[LM_NET] FW: Vapires, witches, fantasy reads

["Bzdusek, Shiloh" <shiloh.bzdusek@D300.ORG>]

I put out a post on LM Net and Fiction L so this hit will appear on both. I 
requested vampire, witch, werewolf, fantasy or sci fi books where smut did not rule 
the story line. I cannot THANK EVERYONE enough. I got so many hits and ALL of the 
suggestions were wonderful. I have enough to read for quite some time. If you don’t 
see your exact reply then I omitted it to save space because someone else already 
recommended your title. I did try to keep everyone’s awesome comments and reviews. 
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!!!!

Have you read Shirley Damsgaard's books?  She has four
out so far, with a fifth due in September, and they're
all paperback.  Perfect for summer reading.

The main character is a librarian, and she and her
grandmother are witches.  These aren't cozy since they
deal so well with social issues in small towns.  Very
well done.

They are:  Witch Way to Murder
           Charmed to Death
           The Trouble with Witches
           Witch Hunt

If you can find it, you may like Lynn Abbey's Out of Time, first in a
series about a University Librarian who uses a sort of magic to fight
curses. Followed by Behind Time, Taking Time and Down Time

*L.J. Smith, Nightworld series (teen vampires)
*Vivian Vande Velde, Magic Can be Murder (teen witch, some romance, and
she has other paranormal YA books)
*Tamora Pierce, The Magic Circle Quartet: Sandry's Story, Tris's Story,
Briar's Story, Daja's Story (teen magic users)
*Gena Showalter, Morganville Vampires series (YA; 2 books out so far)
*MaryJanice Davidson, Jennifer Scales and the Ancient Furnace (this and
the sequel are her only YA titles so far. She also writes the Betsy the
Vampire Queen series starting with Undead and Unwed, which are
hysterically funny but do have some explicit situations)
*Charlaine Harris, Sookie Stackhouse series (telepaths, were-creatures,
and vampires, oh my; some sexual situations, but not extremely
 explicit)
*Patrice Kindl, Owl in Love (YA, shapeshifter)
*Susan Cooper, The Dark is Rising sequence (YA, fantasy,
 Arthurian/Welsh
myth)

There is a trio of books by Nora Roberts that you might like.
It features 3 women who are on a island, and are all witches.

Three sisters trilogy

             Book 1  Dance upon the air
             Book 2  Heaven and earth
             Book 3  Face the fire

Have you read Secret of Platform 13
 (Ibbotson), Running Out of Time, and the Shadow Children series by Haddix?  I
 enjoyed the Joey Pigza series by Jack Gantos, about a attention
 deficit-boy, gives you some ideas what it's like to be hyperactive. Also House
 of Scorpion (Farmer), about a boy who is a clone. The Penderwicks
 (Birdsall), an old-fashioned good story.  Zach's Lie and Zach's Run by
 Roland Smith, about a family in the government-protection program. And,
 Memory Boy by Will Weaver, a MN family in a future time + anything by Ann
 Creech.

Have you ever tried anything by Sara Douglass?
  She's an Australian fantasy writer whom I've recommended to many
 patrons on the hunt for good sci-fi - of her three series, I think The
 Wayfarer Triology (first vol. The Wayfarer Redemption) and The Crucible
 series (first vol. = The Nameless Day), would fit the bill for you.
  Wayfarer is straight fantasy, with three warring races, a prophecy, and a love
 story but not explicit sex; The Crucible series is historical fiction,
 lots of angels and demons and mad monks, round 'about the time of Joan
 of Arc.

She also has a series called The Troy Game, but they're, um, spicy.  If
 you want to test the waters to see if the spice is too hot, the first
 book is called Hades's Daughter.

Have you tried Kim Harrison's series?  The main character is Rachel
Morgan, a witch, who has a vampire roomate and a pixie sidekick.  The
series starts with "Every Which Way but Dead" and there are 5 books in
total.  There are some sex scenes, and sexual tension, but it is
definitely a sub-plot.  These books have a bit of everything - action,
humour, romance.

Then there's Kelley Armstrong's books.  She has a "Women of the
Otherworld" series - the first 2 books ("Bitten" and "Stolen") are
about a werewolf, and they are fairly sexually graphic.  The third
book, "Dime Store Magic" is about witches and sorcerers, with much
less sex (and you don't need to have read the first 2 to get into it).

I would recommend “Gil’s all fright diner” and “A nameless witch”, both by A. Lee 
Martinez.  They’re books about a vampire and a werewolf in Texas and a witch 
looking for her identity.  They’re both written as YA Fiction with lots of humor 
and gentle romance, but I really enjoyed them and thought you might as well.
I know you said in your post that you don't like "smutty" but I don't know if 
you're uncomfirtavke with sensual romance.  In any case - I'm going to suggest 
several authors who write about vampires, and also, werewolves.

Rebecca York (werewolves)
    Crimson Moon
    Edge of the Moon
    Witching Moon
    Shadow of the Moon
    New Moon

Diane Whiteside
    Bond of Fire (Book 1 of the Texas Vampires Trilogy)

Angela Knight
    Master of Wolves
    Master of Swords
    Master of Dragons


Also, use the following link to the Romantic Times web site - the themed spotlight 
section.  These are links to Vampire fiction as well as non-fiction.  The first 
link is from 1996.  The second is from 2001.
http://www.romantictimes.com/books_themes.php?theme=64

http://www.romantictimes.com/books_themes.php?theme=64

The following is from Romantic Times, but for werewolf books:
http://www.romantictimes.com/books_themes.php?theme=117

Your post indicates you also like witches, so I'm going to assume you also like 
magic.  A few more suggestions:

Mary Jo Putney's magic books, including
    A Kiss of Fate
    The Marriage Spell
    A Distant Magic

Patricia Rice's Magic Series, including:
    The Trouble with Magic
    Merely Magic
    Much Ado About Magic
    The Trouble with Magic
    This Magic Moment
    Magic Man

Patricia Rice has also launched a new series, The Mystic Isle Series, which also 
has a magic context.  The first book, out in June, is The Mystic Guardian.

Rita Boucher has written 2 regency romances with a magic context, including Lord of 
Illusions and The Would-Be Witch.

Siege of Eden by Dak Hartsock
It's Stephen King times 10!!!
Very creepy and scary.
(upper high school, adult read)

Some adults reads I recommend:

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - Lisa See
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd

Try Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt and The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis 
Klause-- both vampire romances.  Kids at school have also liked books by Amelia 
Atwater-Rhodes, for instance In the Forests of the Night (also vampires).

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' books

In YA fiction, I loved How I Live Now, and The Lovely Bones. There may be
elements in each that you wouldn't enjoy. The first involves love between
first cousins (but only in a platonic way), but has many other magical
characteristics. The Lovely Bones stems from a rape, but doesn't dwell on
it--It's more about Heaven and friendship.

I can't think of any vampire books right now. The Harry Dresden series does
deal with a sorcerer detective, and the books are very quick reads. But if
you watched the TV show, you'll find that these are the same stories.

--Awakening, The: a vampire huntress legend by L.A. Banks ( she has written
others, also)
-- In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater Rhodes  ( her first book
written at age 13- she has written others- also reviewed and recommended by
SLJ- YA and AD level).

Here is a fun read, though out of print, possibly. It was recommended by this 
listserv. Some Old Lover's Ghost. Bet you would like it. Also, I have a list that 
is a bit old but still good at my website, of books suggested a while back by 
LM_NETTERS. It is at:
http://www.shsu.edu/~lis_mah/documents/Pageturners.html
Enjoy whatever you read, mabell

The Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill

The Singer of All Songs (Chanters of Tremaris Book #1) by Kate Constable
The Waterless Sea (#2) by
The Tenth Power (#3)

I like Charles de Lint for fantasy. He has one YA called Blue Girl.
There are several adult novels. I don't remember any sex scenes.
Moonheart is one of his best. I also liked Yarrow and the Onion Girl,
His newest is Widdershins. Holly Black writes some good YA fantasy,
too.

I can highly recommend Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. It's a
combination of romance, science fiction, and historical genres. The
research the author put into the background is readily visible in the
details she provides of how people lived in Jacobean Scotland and
pre-Revolution American. I have no clue where she got the idea to
drop a WW2 nurse there through a time gate! I don't know how long
your vacation is, but even though each book is more than 600 pages, I
can rip through 2-3 in a week. If you like them at all you just won't
want to put them down.

There are 6 titles in the series, in this order:
1. Outlander
2. Dragonfly in Amber
3. Voyager
4. Drums of Autumn
5. The Fiery Cross
6. A Breath of Snow and Ashes

Jaime and Claire are two of my all-time favorite characters.

I just finished Rick Riordan's books and if you haven't read them -- do!  Loved 
Lightning Thief (read that one last summer) and just finished Sea of monsters and 
Titan's curse.  He(Riordan) plans on having 5 books in the series.
IF you haven't read Westerfeld's vampire books -- Peeps and the Last Days, you need 
to.  Definetely a different take on vampirism.  Book two wasn't as good - too many 
narrators!
 My girls who love vampires also liked Vampirates -  it's on my bedside table to 
read this summer.

In the "fantastical" part of the spectrum, try "Airborne" and "Skybreaker" by 
Kenneth Oppel.
See: 
http://www.amazon.com/Skybreaker-Kenneth-Oppel/dp/0060532270<https://tmail.utk.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/Skybreaker-Kenneth-Oppel/dp/0060532270>

Also, "Life of Pi' Yann Martel @ 
http://www.amazon.com/Skybreaker-Kenneth-Oppel/dp/0060532270<https://tmail.utk.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.amazon.com/Skybreaker-Kenneth-Oppel/dp/0060532270>.

Have you read the Historian by Elizabeth Kostova?   It has everything you say you 
are looking for ... vampires, romance.   It's more "adult" but I have it my 6 - 12 
library.   How about Holly Black's Tithe, Valiant or Ironside (just bought it, but 
haven't read it yet).  My  6-8 students loved the House of Scorpions by Nancy 
Farmer and the Dune series by Herbert (don't bother with the books his son writes). 
 The 13th Tale (can't remember who wrote it, but it has a great interactive 
website) .

I am on a Christopher Moore kick, and everyone who I have suggested them to loves 
them also.
 Try: You Suck (vampires, hilarious) and a Dirty Job.

If you like vampire books, try "Sunshine," by Robin McKinley.  There's
one racy scene I could have done without but otherwise, it's one of my
favorites.  Plus, "Eclipse" comes out in less than a month!  I also just
finished David Anthony Durham's "Acacia" and Guy Gavriel Kay's "Ysabel,"
both of which were good fantasies that I finished in a day.

My daughters and I really like the Key triology by Nora Roberts (Key
of Light, Key of Knowledge, Key of Valor) they all have witches, a
vampire, vampire hunters, and of course, romance, don't know if it's
too raunchy or not.  We also liked the Three Sisters Island Trilogy -
Dance upon the air, Heaven and Earth, Face the Fire, also by Nora
Roberts.  They may also have too much romance for you.

Black Tattoo is great, by Sam Enthoven. Not vampires, but demons. Great
fantasy with view of Hell and how it works. This book would make an awesome
action movie.

I only read one of these (Defiantly Dead) by Charlaine Harris, and it was
good, not too sure of the sex vs romance aspect since I only read one and it
was more romance but check out the reviews. It is adult, but funny, and has
vampires and other creatures.  Not usually my thing but this was good. I
like the New Orleans, La setting. Good characters and settings. You may like
these.

http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Doornail-Southern-Vampire-Mysteries/dp/0441012795
/ref=sr_1_30/002-6194282-8912825?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184472205&sr=1-30

Have you ever read anything from Francesca Lia Block? She's a YA author who writes 
some fantasy style books. They are really good, different, and full of believable 
fantasy about "real" people. Very interesting take on human life and interest. 
Weetzie Bat is a good introduction to her style and Witch Baby is a sequel to that 
one. She has a lot more that I have heard good things about if you like her writing.

It seems we have similar tastes. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova is a great 
Dracula book & not at all fluffy. You might try the Charlaine Harris series 
beginning with Dead Until Dark. The 7th book just came out. I will caution you that 
there are a few steamy scenes but it doesn't overwhelm the story.

Some YA books that I've also really liked are Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom 
series as well as Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief. I'm about to start the 2nd in 
that series, The Sea of Monsters.

Upper elementary/YA books:
Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan (vampires, 12 books in series)
Inheritance series--Eragon, Eldest by Christopher Paolini (Fantasy, Eragon has been 
made into a movie, 3rd book is forthcoming)
Inkheart, Inkspell by Cornelia Funke (Fantasy, movie for Inkheart and 3rd book are 
forthcoming)
Adult book:
Atonement by Ian McEwan (Romance, movie is forthcoming)
If you liked Ender's Game and you like vampires and fantasy, I'd be remiss if I 
didn't recommend Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

I'd recommend The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. It's a retelling
of the Arthurian legend from the female point of view, specifically from
that of his half sister, a witch. You might also enjoy The Historian by
Elizabeth Kostova about a woman whose father was searching for Dracula; she
follows the trail he left behind. There are also the vampire books by
Christopher Moore, Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story and You Suck. Moore is
an extremely quirky, humorous fiction writer. You'll get more foul language
and some sex in these two books, but I enjoyed them thoroughly because
they're funny and surprising. Moore is anything but traditional.

Author: Kostova, Elizabeth.
Title:  The historian : a novel / Elizabeth Kostova.
Summary:        Discovering a medieval book and a cache of letters, a motherless 
American girl becomes the latest in a series of historians, including her late 
father, who investigate the possible surviving legacy of Vlad the Impaler.

This was fascinating on both the historical AND vampire level.  Also give you a 
great deal of respect for research.

Start with Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison. She has a whole series.
http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Witch-Walking-Rachel-Morgan/dp/0060572965/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-9574393-5968660?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184591086&sr=8-1

Also, Mary Janice Davidson has a series you'd like as well. She has several, but 
I'd start with Betsy, Queen of the Undead first.
http://www.amazon.com/Undead-Unwed-Queen-Betsy-Book/dp/042519485X/ref=sr_1_7/103-9574393-5968660?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184591166&sr=1-7

Davidson uses some language, but I haven't seen the F-bomb  yet...haven't gotten 
that far into hers yet.

Have you tried Anne McCaffrey? She's written several series, some more sci-fi than 
others. Her Dragonriders of Pern and Pegasus series are great reads.

The trilogy by Westerfield that starts with Peeps

Twilight
 Bloodline
 The forests of the Night by Atwater
 Bluebloods
 Rancour

Shiloh Bzdusek MLIS
CUSD 300
Library Director/Media Specialist/Computer Teacher
Westfield Community School K-8
Lincoln Prairie Elementary K-5
shiloh.bzdusek@d300.org

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