I've never been much of a fantasy reader but over on Amazon and now here I've heard so much about Land of the Beautiful Dead. I've had it on my wish list to think about it for what seems like forever. Still sitting on the fence. You mentioned the JD Robb In Death series. I've read them all about 400 times. Love them. Her newest one is due out at the end of this month. I'm now in the middle of Celebrity in Death. This time I read them out of order with no problems.
Wow, BB, that's impressive! I read all of the first 8 pretty much in a straight row, so I've had to take a break, as much as I absolutely love them. Am going to have to start checking them out from the library, though, too, as there're just too many to have to buy in as short a period as I plan to read them all, lol.
I haven't read any other of R. Lee Smith's books and the reviews have scared me off other than, possibly, "Last Hour of Gann, " and that one is SO long (over 1000 pages). I'm not really sure I want to make that kind of commitment. All of the others have even more violence and have a lot of rape in them from the reviews-- a little TOO brutal and "downer" for my taste. But, LotBD, was SO incredible, even though it is 751 pages long, and I feel like I got lucky in reading her best work on my first go of her. So, although, I'm not recommending her other books for my tastes, I do highly recommend LotBD if you at all like hate-to-love romances with a lot of depth and grit, and don't mind fantasy (it takes place on Earth in the future, but is more like post-apocalyptic Earth that has gone back to a bit of a medieval-feel in some ways).
But, LotBD, was SO incredible, even though it is 751 pages long, and I feel like I got lucky in reading her best work on my first go of her. So, although, I'm not recommending her other books for my tastes, I do highly recommend LotBD if you at all like hate-to-love romances with a lot of depth and grit, and don't mind fantasy (it takes place on Earth in the future, but is more like post-apocalyptic Earth that has gone back to a bit of a medieval-feel in some ways).
I one clicked! I'll take a chance as I've heard so much about this book. I'll get out of my safe reading zone. I don't mind long, long books, as a matter of fact with a good book the longer the better! One of my most favorite books is The Wall of Winnipeg and Me and 672 pages. Another is Fearless which is 738 pages. So long books are my friends.
In regards to the JD Robb series I first started collecting them in used dtb many years ago. I'd go to my favorite used dtb store and stock up. I do have some on my kindle which I bought when they went on sale. Most are used dtb both paperback and hardback. You might check on Amazon for the used mass market used dtb as the prices are not too bad.
BB-- Those are great ideas, checking my used bookstores and Ammy used! Thank you!
And I absolutley LOVED, both, Zapata's he Wall of Winnipeg and Me, and Kulti. ( I read "Kulti" first, and I grew up loving and playing soccer, so "Kulti" had my heart before TWoWaM.)
Last Edit: Jan 6, 2018 19:53:24 GMT -7 by wildirish
And I absolutley LOVED, both, Zapata's he Wall of Winnipeg and Me, and Kulti. ( I read "Kulti" first, and I grew up loving and playing soccer, so "Kulti" had my heart before TWoWaM.)
wildirish - You may already know this but her (Mariana Zapata) next book, From Lukov with Love, will be out next month!
^^How do you "quote" just one part of a reply, or one box, not the whole reply?
Just highlight the sentence(s) (only) you want to quote. I've got a few books to read before I get to LotBD but will let you know what I think about it. ๐
Jackie Y. If Santa is generous with the Amazon gift cards, and you decide to try the Seven Realms series, let me know what you think of it.
It really is hard to find a traditional or epic fantasy that has much in the way of romance. If the world-building is nicely detailed and original, the plot is interesting and the characters are intriguing, I don't mind reading a fantasy that doesn't have a romantic relationship as part of the story. However, I think an element of romance adds to the story, even if it isn't the main focus.
I thought of a couple more series that you might want to investigate. You might like the Noble Dead Series by the husband and wife writing team of Barb and J C Hendee. It's a very long series that's divided into several sagas. I've only read the first six books that comprise the first saga. There is an extremely slow burning romance. The series begins with Dhampir. For a complete listing of the books in order, you might want to consult the fantastic fiction site. Here is the link:
I just started reading a new series written by Barb Hendee alone (The Mist-Torn Witches), and so far I'm really enjoying it. So far, there is only the slightest hint of a romance. If the book continues to be as good as it's been so far, I'm pretty sure I'm going to continue with this series. This is first book The Mist-Torn Witches by Barb Hendee.
Santa was extremely generous this year so I went ahead and bought the first book in the Seven Realm Series. I haven't started it, but it's on my queue for this month! I'll give you an update once I'm finished with book 1. Thanks again for all the excellent recommendations!
I have a quick question about The Mist-Torn Witches. I've read the first two in the series and I stopped on the third book. I just couln't get through it. I think I just have a general problem with series that don't stop (ie: Harry Dresden, Cast in Series, etc.). I think they're called serial series? I like for a story to end, even if I love the characters desperaretly.
Just highlight the sentence(s) (only) you want to quote. I've got a few books to read before I get to LotBD but will let you know what I think about it. ๐
Just finished The Mark of the Tala by Jeffe Kennedy. I've had this book for ages and always put of reading it for some reason. But I actually quite liked it and am moving directly on to the next book in the series! P.S. if you like your fantasy romances "clean" - this is not a book for you
Update: finished the second book in the series, The Tears of the Rose although I almost did not make it through - the h of that book is a self-centered idiot for 2/3 of the book. Will probably read the third book anyway to finish the trilogy, hopefully it will be more like the first book.
Last Edit: Jan 21, 2018 2:50:03 GMT -7 by bookwyrm: Added an update
"Susan hated Literature. Sheโd much prefer to read a good book." -Terry Pratchett, Soul Music
Just finished The Mark of the Tala by Jeffe Kennedy. I've had this book for ages and always put of reading it for some reason. But I actually quite liked it and am moving directly on to the next book in the series! P.S. if you like your fantasy romances "clean" - this is not a book for you
Just finished The Mark of the Tala by Jeffe Kennedy. I've had this book for ages and always put of reading it for some reason. But I actually quite liked it and am moving directly on to the next book in the series! P.S. if you like your fantasy romances "clean" - this is not a book for you
I love Grace Draven's Master of Crows - she is a really splendid writer. Are there any other writers folks on here think are on her level? I have read and admire C. L. Wilson as well.
Jackie Since you mentioned Anne Bishop, I assume you've read her Black Jewels series, but have you read The Invisible Ring, which is a stand-alone book in that series? I really enjoyed it.
Cinda Williams Chima has a YA series, that doesn't really read like YA series, that has an ongoing slow burn romance. I really liked her Seven Realms series. That series begins with The Demon King.
I've only read the first three books in Lynn Kurland's Nine Kingdoms series, but I enjoyed them. Those first three books complete one story arc and follow one couple. I wasn't always thrilled with the h in these first three books, but I loved the H. The first book in that trilogy is Star of the Morning.
Patricia Briggs has written quite a few traditional fantasy books. All of them have some romance. My favorite is The Hob's Bargain, which is a stand-alone.I
I want to send out a huge THANK YOU! I just finished The Seven Realm Series and it was INCREDIBLE.
I just finished "The Crimson Crown" and I was left in joyful, bittersweet tears. I blasted through the entire series in a week. I cannot believe how much I've missed a good ole fantasy novel. Honestly though, Cinda Williams Chima straddles the line of YA, romance, and epic fantasy so well. I am eager to read her Shattered Realm series,