What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Hi. It's been a while since I last read a book that the moment I finish it, I smile and say 'What a wonderful journey it has been!' I want to wake up early just to read it and sleep wanting to keep reading it. I want to fall in love with the characters and get lost into another world. It can be any genre as long as the books are written in the way that a 20 year old me can enjoy, meaning it isn't childish nor is it too complicated to read. Thanks a lot in advance!

I'll recommend 2 different series for you.

1. fantasy - Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series, start with Arrows of the Queen and go from there. Several trilogies, all taking place in or near Valdemar, read mostly in order for best experience.

2. fun historical mystery - Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series. English spinster goes to Egypt, meets most excellent man, becomes Egyptologist and solves mysteries with eccentric family and friends. 1st book is Crocodile on the Sandbank. Audiobook versions by Barbara Rosenblatt are also very good.

The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning is a terrific series.

"MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman.
Or so she thinks... until something extraordinary happens.
When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae..."

You have to read the series in order. Darkfever is the first book. It has a lot of world building, so it is a little slow to get started, but the series gets better and better with each book.
There isn't a lot of "romance", but the sexual tension could ignite the pages of the book.

If you haven't read The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, you should! It might be my absolute favorite book. There are two others in the series that are great too!

Good luck! :)

Michele wrote: "I'll recommend 2 different series for you.

1. fantasy - Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series, start with Arrows of the Queen and go from there. Several trilogies, all taking place in or near Valdemar..."

*gasps at the amount of books in both series*

Thanks a lot!

Kim wrote: "The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning is a terrific series.

"MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other w..."

Oh, I have heard of this one! Thanks to you, now it's on my to-read list! I appreciate romance but it doesn't have to be necessarily included, as long as the story keeps me hooked!

Brittany wrote: "If you haven't read The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, you should! It might be my absolute favorite book. There are two others in the series that are great too!

Good luck! :)"

It's already on my to-read list, I've heard good things about it! If you have any other recommendations, please do tell! The more, the merrier after all! Thanks a lot nonetheless :)

Some of my other favorites are The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, The Book of Lost Things, The Book Thief, Stolen: A Letter to My Captor, The Passage, and Night Film.

Happy reading!! :)

Two of my favorite series:

Vorkosigan Saga-- Fun space opera scifi with a very likeable main character. The series is just the right blend of adventure and seriousness.
Start with the ones about Miles (the main character): The Warrior's Apprentice is the first book, or Young Miles for the first omnibus version.

"The Thief" Series by Megan Whalen Turner --first book is The Thief. The series is YA, but holds up well to an adult reading. The first book is a little lighter in tone, but then the next books add some darkness and complexity to the world.

I agree with The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner! She is AMAZING and these books are fantastic. They were written quite a while apart, so don't worry if you don't absolutely LOVE the first one--the rest will make it up to you! Seriously, quintessential "got lost in the series" book.

I'm also a HUGE fan ofDaughter of Smoke & Bone! This series is wonderful--written so well and set in a beautiful world. It will make you cry, but it is also so beautiful.

Um, I also suggest Diana Wynne Jones's Drowned Ammet! I think this is her BEST book, and it has lots of others set around it (but which you really don't have to read first), but it's imaginative, heartfelt, and just wonderful!

Charming Academy

The Fionavar Tapestry - starts with The Summer Tree.

Memory, Sorrow and Thorn - starts with The Dragonbone Chair

Otherland - starts with City of Golden Shadow

Samaria - starts with Archangel.

Popping by with my usual suggestion for Graceling, Fire and Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore. They're paced like a YA book but the story and characters hardly lack complexity. They make for lovely reads,

The second book, Fire, is about a different protagonist and area of the world, but the third is about a character from the first book (not the main character though).

Totally seconding the votes for the Theif, fantastic writing, though highly stylistic, it might throw some people for a loop when they first start.

The following are mostly YA series:

The Lunar Chronicles is really cute, fun and addictive. It's basically Sci-Fi retellings of fairy tales (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White). The first book is Cinder and it's available on BookOutlet.

I also recommend The Assassin's Curse. It's fantasy, very funny, with an enjoyable romance.

I have my issues with the Grisha series, but I'm eagerly awaiting the final installment regardless. The first book is Shadow and Bone. The first two books are currently available on BookOutlet.

The last YA series I'll recommend here is The Raven Cycle. The first book is The Raven Boys. It's based on Welsh mythology and is a little darker and more mature than the other series on this list, IMHO.

If you haven't read the Artemis Fowl series yet, I highly recommend it. It's Middle Grades/YA. Very funny and intelligent. In that vein I also recommend the Howl's Moving Castle series, which includes the lesser known Castle in the Air and House of Many Ways. I've read two of them and they're great for older readers as well as middle grade.

Actually, any Diana Wynne Jones book you can find is probably going to be pretty great; I also really liked the Chronicles of Chrestomanci.

You might also try the books of Kate Elliott. My daughter loved them when she was in her early twenties, and I found the politics very interesting (also rather convoluted).
Cheers

P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves books are awesome. The first book in the series is My Man Jeeves but most people recommend to start with The Code of the Woosters

I recommend Julian May's series The Saga of Pliocene Exile, which is science fiction that reads like fantasy. Start with the first one, The Many-Colored Land. The Many-Coloured Land

Soooo many series to recommend!

The Pendergast novels by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. There's I think 13 of them now. Start with Relic, should defintely be read in order. Genre is thriller/suspense type. Wonderfully written.

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. 5 of 7 are out, very complicated epic fantasy. Must be read in order.

The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. My favorite series. 14 books, some are a bit slower than others, but a wonderful amazing epic fantasy series.

There's also the Inheritance Cycle, His Dark Materials trilogy, The Dark Tower series....message me if you have any questions :)

Jana Deleon's MISS FORTUNE series, or her MUDBUG SERIES. Another series would be Jane Evanovich series about Stephanie Plum, downright rib tickling!

The Looking Glass Wars trilogy by Frank Beddor is pretty good. :)

I also second the recommendations for Wodehouse and Diana Wynne Jones.

2 authors I like that I just get sucked in are James Rollins and Matt Reilly - they write military sci-fi adventure type stuff - totally out of the realm of believability, but lots of blowing stuff up, tons of ppl getting killed

Sandstorm - first book in the Sigma Force series by James Rollins - although I dno't thinkt he series really gets good until about book 3 or 4

Ice Station - book 1 in the Scarecrow series by Matt Reilly or Seven Deadly Wonders - first book in the Jack West Jr series

shoudl also say, i'm a girl and I like these ;)

The A Game of Thrones had me reading morning noon and night. I'm also a big fan of The Eyre Affair and the whole Thursday Next series.

I second Rollins and Reilly. Both excellent authors.

Light enjoyable, laugh out loud series to read...
Jana Deleon MISS FORTUNE series, or the MUDBUG SERIES by the same author. Also, read the Stephanie Plum books by Evanovich.

I am so surprised it hasn't been mentioned, but

1) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

2) The Bronze Horseman - Phillipa Simmons (has two prequels as well - but they aren't necessary to the story)

3) The Tea Rose, The Red Rose and The Wild Rose (I believe that's the order) by Jennifer Donnelly

The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott.

Historical fiction. Must be read in order.

Dance of the Winnebagos is a nice, fun series to read.

Oh my god! I don't know what just happened *dizzy*, so many recommendations since the last time I replied here! I'm sorry for saying this late but thank you, thank you so much guys!

The 299 DAYS SERIES and D. J. Molles series. Both of these are excellent. Also, the C.C. Hunter SERIES for young adults beginning with BORN AT MIDNIGHT....(the Shadow Falls SERIES) is exceptional).

Anna wrote: "P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves books are awesome. The first book in the series is My Man Jeeves but most people recommend to start with The Code of the Woosters"

Oh yes!! Great rec :)

Also Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey books, starting with Murder Must Advertise.

David Eddings had me going back because I missed his characters as does Tamora Pierce. She might be writing for people a bit younger, but I still like them and I'm 23.

Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs and Debora Geary are some of my favorites right now because of exactly what you asked for.

I've always been reading a lot and usually when I find a book I like with characters I love I wait some time to reread it so I won't get bored after a time, but I found Anne Bishop's black jewels trilogy and read all three books then reread them directly after.

Also really like the books about Pern by Anne McCaffrey. Especially Dragonsong, Dragonsinger and Dragondrums which where the only ones I could get at my library.

I think all of the above are fantasy or sci-fi.

Pendragon! https://www.google.com/search?q=pendr...

My fave series is the "In Death" series by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts). The first book in the series is Naked in Death, and there are about 37-38 books in the series.

I'm surprised that no one has recommended jasper ffordes thurday next series. Starts with the eyre affair - where someone has kidnapped jane eyre from the novel. Its up to the literary crime squad to track her down and restore the novel.The Eyre Affair

I think there are at least 10 in series. But off shoot series if you like those is also the nursery crime series. Hilarious and fun.

Try Andre Norton's Witch World series. There are about 30 of them, and while not all are great (and a few have co-author's) it's still a series that is well worth reading.

Michele wrote: "I'll recommend 2 different series for you.

1. fantasy - Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series, start with Arrows of the Queen and go from there. Several trilogies, all taking place in or near Valdemar..."

I would agree with the Valdemar series, some sets are better than others.

Sidsel wrote: "David Eddings had me going back because I missed his characters as does Tamora Pierce. She might be writing for people a bit younger, but I still like them and I'm 23.

..."
I also enjoyed David Eddings books.

It really depends what type of book you are looking for.

David Eddings - more YA in my opinion but I read in my early 20's and really enjoyed.

Mercedes Lackey Valdemar - some are better than others. I also enjoyed her Free Bards series.

Mary Janice Davidson - Undead books - if you want an irreverent take on vampires.

Anne Bishop - Both the Black Jewels and House of Gaian books are very good but dark.

Deborah Harkness - All Souls Trilogy - download a sample of the first book, A Discovery of Witches. You will either love or hate it.

Those are the first that come to mind. Good Luck.

Another great series is that by A. American. The first book in the series is GOING HOME.

both by james patterson:
maximum ride (both novel and g novel are great)
and
witch an wizard series (both novel and g novel are great)
definitely something all ages admit to enjoying a lot

Again, I'm surprised it took so long for Outlander to appear.

One for the Money is too funny to read in public... Never had so many people trying to talk to me on the train! PS, forget the movie, they screwed it all

Dragon Prince, always a good way to chill out

Tall, Dark & Heartless, four books so far.
Playing for Keeps, neighbors from hell series

Slave to Sensation, Psy/Changeling series.
Angels' Blood, Archangel/Guild Hunter series.

The Captive Series Bundle: Books 1-4

Shooter

Maid for the Billionaire

Tall, Tatted and Tempting

Bronwyn's Stand

fantasy, children's:
Heroine walks in death, YA:
Dark Alice in Wonderland theme, children's:
apocalypse, rebirths, YA:
Futuristic scifi, govt corrupt, YA:

fantasy?, YA:
Fantasy, adventure, children's/YA:
Vikings, adult romance (time travel in other books in series):
Horror, YA:
War, children's/YA:

LIGHT wrote: "both by james patterson:
maximum ride (both novel and g novel are great)
and
witch an wizard series (both novel and g novel are great)
definitely something all ages admit to enjoying a lot"

Cannot speak for Witch and Wizard, but the Maximum Ride series gets repetitive and dull after a few books and after the series was supposed to be ending, he wrote another book. So be warned, I did not get lost in it and while read till the the first end Nevermore, it was not as satisfying as I thought in the beginning. The themes and ideas where interesting, but could have been done with a trilogy. The mark of the great writer for me is to know when to stop. Most do not.
This has stopped me from starting Witch and Wizard.
Also it might be a mistake to read the books back to back (so far as they are published), if you read them with a few months in between you might get a better reading experience.
Just a different point of view, take away from it as you like it.
Instead I recommend the Percy Jackson - series, starting with: The Lightning Thief. Like Maximum Ride aimed at teenagers, I (being 48 years) found them very good.
The underlying themes, with friendship, working together are similar to Maximum Ride, but you do not get the feeling as with Nevermore (my last Maximum Ride-book), that the Writer wants to show you certain ideas with a sledge-hammer-ruling.

I finished Braile House a few weeks ago and I was totally wowed by it's intensity. It was an extremely well written and intelligent horror story. It's a stand alone novel.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe the series is amazing. i'm sure you've herd of it before because of the movies 9with are great too)

Have you tried these? The heroine is about your age, and the books just get better and better through the series.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead



I also agree with Goge on this series. It is technically middle school, but I absolutely loved them reading as an adult.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Dahlia West, Burnout series (just starting Stark Ink series now)

JR WARD, Black Dagger Brotherhood

C.M. Owens, Daughter series, Fader series, Stirling Boys series

If you're into adult books, search "3013:". I think there are 7 books now, and three writers (they each write their books themselves, but in the same series). There is more sex than usual books, as they are classed in erotica, but sometimes I find the sex scenes getting in the way of a blood good story!

Hi there! I was busy mucking about and came across your request. I read through it and for every point you have, I came up with one idea that I think you would like / love. I have read the books and I feel like it's very close to what you desire.

There are five books in the series and are classified in my eyes as Steampunk / Romance / Mystery / Thriller / Adventure

The story is set in London in the 1800's. Supernatural's are out of the closet so to speak and Queen Victoria has created a paranormal agency to keep track of these beings. What are on offer is Vampires, Werewolves, Ghosts, Homunculus and finally Preternaturals.

The books are about a female preternatural, very rare, a female that is, 20ish something spinster still living at home with her mother, step father and two half sisters. Her father is dead and Italian. Her family doesn't know what she is, but rather learned of her being from the agency. She also has a butler who worked for her father.

Enter werewolf Alpha and Earl who is also in charge of the agency. Who is a complete brute and Scottish.

The two can't stand each other but when she is attacked by a vampire with no manners and who doesn't appear to have any paperwork the two come together to figure out the mystery. And later even more treats arise! The series follows the two and the female's past and the mystery that is her father. I HIGHLY recommend it.



It's fun, it's witty, it's interesting and there is plenty of tea!