Category: Book Recommendations

I love romantasy. I adore the yearning, the action, and the imagined worlds. I was reading it before it became romantasy and one of the biggest selling genres in fiction.

But…

(oh, you knew there was going to be a but)

Have you noticed how many romantasy protagonists in recent releases suffer from self-loathing?

I was shocked when I realised that the emotional driver for the book I was reading was the hero and heroine’s mutual rescue of each other from self-loathing.

Once I put the cause of their angst into words — “I hate myself. I’m despicable. Nobody could love me.” — I realised that the previous romantasy I’d read had a similar vibe, although it only had one protagonist drowning in self-loathing and the other hauling them out.

What concerned me was that this is the emotion that resonates with readers. I love a good rescue story as much as anyone (I eat up Cinderella stories, although not as much as Beauty and the Beast ones). However, waiting for someone to love you so that you can love yourself is perilous.

To quote Maya Angelou, “You alone are enough.”

As soon as I started thinking about romantasy that featured this empowering vibe I came up with When Demons Walk by Patricia Briggs. Also Bride of the Rat God by Barbara Hambly and A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (the third book in the Scholomance trilogy didn’t work for me, but I happily read and re-read the first two). Neverthorn by Shannon Mayer is out today, and since her protagonists never wait around to be rescued I’m really looking forward to it (plus, dark academia! I love it).

What fantasy books would you suggest with strong characters, powerful conflicts, and a happy ever after?

As a teen I read and re-read Mary Stewart’s romantic suspense novels. They’re still fabulous. Such beautiful writing and neat plotting. I’d definitely include Mary Stewart on my list of Golden Age mystery writers.

If you can read The Moon-Spinners and not fall in love with Mary Stewart’s writing … well, I’m sorry for you! The movie starring Hayley Mills is magical, too.

Site Updates

You’ll find a search box at the bottom of the homepage. I can’t believe I missed this obvious feature originally. Sorry.

I’ve added a couple of recipes (chocolate cake and Devonshire scones) under the Forum City News page (which, itself, is nested under Background).

Potions & Prejudice: A Cozy Fantasy Romance by Tee Harlowe, the first book in the Moonflower Witches series. It has a cozy, sweet vibe with a lot of humour. I was a bit startled when it suddenly turned sexy-times, but this was an enjoyable retelling of Pride and Prejudice (venturing quite widely from the original plot).

The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott was every bit as good as I’d hoped! Great world building, mature characters (living with their choices, not afraid to make new choices) and a fast-paced plot.

The Healing Skies by Seth Ring. I don’t read a huge amount of litrpg, but I’m enjoying the Iron Tyrant series. This is the third book and it has some twists to it that I definitely didn’t expect. Very cool.

What have you been reading?

What have you been reading in May?

I picked up Inventing the Renaissance: Myths of a Golden Age by Ada Palmer. It’s a big book. I’ll be able to lose myself in it for a while.

I tried a couple of much-recommended fantasy and paranormal romance novels and … I did not enjoy them. Sigh. I won’t name names—and they weren’t new releases, so you won’t be able to guess—but they were disappointing. I think people fell in love with them for what they promised, but for me, after reading the rave reviews, I expected those promises to be met. Instead, the endings fell short.

A few years ago I read that we pick up the next book from an author when the previous book left us with a peak experience, some emotion that moved us and satisfied our expectations.

As a reader I agree with that. Disappointment is discouraging.

As an author, I try to honour the expectations I’ve set up throughout the story. Don’t promise what you can’t deliver!

In better news, I enjoyed Judith Tarr’s Dragons in the Earth. It was both beautiful and wyrd.

I’ve been reading Alice Coldbreath’s Karadock series, a medieval historical romance series set in a fictional kingdom. They are hot ::fans self:: They’re also a delight with banter, strong relationships, and an engaging writing style. I recommend starting with Book 2, His Forsaken Bride. Book 1 didn’t hook me anywhere near as much and it took me ages to try Book 2. I think my favourite is, appropriately enough, The Favourite, Book 6.

I’ve been waiting impatiently for The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott and it is finally out next month (June 10) with the sequel out in November.

Recently I read Rachel Taylor Thompson’s Sasha vs the Whole Wide World (and Dragons) and was delighted to discover references to The Blue Castle by LM Montgomery. As much as I read and re-read the Anne stories as a girl, The Blue Castle is my favourite LMM novel as an adult. It has so much in it. The challenge is to discuss it without spoilers!

I don’t think I can. ::wails::

Okay, so I’ll share one thought I have about The Blue Castle and current world events. I think that one of the themes in the novel that will be brought out and explored in books and movies for the next few years is the question: when someone has nothing left to lose, what do they choose?

This isn’t a bleak question. It’s a question that acknowledges the metaphorical deaths in our lives. When we lose, or feel as if we’ve lost, something vital, it’s like dying. Who we were before that point no longer defines who we will become. The starting point for these stories might be painful, but they are celebrations of rebirth. Who do we choose to become?

One of the greatest gifts of a novel is that it reinforces our agency. As we identify with the protagonist we explore issues and environments which could be crushing, but which we (the combined protagonist and reader) have the agency to navigate and affect.

The Blue Castle resonates with so many of us because Valancy is a courageous protagonist who dies to her old life to embrace a world of possibilities and love. And, I promise, it has a happy ever after.