Hi folks, thank you for your help and suggestions. It seems to be getting more difficult to find decently written books that have complex and intriguing characters, and well crafted plots. I’m looking for recommendations that would meet the following criteria:
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Well written but not to the levels of purple prose. I’m an adult and would like to read a book meant for an adult audience
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Set in a historical period, preferably before the 1980s. I’m also down for fantasy settings, I just can’t read anything set in a modern time
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Romance being at least a subplot – I am open to erotica suggestions.
Some books that I’ve really loved include Sabriel by Garth Ni, the Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden, Jane Austen’s work, the Brontë sisters, The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, and Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold.
I’ll thank you for not including books such as ACOTAR in your suggestions.
by PeachyKoya
8 Comments
Try pretty much anything by Sarah Waters, though I’d most recommend Tipping The Velvet and Fingersmith. Both sapphic romances set in Victorian England. Tipping The Velvet is also very much a coming of age story, and Fingersmith more a crime/slightly thriller-tinged novel.
Can it be queer? I just read the Will Darling trilogy by KJ Charles, great historical setting and intriguing plot. Its M/M. Very enjoyable side characters too.
The Enlightenment trilogy by Joanna Chambers, also M/M. Well written historical setting and plot.
Kate Quinn’s historical fiction novels typically have at least some kind of romance subplot.
Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale is a historical romance with a unique premise and strong writing.
Seconding KJ Charles, though my favorite series of hers is the Society of Gentlemen. The Mid-Century NYC books by Cat Sebastian are a good choice for queer historical romance, too.
The everlasting by Alex E Harrow.
End of the Affair by Graham Greene
You like the Brontes – have you read *Tenant of Wildfell Hall*, written by Anne? It’s often overlooked but it is a MASTERPIECE. So good, from beginning to end.
Another book that comes to mind, if you don’t mind longer ones, is *The Thornbirds*. It’s an epic generational tale, set in the Australian wilderness in the 1910s-1960s. It’s so moving and beautiful, so full of love and heartbreak and perseverance and family dynamics – everything. Especially if you like books where the natural surroundings are a huge part of the story.
Mary Renault write amazing historical fiction with romance – Alexander trilogy, The Charioteer. This author do not romanticized their love story.
Poldark by Winston Graham – This author do not romanticized their love story.
Thousand Autumns by Meng Xi Shi – This author do not romanticized their love story.
Possession by A.S. Byatt – it has two love story one set in modern times
Dream of the Red Chamber
The Wilderness series by Sarah Donati. I devoured the whole series back to back. Complex characters and good writing. The first book is called Into the Wilderness.