# Need book recommendations! Light-hearted fantasy or historical fiction? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 10, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244 "2010-09-10T00:21:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/41 "2010-09-12T03:32:50Z")
I never see John Morressey’s Kedrigern books in these threads. Starting with _A Voice for Princess_, they follow the adventures of Kedrigern of Silent Thunder Mountain, a semi-retired wizard who specializes in counterspells, and his efforts to disenchant a princess who’s been turned into a frog (which he does promptly, but with unexpected side effects that persist in various permutations through several books). The series overturns a host of light-fantasy tropes, starting with the way wizards are supposed to look. I LOVE these books, and return to them every couple of years. I’m missing a copy of _Kedrigern in Wanderland_; if anyone has a copy, I’ll buy it off you. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2010, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/42 "2010-09-12T06:39:23Z")
> [@Arien](#): > > I recommend longtime YA fantasy writer Dianna Wynne Jones. Standouts are Howl’s Moving Castle (the movie was loosely based on her novel), and its sequel, Castle in the Air; the Chrestomanci series; and standalones Dogsbody and Deep Secret. There’s another book in the Howl series, _House of Many Ways_. Howl and his family are not the main focus, but they have strong supporting roles. Jones also wrote the Dalemark quartet. I found the first one, _Cart and Cwidder_, to be rather boring, but other people liked it very much. The quartet are available as single novels and as two double novels. You don’t have to read them in order, or even read all of them, they are basically stand alone novels set at different times in a common setting. Jones has written a lot of stand alone novels, and most of them are considered YA, but don’t let that stop you from reading them. I’ll just second most of Lawrence Watt-Evans’ works, especially the Esthar novels, but avoid the books in the Annals of the Chosen series. Most of the Esthar stories can be read in any order. Sometimes he references earlier works, but for the most part there are no spoilers to worry about. Really, pick up _The Misenchanted Sword_ and see if you fall in love with it. You might like the Dream Park series by Larry Niven and Steven Barnes. While these aren’t really terribly light hearted, they’re good adventure reads, as well as being mysteries in a SF setting. Basically, the world has holo technology to a point where Live Action Roleplaying Games can be acted out in a park, and players will actually appear to be casting spells and performing various heroic acts. Most people will game at home, but a lucky few will play the game first in Dream Park. I especially enjoyed learning about the Cargo Cult in the third book, _The California Voodoo Game_. You do need to read these in order, though. _Stranger in a Strange Land_ was really social commentary in SF trappings. Well, most SF is social commentary of one sort or another, but Heinlein was more vocal about it. And our society has moved on from most of what Heinlein was commenting on. I enjoyed it when I first read it, and I still enjoy it, but parts of it make me wince. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/43 "2010-09-13T23:48:29Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Connie Willis’s _To Say Nothing of the Dog_ is almost a homage to _Three Men_. Mystery, time travel & a touch of romance. I’m reading this right at the moment, and it’s a wonderful fantasy/ historical / alternate history blend; Victorian aesthetics, a comedy of manners, and the perils of time travel. 🙂 **Tim Powers** has already been mentioned for the _The Drawing of the Dark_, but several of his other works would also fit the OP request:_The Anubis Gates_, _On Stranger Tides_, and _The Stress of Her Regard_ in particular. ---
**Author:** ![Blood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e4f/32.png) [@Blood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blood)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/44 "2011-04-22T06:30:43Z")
I finally read “The Pillars of the Earth” and I thought it was one of the best books I’ve ever read and I really didn’t want it to end. I decided to try out “World Without End” not knowing that it was sort of a sequel/prequel to it. I was so excited when it came in and I read the intro! I’m about halfway through it now and I highly recommend any avid reader to try them out. I think that anyone could enjoy either of them. After this I suppose I’ll try another one of his books…why not right? ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/45 "2011-04-22T07:29:24Z")
Sharon Penman The Sunne in Splendour about Richard III of England The Wales trilogy, Here Be Dragons, Falls The Shadow and The Reckoning The Henry and Eleanor trilogy: Time and Chance, When Christ and His Saints Slept and Devil’s Brood. Elizabeth Chadwick: The Champion about William Marshal All Historical fiction based on real people. Chadwick has quite a few more all about the same time period. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/46 "2011-04-23T12:12:26Z")
Sharon Penman also has a bunch of good mediaeval mystery novels, starting with _The Queen’s Man_, set in the Crusades era. I actually preferred them to her straight historical novels, which were rather long. ---
**Author:** ![AlexW52](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/82dd89/32.png) [@AlexW52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlexW52)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/47 "2011-07-27T00:40:25Z")
If you’re looking for a light-hearted fantasy fairy tale, I think you would love a book by a new author that I am working with: (S)Mythology by Jeremy Tarr. It’s a modern day fairy tale that is wry and whimsical, and tackles life…death…and the Underworld. The book is fun and super cute with illustrations by artist Katy Small, which really bring the main character Sophie to life. I just finished it and couldn’t put it down! You can read the first three chapters and check out the illustrations at [www.smythology.co.uk](http://www.smythology.co.uk) or check out the book on Amazon here: [Amazon.com](http://amzn.to/Shardcover). Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/48 "2011-07-27T00:53:35Z")
[The Lies of Locke Lamorra](http://www.amazon.com/Lies-Locke-Lamora-Scott-Lynch/dp/055358894X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311727650&sr=8-1) is Fantasy & Ocean’s 11 banter. I adored it. ( Ymmv.) [No less than Gods](http://www.amazon.com/Not-Less-Than-Gods-Company/dp/0765318911/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311727792&sr=1-1) is alt-history that is a fun read. Another doper recommended it to me and I couldn’t put it down. [The Iron Duke](http://www.amazon.com/Iron-Duke-Novel-Seas/dp/B004X8W3W8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311727945&sr=1-1) . If you like alt history, sci fi, hot sex and some banter, this book has it all. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/49 "2011-07-27T02:33:41Z")
> [@Arien](#): > > I also recommend Barry Hugart’s Bridge of Birds: A Novel of Ancient China that never was. Oh, my, YES! ---
**Author:** ![AlexW52](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/82dd89/32.png) [@AlexW52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlexW52)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/50 "2011-07-30T01:09:02Z")
If you’re looking for a light-hearted fantasy fairy tale, I think you would love a book by a new author that I am working with: (S)Mythology by Jeremy Tarr. It’s a modern day fairy tale that is wry and whimsical, and tackles life…death…and the Underworld. The book is fun and super cute with illustrations by artist Katy Smail, which really bring the main character Sophie to life. I just finished it and couldn’t put it down! You can read the first three chapters and check out the illustrations at [www.smythology.co.uk](http://www.smythology.co.uk) or check out the book on Amazon here: [Amazon.com](http://amzn.to/Shardcover). Enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/51 "2011-07-30T20:15:28Z")
**AlexW52** , please don’t use this site to promote commercial ventures like that. It’s close to spamming. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/52 "2011-08-01T20:11:23Z")
P.C. Doherty has written some truly excellent historical mystery stories, some set in the reign of Henry the Eighth (The Corbett stories), and some set in ancient Egypt. He has also written some stories set in Rome and medieval England where the main protagonists are female but sad to say I can’t get into them myself. Bernard Knight and Michael Jecks also write some very good medieval mysteries. For ancient Rome, Colleen Mc Cullough has written some of the finest and most authentic novels ever written IMO. Also Robert Graves, I Claudius, and Claudius the god, but I suspect that they’re out of print. Robert Van Gulik also wrote some excellent mysteries set in Tang dynasty China, but they’re probably out of print as well. As far as S.F. is concerned read Ian M. Banks , the man is a genius. ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/53 "2011-08-01T20:17:52Z")
Either of the trilogies from **Jim Hines** definitely fall into “light-hearted fantasy,” and are nice reads as well! ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/54 "2011-08-01T22:10:05Z")
Light-hearted fantasy: Patricia C. Wrede - **Dealing with Dragons** and many sequels. Topsy-turvy fantasy kingdom has a plucky princess volunteering to be the “captive princess” for a local dragon, because it’s a better deal than getting hitched to any of the princes on offer. Interesting novelized history (set of mysteries) by Ruth Downie. Gaius Petraus Russo is a doctor in Roman Britain, and he keeps getting embroiled in strange happenings with the local tribes and the various Roman institutions resting uneasily on the borders of Roman civilization. Also, his ex-wife and mother keep pestering him about getting married. Hilarious, and the series remains strong. First one is **Medicus** , then **Terra Incognita**. Heartily seconding **Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell** (Susanna Clarke), \*\*Brother Cadfael \*\*series (Ellis Peters), and the **Dream Park** series (Larry Niven). ---
**Author:** ![brocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@brocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brocks)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/55 "2011-08-01T22:36:09Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > I read through the entire Master and Commander series by Patrick O’Brian Try the Alan Lewrie series of naval adventures, by Dewey Lambdin. More fun and sex than O’Brian. I’ve read several series in the genre, and I’d rank them as follows: 1. Alan Lewrie 2. Bolitho 3. Hornblower 4. Aubrey-Maturin ---
**Author:** ![brocks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@brocks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brocks)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/56 "2011-08-01T23:05:06Z")
And if you want to combine sci-fi with naval adventure, try the Honor Harrington series. You can get most of them for free online at Baen Books. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/57 "2012-01-01T22:51:06Z")
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**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/59 "2012-01-28T15:53:37Z")
For historical novels, I recommend Jean Plaidy’s lengthy series of books about the rulers of England (and a few nobles) starting with William the Conqueror and ending with Victoria. I especially enjoyed **The Battle of the Queens** , about the widows of King John and, IIRC, Saint Louis (who was a king of France). These stick pretty close to historical fact, but the dialogue is invented. For historical mysteries, I recommend the Uncle Abner stories by Melville Davisson Post, set around the time of the American Revolution. For lighthearted fantasy, I recommend M.T. Anderson’s Pals in Peril series, starting with _Whales on Stilts_. Yes, it’s for kids. It’s still hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244/60 "2012-07-22T05:06:54Z")
Kythereia, your post was from 2010, …hoping you’re still with us. Far from Classical Literature, but Historical Fiction it is, I was very impressed with Stephen King’s 11/22/63. It’s not all blood and guts, as might be expected from King, not at all, and the ending is quite touching. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-book-recommendations-light-hearted-fantasy-or-historical-fiction/553244.md?page=2)