I loved Kushiel's Dart, any recommendations?

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Favorite aspects:
writing style
expansive vocabulary
complex relationships
sensual themes
character development

didn't care as much about the political aspects

any recommendations?

 

Um, Carey's Sundering duology (Banewreaker [worst. title. ever.], Godslayer) was pretty darn good. Mind you, it almost reads as though a different person wrote it, because she more or less abandons the themes of the Kushiel books in favor of a 'let's retell the Lord of the Rings from the side of Evil' approach.

I'm assuming you've read the other two books in the Kushiel's Legacy trilogy and the first book in the second Kushiel trilogy, which are also quite good.

For other writers, Steven Erikson (Gardens of the Moon), George R.R. Martin (a Game of Thrones), and Robin Hobb (Assassin's Apprentice) are all pretty good.

Laurell k. Hamilton's Anita Blake books (Guilty Pleasures) may also be what you're looking for--but unless you're interested in pure erotica, don't read past Obsidian Butterfly in the Blake series, and don't read the Meredith series at all. If you are interested in pure erotica, well, then do read those. But please don't tell me about it

 

Man, it would be so sweet if someone recommended something else than the big 3 when someone wants good fantasy. If for no other reason than to give me something new

Not fantasy but sci-fi but basically on par with Erikson, Hobb and Martin is Peter Hamilton with his Night's Dawn trilogy. Really good stuff and highly recommended.

 

Hmm, let's see:

The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb would probably be a good bet. To rate it for the things you want out of five:
writing style: +++++
expansive vocabulary: ? (assume very good)
complex relationships: +++
sensual themes: ++
character development: +++++

The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peak fulfills some of these as well:
writing style: ++++
expansive vocabulary: +++++ (really - this guy has an absurdly large vocabulary)
complex relationships: +++
sensual themes: -
character development: ++++

The Saga of the Exiles by Julian May:
writing style: +++++
expansive vocabulary: ? (assume good)
complex relationships: +++++
sensual themes: +
character development: +++++

The Last T'En Trilogy by Cory Daniels:
writing style: +
expansive vocabulary: ? (assume average)
complex relationships: +++++
sensual themes: +++++
character development: +++++

[ December 01, 2006, 12:39: Message edited by: Aikanaro ]

 

Oh, actually, if you want an expansive vocabulary and nice writing style, check out China Mieville (Perdido Street Station, The Scar, Iron Council).

 

If you want sensual themes, Mercedes Lackey is actually pretty heavy-handed with them. Different stuff for all sexual persuasions, too. Writing style is a little lacking, however.

The Gormengast Trilogy is awesome, but not sexy.

Your best bet might actually be another courtesan book called Maia. It was written by the same guy who wrote Watership Down, Richard Adams. Sexy, but with a lot of character development and since it's Richard Adams, the writing is pretty good.

 

Thanks!

God, these boards are so much better than baords I've wasted time with in the past

 

Gene Wolfe - Book of the new Urth
Roger Zelazny - Lord of Light, Eye of Cat, Doorways in the Sand
Louise Cooper - Master of Time Trilogy
Carol Berg - Rai-Kirah trilogy
Elizabeth Haydon - Rhapsody, Harmony, Destiny
Sara Douglas - StarMan trilogy

 

Since I've now further realized that you didn't specify 'fantasy' novels, check out Richard K. Morgan's Altered Carbon. Writing style, check. Vocab, check. Sensuality, quarter check. Character development, check. Complex relationships, check.

 

I'd like to anti-recommend those Sara Douglas books. They're quite bland...

 

I second the anti-recommendation. The main character is unlikable. I tried and tried, but never could like him.

 

Perdido Street Station is definitely not for us who like happy endings...

I mean, I can take bittersweet endings or "the world goes under" endings. This one was just too bitter for my taste.

 

Heh. If you thought that was bitter, be glad you didn't read Mieville's Iron Council. Not happy. Not at all.