Ending the Reading Slump Recs

[Stephanie]

Hi everyone, I've been in a rough reading slump so I'm trying to look for books with some of my favorite elements.

Things I like:

-characters adapting to new cultural environments
-political/court intrigue
-deep character relationships / character development
-diverse characters

Books with romances welcomed/encouraged, too.

Examples of books I loved (so anything similar to these):
Jaran by Kate Elliott
Inda series, Crown Duel, A Stranger to Command, all by Sherwood Smith
Tortall series by Tamora Pierce
Touchstone by Andrea Host
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

Thank you all in advance for any suggestions!

[Sarah]

I don’t think it’s technically out yet- so it isn’t much help right now- but A Memory Called Empire ticks a lot of these boxes: diverse characters, a *little* romance, political intrigue, new culture (although the MC has been studying the culture in question for quite awhile). I’ll keep thinking on this too.

[Trike]

Have you read Foreigner by CJ Cherryh? It has a lot of what you’re looking for. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but it might float your boat. She’s written a bunch more in that series if you like it.

Also The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. I quite liked that one.

[Rosina]

I was just about to suggest Foreigner (and its sequels).

Melissa Scott's Astreiant series, starting with Point of Hopes - meets some of your likes, or if you prefer science fiction to fantasy, her Silence novels - Five-Twelfths of Heaven

[CBRetriever]

Robin Hobb's various series
J.V. Jones' Book of Words
Elizabeth Moon's Deep of Paksenarrion series
George R.R. Martin' series on which Game of Thrones was based

[Kaa]

Second Goblin Emperor and Melissa Scott! The Astreiant series in particular are comfort reading for me, and have the bonus of featuring a world that is slightly matriarchal - women are the default people. (Her newest, Finders, is also excellent.)

If you haven't read it yet, Ann Leckie's new fantasy The Raven Tower meets a lot of your criteria. (I haven't finished it yet, but I'm really enjoying it.)

I would also suggest The Thief series - they need to be read in order (and don't read the blurbs for later books unless you want to be spoiled) but I really liked books 2&3, and I think they would be a good fit for you, too. Plenty of intrigue and some really excellent characters

-City of Strife by Claudie Arseneault: politics, so many wonderful and diverse characters. Lots of intrigue, but overall an optimistic book.
-Aliette de Bodard's Xuya stories and novellas have lots of cultural adaptation and politics in space.
-Ninefox Gambit - it gets mixed reviews because some of the world-building can be confusing, but it also has intrigue + good and diverse characters.
-the Raksura books by Martha Wells - yeah, okay, the main characters aren't human, but it still has romance, court politics, new cultures, and wonderful characters
-An Accident of Stars by Foz Meadows - definitely fits all of your criteria
-Tremontaine: The Complete Season One - it's a serial, but the first episode is free to try on the website or on Amazon. Also meets all the criteria.

[Kristin B.]

I second Kaa's mention of the Raksura series. (Starting with The Cloud Roads)

As a bonus, if you're looking for some discussion as well, there is a buddy read thread for the series.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Sabriel I think would work well for you.

For a short but vivid book (note: does a lot with dialects, which annoys some people) The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps

The Song of Achilles hits a lot of these--rich, romantic, deep, lots of machinations.

Definitely Goblin Emperor!

You might try the works of Sharon Shinn, like Summers at Castle Auburn or Heart of Gold. I also quite liked her Archangel series, and they're often recommended to people who like Crown Duel.

[Kaa]

Okay, just finished Raven's Tower and I liked it a lot. Cultural adaption, politics, and diverse characters.

Another that I've thought of is The Fire's Stone - well-developed, diverse characters and some politics, plus a little romance. And Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede, if you've never read the Enchanted Forest Chronicles.

[Michele]

Dune and sequels
Archangel and others (not explicitly sequels but set in the same world)
Mordant's Need
Kushiel's Dart and sequels
The Dragonbone Chair and sequels
The Riddle-Master of Hed and sequels
The Traitor Baru Cormorant

[Carrie]

It makes me happy when I see someone mention Mordant's Need.

[Stephanie]

thank you all so much for your recommendations! I really appreciate you all taking the time. I've added all the ones I haven't read yet to a bookshelf so I can keep track of them more easily and I'm looking forward to working my way through the list.