Having a bad time. Really need a good series recommendation

[parrotonmyshoulder]

To take my mind of the awfulness and give me something to look forward to in the evenings.
Favourites:
Neil Gaiman
Alice Hoffman
Naomi Novik
Robin Hobb

I keep getting half tempted by something, buying it on kindle and then giving up. Probably partly because of the awfulness, but also because not grabbing me enough.

Thanks.

Have you read uprooted by Naomi novik? It's incredible. Also, have you read Jodi Taylor's time travel series? It starts with one called just one damn thing after another. They're pretty funny and good escapism. I like the authors you've listed, robin hobb is my favourite author ever you have good taste

Yes, have read all the Jodi Taylors.
I loved Uprooted and Spinning Silver.

Also love Terry Pratchett.
And Dickens.
But none of the above are what I need. I don’t want to re-read at the moment. Need something new.

If you havent got library card its worth nipping to your nearest library amd getting one. You can then use the libby app (you attach your library card number to it). I swear by it and the books are free.

Elena Ferrante ‘Neapolitan novels’.
Hope things improve for you

It's not a series but there's a nice little novel called nyx by DM Livingstone. I think it's a self published one and I haven't read it on a few years but I remember it being quite a good read, it's funny.

Have you read Circe?

The Gormenghast trilogy?

www.goodreads.com/book/show/39058.The_Gormenghast_Novels

I loved the BBC radio adaption, it is abridged, but you can get your first book free:
www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-History-of-Titus-Groan-Audiobook/B005JU178A

Currently being adapted for TV by Neil Gaiman.

Have you tried the Rivers of London series (police procedurals involving magic)?

What about Rotherweird? Or the Invisible library series?

For something more real-world, I do rather love Elly Griffiths, especially the Ruth Galloway series.

The Ben Aaronovitch Rivers of London series is great for a bit of escapism

I'd recommend Lois McMaster Bujold's 5 Gods series (start with the Curse of Chalion). (And if you like that, the Vorkosigan series will keep you busy for ages). Clever, often very funny, character driven, lots of strong female leads.

The Rivers of London series is great too - a London policeman whose career takes a very weird turn when he stumbles across a ghost who's a witness to a murder. Some very dry one-liners and lots of geekiness applied to magic.

If you feel like something lighter, the incryptid series by Seanan McGuire is good fun too, particularly the talking mice!

And finally, the Iron Druid chronicles (start with Hounded) are good fun - again urban fantasy, throwing in more and more pantheons of gods as the series develops, with a delightful Irish Wolfhound who gets all the best lines.

Hey, where did all the Rivers of London fans come from!

Yes to the Invisible Library too!

Sarah Painter’s Foxes Curse series has just released book 3. I really enjoyed these books - gritty private detective series with magic. Well-written and intriguing.

If you’ve not found Ilona Andrews yet, you’ll find excellent world-building, endless invention and great characters. She’s one of my go-tos for when it’s all too hard and I want pure escapism.

For light-hearted fun I love some space opera. Elizabeth Moon for more straight-forward sci-fi and Jessie Mihalik and Linnea Sinclair for space opera romance.

TA White has three series, all of which are very entertaining and feature terrific heroines.

Vivian Shaw’s Greta Helsing books are fun; Dr Helsing inherits her father’s medical practice for the paranormal community.

Not fantasy but very entertaining - Deanna Raybourn’s historical mysteries. There are three, but the ones featuring Veronica Speedwell are frequently laugh-out-loud funny.

And I’ll add. I’ve just started a new series by Kat Ross called Gaslamp Gothic. It’s really well-written and very intriguing.

Around this time last year, after a recommendation here, I started reading the Connie Willis books (Doomsday Book, then Blackout/All Clear). I honestly remember it as one of the most enjoyable periods of my life in recent years - I know that sounds stupidly hyperbolic, but I couldn’t get enough of these books, I stayed up late into the night reading them. Time travel with lots of really well-researched history, pathos and just good good writing.

It's not a series but my DP read and loved the fantasy novel The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. I'm not a fantasy fan but am thinking of reading it myself as the I read the beginning and it was really good.

Outlander books on same theme. Fab escapism and very well written and researched.

The Bear and the Nightingale, Katherine Arden

Total escapism, what with it being about Russia several centuries ago and chock full of magic and house-spirits.

The Becky Chambers Wayfarers books are lovely. Gentle, warm and life affirming.

Was going to suggest Outlander too. Currently 8 books in the series and it's complete escapism.

Second Lois McMaster Bujold and Becky Chambers.
Really easy fantasy: David Eddings.
Slightly futuristic police/crime: JD Robb
Fantasy to the dark side: Simon R Green.
Old Russia fantasy: The Prince Ivan series by Peter Morwood.
Space opera: David Weber.

My go to book when I feel down is Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons.

Series:

The Passage by Justin Cronin
Legends of... and Covenant of.. Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler
The Dominion Trilogy by Joe Hart
The Girl With All the Gifts/The Boy on the Bridge by M.R. Carey

Also a big Robin Hobb and Jodi Taylor fan. Outlander series is escapist fun but some parts of the books do drag.