I like sci-fi/fantasy books, but I feel like they often follow a very similar format of spunky teenage protagonist finds they have a power and goes on to change the world while making reckless teenage decisions. I would love to read something in this genre with a more unique protagonist who is not a teenager. Like a 45 year old mom or something. Someone more complicated who makes adult decisions with all the wisdom and baggage that come with age.
Also prefer to read standalone books when possible and not commit to a whole series.
by akreun1
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A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
*Rainbows End* by Vernor Vinge – Follows a man with Alzheimer’s, after a treatment is discovered and he has to re-acclimatize to the world. A lot has changed, including augmented reality moving to the forefront, and he ends up involved in a major conflict between multiple groups. It won the Huge and Locus awards.
*Chocky* by John Wyndham – From the perspective of the father of a young boy, who begins treating his imaginary friend as real. This is the science fiction version of the cozy mystery sub-genre. While there is a special child, he is not the main character and the story does not follow any of the plot points you are concerned about. It is a much more personal story.
*Dubric Bryerly series* by Tamara Siler Jones – Each book is a standalone story, although the characters evolve. Dark fantasy mysteries with thoughtful and haunted protagonist.
*Carter Archives* by Dan Stout – Also a series with standalone stories, with characters and a world that evolves. Follows a police detective and his non-human partner in a strange, arctic city in a strange world with multiple intelligent races.
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by SA Chakraborty is a fantasy pirate adventure with a 40+ yo single mom
Swordheart is a more cozy fantasy about a woman in her 30s
Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold, and even more so its direct sequel, Barrayar. Together they’re still shorter than many single SFF novels, and they’ve been published together in an omnibus edition called Cordelia’s Honor.
They’re the start of the Vorkosigan series, but as with most of the books in that series they tell complete stories and work fine on their own.