List of oddball fantasy/sci-fi recommendations ⋆˚࿔
(Broadly defined) Poetic, dreamy, strange, odd fantasy/sci-fi: suggestions welcome. I beg you: suggest.
created by iced-rose
last updated November, 2025
Comments
What a lovely list! I'm sooo eager to read Patricia McKillip and CSE Cooney. (actually - do you have any recommendations of where to start with Patricia McKillip's work?) Would Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, Mad Sisters of Esi by Tashan Mehta, or Flyaway by Kathleen Jennings fit? I've heard good things about Tanith Lee's work in the vein of her writing being quite poetic, especially the Paradys series, but I also need to figure out where to start with her haha
Thank you!! I appreciate the suggestions greatly. I haven’t read any of these yet, im definitely putting Mad sisters of Esi on my tbr: that one also seems totally fitting! I’ve also added Flyaway and Piranesi, Thank you again!
As for where to start with Patricia- I’m not so sure myself (she has so much!). I think Moon flash is a very nice place to start, it’s poetic but an easier introduction to Patricia (I’ve only read moon flash 1+2 and beasts of Eld though). I’ve also been wanting to start on Tanith Lee! I’m hoping to add some books of hers to this list as well… <3
Oooh that's super helpful, thank you! I had Eld penciled in, but Song for the Basilisk seemed really cool too... and the book forums here for Mad Sisters of Esi and Piranesi are both quite active, if you ever want to discuss those books as you're reading/after you finish! :D
I forgot to mention earlier - i haven’t read The Spear Cuts Through Water yet but I’ve heard it has beautiful prose + does some funky things with the narration. Maybe that might fit this theme, too?
I’ve had my eye on the Somg for the Basilik as well! Or the changeling sea… there’s a lot of options. Thank you for the tip: I’ll check the forums out once I start reading those books!! <3
I have read the spear cuts through water- you’re right that totally fits with its own odd-ness… It’s a book I truly struggled with whilst reading though, until the very end- it seemed a little pretentiously odd- but looking back on it, I think I’d read it again. Thank you for the suggestion!
Book Recc: The God Eaters by Jesse Hajicek! It's kinda western, fantasy, non-Earth setting, mlm romance. It's a standalone and quite difficult to get ahold of a physical copy except online
This sounds interesting! Could you tell me a bit more on why you think this would fit? I’m curious what the writing style is… I’m looking for fantasy that falls outside the mold of typical adventure/fantasy storyline or story-prose, if that makes sense (which is hugely based on opinion, so I’m curious in your opinion on this one). I placed it in the list for the time being.
I'm glad you asked, so! The story doesn't have a high fantasy foundation, the magic system is based in supernatural perception of auras and control of the environment. I consider this pretty unique, outside of anime that is. There's a satisfying rise and fall of thrill and harmony as the chapters move between protagonist and antagonist POVs. I especially like this book because it doesn't "bury the gay" characters and still replicates a setting with relatable social ostracization of the MCs. The history of this world's gods unraveling is a powerful B-plot that mirrors the emotional development of the MCs, too. I hope this answers your question! Thank you very much for adding it here btw 💙 and if you decide the book doesn't fit here I hope you still get to try it out!
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