I currently have a decided lack of a book to read.
There are those who would dispute this, having seen my shelves, and those who would dispute the claim even more strongly, knowing that not only are my shelves full to overflowing, but I have not yet read all they contain.
However, as any avid readers in my audience will acknowledge, there are times when the mind longs for a certain type of book…a style, a genre, a type of character, a variety of setting. Reading is, of course, a kind of wondrous escape to lands unknown…a vacation or adventure that can be taken within the mind…but I wax cheesy. You know what I mean.
And just as you understand my meaning, you surely also understand that, while there are times when one is happy to enter unexplored lands and welcome whatever awaits there, there are other times when one longs for certain destinations. Sure…scaling the Himalayas is quite exciting…and there is nothing wrong with hiking through the jungle to see Aztec ruins — but there are other times when there is a specific desire for a beach chair
overlooking a Caribbean sea and anything else would simply be annoying and make one worry about contracting either frostbite or malaria.
At the moment, my beach chair is an adventury fantasy…possibly low on deep literary content but fun and enthralling none the less. A story with horses and magic and most likely protagonized by a young man (though a female protagonist is not unacceptable) who might or might not have a past he needs to escape/let go of/find resolution regarding and will probably experience romance and/or horrible loss that changes him forever. Oh, and who is also almost certainly somewhat street-smart or has a hidden talent 
and almost surely a bit pretty.
I’m sure any fantasy reader knows the trope well and can instantly list at least two or three without even trying. I know I can. I own quite a few, in fact, as it is a genre I find quite enjoyable…Anne Bishop’s books. The Last Herald Mage series. The Legend of Nightfall. The Locke Lamora books. The Melusine series.
And I have read each one either very recently or so many times that reading them again would yield no new joy, no forgotten secrets.
So now I am off to poke through my novels and try to convince one or two to at least masquerade as a turquoise sea full of fishes…but at some point in the future, I feel I need to supplement this sub-genre in my own collection. So now, I ask this of you:
Any recommendations?
First, if you haven’t read the rest of the Peter Pan novels, you should get them. Definitely worth it. Was that my copy that you read. I can’t remember if I left it at your house or not. Also, have you read Xanth? The first 8 books are awesome, though Peirs Anthony gets a little too silly in his later books. Sorry, I’m a little short on recommendations, since I usually get my book ideas from you, which means you’ve read most everything that I have already.
also, if you liked the last herald mage, you could try her other books. start with “arrows of the queen”
I am currently reading the Peter Pan books, as I purchased #1 last time I was at JB and you left 2 and 3 here…I have read Xanth, back in the day, but it is definitely a bit more silly than what I’m looking for…Zelazany’s ‘Amber’ series might do it…and I believe that book 3 of Mistborn is out…but I want me some awesome fantasy adventure. I WILL check out the Arrows of the Queen series…I think it’s actually been on my list for a while. If any other thoughts occur, please let me know.
Oh, and if you guys haven’t read The Legend of Nightfall, you should. It’s awesome.
Along the lines of legend of nightfall is “Way of Shadows” by Brent Weeks, it’s part of the “Night Angel” trilogy. Some of the writing is a bit clunky but he does write some of the best combat I’ve ever read. And the plot while occasionally full of huge gaps, is pretty imaginative and engaging. All three books are a good quick read with dark material but not brooding and depressing.
Umm, otherwise there’s Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb from the Farseer trilogy, less fun but better written and more engaging. If you want a book to fly through, try way of shadows, if you want a book to get into, try assassin’s apprentice
Oh yeah…Robin Hobb! I had heard good things.
Have you read any of the Eragon books? They are very reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings, and there are dragons and elves and a beautiful woman who (sort of) needs saving. It was written by a 16 year old kid, but pretty good nonetheless.
I read the first one and just…wasn’t impressed. I get that the guy who wrote it was all young and that’s cool…but the writing definately reflected that fact. And the storyline itself was a bit more YA than what I’m looking for…though I do want to read the Inkheart series.
meh. i read robin hobb, i read all the assassin/ships/fools books then… when i started readign her new soldier son series, the forulaic nature of her writing just got to be too much for me. that being said, i still cant help but read her stuff.
ahh…formulaic writing…*coughLaurelKHamiltoncough*