Book Reccomendations: If You Like That, Try This

January often sees a lot of people looking for book recommendations to go with reading goals, etc. Here are a few popular/well-known series or writers and their underrated counterparts to get you started on a path of discovering new reads.



If you like....50 Shades of Grey series by E. L. James

Try....Kushiel Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey, comprised of books Kushiel’s Dart, Kushiel’s Chosen, and Kushiel’s Avatar 

Why: The first three books of this historical fantasy series are focused on heroine Phèdre nó Delaunay, an anguisette, aka a masochist. The writing is very accessible, sex-positive, pro-sex work, and who would think to make a masochist the most powerful, clever, and compassionate woman in all the realm? BONUS: there are a TON of LGBT dalliances throughout the series


If you like...Game of Thrones series by George R. R. Martin

Try...The Outcast Chronicle series by Rowena Cory Daniells, comprised of Books Besieged, Exile, and Sanctuary

Besieged is brutal and full of fierce characters of all genders. There are twists and unexpected turns, and she kills characters you love as ruthlessly (I would argue more so) than Martin does. The lines of conflict are split across gender and race, especially mixed race people….don’t miss this series


If you like...John Steinbeck

Try...Dawn Powell

Why: Powell knows the Midwest of the USA like Steinbeck knows California, except Powell’s writing (grievously overlooked) is much more poignant, heartbreaking, and engaging


If you liked...the Netflix series sense8

Try...Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente

Why: Valente’s book is about 4 strangers whose lives and desires become intertwined in a dream world and then in real life—“those fated to make the passage are marked forever by a map of that wondrous city tattooed on their flesh”. LGBT-inclusive, and dreamy, wonderful book.


A version of this post was printed in Issue 2: Books & Reading of my zine catalogue Y in 2015.

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