Among Others
This wonderful book somehow gets right to the heart of what it feels like to grow up as misfit teen, with only the comfort of libraries and their science fiction & fantasy books to keep you company. It really reminded of why I decided to become a librarian...
The plot is that fifteen year old Mori finds herself farmed off to a girls boarding school after running away from her Mother and being placed in the care of a Father she doesn't know. She's too smart for her own good, walks with a cane after an accident and speaks with a Welsh accent so she definitely doesn't fit in at her new, posh English, school.
The book follows her as she makes her first steps in getting to know her father, come to terms with her past and her introduction to fandom.
Among Others comes with my highest recommendation. Please read this book - you may not love it as much as I do, but I guarantee that you won't regret it.
A Princess of Roumania
This alternate world fantasy novel came to me highly recommended by a friend.
While I certainly found it contained some very original twists on familiar fantasy tropes and I enjoyed reading the book, I just can't see myself reading any further in the series.
I'm not motivated to find out what happens next.
As a side note I described the plot and a couple of the characters from the story to a Romanian friend of mine and he found it hilarious...
So, in summary, it's well-written and has some fresh ideas but somehow lacking that magic ingredient that keeps you wanting to learn more.
Mercury Falls
Satiric apocalyptic fantasy. A pleasant enough read but absolutely nothing extraordinary.
I Shall Wear Midnight
Another excellent outing for Tiffany Aching.
I hate to spoil a single second of it - so many great moments.
OK the book really does need you to read all the Aching stories before it carries it's full weight but it will work as a standalone.
As always - if you don't read Pratchett do try him out.
If you do - buy this.
Wyrd Sisters
This, the 5th Discworld book, is the first where Pratchett really finds the style and tone that he would use for the majority of the rest of the series.
A brilliant parody of Shakespeare, Witch stories and fantasy in general it also happens to be the first book in the Witches sub-series (Granny Weatherwax appears earlier in Equal Rites but that's more of a standalone DW book).
If you've never read it before I very highly recommend it.
It's a great wee book that I've knocked down the score of because there are better Pratchett books out there now and I'm way too familiar with the book now and have rung much of the humour out it - even though I've not read it in at least 7 years.
The Magicians
Incredibly well done adult fantasy that subverts the tropes of Magic School and Magical Fantasy Lands.
Really nicely hit a spot.
Bloodsucking Fiends
Enjoyable, San Francisco set, romantic comedy. The twist being that the female lead is a newly fledged vampire.
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