I seem to have gotten on a couple of unique reading kicks this summer. Just in case you want to play along, here are the books that hit the spot in each category.

I’ll start with fairy tales because, depending on the author, these can feel awfully close to either urban fantasy or to fantasy romance. Traitor’s Masque by Kenley Davidson is a good example of a fairy tale that twists and turns enough to please most readers of character-driven fantasy. The book is very richly written without being overwritten, and I’m forcing myself not to dive into Davidson’s other books immediately so I can savor them the way they deserve. (This series is all FREE to borrow with Kindle Unlimited.)

Next up, the anthology Once Upon a Kiss (FREE with Kindle Unlimited) is a great way to try out a variety of authors with bite-size stories just long enough to get you hooked. Hailey Edwards’ contribution was the sweetest morsel, fantastical and romantic all at once. I need to remember to check out more of Edwards’ urban fantasy!

Speaking of urban-fantasy authors branching out into other genres, I read two non-fantastical thrillers this month by women who usually add magic to their tales. Rachel Caine’s Stillhouse Lake and V.J. Chambers’ Child of Mine both kept me up way too late and didn’t let me go until the bitter end. I don’t even like thrillers (or so I thought), but the psychological subgenre clearly hits the spot. (Both of these books are also FREE with Kindle Unlimited.)

How about you? Which books surprised you this summer because they were in genres or by authors you thought you didn’t enjoy? I hope you’ll join in the discussion over on facebook by clicking on the link below!