Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Do you like to read books with elements of magic, fantasy, magical realism or paranormal? Which ones do you recommend?

All of the above.

Some fantasy has immense world building and I need to be in the right headspace for that amount of “work” lol, but I’m enjoying it more and more. Another bookclub is doing a series read-a-long w Throne of Glass (I have 3 left in the series) and it’s one I’m glad I purchased :)

My advice for those who are unsure about a genre like these is to start with YA. The dark parts don’t go full black and there tends to be better resolution of story lines for those that prefer endings “wrapped up with a bow”

My other piece of advice is to vet rather than dismiss Horror authors, esp the earlier catalogue. Stephen King has some great examples of magical realism and fantasy in his 80’s/90’s works (and not any horror in some of them), but when in doubt, the publishing industry kept the label to what he mostly writes.

Oooh, good question! I am of several minds on this topic!

I generally enjoy magical realism a lot. I actually liked Death Valley by Melissa Broder, which a lot of ppl did not. (Ppl whose opinions are wrong! Haha, jay kay.) I like weirdness, surreality, an unhinged & unreliable narrator.

Similarly, I like a touch of magic: Bunny by Mona Awad is one of my favorite books of all time, & the sequel/prequel is even better, IMO. I identify as a witch & I like witchy stuff in books.

I also enjoy some paranormal activity. Literary horror is one of my favorite genres. Stephen Graham Jones, Caitlin Starling, Catriona Ward, Victor LaValle...all among my faves.

All of this said: I don't much care for high fantasy. I've dabbled (for example, I recently read Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher), but for the most part, if a book has locations, entities, or concepts that are made-up proper nouns, I am out. I also don't do romance, I just don't enjoy it, so the entire romantasy genre is a big no for me, as are paranormal romances (another big category--all of those books where a lady's boyfriend is a vampire or a werewolf or whatever? No thanks). I'm also easily bored a family sagas, so all those books where it's like "three generations of women are touched by a magic curse" or whatever...not for me.

I read a ton, but I can be pretty choosy. I like weird & I don't like anything that is typical by-the-numbers genre (any genre). Even more than actual magic, I like a historical novel about ppl being ACCUSED of magic/witchcraft (for example, Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks).

Robin P wrote: "Do you like to read books with elements of magic, fantasy, magical realism or paranormal? Which ones do you recommend?"

Urban Fantasy.

I am ok with high fantasy, if the series is finished! I got disgusted with George RR Martin, Scott Lynch & Patrick Rothfuss for abandoning series. No way I would go back and start over if they ever continue. Also if there is a wait of a year or so between books - I started the Sanderson series with The Way of Kings and read the 2nd book, assuming it is a trilogy. No, it's going to be at least 7 books, each 1000 pages +. Life is too short and it's too much to remember between books.

I really like the fantasy books by Michael J. Sullivan. He writes a whole series before he releases it so that you aren't stuck waiting so long. Also, even though some bad things can happen, his general tone is positive, with misfit characters coming together to accomplish good things.

Magical realism is ok, it really depends on the book. I read several mystery series with totally rational lead characters who keep having somewhat mystical experiences - the Walt Longmire series by Craig Johnson, The Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths, and the Dr. Siri Paiboun series by Colin Cotterill.

I agree with Ciara that romances with vampires, werewolves, etc. don't interest me.

As a kid, my favorite books were those with magic by E. Nesbit, Edward Eager, and C.S. Lewis - and later Tolkien. I would have loved Harry Potter if it had existed in my time.

A wonderful writer of alternate history with just a little magic is Guy Gavriel Kay.

Fantasy makes up about 5 percent of my total reading annually. I will occasionally really love an individual book of fantasy or magical realism, but these are few and far between. One of these recent exceptions is Piranesi. I tend to enjoy more of the fantasy classics (like The Lord of the Rings) than anything written recently (and I have tried some). I do not care for paranormal or horror at all - it's just not for me (no vampire, werewolves, witches, or zombies, etc). I think it's partially because I don't care to read graphic violence or sex, and also much prefer standalone books to series. It's also probably got to do with my logical side and background in science. I do enjoy Science Fiction, though.

I love epic fantasy! I prefer high fantasy over low fantasy. Brandon Sanderson and Robin Hobb are my favorite authors. I love the world building, but also get where sometimes it is hard to start a new book/series. There are some I'd like to read but also don't have the energy right now for them. So, I'm mainly rereading fantasy.

I like some urban fantasy or paranormal. I prefer vampire/shifters over witches.

Magical realism is a real struggle for me. I'm more like lots of magic or no magic just a little is where I struggle. I especially don't like South American magical realism. While it is one of my least favorite genres, there are some really great books. So, I do try and read a few every year.

@Robin- The Stormlight Archive will be 10 books, plus short stories/novellas. He finished the first half of the arch and it will be 5 years before he plans to start back. As frustrating as it is with Patrick Rothfuss not finishing his series, I'm once again listening to The Name of the Wind.

Not really except cozy Japanese novels with mild magical realism. I like the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, and I have also enjoyed The Full Moon Coffee Shop and What You Are Looking For Is in the Library

Yes! Love them all! I'd say those categories are at least a 1/4 of what I read. I love fantasy. I enjoy romantasy, but I am not a big romance fan and because the genre has exploded (which is a good thing), there are a lot of poorly written books out there. Carissa Broadbent is a good one to read. Also, Melissa Blair is considered romantasy even though the stories are forefront in her books. For paranormal, you can't go wrong with Charlaine Harris! Magic/Magical Realism: Zoraida Córdova, Rebecca Roanhorse. Some other authors in these genres I really enjoy are: Deborah Harkness, Brandon Sanderson, Martha Wells, Xiran Jay Zhao, Rebecca Rossi, Tomi Adeyemi, Octavia E. Butler, Nnedi Okorafor, V.E. Schwab, Stephen KingHannah Nicole Maehrer, Namina Forna, Delilah S. Dawson, Andrea Stewart, and Jordan Ifueko.

Joy and Misty inspired me to actually run the numbers. Some form of fantasy element makes up 62% of my finished books so far this year. I'm honestly surprised it's that low. (I've read a little more science fiction and nonfiction than usual. Need to get that poetry count up to normal, though!) I love fantasy (though I don't really do epic fantasy anymore), magical realism, and hauntings.

I highly recommend the whole Singing Hills Cycle (a series) by Nghi Vo. They're short and stand alone, so you can read any of them. I also am currently reading the latest in the Sworn Soldier series by T. Kingfisher. Everything I've read from her has been at least enjoyable, but this series is my comfort read. I also immensely enjoyed Mapping the Interior (horror, but not too scary) and The River Has Roots. I'll be reading more from both authors as soon as I can wrap up the other books I need for ATY this year. I haven't made it yet to Cassandra Khaw this year, (well, I did reread one), but if you like dark fiction, she is my fave right now. I also second Piranesi. The Wayward Children is my favorite of Seanan McGuire's series.

Robin P wrote: "Do you like to read books with elements of magic, fantasy, magical realism or paranormal? Which ones do you recommend?"

Yes to all of these! At first glance I would have said paranormal the least out of these but I am a sucker for anything that ends up being elder gods/Lovecraft-esque, especially if I didn't expect it. Eat the Ones You Love and Sister, Maiden, Monster immediately come to mind.

I don't tag things with genre but just looking over what I've read lately, most of it fits into these categories to be honest.

As far as other recommendations, most of the ones I'd come up with quickly have been mentioned, especially by the other Amy above, but I'd include especially for magical realism some things I have enjoyed recently which are Chouette, The Husbands, and In the House Upon the Dirt Between the Lake and the Woods.

Next year I want to try to read Robin Hobb's books, I've got the first Assassin book and I'll see what happens.

I do enjoy magical realism (done well).

While I certainly read books including magic, fantasy and paranormal, they aren't my first choice4.