version is incredible but just reading is still super fun.) Book 7 just came out.
+1 read these off a recommendation in a previous book rec post here, it was my first lit RPG and loved it!
Recently listened to and enjoyed The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods. Not all happy but has happy endings and some magic.
No Foreign Sky by Rachel Neumeier. Cover seems like it will be cheesy, but it was one of my favorite books of the last few months. I loved it!
Highly recommend her whole back catalog. The UF one is the Black Dog series, which wraps up this year.
A lot of her books (No Foreign Sky, Tuyo) focus a lot on different cultures figuring out how to work together
Haven’t read that one, but her Invictus duology is good.
I really love her Tuyo series – intense but awesome. Not light-hearted (some brutal parts) but so, so good. Unexpected allies from different cultures forge a strong bond.. Honourable people doing the best they can to be just and loyal and kind, and defend those who need it.
Her portal fantasy Death’s Lady trilogy is pretty interesting, I liked the 4th book best (follows a side character from the main trilogy).
thanks for mentioning her!
May I suggest Linzi Days midlife in Gretna series. She is a marriage celebrant know as registrars in the UK who inherits the position of the recorder to the unseen Fae Dragon Viking and Celtic races from her grandmother. Cue problem because said Grandmother blocked her powers!! Really good and also funny.
The Sixth World Series by Rebecca Roanhorse. Absolutely fantastic. Two books right now, so probably an appetizer for the BDH.
I have been reading a lot of good ARCs from Chris Kennedy Publishing lately and 2 series really stand out for this group, but since I can only pick one, I will go with Kacey Ezell’s Ashes of Entecea series. It is a clean space opera that I think fans of Jennifer Estep will enjoy. The first book is The Queen’s Fixer.
The House Witch Series: A Humorous Romantic Fantasy
by Delemhach
just finished “How to summon a fairy godmother ” Thoroughly enjoyed.
Author Jenny Schwartz. The House that walked thru Worlds is delightful. Part of the Uncertain Sanctuary series. Reminded me of the Innkeeper.
I have read this series and agree. Great reads.
+1
This series (Uncertain Sanctuary) was going to be my recommendation! The House that Walked thru Worlds is fantastic. I don’t know how to describe it… Part space opera, part Gothic novel, part mystery, all speculative fiction? The world building to be really interesting and engaging.
+2 Love this series! And yes, very Innkeeper-esque.
Marko Kloos- Palladium Wars series (Aftershocks is book 1) is my current wait (book 4 is coming to me soon).
Believable military scifi is so hard to find it’s not funny. He’s good. Being ex-military probably helps.
Bloke also wrote two of the best episodes of Netflix’s Blood Death and Robots season 1 (Lucky 13 a stand out) if you need further motivation to check it out !
oops Netflix show is Love Death and Robots
Yes! Also love his Frontlines series, good future Earth SciFi hostile alien encounter with a lovely non-romantic romantic couple.
I didn’t like the Red Winter series as well as the other two. The Guild Codex is the best!!
https://www.annettemarie.ca/readingorder
Anything by Nathan Lowell. I discovered him in Kindle Unlimited. Start with Trader’s Tales.
The Forth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros. The 3rd one comes out in January.
One of the best books I read this year. With dragons, romance, suspense, magic, friendship, enemies to lovers, surprising twists
Since most of my other favorites are on here, I’ll recommend
Homicidal Aliens Are Invading And All I Got Is This Stat Menu by JJ Ackerknecht
Is it ok to recommend something in another genre? Right now I need laughter, and Jana Deleon’s Fortune Redding mystery series is a gut-buster! It’s outrageous enough to appeal to some UF/scifi fans (a burned CIA assassin is sent to hide out in a very weird, remote little Louisiana town), and I always laugh till I cry (or until my family thinks I’m nuts). Bonus: there are 20-something books in the series so far, so though they are quick reads they’ll keep you going.
Apparently I already own this…looks like I’ll be re-reading it.
As good as the earlier books in the series are, the story gets better, or at least funnier, as it goes on.
Love that “to Gertie” becomes a common term – and does not always refer to Gertie…
I recommend the Penric series by Lois McMaster Bujold. They are all around novella length. The characters are interesting, the fantasy setting is unique, and they all end well. The stories are all human scale, not world threatening stuff. My husband and brother also love them. The first book is Penric’s Demon.
I read the Penric series years and years ago and a friend just gifted me Penric’s Demon so I’ll be reading it again soon!
Lindsay Buroker has several series that are outstanding reads. My favorite is the series “Death before Dragons.” Try it, you’ll like ‘em.
That is one of her funniest series. I like the dwarf one set in the same world! Some good books.
My favourites are Emperor’s Edge and Dragon Blood (both high fantasy)
I Ran Away to Evil by Mystic Neptune! funny, cute, smart, cozy and nice and long yet well paced.
Since I can’t find it in the list: Will Wight, Cradle series. It was recommended on this blog a few years ago, thats how I found out about this series, I’ve been hooked ever since.
Roverpowered by Drew Hayes
Kindle Unlimited book about a girl trying to become an alchemist and her corgi familiar who might be hiding a cosmic level of power within his adorable fuzziness. Sequel comes out in December.
I really enjoyed Carrie Vaughn’s new historical fantasy romance, The Naturalist Society – pretty cozy, deals a lot with polar exploration and a sort of birdwatching based system of magic
A Conjuring of Ravens by Azalea Ellis, a series that’s still being written, and very interesting, first person POV throughout. Book five is coming out next year.
The (something) days, vampire nights by K. F. Breeze is unexpectedly excellent. It’s on Graphic Audio now, and the production is amazing!
The first is Born in Fire, then Raised in Fire, and so on. I can’t recommend it enough.
It’s hilarious and adventurous and packs a romantic wallop.
+1000! This is one of my all-time favorite series and a go-to comfort re-read (and re-listen as the GraphicAudio version is amazing!).
Para-Military Recruiter series by Renee Jagger and Michael Anderle. It is a paranormal series that has characters you fall in love with and a great world build. Lots of humor and action, a great mix of creatures from vampires to griffins and more.
they are great. I love them all.
Rebecca Ross is one of my new favorite authors.
I’m halfway through One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig, and it’s fascinating. Eerie (but not dark per se), intersting world-building, unreliable narrator
Just finished this duology and really enjoyed it!
Great duology!
I’ve been reading books by a collaboration of authors that write unter the name Zoe Chant. The books are about Shifters,but you can laugh, cry and more
For all of those who love writing written like a picture, I recommend Patricia McKillip‘s books. She writes stunningly fantasy fiction. Every paragraph is beautiful written and paints a whole word. The characters are complex and develop throughout the books. She has a strong female figures. She makes me read every sentence very consciously, although I am normally a quick reader.
In Series by Shannon Mayer
Sorry that didn’t spell check correctly. Nix Series by Shannon Mayer
So I know this is a strange recommendation, but if you want something just fun and unexpected try Dick Wybrow’s Kane series … the first one is Kane: A Humorous Supernatural Thriller (Wolfwere Series Book 1). I never thought I would like it as much as I did … I am currently on the last one and it is on Kindle Unlimited. Enjoy!!
Love Lindsey Buroker!! Just finished a re-listen of Star Kingdom- Casmir is one of my favorite characters!!
Plus 1. I enjoy so many of her books. Some really good space opera, urban fantasy and fantasy books.
+ 1 Love her Star Kingdom series! And if you’ve never read her Emperor’s Edge series you are missing out.
+1 Casmir! I enjoyed her Fallen Empire series also – Firefly and Star Wars vibes. It took me awhile to get into Star Kingdom but it just got better and better 🙂
The Dowser Series by Meghan Ciana Doidge.
This Series was suggested to me from a friend in the bookclub I was in after I nominated we read Magic Bites. She said she knew I’d love it after she read the entire Kate Daniel’s Series and she was right.
The Alice Worth series by Lisa Edmonds. She just released her 9th book in the series last week and it shot straight to Amazon’s #1.
Anything by Vanessa Nelson!
Yeah. Just found her. A bit wordy in setting the stage, but good stuff. Just read: A Usual Suspect.
I’m recommending a series: Midlife in Gretna Green,by Linzi Day. woman inherits property and a role from her grandmother. There is magic, multiple realms with different needs, and the narrative voice is pleasant. 7 books so far, with hopefully more to come.
In Plain Sight by Dan Willis
book one of an active series, he drops a new one at least once a year. think film noir meets Kate. Alex the main character is a Runewrite & PI in 1930s New York. Alchemist brew helpful options in shops all over town, the New York Six float their castles over the city. Will Alex solve the mystery in time or will his mouth ps of the wrong people.
Apologies if this is been mentioned.
G.A. Aiken’s (Shelly Laurenston), Dragon Kin series. Dragon Actually is the first. The dragons can shift into hot men with hot tempers who are very crabby and they occasionally go to war. They’re basically Scottish. The women are strong, stubborn, usually quite mad, and have both sharp tongues and swords. It’s good fantasy, great writing, and not terribly deep. A very decent amount of smut and battle is involved.
I loved that series. Really crazy characters especially the male dragons!
Hailey Edwards Black Hat Bureau
Witches and other paranormals in a team solving crimes. There are 10 in this series.
The Sennenwolf series by Capes.
Book #1 is West of Jaws.
Can’t recommend this book enough for its world building, revenge-seeking heroine (witch), male MC (wolf shifter w/a destiny + a mystery to solve), LGBTQIA rep.
I loved Quicksilver by Callie Hart. It’s the first in the Fae & Alchemy series. Spicy romantic fantasy with Fae, different realms, and a neat magic system.
Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis. SF first novella in a trilogy. A hint at romance. Very fast-paced but fun and I loved it. Gave me Rachel Bach and Contstance Fay vibes. Can’t wait for the next two!
If you are looking for comfort reads, I highly recommend Mindtouch by M.C.A. Hogarth. Some of her other series are hit or miss from me, but this was the first series I read featuring a queerplatonic relationship, so it has been always been near and dear to my heart. Although the series does touch on loss and death (and there is an on-page death scene so content warning for that), so much of their relationship is built up through the quiet, everyday moments of two people slowly growing closer to one another and trying to understand each other better, not only as fellow students of a xenopsychology program but also as rare members of different telepathic species. The work building is fascinating, as well.
I have only read the first two in the series because some reviewers have mentioned they were disappointed by the direction the author went with other relationships in the context of centering a queerplatonic relationship (and perceived representation of asexuality although the reality is more complicated), but I have been meaning to pick the series back up.
Also, a content warning for depictions of individuals, including children, with incurable medical conditions. The campus offers both mental healthcare and other forms of healthcare so the setting might be triggering to anyone dealing with a chronic or incurable condition or who has family members with one. The second is also set in the context of an epidemic with significant mortality and people trying to save lives and care for one another in the midst of that. I consider the second be more high-stakes and less slice-of-life than the first.
Books by June Hur – I started with “A crane among wolves” and then read her other books which I liked (but not as much as a crane among wolves), she writes historical korean mystery genre, with strong heroines and very litlle romance. I really liked it, and the book I recommended is inspired by real events that happened in Korea.
I already mentioned my latest avorite read, but I think I can post a rec for Ilona, who is looking for space opera as well? Like Ilona I’ve read Jessie Mihalik and Jennifer Estep. For that genre, I’d recommend Jessie Kwak. She has several series, but the Bulgari series is a good place to start (well it’s where I started, if I remember correctly). Very good mysteries woven in with the action and world building. Double Edged is the first. I really enjoy her work.
Happy Reading!
Kate Golden’s Sacred Stones Trilogy, starting with A Dawn of Onyx.
The second book, A Promise of Peridot, is currently a nominee for a GR Choice Award.
The 13th Paladin by Torsten Weitze
Forever Fantasy Online by Rachel Aaron
Rachel Aaron’s Tear Down Heaven seriesis a great read. Enjoyed reading the 2 books so far in her new series. Highly recommend.
Dark Rise by CS Pacat – the audiobook!*
It’s a gorgeously written fantasy that brings to mind LOTR and HP. It’s a very intense YA series that navigates some tough themes – light vs dark, redemption, and if we have the power to change who we are – and who we’re told we are.
I was very moved by it and can’t wait for book 3! It is MM, but romance is not the central theme, so I wouldn’t let that distract from what an amazing series this is. There is yearning, no spice.
* It’s narrated by Christian Coulson (actor of Tom Riddle in HP!) and he does a PHENOMENAL job!
Squeaking in under the 10-year limit for most of the 14-book series (the first book was published in 2013), The Chronicles of St. Mary’s series by Jodi Taylor is one of my favorites. The first book is Just One Damned Thing After Another.
Sassy British main character, time-travel (ish), great characters and lots of humor. I am not a fan of history, in general (worst subject in school), but I love this historical science fiction series.
I just finished A Daughter of Fair Verona, by Christina Dodd; it was a fun and engaging read, starring the daughter of Romeo & Juliet (who actually didn’t die the way that ol’ Shakespeare guy claimed)
I am enjoying the book of Autumn Dawn right now. They have dragons, werewolves, goblins, and monsters oh my.
Who is the author?
The Games God’s Play by Abigail Owen
Cursed as a baby by Zeus to be unloveable, Lyra Kyres has always been an outsider. Now she’s been chosen by Hades himself to be his champion in the Crucible, the deadly game between the gods that determines who will rule the gods for the next 100 years. If she wins she might be able to finally lift the curse, but what might she lose in the process?
I could not put this book down. It was f*cking fantastic.
First Light by Elizabeth Hunter. First in a new world and new series. A fresh take on mythology with a great heroine — and dragons. It also has one of my favorite lines used to introduce the characters to a new world, “Do you believe in fairy tales?” I love everything that Elizabeth Hunter writes so I had high expectations for this book and I was not disappointed.
I really enjoyed The Last Watch (The Divide Series Book 1) by J. S. Dewes. First book is KU. Book 3 in the sci fi series just dropped today. I searched and didn’t see it here. Loved the MC and the premise is one I haven’t encountered before. I apologize if it has been recommended in previous posts. The blurb references The Expanse and The Games of Thrones but my enjoyment of it reminded me of S. K. Dunstall’s Linesman series.
Opps I meant Dunstall’s Stars Uncharted series not Linesman!
It’s very specific, but for fluffy Korean-American romance, I absolutely adore Jayci Lee. She also has a new book out that’s modern-day mythology urban fantasy that I haven’t read yet, but fully intend to!
(Author recommendation)
My book, Liable To Bite, is what I call eco-futurist with werewolves. It’s set in a lightly-futuristic Los Angeles which has been rapidly rewilded for werewolf mental health reasons now that 10% of the global population has been “turned.” A single mom who’s been ignoring and repressing her new inner wolf suddenly finds she might need her heightened senses and ability to shift. Fortunately, the hot coworker at the marine insurance firm where she works isn’t just an insurance investigator…
Book one and a novella are available now. Books 2-4 should come out next year.
Can’t wait to dig into all these recommendations!
Kim Harrison’s The Hollows Series. I know it started more than 10 years ago, but she is still writing the series and the books just keep getting better. Here is the blurb about the first book in the series, Dead Witch Walking: All the creatures of the night gather in “the Hollows” of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party . . . and to feed.
Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining—and it’s Rachel Morgan’s job to keep that world civilized.
A bounty hunter and a witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she’ll bring ’em back alive, dead . . . or undead.
Can’t ever forget the first, and the series keeps going, 16 so far, it’s Superhero SciFi to start, some cozy tucked in here and there.
The Black Swan Series, Victoria Danaan
My Familiar Stranger is first
Elora is my spirit animal
I have recently read The Left-handed Boolsellers of London by Garth Nix. First in a series, 2nd one out 3rd due in a year or so. Great author, lots of other books too.
Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey is the first book of 7 (in 2 series) – each is a 600+ pages but I breezed through all 7 in 2 weeks. Alternative world in which you will recognize equivalents of many empires, a courtesan trained in history, theology, politics, foreign languages, and spying, great palace intrigue, wars and exploration. It’s spicy (think sex as an actual official religion) but amazingly written.
I recommend the author Ivy Asher. I am currently reading her series The Osseous Chronicles which starts with The Bone Witch (published in 2020). It is a MF urban fantasy series that is an enemies to lovers slow burn with lots of plot and action. She has other books and series that I have enjoyed tremendously, but some of them are reverse harem/Why choose so be aware if that is not what you are looking for.
Jessie Mihalik has a great fee story up on her blog!
Leigh Bardugo. Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. I am deeply invested in all the characters, but my true love is Kaz Brekker.
Love Kaz!! I want more with him and Inej!
Author: Amanda M. Lee – Multiple series
A beautiful Sapphic SF mystery series (2 books so far) by Malka Ann Older starts with “The Mimicking of Known Successes” and then “The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles” came out this year. Book three comes out next year. I forget how I found out about them, probably a librarian friend on Twitter, but Malka Ann Older posits a humanity fled from Earth, living on platforms constructed around Jupiter. They are too short but the language is so beautiful and the mysteries are incredibly compelling. I checked out book one from the library and after reading 5 pages, bought a copy for myself. The audio book is also very good.
+1
+1 also
One of my favorite comfort read authors is forthright, which I found through a recommendation here- from Ilona if I remember correctly. The first book of her Amaranthine Saga, Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox is a great place to start.
The series description is “Humanity is rocked by the Emergence of a people who call themselves the Amaranthine. They are our myths and legends come to life. Neither human nor animal, yet embracing qualities of both, the inhuman races inspire both awe and fear.” The writing is cozy.
Same, +1 on the author and it’s one I picked up from a recommend on the blog. Definitely enjoyed the series, but as a tip to new readers: the author suggests reading in order of publication and that includes novellas, and that really is a good idea because otherwise you’re going to miss stuff in the later full length novels because characters and plot points were introduced in the novellas.
Also, it leans heavily into tropes more commonly found in manga/manhua (a large part of it is set in Japan), and the writing style is very meandering, so if you’re unsure about that, read an excerpt first as ymmv 🙂
Along with fantasy, I love SF, particularly Space Opera (the real kind, not the pastiches). Currently I am rereading the Serrano Legacy series by Elizabeth Moon.
Had to check my library shelves list, found this fun book.
Author – Henry H. Neff
Book – The Witchstone
Features Lazslo, the least productive curse keeper, who happens to be an 800 year old deamon. Overseeing a multigenerational Drakeford curse, which essentially he’s ignored because life is good as is.
Okay, comfort reads…fairly new…Geez Mod R you would make a girl’s brain hurt 🙂 And of course my absolute favorite current comfort read comes from House Andrews *le sigh*
Annnnd only one recommendation *sobs of frustration because there are so MANY*
Ah….HA For the BOOK Devouring Horde (TM) I give you…..
Ellery Adams’ Storyton series beginning with Murder in the Mystery Suite. Imagine a luxury hotel that is essentially an English Manor House transported to Virginia’s mountains and the owners are charged with keeping books that are not only rare but would ruin humanity secret. Go forth and read. There are secret societies, yes, murder (nothing too bloody), and a lovely romance for our Protagonist who is a widow with twin boys named Fitz and Hem (Fitzgerald and Hemingway).
I very much enjoyed the Luck trilogy series: The Rule of Luck, The Chaos of Luck, The Game of Luck by a new author Catherine Cerveny. It is a futurist romantic SF.
I just read “Thank You For Listening” by Julia Whelan for my book club. A really fun romance. Lots of laughs and no heat at all. I enjoyed it a lot!
Forgot to add it’s about audiobook narrators.
The Big Bad Wolf series by Charlie Adhara. Interesting take on the supernatural world being hidden from regular humans.
Author Recommendation
Since I get most of my readers by telling people the series Wolf Harbor is a lot like Ilona Andrews, I’ll recommend it to you, Ilona. It’s a ‘shifters are among us’ series, featuring, Abby Stafford, a middle-aged, over-weight, burned out professor who goes to a fitness resort for the summer — things aren’t quite what they seem.
This seems particularly on point — a new book is out today!
Thanks for letting us share.
your description sounds great. What is the author’s name?
the tag “Author Recommendation” means the commenter is recommending their own book.
A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall stole my heart and put it in a box and NOW I WANT THE NEXT ONE.
I just read this and I fully second and support this recommendation. It was such nice surprise of a book and I really enjoyed it. I loved every character and I cannot wait for the second book (FYI to others it’s a duology so you’re not committing to a massive series) to come out next spring.
the torrent cozy witch mysteries by tess lake
starting with butter witch
The Blackened Blade by Isla Davon. It’s a academy reverse harem romantasy, so probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but I really like the main character. Without getting into spoilers, she’s someone who hit absolute rock bottom, got a second chance, and now fights for revenge and the life she wants, with a refreshing appreciation for the important things in life, like lasagna.
The second one in the series is out, and there will be at least a third one.
I just read Anathema by Keri Lake. Gothic fae fantasy which is new to me. Slow burn with just enough spice…great plot!
Hi Delilah,
It’s one recommendation per person, not per comment. All subsequent OP comments you make will be deleted as per the rules.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the books by Heather G. Harris.
Starting with:
Glimmer of the Other: An Urban Fantasy Novel (The Other Realm Book 1)
I recently read “Days at the Morisaki Bookshop” by Satoshi Yagisawa and enjoyed it very much.
It’s like a cozy slice-of-life anime in book format and a rather short read.
Lindsey Buroker has lots of interesting sci-fi series that I have been thoroughly enjoying -some some of them are on hoopla as audiobooks so free even better
Correction on Lindsay broker it’s more fantasy than sci-fi
She has both – Star Kingdom is great fun
It seems that I am rather late to this party but the most interesting “new” thing I’ve ready lately that hasn’t already been listed here is:
Trip the Starlight Sarcastic by Bridget Hawley
This is a sci fi/fantasy blend, and the second book is already out, but there are clearly more planned. Please note that that if you prefer a female lead who’s constantly in life threatening peril, this one is not for you. If you are looking for an emotionally charged read, this is not for you. This book is for letting go and fading into a new universe where the main character is attempting to enjoy a second chance life in every way possible. I enjoyed the gradual but complex world building and the interactions between the characters who seem to be slowly building in dimension and complexity.
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson- For Ilona and anyone who wants a cozy fantasy romance. Has echoes of the anime Your Name. Beautiful artwork included!
Author recommendation.
+1
I also loved The Sunlit Man by the same author. I’m rereading a series set in this universe in preparation for a release in a few weeks, but that one is an epic fantasy, so I’ll save that for another post!
Kinda shocked it’s not mentioned above:
Dennis E. Taylor’s Bobiverse series.
Great sci-fi series about a programmer turned AI. Had a new title come out just this September.
I recommend “Born to run” from Christopher MC Douglas. Being a book about history, science and running very different from the Ilona Andrews books, but wat a read! All about being different and finding the group you belong to and achieving something special. Hope you enjoy!
Recommend “Project Hail Mary”, NYTimes best seller, last two pages are awesome
Dave Turner How to be Dead series is funny and entertaining. Would recommend.
I haven’t read all the recommondations yet, so I don’t know,if it was mentioned. But right now, in the pain of waiting, I very much enjoy/ed Annabelle Chase’s “Crossroads Queen”-series…
+1
And the Crossroads Queen is still being written.
Sharon Shinn’s Elemental Blessings series is fantastic. Starting with Troubled Waters, the series has great everything, characters, world building, magic rules, and plot. Highly recommend.
+1 Agreed! I devoured the first three books
I recommend Linesman by S.K. Dunstall. There are 3 books in series. It’s SiFi about spaceships and the hero Ean who has an unique way of keeping them running. There are alien races to be discovered. Not much violence or romance, just caring for the underdog Ean and his way of doing things.
+ many. I still re-read the Linesman trilogy once every couple of years…
+1!
This series is a go-to comfort re-read for me, and I’ve never found anything else quite like it.
The Kurtherian Gambit series, by Michael Anderle
21 book, not counting the spinoff mini-series
High action, that does not seem to stop.
Kate would most likely get along well with Bethany Anne ⚔️
Ann Leckie and her Imperial Radch trilogy.
Dr. Greta Helsing Series by Vivian Shaw. A little romance, a little mystery, a little history…
Haven’t read all the comments but comfort read I recommend is the “Weakest Tamer Began a Journey to Pick Up Trash.” An eight year old who has been scapegoated by her village goes on the run, tames a slime and a giant feline, and meets wonderful people along the way. The people with good intentions are very much “must protecc smol bean.”
It is an isekai, but the previous life is basically just providing advice and recipes.
The House Witch, book 1 by Delemhach. (not to be confused with The Burning Witch). Absolutely captivating!
Love all of these!
Recommending anything by K. L. Noone – wonder fantasy and contemporary romance. I love all her stories!
The Soulwood series by Faith Hunter is one of her fantasy series that I loved.
I like Laura Thalassa’s The Bargainer series. The first book is Rhapsodic.
Description doesn’t do justice to the way this book dragged me in. “Callypso Lillis is a siren with a very big problem, one that stretches up her arm and far into her past. For the last seven years she’s been collecting a bracelet of black beads up her wrist, magical IOUs for favors she’s received. Only death or repayment will fulfill the obligations. Only then will the beads disappear.
Everyone knows that if you need a favor, you go to the Bargainer to make it happen. He’s a man who can get you anything you want… at a price. And everyone knows that sooner or later he always collects.”
Scorpio by Marko Kloos. Sci-fi with a strong female lead, K9 companion, and a small bit of romance to boot. Loved it!
I recommend Constance Fay’s Calamity. Space Opera Kick-Ass Enemies to Lovers story. Similar violence and pacing to Jennifer Estep and Amazon started recommending I read Jessie Mihalik after I read this one and even tags the story as like Ilona Andrews in the blurb.
Author Recommendation
My other post must have broken the rules (Sorry Mod R!)
I just published a Romantasy that I’ve said reminds me a bit of Iron and Magic, or the Immortals After Dark Series, but is its own thing for sure. Lots of action and spice, a bit of a trigger warning… References to SA and child abuse, but none fully on page. But it’s the first of a standalone series called The Ladies of Justice series.
The Queen’s Lady by Laura Henning
I will toss in a recommendation for Anna Hawke’s series “The Immortal Accords.” Urban Fantasy and Romance, with multiple immortal races coming together to combat an emerging enemy. Good character-driven stories, lots of action. Enemies to lovers tropes in some stories, fated mates in others (and I enjoy the series even though I don’t love the fated mates trope). The series is nearly complete though the most recent book ends on a cliffhanger and the next one won’t be out for a few months, grrr.
Christine Baehr’s Secrets of Ormdale series. The fifth (and final) book is coming out November 15. Utterly charming Victorian gothic with family secrets, hidden powers, and dragons.
Kraken Rider Z by David Estes. Book two, Thunder Kraken is coming out on Kindle in January.
Twisted Luck series by Mel Todd is a new favorite. Every time one comes out I order it. Alternate world where people with magic are elite but have to serve in a draft and be tattooed to show exactly what they have. Starts with woman EMT finding a body. Alternative lifestyles depicted with grace and kindness. Coolest sentient beings from other worlds. Lots of great characters. Feel good stories
If you want a different type of vampire, try the Argeneau series by fellow Canadian Lynsay Sands. I think she’s now up to book 30 something….
The vampires in this series are actually really long lived humans with nanobots keeping them alive and healthy. The series is funny and easy read.
Dr. Greta Helsing series by Vivian Shaw. First in the series is Strange Practice.
Red Sister Series by Mark Lawrence.
Deborah Wilde has some great urban fantasies. My favorite so far is the Nava Katz series, starting with The Unlikable Demon Hunter. And, you can check it (and her other titles) out from the Hoopla library service – both ebooks and audiobooks.
I just started reading The Jezebel Files by Deborah Wilde, and I really enjoyed it. At first, it seems like it’s kind of a rip-off (or homage) to other urban fantasy series, but she really does her own spin on things, and I’m really enjoying it.
The Marann (Tales of Tolari Space, Book 1) by Christie Meierz
+
Yes, LOVE THEM!
Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start with Magical Tools.
This is a Japanese light novel series written by Hisaya Amagishi. Like a lot of the light novels in Japan lately, this is also serialized freely on the web, but unlike a lot of them, the author has been consistently uploading weekly for years. It has just been turned into an anime (IMHO terrible adaptation….unfortunately). I also found that it is translated into English so I’m happy that I can recommend the series to you.
The first book follows the cliche of those reincarnated women dumped by a fiancé story meets a better boy, however, the story deviates from there. Dahlia instead of throwing herself into romance starts focusing on her magical invention and growing business and group of friends. It is a slice-of-life story of a woman growing to feel comfortable and confident about herself with a bit of monster killing by her new “friend.” If you like kickass action this might not be for you but if you like a cozy fantasy with a lot of food and magical craft making you might enjoy the series.
Right Hand Magic by Nancy A. Collins
Anything by Vanessa Nelson. Fabulous stories, world building and series.
John Conroe is one of my favorites
Penric and Desdemona series by Lois McMaster Bujold
I enjoyed the alternate history with dragons called To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose.
Cat Rambo – You Sexy Thing
At first glance, the Unselected Journals of Emma Lion series by Beth Brower wouldn’t seem to have much in common with Ilona Andrews’ novels – they’re epistolary novels about a twenty year old girl who moves to London to reclaim her family home and the friends and adventures she gets into there. But they share a heart with Kate Daniels – Emma’s wit and the hilarious way she views the world and the found family she makes along the way (as well as the slow burn romance) are enchanting, and the books are ultimately about a good person trying to do her best in a funny and sometimes unfair world. They’re like if Gilmore Girls was mixed with Jane Austen with a dash of Kate Daniels’ wit and found family. I’m not doing them justice but they are so cozy and charming and oozing with comfort and hilarity. I highly recommend them. Here’s a far more eloquent review that initially convinced me: http://www.angie-ville.com/2020/04/review-unselected-journals-of-emma-m.html?m=1
They’re the only thing getting me through the wait for Wilmington 3/iron and magic 2/maggie and really deserve a broader readership so I hope somebody gives them a try!
I am a big fan of the Saga of Recluse, by L.E. Modesitt, Jr., who has just released vol. 24 of the series. If you read them in the order released, they bounce back and forth all over the timeline. But the author has put together a chronological list on his website. I have just finished reading these in order (except for the last two books that will be published, which ironically are books 2 and 3 if going by the chronological order). Anyway, it’s an alternate, magical universe, strong characters and particularly interesting to read in chronological order.
I love Michelle Sagara’s (also writes as Michelle West) Cast series!
The spell shop by Sarah Beth Durst. I guess I would classify it as a cozy fantasy. Feel good, HEA, interesting world…
Sharon Lee and Steve Miller. the Liad universe beginning with Agent of Change. Go Korval!
The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope.
Historical fantasy/magical heist set in prohibition-era Black Washington.
If Ilona liked the St. Helen’s series and hasn’t read the Harmony series, I would recommend that. Still by Jayne Castle. Similar in style, I would maybe say the St. Helen series is kind of a precursor to the Harmony? I just looked it up and it’s actually 3 series (Ghost Hunters/ Harmony/ Rainshadow), but they seem like they’re all the together (same world). 🤗