Welcome to Book Devourers Anonymous. Please pull up a chair. This is a safe space of no judgement.
I know we all tried our best to pace ourselves and make it last, and then This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me simply took the reins and happened to us. Intentions were noble, but a Horde can’t change its spots.
Your comments tell me we collectively have a serious case of book hangover. Whether you’ve tried rereads, continuous relistens, or have reached the point of “I tried two other books and neither of them took” confessions: you are not alone.
The cure prescribed is hair of the bookmark that bit you: another story, recommended by a fellow Devourer who understands exactly what we are missing.
Maybe it’s the intricate political games, the dangerous people making spectacular decisions, the found family, the competent heroes. Maybe it isn’t high fantasy or portal fantasy at all, and it doesn’t even have any dukes, but it has the same immersive feeling we’re yearning for as escapism.
Bring your suggestions and requests in the comments below, and let’s get each other through the w*it.
A few gentle guidelines
We’ve run enough of these threads now to know they work better with a little structure.
Please remember that the CTRL+F shortcut is your friend for checking whether your recommended author or title has already been mentioned. Here’s how to use the search on your mobile.
- Keep it recent. We have a wonderfully well-read Horde, and previous threads have given our beloved classics a thorough airing. This time, please stick to books released in the last decade. Everyone already knows of the fabulous Tamora Pierce, Mercedes Lackey and Anne McCaffrey. Let’s make room for discovery.
- One recommendation per person. A focused comment is so much more useful to people than an intimidating wall of text. One book, a series, or an author. If someone’s already mentioned your pick, a +1 reply is more useful than a new thread.
I have already removed 10 comments that broke this rule and the post has barely been live for half an hour. 1 book, 1 author or 1 series, please.
- Stay on topic. If someone’s asking for something specific, such as a particular feel, a genre, triggers they want to avoid, please try to match that.
The comments are yours. Help a Hungover Horde: recommend your book cure!
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells! Another new book just released.
I held off on reading the series for a long time because I thought a robot main character couldn’t deliver the feels I was looking for. I was very, very wrong. It’s fun, witty and full of humanity.
I love the audiobooks for this series. I couldn’t get into it when reading but when I listened it clicked for me
I recently gobbled up “Yes, your Serpentine Excellency” by Kate Stradling and thought it was delightful! Lovely writing, cool worldbuilding and a bit of romance. It definitely got me out of my reading slump!
Yes! +1
My +1 was for Serpentine Excellency. It was delightful!
+1 I agree wholeheartedly Aly. Great story lines and so much quiet emotion.
I came here to say this!!!! I just finished a re-read of the series leading up to the new book release and they are so amazing!!!!!! They are about humanity AND the power of narrative. And also very funny.
First certified 🙂
Weee!!! Thanks Mod R!
Came here for this! It is 100% a comfort read!
I second this. new Murderbot out the other day. I was having ADHD brain and only read 4 books in April (I generally read 8-10 books a month) but the new murderbot book restarted my brain. I’ve read 5 books this week. Murderbot restarted my brain.
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Downloaded and read Platform Decay, the latest Murderbot. Great return to our snarky hero and yay! Three.
I’m sitting here refreshing the page like “comeon, horde! give me a fix!!!!”
+1
Yay! I will review and add…heeheehee. Happy Monday!
OK, a series that I have gobbled up since October is Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl. Very engaging.
+1 Really enjoyed this series! The audiobook narration is a must for me. One of the most talented and varied narrations I’ve ever heard.
The one tiny downside of the audio is not having access to the maps in a couple of the books/ebooks. They’re just one page sketches to help the reader understand/visualize the level they’re on. This downside is easily circumvented by just googling for the image.
+1
My sentiments exactly. Latest one in the series out tomorrow! This is the grownup version of Harry Potter, in the sense that it’s got multiple layers to explore under the surface, if you’re up for that.
Or you can just read it for the ride, which is crazy good. I’m halfway through a reread and picking up stuff I was in too much of a hurry to notice the first time around. This series is a true classic, both heartrending and hilarious.
+1
Drew Hayes (all his books are great) and series called Beware of Chicken by Casualfarmer!
First?
I’m a fan of changing gears completely to deal with hangover.
Thus, my recommendation is the rather fabulous Sarah Pinsker, who writes novels, novellas and short stories – modern sci-fi, asking big questions about technology and human interaction (Song for a New Day, We are Satellites) and personal growth (Haunt Sweet Home, Then there was n+1).
One isekai I found scratched the itch left by TKWNKM is a fanfic on Archive Of Our Own. It’s called Ad Infinitum, by Stormontheocean, in the dragon age fandom. The writing is very IA in places.
Upside: free, complete.
Downside: locked, so you need an AO3 account to read it.
I am sure there are probably others in other fandoms that are just as good, so I would love recs, but I know this one!
Well, for political intrigue, I’d go with Katherine Addison’s Goblin Emperor (my current re-read) and then her mystery sequels with Celehar. All are wonderful!
Agree!
Came here to say this! Goblin Emperor is all about the political and court intrigue and it is an absolute joy to read. I love this book!
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Try Kelley Armstrong “A rip through time” series. Historical portal fantasy Canadian female cop gets stuck in Victorian Scotland solving crimes. Got some tropes Maggie mentions. A few books out.
It’ll have to do while we wait.
Also first? Probably not. 🙂
But seriously. Thank you to mod R and house Andrews. I’ve been reading your books for the last decade and you always entertain.
+1
He who fights with monsters by shirtaloon. It’s also a portal fantasy and has a good audiobook.
I love Jason but my take from the reddit litrpg sub is that he is marmite. I have no idea why because I’ve read way sketchier. But readers be warned.
Marmite?
You either really love it, or really hate it 🙂
It’s a yeast based sandwich spread in the UK that’s famous for being either loved or hated.
I went right back into He Who Fights With Monsters after This Kingdom. With respect to marmite- ness….i (50+yr old committed member of the BDH) love HWFWM, my 16 yr old gamer son says it’s his most favorite book ever, and my husband who has not yet read a House Andrews book but loves epic fantasy also loves HWFWM.
The Tithenai Chronicles by Foz Meadows: diverse & well developed characters, politics, intrique, magic.
Not sure if it’s my phone connection, but I don’t see any other comments. I will recommend Elizabeth Hunter. She has multiple series and several are completed. One is her Elemental Vampire series which is urban fantasy and has strong romantic subplots, and another series is actually a trilogy- the Shadowlands series. That one involves portals to a parallel world that can be crossed back and forth.
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I so agree.
+1. Yes! All the Elizabeth Hunter. If you’re having Maggie hangover, then Shadowlands might help. The elemental series can keep you occupied for a bit as well — and it’s awesome.
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan:
It’s another isakai story and Book 2 (All Hail Chaos) releases May 12 (tomorrow!)
I was going to recommend this as well!! Hopefully others see and pick it up, especially if they liked the whole person falling into the start of a book and trying to fix/change things. They’re both SO good and hopefully not a long wait until book 3 🖤
Ooh! I just picked this one up. Happy it’s Horde Certified 😀
I temporarily recovered from Maggie Fever by reading “Project Hail Mary” by Andy Weir. I thought the change to sci-fi would be a good change and it was! I highly recommend it and the movie released a couple of weeks ago.
+1
I just finished Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry, which is the sequel to Shield of Sparrows. Rites is slower than Shield, but there is a great payoff at the end!
+1 😊
Assistant to the Villan series by Hannah Nicole Maehrer. It made me laugh out loud at parts and had an interesting world, magic system, and amazing cast of characters!
+1
How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
Davi is stuck in a Groundhog Day loop: everytime she dies, she wakes up in a pond, where an old wizard tells her she is the only hope to save the kingdom. Each time, she fails, and wakes up back in the pond. Davi’s had enough: she’s done trying to save the kingdom. She’s going to become the Dark Lord, and Die Trying.
Bonus points: Isekai, hilarious, read the title literally, dark, repeat deaths, crazy shenanigans, and the author was one of the ones chosen to promote This Kingdom in publicity blurbs 🙂
Ah!! Just picked this one up too. Loving it so far 😀
Not the TKWNKM vibes exactly but its very Kate coded books so I figure BDH will like it.
The Ebony Gate by Julia Vee and Ken Beebele. Strong female character, huge world build in Asian Mythology. Its a very well done and satisfying series.
Good reading BDH!
Asked my local indie bookstore for high fantasy political intrigue recs for my tkwnkm hangover and boy they delivered. The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson. It’s up for the 2026 Hugo!
Great book!
+1 Yes!! this 10000% The Raven Scholar is brilliant! definitely worth a read: fantasy, mystery, bit of romance, lots of poltical intrigue and twisty plot and some laughs.
Never read anything by Antonia Hodgson before but I went for it and actually this is one of my fave books from last year (I’m really finding it hard to w*it for book 2 though!!).
+1 Yes! Loved this book! Definitely twisty with great characters.
Jennifer Kropf
High Court of the Coffee Bean series
I coped with my Maggie hangover by changing directions a bit. The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett is a fantasy murder mystery that also has great worldbuilding and characters, also a sly sense of humor. The second book in the trilogy, A Drop of Corruption, is also quite good and book 3 is being published in August.
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Helen Harper’s Cat Lady Chronicles
Pros: slightly older protagonist, new magic world
Cons: only three titles currently plus a side novella, short and too easily devoured
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The next book will be released on May 29th.
Cannot suggest By Blood Shadow and Fire by Orin Steele enough. The feminine rage and magic system made me obsessed.
I wonder why there isn’t an ebook edition …
My eyes won’t allow me to read print anymore 😕
I would recommend The Raven Scholar (Antonia Hodgson)
It’s got political intrigue, a main character whose strength is her intellect and knowledge of obscure lore, and an omniscient flock of ravens as a narrator. It has moments of humor in an otherwise grim setting, which does have a hair of the dog quality to it. 🙂
Nalini Singh, any of the series, but the Archangel series is amazing!
here was how I coped with my hangover! love all her work and guild hunter series just finished in May!
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Seconding the shout outs for Goblin Emperor and Murderbot!
Also by Martha Wells, City of Bones. I just read this for the first time and it’s fabulous and although it’s not a portal story, the intrigue and danger definitely echoes Maggie’s world.
After an immediate reread I managed to get over my book hangover with help from The Will of the Many by James Islington. I love a thick book, so if you are not looking for a long or heavy read avoid this one, but if you like pseudo Roman Empires, political intrigue and interesting moral questions it might be worth a read. The second book recently got released and I finished Will of the Many on a Thursday and by Friday I was walking into a bookshop to get Strength of the Few because there was no way I was going to be able to wait for delivery.
Yes! Both are definitely 5* books, highly recommending.
The Elantra Chronicles by Michelle Sagara. The latest in the series, Cast in Blood just recently released. I’m currently rereading through the entire series (plus spin-offs)
one of my favorites. great series.
+@
Doing a reread of the series too!
+1 Starting the new book today!
Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde series, starting with Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faerie. So much fun and smart to boot.
+1
These are delightful. She also gets academia.
This is a Graphic Audio book recommendation, the Leveling Up series, starting with Magical Midlife Madness.
MFC: A regular, average human woman 40’s,recently divorced and taken to the cleaners in the process. Discovers she is the chosen heir to a sentient, magical house and a latent gargoyle.
MMC: A hunky shape shifter who runs the local bar in self-imposed exile.
There is a lot of self-discovery, humor, action, and of course romance.
The house comes with a hilarious cast of characters, including a vampire gardener and ancient butler, who become her new family.
I laughed so much while listening to the wonderful portrrayals that I snatch up each new release – 11 so far.
Magical Midlife is a series on Kindle Unlimited if you want to read them. The first one is Magical Midlife Madness, and it’s about a 40something heroine who develops magic. Great characters, great action, slow-burn romance, and very very funny!
The chronicles of Elantra by Michelle Sagara. Also just had a new release.
It’s hard to keep track of Lois Bujold’s Penric series since she pretends to be retired so she only writes when an idea comes to her and doesn’t promote in any way as far as I can tell. She just announces on Goodreads that there is a new story and it is out. Then she lets her fans disseminate the information.
The newest one “Darksight Dare” was released in Mid-April.
Very good series. The newest title is intriguing.
+1 I Love these
Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity.
Fresh of the printing press (Feb 2026) – an incredible debut imho.
Fantastic Gothic story that weaves in themes of immigration, class, belonging, with a very slow-burn romance.
Word of warning – first novel of a trilogy and there is a cliffhanger (I personally don’t mind either if the book is well crafted and this one is)
I recently finished Rise from Ruin by Melissa Olthoff. Leading Dragon Academy cadet gets derailed, has to start over. She perseveres. Fun story that sucks you in (as a former military academy grad, I can say the author gets the feel of that part right). Also, the sequel is due in only a couple months, so no W-word!
MK Wren – The Phoenix Legacy – great trilogy
Galactic Merc series by Chris Kennedy is an ongoing series about an author that gets kidnapped by aliens and rescued by a mercenary group where in each book he has to Level Up like he is gaming.
I recommend Academy of Outcasts by Larry Corriea. It will be a three book series. Two of them are already out. Great characters and an interesting magic system 2 fun books so far
Empire of the Stars by Melissa J Cave! The 4th book was just released this month, and book 5 will be released in November. Very intricate political intrigue, incredible world-building, and overall impressive depth to the story and characters.
OMG I just recommended it and need emotional support with the series.
+1!!!
The Retired Assassin’s Guide to Country Gardening by Naomi Kuttner
Thank you for this post! I just started Winter World by AG Riddle. New author for me. It’s a Hail Mary type book with less science. I’m loving it so far! Will be checking back here for more good recommendations 🧐
Anne Bishop’s has published the first book in a new series, Turns of Fate, an Isle of Wyrd novel and it has captured my imagination. Destiny Park is the residence of the Arcana, paranormal beings. Humans meet with the Arcana to make bargains and to change their fate. The main story is about a detective, Beth Fahey who goes to Destiny Park to inquire about a “ghost gun”. It’s a mixture of mystery, dark fantasy and urban fantasy, and now that I’ve told you all about it, I’m going to re-read it.
Agree w/you, Laura. Turns of Fate was excellent!
I’ve seen the book, and I love her Black Jewels series. I’ll have to check it out
this was the other book hangover that I had recently! highly recommend +1
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+1 Anne Bishop is a must-read for me.
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Lady Tremaine by R. Hochauser
I read it yesterday, and it is on my reread pile!
It is a retelling of the Cinderella fairy tale from the stepmothers perspective. It has an older FMC who makes decisions that make sense. The book explores the concepts of motherhood. It was a perfect read on mothers day.
A side character has to deal with SA, but it is handled respectfully and not graphically.
L.E. Modesitt’s Grand Illusion series — there are currently four books available, Isolate, Councilor, Contraian and Legalist [this one is a prequel]. The final book, Premier, is due for publication release in November. It’s a very interesting look at political landscapes and parties. The characters are engaging and the story moves along on several threads.
Excellent series.
T A White, the fire bird chronicles, The new book came out recently and I’m doing another re read
Oh! Yes, was thinking of rec-ing this series. LOVE it. Wish GA would adapt these.
For anyone looking for isekai + fan, I’ll recommend the webcomic For My Derelict Fave. She’s thrown into her favorite novel as a nobody and watches the book play out, only to see everything go horribly wrong after the Happily Ever After. She is given another chance as time rewinds to save her favorite character, the secondary love interest, by asking for his hand in marriage.
Super funny, lovely artwork, and Hestia plays politics all while defending her fave until he’s ready to get back on his feet. Very charming and highly recommend!
I highly recommend The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (and other War Crimes) by Tiffany Hunt.
Be warned book#2 (The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning(and other Villainous Deeds) doesn’t come out until Sep 8 2026. sigh.
Elizabeth Wheatley, author.
While waiting for Maggie to come out I found Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff. One of a trilogy of 3 huge books, earth adjacent, snarky hero, lots of unexpected twists, totally new type of vampire book. Myself & my husband both loved it!
The Incandescent by Emily Tesh – magical boarding school, as told by the teacher in charge, rather than any of the students. The writing is lovely. Every time I thought I knew where the story and worldbuilding was going it would shift and reveal a new layer. And following the story from the eyes of the grown up at school who has to teach and manage a bunch of teen wizards, maintain the ancient school infrastructure no one has the money to replace, and manage departmental squabbles, while preventing major demonic incursions, makes for a really fun and unique view.
I highly recommend Melissa J Cave’s: Empire of the Stars books. I am being intentionally vague with names and the plot so you can have the experience for yourself. I tried not to give spoilers.
It is wonderfully written with mystery and intrigue, royal and noble court manipulations, flawed characters making bad judgments and regretting them, but then rectifying them for the better. Lots of humor and POV’s. Lots of smart decisions and very cool world building.
The First Book is Traitors Son which sets the scene with a 17 year old squire of an extinct house (note the word Conspiracy, and pay attention when it is brought up) getting a boon from the king and he claims a vast region of land, a river (its cool when you realize why he names the river in his boon) and the king’s daughter ( sad reason but smart). The king agrees, but gives his bastard daughters hand in marriage and there are underlying issues between her family and the male main characters’ family that have to do with the events of the Conspiracy.
One caveat: I am an urban planner, and I absolutely love seeing the foundations of the city of Tressingale built with all its problems and solutions figured out in the books. It really adds a lot of depth and emotional meaning into the series.
The level of planning and logistics is something just not seen in other books. As the author is a military brat and veteran herself, I have to wonder is she was involved in military logistics.
Steven Brust’s Vlad Taltos series are a comfort read for me…
I’ll add Vanessa Nelson. If you like TA White (Firebird Chronicles), I think you’ll also enjoy Vanessa. Really nice world building. She’s got a number of completed series out. Taellaneth and Grey Gates are my favs so far — although I’ve enjoyed all of them. I’m waiting on the last book of her most recent series before glomming it — err, I mean reading at a sedate pace.
Love, love love all her series.
I really like the “Magical Midlife” series by K.F. Breene. 12 books and counting so if someone needs a longer series to help with the w*it, this might do it. I also appreciate the protagonist is in her late 30’s early 40’s! Very funny characters and read.
Linzi Day. An independent author like HA, and a fun series of books to gobble up!
I have been rereading K M Shea’s Magiford books.
+1
K.B. Wagers “A Pale Light in the Black” (2021) first in the NeoG series.
Military SF with found family, mystery, fantastic characters, sword fights and snarky dialog. Very Firefly vibe.
Maxine Carmichael is the new XO on Zuma’s Ghost, part of the space coast guard that helps out stranded spaceships and apprehend smugglers and the like.
Sword fighting is a must skill because bullets + spaceships = decompression = bad.
Max is trying to be herself separate from her powerful and controlling family who wanted her to join the space navy.
There’s an intense mystery and lots of awesome characters that you will love. So far 4 books so binge via your library or favorite book seller.
I discovered Dick Wybrow’s Kane this year. It is the opposite of the werewolf. He is a wolf were. Born a wolf but bitten by a werewolf so he turns into a man. He has a very unique view of humanity.
Strange Animals by Jarod K. Anderson. It’s a quick read, and it is so beautifully written (after reading it, I was not surprised to discover that Anderson has also published poetry). Beauty was not something I expected from a modern fantasy about choices and cryptids.
The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating and other War Crimes
I’ve been rereading the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire (there’s…. 19 total so far? I’m rereading the 17th at the moment). I love the characters, and the world building, and the relationships – I highly recommend them to anyone! fantasy, some mystery, political drama… it’s all great.
Here to VEHEMENTLY recommend Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick and the two follow ups, a COMPLETE TRILOGY as far as I can tell though I’m not quite done yet (together, Rook & Rose). Found them a week or two ago on a reddit post for worldbuilding like IA after the original poster finished TKWNKM.
Genuinely, first brand new author I’ve been this excited about in a long time. The series is so fun, great worldbuilding, great group of characters. I don’t want to spoil anything except to say I struggled with maybe the first 50 pages or so while I was feeling the world out, and it’s been such a fun ride from there.
The Pun Farmer by Autumn Dawn, not as good as IA but nonstick read of character dropped into another world/game
Try Precise Oaths, by Paige E. Ewing. The FMC is “Spider-kin” and a Seer and also neurodivergent but expands her friends, family and romantic relationship over 3 books so far. Fae Colonel who’s also a Fae Prince, wolf-kin, etc. in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Excellent series.
Sorry ModR. It should be “ TRY Precise Oaths “
The Things We Water by Mariana Zapata (May 2025) will definitely appeal to the Kate & Curran crowd. It is a thick original fantasy set in the modern world but with mythical gods and shapeshifters. The protagonist adopts a demon puppy who needs to be hidden from the normal world because the tip of his tail is a fire hazard. Re-read it soon after to savor the experience and appreciate the storytelling.
With the same vibe as this kingdom will not kill me (both in length and genre) I’d recommand “The wandering inn” from pirateaba : it starts with the same premise as TKWNKM but focuses more on the impact you’ll have over it and how it’ll change you.
It’s big and you can try it for free on the author website