What SFF title have you recently enjoyed, which you picked up on a whim?

Here’s an interesting “Mind Meld” post by Rob B at SFFWorld: Recent SF/F/H You’ve Read & Enjoyed About Which You Knew Little

Meaning SFF titles you picked up not because of a detailed review from a trusted blogger, but, as I say, basically on a whim.

This post caught my eye mainly because the first answer, from NE White, was: The Emperor’s Edge by Buroker. Oh, hey, yeah, I said when I saw that, and read the rest of White’s entry and then the rest of the post.

I remember I picked up Buroker’s book because of Sherwood Smith’s comments about it. That’s usually how I do wind up dropping a book — or at least a sample — on my TBR pile: someone I trust writes a review and there you go.

Anyway, Yanni Kuznia also mentions The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, which I’ve heard good things about; and The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley, which ditto.

Let me see, let me see . . . I guess actually I just started a book about which I know nothing, in a sense. Kingfisher by McKillip. I mean, of course I know it’s a McKillip. But I specifically didn’t read any reviews or the back cover copy or anything. Does it count if you go into a book cold but know the author’s work really well?

This morning I read the first chapter and it is beautiful so far.

I guess back when I read The Thousand Names by Wexler, I didn’t know anything but that it was military fantasy and had a woman disguised as a man. It was the first book of Wexler’s I ever read, so I would say that’s going into it pretty cold. Loved it, of course. I’m trying to remember whether the 4th book, due out this summer, is the last? If so I will so much enjoy starting back at the beginning and reading the whole series.

How about you? Anything come to mind for books you love that you read cold rather than on the basis of a trusted friend or reviewer? I’m not sure that happens so often for me anymore, now that I live way out here and no longer browse in bookstores very much.