Tell me what to read: kate_nepveu

I'm having trouble picking my next book. The past few things I've read (The Somnambulist, A Matter of Oaths, The Truelove) haven't been satisfactory, which I think is leaving me very bleh about the prospect of putting effort into another book, rather than just mindlessly playing NetHack and web puzzle games. Today I tried reading a book I saw oracne recommend, Anne Gracie's The Perfect Rake, and, finding myself unusually critical of the prose, put it down to try some other time.

So, a poll. I'm mostly looking for something that will be really satisfactory, something I can sink my teeth into without feeling cranky about the construction of the plot, or the prose, or the treatment of gender, or whatever. Strong likeable female characters a plus, after the unsatisfactory books above. I suspect that humor and quirk may be minuses rather than pluses just now; ditto very sad or very dark (yes, I know Use of Weapons is a poll choice, but I've read that before, know what I'm getting, and think it would be okay). Also, something that's not too much work at the beginning would be good.

Edit: thanks, all! As of 8:15 Wednesday morning The Steerswoman's Road has 44.4% of the votes, and that and the accompany comments have convinced me to bring it into work and try it over lunch. But feel free to suggest fallbacks or add data on the other stuff in the poll.

A dozen options, by author:

Poll #1129679

This poll is closed.

Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All. Participants: 32

What should Kate read next?

View Answers

Iain M. Banks, Use of Weapons (re-read, third in a planned series re-read)

0(0.0%)

A.S. Byatt, Possession (is "I haven't read it for ten years and I love it" sufficient reason to not read something new?)

3(9.4%)

Mike Carey, Lucifer (complete) (read first volume, liked)

1(3.1%)

Loretta Chase, Lord of Scoundrels (read three other novels, liked)

4(12.5%)

Susan Cooper, The Dark Is Rising (re-read, second in a planned series re-read)

3(9.4%)

Cornelia Funke, Inkheart

2(6.2%)

Kij Johnson, The Fox Woman

4(12.5%)

Rosemary Kirstein, The Steerswoman's Road

12(37.5%)

Jane Lindskold, Wolf's Head, Wolf's Heart (read first, liked)

1(3.1%)

Kazuya Minekura, Saiyuki Reload vols. 1-end of Burial arc (previously tried reading vol. 1 when cranky, which didn't work)

0(0.0%)

Kazuya Minekura, Wild Adapter vols. 1-3 (are these a satisfying unit?)

1(3.1%)

Michelle Sagara, Cast in Shadow

1(3.1%)

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