A while back, I put together a list of great epic fantasy books for those waiting for George R. R. Martin to finally publish the next Game of Thrones installment (I know it’s the A Song of Ice and Fire series, but thanks to the power of HBO, no point calling it something else).

That got me thinking of putting together another list of recommended fantasy reads, less epic, less Tolkien, but  more magic / Harrypotteresque.

No point including the Harry Potter books here (if you haven’t read them (or at least seen the films) you’re probably in the wrong blog. But maybe these books will interest you:

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Sussanna Clarke

Readers of this blog will surely recognise this book as one of my top reads of all time. And if you still haven’t gotten around to reading it, I strongly recommend you to do so. Set during Napoleonic times, a tale of two rival magicians (the real kind, not illusionists) in a time when magic had long disappeared and is slowly coming back. A wonderful read. What I wouldn’t give for a sequel?!

The Rook – Daniel O’malley

Man, was this fun to read. There are countless books of hidden magic set in modern times, with a “Ministry of Magic” type organization overseeing it. And The Rook could’ve easily fallen into the generic wasteland if not for the extremely clever mystery plot and incredible character building. The sequel Stilleto is out next year, and it’s already been pre-ordered. Highly recommended!

The Night Circus – Erin Morgenstern

Similar to Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, a wonderful magical romance played out in the backdrop of a traveling circus. Outstanding work. Loved every word of it. I’m not one for love stories, but this one was one for the ages.

The Magicians – Lev Grossman

I recently reviewed the Lev Grossman’s latest (and final) entry to his The Magicians trilogy. Won’t repeat it here, but the fact that’s in this select list should make you sit up and notice. You should buy them. Now.

The Golem and the Jinni – Helen Wecker

An incredible tale of magical creatures from very different cultures, colliding in turn of 20th century New York and forming a remarkable friendship. Well worth a read.

Bartimaeus Trilogy – Jonathan Stroud

A bit more for younger generations, but still an amazing read. In a parallel time where magic is commonplace through the control of magical demons, its the remarkable tale of the Djinni Bartimaeus and his young master. I loved the entire series, and I think if you haven’t come across them, you would love them too.

His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman

Set in a parallel world (like so many), this series stands out for its amazing use of religion, mythologies, parallel universes. Having gone to Oxford myself, I was able to trace Lyra’s footsteps in this magical world. If you haven’t read the books, I suggest you put them quite high on your to-read list.

Beyond the above, be sure to include anything Neil Gaiman has written in this genre. (way too many to list here, but amongst others. make sure to read Neverwhere, American Gods, The Graveyard Book).

It has been quite a while since I last posted on the blog… loads of things happening at the moment, amidst work and getting ready to receive a new member to our little family (baby due at any moment!!!!)

However, since I really can’t afford to neglect my quick reviews (and lose my Netgalley feedback ratio), here are a couple of quick notes on a few recent reads for your perusal.

The Magician’s Land – Lev Grossman

Rarely have I come across such polarising books as The Magicians trilogy. For those not familiar with the story, think of Hogwarts as an American university rather than an English boarding school. And as such, a common reaction is to consider it a pure and blatant Harry Potter / Narnia rip-off? As derivative as a book can be? Others would say its an homage to the fantasy genre, while adding an adult, gritty spin to the fantasy genre, showing what actually happens when we grow out of magic. Truth be told, I enjoyed the first two books, but did felt put-off by its derivative nature. But then I read The Magician’s Land. It’s rare to come across such a satisfying end to a story, everything wrapped up so nicely, such a fitting conclusion. And now, when I see the whole story of Quentin and his adventures, I can only say, what a treat. Definitely a fan, and extremely recommended. Read it. Now. 5 / 5

Half Bad – Sally Green

I actually quite enjoyed Ms Green’s debut novel. Again, like above, the Harry Potter theme is quite present, but with an interesting edge, tone, voice. I loved the writing style, the short sentences resonating the main character Nathan’s sense of silence, brevity, anguish. Not a perfect book, but clearly hooked enough to be looking out for the sequel next year. Let’s give it a 4 / 5.

Lock in – John Scalzi

Having thoroughly enjoyed Scalzi’s previous effort Redshirts, I was really looking forward to this one. Went with high hopes… and nope! Just not good enough. Premise was interesting, clearly setting up a future franchise, but whether it was the tone (not real enough), the lack of character building (not good enough), it just didn’t do it for me. Poor execution. “M’eh” is the word that comes to mind. Feel free to give it a pass. 2 / 5.

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay – Michael Chabon

Friends that share my taste in books were always shocked when I told them I actually had never read Kavalier and Clay, a Pulitzer winning novel set in the Golden Age of comics. I finally managed to get around to it. Suffice to say, all of its accolades are richly and truly deserved. If you consider the first two-thirds of the book, in my opinion, this is a masterpiece in every literary sense: the writing, the characters, the stories, the intertwining of real and fiction. You feel like you are reading a non-fiction about the history of comic books, yet you are completely captured in the moment, rooting for these two young comic artists trying to make it. Everything feels truly amazing. If only the last third worked better… the story winds down very quickly without much sense of resolution… and it just doesn’t do the story justice. I understand rumours abound about a sequel, but who knows. I still give it 5 stars, and will consider it amongst one of the best reads of the year. But I just wished I could give it more.