Similar reads?

[Lauren]

This series is great b/c it's a combination of mystery, thriller, fantasy, romance (which is obviously the highlight). Anybody have suggestions for other series or books that Sookie fans might enjoy? I'm dying for the next book already!

[Kathryn]

I would love some similar reads as well! For me, series that I have enjoyed as much or just slightly less include

Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series
Kim Harrison's Hollows series
Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series
Ann Aguirre's Jax series

These 4, and Sookie of course, are my favorites. The first 3 are urban fantasy and Aguirre's is sci/fi but all have a fiesty female lead, lots of action, varrying levels of romance, and lots of surprises.

[Nicole]

I've been reading the crap out of Patricia Cornwell and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Janet Evanovich. However, both series do not contain anything supernatural.

[Jessie]

Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost is GREAT!

Of course my all time fav is the Anita Blake seires by Laurell K Hamilton...Kim Harrison is Fabulous too, a lot more Magic in those though. I am just getting into Patricia Briggs. On the second Mercy book now. The first one was real good, just the vamps in this series are a bit different...

[Allison]

The Outlander series is absolutely brilliant. There is time travel involved, so there is a bit of fantasy thrown in. The love story is breathtaking, one of the best I could ever imagine reading.

In the first book, there is torture and some other graphic/violent things...the book is pretty emotional. But if that type of thing doesn't bother you I can't recommend it enough.

[Kathryn]

The romance is not predominant in every Kim Harrison Hollows book but believe me, if you stick with the series, it's there. And well worth the effort.

[Linds]

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr - even though it's a teen novel I still thought it was a good read.

[Katy-Del]

I love Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series and her newer Alpha and Omega series. I wait for those the way I wait for Sookie Stackhouse novels. I also love Jim Butcher's Dresden Files.

Katie MacAlister's Dragon Series is good, but the women get kind of whiney and I occassionally want to slap them. Her Dark One Novels I read, but they have a formulaic romance pattern. Well, her more recent ones are straying a bit from that and moving into the 3 book arch.

Christine Feehan has the Carpathian novels. Each story has a bit of that formulaic romance pattern, but they all fall into a much bigger storyline that is pregressing, so I totally forgive that.

I think MaryJanice Davidson is hysterical and I enjoy her Werewolf stories the most (read Derick's Bane), followed by her Betsy, Queen of the Vampires, series and her Fred the mermaid books. Her young adult series about Jennifer Scales, a teenager who can turn into a dragon, are pretty good too.

I always read Laurel K Hamilton, but I perfer Merideth Gentry to Anita Blake. There hasn't been enough plot movement in the Anita series in the last few books for my taste.

Kelley Armstrong has her werewolf series starting with Bitten that is excellent. I haven't read her other books, but I realy like her werewolves.

[Julia]

I think that Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld is *terrific.* The books start with Elena, a werewolf, and her story is compelling reading, but so are most of the other women in the series. (Wasn't as happy with the books about the vampire and the ghost.) There is also a Men of the Otherworld which I haven't yet read. ( At least, I don't think I've read it.) Armstrong publishes a lot of her work on her website for free. Also, her second YA book in a similar setting has just come out. I read the first and liked it a lot.

I like Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. Harry Dresden is a wizard in modern- day Chicago, who advertises in the yellow pages. He's a very funny man, whose friends and sometimes allies are witches, vampires, werewolves, and oh yeah, other wizards. Not similar to Sookie, but also wonderful are Butcher's Codex Alera series where his main character Tavi has the opposite problem of Harry's. In a world filled with magic, Tavi has none.

Tanya Huff wrote the Blood books in the 90's and the Smoke books in this decade, pretty much. One of the things I really like about this sub-genre is how often the setting is like another character. These are set first in Toronto and then in Vancouver.

I also like Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson & Alpha & Omega series which are set in smallish western Washington cities, Kennewick, Pasco and a third I can't remember.

Wen Spencer has a series about Ukiah Oregon. He's a man, not a place (he was named after the place, because that's where he was found) and I think he fits in just fine here. Others may disagree. These are mostly set around Pittsbugh.

The Kitty books by Carrie Vaughn are not as good as some of the above, but they are diverting, if you see them at your used bookstore, library, or PBS you might pick one up. Denver.

A very different one: Will Shetterly's Elsewhere & Nevernever. Ron is just a teenager, living in Bordertown, 'til he says something stupid to a high elf who turns him into dog and becomes Dogboy. There's three very good collections of stories about Bordertown, and another novel by Emma Bull. Bordertown is a place where the world of Faerie and humans has intersected and neither magic nor technology can be counted on.

[Merisa (nvangel2073)]

My little sister got me reading The House of Night series. By P.C. Cast. It's a pretty good series.

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza)]

Jessie wrote: "I guess I'll just have to wait until October for the next Sookie book and get my fix off of the True Blood shows. =) "
The October book is just a collection of all her Sookie and Sookie's world short stories, so it's not a new book really.

[April]

MrsAlvarado wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "Jessie wrote: "..OMG really? Boo. Does anyone know when Charlaine will release her next book in the series?
.."
I checked Charlaine Harris' web site...I don't see anything about SVM/Sookie Stackhouse book #10 yet. Has anyone else heard anything?

[Allison]

books are usually released about once a year...

[Kathryn]

"The release date for the 10th series book has not been released yet, however the smart money is on May 2010. The last 7 books were released in May and exactly 1 year apart."

Copied from Yahoo answers.

[Sarah]

I love the Outlander series, but these are more historical fiction, rather than supernatural.

I also enjoy Charlaine Harris' Harper Connolly series. There are three of them with a fourth being published in November.

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza)]

Yeah I can't wait for the 4th Harper Connolly!

[Katy-Del]

MrsAlvarado wrote: "Maybe I should read s-l-o-w-e-r."

I have often thought that, but I can't help it because I really want to know what's going to happen. I make up for it by reading it again, and I can go a little slower the second time.

[April]

Katy-Del wrote: "MrsAlvarado wrote: "Maybe I should read s-l-o-w-e-r."

I have often thought that, but I can't help it because I really want to know what's going to happen. I make up for it by reading it again, ..."


I am the same way! I had to go back and read Charlaine Harris' web site to make sure I read it right. I was HOPING for another Sookie Stackhouse this year! (but thought it wasn't likely)

I may try Harper Connoly in the mean time. I haven't read any of Ms Harris' other work yet.

[Nicole]

Also, I've never read any of Laura K. Stamps erotica/paranormal romance books, but I get her newsletter and I enjoy her writing style. I believe she's a Goodreads author and might be a member of this group too.

http://www.LauraStamps.blogspot.com
http://laura-stamps8.livejournal.comLaura Stamps

[Nicole]

Yes, she is a goodreads author!

[mlady_rebecca]

Julia wrote: "Wen Spencer has a series about Ukiah Oregon. He's a man, not a place (he was named after the place, because that's where he was found) and I think he fits in just fine here. Others may disagree. These are mostly set around Pittsbugh. "

Love that series. Very unique, yet similar enough to urban fantasy to attract those readers.

Otherwise, I think all my potential suggestions have been listed.

Laurell K. Hamilton's "Anita Blake" series, is, I believe, the closest match. Although those books are darker, deeper, and (towards the end) a lot more sexually explicit.

[Sil]

I haven't really found anything that truly feels like the Sookie series, but here are the books I've enjoyed:

The Night Huntress books are the closest approximation to Sookie I've read so far. The Mercy Thompson books are some of the best I've read in the PNR genre to date (even though it's about shifters/werewolves which I normally wouldn't gravitate to, I have gotten sucked into it). The Anita Blake series is worth a read, especially the books early on, although it tips more into the horror genre than the Sookie books.

I was also slightly disappointed by the lack of romance in the first Hallows book, but a little bird told me there is more vampires AND more romance further in the series, so I'm sticking with it for now.

My suggestion is just to pillage your local library for as many books of a particular genre (for me it's vampire books) as they have, find what you like, and go from there.

[gina~*]

Has anyone mentioned The Black Dagger Brotherhood series by JR Ward yet? I'm not a fan of paranormal but I enjoyed sookie and I just got sucked into this series now... different from sookie but addicting... I'm reading them faster than Sookie actually.

[Kathy]

I just finished the Nightwalker series by Jacquelyn Frank and loved, loved, loved it! It has demons (a brand new take on them...they are good guys), vamps, lycanthropes, and some new and different supes that I have not yet read about...mistrals, and shadow dwellers. There are five books, and I think there will probably be a 6th in series because there were some loose ends remaining at the end of the 5th book.

I also just finished Christina Dodd's Darkness Chosen series. They are really good too.

[Bonnie]

I just finished the first two of 3 books the Mortal Instruments-
City of Bones Ciy of Ashes and City of Glass. Got all the good and bad creatures mentioned above and romance too.

[Meredith Barrons]

I think the closest for me would be the Anita Blake books by Laurel K Hamilton. I definitely think Jean Claude from the Anita books and Eric are very similar. Anita is human but has supernatural abilities like Sookie does, and she struggles to deal with them. As much as she wants to be think she is human she only really fits in with the vampires/werewolves etc. I would highly recommend the books so far. I am only on book 5 in the series but liking them a lot!

[Bonnie]

Thanks I will check these out, sound good.

[Kathy]

MrsAlvarado wrote: Is there romance involved? Who is/are the main character(s)?

There are about 10 main characters, but each book in the series brings two to the forefront. For example the first in the series is Jacob, so the two central characters are Jacob and Isabella, although the supporting characters include Noah, Elijah, Legna, Damien, and Gideon. The central idea for each book is the matching of the main male to a female, so yes there is romance involved, but it isn't sappy romance. There is mystery and suspense all intertwined. It is a very interesting series.

[Angela]

I am really enjoying the J.R. Ward Black Dagger Brotherhood Series..

[Michelle]

I'm about halfway through the 1st Black Dagger Brotherhood book and enjoying it. Also, coincidentally, I am re-reading Drums of Autumn (from the Outlander series).

[gina~*]

BDB is soooo good!!! In case you ladies didn't know, there is a group dedicated to that series as well.

[Angela]

YoudontGnomie wrote: "BDB is soooo good!!! In case you ladies didn't know, there is a group dedicated to that series as well."

Thanks for letting me know. I just got the 2nd one today from the library and I already can't put it down! There goes my workout for today, unless I can workout and read at the same time! lol

[gina~*]

When I first started reading this series I thought it was alot like Stephanie Plum except Supernatural . Does anyone see that?

[☆drea☆ wears the cheese]

The Vampire Academy series (starting with Vampire Academy, Vampire Academy, Book 1 by Richelle Mead ) , I am not seeing them mentioned much so I am going to push 'em cause they really were a series I started with low hopes and was very pleasantly surprised and there are a lot more to come in the series, if you can deal with the waiting...

p.s.
**spolier alert**

i won't spoil the details, but fair warning: my bff was pissed @ me after she read these books at some "said" cliff hangers, because i didn't warn her... but i'm all about the "unknown" and the "you never know how things will really turn out" ♥

[Mary Todd]

YoudontGnomie wrote: "When I first started reading this series I thought it was alot like Stephanie Plum except Supernatural . Does anyone see that?"

I agree! The humor in the books is lacking in the show...but that was the case with Dexter (SHO)and the Dexter books until this last season. Maybe it will come.

[Lauren]

So a new twist on "similar reads"- a lot of these are the same type of supernatural book but what about books that just got you hooked and you couldn't put down. Books that make you join goodreads just so you can find groups of other people who like to endlessly discuss them like you do lol. This series did it for me as did twilight (I'm a sucker for the romance twist).

[Lauren]

Thanks to all of you who recommended the patricia briggs mercy series! I have to say the cover made me not want to read it- I even got it from the library as opposed to buying it and was this close to not but glad I did! Tought me not to judge a book by it's cover. Definately entertaining! Not Sookie great but still very enjoyable :)

[Marie]

Also the Midnight Breed series by Lara Adrian is good.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

My friend is reading the Mercy Thompson series.

[Gena]

Keri Arthur's Riley Jensen series is great fun!

[Sarah]

The Georgina Kincaid Series by Richelle Mead. She also writes YA, but she can definately pull her own with the adult audience. Start with Succubus Blues and go from there.

[Lauren]

I read vamp academy by Richelle Mead and loved it

Reading Outlander series now (on book 3) and I am obsessed! The first book takes about 50 pages to get into though and they are VERY long but very good.

Chloe Neill was just suggested to me and I loved it- Some Girls Bite and Friday Night Bites are the first 2 in her adult series. Her YA series Firespell launches today

[Megan]

Lauren wrote: "I read vamp academy by Richelle Mead and loved it

Reading Outlander series now (on book 3) and I am obsessed! The first book takes about 50 pages to get into though and they are VERY long but ve..."

The Outlander series is amazing! They are just as addicting as the Sookie books, if not more so. They are definitely not a quick read though, but are worth it.

[Booklover Butterfly]

I agree with everyone who said Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series and MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series.

I also enjoy Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series and Gerry Bartlett's Glory St. Clair series. I think those who like the Sookie books might enjoy those series too.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I just started reading the Mercy Thompson series with Moon Called :)

[Trish]

I feel like I have tried so many authors and genres to get my fix between Sookie books. I am digging the vampire romance/mysteries genre right now, but I can not get into the Anita Blake character. I have tried Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series too, but did not get very far there either. I think I am looking for a likeable protaganist who gets tangled up with vampires, but without a whole lot of other supes. Maybe more of a hate/love. I read the Betsy series by Mary Janice Davidson a few years ago and liked them, but not as much as the Sookie series. I haven't heard of the Mercy Thompson series until now. What are they like?

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

well it's about a woman mechanic who is a shapeshifter. She shapeshifts into a coyote.

[Danielle]

Kathryn wrote: "I would love some similar reads as well! For me, series that I have enjoyed as much or just slightly less include

Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series
Kim Harrison..."

I love, love, love Mercy Thompson!!! I read her after the Sookie books and i fell in love with her!! Patricia Briggs is an amazing writer!!

[Carolyn F.]

Danielle wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "I would love some similar reads as well! For me, series that I have enjoyed as much or just slightly less include

Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series
[author:Kim..."

I too love the Mercy books and the Alpha & Omega books to by Patricia Briggs. Eileen Wilks' books are really good too with all sorts of paranormal characters. Would recommend her too.

[Jayme(theghostreader)]

I have just read the first one but have the second and third.