Every time I read book I imagine being part of the world of the story. I like to open my mind to the experiences of the characters, which is helpful in my work as an actor, as well as my writing. I mean, studying and interpreting character is literallyan actor's job! It's a huge part of a writer's job, too, and I have tried to create characters my own readers would like to be friends with! These are all some of my favourite books/series. A couple are serious, the others are funny, but they all have wonderful characters I hope you feel as drawn to as I do.
Why do I want to be friends with Vlad? In this often LOL funny series, Vlad is an "Easterner" (a human) assassin who practices witchcraft and communicates psionically with his sarcastic familiar, Loiosh, (a miniature-dragon-like creature). Vlad's enemies—Dragaerans (elves, only don't try to tell them that) are sorcerers. That puts Vlad at a disadvantage. But Vlad's witchcraft often baffles his enemies. He also uses a rapier, which gives him a more flexible fighting style than his enemies' hack & slash methods. Not only that, he has an appreciation for good food, which is enormously attractive. As his friend I'm pretty sure Vlad would take me to his favourite restaurant, Valabar's, where I would drink excellent wine and eat amazing food, and would *probably* not be killed by Vlad's enemies.
The first three fantastical adventures of assassin Vlad Taltos—now in one volume.
A welcome addition to any fantasy fan's library, The Book of Jhereg follows the antics of the wise-cracking Vlad Taltos and his dragon-like companion through their first three adventures—Jhereg, Yendi, and Teckla.
There are many ways for a young man with quick wits and a quick sword to advance in the world. Vlad Taltos chose the route of assassin. From his rookie days to his selfless feats of heroism, the dauntless Vlad will hold readers spellbound—and The Book of Jhereg will take its place among the classic compilations…
I love our heroine, Thursday Next, with her tragic past, kickass integrity, and pet-cloned dodo named Pickwick. She's fearless, (at least she hides it well), and I admire someone with excellent problem-solving skills, and a desire to do good in the world. I would provide Thursday with moral support when her love life crumbles, and when her mother is trapped insidea Wordsworth poem. Admittedly, I'd be terrified to have an evil genius on the loose, especially one who would kidnap Jane Eyre right out of her book for his own wicked ends. But if anyone can prevent catastrophe, it's Thursday. And you see... Thursday has been inside the book before. Wouldn't you like to go insidefiction with her? This whole series is exciting, suspenseful, and funny!
Meet Thursday Next, literary detective without equal, fear or boyfriend
Jasper Fforde's beloved New York Times bestselling novel introduces literary detective Thursday Next and her alternate reality of literature-obsessed England-from the author of The Constant Rabbit
Fans of Douglas Adams and P. G. Wodehouse will love visiting Jasper Fforde's Great Britain, circa 1985, when time travel is routine, cloning is a reality (dodos are the resurrected pet of choice), and literature is taken very, very seriously: it's a bibliophile's dream. England is a virtual police state where an aunt can get lost (literally) in a Wordsworth poem and forging Byronic…
The main reason I'd like to be friends with Seth Brown is, well, he's a Messiah. He can heal me if I cut myself, he can resurrect me in the event of my untimely death—though by all accounts the afterlife is rather, ahem, pleasant, so I might fight him on that—andhe can turn tap water into a perfect cup of coffee. His resurrected arctic fox friend is an excellent ally, but Seth could use another human to help track down the vile bishop who's killing off his half-brothers in an effort to eliminate all but the one-and-only True Messiah. Or, on second thought, maybe I'd stay out of the line of fire by getting a job at the local Ducky Mar....
ADVANCE PRAISE FOR "ARMAGEDDON BOYS, BOOK ONE: JUDGMENT DAZE"!
"A brilliant launch to a hilarious new series!" ~ Some guy
"Wonderful!" ~ The author's mom
"Burn in hell, a**hole!"~ The Westboro Baptist Church
FROM BOOKSTORE CLERK TO BADASS Someone is killing off Seth Brown's half-brothers and he's not going to put up with it. Even when he forgets to load his gun, he has something going for him: he is the Messiah. One of them, anyway. Seth has all the talents you'd expect in a Son of God: he can turn water into a cup of coffee to die for…
I have so much admiration for witch Paige Winterbourne, who has had a teenage ward named Savannah thrust upon her, when Paige herself is barely out of teenagerhood. Paige's coven disowns her, even as evil forces are trying to woo Savannah, and get Paige out of the way by framing her for murder. I have zero patience for their lack of support. It's no wonder Paige is forced to accept the help of the terribly persistent young lawyer who ought to be her archenemy. He's a sorcerer, and sorcerers neverhave the best interests of witches in mind. Especially the heir of one of the most powerful cabals. I would help Paige communicate with a teenager. Moreover, I would take Savannah out for lunch so Paige can... communicate with her lawyer.
'Paranormal and show-business power struggles make for hard-to-put-down entertainment.' - Booklist
'The Women of the Otherworld universe has expanded and gained further definition with this latest entry. . . . If Kelly Armstrong writes it, then you should add it to your reading list if you want a darn good tale.' - HuntressReviews.com
Paige Winterbourne is a witch. Not that you'd notice - no warts, no green skin, no cute little wiggle of the nose whenever she casts a spell.
No, most of the time she's just a normal 23-year-old girl; works too hard, worries about her weight, wonders if…
I would love to be friends with Meg because she's smart and passionate. And wow, could she ever use some friends who believe in her! I also think we'd get along because we're both nerdy: she's into math and science, and I'm nerdy because I'm into theatre and music. I didn't wear braces like she does, but I did wear glasses and always felt awkward, because I was tiny and quiet. I wouldn't be able to relate to her father having vanished off the face of the earth, but I could certainly listen and support her. And I would love to hang out in her funky old house and have sleepovers, and eat spaghetti cooked by her mom over a Bunsen burner.
Puffin Classics: the definitive collection of timeless stories, for every child.
We can't take any credit for our talents. It's how we use them that counts.
When Charles and Meg Murry go searching through a 'wrinkle in time' for their lost father, they find themselves on an evil planet where all life is enslaved by a huge pulsating brain known as 'It'.
Meg, Charles and their friend Calvin embark on a cosmic journey helped by the funny and mysterious trio of guardian angels, Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which. Together they must find the weapon that will defeat It.…
Fantasy RomCom with a Douglas Adams/Jasper Fforde flair
Griffin's rock band has their big break. But when her lead guitarist throws a drug- and alcohol-induced El Screamo Thrasher Solo Temper Tantrum, the band is kicked out.
Enter Rickenbacker, a mysterious restaurant manager with a tempting offer: if Griffin works in his restaurant making desserts, she can play in the house band, the Spurious Correlations, alongside Matteo: a super-talented lead guitarist.
Griffin doesn't know that Rickenbacker is a competitor in an Other Worldly LARPing tournament. He has two weeks to push her to the limit with dessert-making mayhem, enough to drive her to perform an unthinkable task, without letting her suspect she's a pawn in his scheme.
Baking can be a nightmare, but Matteo is awfully dreamy...
My favorite fantasy novels tend to be rather complex. Winding plotlines, mysteriously interconnected characters, whimsical settings, and intricate, thoughtful worldbuilding combine to create immersive stories that stick in the mind like overworn folklore. Time travel or interworld travel lend additional layers of intrigue and mystery, forcing the inescapable contemplation of a more thrilling, alternate reality. And if it’s all packaged in artful, breathtaking prose that breeds full-color images, audible noises, indelible flavors, nose-crumpling odors, and tangible textures, I will happily lose myself in the pages, truly forgetting about the strictures of everyday life… at least until I get hungry and remember I need to consume more than books to survive.
An Heir of Realms tells the tale of two young heroines—a dragon rider and a portal jumper—who fight dragon-like parasites to save their realms from extinction.
Rhoswen is training as a Realm Rider to work with dragons and burn away the Narxon swarming into her realm. Rhoswen’s dream is to Ride, but her destiny will pit her against her uncle and king, who have scorned her since before her birth.
In the Exchange, the waystation between realms, Emmelyn fights the G’Ambit, a gambling ring with members more intent on lining their pockets than protecting the realms—or their own lives.
Realm-devouring parasites threaten all existence. The Exchange is desperate to destroy them. But could their radical plans endanger the realms, too?
Soul-sucking parasites are overwhelming the realms.
Rhoswen of Stanburh is of age to train as a Realm Rider—a defender of the realms. Riders and their dragons work together to burn away infiltrating Narxon as they swarm in through tears in a realm’s fabric. But it’s not an easy battle: the mere touch of the smoky, dragon-like adversaries can reduce the lively winged beasts—and their Riders—to ash.
Becoming a Realm Rider is Rhoswen’s dream, but she carries far more responsibility…
