Recommendations?

[jmc_bks]

I've been giving recommendations (and books) to a friend who doesn't really care for romance but loves paranormals and urban fantasy. She likes Jacqueline Carey and LKH, and has begun Keri Arthur's Riley Jensen series. So far, she's been pleased with the recs I've given her: Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, Patricia Briggs, Marjorie Liu. I've also suggested Naomi Novik's Temeraire books, which she is reading now. I'm sort of paranormaled out, though, so I'm looking for other authors/series to recommend. Some romance is okay, but not too much (as in, no Feehan or J.R. Ward). Ones I've already thought of:

On the list:
L.A. Banks
Lilith Saintcrow
Charlaine Harris

Three that I'm on the fence about:
MaryJanice Davidson (I'm not sure about this one, since she's not into chicklit or the snarky tone so much)
Donna Boyd (the Passion/Promise series died w/o finishing, so do I want to suggest an incomplete series?)
Kim Harrison (I don't read her but I'd heard good things, up until the last release which apparently ended in a not good way)

Other suggestions, please?


FYI -- Bujold's Miles, Mutants and Microbes is available. But be warned, it's not new material but an anthology of previously published works that deal with genetic experiments (the quaddies, the Cetagandans, and the Houses of Jackson Hole). I've got all three works separately already, otherwise I'd buy a copy :)

And I saw a Suzanne Brockmann tpb on the shelf at the bookstore the other day: a reissue of Time Enough for Love and Stand in Groom, two of her early Loveswepts.

And Amazon is screwing with me again. I ordered two books. On Monday, I received a notice that the order was separated and one book It's Not About the Accent, was being shipped. On Tuesday, Force of Nature was shipped; it arrived on Wednesday. According to USPS.com, the postal service has been notified of the package but nothing has happened. Huh? It was ready for shipping on Monday, but hasn't shipped yet? Same shipping rate, same shipper, etc., but one book arrived two days ago and the other is still...sitting in the warehouse waiting to be shipped?

Comments

[miladyinsanity.livejournal.com]

I like Vicki Pettersson, Kat Richardson and Ilona Andrews.

I think Lynn Viehl's Darkyn books don't come under too much romance, but that's just me.

[(Anonymous)]

Kim Harrison is probably a good rec as long as your friend starts with the first book, Dead Witch Walking. I only read the latest book and spent the entire 400+ pages confused out of my mind. A series that definitely does not stand alone.

Wendy, Super Librarian

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

Definitely do tell her about Harrison, but don't tell her about MJD.

I'd add Laura Anne Gilman -- her Retrievers series is excellent, and not romance-heavy. And what about Anne Bishop?

Forgot one!

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

Carrie Vaughn's Kitty series. Definitely!

[quebelly.livejournal.com]

I second Carrie Vaughn. If she likes Briggs and Armstrong chances are she'll like Vaughn.

[dogzzz2002.livejournal.com]

Uh, if she likes the Riley series, it pretty much has sex wall to wall. No romance though so maybe that's the difference ;)

Cindys

[(Anonymous)]

I tried Kim Harrison's first book, Dead Witch Walking, and wasn't impressed. There was so much info dumping in the first few chapters that it was hard to understand, and the main character really annoyed me. But a lot of people seem to really enjoy her books...

While not exactly urban fantasy, maybe she'd also enjoy Maria V. Snyder's Study series?

-Dance Chica
http://insomnomania.blogspot.com/

Kim Harrison

[(Anonymous)]

I read Kim Harrison's books out of order, and thought they worked OK as stand-alones. Though I agree the most recent book isn't the place to start. The first book isn't the strongest, and the most recent is a transitional book, tying up loose ends in the series.

I have no problem with the ending of the most recent book, though--that character needed to die! Not that I disliked him; he was if anything too blandly likable, not a strong enough character for the space he took up. The main character, Rachel Morgan, really needs to be balanced by other powerful characters.

RfP (http://www.readforpleasure.com)

Re: Kim Harrison

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info!

I gave the list of authors and series to C. She's read working through Keri Arthur's books and has one of Kim Harrison's books TBR. I'm not sure which one, but it is a paperback so it's probably not the most recent release.

I think I've read the first Rachel Morgan book (does she have a sidekick named Ivy?) but I wasn't enthralled and haven't felt the urge to continue with the series. I'm feeling maxed out on series, really, and have been whittling down the list that I'm willing to keep up with.