Hi folks!
I’m trying to fill up my kobo library and i’ve sideloaded a bunch of books in order to have a library at my fingertips ready to go for when I’m finished Circe by Madeline Miller (Which I am LOVING). I have some of the big titles but I want to know about great books that people typically gloss over.
If you want to know what I like to offer suggestions, I really enjoy emotional/dark speculative fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy. I usually keep it light on the fluffy romance, I’m okay with romantic subplots but I’m aromantic so it doesn’t do much for me overall. I loved the Murderbot and Bobiverse series, and I also really enjoy Fredrik Backman’s books. I also have a special interest in ancient greece and rome, if that helps!
I’m open to any and all suggestions of books you always recommend, but bonus points for dark and emotional fiction.
by SunReyys
12 Comments
A lot of people overlook this one because there was a blockbuster movie based on it, but Jurassic Park is one of the most entertaining books I’ve ever read. It’s a little dark, obviously sci-fi, and very different from the movie.
Some great books from previous eras include the King Must Die and Bull From the Sea by Renault,
I Claudius,
Up the Down Staircase,
Roadside Picnic by Strugatsky,
None of these are unknown but you might not have heard of them
I just read the Steerswoman series by Rosemary Kiersten. Warning it is not finished but I absolutely devoured the books. Such an interesting world with wonderful characters and a really unique feel. I also am always recommending the curse of Chalion/world of five gods series by Lois McMaster Bujold — I’ve reread them so many times and I always am just totally immersed in the world and characters. My favorite fantasy series ever!
Lud-In-The-Mist by Hope Mirrlees!
I highly recommend the Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall. There’s are so many layers and the story even goes beyond the pages of the book, if you do some digging. The author intended multiple interpretations based on the reader.
I’ve read it right times and am still uncovering new connections. And my interpretations of the story now is different from the first time I read it.
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King! Sci fi, fantasy and western all in one! Pretty light on romance too.
Nettle and Bone by T Kingfisher — subtlety funny, quirky characters and a lot.of depth packed into a short book. A gem of a novel. And a stand alone so you don’t have to commit to a series
I also recently enjoyed the Blackthorn and Grim trilogy by Juliet Marillier. Loved that the the main characters were older with their own baggage and issues, rather than 18-year-old “chosen ones,” which you find so often in fantasy.
*The Collector* doesn’t get much love. It doesn’t really fit your criteria other than emotional/dark.
Cotton by Christopher Wilson
Sci-Fi/fantasy/speculative/dystopian:
* Margaret Atwood’s *MaddAddam* trilogy
* David Mitchell, *The Bone Clocks*
* Emily St. John Mandel, *Station Eleven*
* Susannah Clarke, *Piranesi*
* Iain Pears, *Arcadia*
The Sibyl by Pär Lagerkvist
Not sure this fits in your main categories, but it’s well written, original, funny, and a little scary at times: The Financial Lives of Poets. Just a very satisfying story, fast paced. I think it would appeal to just about everyone.