The Next Best Book Club discussion

Hello everyone, I am new to the group. so I really like paranormal type books and I love unexpected plot twists and romance! I have been reading a lot of young adult paranormal books because most of the adult books have too much erotic type sex in them which I can do without. I don't mind the sex chapters but I can live without all the graphic details. Nora Roberts does a great sex scene. Anyway, what I am craving are some life changing EPIC series to read. I want a book that grabs me and sucks me in and keeps me guessing and shocked and blown away, etc... Any suggestions out there? I am tired of reading a good book...I want a book that is OH MY GOD good and will change my life forever. Thanks!!

I haven't read it yet, but everyone that has read it raves about it= Shogun

A series I've heard a lot about and know a lot of people love is the Outlander series. There are several of them, most are very long and everyone I've talked to that likes them LOVES them. And from what I can gather is that they are about as epic as they get. I haven't read them, so I can't personally vouch for them, but I've heard good stuff...

thanks Jackie and Ashley! So you two haven't read anything good?

I don't do a lot of epic... My idea of epic tends toward Milton and Homer... ;)

My new favorite is The Light of Asteria: Kailmeyra's Last Hope by Elizabeth Isaacs. It is OMG good. There are several "life changing" messages that will keep you thinking and page turning. There is some steamy interaction but it is very tastefully done. I highly recommend and think it is just what you're looking for. Good luck on your search!

I enjoyed both Shogun and the Outlander series (of which I still have 2 books to read). I recommend them.
I'd also recommend Bryce Courtenay books, especially Brother Fish and the Australian trilogy (The Potato Factory, Tommo and Hawk and Solomon's Song).
Another good trilogy (of which I've only read one), is Sandra Gulland's Josephine B series: The Josephine Bonaparte Collection: The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B., Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, and The Last Great Dance on Earth.

Thank you c and petra

Danielle wrote: "thanks Jackie and Ashley! So you two haven't read anything good?"

Actually I have read the Outlander books and they are fantastic. Lots of romance, history, time travel, detail and unexpected twists....so they seem like what you are looking for. It's one of my absolute favorite series.

I don't do much epic reads, but one for me was The Thorn Birds. I guess considered family epic, even though it's a standalone. Anything by Colleen McCullough seems to be great and in the epic category.

Another author I recommend is Margaret George. I've read Helen of Troy, which was epic. It contains romance and Greek mythology.

If you are into YA the A Great and Terrible Beauty series is a good one. It's not great or life changing, but I was certainly sucked in while reading it. It has romance, paranormal elements, and twists.

I've been reading A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. I have to admit, it is one of my first true "fantasy" books and I am completely sucked in. The series (called the Song of Fire and Ice) has actually been picked up by HBO... I'm curious to see how they do it. :)

Kristin wrote: "I've been reading A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. I have to admit, it is one of my first true "fantasy" books and I am completely sucked in. The series (call..."


I have that one at home. I'm trying to work up the nerve to tackle it. lol.

If you are looking for purely paranormal epics, I think the choices are a little limited, but Outlander is by far the best choice. Not so much paranormal as time-travel, but still sort of fits.

You also might like The Black Jewels Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness but it does lean a little more towards the sex focus than a Nora Roberts. It is truly epic though.

You might also consider Garden Spells, less epic than the others, but still excellent.

These are not so much paranormal, but are Epic and Romance focused (historical) - Through a Glass Darkly: A Novel and Dark Angels: A Novel

The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters - both paranormal and epic, not so much a romance...

The Winter Rose and The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly are really good historical, romance-ish, epics

And lastly, romantic, epic, not so much paranormal Captain Corelli's Mandolin

Jackie: Its HUGE, isn't it? He's really very good at keeping you going. The story is told from different people's point of view and it REALLY makes the story better. I can hardly believe how much I've read already with hardly any time to read.

Kristin wrote: "Jackie: Its HUGE, isn't it? He's really very good at keeping you going. The story is told from different people's point of view and it REALLY makes the story better. I can hardly believe how mu..."

Oh that's good to know. Thanks! It is huge. I picked up the paperback for 25 cents at a flea market the other day. I'm not really into bricks unless they are heavily recommended, which this one was. :)

The Black Jewels Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness is probably one of the best series i have read, it is so beautifully writen and you love the characters so much as the books progress. I recommend the series to everyone.

The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles, Day 1)
by Patrick Rothfuss is great too if you are looking for epic, a little slow at parts but even then i could not put it down cause i could not wait until things started moving again in the plot.

I'm going to second The Name of the Wind and A Game of Thrones. Really good.

Based on what you have read, I have a few series to recommend.

I would recommend the The Hunger Games trilogy (the final book comes out in August). Very good. Dystopian with some romance thrown in. Fast paced page turners for sure.

Also, the Sookie Stackhouse novels, starting with Dead Until Dark. I liked them more than twilight (more interesting paranormal aspects, more satisfying relationships), and found them to be a bit of "book crack." I read all but the latest.

Another fantastic paranormal series (about a wizard for hire) is the Dresden Files. Starting with Storm Front, it gets progressively more epic and less stand-alone. I've just finished the fifth book out of 11 or so.

thanks to everyone who commented. Hey does anyone know how this website works? When I want to see comments to my discussions I have to go to the group page and find my topic and click on it. and then read the comments. Shouldn't the comments just pop up on my profile for quick reading? am I missing something?

Ok I'm gonna back up some of the other suggestions.
I really loved the The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games. But since your a paranormal junkie might I also suggest Bitten? Hope you find something to your liking :)