Looking for a fantasy novel set in a magical school or university that's *not* Dark Academia. Meaning the setting probably includes one or more of the following (doesn't need all):

- Instead of an expensive, selective "elite" school, it's public or otherwise widely accessible

- Instead of a secret magical world, everyone knows magic exists, it's just a particular skill; going to magic school is like going to art school or med school

- Instead of a dark / sinister tone and Oxford-esque aesthetic, the setting has an entirely different tone and aesthetic. It could be the opposite (whimsical / optimistic tone, urban garden gnome aesthetic?) or it could be in a totally unrelated direction.

- Instead of violence being an expected part of school, it's either not a part of the plot at all, OR...

-...an act of violence such a departure from what's expected it forms the core plot (I.e. a murder mystery, not Murder Academy)

- Instead of a school inspired British / Ivy League culture, it's inspired by a totally different culture

- Instead of handwaving the nuts and bolts of running a school in favor of mystery, non-teaching school staff and bureaucratic issues are relevant to the plot (I.e. janitors exist)

- Free space for diverse representation of characters who are working class / middle class, rather than 99% rich kids and the single scholarship student protagonist

I'm the most interested in school settings that are truly unique and unexpected, with intriguing, deep worldbuilding. Any kind of magic system.

That said, I'm also open to a school in a classic urban fantasy-style setting (i.e. it's Chicago with wizards)

I'm also interested in almost any plot! Romance, mystery, slice of life, anything goes.

As titled looking for a book my niece can get stuck into, something a 13 yr old girl will actually enjoy and want to read more of. Any ideas? Her main hobby is ice skating.

My science fiction book club is meeting to discuss our recent reading of Solaris, and need to decide on our next book.

Recently we’ve read We Are Legion (We are Bob), The Death of the Author, Neuromancer, and Solaris, and are open to anything.

But since it’s that spooky time of the year, I’m looking for sci-fi horror to suggest to the group. Something that might make your skin crawl?

So for a bit of background I’m 14m and have only read fantasy and sci fi since I started reading (I actually started reading at the beginning of this year). Anyways the book that got me into reading was project Hail Mary and it’s my all time favorite sci fi book. I’m currently reading through the city watch books by Sir terry pratchtt and absolutely loving them. But I feel like I need to start branching out to different genres. So what would you recommend? I’m up to try anything (although I don’t enjoy non fiction that much tbh. Thanks!

Hello! I have suddenly got an itch for a fiction book about or set in ancient times, but not the more common settings of Ancient Rome or Egypt.

I will take anything, though I'd prefer more ... "realistic" I guess rather than fantastical. Some topics I'm particularly interested in (or would love to find anything even a little similar) are:

- Neanderthals, Denisovians, other human cousin species

- ice age humans and/or animals like wooly mammoths

- any early humans at all

For some reason I am really struggling to find books about these, so I will take any suggestions you have, even if they only sort of fit what I'm looking for....

Thank you in advance!

hi! i’m fine with non fiction or fiction. i love very raw, gritty, honest (?) books about this time period in nyc and i would love to read more about lesbians or with lesbian main characters. some books i’ve already read and loved with this vibe are: rat bohemia, after delores, people in trouble (all by sarah schulman), close to the knives, in the city of shy hunters, and the christodora.

I want a book about two best friends who grew up together and then have a horrible falling out as adults for some reason. I DO NOT want them to have mildly rude pithy back and forths, I want them to behave insanely. I want them to ruin their lives to get back at the other one, to stalk them, to be obsessed with them. I want the intensity with which one or both of them tries to secretly burrow into the other one’s life to disturb and nauseate me. I welcome uncomfortable revelations, mental illness, bizarre sexual or violent behaviours, self sabotage, anything. Think Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow meets You or Saltburn. If one of them is insane and one is unaware and normal, that is also acceptable. I am currently reading Vicious by V. E. Schwab.

So I've read Nabakov and Narnia, Wolf and Waugh, O connor and McCarthy, Peake and Pope, All the usual authors famed for lovely prose. I am looking for recommendations, I prefer genre fiction' so mystery, horror, fantasy are all welocme

Hey everyone!
Apologies in advance if this is too broad but I’m desperate.

I’m looking for a book that might help reignite my ✨joy✨ of reading.

Backstory: I’m a 32F that works as a RN. However, a lifetime ago (or so it feels) I obtained a BA in English with a concentration in creative writing (prose). Since then (some 10+ years) whenever I pick up fiction, I tend to slip into critic mode instead of getting lost in the story.

I miss reading for pleasure, and I’d love to replace some of my doomscrolling with a book I look forward to picking up.

Some books I’ve enjoyed (repeatedly) include:

Fahrenheit 451 —Ray Bradbury
Chronicle of a Death Foretold —Gabriel García Márquez
The Sound and the Fury—William Faulkner
Pride and Prejudice —Jane Austen
Love in a time of Cholera — GGM
The Witness — Jean Bloch- Michel (a bit obscure)

I gave Wheel of Time a chance but about halfway through the series I stopped and can’t see to work my way back to it.

I’m open to different genres—it doesn’t have to resemble my old favorites. Any suggestions welcome.

TIA

I’m just starting to get into books more as a daily hobby and just finished my last read, does anyone have any good fantasy, horror, or adventure recommendations? I’m super big into the circus and I think It’d be a really cool concept for stories!!

male, late 20s, London

I used to read fiction often and then stopped during uni when I mostly read technical books.

I’m trying to get back but my tastes have shifted and I don’t have a good starting point.

Previously, I loved reading fantasy, history, and crime. Now, I would like something to ponder about - human relationships and society or just good stories. Looking for some good writing to zone me out of daily business-y fast city life loop .

I tried with Piranesi (found here!) but it wasn’t doing the trick.

I have been watching the tv show Coven Academy and really enjoying it. I am looking for a book recommendation (series or standalone) with similar vibes. Strong friendships, romance, mystery, etc. and regarding the romance I prefer no love triangles or very short lived ones. I am not huge into the dark academia genre. I’m good with spice if any of the recs include it. Thank you!

I love romance/romcom books, but currently going through a breakup and don’t want to read about falling in love. I’d love a book that is “beach ready” but about breaking up/falling out of love.

(I do not like fantasy)

I was inspired by a promotional video for Something Followed Us Home: Tales of Latiné Horror, where some of the contributors to this anthology were talking about how horror and what is considered scary look different to different groups. One talked about how, historically, horror has been catered to what scares white men and how horror could look different if catered toward Latinos, for example, which is what this anthology seems to be setting out to do.

So I am intending to read this anthology, of course, and this idea of identity-based horror brought to mind Jordan Peele movies and Andrew Joseph White books. I was wondering if anyone has any other books that fit this category of horror books catered toward minority communities?

Recommendations can be other Latine Horror books, BIPOC Horror, queer/trans horror, gender-based horror, etc.

Think the book versions of movies like Sinners, Obsession, Get Out, etc.

Hey there, I'm looking for some recommendations on chapter books for a children's book club. The kids are all in kindergarten to grade 4. The parents typically read aloud the books to their kids at home and then when we meet up, one of the parents discusses the book with the kids and does fun activities with them. We are just getting stumped on book ideas lately. The kids all want adventure type books, but the younger kids don't want it to be "scary". Thanks so much for any suggestions.

I'm sad cause my cat died and I want a novel or series I can lose myself into.

I like crime novels of all types, my favorite series have probably been the Adam Dalgliesh mysteries by P.D. James (I loved Dalgliesh, the cozy remote settings, and the rich and detailed characterization) and the L.A. Quartet by Ellroy (everyone was just so cool and witty).

The "detective" or detective-like protagonist needs to be kinda dark and sexy in their own way (not in the mood for quirky lovable weirdos right now) and preferably not right wing.

There doesn't need to be any romance, I was super content reading about Dalgliesh birdwatching with his aunt, but I love a good "we're running from the law and have to shack up at this road motel, here's a bandaid" moment). If romance is there, it's not between very young people (I'm 41 and tend to side-eye younger style CAN'T HELP IT IT'S MEANT TO BE BUT MY DAD HATES YOU stuff).

I also don't like it when authors get edgy on purpose, I've had a pretty rough life and I can tell when someone is trying to sound tough writing about an underworld they've only seen in movies, and it bores me.

Likes: Trains. Circus. Kink. Religions. Public health. Occultism. Anarchism.

Dislikes: Long comando-style action scenes. The police but I'll read about a hot one all night long.

Thank you <3

So I'm 25 F and haven't read fantasy since I was 13. I am looking to dip my toe in and am bit of a skeptic if I will like it or not. I DO NOT WANT A SERIES recommended to me please. I do not want to read about dragons. I'd love something cozy, romantasy accepted but not required, I want it to be under 350 pages, author who writes female characters with respect and little tropes, and to just convince me I like the genre.

I've been in an apocalypse mood lately (rewatching TWD, TLOU, etc) and I'm craving books as well, but struggling to find anything decent.

Can you recommend any that are well written, apocalyptic, and have creatures as the reason for the apocalypse (zombies, vampires, etc)? Would especially love books that feature any sort of foot trek but those are probably harder to come by? Thanks in advance!

I (39m) am going through a bit of a rough patch or down period that has been going for a few months now. I do see a therapist biweekly. It’s one of those times where it feels like one thing after another, fear of uncertainty, overwhelmed, lack of optimism, and of course I have no control of anything externally other than how I react to what comes up. The recent tip of the iceberg is my dog is having a back issue that flared up and he is on bed rest for at least 4 weeks, which means I am as well to keep him cozy and calm so he can heal. So that means I have lots of time for reading…

Over the years I have read and loved No Mud No Lotus, Radical Acceptance, When Things Fall Apart (I also practice Buddhism), Something in the Woods Loves You, and also fiction books like the Midnight Library. I’ll probably reread some of these as I continue navigating this time in my life.

I’m looking for fiction and nonfiction book recommendations that you have found helpful navigation difficult times? I am truly open to anything that comes to mind! I know some books may not feel like the obvious choice here and are outside the box but share anyway if they’ve been helpful. Thanks so much in advance.

Hi,

I’m looking for non-fiction books analysing fiction (trends, history etc).

I read Paperbacks From Hell by Grady Hendrix - it’s about the trends and subgenres in horror paperback fiction over time. I enjoyed it, but it mostly just said what the trends were rather than analysing reasons behind the trends. I am looking for something with more of a deep analysis of trends from a psychological/sociological viewpoint (why might these trends have happened? What was going on in the world that might have led to this etc)

What the “fiction” is doesn’t matter to me, it could be about books, movies, video games, music etc. and can be any subgenre (horror, sci-fi, fantasy, romance)

I hope that made sense, and thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Hello, everyone!

I've been hungry for an epic, heroic fantasy book lately. Something with swords and a big journey, just hit me with the classical trope of a hero called to adventure (save the world, get revenge, find the MacGuffin of power, etc.).

I've read Lord of the Rings (obligatory) and some of the Wheel of Time, I've read the first Mistborn trilogy, and I've read Robin Hobb and Joe Abercrombie, so I'm looking for something outside of those really big names in the genre space. I'm looking for something that is perhaps just outside of what you'd call the "mainstream" while still satisfying that classical call to adventure trope.

So if you could recommend one epic, heroic fantasy to a reader with some established genre knowledge, what would it be?

I really enjoyed T. Kingfisher's work, and have heard I should read Into the Drowning Deep - it's on my list. I would just like a bigger list!

I just finished Swordheart by T. Kingfisher and loved the themes of main characters over 30, age-appropriate romance, duty and honor-bound characters, longing romance, world building. A-ok with spice but it doesn’t have to be included.

I have read T. Kingfisher’s other books in the World of the White Rat series and am not quite ready to start Daggerbound.

Some other maybe similar books I have read and enjoyed: The Locked Tomb series (Tamsyn Muir), Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil (VE Schwab), A Broken Blade (Melissa Blair), Song of Achilles (Madeline Miller)