Storm
ThrUU the Looking Glass
For fantasy, I can't recommend Jacqueline Carey highly enough. The Kushiel series, which consists of two trilogies, and a third in the works, is my favorite story of all time. Profound, disturbing at times, and gorgeously written, it's one I return to time and time again.
Here's a decent review of Kushiel's Dart, the first book.
I'm not quite as enamored of the second trilogy, but it's still head and shoulders above anything else I've read in recent years.
Separate from the Kushiel series is The Sundering duology. It was written as a single, massive novel, but the publisher made her split it in two: Banewreaker, followed by Godslayer. For this, she lifted the entire structure of Lord of the Rings, then turned it on its head by telling it from the perspective of "evil." And I simply cannot do justice to the beauty of the writing. The prologue of Banewreaker moves me to tears every time I read it, and that's not easily done.
What really separates Carey from the pack is, imo, the depth of her writing. She's a former theologian, and uses her stories to explore such concepts as the nature of evil (The Sundering), free will and love (Kushiel series). Her work is profound, true myths in the best sense of the word, and my repeated readings never fail to reveal yet another layer of meaning.
I have to mention the writing itself again. Carey is a true master of her craft. Phedre's voice is the most distinctive I have ever read, you can HEAR her narrating. Carey's phrasing is as formal as Tolkein's, yet somehow more accessible, more human, elegant yet warm.
Anyway, I could ramble on about this for hours, so I'll stop now.
Here's a decent review of Kushiel's Dart, the first book.
I'm not quite as enamored of the second trilogy, but it's still head and shoulders above anything else I've read in recent years.
Separate from the Kushiel series is The Sundering duology. It was written as a single, massive novel, but the publisher made her split it in two: Banewreaker, followed by Godslayer. For this, she lifted the entire structure of Lord of the Rings, then turned it on its head by telling it from the perspective of "evil." And I simply cannot do justice to the beauty of the writing. The prologue of Banewreaker moves me to tears every time I read it, and that's not easily done.
What really separates Carey from the pack is, imo, the depth of her writing. She's a former theologian, and uses her stories to explore such concepts as the nature of evil (The Sundering), free will and love (Kushiel series). Her work is profound, true myths in the best sense of the word, and my repeated readings never fail to reveal yet another layer of meaning.
I have to mention the writing itself again. Carey is a true master of her craft. Phedre's voice is the most distinctive I have ever read, you can HEAR her narrating. Carey's phrasing is as formal as Tolkein's, yet somehow more accessible, more human, elegant yet warm.
Anyway, I could ramble on about this for hours, so I'll stop now.
