Yes, yes. *Must* start with Assassin’s Apprentice. Sorry, I have no idea what you guys are talking about, but when I hear the name Robin Hobb my ears prick up and my strong opinions intrude themselves on others’ conversations.

I think you might find she rescues high fantasy for you. I had sort of the same frustrated feelings about it until I read the Assassin Books. Now I at least have a cruel will o’ the wisp leading me on into the fantasy swamp.

I’ve read some blog posts by her and found them very funny too–that (and Memory’s reviews of her books) was what made me check out Suite Scarlett.

I hope you like it! 🙂

I’ve had similar experiences with Barbara Michaels–she writes slightly trashy but still entertaining supernatural thrillers. And quite often it’s someone playing a nasty trick on the characters, but equally often there are proper supernatural occurrences going on. So I never know what to expect.

Okay, I will try Assassin’s Apprentice. I am beginning to fear that high fantasy is no good for me. I want to love it! I need it to cooperate! :p

Magic makes everything better! (when you are in the mood for fantasy) But when I’m in the mood for regular YA again, I’m going to read more by Johnson too.

Do! Suite Scarlett was a light, charming read.

(And I figure I’m okay mentioning that in a public place like this, because it’s right on the jacket flap. I sometimes skim jacket flaps to get a rough idea of what the book’s about, but I almost never read them before I’ve finished the book. I’m sure I’d have read the book differently if I’d bothered to do so).

Also: SHIP OF MAGIC is my least favourite of Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings books. ASSASSIN’S APPRENTICE is a much better place to start, and FOOL’S ERRAND is, like, a great big feast of charactery goodness. (It’s not a good place to start, though).