Fantasy

Black Jewels Books in Order, Anne Bishop’s series

Fabien
May 22, 2023May 22, 2023

In a world ruled by witches and warlocks who wear their power as jewels…

What is the Black Jewels series about?

Written by the American author Anne Bishop, the Black Jewels is an award-winning series of dark fantasy novels and short stories.

The books take us to a world where those born with dark power/magic rule in a deeply matriarchal society. The original trilogy is about the coming of Witch, the living embodiment of magic, and those who want to corrupt her to control her powers. But her fate has already been determined and sacrifices will be needed for her to save the realm she must protect.

Beyond the original trilogy, Anne Bishop continues to expand the Black Jewels universe. She started with standalone novels, then with short stories, and with new continuing storylines.

His Fair Assassin Series in Order by Robin LaFevers

Fabien
March 26, 2023May 18, 2023

Not your usual Royal Assassin.

What is the His Fair Assassin Series about?

The “His Fair Assassin” series is a young adult fantasy series coming from the American author Robin LaFevers–also known for her children’s books under the name R. L. LaFevers; she’s the author of the Theodosia, Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series.

His Fair Assassin is about assassin nuns in medieval France. Launched in 2012 with the novel Grave Mercy, the series starts in Brittany during the late 15th century where we are introduced to a 14-year-old peasant named Ismae Rienne who joins the St. Mortain convent where she learns to be an assassin in service of the God of Death, Mortain.

A few years later, she successfully completes her firsts missions and is sent on a new one that will force her to face the impossible choices she must make as a daughter of Death.

Robin Hobb Books in Order (Assassin’s Apprentice, Ship of Destiny…)

Carole
February 27, 2023February 27, 2023

All of Robin Hobb’s Books!

Who is Robin Hobb?

Robin Hobb is one of the pen names of Margaret Astrid Lindholm Odgen. She grew up in Alaska, a setting that has impacted her work. She had her first stories published when she was thirty, under her other pen name, Megan Lindholm.

A professional writer for almost 40 years, Robin Hobb writes epic traditional fantasy since 1995 with the publication of her book, Assassin’s Apprentice, the first one taking place in the Realm of Elderlings.

It is in this universe that most of Hobb’s books take place and she is known for her focus on the characters’ internal conflicts over the external. She has been nominated for and won multiple awards, and was given in 2021 the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement.

Lauren Oliver Books in Order (Delirium, Curiosity House, Replica)

Fabien
February 17, 2023May 11, 2023

All of Lauren Oliver’s Books in Order!

Who is Lauren Oliver?

Lauren Oliver is an American author known for her work in the young adult sci-fi genre with the Delirium trilogy, but also for her book Panic which became an Amazon TV show, or Before I Fall, which became a movie with Zoey Deutch in 2017.

She attended NYU’s MFA program in creative writing while working at Penguin Books, in a young adult division called Razorbill. It was during that time that she started work on her own novel “Before I Fall.” She left in 2009 to become a full-time writer.

Lauren Oliver also wrote the Replica duology and, with H C Chester, she co-wrote the middle-grade fantasy series Curiosity House – in the vein of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events -, and more recently, she published The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street.

Innkeeper Chronicles Reading Order: How to read Ilona Andrews’s series?

Fabien
February 14, 2023May 12, 2023

Welcome to Gertrude Hunt!

What is the Innkeeper Chronicles series about?

Written by Ilona Andrews (pen name used by Ilona Gordon and her husband Andrew Gordon), the Innkeeper Chronicles is an Urban Fantasy series.

This is the story of Dina DeMille, an innkeeper. Her inn is a living entity that defies laws of physics, her fluffy dog is secretly a monster, and the only paying guest is a former Galactic tyrant with a price on her head. Then there are practical matters of space vampire knights, elite werewolf soldiers, and philosopher space chickens.

Most of the books in the Innkeeper Chronicles are focused on Dina, but Sweep of the Blade revolves around Maud Demille, Dina’s sister.

The Invisible Library Series in Order: How to read Genevieve Cogman’s Books?

Fabien
January 31, 2023May 15, 2023

Collecting books can be a dangerous job!

What is the Invisible Library series about?

Written by Genevieve Cogman (Scarlet), the Invisible Library is a series of fantasy sci-fi spy adventure novels about very dangerous books.

The story focuses on Irene, a professional spy for the mysterious Library, a shadowy organization that collects important works of fiction from all of the different realities.

Working with her apprentice Kai, a dragon of royal descent, Irene jumps from one reality to the other to stop catastrophic events from happening.

John Gwynne Books in Order (Faithful and the Fallen, Of Blood & Bone…)

Fabien
January 30, 2023January 30, 2023

All of John Gwynne’s Books…

Who is John Gwynne?

John Gwynne is an award-winning British (but born in Singapore) author of fantasy series, but also a Viking re-enactor! He studied and lectured at Brighton University, he’s been in a rock ‘n’ roll band, playing the double bass, traveled the USA, and lived in Canada for a time.

He is married with children (and multiple dogs) and lives in Eastbourne, East Sussex, running a small family business rejuvenating vintage furniture.

Gwynne is mostly known for his “The Faithful and the Fallen” series, and the “Of Blood and Bone” series. His last series is The Bloodsworn Saga.

Valdemar Reading Order: How to read Mercedes Lackey’s book series?

Fabien
January 24, 2023December 17, 2022

A classic Fantasy series.

What is the Valdemar series about?

Coming from the American writer Mercedes Lackey, Valdemar is a massive fantasy series composed of multiple trilogies, and numerous standalone novels and short stories that are interconnected.

With stories spanning some 3,000 years, the Valdemar universe is mostly set in Valdemar, a kingdom in the world of Velgarth, a world inhabited by magic, and a safe haven for anyone who has been persecuted for his beliefs or actions.

To function, the government relies on the Heralds, those Chosen by Companions, the magical horse-like beings with whom they forge psychic bonds.

In 2021, it was announced that the Last Herald-Mage trilogy was going to be adapted for television.

Gene Wolfe Books in Order (including the Solar Cycle Reading Order)

Fabien
January 20, 2023February 22, 2023

All of Gene Wolfe’s Books!

Who was Gene Wolfe?

Gene Rodman Wolfe (1931-2019) was a prolific American science fiction and fantasy writer, a member of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame (like Frank Herbert or Octavia Butler) known for his short stories and his award-winning novels

In fact, Wolfe is best known for his Book of the New Sun series which formed the first part of his “Solar Cycle”–like The Book of the Long Sun and The Book of the Short Sun. He also wrote The Soldier of the Mist series, The Wizard Knight series.

Reading Gene Wolfe is an experience as Neil Gaiman’s described it, he even gave some recommendations for a better reading experience.