I want to get more into reading classic books and jace NO clue where to start sooooo I want to know… which classic is a MUST. READ?!💭👀

I want to read something that will keep me awake at night, not just creep me out. I feel like I’ve never read a book that truly SCARED me. Any recs?? I’m open to anything.

What is your favorite kind of main character? Paint me a picture.

Do you like a main character who’s shy and trying to like come out of their shell? Do you like one that’s outgoing and sassy? Is it important that they feel similar to you, or do you like reading about someone that’s very different? Is it important for them to look like you?

I find this so interesting because some people really like to find themselves in a character while others just wanna read about someone who is completely different. I can say that for me I’ve had different seasons of my life where both are important to me.

basically looking for a story set in a fictional world but it has no magic or magical creatures - not sure what this genre is called. speculative fiction? alternative history?

like middle earth & games of thrones, but like... without the dragons and the wizards. you get me /telepathically zapping you with my thoughts/

heavy on middle earth specifically because i enjoy the way tolkien books are written with five pages describing the trees or wtv. i want to read something like this & really delve into the worldbuilding.

with that said, i would prefer something that's not the same medieval european setting, but i'll take anything! it's okay if there are 'magical' elements if these can be explained through culture, like a form of spirituality or ritual. i guess this veers into magical realism?

(i have the city & the city by china miéville in my TBR, which i think applies to this - fictional world, no magic. but i haven't really read of it much beyond sneak peeks. also a TV example would be the show the king 2 hearts. that's all i got 😭😭)

thank you all mwaah in advances