[OT] Book Recommendations

[Slash]

Since we don't have a 'General', non-TVD board or a general 'Off Topic' board, just going to put this here. Going to go to Barnes & Noble come early February after the release of another and pick up a few but I'm so scattered right now on series, I don't know whether to continue some or start some new ones.

The series I've currently got my hands in are:

- Mercedes Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs
- Alpha & Omega Series by Patricia Briggs (shared universe w/ above)
- Nightshade Series by Andrea Cremer
- The Hollows Series by Kim Harrison
- House of Night Series by P.C. & Kristin Cast
- Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead
- The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare
- The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
- The Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hocking
- Fallen Series by Lauren Kate

To clarify some things:

- I'm actively reading the 2 Patricia Briggs series. When a new book comes out, I wait it out for the paperbacks to keep consistency with my collection but they're definite pick ups for me. In fact, planning to pick up River Marked in the MT series and Fair Game in the A&O series when I go next month.

- House of Night I have...5 of the books (too lazy to look). I remember they released an old evil in the last one I read but I'm not sure if I actually own the one following that. Likewise, I have all but the last 2 Vampire Academy books I think and the new spin-off that started. These 2 are kind of the heavy ones weighing on me on whether to round them off with the remaining books or just leave them as is for now. I enjoyed them (VA more so) but I guess they don't rank high on priorities as of now despite being so deep in the series already.

- The rest listed I have only read the first books in. Hunger Games and City of Bones (Mortal Instruments) I enjoyed and with them in the movie medium now, I'm thinking I should round them off to kind of get an extra kick out of the movies. Right now, I'm thinking of leaving both up to a movie-by-movie basis. When the movie is coming out, I'll pick up the book pertaining to it and read it before actually seeing the movie. Easier to keep up with and would probably make the movies more enjoyable with the books fresh in my mind to notice things. That's kind of the plan I'm leaning towards here. The remaining ones I've enjoyed and right now, I'm thinking of maybe picking up the 2nd books for both the Nightshade and Hollows series. Fallen was kind of slow going for me before it really picked up though so someone would have to really sell me on continuing.

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Kind of looking for recommendations on anything else I haven't dipped into yet that fits into the genre (Young Adult Urban Fantasy or what have you).

I'm sure someone will recommend the Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse) Series by Charlaine Harris since I'm a fan of True Blood but I've read a short story in an anthology book I have (Wolfsbane & Mistletoe) and her writing style actually didn't click for me. That was a short story so I can't really imagine making it through an entire novel. On this front, I'm not looking to continue the Vampire Diaries books either. Nightfall really did me in and from what little I've read about the following books, I bailed out at the right time and saved myself some money. No Twilight please. Just...no. The only other series that comes to mind that I'm thinking of checking out is Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl since it has a movie coming out.

In fact, if possible, I'd kind of like to ease up/avoid the 'Vampire' aspect. Kind of looking for more of a general focus (various supernatural creatures) or a focus on something other than Vampires mainly (Werewolves, Fae, Witches, etc.). I think I've kind of burned out on Vampires which is why Vampire Academy and House of Night are kind of in limbo for me. Another bonus would be something with a male lead. I have no clue where to start in the genre to find something with a male lead instead of a female one like all the above listed.

So point me in any and all directions of other good reads you'll have come across.

[Ruby2579]

Definitely try the infernal devices. You dont need to read the mortal instruments in order to follow or understand.

Ive been reading let the right one in. Its an international book. Its ok for me. Im usually fast with readinh but tjis one has taken sometime. Theres too many perspectives IMO going on that at times you dont even know who you reading about. Overall the story is cool.

[Slash]

I'm guessing that's the Vampire story that has a Swedish and American (w/ Chloe Moretz) movie version? Is it about a kid that has a Vampire girl (I've heard it's more vague/on the line in the source material and in the Swedish movie) movie into his building and he starts to befriend her? She befriends young boys and they grow up, helping her survive (in the American version, the guy who poses as her father goes out and kidnaps people and bleeds them out so he can take the blood back to her)?

[Ruby2579]

Yea the book is a little more twisted then that tho. The guy who pretends to be her father is in love with her. Shes only twelve year old n yea. Im kind of hesitant to watch the american movie bc they always mess up these stories lol. The sweedish version sticks more to the book. America wants to go n even change the name of the xharacters lol

[Slash]

Yeah, that was in the movie. These kids grow up still in love with her and doing these tasks for her. The one guy in the movie that was in love with her didn't like that she was cozying up to another kid (I guess he knew where it was going) but you could hear her yelling at him through the wall at times (in a deep voice).

STARZ seems to show the American one every few months and I know TMC has showed the subtitled Swedish version before (last year) but I've only caught parts of it.

Another series I've kind of had my eye on is the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton but that's *21* freaking novels deep.

[sammalg]

I love the Anita Blake series, but being 21 deep it is getting kind...boring, I guess is how I could describe it. I agree with Ruby, Infernal Devices is definitely a series to check out. The third book is coming out this year, so it's definitely a quicker read than AB.

There is a series by Jasmine Yalenorn called The Otherworld series or Sisters of the Moon series that has a little of bit everything supernatural. It's about 3 sisters who are half fae, half human and their lives earth side.

Warm Bodies is a male POV and was a quick read. I enjoyed the humor a lot.

[Slash]

Jan 13, 2013 12:57:19 GMT -5 sammalg said:

I love the Anita Blake series, but being 21 deep it is getting kind...boring, I guess is how I could describe it. I agree with Ruby, Infernal Devices is definitely a series to check out. The third book is coming out this year, so it's definitely a quicker read than AB.

There is a series by Jasmine Yalenorn called The Otherworld series or Sisters of the Moon series that has a little of bit everything supernatural. It's about 3 sisters who are half fae, half human and their lives earth side.

Warm Bodies is a male POV and was a quick read. I enjoyed the humor a lot.

Kind of feel like I should finish off Mortal Instruments before getting into Infernal Devices. I know one is a prequel with different characters but I think the order they were written/released in would suffice.

Took a glance at Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon and it sounds interesting. Will see when I can nab the first book so thanks for the recommendation

Warm Bodies is the zombie one coming out as a movie, right? Zombies...eh. Kind of worn out on them. I really prefer the 'survival' aspect that's usually tied to them more than anything else.

[Ruby2579]

Just saw a preview to Beautiful Creatures. A MOVIE COMING OUT and turns out its from a book. The preview looked interesting about a witch or which they prefer themselves as Castors. Reminded me of a female version of The convenet gonna give it a shot should def look into seeing the trailor

[pixiestyx]

Can help you too much here since I don't read too many YA fantasy and you already have TMI and The Hunger Games on your list.

[Slash]

I need to branch out a bit more from YA it's just...well, I just haven't made the move yet Don't think Hollows would be considered YA though and I've also got the first A Song of Fire & Ice book (Game of Thrones) by George R.R. Martin and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Really want to get more into Sci-Fi stuff as well but wouldn't know where to start there so I may have to hit up some other sites for recommendations on that front.

[pixiestyx]

Well I was going to suggest A Song of Ice and Fire. I've read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but never could quite get into the second book.

Most of the books I read probably wouldn't interest you as I mainly read romance. I read very little sci-fi. This doesn't quite fit your criteria but you could try Kay Hooper's FBI series. They're a special unit in the FBI because all of them have various psychic abilities and they solve rather nasty murders. There are the same characters throughout all the books but each book has different main characters (who, yes they do get together but the romance is not really the focus of the books). There's 12 books so far, the first is Stealing Shadows.

[Slash]

Should probably pick up the 2nd book fo ASOF&I and try and keep pace with the show (would have to read the 2nd and well into the 3rd but from what I hear, the 3rd book itself could be split into 2 seasons). The movie for TGWTDT got me interested so I may just do like I plan to with THG & TMI and pick up the books as the movies are announced/near release so I go in with the material fresh. Alternatively, could also go in blind and then read afterwards so I don't have this and this happening in the books and not in the movie bothering me. But seeing the City of Bones trailer and having read the book beforehand kind of raises the hype/anticipation for it...I'm in a dilemma

Honestly, the only Sci-Fi stuff I can think of or see right off the bat when I go to scan the bookshelves is the tie in stuff: Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate, Warhammer 40k, etc.. I guess I'm looking for more original stuff to get into. I'd read Aliens or Predator novels but I can never find them when I go.

[sammalg]

Jan 13, 2013 21:04:13 GMT -5 Ruby2579 said:

Just saw a preview to Beautiful Creatures. A MOVIE COMING OUT and turns out its from a book. The preview looked interesting about a witch or which they prefer themselves as Castors. Reminded me of a female version of The convenet gonna give it a shot should def look into seeing the trailor

I read the first book in the series, and I liked it. It's actually written by two authors in a male pov. It was a nice change of pace.

[Slash]

Tracked this one down with a male lead. Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne (5 books so far):

Atticus O’Sullivan has been running for two thousand years and he’s a bit tired of it. After he stole a magical sword from the Tuatha Dé Danann (those who became the Sidhe or the Fae) in a first century battle, some of them were furious and gave chase, and some were secretly amused that a Druid had the cheek to defy them. As the centuries passed and Atticus remained an annoyingly long-lived fugitive, those who were furious only grew more so, while others began to aid him in secret.

Now he’s living in Tempe, Arizona, the very last of the Druids, far from where the Fae can easily find him. It’s a place where many paranormals have decided to hide from the troubles of the Old World—from an Icelandic vampire holding a grudge against Thor to a coven of Polish witches who ran from the German Blitzkrieg.

Unfortunately, the very angry Celtic god who wants that sword has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power, plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, a sexy bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good, old-fashioned luck of the Irish to kick some arse and deliver himself from evil.

Reading the first few chapters right now on the author's site and it seems decent enough.

[pixiestyx]

Jan 15, 2013 0:17:29 GMT -5 Slash said:

Should probably pick up the 2nd book fo ASOF&I and try and keep pace with the show (would have to read the 2nd and well into the 3rd but from what I hear, the 3rd book itself could be split into 2 seasons). The movie for TGWTDT got me interested so I may just do like I plan to with THG & TMI and pick up the books as the movies are announced/near release so I go in with the material fresh. Alternatively, could also go in blind and then read afterwards so I don't have this and this happening in the books and not in the movie bothering me. But seeing the City of Bones trailer and having read the book beforehand kind of raises the hype/anticipation for it...I'm in a dilemma

Honestly, the only Sci-Fi stuff I can think of or see right off the bat when I go to scan the bookshelves is the tie in stuff: Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate, Warhammer 40k, etc.. I guess I'm looking for more original stuff to get into. I'd read Aliens or Predator novels but I can never find them when I go.

Yeah, the 3rd book in ASOIAF is definitely going to be split into two seasons. Two of the new characters for S3 (there's about 10 new ones) were pretty important in the second book but they weren't in S2 at all. S2 deviates a lot from the second book. I'm very curious to see where they will split the 3rd book. If I'm right, it will be pretty epic.

As for sci fi, what about Robert Heinlein? From what I know, he's a pretty influential sci fi writer. He wrote Starship Troopers and Stranger in a Strange Land (which I think I might have read at some point). His books are older, obviously, but my dad was a big fan of his.

If you've like fantasy, I've heard the Wheel of Time series is pretty good (though I've never read them). It's by Robert Jordan. A friend of mine reads it.