Maybe the Sharon Shinn series Elemental Blessings would appeal? The first one is Troubled Waters. It's fantasy with a pretty big romance element, actually structured a little like Bridgerton in that each book follows a character in what could be considered a family. Some of the magic is environmentally linked.
EtaContext - I had never heard of Sharon Shinn until I read a review of The Shuddering City a few months ago but she's been publishing since the 90s or maybe 80s and has won awards so maybe more well known to people who aren't me.
For what it's worth, I wouldn't have said I was into either dragons or Napoleonic wars, and I have really enjoyed the Temeraire books.
This is the first thing I've read that makes me want to pick up Naomi Novik again (after abandoning
Uprooted
years ago).
Woot!
I will say, I think I don't like SFF in general, but I always like the authors/series that are specifically handed to me.
I will say, I think I don't like SFF in general, but I always like the authors/series that are specifically handed to me.
The Math Greek gave me the
Neuromancer
trilogy for my birthday and I started it but... let's just say my current nightstand is Agatha Christie and Dorothy Hughes.
Maybe Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea books? I don't remember how much the environment comes into play, but there's a lot of emphasis on balance and not changing things in one place that will screw up stuff elsewhere. At least that's how I remember it - it's been a Really long time.
That makes me want to recommend The Word for World is Forest, although I do not actually remember what it was about, but the title is awfully good. So take that for what it's worth.
Honestly, if she's in organic agriculture, I'd give The Martian to her. SF not Fantasy, obv., but gripping.
Honestly, if she's in organic agriculture, I'd give The Martian to her. SF not Fantasy, obv., but gripping.
That's an interesting idea. I think that went around her house when she was younger but I'm not sure she would have read it at the time.
Since 90% of what I read is sci-fi/fantasy, I have SO many recs. Here are a few:
-The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (one of my favorite books from 2023)
-Leigh Bardugo's whole Shadow and Bone series or her Six of Crows series (both series start with the eponymous book)
-The entire Queen's Thief series, starting with The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
-Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
-Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce
Given what you listed, she sounds like she's into Romantasy as a genre, and Fourth Wing / Iron Flame are solidly in that category. Most of my recs above have some romance woven in, but here are a couple more focused primarily on romance: Caraval by Stephanie Garber and Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen series (starting with Red Queen).
Perhaps the Liaden universe? [link] I was hooked several decades ago by
Agent of Change,
which is more action-adventure-y, but there are more fantasy and romance-y books in there as well.
Also consider anything by Diane Duane. Lots of series to choose from, in a variety of genres.
Ooooh. Also Janet Kagan is a favorite of mine, either
Hellspark
or
Mirabile.
