I haven't read anything in a long time now, but my favourite genre is fantasy. Scifi is fine too. I stopped reading because it had become too hard to find books i enjoyed.
I can't enjoy a book that is ridiculously far fetched. Maybe it sounds silly coming from a person who loves fantasy, but unless the world the story takes place in seems to my mind like it could actually exist, like, it could be real if different energies existed, etc... I just can't get into it at all.
And I like it best when there is at least some romance in it, being a female and all.
I'm sure there are so many great books i'd love out there, but whenever i go into a bookstore and start reading covers, I quickly give up after reading about twenty summaries that sound too ridiculous, unappealing, or just don't give me enough reason to think they'll be worth parting with money over.
My hopes were dashed further a couple of months ago, when someone gave me a copy of a book by an author whose books i see in the stores, prominently displayed all the time.
I think the author's name was celia darton thornton, or something similar. It was far, far worse than I expected. It was tragic to the point where i was laughing hystericaly at the cliched, miserable attempt at writing within the first few pages, and it only got worse as I went along. I even read the worst parts for my friends so we could all laugh at it. Since then, I've given up any hopes i had of finding a good book just by shelf browsing. I need recommendations based on my taste, and would be really grateful if anyone has any.
I like Game of Thrones. Not much in romance but lots of politics. It is well grounded and doesn't go too into the fantastic.
Peril's Gate. Janny Wurts. Just read it, it's intense.
The whole Michael Moorcock books might please you. It's "far fetched" (given his heroes sometimes go to war against the gods and such), but his universe is really coherent. The Elric and Corum cycles are really good, but you also have "The War Hound and the World's Pain" (a german knight that stumbles upon lucifer and is somehow forced to strike a deal with him to save them both and a girl). And "The Dancers at the End of Time" is a good blend of Fantasy and Scifi. It tells the stories of people who have access to eternal life and unlimited power, who are bored and trying to entertain themselves before the universe finally collapses.
Seconding the recommendation by >>2.
I'd also recommend Death of the Necromancer, although it too is thin on overt romance -- the male and female protagonist are already married, IIRC. The prose is excellent, and while there is some magic in the steampunk setting, it's used sparingly. The protagonist is actually a criminal mastermind, and one of his foils is a lot like Sherlock Holmes.
The Shadow of the Torturer was a less adventurous read, taking a slower pace. It's set in a semi-Medieval world that is in decline, since the sun is slowly dying. The magic here is also used very sparingly, and always in a non-obvious manner. Some romance, but only in passing.
If you don't mind Sci-Fi, and would like some romance, I recommend Shards of Honor. It features a strong female and male lead, has a good dose of romance (the real meat of the story centres around their relationship), and is set in a war between several sides -- the two protagonists being on different ones. It has the usual pew pew lasers, but it's kept to fairly low levels and treated in a realistic manner.
You might also like Kushiel's Dart. It's different.
thanks for the suggestions everyone. Some of those sounds good :)