Spring Reading: Favorite Books that Remind Me of Spring

Have you ever read a book that encapsulated the feel of a particular season? 

Of course there are Halloween books or Christmas books that make you think of those holidays and the seasons they are associated with, but what about a random book that just seems to invoke a certain seasonal feeling? For example, Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring always reminds of me of a crisp, golden afternoon in early Autumn. Tolstoy's Anna Karenina makes me think of a grey snowy day in winter (even when at least half of that book is actually set in spring and summer). 

With the weather being as erratic as it has been this year, where it seems like we have moved from winter to a hot summer with very little in between, I have decided to make  a list of my favorite books that always remind me of actual spring: mild weather, misty rain, buds and flowers, new life and fresh beginnings.

1. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim

This one feels like a bit of an obvious cheat, but really, no spring reading list can be complete without what is a quintessentially spring classic. The Enchanted April follows the lives of four English women as they decide to leave behind their dreary London routines and unhappy relationships and rent an Italian castle for the month of April. It's a lighthearted read with beautiful scenery descriptions, likable characters, and a dash of witty dialogue.  

2. Chalice by Robin McKinley

When the Master of Willowlands dies with no heirs, the king's youngest brother returns from the mysterious and mystic Priesthood of Fire to take up the role of ruler. Mirasol, a beekeeper in the province finds herself thrust into the role of Chalice, which is a mix of adviser to the ruler and emissary of the land itself. Mirasol must deal with a role that she was never prepared for, try to heal a land fractured by the previous ruler's tyranny and abuse, and learn to help a man who is no longer truly human and burns everything that he touches. This is one of my favorite fantasy books, more like a dreamlike fairy tale, with some beautiful writing and a hint of a Beauty & The Beast-esque romance.

3. The Bees by Laline Paul 

Follows the life of Flora 717, a lowly sanitation honeybee, who finds out that she is able to produce offspring which puts her in direct conflict with her hive's queen. I don't read a lot of anthropomorphic novels, but this is a good one. Not only is it a fun read with a slightly sinister dystopian undertone, it's also super informative as well if you ever wanted to know anything about bees.

4. Kingfisher by Patricia McKillip

Everything written by Patricia McKillip is dreamy and illusory, and this novel is no exception. When Pierce, the son of a powerful sorceress, finds out the truth about who his father is, he leaves behind his home in the middle of nowhere and gets caught up in a quest to find a mysterious artifact of an ancient god. This reads like a loving homage to Arthurian legend, set in an interestingly modern fantasy setting that is not in the urban/contemporary sub-genre. With several characters and subplots, this is a strange but pretty fantasy novel that stuck with me a long time after reading it. 

5. To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

To the Lighthouse loves to show up on many "most difficult books to read" lists, but do not be deterred from giving it a try! Virginia Woolf uses nonlinear narrative and stream of consciousness here, but the writing is absolutely wonderful. The novel follows the Ramsay family on their vacations to The Hebrides over a ten year time span. Very nostalgic in tone with lyrical writing and wonderful descriptions, it's not an action-packed novel by any means, but is incredibly atmospheric and feels something like an impressionist painting in book form. 

6. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

This is an super charming and romantic bildungsroman that is a great read for adult and young adult readers alike. The novel is told through 17-year-old Cassandra Mortmain's journal entries, who is currently living in a dilapidated English castle with her father, stepmother, and older sister. In order to hone her writing skills, Cassandra fills the pages of her journal with descriptions of her current life and how things begin to change when a family of wealthy Americans move into the estate next door. 

Great Audiobooks for the Whole Family

This month the library is highlighting its audiobook collection! Try a book on CD, Playaway, eaudiobook, and now MP3!  MP3 audiobooks are easier to handle and keep track of because the whole book is on just one or two discs.

I listen to audiobooks in my car--it's how I get an extra book in a week.  I really like a lot of different genres including mysteries, fantasy, history, and especially young adult titles.  The teen collection has tons of great choices including some of my favorites.

The following are some really fantastic choices that I would suggest for audio lovers:

Nevada Barr--Anna Pigeon Series--Track of the Cat--Mystery

Terry Brooks--Shannara Series--Sword of Shannara--Fantasy
Terry Brooks--Genesis of Shannara Series--Armageddon's Children--Fantasy
Daniel James Brown--The Boys in the Boat--Non-Fiction
*Jim Butcher--Cinder Spires Series--The Aeronaut's Windlass--Fantasy
Jim Butcher--Dresden Files--Storm Front--Mystery
Bill Bryson--A Walk In The Woods--Non-Fiction

Suzanne Collins--Hunger Games Trilogy--Hunger Games--Young Adult
*Diana Gabaldon--Outlander Series--Outlander--Historical, Fantasy
Laura Hillenbrand--Unbroken: WWII Story of Survival...--Non-Fiction
Sara Paretsky--V. I. Warshawski Series--Indemnity Only--Mystery
*Richard Peck--Grandma Dowdel Series--A Long Way from Chicago--Yng Adult
Kathy Reichs--Temperance Brennan Series--Deja Dead--Mystery
*J. K. Rowling--Harry Potter Series--H Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone--Juve
Rebecca Skloot--The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks--Non-Fiction
Jonathan Stroud--Bartimaeus Series--The Amulet of Samarkand--Juvenile
***Elizabeth Wein--Code Name Verity, Rose Under Fire--Young Adult
*Westerfeld, Scott--Leviathan Series--Leviathan--Young Adult
Moira Young--Dustlands Series--Blood, Red Road--Young Adult

These are all wonderful but my absolute favorites are marked with a *.

Naomi Novak’s Temeraire series

Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series

The historical ‘what if?’  has long been one of the more fascinating questions : Victor Milan look at what if dinosaurs were still around in the 14th century, Marie Brennan looks at what if dragons were a part of nature, Eric Flint looks at what if a 21^st century West Virginia mining town was dropped it into 1632 Germany. These types of fiction let the writer mix their imaginations with (hopefully) well researched fact.

Naomi Novik looks at the Napoleonic wars if dragons were not only used, but were intelligent, speaking creatures. We follow Captain William Laurence of the HMS Reliant as he is forced from the Navy due to circumstances. While capturing a French frigate, he finds himself bound for life to Temeraire, an exceptionally intelligent dragon, and thus committed to a lifetime service in the Aviator’s Corps. The story follows the intrepid duo through battles, politicking, storms, revolts, and plague all throughout the world as they try to thwart the forces of Napoleon.

Naturally, this is primarily an adventure series, but it is obvious that Novik's imagination is only equaled by her research into the time period. Little details really bring the world together and provide and excellent backdrop for the story. Also, while it would be easy to simply write a long string of battles with dragons, the Temeraire series also brings in politics, cultural differences, class differences, philosophy, and many other fascinating elements that serve to add depth to both the characters and the story. 

The audio versions of the Temeraire series are read by Simon Vance and are most excellent to listen to during the day. Vance does an admirable job giving life to so many characters from so many different countries.

I would highly recommend both the audio and the print version for anyone that is a fan of ‘what ifs’, dragons, Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander, and Horatio Hornblower.

Great "New Adult" Fiction Novels

If you enjoy reading new adult (NA) fiction you have to try these novels. New Adult fiction features protagonists who are between the ages of 18 and 30. The novels explore young adults firsts which may include moving out, going to college, their first romance or joining the military. No matter which situation is being explored there is usually a romance tied in.

Note some NA fiction novels are very explicit. Not all NA novels are filled with sexually explicit scenes but several are. I encourage readers to think of New Adult Fiction as adult novels with strong crossover appeal for older young adults. 

NA Fantasy

Cursed by Jennifer Armentrout
This is a paranormal mystery, romance and suspense filled New Adult fiction novel. Ember Williams has the touch of death. After her father is killed in a car accident her sister, Olivia brings Ember back to life. When life begins to spin out of control Olivia and Ember are coerced into moving to a new town, new school and new home. 

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Mare Barrow is a commoner until she finds latent magic within her. It leads her into the dangerous territory--the King's Palace. Here she must learn to trust a prince, but which one will she choose.

Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen
Magic, adventure mystery, and romance combine in this epic debut in which a young princess must reclaim her dead mother's throne, learn to be a ruler and defeat the Red Queen, a powerful and malevolent sorceress who is determined to destroy her.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sara Maas
When Huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature demands retribution. He takes Feyre to Faery where she learns her abductor is one of the ancient fae. As her hostility transforms to caring Feyre finds an ancient evil shadow, and if she cannot stop it Tamlin, her abductor and his world are doomed forever. 

NA Romance

Confess by Colleen Hoover
Auburn Reed fell in love at 15. Her boyfriend died after a long illness and his family sent her away not believing she truly loved him. However she has living proof of their love and she'll do anything to hold onto it.

The Deal by Elle Kennedy
This is a refreshing, romantic hilarious story of unexpected love. Hannah needs to make her crush jealous. Garrett needs to raise his GPA. He gets a tutor and she gets a date, until an unexpected kiss makes Garrett think of forever. Now he has to convince Hannah. 

Deep by Kylie Scott
Readers who enjoy whirlwind romances with plenty of sex and laugh out loud humor will love this contemporary romance.

Capture by Rachel Van Dyken
Losing your ability to speak at seventeen is not fair.  Dani's new normal is being a mute, who lives on the inside and is unable to actually communicate verbally with others.  After the accident she also lost all her high school friends. Life is good just lonely, until Lincoln Green hires her. He's gorgeous, completely unavailable and unobtainable. But that doesn't stop her from wondering...if things were different..would he want her?

If you would like to find more NA fiction novels visit Washington-Centerville Public Library and check out our New Adult Fiction Booklist.

Sarah J. Maas: Amazing Fantasy and Crossover Author

I found a fantastic crossover author!  Her name is Sarah J. Maas.  If you enjoy reading fantasy novels you have to read  A Court of Thorns and Roses. I love fantasy novels and this one has it all: magic, evil villains, wonderful heroes/ heroines and a hint of romance. Maas even weaves a few fairy tales into her story. Feyre is a huntress hunting food for her family when she kills a wolf in the woods, a beast like creature demands retribution and takes Feyre from her home to dwell in the magical world of the faeries.  As time passes an ancient shadow grows and Feyre must find a way to fight it to save the ones she loves.

If you liked Graceling, The Queen of the Tearling, or A Song of Ice and Fire (aka Game of Thrones) you will love reading books by Sarah J. Maas. Most of her novels are classified as young adult fiction, but I beg you not to let that stop you from reading her spell-binding novels.  

Throne of Glass is the story of Celaena Sardothien an amazing warrior/assassin who is released from Endovier's slave pits and given a chance to win her freedom. Celaena is quick-witted, an amazing fighter and has a large heart. Crown of Midnight is the second in the series and is just as amazing as the first novel in the series. However I highly recommend you read The Assassin's Blade (a collection of novellas)  before you begin the Throne of Glass series.This is a prequel to the Throne of Glass series and gives readers a glimpse into how Celaena was molded into the assassin she is.  

Maas is a master world builder. She creates believable worlds complete with political unrest, family tension, intrigue, magic and evil villains as well as amazing heroes. I cannot get enough of Celeana and her friends so of course I read the rest of the series including Heir of Fire and Queen of Shadows. Now I am anxiously awaiting her next novel in the series. It saddens me that I may have to wait a year until Maas completes it. 

These epic fantasies are ones you won't want to put down and Sarah J. Maas is an author readers of all ages will enjoy. I hope you give her work a try and find her work as enthralling as I did. 

Her next novel will be released in May 2016. It is the Court of Mist and Fire, which is the second novel in the Court of Thorns and Roses series.

The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickson

The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickson

Any summary I try to write cannot do justice the layered intricacy that is Baru Cormorant. It is a story of individuals struggling against the might of nations, done in a refreshing way. It is a fantasy novel without dragons, magic, or even anything more odd that a foreign currency. There is but one large battle and eventually, you realize even that was just secondary to other movements that were going on.

The story follows the titular Bar Cormorant as a young girl on the island of Taranoke who loves to tally the birds and the stars. But with the trade winds comes the Empire of Masks from Falcrest. The Masquerade conquers using economy and rules, progress and lies. They rename things and outlaw local customs and turn the people into good servants of the empire. Baru watches as her islands way of life is destroyed, as one of her fathers is murdered and he people devastated by plague. She realizes that she hates the Empire of Masks and that it cannot be destroyed from the outside. Once she is identified as a prodigy and a savant with numbers and is groomed to be integrated into the highest rungs of the Masquerade’s power, she sees her chance to end the Masquerade from within. In order to help her people, she must cover her hate and tackle the Empire’s test, bringing order to the rebellious Aurdwynn nation. It is a land full of shifting loyalties, sedition, rebels, and treachery. Baru must find a way to rule this unrulable country in the name of an empire she hates.

Baru Cormorant is an amazing, layered story, well-crafted and well plotted out. Despite the fantasy setting, her struggles generate empathy and she develops from a simple, very smart girl into a richly complex character that, despite her flaws, you find tourself rooting for, to the very end.

On a side note, I am perfectly willing to trust anything that is blurbed by Kameron Hurley as being “Smart. Brutal”, and I have to say, I was not disappointed. 

A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan

Dragons are a staple in fantasy, they are powerful, destroyers, companions and enemies. Occasionally they talks and are frequently mysterious, but rarely are they ever looked at and analyzed in a scientific manner. A Natural History of Dragons takes this old standby and tells an altogether different and engaging story.

We follow the early events of Isabella, or more formally known as Lady Trent, life and rise to one of the preeminent dragon naturalist. Told in in memoir form we learn of Isabella as young girl growing up in the Scirland countryside, a country remarkably similar to Victorian England. She is given little opportunity for science in general and no opportunity to study the little developed field of dragon naturalism. But she manages persevere, acquiring the a copy of the single authoritarian text on dragons, has a chance encounter with one, finds a scholarly husband, and embarks on an expedition to Vystrana to study the local rock wyrms, who are noted for being relatively calm  The expedition is full of smugglers, superstitious locals, ancient ruins, and mysterious and characteristic dragon attacks. Isabella must use all her intelligence and courage to determine what exactly is causing the dragons to attack.

The start seemed to plod along at times, even with the consideration that it was needed to establish Isabella’s background and motivations. It seems especially slow in comparison to the concluding flurry of action. However, Brennan does a remarkable job mixing memoir, fantasy dragons, and naturalism, all with a good dose of who-dunnit.

Invasion of the Tearling

If you have followed this blog then you know I have eagerly awaited the release of Erika Johansen's latest novel, Invasion of the Tearling.  This is the sequel to the blockbuster debut novel, Queen of the Tearling. If you have not read Queen of the Tearling, stop what you are doing and go read it! This is a spoiler alert, if you continue reading it is not my fault. You should have quit reading and gotten the first book in this amazing series. 

When we first met Kelsea Glynn she was a young princess who was in hiding until she was old enough to take her place as the rightful ruler of the Tearling. Her path to the throne was not easy and her choices were and still are difficult ones. In this riveting sequel Kelsea deals with the consequences of the choices she made when she became Queen.  She freed her people from slavery and fought to remove the Mortmesne Army from her Kingdom. Now the Red Queen, the ruler of the Mortmesne people, is angry that the Queen of the Tearling would dare defy her. She vows revenge on the Tearling, especially Kelsea.

Kelsea must balance politics, prepare for war and learn how to use her magic if she is to become a successful ruler.  As if that is not enough of a balancing act she must also learn to control her visions. 

Her visions are of a time that existed before the crossing, when the Tear Empire was only a dream: a dream where all people are created equal and treated fairly. As Kelsea's power grows her motives and appearance change; will she remain true to herself or will she allow the jewels she wears to change not just her appearance but who she is? 

This is a riveting epic novel you won't want to put down. Johansen weaves this story brilliantly connecting the past and present. She adds depth to the characters, the culture and gives understanding to why the Kingdom of the Tearling exists with her glimpses of the past and creates a believable story of love, loss, betrayal and ultimately hope.  Masterfully written and suspenseful this story has it all magic, an evil villain, a beautiful Queen and a multitude of heroes.  I cannot wait for the conclusion to this wonderful saga. 

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

Multiple/parallel universes are one of the bread and butter staples of science fiction. So much so that it can commonly be treated in a very tongue-in-cheek manner. However, correctly done, it can make for a very compelling tale.

V.E. Schwab’s tale spans 4 Londons. Each city is named London, and each has an tavern at the same spot. But there the differences end as each is part of its own county and world, with different laws, customs, languages, and, most importantly, magic. Grey London is the one we are familiar with under the rule of King George III. Red London is filled with magic, so much s that the Thames pulses scarlet with it. White London magic is the source of power and it is jealously coveted and hoarded. Black London was consumed by an evil and was long shut off from the other three. At one point, anyone could travel freely between the London’s, but after Black London was closed off, only the powerful and rare few can and act as messengers between each city’s ruler. Kell, one such messenger collects artifacts from the three Londons he travels to. But he stumbles upon a fragment from Black London and becomes involved in a power struggle that could end his own Red London and unleash the magic from black London on the other three. With Lila, the contrary thief from Grey London, Kell must find out where the fragment came from, return it, and save the Londons from following the fate of Black London.

Schwab does an excellent job of introducing cities and setting up the conventions of magic without overburdening the reader with too many rules. Similarly, she does an excellent job of building complexity in her characters as the story unfolds. Even for those that are not fans of the fantasy genre can appreciate the careful construction and development in this interesting story.  

The Hundred Thousand Kingdom (Inheritance #1) by N. K. Jemisin

I have mixed feeling with trilogies; they are always tricky to pull off when telling stories, regardless of the medium. Sometimes the second one fails to be a good arc or seems to simply be a trailer for the final volume. Frequently, they can just feel overstretched, as if the writer were made to push the story longer than intended. The charming foibles of characters can become grating, endearing writer’s quirks turn to grating phrases. This is especially true as recently creating trilogies has apparently become the standard, even if the original wasn't a trilogy (*ahem Hobbit*).

N. K. Jemisin’s Inheritance Trilogy starts with the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. We follow Yeine Darr, a young woman and leader from the barbarian north as she is called to Sky, the ruling palace, and named an heir to the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. This pushes her into a power struggle with her two cousins, both of whom desire the throne. In the midst of this power struggle are a group of gods who, after losing the Gods’ War, have been made the slaves and pawns of the mortal rulers of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Yeine must find a way to navigate and survive the deadly intrigue and learn more of her families past all as she becomes drawn to the subjugated gods.

The relative straightforward story telling from a single character’s perspective is very well handled and a nice contrast to the multi-view, epic fantasies that seem to be popular as of late. By limiting the perspective, the reveal of the plot and the excellent details of Jemisin’s world building are made all the more exquisite. Yet, the compelling aspect of the Inheritance trilogy is that we are treated to a different, richly complex character for each installment. Not three points of view on a single story, but three separately experienced stories that link together. In this way Jemison creates a pleasing and amazingly well made trilogy.  

Steampunk: a Blend of Action, Adventure, Science, and Magic

Steampunk is a type of science fiction/fantasy that often mixes the modern with the antique.  It originated in the 1980s and blends together a number of sub-genres such as: science fiction, fantasy, mystery, alternative history, and horror.  It's settings are usually Victorian-era Britain although some are set in the American Wild West or even a post-apocalyptic future.

While clockwork and steam-powered contraptions are a common steampunk theme, there may be others such as:  the pairing of hard science with magic or futuristic technology with mechanical machines.

So, try some of the following steampunk books--you'll be happy you checked them out.

Poison Fruit by Jacqueline Carey

The paranormal town of Pemkowet is led by Daisy Johanssen, agent of Hel.   But as a nightmarish monster racks up victims, someone else files a lawsuit against the town. If Pemkowet loses, the fate of the community will be at stake. 

The Shotgun Arcana by R. S. Belcher

Golgotha, Nevada. 1870. A haven for all including a fallen angel, a mad scientist, a pirate queen, and a deputy who is kin to coyotes, Golgotha has come through many trials, but now an army of killers is converging on the town, and its people will be tested as never before.

Gideon Smith & the Brass Dragon by David Barnett

Nineteenth century London is where Queen Victoria presides over three quarters of the known world.  The pirate Louis Cockayne has stolen a fantastical weapon-a great brass dragon. Gideon and his intrepid band give chase through the lawless lands of free Texas where life is cheap and honor cheaper. 

The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato

Octavia, a young healer with incredible powers, is traveling to her first mission. Suddenly, she is caught up in a flurry of intrigue:  the steward may be one of the infamous Clockwork Daggers! The danger is only beginning and the conspiracy may reach to the crown itself.

The Return of the Discontinued Man by Mark Hodder

In 1860 London, a scientist conjures up Spring Heeled Jack, who is hunting Sir Richard Burton! Meanwhile, Burton is experiencing visions and now he must voyage through time into a twisted future ruled by a cruel intelligence.
  
The Executioner’s Heart by George Mann


Chief Inspector Bainbridge of Scotland Yard is called to a third, symbolic murder. Supernatural specialists Newbury and Hobbes conclude that the killings may be the work of the Executioner. Who will be her next target? 

Cold Copper by Devon Monk

In steam age America, lycanthrope Cedar Hunt and witch Mae Lindson set out on a mission. Taking refuge in Des Moines when a storm hits, they must stop the mayor’s plot to rule the world.

Fiddlehead by Cherie Priest

Ex-slave Gideon Bardsley is a brilliant inventor. To keep Gideon safe, Abraham Lincoln calls on Pinkerton "Belle" Boyd.  Can she keep the greedy warmongers from assassinating Gideon and extending the Civil War? 
  
The Ripper Affair by Lilith Saintcrow


An accident places Archibald Clare, a mentath in the service of Britannia, in the care of sorceress Emma Bannon. He needs rest to repair his abilities, but someone is murdering women of a certain reputation and threatens to bring ruin to the Empire. 


Also, try some of these stand-alone novels and series number ones:

Balfour and Meriwether in the Incident of the Harrowmoor Dogs by Daniel Abraham
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris
Doktor Glass by Thomas Brennan
Soulless by Gail Carriger
Half Made World by Felix Gilman
Mainspring by Jay Lake
God Save the Queen by Kate Locke
The Buntline Special by Michael (Mike) Resnick
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding

Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley

Mirror Empire by Kameron Hurley

A coldblooded, brilliant general has to decide if her loyalty lies with her Empress or her people. An orphan has to come into her mother’s powers and decide how to use them. A young man inherits his sister’s throne and must lead a pacifist people into war. These, mixed with a world ending cataclysm, enchanted weapons, and mysterious immortals might seem like just another trope laden, fantasy novel with easily discernible good guys fighting the obviously evil bad guys. Yet, Mirror Empire breaks from this tradition, arguably set by Lord of the Rings, with a glorious, violent way.  Kameron Hurley’s take on fantasy inserts you into the middle of a world that is truly unfamiliar and menacing.

We come into the story on the eve of a reoccurring, world-shattering event, heralded by the rise of the dark star. As a relentless enemy ravages the lands in the north, Hurley’s characters have to navigate fractious politics, perfect assassins, ruinous betrayals, and the collision of worlds. Hurley does some excellent world building, creating a fascinating realm complete with sentient plants, bear cavalry, blood magic, and much, much more. As soon as you start to settle the rules and the situation in your head, she switches things around. But what makes Mirror Empire truly unique is the take on gender. The two main civilizations that you meet have vastly different conceptions of gender. One has four different pronouns while another has three, in each case, their application is not just societal, but personal. As if this gender fluidity was not enough, one of the characters gradually changes his/her physical gender characteristics.  While not for the faint-of-heart, this gritty fantasy novel is decidedly a good read and is definitely worth picking up.

Dark Fantasy: A Step Away from Horror?

What is dark fantasy?

According to Lucy A. Snyder at www.sff.net:

"Both horror and dark fantasy explore the nature of evil and create a creepy or frightening atmosphere. Thus, when asked what the difference between dark fantasy and supernatural horror is, some people will say that there is no difference, or that the difference is that horror goes to greater extremes."

"To my mind, that's a bit of an oversimplification.  While a broad gray area certainly exists between the two genres, there are a few ways to distinguish the two.  Some general characteristics:

Dark fantasies have an established setting that is fantastic or otherworldly. 
The protagonists of dark fantasies are often heroic. They choose to face danger in order to save others or to achieve some greater goal. They are often experienced with the occult or in possession of special skills, knowledge, or powers. 

In many dark fantasies, there's an implied comfort to the reader: The characters the reader cares about will usually make it out alive in the end, and the day will be saved."

Try some of these fantastic examples of dark fantasy:

Joe Abercrombie--First Law series--The Blade Itself--Inquisitor Glokta is a bitter relic, trapped in a broken body. Nobleman, Captain Jezal dan Luthar is vain, selfish and self-obsessed.  Logen Ninefingers is an infamous warrior with a bloody past.  Bayaz , an old man with a terrible temper, who could be the First of the Magi or a fraud.  Whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Glotka, Jezal and Logen a lot more challenging...

Clive Barker--Imajica
Hunted through New York City by an assassin hired by her husband, Judith is saved by her former lover, John Zacharias, but the two are quickly thrust into the strange netherworld of Imajica, where they must fight unspeakable evils.

Glen Cook--The Black Company series--The Black Company
Adrift in a world torn by sorcery gone wild, the Company is the last remnant of a once-great mercenary army. Led by Croaker, former physician and primary chronicler, they must search the world for the last ray of hope--the White Rose.

Stephen R. Donaldson--Chronicles of Thomas Covenant--Lord Foul's Bane
He called himself the Unbeliever because he dared not believe in the strange alternate world in which he suddenly found himself. Yet he was tempted to believe, to fight for the Land, to be the reincarnation of its greatest hero....

Neil Gaiman--American Gods
After three years in prison, Shadow has done his time. Two days before he gets out, his wife dies in a mysterious car crash. Dazed, Shadow travels home, only to encounter the bizarre Mr. Wednesday who claims to be a former god and the king of America. Together they embark on a very strange journey across the States, solving murders along the way. 

Simon R. Green--The Nightside series--Something from the Nightside
John Taylor is not a private detective per se, but he has a knack for finding lost things. That's why he's been hired to descend into the Nightside, an otherworldly realm in the center of London where fantasy and reality share renting space and the sun never shines.

Caitlin Kiernan--The Red Tree
Sarah Crowe left Atlanta to live in an old house in rural Rhode Island. Within its walls she discovers an unfinished manuscript written by the house's former tenant – who was obsessed with the ancient oak growing on the property. As the tree takes root in her imagination, Sarah risks her sanity to unearth a revelation planted centuries ago.

Stephen King--Dark Tower series--The Gunslinger
The Gunslinger is a haunting figure in combat with The Man in Black in an epic battle of good versus evil. A spellbinding tale that is both grippingly realistic and eerily dreamlike and filled with ominous landscapes and chilling peril.               

Mark Lawrence--Broken Empire series--Prince of Thorns
When he was nine, he watched his mother and brother killed before him. By the time he was thirteen, he was the leader of a band of bloodthirsty thugs. By fifteen, he intends to be king...   Life and death are no more than a game to him-and he has nothing left to lose.

China Mieville--New Crobuzon series--Perdido Street Station
Beneath the bleached ribs of a dead, ancient beast lies New Crobuzon, a squalid city where humans, Re-mades, and arcane races live in perpetual fear. The air and rivers are thick with factory pollutants and the strange emissions of alchemy, and the ghettos contain a vast mix of workers, artists, spies, and junkies. 

Michael Moorcock--Elric of Melinbone series--Elric the Stealer of Souls
Elric - the albino sorcerer and battle-thirsty prince. Elric - doomed beyond hope to wander a world of savagery and treachery. Elric - seeker of impossible goals, fighter of remorseless battles, and an embittered poet. Elric - held in the grip of his own sword, the enchanted Stormbringer. 

Catherynne M. Valente--Palimpsest
Between dreaming and waking, at the train stop beyond the end of the world is the city of Palimpsest. To this kingdom come four travelers:  a locksmith; a beekeeper; a binder of rare books; and a young Japanese woman. They've each lost something important and what they will find is more than they could ever imagine.

Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss

Patrick Rothfuss’s Slow Regard of Silent Things is, to say the least an odd book. I have seen it classified as “Epic Fantasy” because it’s book 2.5 of the Kingkiller Chronicles, but it weighs in at only 159 pages. There is a solid chapters worth on a soap making adventure. Rothfuss himself warns people away from the book, an odd move to say the least. But to be fair, this is the story of a fascinating, but exceptionally strange character in his Kingkiller chronicles. 

The story follows Auri, who lives below the University in what she calls the Underthing. You could call it a character expose, following Auri over the course of a handful of days as she explores the secrets of her world, lives, and prepares to meet Kvothe. Patrick brings the same poetic style as Name of the Wind, but condensed and with all the brilliant action and snarky dialogue thrown right out the window. What is left is strange, but extremely fitting to both the character and the world Rothfuss has created, a brief but excellent tale.

In the end, I definitely would recommend this book; however, I would also suggest that you first read The Name of the Wind and A Wise Man’s Fear to get a sense of the Rothfuss, the story, and of Auri. I realize that this exceeds 1500 pages, but if you are a fan of fantasy, every last page is worth it. The only down side is that Rothfuss is still in the process of writing the last book of the trilogy, but be patient, he will get it done.

Queen of the Tearling

I have a fondness for reading debut novels. This particular debut novel, Queen of the Tearling, is a gem. Erika Johansen creates an intense novel in a fantasy world filled with treachery. Young Princess Kelsea is hidden away from the world when she is a toddler. She is raised by two devoted servants who teach her politics, languages and a little about fighting. She is hidden away in a secret cottage for her protection. The world is not a safe place for a young untried princess, especially when her Uncle, the acting regent, wants her throne and the power that goes with it. 

Kelsea knows little of her mother, the queen or the current state of affairs, because her servants never spoke of her or the treaty she signed with the Red Queen. On her nineteenth birthday Kelsea becomes the queen and the Queen's soldiers arrive to take her to the Keep.  They do not faun or bow to her but treat her with disrespect and distrust.  Kelsea's journey to become queen is a quest of epic proportions that will either make her a strong leader of legends or destroy her and her kingdom.

Johansen's debut novel is solid, intriguing and captivating. It is riddled with mysteries, betrayals and treacherous battles. If you enjoyed The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Wheel of Time series or A Game of Thrones you will enjoy this novel. I cannot wait for the next book in the exciting new trilogy. 

Hugo Awards Announced

This weekend, at LonCon 2014, the Hugo Awards were announced and there are some excellent, excellent winners and I believe that much of the SF community is coming away with some good feelings about the whole thing. 

For me specifically, one of the most interesting aspects of this year’s awards was the short list for the best novel, specifically the debut Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie and the massive Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan '(with the help of Brandon Sanderson for the final 3 novels). As best as I can tell, these were the two leading titles and people would have only been surprised if neither of them won. Despite both being favorites, there are some decidedly noteworthy differences. While AJ has been sweeping the awards this year, snagging a Nebula, an Arthur C Clarke award, and the British Science Fiction Association, the WoT series has been around since 1990, was only recently finished and weighing in at 3.5 million words, does a good job of defining epic fantasy. 

In fact, some would argue that it is, the very dentition epic fantasy and very likely trots out just about every trope of the genre at least once. Don't get me wrong, the books are still good and have a strong enough following that the series even has its own Convention. In fact, there was some worry in the community that there would be a glut of voters signing up solely to vote for the WoT series and would disregard the other categories (analysis shows that this didn't happen). Finally, Sanderson had to be brought in to finish the series. A feat that is difficult to manage and that he pulled off wonderfully. 

Conversely, Leckie's debut gives a unique perspective of a revenge tale mixed with an excellent exploration of self and gender. In my opinion, there are two things that make AJ simply excellent. First, you get thrown right into the deep end. There is no winding road to learn about the protagonist and their toils and tribulations. In fact, the first few chapters make for some mental chewing and revisiting just to stay afloat. Then, when you start to feel you have a handle on things and you think you are getting the hang of the depths, Leckie starts hurling waves at you. Second, the protagonist has difficulty telling gender and defaults to "she" and "her". It might not seem like much, but to have all of the characters resist even this level of categorization drastically changes how the entire story is read.

In realizing that this post is in danger of rambling on eve more, I will end with this, go out and read both of these stories, they are both excellent for some very diverse reasons.