My novel reading status:

Completed reading all the available volumes of A Song of Ice and Fire series and it was a fun read. Also, I am currently on 3rd novel of Amber series. It's good I have read the first two novel in Ender's Game and didn't liked them much..

I tried The Wheel of Time's first novel but didn't like it mainly I felt the starting was too similar to Lord of the Rings. I am reading 50 shades of Grey but not sure it fits my taste.

Novels by Agatha Christie are really good... the narrative is really good. I directly read And Then There Were None without reading other novels of her... I will be picking another title of her shortly

That's it though... I want to pick few more titles from all the recommendations I got, but I'm having a hard time to figure out on what to pick as there are just too many recommendations! Please help!

Last edited by strixflash at 4:45 am, Jan 15 2015

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I second the Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski.
It's dark, fantasy, slice-of-life (I guess) and has a tiny bit of romance.

As I've just found out there're only 3 books translated in English of total 7 books:
The Last Wish - one of two collections of short stories and the other two are the first two books of the Witcher Saga (5 books), but hopefully they'll publish the rest of the books too.

It's quite possible you've heard about the video game based on these novels.

The plot line follows the story of a witcher, Geralt of Rivia. In Sapkowski's universe, witchers are monster-hunters who have their bodies modified at an early age with combination of magic, mutagens and poisons to provide them with supernatural abilities so they can cope with dangerous monsters. Ordinary mortals treat them with contempt and resentment, although they cannot survive without their service.

Only the first novel bears a strong resemblance to Lord of the Rings, the remaining 13 are not very much like it. However the second volume introduces another problem: slow pace. When things happen the pace is ok, but before something starts going on, there are chapters after chapters where little does.

In nearly every volume there is a major event happening around the end (and a few smaller ones in the middle). The exceptions are volume 11 which lacks such major event (the original author was dying at this point so that could explain why) and volume 14 in which something happens at every freaking page (seriously).

As for Agatha Christie you could try:
They Came to Baghdad - this one has an adventure feel
Murder at The Vicarage - not sure if it'll suite your taste, but it's a fun read
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - avoid reading any spoilers before reading the book, they will totally ruin the ending (I mean it)
IMHO And Then There Were None is one of her best books.

There is this novel called A Brother's Price by Wen Spencer. It's an adventure romance set in a world where gender roles are reversed and men are generally in short supply. The male lead is a bit feminine, but don't let turn you off. This book has a few smutty scenes (if I understand right, you actually wanted those), but they don't dominate the book . Oh yeah it's also a harem and it's so much better than vast majority of japanese harems.

The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas is a short and nice read. And if you happen to like the style you could give The Three Musketeers and its sequels a try (most move adaptations messed the story a LOT, so don't use them to judge the books).

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is a fun read too. The anime adaptation made a lot of changes and it's nowhere as funny as the book.

Short stories from Mikhail Bulgakov are quite good (somewhat abstract and twisted), but I'm not sure if they'll suit your taste. Among them I recommend Heart of a Dog and The Fatal Eggs.

Sorry if those are not exactly following your last request for erotica

Can you please state the best chronology for reading Vorkosigan Saga? It's confusing on net...thanks.

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Shards of Honor is first both in the series and in order of being written. The main character is Cordelia Naismith, who becomes stranded on a planet she and her team were surveying with Aral Vorkosigan, of the enemy world Barrayar.. This book introduces you to the world that will be the setting for the Miles Vorkosigan books.
The Warrior's Apprentice is the first of the Miles Vorkosigan books. I'd start with Shards of Honor, because it's a great story, but if you want to get right to Miles you can start with either book.
Borders of Infinity - collection of three novellas, that take place at different times in the chronology - doesn't really matter in which order they are read, but "Mountains of Mourning" is right after The Warrior's Apprentice, "Labyrinth" and the title story are after Cetaganda. The title story "Borders of Infinity" is in particular a terrific depiction of Miles's personality.
The Vor Game
Cetaganda - IMO the weakest in the series, written after Mirror Dance - skippable
Brothers in Arms
Mirror Dance
Memory
Komarr
A Civil Campaign
Winterfair Gifts - novella
Diplomatic Immunity
Captain Vorpatril's Alliance - about Mile's cousin, "that idiot Ivan"
CryoBurn

Barrayar - set after Shards of Honor, before Miles was born, written after The Vor Game. I would read this one after you've read a few Miles books, because I think it will be more meaningful, so you could read this either after The Vor Game or Shards of Honor, as you prefer.

Falling Free and Ethan of Athos are set in the same world but not part of the Vorkosigan series, so they can be read in any order or skipped.

I think this is correct. I'm not caught up with the series myself.

If you're looking for good mysteries, try the Peter Wimsey novels of Dorothy Sayers. Whose Body? is the first.

I listened to the audiobook for Ghost at Work, a "cozy mystery" novel, and it was pretty good. Having a ghost as the protagonist of a detective novel is a refreshing and funny twist. There are two more in the series if you end up liking it.

The Goblin Wood is a childhood favorite of mine. I reread it a couple years ago and still love it, so the literary standards are up to par. The characters are the highlight of the story - very strong and vibrant. It's the first in a trilogy.

scarletrhodelia, thanks a lot! I'm really grateful for all the info. you posted

Blique, thanks. I will check your suggestion soon.

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I'm currently reading many fantasy & sci-fic novels, and it's getting somewhat boring. So please suggest me some good romance novels in slice of life & mature setting ^^ The lead should be male, and if possible the setting should be in contemporary world. No idealistic (& annoying) lead though. Thanks!


Last edited by strixflash at 12:20 am, Feb 11 2014

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My reading status:

Completed Shards of Honor. The march across the alien world was enjoyable, but later on it was just average when the plot started getting disintegerating. I have high hopes for the second book though

Completed The Curse of Chalion. It was enjoyable but I don't really like total black or white characters. Grey characters are more fun but otherwise it was good.

Completed The Dresden Files #1 by Jim Butcher. It was bad...really bad. There was no battle of wits or anything and there were hardly any good elements of detective fiction. The main client's behaviour at the end was irritating, and her reasonings for asking for help was bad. Didn't felt any sympathy at all for her. Characters are just too bad.

Completed They came to Baghdad. I really enjoyed it Perfect setting with good characters. Perfect blend of adventure and humor with good dose of suspense.

Completed Finnikin of the Rock. A good read

I'm currently reading The Grand Sophy,The Warrior's Apprentice,The Name of the Wind, The Goblin Wood, Anubis Gate and The Hunger Games ^^


Last edited by strixflash at 11:27 am, Feb 19 2014

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Some of my favs in fantasy here : http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=45066&p age=1#post631518

Fantasy-
Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (A lot of Neil Gaiman's books are worth the read.)
The Thin Executioner by Darren Shan (He typically writes some pretty good series)
Juuni Kokki
The Chanters of Tremaris trilogy by Kate Constable
Ink heart by Cornelia Funke
Reckless by Cornelia Funke
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
The Kiesha'ra series by Amelia Atwater-Rhodus
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Johns

Psychological/horror-
Battle Royale (Novel)
The Marbury Lens by Andrew Smith
The Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Demonata series by Darren Shan

Others:
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Malice by Danielle Steel
Life of Pie by Yann Martel
Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke


These are just some of the ones I remember at this moment. The only one out of them that I remember having an annoying mc in the story was for Junni Kokki but she gets better as the story progresses and goes from annoying and timid to untrusting and fierce to strong and expressive.

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Remembrance, a forsaken thing that revokes ignorance and leaves people in doubt, is my only redemption and solace deep within the cascade of white.
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The evergreen trees speak of days long past when music mingled with the wind and sweet murmurs brushed our cheeks.

Actually I'm tired of fantasy now >_< So I'm looking for some good romance novels. Grey characters & not some kind hearted lead. The lead should be male if posdible. Thanks

Last edited by strixflash at 9:53 am, Feb 19 2014

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Dresden Files takes a couple books to get pretty interesting. Though it may seem like a detective novel at the beginning, it never is . I would consider it more~action, comedy (later, comes off quite dry at the beginning), casual/doesn't take itself seriously/fun romp urban fantasy, with interesting characters (I wouldn't believe this either after reading the first book) that you grow to love. Not so much mystery/detective novel since the "mysteries" are just err...there. They act more as a jumping point for the plot.
I admit it's not everyone's cup of tea~ (though I would say give it a chance--I didn't like the first book either...or much of the second lol)
-End random comment-


--------If you ever wish to go back to fantasy
Fantasy/Romance: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin was pretty interesting. Gods becoming slaves to humans~summary is a little misleading (I thought I was in for something with much political backstabbing and machinations like Song of Ice and Fire...was caught completely off guard on where it went ) - Female MC though >.<

If you liked Curse of Chalion, you may like Transformation by Carol Berg.
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I'm sorry that about what happened

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I will give it another try later on then ^^



I would go back to fantasy after reading few non-fantasy books. I liked Chalion but I hated the characters one dimensional personality... good guys are just too much of good guys. I hate that. I enjoy characters like Tyrion or Arya (from A Song of Ice and Fire). They are good guys but not idiots & they think about themselves first ^^


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