Need something new to read?
I just finished first-round edits on my historical superhero work-in-progress Wayfarer, but it will be awhile before it comes out and I can share it with you.
In the meantime, I thought I’d point you toward some of my favorite authors. As a writer, I’m always trying to write the kind of story I would love to read. If you enjoy what I write, then you may just enjoy what I like to read as well.
Here are my top 5 recommendations:
1. Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian
Patrick O’Brian is the master of historical fiction. He writes so deep into his time period that he could almost be a classic author writing to us from the early 19th century, rather than the 1970s. His Aubrey/Maturin series starts with Master and Commander (from which the movie adaptation starring Russell Crowe got its name). For lack of a better term, his books have a bit of a “learning curve.” I nearly gave up after reading the first one, mostly just because it wasn’t what I expected. Lucky for me, several friends encouraged me to keep reading–and I’m so glad I did! By the time I hit the third book in the series, HMS Surprise, I was hooked by the incredible prose, the historical detail, and the rich, rich characters.
2. Black Prism by Brent Weeks
I’m usually hesitant to name authors I’ve read only recently as my “favorite.” But I will say this: Brent Weeks’s fantasy books rock my world like pretty much no other storyteller these days. He speaks my language when it comes to epic characters, deep themes, and just general fantastical awesomeness.
3. Light of Eidon by Karen Hancock
Hancock’s Christian fantasy series Legends of the Guardian-King is a little slower than Weeks’s, but it’s earth-shattering in its own way. The books are deeply inspiring, challenging, and archetypal in a brutally courageous way.
4. Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
I think of McMaster Bujold’s stuff as “literary fantasy.” If Weeks is blood and bombast, McMaster Bujold is quiet introspection–with a little magic thrown in. Her prose is beautiful, her characterization effortlessly honest, and her fantasy worlds unique and absorbing.
5. Into the Fire by Kim Vandel
This is a new one. I mentioned in last week’s “6 Things That Have My Attention” post that I read Vandel’s debut YA superhero offering here recently. Can’t say yet how my relationship with her stories will stand the test of time, as with the others above, but this was possibly the best book I’ve read this year. It’s one of those stories, likes Weeks’s, that sucked me in deep and wouldn’t let me go. Lots of fun! It’ll prime you for more superhero fun in Wayfarer. 😉
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Hi,
at the moment my favorite authors are Patrick Rothfuss and China Mieville.
Btw right now I also enjoy reading Dreamlander.
Patrick Rothfuss is fabulous. He very nearly made my shortlist. Can’t wait for his next Kingkiller book!
Congratulations on first round edits, yay! Thanks for all of the recommended reads. That should keep us busy until Wayfarer comes out. All of these books look amazing. It thrills me to see how authors can make such masterpieces.
My recommended reads:
Ted Dekker
Tosca Lee
Their book of Mortals trilogy is nice.
Steven James Patrick Bowers file Series
Amalie Jahn’s Clay Lion, an award-winning series
Marissa Meyer The Lunar Chronicles
There was another historical fiction series a friend recommended, but my memory fails me at the moment. I’ll get back to you.
The second one I can’t remember is an historical detective series also recommended by another writer. Wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve already heard of it. I’ll be back with more details. Stay tuned…
Ok found it. These are recommended reads from writer friends. Haven’t read them yet, but licking my chops!
1. The Albert Campion mystery series by Margery Allingham. The first book was in 1929!
2. Roma Sub Rosa by Steven Saylor
Gordianus the Finder is a private investigator around 56bc in ancient Rome.
Something about an historical detective sounds really cool.
Peace
Marissa Meyer is the only one of these I’ve yet to read. Reading her Cress right now.
Me too. Enjoy.
Thank you once again for featuring Into the Fire! I’m honored and humbled, and it makes me want to work very hard to make book two even better than the first.
I love Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles. Plus she’s another Seattle area girl. That makes me like her even more.
Can’t wait to read Wayfarer! Historical superheros. It’s already intriguing.
My pleasure! I’m actually reading Meyer’s Cress as we speak.
I got The Black Prism based of articles from your blog. But I’ll not down the other suggestions too.
Sorry, little spelling mistake on the comment above, I meant note down.
I have 2 blog post on my favorite books:
https://leticiatoraci.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/my-top-10-books-of-2015/
and
https://leticiatoraci.wordpress.com/2015/06/12/the-seven-most-fun-books-i-have-read-in-the-last-ten-years/
Great list! Ready Player One was on one of my Top 10 lists a year or so ago as well.
I’m finally making my way through the Harry Potter books (I had to wait until enough time had passed since I’d seen the movies) and discovering that they’re just as good as everyone said they are.
I watched the movies here recently and was blown away. I sincerely expected them to be overrated, but they’re not, in the least. Looking forward to the books soon.
Hi. I just discovered Anne Elisabeth Stengl’s `Tales of Goldstone Woods.’ They’re a little slow starting, but the third completely blew me away. 🙂
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll have to check them out. 🙂
Hi Ms. Weiland,
I love book recommendations and all of the titles you gave sound really interesting. I have not yet read your fictions works yet but plan to (your Outline book have been my only one so far – and I found it to be very helpful, by the way!). Are all of the titles you recommended clean content-wise? If not, what may be of concern?
Thanks!
No content issues with Into the Fire. Light of Eidon is Christian fiction, but does contain some thematic elements that I know were difficult for some readers. O’Brian is clean, though with the occasional bit of language. Curse of Chalion probably warrants a PG-13 rating, and all of Brent Weeks’s stuff gets a hard R.
Thank you! That’s very helpful!
Absolutely agree about Brent Weeks! Will give OBrien another go, then. I had no one encouraging me to finish, so I caved. I’ll take a look at a few others.
Thank you, btw, for your podcasts. They have been both enormously helpful and encouraging.
Glad you’re enjoying the podcast!