It's been a while since I blogged.
I've read SO many books in the past few weeks that I think I need to make a list to keep track of which series to follow.
a) I discovered Emily Larkin and her Baleful Fairy Godmother series. Different ladies get to choose different gifts from a Fairy Godmother and along the way find lurrrve. Some of them are pretty interesting- women who strike out by themselves, who stand up for their independence etc. The heroes are mostly forgettable. It's one of those series that I might have devoured if my mind were not caught by more interesting ware. * Update* Recently started on her non-Godmother books...very easily can become my regular night time reading!
b) Kate Clayborn and two of her books: Love Lettering and Love at First. I think I'm in love with the story and the writing in Love Lettering. I'm clearly not cut out to be one of those extremely witty reviewers on SBTB, so I'll leave it at that. Let me just say that many ideas in that book: about making something stressful into a game; about fighting, about staying and practicing fighting so you get it right: are exactly what I needed to hear.
c) A.J.Lancaster's Stariel series: comfort reading turned to maximum strength. Ye olde English countryside, faeries and mortals, a strong woman who does not accept bullshit, a supportive love interest, and plenty of supporting characters who not just spice the story but really bolster it. Looking forward to the Stariel #5. Also, yet another series with really beautiful covers.
d) Ilona Andrews: I'm including in this list not because there is ANY chance of my forgetting this series, but because I have been re-reading many of their books, following their blog and they are floating in my subconscious. It's one of those authors whose output is not fast enough for their amazing world-building. Check out their kickass heroines
e) Robert Galbraith: Speaking of authors whose output is not fast enough, J.K.Rowling, would you please bring out the next book already? I'm reduced to reading fanfiction about Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacourt. Am not going to continue to watch the TV series though... made me realize there are many sections of the series that I have no desire to revisit, such as Robin's relationship with Matthew. I find it excruciatingly sad to watch.
f) Deanna Raybourne's Veronica Speedwell series. I'm pretty sure I've blogged about this before. Veronica and Stoker are FINALLY together. I'm not sure if there might be more books in this series... though given Raybourne's predilection for stretching out series far longer than expected, would not be surprising (for instance, the Julia Grey series with Julia and Nicholas started as an enemies-to-friends-with-a-spark to lovers to engaged partners to married partners to expecting partners to parents and presumably till Julia and her husband are in the grave whereupon the series will continue with one of her descendents). The Speedwell series is in Veronica's voice (as was Julia's series). Veronica as a character is prickly, abrasive, independent, sarcastic, absolutely at comfort in her skin and in her choices and feels she is absolutely equal to anybody, let alone the meagre males in her vicinity. Her relationship with Stoker builds slowly but deeply and truly (I sound like a Savage Garden song). He is one of the few people who understands her vulnerabilities without making himself either like King Cophetua, wanting to solve all her issues, or manipulative to put himself in a better position or a doormat. Both V and S are beautifully developed, but sometimes I think they are so beautifully developed that most of the supporting characters have very little role, in some ways sort of like an anti-Stariel.
g) Lois McMaster Bujold's Penric and Desdemona series. Pure joy. Funny, kind, and engrossing. Also, equally important, they are novellas, so the bite sized books really are perfect. The covers look old-fashioned (I thought initially that the books were written in the 80s, but no.. they were all written after 2015), but the stories are anything but.
h) Jennifer Ashley, Below Stairs series: sort of like an upside down Downton Abbey. Mrs. Holloway is the cook and an accidental detective in this series. There is some serious competence porn in this- I recall Mrs. Holloway's planning and her lists every time I need to cook something on a large scale. Also, learning from her, I am beginning to train my minions, Ani and Durga, into finishing up some of the dishes when I have multiple things going on. While looking for a link to this series, I realize that JA seems to have a million other books and series... hmm.. maybe worth checking them out too. My only gripe is that as the series goes on, Kat Halloway's clothes seem to become progressively more expensive (how? She is not getting paid much for her detective work! She's still a cook. Where is she getting these fancy clothes from?)
i) Intisar Khanani: any book. I first picked up her book because of the utterly captivating cover art. Then when I read them, I realized I cannot stop reading them. All of her books are fantastic, absorbing and beautifully crafted. Intisar, waiting for your next release.
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