Based on the books you say she enjoys already... - Edit 1
Before modification by Werthead at 27/02/2011 01:10:15 AM
I'd try Graham Joyce's latest, THE SILENT LAND. If you can track down a copy, Paul Kearney's A DIFFERENT KINGDOM could also work very well. Guy Gavriel Kay's THE LIONS OF AL-RASSAN could also work really well.
AMERICAN GODS is a reasonable suggestion. How is she with crime novels? China Mieville's THE CITY AND THE CITY is also an good genre crossover book (my stepmum, who is unmoved by most SFF, loves it). If she can tolerate vampires, George RR Martin's FEVRE DREAM may also work.
All of the above have the benefit of being stand-alones, not part of a series.
AMERICAN GODS is a reasonable suggestion. How is she with crime novels? China Mieville's THE CITY AND THE CITY is also an good genre crossover book (my stepmum, who is unmoved by most SFF, loves it). If she can tolerate vampires, George RR Martin's FEVRE DREAM may also work.
All of the above have the benefit of being stand-alones, not part of a series.