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Synopsis: An orphan girl whose family was killed by strikebreaking assassins grows up an outlaw and comes back for revenge. To get it, she'll have to infiltrate the upper crust.

This book is some of the grimiest, grittiest low fantasy I've ever read. It doesn't shy away from gruesome detail, but it also describes miserable things so richly that you can still get high off them. It's consistently evocative and a blast to read.

It's also scathingly and articulately leftist, which is always nice. I really like its characterization of communism as synonymous with hope for the future, and the way that collective power becomes a literal feature of the setting as well as a figurative one. There's a lot of symbolism to marinate in.

On a less conceptual note, if you like fucked-up lesbians, this book will nourish you.

Synopsis: A conman and larcenist extraordinaire hoping for one last score aims too high and becomes ensnared in a battle for the fate of the world.

Possibly my favorite magic system for a fantasy setting I've ever seen. The emponymous Grit is effectively enchanted gunpowder, meaning most spells are delivered in the form of hand grenades. Creative use of the various types of Grit is a central feature of Ardor Benn's shenanigans.

As the series goes on, its stakes escalate to a truly absurd level as more and more is revealed about the underpinnings of the setting. Which is something I've personally always enjoyed. Ardor Benn is also an asshole, but in the fun way.

Synopsis: A world in flux is constantly rocked by the grand schemes and conspiracies of rulers, magicians, and gods, which are in turn picked apart by begrudging antiheroes, ambitious outcasts, and regular people in way over their heads.

That the synopsis is that vague should go some way towards conveying the scope of this series. It's almost impossible to distill it down to a couple sentences. Perhaps the best and most necessary use of multiple protagonists/viewpoints that I've ever seen. The plot of each individual book is too grand to take in from any single character's point of view. And that grandiosity, that maximalism, is what I respect this author for.

The world is rich and realized. The characters are flawed and fun. The schemes are labyrinthine and putting them together piece by disparate piece is an extremely satisfying reading experience.

Synopsis: Two women repeatedly voyage into a dangerous and frightening parallel dimension together to solve paranormal mysteries, earn money, and sate their own curiosity. As they do, love -- or perhaps something deeper, for which a suitable word has not yet been invented -- slowly blooms between them.

A masterwork of horror fiction. A masterwork of lesbian romance. Deeply, thoughtfully written and wonderfully emotional. Permanently altered my brain chemistry. I can't praise this series highly enough.

I also highly recommend the manga adaptation, but it's a fair ways behind the LN at time of writing. If you want the whole story, I'd recommend starting with the LN, which has an excellent official translation.