One thing you really need to know is the first book I can remember understanding is The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien and that has pretty much defined my reading choices since then. My list is going to be heavy on fantasy and sci-fi with some urban fantasy, paranormal and historical romance thrown in.
Fantasy: If it’s fantasy I’ll probably love it but here are a few of my favorites.
- Rhapsody by Elizabeth Haydon – First of Haydon’s Symphony of the Ages series which is up to 8 books and counting.
- Wit’ch Fire by James Clemens – First in Clemens’ Banned and Banished Series. (My favorite fantasy series to date)
- Stardust by Neil Gaiman
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman –If you loved the movie then you will want to pick up the book it was based off of.
- Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones – Fantasy and young adult. There are two other books in this universe.
- Winds of Fate by Mercedes Lackey –If you love continuity you should check out the other books in the Valdemar universe but this is the first is Lackey’s Mage Winds trilogy.
- Transformation by Carol Berg – First in the trilogy
- Lord Foul’s Baneby Stephen Donaldson – First in the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever
- Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb – First in the Liveship Traders series
- Dhampir by Barb and J.C. Hendee – First in the Noble Dead Series
Science Fiction – I prefer sci-fi with aliens in it but some dystopian books are great too.
- Powers that Be by Anne McCaffery and Elizabeth Scarborough – First in the Petaybee Trilogy
- Once A Hero by Elizabeth Moon –
- The Hawks of Kamalon by Michael Reising
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – First in the series
- The Giver by Lois Lowry – First in the Giver Quartet (the last book was finally published this year!)
- Uglies by Scott Westerfield – Young Adult; First in the Uglies series
Romance – You’ll notice I tend to favor historical romance.
- Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase – First in Dressmaker’s series
- Vignette by Valerie King
- Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt – First in the Maiden Lane series
- Unlocked by Courtney Milan – Novella
Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance – These are the books I obsess over and read until I have parts memorized.
- Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews – First in the Kate Daniels series
- Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh – First in the Psy-Changeling series (check out her Guild Hunter series too!)
- Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison – First in the Elder Races series
- Heart Mate by Robin D. Owens – First in the Celta novels
- Midnight’s Daughter by Karen Chance – First in the Dorina Basarab series (a companion to her Cassie Palmer novels)
I have to end my list with this: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet I’m actually not sure what the genre is. Can awesome be a genre?
I teach Special Education and have three demented dogs. Between my students all day and my dogs all night my stress relief is reading. It is the only thing that keeps me from going crazy. Or should I say from going crazier? I read anything but I prefer fantasy, sci-fi and steampunk. I also love urban fantasy and historical romances. If it has dragons and magic, vampires and werewolves, crazy machines and corsets or aliens and spaceships then I’m happy. Mix in a Scotland laird or two every once in a while and I’m ecstatic!
I didn’t know there were two other books after Howl’s! You’ve made my night.
Have you read Meredith Ann Pierce’s Darkangel Trilogy?
Nope but after looking it up it’s on my to-read list. Thanks!