Recs along the lines of Nalini Singh

[Jessie]

Hi all,

After being disappointed in the last five books I've tried to read (the GR ratings/reviews duped me!), I thought I'd ask for some recommendations. :) I love the intricate world-building of Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series and her unique take on putting a little sci-fi (telekinesis/teleportation) in with her PNR. Does anyone have any recommendations for something similar?

On a side note, I've read all of the big names in PNR, so something outside of the likes of Kresley Cole, Larissa Ione, Kristen Callihan, etc.

Thanks! :)

[PepperP0t]

did you try pnr's from any of these authors?:

Lara Adrian -- midnight breed
Rebecca Zanetti -- dark protectors
Jennifer Ashley -- shifters unbound
D.B. Reynolds -- vampires in America
Tina Folsom -- scansguard vampires




not knowing what you like its hard to really give you recommendations

[D.G.]

- I didn't care for this book but it does have psychics and shifters

- like this series better

[Jessie]

Hm, I've read the first of Thea Harrison's books, but I've heard not-so-nice things about the second book, so I've been putting it off...

I tried and tried to get into the Midnight Breed Series, but the first book was DNF for me. Zanetti's books are maybe a bit too alpha for me, from what I've heard, and I'm reading Jennifer Ashley's series, but I'm not thrilled, so it's taking me awhile.

I like books with:
Great World-building
Multi-dimensional characters (no TSTL)
A story I can't figure out 15% the way in
Bonus points for humor

What I don't like:
Insta-Love
Love Triangles
Plots that revolve entirely around miscommunication
1st person POV

Please help! I don't want to be disappointed again. >_<

[D.G.]

You're not asking for much, LOL!

Series with great world building are mostly in UF, and almost all of those are 1st person POV. PNR with great world building is rare.

Have you read ? I read it and enjoyed it. No sci-fi aspects but the world was different.

[Jessie]

I know, I know, I'm super picky, lol. I think that's part of the reason why I started writing myself!

But the Dark Awakening book looks interesting. I may have to give it a try...

[D.G.]

LOL, don't mean to be critical. I KNOW where you're coming from. I wish there were more series like the PsyChangeling series too! :)

I'm very picky myself...I abandon more than half the series after reading the first book.

If you don't mind my asking...why don't you like 1st person POV? I have a friend who had issues reading 1st person POV books in print but she's been able to listen to them in audio and enjoy them. She's over the moon because she's been able to read some really great series.

[Jessie]

Whew, glad to know that I'm not the only tough person to win over with a series starter! ;)

For romance especially, I like to get to know both of the characters (plus side characters, although not too many) to really understand their HEA. I love seeing how two people change and become better people together than they ever could've been apart. 1st person POV limits the ability to see how much the characters change, imho. I've tried a few (Night Huntress series, for example) but I still had trouble getting into it.

I've tried some UF too, but I didn't have much luck with them. I can handle a a little slow in the beginning, but in my experience, too many of them were SUPER slow. And seeing as I used to read a lot of epic fantasy, that's saying something, lol.

[D.G.]

What UF have you tried? There are several series that fit all your requirements except the 1st person POV.

[G.G.]

Ok, I've got to ask. What does TSTL stand for? /blush

[Jessie]

GG - TSTL = Too Stupid to Live. Usually it's a heroine, although occasionally it's a hero. :)

DG - I could not finish and I had a really hard time getting through . The Fever Series was pretty good until the last book, which ended up being a DNF. I've toyed with starting but heard it's slow too...if you have good UF recs, I'd be interested in hearing them!

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Bec McMaster's Steampunk London series. Starts with .

If you like Kristen Callihan you will like this also.

[Ren Puspita]

Jessie, Magic Bites just okay for me, but wait until you read the 3rd book, Magic Strikes. I'm hooked and know why so many readers devoted to this series.You can try Andrews's other series The Edge. No TSTL heroine, great worldbuilding, some humor too :) (it's also 3rd POV!)

Another recommendation :
- Bitter Night by Diana Pharaoh Francis (it's 1st POV, though)
- Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake
- Working Stiff by Rachel Caine

[D.G.]

Totally forgot about 'The Edge' books! That's a good rec.

I didn't find slow but the authors just dump you in the world and it takes a while to get your bearings - I liked it from the beginning because it felt real to me, not glossing over violence like a lot of PNR and UF does. Like most UF though, the romance takes several books to develop. It's one of my favorite series and I TOTALLY recommend it.

I also dnfed . So funny about the Fever series! I can understand though why somebody would be fed up with the book. Parts 1 & 2 of the book were painful! Here's my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Lynsey]

Have you read CL Wilson Tairen Souls series? Great world building. Even its own fey language.

[Ninab (Honesty is the Best Policy)]

If you don't already have Magic Bites, the ebook is on sale at Amazon for only $1.99. I didn't have a problem with the first book, though the second was another story - but, as Ren mentioned, the third book should not be missed.

[Jessie]

Wow, a lot of recs to try out. :) I've had Bec McMasters on my Kindle for a while (it was a Daily Deal at some point), so maybe I'll start it....

DG - The editing of Shadowfever drove me CRAZY. Every few pages I would just stop reading, stare at the screen, and wonder why I had needed to know that. Seriously. I also couldn't stand Dani (her attempt at an Irish accent was AWFUL, and that's from me only *visiting* Ireland three times), so I don't think I'll read any of the other Fever books.

Lynsey - I did read the first book of CL Wilson, but I was so upset that the book ended without a real ending that I haven't read the next one yet. I tend to expect endings for romance, even if it's just a HFN. :/

[Maddy]

Keep the recs coming. I'm making lists!

[D.G.]

HAHAHAHAHA! I know what you mean about the editing of Shadowfever. I think at some point, Ms. Moning was too in love with her own voice and her editors couldn't restrain her. There were soo many descriptions of men that I couldn't keep them straight!

The Tairen sould series by CL Wilson is sort of a UF but in a fantasy world so the story is across 5 books with the same couple. That's why it ended without any resolution. Like you, though I didn't like that NOTHING was resolved. In most UF, books have a story that's resolved at the end even if there's a bigger story arc going on and I felt there was nothing resolved here.

[D.G.]

Several of my friends have recommended . It's free for Kindle so you may want to give it a try.

I haven't read it so I have NO CLUE if it's any good.

[Mina]

Hmm, Marjorie M. Liu creates a pretty complex world with her Dirk & Steele series (all kinds of shifters, psychic abilities, gargoyles and more) which is based on a supernatural detective/special ops agency. The first book is Tiger Eye

[Jessie]

DG - was a DNF for me. Not having a NAME for the man whose POV we are in for the prologue, plus the lack of anything happening in the prologue, turned me off before I even reached the first chapter. Maybe it gets better, but it wasn't worth if for me...

As for authors and editing issues, I'm curious if you've tried . The editing made this a DNF for me, which is sad since I used to love Gena Showalter....

[D.G.]

I've only read one book by Gena Showalter and didn't like it very much so I've never read her again (I read so many genres that if I don't like an author the first time, I just let them go. :)

I'm out of suggestions! Hopefully other people can suggest something you like. :)

[new_user]

The first one I thought of was Larissa Ione, but I see you've read her already- and all the rest I would have recced. Hm, it's hard to meet all those criteria at once! I highly recommend the Children of the Sea series by Virginia Kantra. It starts with Sea Witch. If you liked a lot of other PNR, there's a good chance you'll like it. Great characters and world-building. Some people don't like the first book as much as the rest.

The Smoke Thief
Shadowfae
Skin Game

They're all developed as far as world-building, although whether it's to the extent of Psy-Changeling, I'm not sure.

[Irene]

Maybe you could try - it has quite unexpected world, very unusual characters (especialy the heroine) and nice plot.

[Jessie]

Hm, I've heard Stacia Kane's name floating around, so maybe I'll get around to reading one of her books eventually. :)

As for Sea Witch, I'm on the fence...but still, I like learning about new books!

[Megan]

I like Christine Feehan. She has a series about sisters who are witches is the first book. Also she has a Carpathian series that has vamps and lots of magic type elements. is the first in that series.

I also agree with the recs of Marjorie M Lui and Ilona Andrews (even tho IA is first person POV)

[Mina]

OMG, love Marjorie M. Liu and Ilona Andrews...they are on my Keeper shelf.

Two other really good authors are Patricia Briggs (UF with the Mercy Thompson series and the Alpha & Omega series) and Sharon Shinn (she has the Twelve Houses series -- mages, and the Samaria series -- angels).

Also, if you like strong heroines and dragon shifters, I'd invite you to check out my new release :)