Recently I posted two book recommendation requests at Goodreads. (Consider them part of my “market research” as a fantasy novelist. *wink*) I’ve gotten a few responses so far, but I thought I’d expand those requests to the blog. Feel free to post your suggestions in the Comments below or respond directly to the requests at Goodreads.
- Fairies in Fantasy Novels: I’m looking for fantasy novels (YA through adult) that feature fairy characters. The protagonist for my current WIP (YA fantasy) and some of her companions are Faeries, and I want to make sure my story offers something different compared to others that have been published. The only fairy book I remember reading is Jennifer Armintrout’s Queene of Light (which is part of a trilogy I’m not interested in continuing, since I didn’t care for Queene of Light).
Recommendations So Far: Holly Black’s Tithe, Laini Taylor’s Blackbringer, Herbie Brennan’s Faerie Wars, and Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely
- Mermaids in YA Fantasy Novels: I’m also looking for YA fantasy novels featuring mermaids, specifically a female mermaid as the protagonist. I have ideas for a future novel like this, but I want to check out the market so I know how I can set mine apart from what’s already out there.
Recommendations So Far: Kathryn Lasky’s Hannah
Thanks very much in advance! 🙂
Sara Letourneau 
I’d recommend Tad Williams Shadowmarch series for the fairies category. His take on the Fae was unique and interesting, and they’re great books overall :).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sara! I haven’t heard of that book before, so that’s a new one for me. 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Sara
As for fairies, do do do track down Jo Walton’s extraordinary book ‘Among Others’ – it won a hatful of awards in 2012 and deservedly so. I think it is one of the best books I’ve ever read and still haunts me… For what it’s worth, track down ANYTHING Walton’s written. I think she’s one of the best spec fic writers on the planet. Suzanne McLeod’s protagonist in the Spellcracker.com series Genny Taylor, is fae. And then there’s Justina Robson’s Quantum Gravity series also includes a really interesting take on fae.
As for mermaids, there’s Brenda Pandos YA series Everblue. It is VERY YA in tone – a bit too much so for my taste, though that’s not necessarily a criticism as I’m not the target audience… But she certainly has an interesting take on a mermaid world and if you’re considering writing a series featuring them, it’s worth tracking them down. Hope that helps! You certainly sound like you’re going to be busy in 2015:)).
LikeLike
Thank you Sarah! I’ll put all of those books on my wishlist. 😉 Now that I think of it, Everblue sounds familiar to me.
I’m going to buy and read the fairy novels soon, since the story I’m working on right now has fairies (spelled “Faeries” in mine). Admittedly it’s opposite of what I should have done; I should have read the stories first, then write my own – but I was too excited to wait on mine. Oops…?
The mermaid story won’t happen for a while (2016 at the earliest). I still have a lot of world-building and plotting ahead before I actually start writing it. So if I get ahead on reading the mermaid novels that are already out there, I’ll have a better idea of what I can do to make my take unique.
LikeLike
Oo I went on a mermaid binge a while back! Of Poseidon is the start to a YA mermaid trilogy. Deep Blue was a mermaid book but it read to me like middle grade and I didn’t much care for it. Above World is a middle grade, but that trilogy is one of the best mermaid books I’ve read 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know, I’ve heard of Of Poseidon but forgot about that. I’ll add it to my list. I’ll add that one to my list. Thanks, Anya!
LikeLike
The Iron King is a popular book about faries, I haven’t read it, but it’s on my wish list. The Last Changeling the main character is a fairy, but there isn’t too much fairy-ness in the book. Shadowmarch was a good take on faeries, I’ll second that. I don’t know if it’s young adult though.
I’ve heard of quite a few mermaid YA books, but none of them that really sounded good to me.
I like the idea of reading books similar to yours, that’s why I read so many young adult and middle grade books this year about magic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Molly! I hadn’t read your comment yet when I had responded to your Top 10 Books of 2014 article, so I’d already added The Last Changeling to my list. I’ve done the same with The Iron King now, too. (Oooh, Julie Kagawa! Been meaning to read her work.)
LikeLike
Pingback: Stacking The Shelves, Vol. 7: The Lucky Number Seven | Sara Letourneau's Official Website & Blog
Pingback: Recent Reads: “The Iron King” by Julie Kagawa | Sara Letourneau's Official Website & Blog
Pingback: Stacking The Shelves, Vol. 10: New March Releases + Reading Plan for 2015 | Sara Letourneau's Official Website & Blog
Pingback: Stacking The Shelves, Vol. 11: Of Fairies And A Female Knight | Sara Letourneau's Official Website & Blog
Pingback: Stacking The Shelves, Vol. 20: Cheers for Bookmail! | Sara Letourneau's Official Website & Blog
Pingback: Stacking The Shelves, Vol. 21: Christmas-January Haul, Plus My Reading Plan for 2016 | Sara Letourneau's Official Website & Blog
Pingback: Stacking The Shelves, Vol. 23: Mermaids, Fairies, and Magic Galore | Sara Letourneau's Official Website & Blog