(More) engaging sci-fi, fantasy, romance, etc. book recommendations

November 8, 2024 8:11 PM

I got a lot of great answers to my previous question, but I've read a lot of the recommendations there now, and I'd like some more!

I am looking for engaging sci-fi, fantasy, romance (especially if combined with one of the others), or similar books that are generally positive in tone/ending. Some bad things can happen, but I want to feel much more happy than sad or mad once I'm finished.

To avoid being a complete repeat of the old one, how about some more adventurey books along the lines of the Vorkosigan series, the series beginning with Polaris Rising, Ilona Andrews, etc. (Though more cozy recommendations are still more than welcome as well!)

posted by unus sum to Media & Arts (10 answers total)

Are you familiar with Peter F. Hamilton? Many good, long novels. And Iain M. Banks’ Culture novels.
posted by billsaysthis at 8:59 PM on November 8 [1 favorite]

It'll be easier for me to make recommendations if you list specific books you read and liked OR DISLIKED mentioned in the previous thread!
posted by brainwane at 8:48 AM on November 9 [3 favorites]

Muderbot! Start with All Systems Red.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:35 AM on November 9 [4 favorites]

Space Opera by Catherynne Valente
posted by EvaDestruction at 6:52 PM on November 9 [1 favorite]

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen.

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

All the T Kingfisher books especially a A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking and Paladin's Grace.
posted by carolr at 8:44 AM on November 10 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: @brainwane Happy to! Thanks for asking.

• This is How You Lose the Time War - Previously read and liked.
• Chuck Tingle's Bury Your Gays - Follow Chuck on social media and am very glad he exists. Horror/kicked in the gut felt like too much for me right now so I haven't read it.
• Becky Chambers - Previously read Wayfarers and liked them. Previously read Monk and Robot book one and it didn't click with me.
• Victoria Goddard's Nine Worlds - I think of the Hands of the Emperor as one of the most perfect books as a whole I've ever read. The writing and story just combine in such a wonderful way. I've enjoyed other stuff from her as well.
• John Scalzi - I've enjoyed the stuff from him I've read. The Interdependency series is my favorite so far.
• Swordspoint - Previously read and enjoyed.
• Freya Marske's A Marvellous Light - Previously read and enjoyed the series.
• Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell - Read and quite enjoyed.
• The Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold - Previously read and very much enjoyed, along with a lot of her other stuff.
• Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries - Started but couldn't quite get into the writing style. May try again at some point as the recommendation sounded promising.
• Elemental Blessings - Read and quite enjoyed.
• Polaris Rising - Read the entire series and another from them, a great fit for my head space right now.
• Light from Uncommon Stars - Read and liked, but I suspect not as much as some other people do. Very glad it exists.
• The Cemeteries of Amalo - Previously read book one (and two?). Didn't love as much as Goblin Emperor.
• Stephanie Burgis's Regency Dragons - Previously read and liked along with a lot of her other stuff.
• Terry Pratchett - My most re-read books (individually and as a series) of all time.
• Vivian Shaw's Dr. Greta Helsing novels - Read and enjoyed these,
• Legends and Lattes - Previously read and enjoyed at least the first one or two.
• The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Read and enjoyed.
• Nnedi Okorafor - Re-reminded of her going back though the question, I should try something from her.
• The Golem and the Jinni - On my shortlist but haven't started yet.
• Aliette de Bodard - Also on my shortlist.
• A.J. Lancaster's Stariel novels - Read and quite enjoyed.
• Lady Eve's Last Con - Read and very much enjoyed.
• A Long Time Dead by Samara Berger - Read and quite enjoyed.
• The Adventures of Amina Al- Sirafi - Read and enjoyed.
• Megan Whalen Turner’s Thief series - Previously read and enjoyed.
• C.M. Waggoner: Unnatural Magic and The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry - Read and enjoyed

posted by unus sum at 1:28 PM on November 10

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England
posted by SweetLiesOfBokonon at 11:29 PM on November 10 [1 favorite]

You liked Swordspoint. Ellen Kushner wrote at least one other book in that world: Privilege of the Sword. (I have read neither - just, FYI!)

You liked Lady Eve's Last Con. Consider reading other Rebecca Fraimow, including her short fiction!

You like Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher and you mentioned wanting adventure -- this makes me recommend the Catfishing novels by Naomi Kritzer, and the Ancillaryverse trilogy (starting with Ancillary Justice) by Ann Leckie.

Jennifer Crusie's romance novels are funny.

Celia Lake's romance novels are gentle and I often read them when I need to feel happy and cozy. She also writes fantasy adventure in the same universe, with the same values, and with happy endings as far as I know.
posted by brainwane at 10:45 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]

Endorsed by Illona Andrews, try The Case Files of Henri Davenforth series, starting with Magic and the Shinigami Detective. Fantasy (and a little bit SF), mysteries, and a nice slow burning romance across the series.
posted by gudrun at 7:26 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]

Swordspoint has two sequels: The Privilege of the Sword and The Fall of Kings. Swordspoint is one of those books I'd take to a desert island with me; I liked the third one and did not vibe with the second. Neither was of the quality of the first one.

There's also a collaborative series Kushner did called Tremontaine that's a prequel to Swordspoint. I liked it better than either of the sequels but I also bought it as it came out. It was published by a group called Serial Box, later Realm, and it's hella difficult to get. If you can find it, though, read it.
posted by gentlyepigrams at 10:13 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]