I enjoy reading specfic- mostly fantasy, some scifi & horror, ESPECIALLY genre-blurring stuff. Must have at least 3 out of 4 of what I consider:
✒️ moderate to high quality writing style. distinctive voice, sense of comedic timing, appropriate pacing, and evocative imagery.
🎭 well rounded, engaging characters. moral complexity and compelling/comprehensible motivations for protagonists and antagonists alike. character quirks and backstory elements that feel well integrated. Queer themes a strong plus.
🌏 solid world building. the parts that I see feel cohesive and creative. It feels like I'm glimpsing parts of a bigger fully developed tapestry.
🛤 engaging plot. I'm very good at trope-spotting. If I know exactly what's happening next, it needs to feel like a warm hug or a well-told myth or fairy tale. Otherwise I need some well-written twists, narrative creativity, and suspense.
All that said: I went through my Libby last night & pulled out a list of (mostly newer, some older) authors I've particularly enjoyed the past few years. It occurs to me that this list might be a fun guide for other readers too.
hit up my inbox if you want to talk specific books. Also please please lmk if you see this list and think, "oh, Morwen should really read Author McWriterson, she'd LOVE their work!"
Of course my dear! I’ve gone through my whole following list and have found authors who write at least more than once for either dark!Aegon and dark!Aemond or if they write both! Hope you enjoy reading them all, I certainly did!
There are probably a lot more authors but like I said these are just from from following list. I encourage other authors to tag people they think should be added!
Dark!Aemond authors:
@asumofwords
@adragonprinceswhore (one or two not too many but still so delicious to read)
@thought--bubble
@aemondsbabe
@youraverageaemondsimp (THEY WRITE SUCH GOOD DARK!AEMOND!!!!)
@themotherofhorses (SO GOOOOOOD)
@ripdragonbeans
@targaryenrealnessdarling (you’re looking for dark, ‘consequences’ will change you)
@flowerandblood
@ewanmitchellcrumbs
Dark!Aegon authors:
@lovelykhaleesiii
@scaly-freaks (they write in pretty sure mainly on AO3 but the link is on their tumblr page)
@aegoniiwifey
Authors who write both:
@asharasasylum
@sylasthegrim
@bucknastysbabe (they’ve written more dark!aegon than dark!Aemond but their dark!aemond in space is so good I’m on my knees every time I read it!)
@factorydefaultlu (note they don’t write for HOTD anymore but looking back in their work it’s so good. You’ll need to search a bit for what you want but it’s so worth it.)
Are there any TJ Klune fans out there? I picked up House in the Cerulean Sea about a month ago and have been making my way through his works since (when I get the opportunity). I'd love to find people who know who he is and like his books too.
Also, if you haven't heard of him, but you love really sweet, heartfelt stories with gay protagonists / characters, I would highly recommend checking him out.
So far, I've read the above title and Under the Whispering Door, and I'm working on Somewhere Beyond the Sea, and I'm just madly in love with his writing style and how he imagines his worlds.
You’re writing is so amazing, literally love everything you put out!! Do you have any romance book recommendations?!? Literally anything, I fully trust your judgement lol😌
Omigosh! First, thank you so much for the compliment. Second, I got you.
*whips out Kindle*
I've broken it down into categories. Here we go:
Contemporary
Line of Duty Series, Tessa Bailey - If I want something quick, down, and dirty I reach for her. I recommend starting with her Line of Duty Series, which features the most delicious rough and tumble cops finding love.
The Coppersmith Farmhouse, Devney Perry - I adore this small town, enemy-to-lovers romance featuring a single mother and the local sheriff. Sheriff Jess can be an ass, but he grovels well.
The Game Maker Series, Kresley Cole - Centers around three Russian brothers who have ties to the mafia. While each man is different and beautifully broken in his own way, they all believe in taking what they want. And once one of the Sevastyan's have set their sights on you, they will not take no for an answer. They're also not opposed to kidnapping either.
The Italian, T.L. Swan - What happens when a summer fling ends up being so much more than that? This romance tells the story of an Italian mafia boss and his forbidden love with an Australian tourist. There's sex, angst, danger and so much more.
Historical
*Outlander Series, Diana Gabaldon - Claire and Jamie's love literally transcends both time and space. This series contains an amazing romance, well researched historical descriptions, elements of magic, and so much more.
Paranormal
The Psy Changeling Series, Nalini Singh - If you love stories about shifters and people with psychic abilities then I totally recommend checking out this series. Slave to Sensation is the first book, and premise goes something like: the ruling Psy prefer to exist in a world devoid of feelings and emotions, but what happens when one of their own finds herself craving something only Lucas Hunter, the alpha of the Dark River Shifters, can provide?
*The Guild Hunter Series, Nalini Singh - Think Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but with Angels. This series is amazing and the love story between Raphael (the Archangel of New York) and his precious mortal, Elena (who is a badass in her own right). The world building is fantastic, the romance is hot, and each book only gets better. And believe me when I say, these are not your grandmother's angels. I also love the fact that you get to watch their relationship grow and evolve across multiple books.
*The Night Huntress Series, Jeaniene Frost - Also has a Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibe, except the heroine is actually half-vampire herself. Bones, her eventual love interest, reminds me of Spike. Just a little bit. And just like the previous series, their romance spans multiple books. Also the love scenes are fabulous.
*The Fever Series, Karen Marie Moning - If you love reading about heroines trying to solve mysterious disappearances, the Seelie and Unseelie Fae, and a delicious Alpha Male that could just easily rip you apart as well as fuck you - I'm looking at you, Jericho Barrons - then check this out. This series requires a little commitment because the romance, while hinted at, doesn't start until you're a couple of books in. But it's so worth it because you're rewarded with a territorial, possessive, darkly handsome anti-hero.
*The Highlander Series, Karen Marie Moning - If you're a sucker for men in kilts, ancient curses, time travel, and drop-dead-sexy highlanders who fall hard for their modern day mates then please read. Also, some of these heroes go on to appear in the Fever Series as well.
Immortals After Dark Series, Kresley Cole - Another great one This one features characters from every corner of the lore. I'm talking vampires, witches, valkyries, berserkers, demons, werewolves, succubi, and more. The men are swoon worthy and the women are badass. But what I especially love is the creativity and humor she manages to weave throughout her stories. She uses the fated mates trope quite a bit, which I love. However, what makes it great is that a lot of times the men show up like: "You belong to me now. I'm ready to take you to home" and their brides-to-be are like "Fuck off. Come any closer and I will stab you/shoot you/light you on fire". And what's more...they absolutely follow-thru. Those heroes have to earn their women. Oh, and the sexy times are good and spicy.
Hope this helps! If you or anyone else decides to read a book from this list, please let me know what you think!
Does anyone have any good recommendations for authors who write for X FTM reader? Self promo also welcome.
Some of my favorites
@cyborg-franky
When I tell you he has the BEST one piece stuff, I mean it! His writing is GN by default, and he writes amazing trans reader stuff! (I've also commissioned him and he is a pleasure to work with!)
@ash-rigby
The master of writing literally every body type imaginable. Monster lover of the highest caliber! Trans humans and trans monsters! Best of all worlds!
@pupkou
He pretty much writes exclusively for trans readers and transes the characters too. Cowboy connoisseur. When I first found his blog I devoured his Aizawa fics.
why you [YES, YOU!] should read villains code by drew hayes.
do you like any or all of the following?
Female protagonists?
Found family?
Badass powers?
Characters that are actually multi faceted and cool?
A Dad Who Can't Stop Adopting Kids?
A forbidden love?
SICK FIGHT SCENES?
A DUDE NAMED JOHNNY THREE DICKS???
C'mon. You're a little curious. Come with me into the readmore, where I give you the back of the book synopsis and talk a little more.
"Gifted with meta-human powers in a world full of capes and villains, Tori Rivas kept away from the limelight, preferring to work as a thief in the shadows. But when she's captured trying to rob a vault that belongs to a secret guild of villains, she's offered a hard choice: prove she has what it takes to join them or be eliminated.
Apprenticed to one of the world's most powerful (and supposedly dead) villains, she is thrust into a strange world where the lines that divide superheroes and criminals are more complex than they seem. The education of a villain is not an easy one, and Tori will have to learn quickly if she wants to survive. On top of the peril she faces from her own teacher, there are also the capes and fellow apprentices to worry about, to say nothing of having to keep up a civilian cover.
Most dangerous of all, though, are those who loathe the guild's very existence. Old grudges mean some are willing to go to any length to see the guild turned to ash, along with each one of its members. Even the lowly apprentices."
What does it mean to be a hero? What does it mean to be a villain? Is the former always good? The latter, bad? Do those titles mean anything at all? These are the core questions in this series, and Hayes makes each character on any side of this debate interesting. The protagonist is a sardonic genius, a self proclaimed misanthrope, and definitely autistic one badass motherfucker. And if you think Tori is awesome, just wait until you meet the rest of her pals. From world-ending avatars of pure obliteration to dweeby programmers with hearts of gold, each one of the cast is a wonderful take on various tropes throughout superhero media.
Just... Read it. Trust me. I'm sure you could find it at the library. The audible versions are good too. Just give it a shot.
If you see this, btw, full permission to blow up my askbox with liveblogs! We also have a discord, not just for villains code but for all drew hayes works!
Check out the hayesblr hangout community on Discord - hang out with 4 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.
