I need a new book to read, can you tell me of any?

Question

I love to read and I as many others have find myself at a time when I can't find anything that I would want to read. I like books like Eragon, Harry Potter, Wizard For Hire. Genres have to include mystery, action/adventure, and magic. And sometimes romance because I do enjoy some of those as well. Anyway if you can think of any books I might like I would like to hear about them. Thanks.

Answer 1

Mercedes Lackey's Take a Thief is the tale of Skif, a young orphan reminiscent of Oliver Twist, making his way in the knock-and-tumble neighborhood between two of Haven's outermost walls. Skif is intelligent, good-hearted and creative enough to forage up three meals a day in a place where food is scarce and kindness almost unheard of. After a chain of events leave him homeless, Skif lands in the lair of Bazie, an Faginish ex-mercenary who trains thieves...until he is "Chosen" by one of Valdemar's magical horses and becomes a Herald serving the Queen.

Dragonjousters series(joust,alta,sanctuary,Aerie) by Mercedes Lackey.The setting is ancient Egypt.Hunger, anger, and hatred are constants for young Vetch, rendered a brutally mistreated and overworked serf by the Tian conquest of his homeland. But everything improves when a Tian jouster requisitions Vetch to become the first serf ever to be a dragon boy. His training is intense, and his duty clear-cut: to tend his jouster, Ari, and his dragon, Kashet. That is only the beginning.The rest of the books are about his escape to Alta,how the war between the two kingdoms is stopped etc.

Belgariad book series by David Eddings.The first book is 'Pawn of Prophecy'.The story begins in aunt Pol's kitchen at Faldor's farm where Garion is being raised. The main theme of the books is about how it is to grow up and to break up with one's old life. From his safe life at the farm, Garion is being thrown into a new life controlled by a thousand of years old prophecy - the prophecy of his and the world's destiny...

Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks.Living in peaceful Shady Vale, Shea Ohmsford knew little of the troubles that plagued the rest of the world. Then the giant, forbidding Allanon revaled that the supposedly dead Warlock Lord was plotting to destory the world. The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness was the Sword of Shannara, which could only be used by a true heir of Shannara--Shea being the last of the bloodline, upon whom all hope rested. Soon a Skull Bearer, dread minion of Evil, flew into the Vale, seeking to destroy Shea. To save the Vale, Shea fled, drawing the Skull Bearer after him....

Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.Tara of Helium,a Martian princess gets lost in a storm while riding in her flier and blown halfway across the surface of the planet, and the Prince Gahan(who had been unsuccessfully courting Tara) goes in search of her.However he assumes the identity of a common soldier.They have many adventures on their way back.I've given a link where you can read the novel online for free.

The Vivero letter by Desmond Bagley.Jeremy Wheale's well-ordered life is torn apart when his brother is murdered by a mob hit man, whose bait was a family heirloom - a sixteenth-century gold tray. The trail takes Wheale from Devon to Mexico and the wild tropical rain forests of Yucatan. In dense jungle, he helps two archaeologists locate the rest of a fabled hoard of gold - treasure from Uaxuanoc, the centuries-old lost city of the Mayas. But his brother's enemies are on Wheale's trail, and with them are the Chicleros, a vicious band of convict mercenaries.

Landslide by Desmond Bagley.Bob Boyd wakes up in a hospital with no memory,the only surviver of an accident.He was burned badly all over and needed extensive plastic surgery which was payed by a mysterious sponser.He is told that he's a geology student with a bad past.However Bob recovers and gets on with his life.Hired by the powerful Matterson Corporation to survey land before they build a great new dam, he begins to uncover the shaky foundations of the Matterson family and becomes a fly in their ointment.His accident and the Matterson family have more in common than he thought.

Artemis Fowl book series by Eoin Colfer is about teen age criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl who even plots to steal the gold from the fairies.

Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote the Mars novels and the Tarzan novels.There are 11 novels in the Mars series beginning with 'A princess of mars'.Captain John Carter of the Confederate Army is whisked to Mars and discovers a dying world of dry ocean beds where giant four-armed barbarians rule, of crumbling cities home to an advanced but decaying civilization, a world of strange beasts and savage combat, a world where love, honor and loyalty become the stuff of adventure. The later books are about his son Carthoris,daughter Tara etc.John carter is a recurring character in all these books as martians live for 1000 years.

The best among the Tarzan novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs is 'Son of Tarzen.' Jack,the son of Tarzan shared his father's love for apes.He was only trying to help an ape escape to Africa from his cruel trainer.However he got involved in a murder and couldn't return home.He chose to live in the jungle with the apes.Its a fascinating book.The social system among the intelligent giant apes,Korak's relationship with Miriam are all interesting stuff.Its a great coming of age book.

You can get free e-books by edgar rice burroughs,O.Henry and rafael sabatini from Project Gutenberg.


Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini.When his best friend, a young clergyman, is killed in a mockery of a duel by an arrogant noble, just to quiet his eloquent expressions of democratic ideals, Andre-Louis Moreau vows revenge. From that point, through meteoric careers as a consummate actor and scenario writer, then as a fencing master, and finally a politician, the brilliant Moreau keeps thwarting the aims of the aristocratic Marquis de la Tour d'Azyr. However, the nobleman causes pain to Moreau as well, and the time must come when the two will meet to settle their enmity once and for all. You are not likely to guess how their confrontation finally turns out. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, this swashbuckling novel is exciting throughout, and it presents one of the most dashing heroes in fiction, a man who can fight equally well with his mind, his mouth, his pen, and his sword, a man who stirs up events wherever he goes.

Bellarion the Fortunate by Rafael Sabatini.Brilliant swordfights,marvelous schemes and beautiful damsels abound in this fascinating tale of a condottiere or mercenary in 15th century Italy.As the story unfolds Bellarion a convent bred orphan youth is on the way to Padua for higher studies. He gets entangled in the affairs of Princess Valeria of Montferrat.And immediately takes up her cause.He acquits himself marvelously in the court intrigues at Montferrat.However the situation proved too hot and he escapes to Milan.In Milan he passes himself off as the son of Facino Cane,the great mercenary captain to escape the clutches of Gian Maria Visconti the bloodthirsty Duke of Milan.The real Facino Cane was amused at Bellarion’s deviousness and adopts him as his son.Under Facino Cane’s tutelage Bellarion emerges as one of the greatest mercenary captains of that age.

Answer 2

You're getting a lot of good suggestions. I like your question though, so I'm going to throw out a few more. A Canticle for Leibowitz ~ Walter M. Miller The Handmaid's Tale (and others) ~ Margaret Atwood The Stars My Destination ~ Alfred Bester All the Kings Men ~ Robert Penn Warren The U.S.A. Trilogy ~ John Dos Passos Babbitt ~ Sinclair Lewis One Day In the Life of Ivan Denisovich ~ Alexander Solzhenitzyn Atlas Shrugged ~ Ayn Rand A Bonfire of the Vanities ~ Tom Wolfe Alas Babylon ~ Pat Frank Triumph ~ John Kenneth Galbraith The Mouse That Roared ~ Leonard Wibberley Another Roadside Attraction ~ Tom Robbins For Whom the Bell Tolls ~ Ernest Hemingway In Cold Blood ~ Truman Capote Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee ~ Dee Brown This may look like a really random list but it actually isn't. I think you'd find a lot here to interest you. Good luck with your search.

Answer 3

There's a series of stories about witches set in New Orleans called "Balefire." The books by Cate Tiernan and the first one is titled "A Chalice of Wind."

I also would suggest the following:
"Twilight" and "New Moon" (sequel to Twilight) by Stephenie Meyer
"A Great and Terrible Beauty" and "Rebel Angels" by Libba Bray
"Reiffen's Choice" by S. C. Butler
"Heroics for Beginners," "Bad Prince Charlie" and "The Unhandsome Prince" by John Moore
"In the Company of Ogres" by A. Lee Martinez

This is assuming you've read the classics - Lord of the Rings and Narnia, The Dark is Rising and The Prydain Chronicles.

Answer 4

I just finished Wicked by Gregory Maguire. It's wonderful a very creative. It portrays the other half of the story of the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of OZ. I'm now reading Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by the same author, and there's also a sequel to Wicked called Son of a Witch. It's next on my list.

Answer 5

Lord Valentine's Castle by Robert Silverberg
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, Dragons of Spring Dawning)
The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel
The Magic of Recluce by L.E.Modesitt
Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master by Raymond E. Feist

Answer 6

If you like Harry Potter and Eragon, give King Fortis the Brave a try!

Answer 7

I've gotta recommend the DragonLance series, beginning with the DragonLance Chronicles: Dragons of Autum Twilight. I have a similar taste in books to those you listed, and I love the DragonLance series. Also, if you like it, you won't run out of books to read for a while! After the Chronicles Trilogy, there are dozens of other books by the original authors- Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman- as well as hundreds of fan-written novels that are excellent!

The characters are well rounded and easy to "get to know". After the first book I was very attached to one of them- who dies in the book I am reading now :( Anyway, they are wonderful books about a group of adventurers out to save the world from an evil god who is trying to take over. The Characters are very mixed with a half-elf, dwarf, kender (like a halfing if you know about D&D characters) and humans. There are plenty of dragons and knights and whatnot... Just a wonderful read!

Answer 8

The Historian

The Historian is one of the best books I've read in the last 10 years. It's about a historian's search for Dracula. It's kind of a mystery/adventure but it is very intelligently written.

Answer 9

The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik is excellent. Its an alternate Napoleanic era adventure where dragons exist. The era is historically rich and the characters are very engaging. Also, The Black Jewels and House of Gaian series by Anne Bishop. She mixes fantasy and romance very well.

Answer 10

Pullman, Philip
The Golden Compass

Answer 11

You should definitely read Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas series. I wasn't a Dean Koontz fan, but I LOVE these books. The first is Odd Thomas, the second is Forever Odd, and the third is Brother Odd. Odd Thomas is the name of the main character, who sees dead people. They are great mysteries, and kind of spooky too! (Although not so spooky that they keep me up at night.) It sounds like you enjoy books that have a bit of the supernatural in them, so GET THESE BOOKS! :)