Smart Bitches Trashy Books | All of the romance, none of the bullshit.

Piers Anthony’s Incarnations of Immortality series--have re-read it a gazillion times and still love it.  The first one (On a Pale Horse, about the incarnation of Death) is the best one, IMO.

These are all series. Most of them are primarily the SF/fantasy story with a romance thrown in. But the romance part of the story is done well- at least as well as the rest of the story.

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Book one is STORM FRONT
This series has a male primary character

Dhamphir by Barb and JC Hendee
so far there are 3 in the series

The Weather Warden books by Rachel Caine
Book one is ILL WIND
- read these in order or you may suffer permanent brain damage from the confusion

The Star Doc series by S.L. Viehl
Book one, amazingly enough, is STAR DOC

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
think there are 3-4 in this series

Tanya Huff’s Blood Series
BLOOD PRICE is number one

Wit’ch Gate by James Clemens
number one of 5

Alma Alexander’s The Hidden Queen- only 2 books in this series.

I have enjoyed everyone one of these and have reread them all.

Enjoy.

Oh, goodness.

Well, I’m going to nominate Elizabeth Haydon’s Rhapsody series (traditional fantasy: Rhapsody, Prophecy, Destiny, etc.) for the “to avoid” pile (I know people who enjoy the series, but I find the revirginifying completely ridiculous and the heroine completely annoying).

I love Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series (alternate history: Kushiel’s Dart, Kushiel’s Chosen, Kushiel’s Avatar), and the central relationship is lots of fun, but it’s not for the faint of heart. Juliet Marillier’s Sevenwaters series (historical fantasy: Daughter of the Forest, Son of the Shadows, Child of the Prophecy) is lovely and chock-full of romance. Patricia C. Wrede has some good YA fantasy romances (historical fantasy: Mairelon the Magician and The Magician’s Ward; with Caroline Stevermer, Sorcery & Cecelia and The Grand Tour). S.L. Viehl’s Stardoc series (Stardoc, Beyond Varallan, Endurance, etc.) is medically-focused SF with strong romantic elements.

Sharon Shinn has some books outside of the Samaria universe worth checking out: Summers at Castle Auburn (traditional fantasy), Jenna Starborn (a SF retelling of Jane Eyre), Heart of Gold (SF).

Jacqueline Carey! Her “Kushiel” series is utterly brilliant. Very romantic, sexy, fantastical. And kinky. Very kinky. If you can take kinky sex, epic fantasy, squiggly romance and poetic prose, put them all together, you’d get something like Carey, though the sum is far, far greater than it’s parts.

Erm… sorry. Fangirl moment.

As the other Ellen says, possibly not for the “faint of heart”, but I really doubt you’re on to be balked by kink. Still, I have a skewed view of what is and isn’t romantic if you ask some.

Mercedes Lackey isn’t bad. Her classics of the “Magic” (aka “The Last Herald Mage") is a wonderful romance. Heartbreakingly so. The main character is gay, but again, not really a deterent. Her work is patchy and it I have time, I’ll write some sort of comprehensive guide to her. She’s always very readable for me, though sometimes, she’s just not at her best. “The Fire Rose” is another of her more romantic and more brilliant books. It’s a reworking of the Beauty and the Beast with elemental magic in America. “Phoenix and Ashes” is also good, Cinderella during World War One with elemental magic.

You guys have certainly hit the high points!  Here are a few more:

Kate Elliott’s JARAN series, which a friend subtitled “I Married Attila the Hun”.  It’s SF, and I wish she’d finish it. 

Michelle Sagara/West’s Sundering fantasy series, about a very dark villain/hero and a healer heroine.

Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books.  I defy anyone to tell me the relationships between Carrot and Angua, and Sam and Sybil, are not the stuff that romantic dreams are made of. 

Did someone mention Catherine Asaro yet? Lots of hot romance, some of it same sex in the shorter stories.

J.D. Robb--futuristic police procedurals. 

Connie Willis, esp. To Say Nothing of the Dog, Uncharted Territory

Wen Spencer--A Brother’s Price.

Most of Robin McKinley and Patricia McKillips books have a romantic element to them.

Jennifer Roberson--Del and Tiger series

and Ellen Kushner’s same sex romance adventure, Swordspoint.

Where to begin??? Here are some not on the other lists, and which might be flying under people’s radar.

(1) Everything written by Canadian romantic fantasist Guy Gavriel Kay, but especially TIGANA and A SONG FOR ARBONNE. He is a master of sexual tension and yearning.

(2) The deliciously dark and violent GAP SERIES by Stephen R. Donaldson is space opera at its finest. Murder, rape, spaceship chases that conform to known laws of physics, intergalactic political back-stabbing, freaky-shit aliens, a chip in the head that makes you superwoman, and one of the most deeply affecting romances between a heroine and an anti-hero you could ever wanna read. Plus, this is the series that introduced “Captain Sheepfucker” into my vocabulary.

(3) Contemporary horror writer Scott Nicholson writes a good spooky ghost story where people who have sex are not hacked apart. For a tragically vulnerable YA romance, try THE HOME.

(4) BLOODSTONE by Nate Kenyon was released in January, and has a romance that BREAKS ALL THE RULES. H/S editors would probably have a coronary. Ellora’s Cave readers will even blush. No foolin. An added bonus—zombies!!!!

I’d also recommend as must reads the earlier works of Dean Koontz, in particular LIGHTNING and WATCHERS. These two titles are basically romance novels with marvelous dark fantasy elements. Why isn’t anyone writing stuff like that anymore, damn it???!!!???

I HIGHLY recommend Catherine Asaro’s Saga of the Skolian Empire. However, if you are not into as much of the hardcore tech side of sci fi, this is not for you.

Great suggestions above. Here are a few more:

by Kelley Armstrong (in the following order):
Bitten
Stolen
(werewolf books, but better than everything else out there)

Dime Store Magic
Industrial Magic
(witches and sorcerers)

Haunted
(ghosts and the underworld)

Armstrong writes wonderful, conflicted characters and great, creative plots.

Also worth mentioning:
futuristic romance: Robin T. Popp, C.J. Barry, and Susan Grant
vampire comedy: MaryJanice Davidson’s Undead series

Absolutely to avoid:
Angela Knight, Sherilyn Kenyon, and Catherine Spangler. Terrible books that are way over-hyped. Save your money.

JEA--thanks so much for mentioning Bloodstone on your list.  I’m flattered and very glad that it worked for you.  The relationship between the two main characters is essential to the plot and provides the catalyst for the secret that is ultimately unveiled, but I knew there would be all sorts of problems in making it play out in a believable way.  Still, that was the fun of writing it. 

I’m ALWAYS glad to hear from readers about the good and the bad, so if anyone here gets the chance to read Bloodstone, drop me a line on my website: http://www.natekenyon.com.  There’s lots more to see over there, including more reviews, a trailer, journal entries and an author bio.

Thanks to all.
Best,
Nate

Anne Bishop.  The Black Jewels Trilogy.  Big time good.

I just blogged about good books last week and most were fantasy/sci fi. Wizard of Seattle by Kay Hooper and The Sky Pirate by Justine Davis were a couple of others.

Wow, where to start…

YA author Tamora Pierce is quite good at female focused fantasy—especially for fans of Mercedes Lackey. Start with the Song of the Lioness quartet and work your way through the list.

As has been mentioned before, Lackey is great—especially her Valdemar series (start with the Arrows trilogy) and her current dragon series (Alta, Joust, etc.)

I second third and fourth the Sharon Lee, Steve Miller recommendation, all of their stuff is great.

Ditto for Sharon Shinn. Of her non-samaria stuff, I particularly loved Summers at Castle Auburn and Jenna Starborn. Oh, and she is currently doing a young adult fantasy series that is quite good—so look for her in the teen section too!

I also *love* Patricia Briggs. Her most recent is Moon Called which is a bit of a departure for her as it is an urban fantasy—but don’t miss her fantasy backlist!

A newer author that I enjoy is Diana Pharoah Francis. Only 2 books out so far, but quite interesting and good.

Can’t forget Anne McCafferey, but she is hit and miss with me. I enjoyed her Acorna books and some of her ‘psychic’ books. (Can’t remember the name of the series, but had books like The Rowan and The TOwer and the Hive...)

Elizabeth Moon is also quite good for female focused Science Fiction.

Wen Spencer is awesome—try Tinker, you’ll love it, and the sequel, Wolf Who Rules, is due out soon *squee!*.

Lastly, I wanted to say that overall, the LUNA line from Harlequin has been excellent. Yeah, there have been some misses for me, but overall I have really loved them. Here are some particualr favorites:

PC Cast: Love, Love, LOVE her series, and how excited am I that the sequel to Goddess by Mistake is FINALLY coming out?

Maria V. Snyder: Poison Study (hardcover only right now) is a great book—can’t wait for the sequel.

Robin D. Owens: LOVE the summoning series. I just finished Sorceress of Faith and am sooooo pissed that I have to wait til 2007 for the next book. In fact, that is my major pet peeve with LUNA. They only have 2 releases a month and have overbooked themselves into oblivion. Go to 3 or 4 a month already!

Susan Krinard: I am just now reading her Stone God series, but it is really good so far.

Caitlin Brennan (this is actually Judith Tarr): Her White Magic series awesome. After Mercedes Lackey, who would think someone could use white-godlike horses in such a new and original way?

Christie Golden: The Final Dance series is awesome—and Golden does not shy away from tough issues and events. Wonderful.

Gail Dayton: Her Compass Rose miniseries launched with a bang last year—can’t wait to read the new one. A fantasy series that deals honestly and romantically with polyamory? I am SO there!

Anne Kelleher: Her Through the Shadowlands series is great—I am a sucker for stories about humans and sidhe having to deal/interact with each other.

Okay, now that I have typed my fingers off, I think I should stop and let others recommend as well. Gee, can you tell I love to read female focused sci-fi and fantasy?

I completely agree with some of these recommendations, particularly Kelley Armstrong and Kim Harrison.

I have to put in an overly-enthusiastic recommendation for Megan Whalen Turner, and her series:
The Thief
The Queen of Attolia
The King of Attolia (just released)

YA books. Very, very good. There is a beautiful romance that starts in book 2. The plot twists are amazing. My daughter read the books after I did; I knew the exact moment when she reached the point where the romance starts – her mouth literally fell open and she exclaimed, ‘He WHAT!?!’ Let me warn you, do not read any of the reviews at Amazon. Like most reviews for ‘kids’ books, they are spoiler-ridden.

The hero of the series, Gen the thief, is delightful. A compulsive thief and liar. One of the minor characters in book 3 correctly calls him a conniving bastard. In book 2, the love of Gen’s life says to Gen’s cousin, ‘But he’s never lied to you.’ Cousin laughs and replies, ‘Of course he’s lied to me. He lies to everyone. He lies to himself. If he talked in his sleep, he’d lie then too.’

The Queen of Attolia is everything a young unmarried queen should be: ruthless, strong, devious. She knows that her husband in an arranged marriage intends to steal her power, so she poisons him at the wedding feast by sneaking the poison into her cup, then offering it to him as a romantic gesture. He didn’t think she was a threat, you see.

I’d second Anne Bishop (again, not for the faint of heart), and I’d also mention Barbara Hambly, who does description like nobody’s business. I’m reading the first of her two vampire books now, and it is godhead.
Also George R.R. Martin is fantastic.

I’m going to be super-repetitive and mention the Jacqueline Carey series again.  Magnificent!!  They are (all 3!) on my desert island top 10 list.  - And a trilogy sequel is coming out /melt.  The central relationship in that book is to-die-for.  Relationships aside though it is an absolutely incredible reading experience everyone with an iron stomach should not miss.  Sorry total fangirl moment from me too.

Minor spoiler:  my husband calls them the beaty-sex books.  (no that’s not beauty, its beaty, sic).

I’m going to third Anne Bishop.  I love those books so much.  Jacqueline Carey is excellent also, though I’m finding her new series to be a bit of a snoozer.

These are YA authors but still awesome: Patricia Wrede, Robin McKinley, Annette Curtis Klause (esp. Blood and Chocolate), and Libba Bray.

I liked the series by Joan Vinge (I think it was a trilogy) that began with Psion, about a street kid named Cat.  There’s sex and later there is a romance.

I really liked the Sagara/Sundered books as well.  I read those years ago.  With reservation I will mention Nightseer by Laurell K.  Hamilton, b/c I really liked it.  I read it years ago, long before I read any of the Anita books, of which I’m not a fan.  So I don’t know if it will hold up now, b/c it’s been a long time and it’s in a box somewhere waiting to be unpacked.

My two (or three!) cents:

I recommend the following Sharon Shinn novels:

Archangel
Jovah’s Angel
The Alleluia Files
Angel-Seeker
The Shape-Changer’s Wife
Summers at Castle Auburn

Connie Willis’ To Say Nothing of the Dog is all sorts of awesome; it’s even more so if you’ve read Three Men in a Boat and get the in-jokes she makes.

Dan Simmons’ Hyperion series (Hyperion, Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, Rise of Endymion) have some interesting love stories going on in the background, the last two more than the first two, but I can only recommend Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion (two of my all-time favorite books).

Beauty by Sheri S. Tepper is a wonderful read and has a strong romantic element, though it’s by no means a conventional love story.

The Darkangel trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce is technically YA SF/F, but it’s really, really good and the central love story will grab your heart. The first book is by far the best and in some ways I wished I’d stopped there, but the next two books explain a lot more about the world.

The Belgariad and Mallorean series by David Eddings also features a sweet and oftentimes funny love story between the hero and heroine. My only caveat would be that I read and loved the books when I was fourteen years old and I have not re-read them recently, so I don’t know how well they’d hold up over time.

The Dancers at the End of Time trilogy by Michael Moorcock is marvellous, and the love relationship is central to the plot. Can’t recommend it highly enough.

Dammit, I know I should have more romantic SF/F than this to recommend. I’ll need to take a look at my bookshelves when I get home.

Garth Nix has an amazing fantasy series for YA and adults - it starts with ‘Sariel’, I think.

And if you love unicorns and adventure fantasy I’ll recommend my own book ‘The Secret of Shabaz’

A lot of my recommendations have already been mentioned, but here’s a few more…

Wen Spencer - Ukiah Oregon series (Alien Taste, Tainted Trail, Bitter Waters, and Dog Warrior) he’s an alien with werewolf tendencies, and there is a colonizing horder trying to take over the planet.  The love interest is an FBI agent.  Lots of action/mystery.  I liked these ones better than her other ones.

John Brunner - Shockwave Rider, this is the first cyberpunk novel ever written - it predates Gibson’s Neuromancer.  The writing style is very strange and the book’s many plots didn’t click together until the very end.  Very very well written.

TJ Bass - Godwhale, so the romance doesn’t really show up until mid-book.  There is a giant whale harvester for one of the main characters, what could be coolers?

Dean Ing - Ted Quantril trio (Systemic Shock, Single Combat, and Wild Country) the books follow Ted as he grows up after being orphaned by a nuclear bomb dropped in the US.  Be warned that the one romance is very sad.

Highly recommend Catherine Asaro’s Skolia Empire series starting with Primary Inversion. However, the author does skip around chronologically, one can read The Quantum Rose or Catch the Lightning as stand alone reads. Also her other books like The Phoenix Code was very good as well as The Veiled Web.

Laurell K. Hamilton’s first eight books in the Anita Blake universe starting with Guilty Pleasures.

I’d recommend Wen Spencer’s books as someone else mentioned.

One name that doesn’t seem to have been mentioned so far is Connie Willis.  Not exactly Romance, but then Dan Simmons, John Brunner, Michael Moorcock… Anyway, Passage is stunning, and her time-travel books, Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog, are also rather fine.

Hah! No-one’s mentioned the fabulous Emma Bull’s War for the Oaks yet, so I get to jump in and recommend it unreservedly. Set in Minneapolis, it’s the story of a rock chick who gets caught up in a war between the Seelie & Unseelie Courts of faery. One of the first books that set off the current tsunami of urban fantasy, and one of the very best. Her Bone Dance is also good.

Previous recommendations I agree with:

Patricia Briggs, yes indeed. I especially like the Dragon duology.

Guy Gavriel Kay, at least his earlier stuff like Tigana. I’ve found his authorial tics grating on my nerves in some more recent books.

Barbara Hambly—YES, especially Dragonsbane and The Ladies of Mandrigyn. She likes to write sequels & series, so the good news is that you get lots of updates on what’s happening to her characters. The bad news is that she puts them through some gut-wrenching situations (though mostly with a happy ending), so be advised.

Martha Wells—YES. The Element of Fire is my favourite, but you can hardly go wrong with any of hers. 

And you could do worse than check out this Romantic Science Fiction/Fantasy 101 (full disclosure: I occasionally submit reviews to that site).

Several of my favorites have already been mentioned.

In addition to Vinge’s Cat series, I also recommed her Tiamat series: The Snow Queen, World’s End, The Summer Queen, and Tangled up in Blue.

Clive Barker’s dark fantasy novels usually have romantic sub-plots.

Karen Traviss’ Wess’har Wars series is amazing and the romantic element keeps building in every book.

Lyda Morehouse’s AngeLINK series has a bit of romance.  And now she’s going to be writing vampire chicklit under the name Tate Hallaway.

Jane S. Fancher’s Dance of the Rings trilogy has several romances, plus a gender-bending character.

Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald’s Magewars series is so much fun and even though the romances are a minor part, I still really enjoyed them.

Julie E. Czerneda writes some of the best aliens, plus the romances are sweet.

I’ve only read one book by Linnea Sinclair, but I’ve collected all of her mass market pb re-releases and I plan to read them soon.  Wintertide is a nice fantasy with a complex romance.

I’m way behind on my Patricia A. McKillip reading, but I loved The Forgotten Beasts of Eld.

Spin State by Chris Moriarty is an excellent debut and I loved the AI hero.

Tamora Pierce’s YA books have suprisingly mature romantic relationships in them.  Unfortunately, I’ve only read a few of the books.

OMG....Laurell K Hamilton and no one has mentioned the Merry Gentry series???  Hot Hot Hot!  The plot is good too, or at least I think so.

I second the vote on War of the Oaks, I really liked that one a lot too and it pretty much started my obsession with fairy fantasy romance now.

There is also Emma Holly’s Hunting series which is kinda weird with the vampire/shapeshifter/alien with glamour type thing going on.  It works strangly enough though.  Then there is also her Demon’s Daughter one that is in some alternate alien Victorian London.  Again, strangely enough it works. :P

Thanks for the awesome suggestions!  I need to go check some books out now.

I second the recommendations of Garth Nix, Jacqueline Carey (who I think writes the best damn fantasy to come out in a decade) and Joan Vinge’s Psion series.

I would also add Robin McKinley’s Beauty and Patricia McKillip’s The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, as well as Steven Brust’s work (hilarious if you ever enjoyed Dumas.)

I also loved LJ Smith’s The Forbidden Game series. Yes, I know it’s YA, but it still has a place of honor on my bookshelf. I liked her books about psychic teenagers and the crystals, too. *grin* The heroes in her books tend to be a little ambivalent, and I totally dig that.

Hmmm....*checks out SF/F shelf in living room*

Jacqueline Carey - only read the first two or so, but enjoyed them.  I keep meaning to start reading them again.

Guy Gavriel Kay’s earlier books - Tigana, A Song for Arbonne, The Lions of Al-Rassan. I just remember being in awe when I finished these books. I tried reading Sailing to Sarantium, but didn’t like it as much.

Mercedes Lackey’s Elemental Masters series. The Fire Rose is good.  I like her retelling of fairy tales.  And I liked much of the Valdemar series.

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

Christie Golden’s series from Luna

Sara Douglass’ Wayfarer Redemption series

Tanya Huff - I think Summon the Keeper is one of my favorite books.  I always go back to it when I need a comfort read.  I love Austin the cat. I don’t like the other Keeper books as well, though.

Rachel Caine

Tamara Siler Jones - forensic fantasy does really describe the series well.

I do like David Eddings.  They’re easy to read and fun.  I wouldn’t call them as deep as some series, but I’d say they’re a must-read for epic fantasy fans.

Barbara Hambly

Terry Goodkind - I confess I really liked this series when it first came out.  But now it’s gotta rather long and I haven’t read many of the latest ones.  It’s one I’ll probably wait until the whole series is done and then get at the library.  It was interesting. 

And what, no Dune?  lol

And oh, can’t forget Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series. Starts with The Dragonbone Chair, then Stone of Farewell and To Green Angel Tower.

AND the Coldfire trilogy by C.S. Friedman!  Black Sun Rising, When True Night Falls, and Crown of Shadows.  I also liked some of her straight SF stuff. 

Anne McCaffrey - I don’t like the Acorna series, but much of her other stuff. 

Oh there’s more, but I think I’ll stop here.

OMG, how could I have forgotten my favorite author in the whole wide world, Tanith Lee? Start with The Birthgrave. Her Vis series is good too, and her Scarabae books--delicious!

Fantasy authors I love--I’ve made an entire website for this! My favorite subject!

Some of my favorite fantasy authors, narrowed down to relationship books
Guy Gavriel Kay - I enjoyed everything he has written
Steven Brust - Start with “The Phoenix Guards” and “Five Hundred Years After” and work your way from there (mere words are not enough to describe how much I love those books)
Sean Russell - I love everything he has written; My two favorite, “The Initiate Brother” and “Gatherer of Clouds” however have zero romantic plot.
Lian Hearn - The Otori series
Garth Nix - Sabriel, Liriel, Abhorsen (Sabriel is the best book in the series however)
Ellen Kushner - “Swordspoint” is another all time favorite, but anything she writes is wonderful
Someone else said Terry Pratchett
Sarah Zettel - The Isavalta series
Most of the stuff put out by Luna has been excellent, although there were a few titles I have not cared for
Someone else mentioned David Eddings - I love to reread the Belgariad
Someone else mentioned “The Enchanted Chocolate Pot” by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer.

Any anthology edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling will be high quality. Try the “Snow White, Blood Red” anthology for starters.

And just as a data point, I didn’t care for Jacqueline Carey’s “Kushiel’s Dart.” Aside from the kink, I found it boring and haven’t yet cared to read the rest of the series.

And as much as I love Dennis McKiernan’s stories, he writes the WORST romantic bits EVER. And I do mean EVER.

And although he doesn’t write about romantic relationships, I writes about interpersonal relationships, and is one of my all time favorite authors: Charles de Lint.

I could go on, but I’ll not take up all your bandwidth. :)

Okay, one more. Neil Gaiman’s “The Dream Hunters”

I completely agree with some of these recommendations, particularly Kelley Armstrong and Kim Harrisonan. Luna has really good books as well.  Tor also has a paranomral line.

I’d like to second Linnea Sinclair.  Like Jennifer I have all her books, and I’ve had a chance to read two of them so far.  Loved them both.

Catherine Asaro’s scifi series I haven’t read but her books for luna ("Misted Clifs” and “Charmed Sphere") are to be avoided. angry review here

David Eddings is good, but light. Very amusing if you like banter. His female characters pull off being strong and sexy at the same time. Good VS Evil. “Redemption of Althalus” is a bit repetative (time travel, I’ll not say any more), personally the trilogy with Sparhawk is best. Dip into a book and see if you like it. If the style’s grating, disgard.

Elizabeth Haydon’s Rhapsody series I still can’t make up my mind on. It’s very well written, but there are many annoyances in the book. The heroine being one. The hero being another. But such beautifully written annoying characters!

Erm.. bit off topic, but if you’ve time. Watching the new “Doctor Who” (9th) series is a good idea. The chemistry between the Doctor and Rose is fantastic. Not overt romance, but understated throughout. The not-so-subtle subtext, if you like.

Robin Hobb writes wonderfully. Her Liveship Traders series is brilliant. Evocative and very imaginative. In the postmodern, the term “original” is to be used with care, but she is in no way a Tolkien-clone. Liveship is pirates with dragons and crazy shit. And an ocassionally annoying girl who wants her ship back, but she’s besides the point. The Assassin series is first, so start there. Is beautifully tragic.

Jacquline Carey’s “Sundering” series is a great subversion of the classical Tolkien universe. All very identifiable characters just tweaked such. Some profess it as a cheap knock-off, but they’re not reading it right. It’s the questioning of the clearcut black and white world of Lord of the Rings, the supremecy of the elves. It’s about choice and free will. What Milton did to the biblical story, Carey did to Lord of the Rings. Or at least tried to. Pretty much. Though with less monologuing and iambic pentametre. You might not agree that she succeeded entirely, but the journey will be worth your time.

I Seventh? Eigth? The Kushiel’s Dart series by Jacqueline Carey - sexy, romantic, and just plain good, adventuresome, well-plotted books.

I also have enjoyed two LUNA books immensely - Urban Shaman by CE Murphy (Book 1 of the Walker Papers) and Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara.

I would actually cast a vote AGAINST Mariller’s Sevenwaters Trilogy (or at least the first book), requesting that it go into the “shit to avoid” pile; I personally hated it. I thought it dragged on, had a crap resolution, and the romance angle was at once overworked and badly handled. IMO The heroine *totally* ended up with the wrong guy, and took about 650 pages too many to do it. There was a lot of detail added to the tale, but very little continuity for the original elements I cared about.

I saw Tanya Huff’s Blood Price on here, but not her Keeper series.  It’s a little lighter, the romantic tension starts in the first chapter of the first book, and there’s a smart ass talking cat as a bonus. 

I don’t think any of these others were mentioned yet.  Smack me for any redundancies.  :-)

Crimson City series - written by different authors in a well-developed world.

Meg Cabot’s Mediator series.

Shanna Swendson’s Enchanged Inc - excellent chick lit fantasy.

Cindy Cruciger’s Revenge Gifts - very snarky.

Patricia Simpson’s Forbidden Tarot series

Anything by Marjorie M Liu

E.D’Trix, thanks for mentioning me and Sorceress of Faith.  My fault for the yearly slots of my Summoning series.  Until recently when the day job went away, I was working a 40 hr week and doing 2 series...am currently working on Protector of the Flight and enjoyed throwing my heroine off a balcony this morning.

That SAID, I very much appreciate this topic, and most of my favorites are listed.

I don’t think Anne McCaffrey’s Restoree was on here, or Andre Norton’s Witch World books which I consider classic (her style is different, though).

I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of Gail Dayton’s Compass Rose (Luna next month) and enjoyed it.

I think this topic is one where if you can share a “world view” or the author can easily hook you into the world and still provide surprises, then the fantasy works for you.

I will admit to liking my fantasy with a lot of romance, and it can be edgy up to a point.  I can handle blood and some guts, but heartbreak and killing off beloved characters (unless really, really necessary), and UNhappily ever after endings are a tough sell for me.

Ok, I write to entertain, and read to be entertained...so I have my favs.

Robin

OOOps!  Gail Dayton’s book next month is The Barbed Rose.

Robin

Mickey Zucker Reichert - Legend of Nightfall and The Return of Nightfall

I can’t believe nobody has mentioned Jasper Fforde yet.  The Eyre Affair and its sequels are funny and full of allusions to other bits of liturature, plus Thursday, the heroine, has to get her lover/husband returned to her after he has been unmade.

Sword of Truth - Terry Goodkind. So far, it’s my favourite series I’ve read in a long, long time.

Anne McCaffrey’s Restoree is one of my favorites of all time.
Stuart Hill’s Cry of the Icemark, which is the first in a planned YA fantasy series was wonderful.

Great thread! I’m bookmarking it instantly!

I’ll second many of the above recs, and make a few of my own (sticking to SF/fantasy with strong romance elements). First, a plug for Judith Tarr under her own name. I recently started reading her again with “Rite of Conquest” and she is really good. I couldn’t get into the “Avaryan Rising” series when I was younger, but may have to give it another go. Everything else I’ve read of hers, I’ve loved.

Judith Merkle Riley is historical, but with fantasy elements. I haven’t seen anything new of hers in a while, which is a shame. They’re quite wonderful.

Unfortunately my books are all in boxes at the moment, grr, or I’d certainly be able to think of more.

Tithe and Valiant by Holly Black (YA)

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith (YA)

I second (third, fourth tenth, whatever) Kelley Armstrong’s books and the Kushiel series.

I was always partial to Lloyd Alexander’s Westmark series as well (another YA)

Lian Hearn’s Tales Of The Otori, which begins with Across The Nightingale Floor.

Holly Lisle’s Secret Texts--I assume that the pair have a happy ending, since I’ve not read the last book.

Charles Stross’s Merchant Princes… At least, I think so. I can’t remember whether a romance was developing or not. I’m pretty sure though.

There’s always Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels trilogy, but it does have some stuff you don’t normally see in a romance.

Trudi Canavan’s Black Magician trilogy is written in the heroine’s POV, but since it begins when she’s just a child, the romance part happens mostly in the third book.

I second Holly Black, Anne Bishop, and Jacqueline Carey.

I think my favorite Of All Time has to be Tanith Lee’s THE SILVER METAL LOVER.  I’ve written references to it in my books because of how much I adore it.  I reread it at least once a year.  And cry.  Snot cry.

And what about Donna Boyd - THE PASSION and THE PROMISE?  Dark and unusual...excellent stuff.

I must say - good lists Bitches.

Erm.. bit off topic, but if you’ve time. Watching the new “Doctor Who” (9th) series is a good idea. The chemistry between the Doctor and Rose is fantastic. Not overt romance, but understated throughout. The not-so-subtle subtext, if you like.

I second this.  I was never a Doctor Who fan before, but Christopher Eccleston’s 9th Doctor hooked me.  Yum!

Also echoing the recommendations for the Kushiel series, Bujold’s Chalion series, and Kate Elliott’s Jaran novels.

Shout Out - I heart Connie Willis!  I started with Bellwether and moved on to Everything.

And I am eagerly awaiting the next installment of the adventures of Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next (Sooo much fun!) Thanks to the folks who mentioned those.

I’ve had a soft spot in my heart for Robin McKinley‘s The Blue Sword since I was 12.

One series I’ve never seen mentioned anywhere is Wilhelmina Baird‘s Crashcourse, Clipjoint & Psykosis (3 books).  More Sci-fi/Adventure than Romance, but I was rooting for the MC and her two guys to get to HEA the whole time.  There’s a quasi-related 4th book called Chaos Come Again which I don’t recommend.

Also not on this list yet is Kage Baker‘s Company series about immortal capitalist cyborgs who collect the lost treasures of the past for the people of the future.  The history jokes are so fun, and the Mendoza books have a (star-crossed, so far) romance running through them.

Also, I believe others have mentioned Barbara Hambly - always a good read, even if she is over fond of the word “chiaroscuro” (sp?).

Mercedes Lackey embodies everything I hate about fantasy, but I have never put a single one of her books down.

Others have mentioned R.A. MacAvoy - I just want to pipe up for Tea with the Black Dragon which is great.  It’s the non-Romancy version of the book every shape-shifter dragon-themed Romance novel secretly wants to be.

I just read Orphans of Chaos by John C. Wright, which was awesome. It’s the first in a trilogy, and just mind-bending stuff. There’s not that much romance but there’s the hint of romances to come and even a little bit of kink.

My all time favorite romantic fantasy series is The Spellkey Trilogy by Ann Downer. It was originally published as individual YA books, and then came out in an adult omnibus paperback. They’re all sadly out of print, but really worth the search. Just incredibly romantic, and great fantasy elements, too.

Firethorn by Sarah Micklem was very interesting fantasy, the heroine is a camp follower. I think it’s the first in a series too. It’s sexual, but not really sexy, and not really romantic, either. Good read, though.

Anything by Neil Gaiman is amazing. Stardust is the most romantic, I think, and American Gods is my personal fave.

My favorite Tanith Lee book, also out of print, is called The Heroine of the World. I loved it, it’s a very sweeping epic romance/fantasy that takes place in almost an alternate Russia.

Waking the Moon by Elizabeth Hand is great fantasy, and really romantic and sexy.

I’ll probably think of more later, lol.

Long-time lurker popping up.

“I’ve had a soft spot in my heart for Robin McKinley‘s The Blue Sword since I was 12.”

I’ve always prefered “The Hero and the Crown”, for some reason; I think I connect better with Aerin than Harry.  It’s one of my comfort books.  I love all of McKinley’s books, but THatC is still my favorite of hers.

I also like Diana Wynne Jones.  In particular, Fire and Hemlock, Hexwood, the Chestromanci series, and Howl’s Moving Castle, which is pretty much all the ones of hers I’ve read so far.

Some of the other authors I like have already been mentioned, too: Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, Sharon Shinn, Annette Curtis Klause, Vorkosigan series, Jaran…

“The Darkangel trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce is technically YA SF/F, but it’s really, really good and the central love story will grab your heart. The first book is by far the best and in some ways I wished I’d stopped there, but the next two books explain a lot more about the world.”

I feel the same way about that trilogy.  I really liked the first book and hated the last one.  My copy of the middle book had many blank pages in it and I never got around to filling them in.  I had the same reaction to Patricia Wrede’s Enchanted Forest series.  I liked first two books, but didn’t care for the last two, although I did finish reading them).

Authors who I don’t think have been mentioned yet:
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes - vampires, demons, etc (YA)
O.R. Melling - Irish/Canadian author.  Faeries and magic and most, if not all, of her books have romance in them (YA).  I think she has one adult book, but I haven’t read it.
Vivian Van Velde - “Companions of the Night” (vampires)

I seem to have a thing for Tam Lin stories, so aside from “Fire and Hemlock”, I also quite liked “Tam Lin” by Pamela Dean, “The Perilous Gard” by Elizabeth Marie Pope (but I don’t think that one has any fantasy in it) and “An Earthly Knight” by Janet McNaughton.  Oh, and also “Thomas the Rhymer” by Ellen Kushner and “Snow White and Rose Red” by Patricia Wrede, which are only very slightly related to Tam Lin.

I’ll second (third, fourth, whathaveyou) the recommendations for Anne Bishop, the Dresden files, Rachel Caine, Robin D. Owens, P. C. Cast, Tanya Huff, Kim Harrison, Steven Brust, Emma Bull, Gaiman, & Pratchett, and probably a few others, and I’m taking notes on the ones I didn’t recognize.

A couple I didn’t see mentioned yet:

Jim Butcher‘s Alera series (Furies of Calderon, Academ’s Fury, & Cursor’s Fury)--high fantasy rather than urban fantasy like the Dresden Files, but there are several romantic relationships and they’re well done.

Carol Berg.  Anything, really, but particularly Transformation, Revelation, & Restoration.  Heart-wrenching, some of it, but GOOD.

Grace, Virginia Kantra did an excellent Tam Lin short story last year.

“Midsummer Night’s Magic” in the Anthology MAN OF MY DREAMS, Jove, November 2004 , ISBN 0515137936

Take a look,
Robin (who went through a Tam Lin phase of her own and still adores the guts of whatever heroine takes THAT on...maybe someday I’ll recall the story along those lines that I told myself before I went to sleep.  I know it involved a dungeon...)

Robin McKinley’s “Sunshine.” Not so much with the romance, but just the best damn vampire book I’ve read in a long time.

These are older ones but very, very good:

The White Raven by Diana L. Paxson.  Beautiful retelling of the Tristan/Isolde story.  The twist is that Isolde’s handmaiden, Branwen, is the lead female protagonist.  Two romances take center-stage here, and they are fantastic.  One of my all-time favorite fantasy/romance books.

The Damiano series by R.A. McAvoy.  Damiano and Damiano’s Lute are more pure fantasy but still very appealing to the romance reader.  The third book in the series, Raphael, is brilliant and can stand alone.  The romance involves the arc-angel Raphael and an enslaved Berber woman.  Very unique, excellent story.

Anything and everything by the author Louise Cooper.

Really surprised at the almost non-existent mention of Catherine Asaro. She is good. Anyway - great lists.

I’ve seen most of the books I love in this list and quite a few I now want to get. How great!

I’d like to add Lisanne Norman’s Sholan series. The first book is a pretty standard “mousy human woman meets psychic cat alien man and they Connect in more ways than one” book, of which there are astonishingly more than one would expect. But it’s still good. And then, Ms. Norman takes that very standard opening and explodes it into some fascinating pieces--begins with Turning Point, then Fortune’s Wheel, Fire Margins and about 3 more big fat stories.

All of Robin Owens’ books are great. My keepers also include Eileen Wilks (werewolves, but the 2nd one expanded in a totally unexpected direction) and Evelyn Vaughn with her Bombshell books about the chalice guardians. I think they’re getting more magical with each one.

Also on my shelves: Sharon Lee and Stan Miller, Laurell K. Hamilton, Lois McMaster Bujold (and not just because my husband’s name is Myles and he has a brother named Mark...), Sharon Shinn, Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, and those are just the ones I can see when I turn round and look. I have Kushiel’s Dart, but I’ve been afraid to read it. It’s such a fat book, and I tend not to put books down once I pick them up… I can’t afford an all night reading binge right now…

I do think that anyone who liked the Kushiel books or any of the Hamiltons or Lisanne Norman’s books would like my One Rose books (thanks for the nice words Robin and E’D’Trix). Yep, The Barbed Rose hits the shelves next month.

These are old-- around 1980-81, but there was a short sci-fi series by Francine Mezo that I remember devouring.
The Fall of the Worlds, Unless She Burn, No Earthly Shore

Anything by Nina Kiriki Hoffman. Her latest stand-alone novel is A Fistful of Sky.
Tales of the Wolves series by Tara K. Harper. Should start with the first, Wolfwalker.
Wolverine’s Daughter by Doranna Durgin. Sadly no sequel.
And One Foot in the Grave by Wm. Mark Simmons. The sequel Dead on my Feet came out.

Long time lurker, but I couldn’t resist this topic.

Let’s see, here are my repeats with above:
Robin McKinley (especially Deerskin)
Lois McMaster Bujold
Terry Prachett
Jacqueline Carey (Kushiel series)
Mercedes Lackey (Valdemar books especially)
Anne Bishop
Guy Gavriel Kay
Catherine Asaro
George RR Martin
Robin Hobb (Liveship Traders)
Lloyd Alexander, particularly the Westmark series
Wen Spencer
Sharon Shinn
David Eddings (I like him, but his characters are too repetative after a while)

Also:
Melanie Rawn her Dragon series is very good, bloody and characters aren’t safe, I couldn’t put it down once I started. It is very good. Her other series is incomplete, and I don’t know if it will ever be finished.

Janny Wurts and Raymond Fiest trilogy, that start with Daughter of Empire.  Not exactly a romance, although there is romance there.

Terry Brooks’ original Shanara series is good. Tolkienesque.

I’ve given up on Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind

Now I have to write down all the new to me authors, what a great list.

I can’t wait to check some of these out.  I don’t have any new authors to add, just some comments on what others have written:

Guy Gavriel Kay: I’d argue that Lions of Al-Rassan has the best romantic elements and the most unusual.  I cry my eyes out every time I read it.

Mercedes Lackey: The Vanyel and Talia trilogies are good, and the former is the best romance, I think.  Her later books—Valdemaran or otherwise, I find to be increasingly sloppy. 

Anne Bishop: oh, yes! 

David Eddings: After working my way through about 3 series, I finally realized that I was reading the same thing over and over again.  Enjoyable for the most part, but having just read The Redemption of Althalus, I’m having twinges of unease about the way he treats his female characters and his male-female dynamics.  Too much gamesmanship, perhaps, and not enough real intimacy. 

Janny Wurtz’s Mistwraithe series is primarily a romance, but does have some nice elements.  But it’s really, really, really long.

Hmm...sci-fi and fantasy. I’ll mix some romance with it. Angela Verdenius has a pretty good sci-fi series.  Oh, and Judy Mays’ Brianna and Sheala is excellent. The star series by Morgan Hawke is extreme but a keeper in my list.

I second the David Eddings, Tamora Pierce, Piers Anthony, Juliet Marrillier (I loved the Sevenwaters series) and Mercedes Lackey mentions. I read the Songs of the Lioness Quartet by Pierce in a manner of days.

I add another series by Jennifer Roberson titled The Chronicles of the Cheysuli. Eight in number, I’ve re-read them each about three times. A wonderful series.

I just found PC Cast and love her and just read an anthology titled Moon Magic with Mercedes Lackey, Tanith Lee, and CE Murphy who I want to read more of.

Lori Handleland does a nice werewolves series and I just read Book One of Ronda Thompson’s Wild Wulfs of London and enjoyed it. Teresa Medeiros just entered the vampire realm with her latest story and it was a good read.

Fantasty and romance are my top favorite genres, so my list can go on, but those are my faves for now.

My apologies, that anthology’s title is Winter Moon, not Moon Magic. I have no idea where that came from

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro’s Saint-Germain series is well researched historical with a humanitarian vampire protagonist.  Blood Games (ancient rome) or Hotel Transylvania (france) would be a good place to start.

I haven’t seen mention of M.K. Wren.  She wrote a series called “The Phoenix Legacy” that is very much a science fiction romance.  The books are the SWORD OF THE LAMB, SHADOW OF THE SWAN, and HOUSE OF WOLF.  Although I’ll admit to skimming the sociological “reports” between the narrative chapters, the romance interwoven with the story of a secret political organization just works for me.  I wish M.K. Wren was more prolific.

I’ll second or third Robin McKinley’s SUNSHINE. I don’t even like vampire books, and I liked this one, but then I enjoy her writing in general.  There’s not a lot of romance, but there is certainly an underlying current of something going on there.

I enjoyed C.J. Cherryh’s ANGEL WITH THE SWORD, which is the first book in her Merovingen Nights world.  To my knowledge it’s the only book in the series for which she is the sole author.  The other books are written with guest authors each contributing a chapter.  A style that doesn’t work so well for me, because I prefer one point-of-view character.

I saw so many authors that I love in this list plus some I want to check out. A couple of authors who I have found just recently and I really enjoy:  Leigh Wyndfield (mostly in ebooks, but starting to get published in the Secrets anthologies). I loved In Heat and In Ice both (scifi). Laura J Underwood who I found through a indpendent publisher, I really enjoy (fantasy). The JD Robb series (Nora Roberts pseudonym) is great. Her future NYC feels very realistic to me. An author who might be harder to find but I think worth the effort: Roby James who wrote Commitment and Commencement.

Just found this site; a listserv I’m on linked to this thread.  Three months and counting before I can get the kids in summer camp and start reading 8-5.  I want to add my two cents even though the thread is just in archives now.

In the YA category, all my faves are here and I’d especially like to second Perilous Gard, Megan Whalen Turner’s trilogy, Sherwood Smith (who also posts terrific unpublished stuff on the athanarel livejournal community), DWJ’s Fire and Hemlock and Hexwood, and Vande Velde’s Companions of the Night.

Not mentioned specifically by anyone, I don’t think, are these (in order from earlier YA to later):
Margaret Mahy’s The Changeover
Kate Constable’s Tremaris trilogy
Tamora Pierce’s Tricksters (two books, now often bound as one)
Sharon Shinn’s new Thirteenth House series, starting with Mystic and Rider

Out of the YA category, I didn’t see one of my absolute favorite, most re-read series, Lynn Flewelling’s Nightrunner trilogy (Luck in the Shadows, Stalking Darkness, and Traitor’s Moon), with an incredibly satisfying buildup to the central same-sex relationship.  Caroline Stevemer’s first fantasy, The Serpent’s Egg is a bit hard to find but worth it.  And I have to second Dean’s Tam Lin and Bull’s War for the Oaks.

Not sure where to blog this, but I would think it would come under good shit, rather than shit to avoid, particularly for readers who would like to make some $$, possibly, and are still in high school and like to read all kinds of stuff:

Free High School Essay Scholarship Contest—
Avar Press is now accepting submissions for cash awards, publication of the best high school essays analyzing D. J. Solomon’s “Xen: Ancient English Edition.” The contest is free and open to all rising US juniors & seniors.  “Xen” is the tale of misanthropic scientist, Pawkey Seneschal, his struggle to overcome his--and all of mankind’s--innate xenophobia.  With eugenics in paradox, this is a story to be embraced by humanitarians, pacifists, libertarians, feminists, utopians, anti-racists, animal rights activists, and the counter culture science fiction community.  The essays may cover any analysis.  There will be a first, second,and third prize.  Winners announced by September 1, 2006. No longer than 1500 words. Cash prizes total $1700.00. Deadline: June 30, 2006

I think I saw one mention of Sara Douglass. Her Battleaxe and Wayfarer Redemption series are among my favourites.And her alternate history series based around the time of the Wars of the Roses. Jacqueline Carey of course and Garth Nix.

I may have missed it, but I don’t think that anyone’s yet mentioned “The Wood Wife” by Terri Windling.  Excellent book.

George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, without question:

A Game of Thrones
A Clash of Kings
A Storm of Swords
A Feast for Crows

The fifth book (in a projected seven-book series), A Dance With Dragons, isn’t out yet.

Hmmm. Probably too late but-

David Eddings is great, but the characters are “stock” ie the wise magician, the witty thief, the snarky lady. Funny and some political humor.

Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman definitely- If you only read one from each- Pratchett’s Hogfather, Gaiman’s Neverwhere, and their joint project you cannot miss- Good Omens.

Not sure if anyone mentioned Wrede’s other books (besides dragons). They’re out of print, but worth searching for. Raven Ring is probably the best. Magician’s ward is great too.

Robin Mckinley’s Spindle’s end, Rose Daughter, and the Hero series. I’d avoid Deerskin. Seconding Sunshine.

CJ Cherryh’s Finity’s end (not so perfect coming of age). Great book.

Mccaffrey is hit and miss- mostly miss. But the first books of the dragon series are decent, and the last books of the Talent series are terrific- as well as one of the very early Talent books. The Selkie book is terrific- but the sequel should never have been written. Acorna’s kind of annoying.

Some of Lackey’s Valdemar series are great- the problem is, you must wade through the crap to get to the good stuff.

Blood and chocolate.Best werewolf book, hands down. Atwater-Rhodes

Hmmm. To Avoid: quite a few of Mccaffrey’s books. The Courtship of Princess Leia (awful, even for Star Wars spin offs). Tamora Pierce’s immortal series. Jordan’s Wheel of Time. Jane Linksold (probably not the way to spell that) Wolf series.

The only author that I’d recommend boycotting totally would be Laurell K. Hamilton. At least, if you want fantasy. If you’re after the porn, well, then, go for it!

People Of The Sky by Claire Bell
I picked up this book not really knowing what it’s about, but I loved the author’s other books (Ratha’s Creature, Clan Ground, and The Jaguar Princess) which are geared towards young adults, but I still enjoy them.

This one is a little more adult and the “romantic” relationship is actually between a woman, Kesbe, and a non-human. A flying creature called an aronan. Kesbe, an accomplished pilot, is delivering an antique aircraft to a collector when she becomes trapped in a storm. Forced to land in a remote canyon she discovers a long-lost offshoot of her tribe, who may be descendents of a lost Pueblo Indian colony that left Earth hundreds of years ago to preserve what was left of their culture. They’ve formed a symbiotic relationship with the dragonfly-like lifeforms of the planet; Kesbe finds herself pushed into a situation where she must come to grips with the nature of that relationship, herself, and her history.

I moved between shock and fascination while reading this book, and it tackles one of my favorite themes: culture shock. Kesbe must confront her assumptions and Bell uses the story to illustrate her struggle beautifully. I highly recommend it.

Terry Goodkind - I confess I really liked this series when it first came out.  But now it’s gotta rather long and I haven’t read many of the latest ones.  It’s one I’ll probably wait until the whole series is done and then get at the library.  It was interesting.

Ugh, don’t bother. I liked the first three books, too, but Goodkind lost his mind and forgot that he was supposed to be writing stories—
not six-hundred-page manifestos.