Play Book Tag discussion

This vote wasn't particularly close, and I'm so sorry Star Wars fans. I felt your passion. I don't get a vote, but your love for Star Wars would have swayed me.

The tag for next month is:

fantasy-romance

HELP!! (oh sorry, that's just my personal panicky aside)

Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.

Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as "fantasy-romance" on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.

One way to find books to read for this tag is to please visit:

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

We encourage people to link to additional lists below if they find them.

Happy Reading!!!

Well .. I think all the Outlander series is tagged "Fantasy-Romance" ....

It certainly fits, even if not tagged that way.

This win wasn't very surprising, and although I'm not generally keen on fantasy romance, I have found a couple of books I read some years ago that I liked on it that are magical realism (also not my thing, but I gave one of the books 3 stars and the other 4.) I wasn't keen on any of the three, but have no doubt that there are people here rejoicing :)

I may have been the only one who wanted Tudor to win (Amy did at first, but switched!). So, not what I wanted, but it is what I expected.

Time to finally get to Ruthless Vows!

Ooo, and maybe One Dark Window.

I already pulled out a bunch of books from my TBR, especially ones that matched letters. Did I already order them from the library? Yes I did. I put in an order for iron flame by Rebekah Yaros, I put in an order for spells for forgetting by Adrienne Young (S or Y). And I started listening to the audio for the seven year slip. Because I know for me audio can take take a long while I’ll not be lucky if I finish it long after April 1. Let me tell you right now, and I’m barely into it. This one is stupid. It’s the kind of thing that I’ve been reading it in a book. I would’ve closed it and tossed it back to the library. Had I been listening on audio, and knew it would not match anything, I might’ved DNF’ed it as well. But it does match. The jury is still out. I still might toss this one. I mean it’s really stupid. Of course it’s just my opinion. I have some other books I picked out for this tag matches for letters. I’ll have to look them up and get back to you. But, I’m sure we will all welcome suggestions. And an occasional pan. Let the seven-year slip count as a pan.

Anita-a book I think you could breeze through, and maybe even give 3 stars (there is hope-LoL ) Garden Spells-no way will you love it, but it you might even like a little.

If you read any fantasy, it's worth checking to see if fantasy-romance is listed as a tag, even if the romance is a minor part of the story.

Here are a few that match the letters

Ship of Magic - 7 tags
Six of Crows - 325 tags
One Last Stop - 9 tags
The Time Traveler’s Wife - 54 tags

I get antsy with some of the big YA series (no Maaas for me), but i really did enjoy Fourth Wing despite the teen angst.

I loved Outlander, Twilight and Hunger games back in the day. I might read another Outlander book, but the assaults wear me down. There are some similar time travel to Scotland romances that probably have less sex and sexual assault. I might try one of those.

My favorite fantasy romances are all great on audio:
What the Wind Knows - romantic time travel with historical fiction- Ireland. No graphic sex or assault, but violence associated with the fight for independence.
The Bird and the Sword - pure romantic fantasy, young, but poetic. Shapeshifting birds. It’s one of my favorite “comfort” audios when i need something beautiful.
🔆This is How You Lose the Time War - it’s very weird, sapphic romance, with crazy gorgeous writing. Try it. It’s short and matches the tag and letter.
The Time Traveler’s Wife

I have a long list of books that I plan to preview. 5-10 minutes is usually enough to give me an idea of whether I can read it.

My April lineup will start with:
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik. It came up on several recommendation lists (e.g. literary fantasy). She has several other books that fit the tag and letter too.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries
Namesake

Amy wrote: "I already pulled out a bunch of books from my TBR, especially ones that matched letters. Did I already order them from the library? Yes I did. I put in an order for iron flame by Rebekah Yaros, I p..."

Oh, the Seven Year slip sounded like a possibility for me. I like time travel.

Maybe you will enjoy it more than I. There is always the possibility that I’m being far too judgy.

LibraryCin wrote: "I may have been the only one who wanted Tudor to win (Amy did at first, but switched!). So, not what I wanted, but it is what I expected."

I would have been quite happy with Tudor or any of them for that matter as I did have something lined up for all.

Fantasy-Romance gives me a chance to read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

One thing I appreciated about all these tags (for me, at least) is I do not have many books on my tbr for any of them. The last three months with historical fiction, authors of color and coming of age, I have more books in each of those categories than I can read in a month, while at the same time, I'm trying to read other books as well. This month, I feel like, I'm getting a breather.

Damn, I tried my best!! It's okay, Star Wars fans. We will ride again for May the Fourth....

Now time to figure out if Realm Breaker fits the fantasy romance tag, as I randomly got the urge to continue reading that series recently...

Anita wrote: "This vote wasn't particularly close, and I'm so sorry Star Wars fans. I felt your passion. I don't get a vote, but your love for Star Wars would have swayed me.

The tag for next month is:

fantasy..."

Anita, this is not my genre either but I wonder if you might like The Song of Achilles or Circe. I may try to read Circe this month.

Heather Reads Books wrote: "Damn, I tried my best!! It's okay, Star Wars fans. We will ride again for May the Fourth....

Now time to figure out if Realm Breaker fits the fantasy romance tag, as I randomly go..."

I'm counting on May the Fourth!

Joanne wrote: "Anita-a book I think you could breeze through, and maybe even give 3 stars (there is hope-LoL ) Garden Spells-no way will you love it, but it you might even like a little."

I loved that one too. Good call Joanne. It’s magical realism but Anita might like the relationship between the sisters. I’m looking through all my time travel and magical realism books to find the ones with the tag.

Don't assume that fantasy romance is just SFF. Lots and lots of retellings, time travel, etc. are tagged or would fit even if not tagged.

Some suggestions that are retellings:

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue - not just of Faust but also of the myth of Penelope and Pluto and so much more. Lots of Historical Fiction elements - because it covers 300 real centuries. I adore this book - it's a lifetime read - one I could write a dissertation about or work out a course syllabus around.

Circe

The Song of Achilles

Also check your LGBT and gender choice genres - many of those will fit.

Time and Again - IMHO this marvelous HF/Time travel classic fits fantasy romance perfectly. Doesn't mean it is tagged though. One of my favorite all time books, one I've re-read though not recently.

Theresa wrote: "I'm counting on May the Fourth!"

I've already set myself a reminder to post about it the last week of April :D

Heather Reads Books wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I'm counting on May the Fourth!"

I've already set myself a reminder to post about it the last week of April :D"

Yay!

You do realize that many of us -- me certainly -- will need a cheat sheet or assigned reading list or something to figure out what to read for May the Fourth!

Heather Reads Books wrote: "Damn, I tried my best!! It's okay, Star Wars fans. We will ride again for May the Fourth....

Now time to figure out if Realm Breaker fits the fantasy romance tag, as I randomly go..."

May the fourth be with you! After many years of teaching piano to a Star Wars fan I have that one ingrained in my mind.

For the record, my dad took us kids to see the first one when it first came out in theatres. I only remember going and for some reason thought I went with a friend of mine, but it's possible that she came with us because my sister remembers it differently (shocking, I know, for kids to mix things up like this, but we really did stand in that long line and see it during one of the first few days it was showing.)

Theresa wrote: "Don't assume that fantasy romance is just SFF. Lots and lots of retellings, time travel, etc. are tagged or would fit even if not tagged.

Some suggestions that are retellings:

[book:The Invisibl..."

You hit on what I plan to read and my suggestions to Anita.

As they say about great minds.

Booknblues wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Don't assume that fantasy romance is just SFF. Lots and lots of retellings, time travel, etc. are tagged or would fit even if not tagged.

Some suggestions that are retellings:

[b..."

Or as a friend always says, tiny ones.

I am not a big fan of fantasy and intensely dislike romance, but there are a few books tagged "fantasy romance" that I have enjoyed quite a bit. I can recommend:
- The Night Circus
- The Song of Achilles
- Strange the Dreamer
- Scythe
- The Bear and the Nightingale

Booknblues wrote: "Anita wrote: "This vote wasn't particularly close, and I'm so sorry Star Wars fans. I felt your passion. I don't get a vote, but your love for Star Wars would have swayed me.

The tag for next mont..."

You are a genius!! Thank you.

I own Song of Achilles, and I quite liked Circe so there's at least hope. Thank you so much.

Nancy gave me some great suggestions under separate cover and thank you, Joanne, for chiming in. I tested a bit of Outlander, and honestly, I did like the first chapter, but the length is a bit offputting right now.

Song of Achilles seems perfect.

I have a slew of Netgalley books I have to review soon so feeling the pressure, lol.

Legends & Lattes

Theresa wrote: "You do realize that many of us -- me certainly -- will need a cheat sheet or assigned reading list or something to figure out what to read for May the Fourth!"

I certainly plan to compile a list of suggestions, including the ones that came up in the voting discussion thread. :D

Anita, I just read song of Achilles last month, and I thought that was fabulous and five star worthy. I would’ve never pegged it for fantasy romance. It’s a perfect pick!!!!

I feel it’s important to go back to my negative comments on the seven year slip. Now I’m in the part where the time travel has actually happened, and the young romance is starting to bloom. I think now that I’m finally in it, I’m liking it a lot more. I think they’re a lot of people for whom they really love time travel, and this kind of book is going to suit them perfectly so now I feel kind of bad about giving it a negative pan. I wasn’t a fan of the set up because I thought the set up was really stupid. But you know you start getting into a story and even if you think you know how it’s gonna work out or you’ve already kind of figured out the trope, there is something about settling in and listening to it and letting yourself just relax and enjoy it. Our male hero just came up with the most adorable name for our narrator and female heroine. I swoon when he calls her by the perfect nickname. I won’t be DNFing it, I will be finishing it out. I’m glad to have a chance to recant my earlier negativity towards more openness.

Well, I'm super excited!! I have so many options that there is no way I will manage.

In addition to the ones above, I would maybe recommend:

This is How You Lose the Time War- short and light on the romance
Scythe- doubling Joy's recommendation- it is thought provoking and also very light on romance but YA
These Violent Delights- retelling of Romeo and Juliet- okay, there is a fantastical horror subplot but otherwise light on fantasy and romance
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy- another slight fantastical horror subplot but I really enjoyed the romance between Hart and Mercy
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries- there really are fairies but otherwise light on fantasy and lovely slow romance/ crush

I will definitely be reading:
Ship of Magic- BR with KateNZ- please join!
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands
An Ember in the Ashes

Scythe is quite dark for those who don't like books that dark; I was excited to try it but it wasn't for me :) That said, I might try the Emily Wilde one since it's not that long even though I'm not big on fairies either.

Dragons are about it for my fantasy tastes, and even then not all the time.

I don't want any long books because I'm travelling to BC via Pittsburgh for the celebration of life for my mother, etc. I don't want to tote a tome.

I don't normally read many books that fit this genre. Still, in looking through my books, I can recommend the following:

The Snow Child
The Island of Missing Trees
Etta and Otto and Russell and James

Jen K wrote: "Well, I'm super excited!! I have so many options that there is no way I will manage.

In addition to the ones above, I would maybe recommend:

This is How You Lose the Time War- sh..."

Thank you for the recommendations for those "light on romance"! The one about faeries looks interesting to me. I'll check out the rest.

Holly R W wrote: "I don't normally read many books that fit this genre. Still, in looking through my books, I can recommend the following:

The Snow Child
The Island of Missing Trees
..."

Totally agree with you about The Snow Child & Island of Missing Trees. Haven't read the third but will check it out.

@Joy, I loved Etta and Otto and Russell and James and gave it 5 stars. Here is my review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Lol. Neither of the ones I voted for won. That makes me laugh. I'm not mad, though. I love fantasy romance.

My tag suggestion was Tudor. I did end up voting for it since I suggested it, but I really wanted Star Wars to win, lol. Oh well.

As far as what I plan to read for the tag, I think I'm going to read the book I got for BOTM this month which was Heartless Hunter.

Jen K wrote: "Well, I'm super excited!! I have so many options that there is no way I will manage.
In addition to the ones above, I would maybe recommend:
This is How You Lose the Time War- sh..."

Thanks Jen. I just got Scythe on Audible. It's been on my radar for a long time, and all the positive mentions here helped me decide it was "credit-worthy." I'll check out the others.


Amy wrote: "I feel it’s important to go back to my negative comments on the seven year slip. ..."

Thanks Amy.
Time travel books do tend to be very tropey, but I still love them. They've been a favorite since Time and Again, though I often take a break for a few years. I'm in the "on again" phase of our relationship. Stories with too many recursive loops tire me out though, so I try to avoid those.

So far one some loop here….. when you do get to this one, you have to let me know if you thought the nickname was as charming as I found it. Every time I hear it I smile.

Jenni Elyse wrote: "My tag suggestion was Tudor. I did end up voting for it since I suggested it, but I really wanted Star Wars to win, lol. Oh well...."

Thanks for trying with Tudor! I think BWF also made that one a bit harder to win the vote.

Thank you so much Robin. Time for a reread of The Time Travellers Wife

I agree JE. Without BWF that might have been a winner. Many of us love that era.

As Amy says, Tudor would have been a very serious contender if BWF was not being played by so many of us. I sometimes only mange one or two books for monthly tag, reading something chunky that's lingering in my TBR Towers.

No one has yet mentioned it, so I'll plug Ilona Andrews's Hidden Legacy series for this tag - I may even re-read this since I got my son started on book 1. My husband loved it too! Lots of humor and snarky dialogue with lots of action as well.

Burn for Me
White Hot
Wildfire

Just ignore the cheesy covers!

Librarynerd ( loves books in a series) wrote: "I just entered that giveaway for book 1."

Ooh, I didn't know there was a giveaway! I like the new cover so much better!

Since you like book series, I think you'll enjoy this. Catalina's trilogy is Sapphire Flames, Emerald Blaze and Ruby Fever. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for Arabella's books, and they have shifted to book 2 of the Iron Covenant series at the moment so it will take awhile.

annapi wrote: "No one has yet mentioned it, so I'll plug Ilona Andrews's Hidden Legacy series for this tag - I may even re-read this since I got my son started on book 1. My husband loved it too! Lots of humor an..."

I was just going to say the same! Some of us 'burned' through this series during the Favorite Author challenge - had a ball doing it. I still have Ruby Fever to read - published after that challenge. I also liked the First in Andrews' Kate Daniels series.

Librarynerd ( loves books in a series) wrote: "Adding these to my TBR asap. 🥰"

LOL I have so many wonderful fantasy series favorites, you need to let me know what you have already read and what you like, and I can share mine with you. But definitely put Ilona Andrews at the top of your list - all their (it's a husband & wife team) books are good!

I started the Listopia for Fantasy Romance books that spell FANTASY, for the Books With Friends game. Feel free to add additional books to the comments section even if they don’t meet the requirements for the game. I love how generous people are in sharing their ideas. Thanks !

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

Someone in another group mentioned Strange Love which fits the tag. Alien love sounds strange indeed.

Amy wrote: "Anita, I just read song of Achilles last month, and I thought that was fabulous and five star worthy. I would’ve never pegged it for fantasy romance. It’s a perfect pick!!!!"

Thank you for this endorsement. I'm actually excited to finally get to this one.

Anita wrote: "Amy wrote: "Anita, I just read song of Achilles last month, and I thought that was fabulous and five star worthy. I would’ve never pegged it for fantasy romance. It’s a perfect pick!!!!"

Thank you..."

Oh, Anita, I think you will love The Song of Achilles