Book and Author recommendations
So, Cristin asked for some good authors she could go sniff out at the library. I gave her a ton of recommendations. And, I though I would share them with the rest of the world. Most of these are Sci-Fi/fantasy type books, cause yeah, I'm a freak about such stories. So, enjoy.
The Herald/Companion series' - by Mercedes Lackey
If you haven't already read at least one of her series and love magic and fantasy, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!!! :)
Anyhoo, the series are mostly based around Companions, sorta like guardian spirits who come to life in the form of a pure white horse, and their Heralds, the people they sorta choose to guard. They are totally about truth and honesty, and only a good and honest person will ever have a chance of being "Chosen" by them. Valdamer is the land of these Heralds and Companions, and all of the series center around different troubles and evils the country has to face over a period of hundreds of years. First series is based around Vanyel, the last Herald Mage, I do believe. Excellent Excellent EXCELLENT books that I recommend to any one who loves fantasy and magic.
The Sword; The Ring; The Chalice; - by Deborah Chester
Three books about an elven king who grew up a poor boy and not knowing who he really was, as well as his struggles to gain the throne once he found out. I got this recommendation from my friend Beth, who said it was sorta like the Mercedes Lackey series. It really wasn't, but still very very good.
The Glasswrights series (Glasswrights Progress, Glasswrights Apprentices, Glasswrights Journeyman, and eventually Glasswrights Master, I'm sure) - by Mindy L. Klasky.
The first two books I couldn't put down, and was happily surprised when I discovered a year later that there was a third book, Glasswrights Journeyman. It follows the story of Rani Trader, a girl who dreams of becoming a master Glasswrights (making cool stained glass windows and such) but has a hell of a time getting there as she is first blamed for the fall of her Glasswrights, then caught up in an assassination attempt and success, and many other things through out the books. Very good series.
The Green Rider - by Kristin Britain
A very very new author, this being the first book she has out. But, also one I couldn't put down. This one is a lot like the Companion/Herald series by Mercedes Lackey, and even involves a few talking animals (well, sorta like forest gods, I think). I highly highly recommend it, and will back me up on this, I do believe. :)
The 10th Kingdom - Kathryn Wesley
I'm sure you've heard me rave and ramble about the movie *and* the book. The book is even better then the movie, of course, and if you didn't already know, the story is based off of the Grimm fairy tales, but 200 years after the "Golden Age" as they called it, of Cinderella and Snow White and all of them. Dunno if fairy tales are your thing, but if they are, this is a must-read. :)
Finders Seekers series - by Gayle Greeno
Another series sort of like the Companions/Heralds, only this time it's big cats, or "Ghatts" as they're called in the series, instead of Companions. I haven't read them in awhile, but I liked them enough to buy all the 4 books they had out at the time I first discovered the first one at Thimbelberry Books (used book store). And, there is no shortage of angst, if I remember correctly. ;)
And, last but not least, Tamora Pierce
She is a very good author if you like fantasy/magic/adventure. Granted, she's technically called a Childrens or young adult author, but I still read her Immortals Series (first book, Wild Magic) on a regular basis. Her first series, Song of the Lioness, is based around a young girl who dreams of being a knight in the king's service and her struggles to become the first female knight. I've never read this series, but I've heard many many good things about it. The Immortals series, the one I love so much, is based around another young girl who can talk to animals and, later on in the series, shape shift into one.
There are more books I could suggest, I'm sure, but I could spend all day writing about them. So, I think these are enough for the time being. YAY for spamming LJ! :D
The Herald/Companion series' - by Mercedes Lackey
If you haven't already read at least one of her series and love magic and fantasy, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!!! :)
Anyhoo, the series are mostly based around Companions, sorta like guardian spirits who come to life in the form of a pure white horse, and their Heralds, the people they sorta choose to guard. They are totally about truth and honesty, and only a good and honest person will ever have a chance of being "Chosen" by them. Valdamer is the land of these Heralds and Companions, and all of the series center around different troubles and evils the country has to face over a period of hundreds of years. First series is based around Vanyel, the last Herald Mage, I do believe. Excellent Excellent EXCELLENT books that I recommend to any one who loves fantasy and magic.
The Sword; The Ring; The Chalice; - by Deborah Chester
Three books about an elven king who grew up a poor boy and not knowing who he really was, as well as his struggles to gain the throne once he found out. I got this recommendation from my friend Beth, who said it was sorta like the Mercedes Lackey series. It really wasn't, but still very very good.
The Glasswrights series (Glasswrights Progress, Glasswrights Apprentices, Glasswrights Journeyman, and eventually Glasswrights Master, I'm sure) - by Mindy L. Klasky.
The first two books I couldn't put down, and was happily surprised when I discovered a year later that there was a third book, Glasswrights Journeyman. It follows the story of Rani Trader, a girl who dreams of becoming a master Glasswrights (making cool stained glass windows and such) but has a hell of a time getting there as she is first blamed for the fall of her Glasswrights, then caught up in an assassination attempt and success, and many other things through out the books. Very good series.
The Green Rider - by Kristin Britain
A very very new author, this being the first book she has out. But, also one I couldn't put down. This one is a lot like the Companion/Herald series by Mercedes Lackey, and even involves a few talking animals (well, sorta like forest gods, I think). I highly highly recommend it, and will back me up on this, I do believe. :)
The 10th Kingdom - Kathryn Wesley
I'm sure you've heard me rave and ramble about the movie *and* the book. The book is even better then the movie, of course, and if you didn't already know, the story is based off of the Grimm fairy tales, but 200 years after the "Golden Age" as they called it, of Cinderella and Snow White and all of them. Dunno if fairy tales are your thing, but if they are, this is a must-read. :)
Finders Seekers series - by Gayle Greeno
Another series sort of like the Companions/Heralds, only this time it's big cats, or "Ghatts" as they're called in the series, instead of Companions. I haven't read them in awhile, but I liked them enough to buy all the 4 books they had out at the time I first discovered the first one at Thimbelberry Books (used book store). And, there is no shortage of angst, if I remember correctly. ;)
And, last but not least, Tamora Pierce
She is a very good author if you like fantasy/magic/adventure. Granted, she's technically called a Childrens or young adult author, but I still read her Immortals Series (first book, Wild Magic) on a regular basis. Her first series, Song of the Lioness, is based around a young girl who dreams of being a knight in the king's service and her struggles to become the first female knight. I've never read this series, but I've heard many many good things about it. The Immortals series, the one I love so much, is based around another young girl who can talk to animals and, later on in the series, shape shift into one.
There are more books I could suggest, I'm sure, but I could spend all day writing about them. So, I think these are enough for the time being. YAY for spamming LJ! :D