When the pandemic hit, I discovered literary fiction, and subsequently rediscovered my love of reading. However, since then I have found myself unable to enjoy books that aren't lit-fic. But sometimes some proper escapism sounds perfect, so I pick up a fantasy, romance or thriller book. I always end up DNFing. It's usually a mix of the writing style feeling vapid and/or what I perceive as a lack of depth of character. I realise I sound like a conceited twat, and perhaps I am. Still, I very much miss getting immersed in something fantastical or thrilling. Does anyone happen to feel similarly and know of any books that might hit the spot?
by fluttertutt
5 Comments
If you’re open to very long books, I recommend [The Hands of the Emperor](https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/af2bba9c-8f41-4a3e-b87a-8532a44ccb67) by Victoria Goddard. It’s a beautifully written slice-of-life book about the personal secretary to the emperor of the world, with a heavy focus on platonic relationships.
Try Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold.
It’s a stand-alone story, but there are other stories set in the same universe if you like it.
Patrick Weekes Rogues of the Republic series. Well built characters with a definite absurdity in the world building. Large cast of entertaining characters. Will now take one step higher and suggest the Dortmunder series. A cast of characters built by a master . Donald Westlake. Set in the seventies so it has a little age to it. Now to hit a middle. Bernie Rhodenbarr ,Lawrence Block well done world building and character development. Amusing more than funny. Not as big a cast of characters.
For me these were escapist, but the quality of writing was still very good.
Circe by Madeline Miller- greek mythology with plenty of fantasy elements
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North – a man starts his life over again each time he dies
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke – suspense/mystery, but I don’t want to explain further as you are not meant to know what is going on. (the audiobook is really good)
Northern Spy by Flynn Berry – suspenseful, a young Mom gets caught up with IRA shenanigans.
Emily Wildes Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett – the written diary of a woman who studies faeries (which in this book are pretty malevolent).
Not sure if this is what you meant.
I am a lit fic girlie (MFA in poetry, I come by it honestly) and though I don’t yearn to read outside my lane, I absolutely ADORED Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy, which was a fantasy adventure but drew heavily from Russian folk tale and was pretty well written at the line level. Truly, I was swept away. Maybe you will like them!