I really appreciate an adult fantasy that explores systems of oppression (where the MC is part of the marginalized), forbidden romance, found family, competitions, and high stakes. Bonus points: contemporary or in a realm adjacent to ours/hidden world or just not super high fantasy.
I *really* enjoyed The Scholomance, Ninth House, The Serpent and The Wings of Night. I enjoyed *slightly less* The Fourth Wing (I felt like it was a little over the top) and The Cruel Prince (a little too YA for me).
Thank you in advance!
by orangechickenpork
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Have you read Naomi Novik’s other series, starting with *Uprooted*? I liked that one a lot, good enemies to lovers, and super cool, Polish-inspired magic.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn. It is YA, but it is SO GOOD. And the side romances/crushes are really good
I’ll preface by saying I’ve only read book one, but you might like The Mask of Mirrors by M C Carrik. MC is a former street urchin trying to run a massive con on a noble family in her home city. The nobles are all descendants of foreign invaders, and the MC is a native trying to pull off being a mixed race long lost cousin via magic makeup and her adopted sister’s tailoring. Things quickly snowball from her plan to be added to the noble family’s register and leech off them.
A Zorro is involved, not sure if she falls for him… but they’re a Zorro so odds seem high. lol
{{The Sharing Knife}} by Bujold
*The Unbroken* and *The Faithless* by CL Clark – first two books of a trilogy, I think book 3 is out next year
*Notorious Sorcerer* and *Shadow Baron* by Davinia Evans – again, first two books of a trilogy, book 2 only just came out
The Winnowing Flame trilogy by Jen Williams, starts with *The Ninth Rain*