Resources for Readers

General Research Tools at the Library

  • Literature Research Tools – The library has a selection of subscription databases that can be used for general reader’s advisory or more in-depth research. If you are not using the databases at one of our libraries, you’ll be required to enter a valid library card number and PIN.
  • NoveList – This database provides readers advisory for patrons of all ages. Author pages allow readers to peruse a style and also find read-a-likes. Both fiction and non-fiction recommendations are available. Numerous search options, such as title, author, or genre provide advanced search capability.

 Links to Websites by Category

Below are some helpful links to book information by broad categories. The categories are listed in alphabetical order.

Author Information

  • Fantastic Fiction – Bibliographic information on authors of works in the following genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Sagas, Science Fiction, Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, and Western. Also includes synopses of new books in these genres. This site also includes series information for a large number of authors.

Best Sellers

Book Discussion Information

Book Reviews

Book Series 

  • Fantastic Fiction – Provides series information for a large number of authors in the following genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical Romance, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Sagas, Science Fiction, Thriller, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult Romance, and Western.
  • Juvenile Series and Sequels – This is a good site to find juvenile series. Search by series title, series author, title or author. The Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence Missouri is the author of this website.
  • Tor.com Series – A searchable collection of lists regarding series, focuses on Science Fiction/Fantasy but also includes literary series.
  • What’s Next? – Search for series in this link from Kent District Library in Michigan.

Readers’ Advisory and General Reading Sites

  • AllReaders.com – Features book and movie reviews, fan insights, and lists of similar titles.
  • AR Book Find –  A free online tool for finding Accelerated Reader books.
  • Book Riot – A site that is “dedicated to the idea that writing about books and reading should be just as diverse as books and readers are.”
  • Goodreads – Goodreads is the world’s largest site for readers and book recommendations.
  • LibraryReads – The top ten books published this month that librarians across the country love.
  • Library Thing – A cataloging and social networking site for book lovers.
  • The Mary Sue – An inclusive, feminist community of people who love fiction and non-fiction centered around many geek cultures, comic books, movies, genre TV, and video games.

Links to Websites by Format

Below are some helpful links to book information by type of media. The categories are listed in alphabetical order.

Audiobooks

  • AudioFile Magazine
  • Books for Ears
  • Downloadable Audiobooks – This page lets you know what you need to get started downloading and listening to audiobooks available from the library. There are links to web sites other than the library, plus a custom search engine for searching the web, where you can download audiobooks.

Comic Books/Graphic Novels

  • The Beat – The Beat has been covering the world of comics, graphic novels, comic cons, and pop culture daily since it’s launch in 2004.
  • Bleeding Cool Comics – An Internet news site, focusing on comics, TV, film, and games. It is known for discussing controversial topics and reporting on scandals within the comic industry.
  • Comic Book Resources – CBR’s goal is to provide information and resources for anyone interested in comic books, superheroes, and geek entertainment.
  • The Comics Journal – It covers comics from the perspective of comics as a fine art. There you will find news, interviews with various members of the comics industry, and comic reviews.
  • Comics Worth Reading – The longest-running independent review site online that covers all genres of comic books (including graphic novels, independent press, alternative, manga, graphic memoir, superheroes, and mainstream).
  • Good Comics for Kids – School Library Journal’s website for reviews of graphic novels and comics.
  • Kids Love Comics – Reviews of age-appropriate graphic novels for children with an eye towards promoting literacy.
  • Newsarama – Since 1998, a major source for the latest news about the comic book industry. You can find information about graphic novels, comic books, comic strips, webcomics, cartoons, animation, and movies or TV with science fiction/fantasy themes.
  • No Flying, No Tights – Reviews of graphic novels for Teens.
  • Suggested Reading Lists for the Graphic Novel Discussion Group at the Main Library
  • WWAC – Reviews, reports on conventions, comic book-inspired recipes and crafts, and features discussing socio-political happenings around the comic book industry from diverse, entertaining, and critical perspectives.

eBooks

  • Amazon Kindle eBooks
  • Barnes & Noble Nook Books
  • eBooks at the Library – This page lets you know what you need to get started reading eBooks, gives a description of how the check-out process for eBooks works, and lists compatible devices with instructions for each specific device. Titles will automatically expire at the end of the lending period. There are no late fees!
  • Open eBooks – Open eBooks is an app containing thousands of popular and award-winning titles that are free for children from in-need households. These eBooks can be read without checkouts or holds. Children from in-need families can access these eBooks, which include some of the most popular works of the present and past, using the Open eBooks app and read as many as they like without incurring any costs.

Links to Websites by Genre

Below are some helpful links to book information by genre of fiction. The major genres are listed in alphabetical order.

Note: Mystery Fiction includes crime novels as well as traditional tales of murder. Science Fiction and Fantasy links are listed together. Suspense and Thriller links are also listed together.

Historical Fiction

Horror

Inspirational Fiction

Literary Criticism

Mystery Fiction

  • Crimereads – Focuses on crime, mystery, thriller fiction, and the culture around those genres.
  • Mystery Readers International – A mystery fan/reader organization open to all mystery readers, fans, critics, editors, publishers, and writers.
  • The Poisoned Pen Home Page – The website for a bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona that offers mystery recommendations and links.
  • Stop You’re Killing Me – Lists over 2,200 authors for both series and non-series. A great resource if you like to read your mysteries in order. Cross-referenced by author name, character name, locations, jobs, diversity, etc.

Romance Fiction

  • All About Romance – The back-fence for lovers of romance novels.
  • Romance Reviews Today
  • Romance Writers of America – provides authors and new romance novels to be released each month.
  • SBTB – “All the Romance, None of the B.S.” is their tagline. It is an online “community of romance readers eager to talk about which romance novels rocked their worlds, and which ones made them throw the book with as much velocity as possible.”

(Note: SBTB can be pretty, ahem, saucy so if impolite language is a problem for you, please steer clear; that is, do not click the link)

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Suspense/Thrillers

  • International Thriller Writers – ITW represents professional thriller authors from around the world. Every year they bestow the Thriller Award for best adult novel, best young adult novel, best ebook, and best short story in the suspense/thriller category.
  • Stop You’re Killing Me – Lists over 2,200 authors for both series and non-series. A great resource if you like to read thriller, spy, and suspense books in order. Cross-referenced by author name, character name, locations, jobs, diversity, etc.

Westerns

Young Adult Fiction