Hi everyone, first time on this subreddit.
I love reading, but for whatever reason since the start of 2026 I just really have not felt engaged in anything I have been reading, and I do not know why. Im typically a fantasy/sci-fi reader, but I also am finding myself increasingly into historical fiction. Really what I have learned about myself is that I am a character reader- they can be good, bad, or complex, but if I get attached to a character, I find I can read just about anything. I really would love to hear you suggestions!
Some recent hits and misses are:
Hits:
- Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
- Shogun by James Clavell
- Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee
- Any book by Joe Abercrombie
- Lonseome Dove by Larry McMurtry (Maybe the best book Ive ever read???)
- Red Rising series by Pierce Brown
- Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
- The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett
- The Terror by Dan Simmons
- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingslover
Misses:
- The Count of Monte Cristo (i really tried twice guys, but theres just too much 'filler' for my taste)
- East of Eden (again, I really tried but by 100 pages in and I didn't click with it)
- This is How you Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
- Piranessi by Susanna Clarke
- Dune (one day Ill give this another shot, but i do not feel emotionally connected to Paul or anyone else)
To add more description, I think I like fantasy/sci fi when it transports me somewhere, and can honestly take or leave a 'cool' magic system/ technology/concept as long as the characters connect me to the stakes they are dealing with. For historical fiction, again I love being 'transported' to a new time and place.
Any and all suggestions would be welcome!
by tru_beez