Non-Harry Potter Book Recommendations

[Lizzy Bennet]

I don't *think* we have this thread anywhere else (and if we do, will a mod of this forum by all means close this thread? ), but I thought, since we'll all have 2 - 3 years to wait for the sixth book, I thought we could post about other books/series/authors worth reading!

Besides Harry Potter, what books do you like to read by which authors? Any good series out there? They can be fantasy, like Harry Potter, or they can be something else entirely! Post them here and share with us what you feel is worth reading and that you enjoy!

As I've mentioned elsewhere, I'm in the 'book business', so I'm always looking to see what books out there people enjoy and reading them myself to keep up. I especially focus on children's and young adult literature (such as Harry Potter), as that's the age group I wish to work with, so you're helping me at the same time!

I'm going to think on my list of good books, then post them later when I have them all! Enjoy and happy posting!


~ Lizzy

[Claire]

I love Orson Scott Card, some good series by him are:
The Ender/Bean series [sci fi], Alvin Maker series [fantasy], or singles Enchantment or Pastwatch:The Redemption of Christopher Columbus.
I also like Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness series, and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials. And of course, LOTR...

[APWBD]

I'vereally enjoyed reading the 3 Artemis Fowl Books by Eoin C. They're really good. I also recommend Arrows of the Queen. And anything by L.M. Montgomtery, C.S. Louis, and J.R.R. Tolkein.

[Mint]

yeah, I had this thread before.

http://www.broomsticksandowls.com/forum ... .php?t=997

You have to go back one page to see the recommendations.

[Lizzy Bennet]

Thanks, Mint! Sorry about the repeat!!


~ Lizzy

[Malachim]

Here's some of my Fav's... They aren't kids books but they are fantasy.

Robert Jordan - Wheel of time series
Terry Goodkind - Sword of Truth series
David Eddings - All his series
Robin Hobb - The Farseer series
Terry Brooks - The first 5 or so Shannara books


There are more but I can't think of them off the top of my head... I'll add more later.

[Lizzy Bennet]

Here's some of my Fav's... They aren't kids books but they are fantasy.

Robert Jordan - Wheel of time series
Terry Goodkind - Sword of Truth series
David Eddings - All his series
Robin Hobb - The Farseer series
Terry Brooks - The first 5 or so Shannara books


There are more but I can't think of them off the top of my head... I'll add more later.

My boyfriend loves the "Wheel of Time" series, particularly "Small Gods". The tapes of the book (which is what he truly enjoys! ) got ruined, so I bought him a new set for his birthday a few weeks ago. I must admit, they are clever, and I got him the newest book (book #10) as a late Christmas present. Hmmmm, my post sort-of related to the topic!

[Sara Bumpkin]

I'm rather obsessed with the Wheel of Time.

Another good series is A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin... And there are many more of course but they arn't coming to mind right now.

[Malachim]

Hrm... havn't read Martin... I will have to chek it out.

As for Jordan, he seems to be of a type of author that loves politics and subplots. There is so much going on in his books that you have to reread them just to pick it all up. A lot of it is subtle too. I thought for a while he was the absolute best fantasy author, but he is starting to drag the Wheel of Time out too far. I hope he plans on finishing it before he writes it into oblivion.

As for the tapes.. I don't know if you can still get it but I have a 12 cassette set that covers books 4 5 6 and 7. If you can get it it's worth it. The reading is good but it's a bit light in the detail. Good if you already read the books.

One more Author to add it David Farland who does The Runelords. There are 3 books so far and it take a new spin to the magic element of the story. Well worth a look through.

[Sara Bumpkin]

*Sighs* Yes Jordan is dragging it on too long. I hope he finishes it in either this next book or the 12th book. Well, actually, I know he probably won't finish it in the 11th because I hear the 10th (I haven't read it yet) goes no where. Ah well.

I've only read the first book in the Runelords series but it was *very* good. Another good book is The Time of the Dark by Barbara Hambly. Kind of hard to come by but excellent in my opinion!!

[werebane]

Some good books are
Sword of Shannara
Elfstones of Shannara
Wishsong of Shannara
All by Terry Brooks

REALLY good books Dragonlance ( there are about 75 so ill name the good ones.)

Dragons of Autumn Twighlight
Dragons of Winter Night
Dragons of spring Dawing

Time of the twins
War of the Twins
Test of the twins

Soulforge
Brothers in Arms

I LOVE LOVE LOVE those books

[Malachim]

Yeah, sara you sure are right about that!

Jordan was setting himself up as the god of the genre until he started to loose his touch. The first 5 books were fantastic with the rich plots and wonderful character developent. Now bot seem to have stagnated.

My one hope is that there are only two more books and that he resurrects his writing style to finish off the series the way it started!

As for the Runelords, I would recommend you get the next two as well. I think Farland does a very good job with the series.

For the other you mentioned I've never seen but it has peaked my curiosity if it is hard to find.

I can also agree with all you listed Werebane, IMHO.
I loved the first of the Shannara books. I have NO idea what happened with brooks from the scions of shannara on. I read them but they were not good. In fact, the last one The Elf Queen was dreadful! Worse even then the darksword trilogy! LOL

I only own about 40 of the Dragonlance but I like them. They are quick reads generally and are good to fill space sometimes. The original 6 I think were Weis and Hickman's best work. I don't like almost all they've done since though Second Gen Dragonlace was ok too and was by them.

Do any of you remember or have read the Iron Tower Trilogy? It's been a long time since I read them and they were not weighty books (300 pg each I think) but I remember it as a great trilogy! The battles at the end of each book was fantastic! Course, my memories may have been colored with time....

Anbd Werebane... speaking of Dragonlance.. What did you think of Kaz the Minatour?

[AccioNiffler]

The Everworld series by K.A. Applegate is SO great. It's very interesting, the only series that I found harder to pull myself away from was Harry Potter! There are 12 books in the series, and it's neat because there are four main characters and the perspective that each book is told rotates between those characters. They all have to do with magic. Not so much wand waving magic, like in HP, but magic from all different cultures. Oh yea, Merlin's in it, so I guess that counts as wand waving magic!

[gecko]

I enjoy all books by late Isaac Asimov.
Best known is his Foundation trilogy, though's written many, many more books. Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 and other books of the same genre like 1984, A Brave new World, great too.
Harper Lee's To kill a Mockinbird and The Man who was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton. Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.

There are some Dutch books I like, but to mention them here seems a bit pointless. Yet I'm curious, do some of you know the movie or book 'The Discovery of Heaven'? That is originally a Dutch book written by Harry Mulisch. Some say he's the best Dutch author, though I disagree with that.

[Lizzy Bennet]

Here's some of my Fav's... They aren't kids books but they are fantasy.

Robert Jordan - Wheel of time series
Terry Goodkind - Sword of Truth series
David Eddings - All his series
Robin Hobb - The Farseer series
Terry Brooks - The first 5 or so Shannara books


There are more but I can't think of them off the top of my head... I'll add more later.

My boyfriend loves the "Wheel of Time" series, particularly "Small Gods". The tapes of the book (which is what he truly enjoys! ) got ruined, so I bought him a new set for his birthday a few weeks ago. I must admit, they are clever, and I got him the newest book (book #10) as a late Christmas present. Hmmmm, my post sort-of related to the topic!

ARRRRRGH! I must not have been using my brain today because I crossed up two different series!

My boyfriend DOES love the "Wheel of Time" series by Robert Jordan, but "Small Gods", another favorite book of his comes from ANOTHER favorite series he loves: the "Discworld" series by Terry Pratchett! Sorry about that mix-up..."Small Gods" is NOT a part of the "Wheel of Time" series...I just got crossed up that day! It seems there are a good deal of "Wheel of Time"/Robert Jordan fans...are there fans of "Discworld"/Terry Pratchett here as well?


~ Lizzy