Books I Love

Although I decided to call this page 'Books I Love' I'm also going to be recommending music here in the future, because I love listening to music almost as much as I love reading. I hope I might be able to introduce someone to an author they've never heard of before, or to a book that will change their life. Books can change lives - look at me!

YA BOOKS

 The Changeover by Margaret Mahy is one of my all-time favourite books for young adults, and resulted in my first real crush on a fictional character. Oh, come on - I know you've had them too! And you might have one on the male hero of this book, if you dare to read it...a fabulous mix of real-world, fantasy and romance. She's written some other great books too, and here is a selection.

Thank you to Rachel M for reminding me to add a recommendation for Shannon Hale's books to this page. My favourite is Princess Academy but the others are all worth a read.

This is a beautiful, brave book - not quite fantasy and not quite reality. I made me cry buckets though, be warned.

The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce was the series that made me decide to write young adult fantasy. If only I could create something this wonderful! Romance, magic, duels to the death and grumpy red-headed girl knight. Her other books are just as good - so give them a go.

Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith(originally two books, called Crown Duel and Court Duel) is another long-time favourite. An absolutely toe-curling hero and a valiant, tough heroine, combined with thrilling night rides and mysterious magics make this a must. 

I've owned all the books in The Dark is Rising Sequence since I was about eleven, when I spent half my birthday money on the box-set. They're wonderful - chilling adventures filled with traditional British Folklore that will have you running to the library to get books about myths and legends. Seaward is another fave, and has a bit of romance added too.

The Changeling Sea by Patricia McKillip has recently become a bit more easily available - and thank heavens! I love this, and I bet that anyone who loves fairytales or the sea will too. The Book of Atrix Wolf is my second favourite, and so beautifully written that it's a great inspiration to me.

The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix is probably the best fantasy trilogy to have been written in recent years, and although I'd have liked a teensy bit more romance, the magical battles and brilliant writing more than make up for it. Most of his other books are worth trying too.

I don't like most of Liz Berry's books - but this one is different. As far as I'm aware it's the only one where she added a supernatural element, and it's wonderful. Well worth laying your hands on if you can.

I adore Ursula Le Guin. Not only is she a brave person, but she's a brave writer too, taking risks with her subject matter and characters that always pay off, because she's such a fantastic wordsmith. The Earthsea books are where I began reading her, and that's what I recommend for you.

This book and its sequel were recommended to me by a really good friend, and I still haven't yet found a way to pay her back (one day, Dida!) Think Pride and Prejudice mixed with sorcery and a wacky sense of humour, and you're almost there. 

Robin McKinley is probably my most-read author. I always go back to her books when I need comfort or inspiration - and though she's already quite famous, I decided she had to have a place here.

This trilogy is a little gem, entirely unexpected - and the author is a gem too, a really lovely lady. Another fantasy with a Regency setting, this one uses old English myths about goblins and elves to very good affect...

Terry Pratchett is my family's favourite writer - he's always good for a chuckle, but he can also make you really think, without ever seeming to preach at you. These are some of my favourites. Watership Down with rats (no, really!) and a fantastic comic-fantasy trilogy set in this world.

Probably my favourite all-around author is Diana Wynne Jones. I find something new in her books everytime I read them, and she's written on nearly every subject and under every genre in the world. You just have to love her work - and the good news is that, as she's been writing for over thirty years, there's loads of it!

I've recently discovered Meg Cabot. Some of her books are fantasy and some real-world, but they're all funny and enjoyable, and often surprising.

ADULT BOOKS (but still good!)

A new author whose work I've just discovered this year is Naomi Novik. Her books are like Georgette Heyer and Anne McCaffrey and they are really unputdownable. You will seriously be wanting your own dragon when you've finished these!


Martha Wells is one of my new favourites - a friend sent me a copy of one of her books, and I was hooked instantly. There's madness, magic and romance... but her books can also be a little scary (though they aren't horror).

This is another recommendation from my friend Dida. Well done that women! She's never wrong. I really love this.

Lois McMaster Bujold is another really brave and brilliant writer. Her fantasy books are like nothing I've ever read before, and she always surprises me. She's also usually good for a bit of romance, which keeps me very happy.

Time for Terry Pratchett again! His adult books are longer than his YA ones, which means they're even better. These are some of my favourites.

Mary Stewart is in a class of her own when it comes to writing really beautifully. Her books are full of romance, intrigue, adventure and the odd bit of magic too. These are my favourites  

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I love Georgette Heyer just as much as I love Mary Stewart. If you ever tried to read Jane Austen but just could not get into her - don't worry. This is something you CAN get into.

BOOKS FOR YOUNG WRITERS