The "Stars of..." series is a feature I'm doing here at Epic (Chocolate) Fantasy to highlight the best books in different areas of the fantasy genre. Say you want a book about shapeshifters or wizards or mythology, or maybe you want to read some political or heroic fantasy. Stop by here every Thursday, and I'll have recommendations for you! Click on the book covers for links to the first book in the series and on the series name for a list of the books in it on Goodreads.
If you think there's something I missed in this category, feel free to leave your own suggestions in the comments! I haven't read everything out there, obviously, and I'd love some recommendations myself.
Series are alphabetical by author.
Stars of Angels and Demons
This is going to be the last "Stars" post, at least until I read some more books in other categories. I feel like I should be singing REM right now, with all these Apocalypses and all. Not that all of them are about the end of the world, but they do all feature angels and/or demons (though not necessarily the kind you find in the Bible), so it works.
I'm kind of sad that there aren't more YA books on here. I've read a bunch, but only two were decent enough to be on the list, and even those weren't my favorites. The adult books, however, are all excellent!
Adult
Stars of Angels and Demons
This is going to be the last "Stars" post, at least until I read some more books in other categories. I feel like I should be singing REM right now, with all these Apocalypses and all. Not that all of them are about the end of the world, but they do all feature angels and/or demons (though not necessarily the kind you find in the Bible), so it works.
I'm kind of sad that there aren't more YA books on here. I've read a bunch, but only two were decent enough to be on the list, and even those weren't my favorites. The adult books, however, are all excellent!
Adult
Women of the Otherworld
12 books, ongoing
WotO features many different supernatural creatures, including half-demons, demons, and even an angel or two. The variety makes the books interesting even when many series run out of steam, and the world is fun and interesting. Kelley Armstrong is a captivating writer, and I definitely recommend this series as well as the YA spinoffs.
10 books, ongoing
A witch, a vampire, and a pixy walk into a church.* Sound like the opening line of a joke? Nope, that's just Rachel, Ivy, and Jenks getting home from work. When the three of them left the supernatural law enforcement force, Inderlander Security, they didn't expect it to be quite so exciting, but that's what happens when you're walking around with a death threat on you. Rachel is constantly having to extricate herself from dangerous situations and thrives in it, even when she discovers things about herself she really didn't want to know.
*Technically, the pixy flies, but that's neither here nor there.
Sandman Slim
3 books, ongoing
After spending years in Hell, Stark returns for vengeance on the people who murdered his girlfriend. Dark, destructive, and funny, this series is definitely going places, and it's well worth a read if you're interested in a break from the lighter stuff. There's lots of grand theft auto and murder and general mayhem. What more could a girl want?
Robert Kroese
2 books, ongoing
Mercury Falls is a wonderfully witty, tongue-in-cheek tale of a jaded reporter and a rather abysmal angel preventing the Apocalypse. Somehow this superficially silly story manages to tackle such broad ideas as free will and the meaning of life. The style reminds me a bit of Douglas Adams, but while Adams's wild tangents occasionally irritated me, Kroese's writing keeps to the point while still being hilariously absurd.
Georgina Kincaid
6 books, concluded
Richelle Mead is as funny and captivating as always in this series starring succubus Georgina Kincaid. Ever since she sold her soul to an imp, Georgina's been working for Hell. In 21st-century Seattle, she also works in a bookstore, where she meets author Seth Mortensen and is immediately intrigued. Unfortunately for her, it's not that easy for a succubus to find love. There's a surprising amount of action and near death for a story about a succubus, and quite a few touching moments as well.
Diana Rowland
4 books, ongoing
Kara's your typical small town detective – except instead of going out for a few beers at night, she summons demons from another plane. Her peculiar expertise means she's the only one with any hope of solving certain crimes, only she has to do it without the department finding out about her extra-curricular activities. Kara is very relatable, and the series is full of all kinds of surprises.
Guild Hunter
4 books, ongoing
Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series is dark and dangerous, as well as horribly addicting. These aren't the sort of angels who'd be interested in joining any kind of heavenly host – though they'd certainly be up for destroying one. Elena is a hunter, and Raphael is an Archangel. It's definitely an interesting and steamy combination.
Cassandra Clare
The Mortal Instruments/Infernal Devices
4 books and 2 books, ongoing
Danielle Trussoni
1 book, ongoing
Think The Da Vinci Code meets urban fantasy. Angelology is intelligent with overwhelming you with facts and background. The background is actually very good, using history to explain the nephilim (or possibly vice versa), and Angelology is definitely worth reading.
YA
The Mortal Instruments/Infernal Devices
4 books and 2 books, ongoing
Shadowhunters keep humans safe from the Downworlders who would hunt them, but not all of them agree on how to accomplish that. With a detailed world and an interesting cast of characters, TMI and ID are definite must-reads for any fan of YA fantasy.
Laini Taylor
1 book, ongoing
A captivating, beautiful world and stunning writing make Daughter of Smoke and Bone one of the better paranormal romances out there. Though the second half was slightly disappointing, the characters shine and Karou's friends are simply magical.
Have you read any of these? Do you have any other suggestions? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Check out previous "Stars of" posts:
