Gothic fiction required
March 18, 2013 9:37 PM
I'm sick in bed with a dose of the flu and I need stuff to read on my kindle. I'm in the mood for intelligent romantic fiction with a dose of thriller - bonus if it has supernatural or gothic elements.
I've just finished "Nine Coaches Waiting" by Mary Stewart, and prior to that "Thornyhold", also by Mary Stewart, so something along those lines would be awesome. What can the hive mind suggest?
I've just finished "Nine Coaches Waiting" by Mary Stewart, and prior to that "Thornyhold", also by Mary Stewart, so something along those lines would be awesome. What can the hive mind suggest?
Discovery of Witches might work, it's not straight up romance but has a strong romance story in it, involves the supernatural and mystery and is not "urban fantasy." Plus the sequel is out.
posted by grapesaresour at 10:24 PM on March 18, 2013
posted by grapesaresour at 10:24 PM on March 18, 2013
You might enjoy A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick.
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys might also be a good choice. It's not so much a thriller like Stewart's novels are, though, so if it's that aspect that draws you most, it may not be quite what you're looking for.
posted by pecanpies at 11:14 PM on March 18, 2013
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys might also be a good choice. It's not so much a thriller like Stewart's novels are, though, so if it's that aspect that draws you most, it may not be quite what you're looking for.
posted by pecanpies at 11:14 PM on March 18, 2013
Sarah Waters' Affinity sounds like exactly the sort of thing you're looking for.
posted by goo at 12:58 AM on March 19, 2013
posted by goo at 12:58 AM on March 19, 2013
Oh I love Mary Stewart! You know about her other books I presume. As far as I can remember at the moment Touch Not the Cat is the only one with supernatural (telepathy) elements, though I prefer the more thriller-like ones such as Madam, Will You Talk? and My Brother Michael.
Barbara Michaels is the most similar author I've found to MS. Shattered Silk is a good place to start.
Then there's Susanna Kearsley. My favourite is probably The Shadowy Horses but they vary a bit so have a poke around.
You might also like Deanna Raybourn's Gothicy series, starting with Silent as the Grave.
posted by sock of ages at 1:29 AM on March 19, 2013
Barbara Michaels is the most similar author I've found to MS. Shattered Silk is a good place to start.
Then there's Susanna Kearsley. My favourite is probably The Shadowy Horses but they vary a bit so have a poke around.
You might also like Deanna Raybourn's Gothicy series, starting with Silent as the Grave.
posted by sock of ages at 1:29 AM on March 19, 2013
I was just coming in to suggest Deanna Raybourn, I adore everything she writes, and she has mentioned Mary Stewart as an author she really enjoys. Her stand alone The Dead Travel Fast is the most gothicy of her work, but the series is amazing as well.
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 3:50 AM on March 19, 2013
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 3:50 AM on March 19, 2013
I just finished The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark (a pen name for Carol Goodman). It's the first in a new trilogy - book two is The Water Witch, and book three comes out this fall. I devoured it, even though some of it was a bit predictable. I really hated the title, so was suprised at how much I liked the book.
I'm going to throw this in, even though it's YA, but Maggie Stiefvater's new series The Raven Boys might be good since you're sick. There's a dash of forbidden young love, a quasi supernatural quest, and a psychic family. I have the next book preordered. :) (One of my favorite books of last year.)
Also from last year, Overseas by Beatriz Williams. I'm apparently INCREDIBLY picky about time travel fiction, but this one hit a lot of chords for me. I enjoyed the above mentioned Discovery of Witches, but didn't really like the time travel aspect of the second one, so this is sort of similar. (Fewer vampires, though.)
posted by librarianamy at 5:05 AM on March 19, 2013
I'm going to throw this in, even though it's YA, but Maggie Stiefvater's new series The Raven Boys might be good since you're sick. There's a dash of forbidden young love, a quasi supernatural quest, and a psychic family. I have the next book preordered. :) (One of my favorite books of last year.)
Also from last year, Overseas by Beatriz Williams. I'm apparently INCREDIBLY picky about time travel fiction, but this one hit a lot of chords for me. I enjoyed the above mentioned Discovery of Witches, but didn't really like the time travel aspect of the second one, so this is sort of similar. (Fewer vampires, though.)
posted by librarianamy at 5:05 AM on March 19, 2013
For sure Jane Eyre.
Read the Wide Sargasso Sea first, then Jane Eyre. Creeeepppy.
Also for a laugh, Northanger Abbey.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:26 AM on March 19, 2013
Read the Wide Sargasso Sea first, then Jane Eyre. Creeeepppy.
Also for a laugh, Northanger Abbey.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:26 AM on March 19, 2013
Omg omg The Lantern by Deborah Lawrence and The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.
posted by mibo at 6:34 AM on March 19, 2013
posted by mibo at 6:34 AM on March 19, 2013
I just finished Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (it was a spontaneous Kindle purchase in an airport when I finished the book I had with me.) The plot was tons of fun (killer nuns!) and the romance was pretty satisfying. It's a quick read, and a bit fluffy, exactly the sort of thing I'd want to devour if I wasn't feeling well.
Or if you're in it for the long haul and don't mind a lot of kinky sex, Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart is basically the most satisfying idfic ever. Good romance, interesting world, lots of courtly intrigue and a lot of straight-up adventure.
posted by WidgetAlley at 8:13 AM on March 19, 2013
Or if you're in it for the long haul and don't mind a lot of kinky sex, Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart is basically the most satisfying idfic ever. Good romance, interesting world, lots of courtly intrigue and a lot of straight-up adventure.
posted by WidgetAlley at 8:13 AM on March 19, 2013
You've probably read Diana Gabaldon's Outlander books. If not, well, they are what I recommend to everyone who just wants to escape for a while.
posted by mygothlaundry at 8:40 AM on March 19, 2013
posted by mygothlaundry at 8:40 AM on March 19, 2013
Phillippa Gregory's Wideacre is basically what would happen if the Brontes had another sister with a dirty, dirty, BAD, VERY AWFUL mind.
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
posted by Madamina at 10:34 AM on March 19, 2013
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
posted by Madamina at 10:34 AM on March 19, 2013
Awesome, guys. I can't tell you how much I really appreciate this. I've read Rebecca and Jane Eyre (which is what put me onto the gothic kick in the first place) and I've done the entire Kushiel series as well. I've just bought The Ghost Writer (thanks, Scratch!) and will go from there.
Thank you all from the bottom of my soggy, germy, sniffly heart!
posted by ninazer0 at 1:54 PM on March 19, 2013
Thank you all from the bottom of my soggy, germy, sniffly heart!
posted by ninazer0 at 1:54 PM on March 19, 2013
Anything by Anya Seton, but most especially Dragonwyck. Bonus: made into a rather decent movie starring Vincent Price and Gene Tierney.
posted by noxetlux at 2:05 PM on March 19, 2013
posted by noxetlux at 2:05 PM on March 19, 2013
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posted by Jairus at 9:40 PM on March 18, 2013