A list of my top favorite books, inspired by the book My Ideal Bookshelf by Jane Mount and Thessaly La Force and their website http://www.idealbookshelf.com. If I was stranded on a desert island I'd be happy as long as I had these to reread.
This omnibus collects all three volumes of this fabulous Warhammer 40,000 trilogy, Ravenor, Ravenor Returned, and Ravenor Rogue, plus two additional short...Show more
This omnibus collects all three volumes of this fabulous Warhammer 40,000 trilogy, Ravenor, Ravenor Returned, and Ravenor Rogue, plus two additional short stories. Titular character Gideon Ravenor is an Inquisitor, which in the Dark Millennium gives him the questionable privilege of hunting heretics, aliens, daemons and all threats to the Imperium of mankind. Dan Abnett's writing is always fun and accessible, but the character dynamics of Ravenor's team of specialists, the depth and coolness of the villains, and the creativity of the various worlds and plot twists really make the Ravenor books stand out. A seminal work in fleshing out the Warhammer 40K universe.
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This omnibus collects all three volumes of this fabulous Warhammer 40,000 trilogy, Ravenor, Ravenor Returned, and Ravenor Rogue, plus two additional short...Show more
This omnibus collects all three volumes of this fabulous Warhammer 40,000 trilogy, Ravenor, Ravenor Returned, and Ravenor Rogue, plus two additional short stories. Titular character Gideon Ravenor is an Inquisitor, which in the Dark Millennium gives him the questionable privilege of hunting heretics, aliens, daemons and all threats to the Imperium of mankind. Dan Abnett's writing is always fun and accessible, but the character dynamics of Ravenor's team of specialists, the depth and coolness of the villains, and the creativity of the various worlds and plot twists really make the Ravenor books stand out. A seminal work in fleshing out the Warhammer 40K universe.
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I started reading the Xanth series as a youngster, and still adore the first 15 or so books as funny, entertaining fantasy. In a world where everyone has ...Show more
I started reading the Xanth series as a youngster, and still adore the first 15 or so books as funny, entertaining fantasy. In a world where everyone has a magical talent, Anthony starts off following a group of characters through a couple generations, then expands more into the history and scope of Xanth with stand-alone newcomers. The characters are memorable, the romances sweet, and the humor is never far away from a pun. The first four books as well as #6 Night Mare, and #12 Man From Mundania are my favorites.
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I started reading the Xanth series as a youngster, and still adore the first 15 or so books as funny, entertaining fantasy. In a world where everyone has ...Show more
I started reading the Xanth series as a youngster, and still adore the first 15 or so books as funny, entertaining fantasy. In a world where everyone has a magical talent, Anthony starts off following a group of characters through a couple generations, then expands more into the history and scope of Xanth with stand-alone newcomers. The characters are memorable, the romances sweet, and the humor is never far away from a pun. The first four books as well as #6 Night Mare, and #12 Man From Mundania are my favorites.
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Nick Bantock has a wonderful art style with collages of fanciful illustration, bits of ephemera and whimsy, and exotic objets d'art. I love all his work, ...Show more
Nick Bantock has a wonderful art style with collages of fanciful illustration, bits of ephemera and whimsy, and exotic objets d'art. I love all his work, but his early hit Griffin and Sabine adds a tactile interactive element to his unique presentation, with handwritten letters for the reader to unfold on each page. Mysterious and lovely, this trilogy and the sequel trilogy will work a magical charm on your imagination.
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Nick Bantock has a wonderful art style with collages of fanciful illustration, bits of ephemera and whimsy, and exotic objets d'art. I love all his work, ...Show more
Nick Bantock has a wonderful art style with collages of fanciful illustration, bits of ephemera and whimsy, and exotic objets d'art. I love all his work, but his early hit Griffin and Sabine adds a tactile interactive element to his unique presentation, with handwritten letters for the reader to unfold on each page. Mysterious and lovely, this trilogy and the sequel trilogy will work a magical charm on your imagination.
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The magic of Arthurian legend, Celtic mythology, and pagan spirituality with a feminist slant. Required reading for all teen girls, right? It will change the way you look at these characters and the perspectives of historical interpretation.
The magic of Arthurian legend, Celtic mythology, and pagan spirituality with a feminist slant. Required reading for all teen girls, right? It will change the way you look at these characters and the perspectives of historical interpretation.
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The magic of Arthurian legend, Celtic mythology, and pagan spirituality with a feminist slant. Required reading for all teen girls, right? It will change the way you look at these characters and the perspectives of historical interpretation.
The magic of Arthurian legend, Celtic mythology, and pagan spirituality with a feminist slant. Required reading for all teen girls, right? It will change the way you look at these characters and the perspectives of historical interpretation.
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Possession is a love letter to literature, by way of celebrating poetry, exploring the world of academia, and presenting meditations on the meaning of wor...Show more
Possession is a love letter to literature, by way of celebrating poetry, exploring the world of academia, and presenting meditations on the meaning of words and language itself. The story follows two couples, one a pair of Victorian poets and the other two modern day scholars studying said poets. When a mysterious lost letter is found suggesting a heretofore unknown link between the two poets, our present day academics embark on a literary quest to uncover the secrets of the past. A. S. Byatt weaves such a spell with the world-building for the Victorian characters, from selections of their poetry and letters to flashbacks from their own points of view, that you might repeatedly question whether they were real historical figures or not.
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Possession is a love letter to literature, by way of celebrating poetry, exploring the world of academia, and presenting meditations on the meaning of wor...Show more
Possession is a love letter to literature, by way of celebrating poetry, exploring the world of academia, and presenting meditations on the meaning of words and language itself. The story follows two couples, one a pair of Victorian poets and the other two modern day scholars studying said poets. When a mysterious lost letter is found suggesting a heretofore unknown link between the two poets, our present day academics embark on a literary quest to uncover the secrets of the past. A. S. Byatt weaves such a spell with the world-building for the Victorian characters, from selections of their poetry and letters to flashbacks from their own points of view, that you might repeatedly question whether they were real historical figures or not.
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The quintessential historical romance, Lord of Scoundrels shows the sparks that fly when an independent bluestocking and a dissolute lord clash. Our heroi...Show more
The quintessential historical romance, Lord of Scoundrels shows the sparks that fly when an independent bluestocking and a dissolute lord clash. Our heroine just wants to free her nitwit brother from the hero's degenerate circle of friends, but she never expected to be attracted to him herself, while the hero has done his best to avoid respectable women until he finds one impossible to ignore. Loretta Chase really raises the bar on this typical storyline by giving us witty dialogue, emotional depth, and memorable characters with unmatched chemistry. A total keeper and ultimate comfort-read.
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The quintessential historical romance, Lord of Scoundrels shows the sparks that fly when an independent bluestocking and a dissolute lord clash. Our heroi...Show more
The quintessential historical romance, Lord of Scoundrels shows the sparks that fly when an independent bluestocking and a dissolute lord clash. Our heroine just wants to free her nitwit brother from the hero's degenerate circle of friends, but she never expected to be attracted to him herself, while the hero has done his best to avoid respectable women until he finds one impossible to ignore. Loretta Chase really raises the bar on this typical storyline by giving us witty dialogue, emotional depth, and memorable characters with unmatched chemistry. A total keeper and ultimate comfort-read.
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This is one of my favorite shoujo manga. The art is amazing! It's one of Clamp's most experimental works, with a nonlinear storyline and minimalistic desi...Show more
This is one of my favorite shoujo manga. The art is amazing! It's one of Clamp's most experimental works, with a nonlinear storyline and minimalistic design, and also one of their most emotionally affecting. If you like music, poetry, fashion, mechanical devices, or tragic love, you’ll probably enjoy it. Blending cyberpunk and steampunk elements under the chrome sheen of machine age aesthetics, the story takes place in a futuristic universe that mixes psychic powers with technological wizardry. Although it's a bittersweet tale, it's absolutely a beautiful one, and will stay with the reader long after the last page is done.
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This is one of my favorite shoujo manga. The art is amazing! It's one of Clamp's most experimental works, with a nonlinear storyline and minimalistic desi...Show more
This is one of my favorite shoujo manga. The art is amazing! It's one of Clamp's most experimental works, with a nonlinear storyline and minimalistic design, and also one of their most emotionally affecting. If you like music, poetry, fashion, mechanical devices, or tragic love, you’ll probably enjoy it. Blending cyberpunk and steampunk elements under the chrome sheen of machine age aesthetics, the story takes place in a futuristic universe that mixes psychic powers with technological wizardry. Although it's a bittersweet tale, it's absolutely a beautiful one, and will stay with the reader long after the last page is done.
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It's hard for me to pick a favorite Clamp manga, but it would probably have to be X, in all its angsty, convoluted, gorgeous, unfinished glory. X is 18 ep...Show more
It's hard for me to pick a favorite Clamp manga, but it would probably have to be X, in all its angsty, convoluted, gorgeous, unfinished glory. X is 18 epic volumes about the battle for the end of the world with a large cast of characters and loads of symbolism. Covering themes such as destiny, humanity, and the nature of good and evil, X takes familiar apocalyptic tropes and adds a sprinkling of blood, feathers, and fangirlservice. The art evolves beautifully over the course of the series, from baroque detailing to art nouveau smoothness. It’s unfinished and unlikely to ever be, but don’t let that deter you! An unforgettable and worthwhile read that will give you all of the feels.
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It's hard for me to pick a favorite Clamp manga, but it would probably have to be X, in all its angsty, convoluted, gorgeous, unfinished glory. X is 18 ep...Show more
It's hard for me to pick a favorite Clamp manga, but it would probably have to be X, in all its angsty, convoluted, gorgeous, unfinished glory. X is 18 epic volumes about the battle for the end of the world with a large cast of characters and loads of symbolism. Covering themes such as destiny, humanity, and the nature of good and evil, X takes familiar apocalyptic tropes and adds a sprinkling of blood, feathers, and fangirlservice. The art evolves beautifully over the course of the series, from baroque detailing to art nouveau smoothness. It’s unfinished and unlikely to ever be, but don’t let that deter you! An unforgettable and worthwhile read that will give you all of the feels.
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This is not just a romance of opposites attract, but of two multidimensional characters becoming a team and helping each other become better people. Cecil...Show more
This is not just a romance of opposites attract, but of two multidimensional characters becoming a team and helping each other become better people. Cecilia Grant literally blew my mind with this book. The ways she delves into character to create two believable people who grow over the course of the story and encounter real concerns shows a rare and special talent. There seems almost to be another dimension to the writing, the characters realized in 4D with the way they integrate into their community and have concerns other than just how they will get together. This book really shows why romance can and should be taken seriously as a genre. It's a glove slapped in the face of the romance industry’s formulaic complacency.
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This is not just a romance of opposites attract, but of two multidimensional characters becoming a team and helping each other become better people. Cecil...Show more
This is not just a romance of opposites attract, but of two multidimensional characters becoming a team and helping each other become better people. Cecilia Grant literally blew my mind with this book. The ways she delves into character to create two believable people who grow over the course of the story and encounter real concerns shows a rare and special talent. There seems almost to be another dimension to the writing, the characters realized in 4D with the way they integrate into their community and have concerns other than just how they will get together. This book really shows why romance can and should be taken seriously as a genre. It's a glove slapped in the face of the romance industry’s formulaic complacency.
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If you like Dungeons and Dragons style fantasy, a healthy dose of comedy and character-driven stories, let me point you no further than the Justicar trilo...Show more
If you like Dungeons and Dragons style fantasy, a healthy dose of comedy and character-driven stories, let me point you no further than the Justicar trilogy by Paul Kidd. The publisher's description says: "A remorseless ranger. A sentient hell hound pelt with a penchant for pyromania. An irksome pixie who sells intrigue and information."
The key words "sentient hell hound pelt" really tell you all you need to know about this obscure comedic gem. Try the Amazon samples to see whether the humor is your cup of tea, because Kidd holds nothing sacred in this hilarious romp through the Greyhawk setting!
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If you like Dungeons and Dragons style fantasy, a healthy dose of comedy and character-driven stories, let me point you no further than the Justicar trilo...Show more
If you like Dungeons and Dragons style fantasy, a healthy dose of comedy and character-driven stories, let me point you no further than the Justicar trilogy by Paul Kidd. The publisher's description says: "A remorseless ranger. A sentient hell hound pelt with a penchant for pyromania. An irksome pixie who sells intrigue and information."
The key words "sentient hell hound pelt" really tell you all you need to know about this obscure comedic gem. Try the Amazon samples to see whether the humor is your cup of tea, because Kidd holds nothing sacred in this hilarious romp through the Greyhawk setting!
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Book 2 of the Justicar trilogy. Our characters take on the machinations of the faerie court and somehow stumble into romance.
Book 2 of the Justicar trilogy. Our characters take on the machinations of the faerie court and somehow stumble into romance.
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Book 2 of the Justicar trilogy. Our characters take on the machinations of the faerie court and somehow stumble into romance.
Book 2 of the Justicar trilogy. Our characters take on the machinations of the faerie court and somehow stumble into romance.
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Book 3 of the Justicar trilogy. Our intrepid band of heroes battles Lolth the airheaded spider goddess once and for all!
Book 3 of the Justicar trilogy. Our intrepid band of heroes battles Lolth the airheaded spider goddess once and for all!
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Book 3 of the Justicar trilogy. Our intrepid band of heroes battles Lolth the airheaded spider goddess once and for all!
Book 3 of the Justicar trilogy. Our intrepid band of heroes battles Lolth the airheaded spider goddess once and for all!
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Two desperate characters elope to secure their futures without any plans for a workable marriage, but love has a way of changing the best-made plans. Lisa...Show more
Two desperate characters elope to secure their futures without any plans for a workable marriage, but love has a way of changing the best-made plans. Lisa Kleypas takes the villain from her last book, pairs him with the shyest of her Wallflower quartet of heroines, and shows us how to do the reforming a rake plotline right. With the hero's wonderful dry wit and a luscious sensuality between our couple, Devil in Winter is pure delight, from the hilarious wedding in Gretna Green to the colorful setting of a gambling club. A gold standard of historical romance.
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Two desperate characters elope to secure their futures without any plans for a workable marriage, but love has a way of changing the best-made plans. Lisa...Show more
Two desperate characters elope to secure their futures without any plans for a workable marriage, but love has a way of changing the best-made plans. Lisa Kleypas takes the villain from her last book, pairs him with the shyest of her Wallflower quartet of heroines, and shows us how to do the reforming a rake plotline right. With the hero's wonderful dry wit and a luscious sensuality between our couple, Devil in Winter is pure delight, from the hilarious wedding in Gretna Green to the colorful setting of a gambling club. A gold standard of historical romance.
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An amazing cult classic among independent comics, Elfquest started in the 70s and is still going strong. Not your typical portrayal of fantasy elves, the ...Show more
An amazing cult classic among independent comics, Elfquest started in the 70s and is still going strong. Not your typical portrayal of fantasy elves, the series follows our main characters from the forest-dwelling tribe of Wolfriders as they discover other tribes of elves and learn more about their history on the World of Two Moons, which their alien ancestors crash-landed on in an earlier time period than intended. Full of adventure, romance, and drama, Wendy Pini's beautiful art makes the first 8 volumes the best, before it continues with other guest artists and authors. Now out of print, the entire series is archived for free on the Pinis' website, www.elfquest.com.
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An amazing cult classic among independent comics, Elfquest started in the 70s and is still going strong. Not your typical portrayal of fantasy elves, the ...Show more
An amazing cult classic among independent comics, Elfquest started in the 70s and is still going strong. Not your typical portrayal of fantasy elves, the series follows our main characters from the forest-dwelling tribe of Wolfriders as they discover other tribes of elves and learn more about their history on the World of Two Moons, which their alien ancestors crash-landed on in an earlier time period than intended. Full of adventure, romance, and drama, Wendy Pini's beautiful art makes the first 8 volumes the best, before it continues with other guest artists and authors. Now out of print, the entire series is archived for free on the Pinis' website, www.elfquest.com.
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Who can resist the magic of Harry Potter? From the unparalleled world-building and the huge cast of memorable characters, to the mythic resonance of the e...Show more
Who can resist the magic of Harry Potter? From the unparalleled world-building and the huge cast of memorable characters, to the mythic resonance of the epic battle for good versus evil, J. K. Rowling shows her literary genius at plotting and imbuing her story with details to fire readers' imaginations. My favorites are book 3, where things really start to get serious, and book 7, where finally all is explained and the series comes to a satisfying close.
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Who can resist the magic of Harry Potter? From the unparalleled world-building and the huge cast of memorable characters, to the mythic resonance of the e...Show more
Who can resist the magic of Harry Potter? From the unparalleled world-building and the huge cast of memorable characters, to the mythic resonance of the epic battle for good versus evil, J. K. Rowling shows her literary genius at plotting and imbuing her story with details to fire readers' imaginations. My favorites are book 3, where things really start to get serious, and book 7, where finally all is explained and the series comes to a satisfying close.
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This omnibus collects all the Jeeves and Wooster short stories, about upper-class twit Bertie Wooster and his brilliant valet Jeeves. P. G. Wodehouse is a...Show more
This omnibus collects all the Jeeves and Wooster short stories, about upper-class twit Bertie Wooster and his brilliant valet Jeeves. P. G. Wodehouse is a comic genius, and his sense of farce and delightful turns-of-phrase never fail to amuse as Jeeves helps Bertie escape mayhem and matrimony in 1920s England. The British TV series starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie is also a favorite.
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This omnibus collects all the Jeeves and Wooster short stories, about upper-class twit Bertie Wooster and his brilliant valet Jeeves. P. G. Wodehouse is a...Show more
This omnibus collects all the Jeeves and Wooster short stories, about upper-class twit Bertie Wooster and his brilliant valet Jeeves. P. G. Wodehouse is a comic genius, and his sense of farce and delightful turns-of-phrase never fail to amuse as Jeeves helps Bertie escape mayhem and matrimony in 1920s England. The British TV series starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie is also a favorite.
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An epic journey through the realms of Heaven and Hell with a troubled teen who’s a reincarnated angel. Kaori Yuki is the queen of dark gothic manga, stand...Show more
An epic journey through the realms of Heaven and Hell with a troubled teen who’s a reincarnated angel. Kaori Yuki is the queen of dark gothic manga, standing out with beautiful detailed art, incredibly stylish characters, and plots both twisted and twisty. Her 20-volume masterpiece Angel Sanctuary takes on the Judeo-Christian tradition of Biblical lore in a visually stunning fantasy incorporating religion, mythology, mysticism, fairy tales and more. I love the overall theme of forbidden love and the heart wrenching character revelations. One of my favorite manga of all time, this is an unforgettable ride of high emotions and sweeping drama.
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An epic journey through the realms of Heaven and Hell with a troubled teen who’s a reincarnated angel. Kaori Yuki is the queen of dark gothic manga, stand...Show more
An epic journey through the realms of Heaven and Hell with a troubled teen who’s a reincarnated angel. Kaori Yuki is the queen of dark gothic manga, standing out with beautiful detailed art, incredibly stylish characters, and plots both twisted and twisty. Her 20-volume masterpiece Angel Sanctuary takes on the Judeo-Christian tradition of Biblical lore in a visually stunning fantasy incorporating religion, mythology, mysticism, fairy tales and more. I love the overall theme of forbidden love and the heart wrenching character revelations. One of my favorite manga of all time, this is an unforgettable ride of high emotions and sweeping drama.
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