[Darkwatch]

I never read the Wraeththu series, but I can assure you that the Magravandias Chronicles are not so bizarre.... Ok the relationship between twin borther and sister and the seduction of Khaster was a tad bit in the bizarre but there's nothing about androgynous freaks.

Also I just remembered Michelle West, started her Sun Sword serie, so far only one book done, they got pre-empted by Erikson and Irvine, since their new books came out in between. Very character driven in the first book and a solid story and worl I just came to love. But she skipped a whole war! All of it, and the action scenes feel displaced except for one. Either way I bought books 2 and 3 and intend on reading them.

[Obdigore]

I picked up book one of West's Sun Sword Series... I could not get 20 pages into it.... Her writing is just so.... dry. Its like the world is static except for exactally what she is writing about right then.

[Sir Thursday]

I'm a big fan of Janny Wurts' The Wars of Light and Shadow series...but I'm not sure it's everyone's cup of tea. She uses an awful lot of 'compulsions' wherein people are caused to act differently - I quite enjoy that sort of thing but it can be very offputting. She delves into propaganda and manipulation a lot as well - the representative of "light" is the bad guy (well, he's misled anyway, it amounts to the same thing eventually...). Plus I like Arithon and later Sulfin Evend as characters...still I'm sure there are plenty of people who can't stand it.

Sir Thursday

[Karsa Orlong]

Obdigore;118446 said:

I picked up book one of West's Sun Sword Series... I could not get 20 pages into it.... Her writing is just so.... dry. Its like the world is static except for exactally what she is writing about right then.

I couldn't disagree more, but then tastes differ ...

I would recommend to start with her Hunter's duology...it sets the mood and introduces the reader to the world and the pantheon of gods. Also, there are some characters that play vital roles in the sun sword sixtet that also feature in the hunter's duology.
She has a quite descriptive prose and if you look for fast paced novels, she certainly isn't for you. But if you look for deep worldbuilding, character-depth and emotions, i can highly recommend her books.

Another female author i want to point out (or should i say second, third or whatever *g* ) is Anne Bishop. I really liked her Black Jewels trilogy. Quite entertaining and darkly sensual.

[ObsoleteResolve]

Anne Bishop, as I previously stated, has much love. I've read all of her stuff, and loved it. I can't wait for Constantine? Whatever the firs tnovel in her new series is. It msut come out in paperback!

I did (reminded by others) L0V0RZ (to be gay about it) CS Friedman's the Coldfire trilogy. I've read a few others by her and didn't like them as much, but I've read Coldfire twice. Definitely solidly written with no conclusive ending. And: that is a great aspect to the tale, because the "evil" grows on you and is something you root for by the end.

[henk]

elizabeth haydon rapsody serie is very good my number 2 on fantasy after se

[Reborn]

ObsoleteResolve;118585 said:

Anne Bishop, as I previously stated, has much love. I've read all of her stuff, and loved it. I can't wait for Constantine? Whatever the firs tnovel in her new series is. It msut come out in paperback!

I did (reminded by others) L0V0RZ (to be gay about it) CS Friedman's the Coldfire trilogy. I've read a few others by her and didn't like them as much, but I've read Coldfire twice. Definitely solidly written with no conclusive ending. And: that is a great aspect to the tale, because the "evil" grows on you and is something you root for by the end.

I enjoyed The Coldfire Trilogy too, the books were masterfully written and The Hunter is one of the best characters I have ever come across in a fantasy book. The Hunter has the same role as Depp has in Pirates of the Caribbean, he is keeping the ship floating. The story without him would be lika Pirates of the Caribbean without Depp. I suspect the ship would hit a rock and sink fast as hell.

The Coldfire Trilogy suffers from some major problems, though, the story is neither original nor captivating, and, to make matters worse, it is repetetive. But, because of the Fae and The Hunter, I would still recommend the serie to others.

[Reborn]

Svart Eld by Christina Brönnestam is a very good and different Swedish fantasy book written by a woman. If you are able to understand Swedish you should check it out.

[jscottnelson]

I would also put in my vote for Katherine Kerr -- although I agree with Stone Monkey that the books got weaker as they went along.

The first 3-4 I thought were pure genius. Nowadays it is pretty common for key characters to get killed off (a key ingredient that I want to see in books so that there is some real tension in the dangerous situations). She was one of the first who continuously could kill off her key characters in interesting ways -- and yet with the reincarnation story they would show up again. The novel-within-a-novel format she had for what was going on in the present day, and what had happened in a past life that affected the present-day, was absolutely fantastic in my eyes.

[Lister of Smeg]

Robin Hobb, Janny Wurts, Margaret Weis (nostalgic reasons) and Michelle West are all excellent female authors. Jacqueline Carey isn't bad either, though I feel her "Kushiel's" series kind of lost its way in the third book. But Hobb ranks among my three favourite authors, and West isn't far off either.

[caladanbrood]

I certainly enjoyed KJ Parker and Kate Elliott, but I don't think there are any other female authors I have read and enjoyed. Can't stand Robin Hobb...

[Reborn]

Why can't you stand Hobb? She is, in my opinion, a fenomenal author.

[caladanbrood]

Dull prose, uninspiring characters... that sort of thing

[QuickTidal]

caladanbrood;119954 said:

Dull prose, uninspiring characters... that sort of thing

Ah, but the Asassins trilogy was very good....after that it got bad...

[Onos]

CS Friedman is a woman? Nice, didnt know that. The trilogy i read was certainly different and had some interesting plot lines going. Though i have trouble putting it in a 'fantasy' setting, it almost has a sci fi or goth or something feel to it.

And i do remeber thinking the early Deverry series stories were worth reading too. (had a hard time finding them in stores and when i did i had trouble telling one book from another) (Katherine Kerr)

Hobb pretty boring....

[Reborn]

caladanbrood;119954 said:

Dull prose, uninspiring characters... that sort of thing

Dull prose? Uninspiring characters? I have not encountered a single author yet -- no, not even Erikson -- who can write more captivating and more gripping than Hobb, and I have not encountered a single author -- no, not even Erikson -- who can create characters that feel as alive -- you actually care about them -- as Hobb can do. She is fenomenal. I would not say that The Farseer is the best she has written, no, I found the The Liveship Traders to be even more interesting and incredible. The Tawny Man was great, too.

To leave that subject: The Coldfire Trilogy by Friedman is a combination between fantasy and Sf, but I would consider it to be closer to fantasy.

[Werthead]

As far as characters are concerned, Hobb worships at the altar of Martin. And is still not fit to hold up his robes.

Nevertheless, Hobb is not without merit. The Liveship Traders was a reasonable series, although, like all of Hobb's writing, flabby and overlong by about 400%. Hobb needs to learn that when she has a great idea for a single brilliant 450-page novel, she should just write that, rather than a pointless 2,000-page trilogy that runs out of steam halfway through the second book.