Reading Recs for POV Study

AlexHurst · Apr 11, 2013

Hi all,

I am in a bit of a pickle. My current MS is written in a POV and tense entirely unfamiliar to me. 1st person and present-tense. I usually write in third person omniscient, and in past tense, so the actual style is throwing me through a loop. However, the story demands to be told this way.

Therefore, I turn to you, oh wise and prolific readers, for help.

What books can you recommend to me with the following characteristics?

Fantasy told in 1st person AND present tense (slice of life won't really help me here).
Fantasy or similar fiction told in 1st person but in past tense.

Bonus points if the narrator is female, and it's not an epic fantasy. Even more bonus points if the author has killer dialog and suspense.

All recommendations appreciated! Thank you!

thebird · Apr 22, 2013

Since no one else has responded yet, I'll jump in with some suggestions (although they might not be quite what you're looking for).

For 1st person + present tense, I can think of two YA dystopians written this way. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, and the Matched trilogy by Ally Condie.

Most of the urban fantasy I read is 1st person + past tense. Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series is the first that comes to mind. If you're looking for straight fantasy, I just read a middle grade novel by Jennifer A. Neilsen called The False Prince (first in a trilogy...I seem to be rec'ing a lot of those to you!), that fits the bill.

Hope that helps!

Reading Recs for POV Study

AlexHurst

thebird