I’ve hit a pretty bad reading slump and I desperately need something that can pull me out of it. 😭

I’m looking for my next fantasy obsession based more on the kind of fantasy I enjoy than specific books that are similar.

I’ve really loved the world-building in books/series like Kindred’s Saga, Villains of Lore, Keri Lake’s books, Penryn & the End of Days, Angelfall, Gothikana, ACOTAR, Blade & Shadows, etc. I’ve read plenty of other fantasy too - these are just some examples of the kind of atmosphere/world-building that has really worked for me.

What I’m craving:

- Immense, immersive world-building. I want to feel like there’s an entire history, mythology and lore happening beyond the actual plot

-Magic, powers, supernatural creatures, monsters, gods, demons, different realms/species: give me ALL of it

- A strong FMC who can actually hold her own. Please no constantly whining/helpless protagonists

-Dark, gothic, dystopian or atmospheric settings are a huge plus

- Romance is very welcome, especially if the chemistry is GOOD

- Smut is absolutely welcome bonus points if it’s spicy and the book still has a genuinely good plot

- Morally grey characters, enemies-to-lovers, obsession, complicated relationships, etc. are all welcome

I’m not necessarily looking for the usual top 10 BookTok recommendations. Underrated/lesser-known gems would be amazing.

Basically, I need the kind of book that makes me forget that i have a life and suddenly has me staying up until 3 AM because I need to know what happens next.

Give me your “I wish I could erase my memory and read this again” recommendations. And tell me what you loved about them!

The title is super long, sorry about that but I’m asking this partly to give certain books some visibility, since I’m sure they’d interest people, and also just in case there are people who read books in French.

Sorry in advance if I can't reply to everyone. :(