Last week’s blog post was about my three favourite books/series/authors of 2020. Whilst I was writing it, I started thinking about all the other great books/series/authors I’ve read over the years. So, here are just a few of my favourites. There's not room to list them all, this isn't an exhaustive list by any means, but here are three authors who have inspired me.
Robin Hobb
I’ve read all of Robin Hobb’s books. I love these stories. There are great characters, sweeping adventures and incredible world building. Liveship Traders was the first series I read and was, in part, inspiration for book four of my Ethra Born series. Although, I don't have talking ships, sea serpents or pirates, I do have a shapeshifters and deep sea monsters. Robin Hobb’s level of storytelling is something to which I aspire.
Laurell K Hamilton
The Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series is a great urban fantasy. In places, it’s a bit graphic for my taste but it’s got the classic vampires and werewolves with a whole dash of new, imaginative magic. There are epic power struggles and some really human, touching moments, with plenty of drama. The books are fast paced and the heroine has incredible stamina, surviving for several days on nothing more than a couple of cups of coffee, whilst juggling work, a complicated love life and a whole host of villains.
Ilona Andrews
In the Kate Daniels’ world, magic and technology are battling for dominance. The backdrop creates a dangerous and unpredictable place, populated with complex characters fighting for power and survival. I read Iron and Magic (the first (and only, at the moment) book of The Iron Covenant series) first, before going through the Kate Daniels’ series. The fights are epic, the odds racking up to impossible challenges that the heroes manage to overcome each time. Kate Daniels is a genuine heroine, speaking up, speaking out, always doing the right thing, protecting and caring, endangering herself to save others.
There’s plenty more books which I’ve found inspirational over the years, but I’ll leave it at those three books/series/authors for now.
All that’s left to say is Happy New Year. Hope you’re safe and well and that you have plenty of good books to read.
