I liked The Dresden Files pretty well, but it definitely has issues in places. If you want something with a sort of similar feel but (mostly) better female characters, you might give the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire a shot (link goes to the first book in the series). Toby is a detective with a sardonic bent, there's lots of urban fantasy elements, it's just set in San Francisco instead of Chicago. And Toby is female, if that isn't obvious. They're not perfect, by any means, but I enjoyed them a lot.
If you try those and end up liking them, I also recommend Seanan McGuire's other novels, including the ones she wrote as Mira Grant, one of which (Feed) is probably my favorite post-apocalyptic zombie story ever~
From a quick browse-through of your comments I didn't see you crossing paths with any other serial authors - If you haven't read any of his stuff, I highly, highly recommend /u/Hydrael's work, over at /r/Hydrael_Writes! His Dragon's Scion and Small Worlds projects are exceptional! Small worlds is also published on Amazon!
I want to read traditional novels
I can help with that! Some quick recommendations that I personally love - these are loosely ranked in order of how I'd recommend them, but the fact that they're here at all means they've got my support :)
A bit wordier/harder to read, after Ender's Game. The last book (Children of the Mind) is probably one of the most challenging books I've ever read. But rewarding.
Most of this is copypasta from another reply on this thread, since it seemed silly to just rephrase all the things. Please note the last paragraph if none of these seem fun. I read a lot, mostly exclusively SF/F (both adult and YA), and boy do I have opinions on it. And if you're not a reader starting with YA is a thought. There's a lot of fun, intelligent YA out there now as publishers realize teens don't actually want to be treated like they're stupid.
For a low commitment (i.e. not part of a series), humorous start there's Terry Pratchett/Neil Gaiman's Good Omens. I like a lot of Gaiman's work, which ranges from the strange and humorous (see: GO) to the strange and creepy (Anasazi Boys), but what I'd recommend from him depends on what you're looking for.
In the funny but harder scifi range I'd rec the beloved classic Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. This is seriously one of the wittiest books I've ever read besides being an action-packed scifi romp.
If you're interested in urban fantasy I have all the recs. Everything from Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series Book 1: Storm Front, for the grown-up wizard, to Seanan McGuire's October Daye series Book 1: Rosemary and Rue, if you're more into fae.
For the dark and more sexual (seriously, there is sex in these books) I highly recommend the Fever Series by Karen Moning, Book 1: Darkfever.
If you like SF/F books (like Discworld, Animorphs, etc.) let me know what subgenres (e.g. hard scifi, urban fantasy, urban scifi, fantasy romance, young adult _____ ) you think you might like and I guarantee you I have a recommendation or two. I read a lot.
I liked The Dresden Files pretty well, but it definitely has issues in places. If you want something with a sort of similar feel but (mostly) better female characters, you might give the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire a shot (link goes to the first book in the series). Toby is a detective with a sardonic bent, there's lots of urban fantasy elements, it's just set in San Francisco instead of Chicago. And Toby is female, if that isn't obvious. They're not perfect, by any means, but I enjoyed them a lot.
If you try those and end up liking them, I also recommend Seanan McGuire's other novels, including the ones she wrote as Mira Grant, one of which (Feed) is probably my favorite post-apocalyptic zombie story ever~
xD ok this will be a long message bear with me.
Yes! Every serial I write has a home page, and every home page has:
For my serials, the home pages are as follows:
Flameweaver Saga
Halfway to Home
From a quick browse-through of your comments I didn't see you crossing paths with any other serial authors - If you haven't read any of his stuff, I highly, highly recommend /u/Hydrael's work, over at /r/Hydrael_Writes! His Dragon's Scion and Small Worlds projects are exceptional! Small worlds is also published on Amazon!
I can help with that! Some quick recommendations that I personally love - these are loosely ranked in order of how I'd recommend them, but the fact that they're here at all means they've got my support :)
Fantasy novels:
The October Daye series:
Trickster's Choice/Trickster's Queen
Graceling
Scifi Novels:
Agent to the Stars and Old Man's War
The Ender Quartet
The Ship Series
I recommend checking out the October Daye series by Seannen McGuire.
Be prepared for a much more celtic view of the fey than we get in DF though.
Most of this is copypasta from another reply on this thread, since it seemed silly to just rephrase all the things. Please note the last paragraph if none of these seem fun. I read a lot, mostly exclusively SF/F (both adult and YA), and boy do I have opinions on it. And if you're not a reader starting with YA is a thought. There's a lot of fun, intelligent YA out there now as publishers realize teens don't actually want to be treated like they're stupid.
For a low commitment (i.e. not part of a series), humorous start there's Terry Pratchett/Neil Gaiman's Good Omens. I like a lot of Gaiman's work, which ranges from the strange and humorous (see: GO) to the strange and creepy (Anasazi Boys), but what I'd recommend from him depends on what you're looking for.
In the funny but harder scifi range I'd rec the beloved classic Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. This is seriously one of the wittiest books I've ever read besides being an action-packed scifi romp.
If you're interested in urban fantasy I have all the recs. Everything from Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series Book 1: Storm Front, for the grown-up wizard, to Seanan McGuire's October Daye series Book 1: Rosemary and Rue, if you're more into fae.
For the dark and more sexual (seriously, there is sex in these books) I highly recommend the Fever Series by Karen Moning, Book 1: Darkfever.
If you like SF/F books (like Discworld, Animorphs, etc.) let me know what subgenres (e.g. hard scifi, urban fantasy, urban scifi, fantasy romance, young adult _____ ) you think you might like and I guarantee you I have a recommendation or two. I read a lot.