Books with numbers in the title -Top 10 Tuesday

It’s been a while since I’ve done a TTT (yes, I know it’s Wednesday, whatever). I actually struggled to find 10 books with numbers in the title that I would genuinely recommend. But I did manage it. So here we go.

---

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

This is probably not much of a recommendation by now cause everyone knows about it. But in case you’ve lived under a rock, this is a wonderful first book to a duology that ripped my heart to tiny little pieces.

The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin

Another one that probably surprises no one, especially if you’ve been around for a while. This is the first book in what is one of my favourite fantasy series of all time and you should read it. cause it’s amazing. You can check out my review for more info, but basically this is about the end of the world and earthquake magic.

One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence

This is Mark Lawrence’s newest series. I’ve only read the first book (this one) so far, but this is a really fun, fast paced time travel series. It’s kind of like Stranger Things meets Doctor Who. It’s a lot of fun. The second book has already been published and the third is coming up I think in November.

The Hundred Year Old Man who Walked out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

This book is hilarious. Jonas Jonasson is probably my favourite comedy author and I will continue to love and recommend all his books. You don’t need to know more than the title tells you really.

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

This is a book I talk about less often, but I really enjoyed it. Again, the title tells you more or less all you need to know about the book. It’s about a guy named Harry August who lives over and over again.

Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor

Another brilliant humour series. It’s about time travel (but we don’t call it that). It’s got adventure, it’s got mystery, it’s got romance and a whole lot of catastrophe. You can’t really ask for more unless you want to ask for dinosaurs and guess what? It’s got those too.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

The next few books are all going to be classics, cause classics can be great too. This is probably my favourite Charles Dickens novel that I’ve read so far. It takes place during the French Revolution in both London and Paris (hence the two cities).

1984 by George Orwell

Probably everyone has heard of this book. For good reason. It’s a good book. Kind of scary and haunting. But good.

The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien

Of course I had to mention this. I wouldn’t be the huge LOTR nerd that I am otherwise. I probably don’t need to explain this book to you.

20000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

This is probably the one I’ve read the longest ago. But I really enjoyed it when I did. In fact, I enjoyed all the Jules Vernes I’ve ever read. So even though it’s been a long time, I would still recommend this book.

Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of 2019 – Top 10 Tuesday

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, though originally it was created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week the topic is most anticipated releases for the second half of 2019

I am not really anticipating that many books for the second half of the year. I have 6 which I want to talk about. However, there are several more that are books in series I haven’t started reading yet, but I’m anticipating really enjoying. So I can’t really say I’m anticipating the release of these books because I haven’t read any books in the series and it might turn out I actually don’t like the series. But I think that I will love those series. So I’m going to talk about those as well in the second half of this post.

---

Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff – September 5th, 2019

I am ready, I have been waiting for 2 years. I can’t wait to read the conclusion to this series. I’m thinking of maybe doing a re-read of the first 2 in August, but I’m not sure yet.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow – September 10th, 2019

This is the only one on this list that is not a sequel. I don’t know much about it and I want to keep it that way, but I think it’s a kind of portal fantasy and I love those kinds of stories, so I’m intrigued and looking forward to reading this.

Monstress Vol. 4 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda – October 1st, 2019

I’m currently on volume 3 of this and I’m glad we’re getting another volume this year, because this is one of the coolest weirdest graphic novels I’ve read. I want to know what happens and honestly I’d love to see this as an animation. Someone please make an animated series of this. The world is so rich and the story so unique and gruesome at the same time. I would love to see this as an anime. Studio Ghibli, please get on to it.

The Toll by Neal Schusterman

I just read Scythe and am currently reading Thunderhead and I’m so glad that I’ll have book 3 almost right away. This is the best utopia/dystopia (I find them to be the same genre, but with different emphasis, really) I’ve read in a long while.

Dispel Illusion by Mark Lawrence – November 14th, 2019

Any Mark Lawrence book is automatically anticipated for me and I’ve been spoiled this year, I get 4 of them!

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson – November 26th, 2019

This is my year of Brandon Sanderson, I feel it. I’ve already read 2 Sanderson books, I’ve just ordered Words of Radiance. I’m definitely going to read this when it comes out. Give me all the Brandon Sanderson.

These are all the books that I’m actively anticipating for the seocond half of the year. I’ve read a lot of older books that are in series already completed I feel like, this year, so I haven’t gone into new series as much. And I’ve also somewhat shifted away from YA, which I think is far more promiscuous than adult SFF. However, there are few more series with books that are being released this year that I want to talk about.

The Dragon Republic by R. F. Kuang – August 6th, 2019

This is the second book in a Chinese inspired fantasy. I haven’t read the first book yet, but I’m anticipating really enjoying it. If I do get to it this year, I’m glad that I’ll have book 2 to get to right away if I like it as much as I’m thinking I will.

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood- September 10th, 2019

I still haven’t read The Handmaid’s Tale. I own it and I really want to read it (I think I may have put it on my Book Junkie Trials extended TBR), but I don’t know if I will get to it this year. Because I’m nervous about reading it. But I fully expect I’m going to like it and I’m excited we’re getting a sequel.

A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie – September 19th, 2019

I’m putting this in this section because I’ve only read the original First Law trilogy. I have a lot of reading to do before I can get to this, so I’m not really actively anticipating it since I can’t read it right away anyway. But I did really like The First Law and I plan to catch up with this world and eventually get to this. Though it won’t happen this year. Also, I really don’t like this cover. I hope they will release it with a matching cover to the rest of them, because I love those covers. I mean, can you even compare?

Although I see that books 5, 6 and 7 don’t have matching covers, so there’s little hope. 😦

 

Unpopular Bookish Opinions – Top 10 Tuesday

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, though originally it was created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week the topic is unpopular bookish opinions, which means I get the chance to be salty. Yay!

---

1. Paperbacks are better than hardbacks

Dust jackets are ANNOYING and hardbacks are heavy. Yes, they look pretty, but paperbacks are a lot more versatile. I’m not saying I hate hardbacks, but in most cases, I will choose and even wait for the paperback.

2. I don’t like all my books to look pristine

Sure, I don’t intentionally mangle them. I don’t deliberately crack spines. I take care of my books, but they’re books. They’re meant to be read. Pages are going to get smudged, spines creased, covers bent. Also, I love buying used books. I like my shelves to be a mixture of old and new.

3. I actually prefer big books to shorter ones

This obviously depends. I don’t like books that are unnecessarily verbose or just full of meaningless filler. However, big, long, complex stories? YES PLEASE. I also like how they look on a shelf more. I don’t like how multiple short books look one next to the other. Short books interspersed with long ones is the best aesthetic.

4. I will often avoid a book when it gets sold to me as ‘diverse’

I’ve talked about this before. It’s not that I have a problem with diverse books. On the contrary. I have a problem with the forced diversity we see most of the time. If you have to resort to “Well, yeah but there’s a same gender romance in my book” or “The main character is a transgender male, in love with his best male friend and has a disability” to sell it, then I’m not interested. Unless of course, you’re writing a book specifically about that and the story is about said disability or romance or whatever. But there are so many generic fantasies out there that I’m supposed to love just because the MC is diverse. No thanks.

5. Angsty romances are overrated

There’s enough of that to go around in real life, don’t need to read about it too.

6. I will often avoid new debuts

Especially if they’re YA.This is because I’ve come across so many mediocre debut novels I’m fed up. Stop publishing meh books and hyping them to the heavens. I realise that I might be missing out on some truly great debuts out there, but you know what, if they’re good, they’ll still be around in a year or two and I can read them then.

7. Conemporaries are boring more often than not

8. I like Bible pages

9. I prefer third person narration to first person

10. I generally don’t like american audiobook narrators

There are some exceptions, but for the most part, I don’t like them.

 

 

Favourite Fantasy Books – Top 10 Tuesday

I haven’t done a Top 10 Tuesday in AGES. But this week’s topic is top 10 books in your favourite genre and I wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to talk about my fantasy babies. If you don’t know, Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, though originally it was created by The Broke and the Bookish. So here, we go, ten of my favourite fantasy books! Well… series, for the most part. Because I can’t just recommend one book in the series.

---

The Book of the Ancestor by Mark Lawrence

This should come as no surprise to anyone who’s been here for any length of time. I talk about this all the time. You can read my review of it for more details, but it’s basically a series about magical assassin nuns.

The Broken Earth by N. K. Jemisin

Again, I never shut up about this. It’s amazing, you should read it. It’s about the end of the world and people who can control earthquakes.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

I don’t talk about this one quite as much as the other two, but it probably still doesn’t come as much of a surprise. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Brandon Sanderson. I’m so thankful to whoever it was who introduced me to him (I can’t remember who it was). I’m currently reading The Way of Kings and it might dethrone Mistborn as my favourite Sanderson series, but we’ll see. In case you didn’t know, Mistborn is about a bunch of people trying to steal something and they live in a world where certain metals give people certain abilities.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

One of my all time favourites. Please, please, PLEASE give us book 3 before I die. Please. This is one of the most difficult series to summarise in my opinion, because it sounds so boring when you try to summarise it. This is a frame story following a guy who’s basically a legend and it’s just the story of his life as told by himself after his kind of… fall from grace and presumed death. If that sounds boring… well it isn’t. give it a try. I have reviews of the first two books (Book 1 | Book 2), so check those out if you want to get more of an idea about the series.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

I’ve only read the first two books in the series, but there is talk of the fourth one being released soon-ish. So I’m hoping to read the third one soon. This is a series about a band of con-artists. And it’s basically them planning and executing heists and getting themselves into trouble. I love heist stories. They’re so much fun and this is one of the best heist stories I’ve ever encountered. I have reviewed both of the books I’ve read, if you’d like to know more (Book 1 | Book 2).

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I talk about this one a lot less, but I love this duology so much. It’s another heist story. This time it’s YA, but it does remind me a lot of The Lies of Locke Lamora. In vibe, more than anything else. The world, story and characters are very different, but they both have a vibe that I adore. I’ve also reviewed both the books in this series so check those out for more details (Book 1 | Book 2).

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

Another one I don’t talk about as much, mainly because it’s not as recent in my mind since it’s been 2 years since the last book came out. But I absolutely love it and I’m so excited to read the conclusion this autumn! This is also about assassins and very much reminds me of The Book of the Ancestor. Again, in vibe, rather than anything else. Reviews of the first two books: Book 1 | Book 2.

The Knots Duology by Amy McCulloch

This is a series that is so tragically underrated and I wish people talked about it more. I read it quite a while ago and I’ve been meaning to re-read it, but it’s such a cool desert fantasy. It has an interesting magic system and as far as I remember, doesn’t actually have a romance. Which in YA is a rarity and I love it. More people just need to read this series cause it’s great. It follows a guy who gets banished into the desert because he breaks a promise he doesn’t even remember making. In this world, each promise is tied with a magical knot and if broken, the knot burns and scars the oathbreaker and they become haunted by a shadow and become outcasts. Sadly, I read this series before I started my blog, so I don’t have a review, but if I re-read them, I will review them.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

A stand alone fantasy fairy-tale retelling influenced by Russian folklore. I think at least. I’ve read this twice, it’s one of those books that I think I will never tire of re-reading. It’s magical and beautiful. I love the atmosphere, I love the characters, I even love the romance which almost never happens. It’s amazing. It’s about a girl who lives on the edge of a magical forest which kills people and she gets taken away by the wizard who protects their area from the forest for unknown purposes. The wizard takes a girl every 10 years and then lets her go, but the girls are never the same afterwards and nobody really knows why he takes them.

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

Inter-dimensional travel between different versions of London. Need I say more?

Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Meant to Read in 2017 but Didn’t Get To

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. And yes, it’s Wednesday, but whatever.

---

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

I bought this book early in 2017 and was totally planning to read it. But I just never got to it for some reason. I need to.

The Bat by Jo Nesbo

Got this about the same time I got The Miniaturist and still haven’t read it. I’ll get to it this year. I hope.

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

I honestly thought I’d have read the whole series by the end of 2017. But I didn’t even get to the second one.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

I really thought I’d finish this series, but I just keep not picking it up. I don’t know why cause I love the series. 2018’s the one.

Tower of Dawn by Sarah J. Maas

I thought I’d read this right away. I even pre-ordered it. But here we are 4 months after its release and I still haven’t read it.

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

A new John Green book? I was sure I would read it as soon as I got my hands on it. But nope. It’s been sitting on my shelf for months now.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

I thought I’d have read this book two years ago. But I still haven’t continued with this series and I need to do it already.

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

Any Victoria Schwab book, really. How have I only read 2 of her books last year, when I love her so much? I just need to get on with it.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Another one that I have been meaning to read for ages and I keep saying I’ll do it and then I never do. Let’s hope this is the year.

The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss

How have I not read this yet? I love this series so much, it’s one of my favourites. I think it’s just that once I read it, I’ll have no more Kingkiller books to read until the next one comes out.

Ten Books With Characters Who are Assassins – Top 10 Tuesday

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is “Top 10 Characters Who ________”.

I haven’t participated in this meme for ages and it’s Wednesday. But whatever. I love books about assassins!

---

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

I mean, this one was probably really obvious! I love this series, I love Sarah’s books. I’ve always had a vague fascination with assassins, but this series put fuel on that fire big time and I just cannot get enough! I don’t know what that says about me.

I think I only have a review of Empire of Storms, so unfortunately, if you’re new to the series, I don’t have a review for you, but it’s a good series.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

This has become another one of my favourite series. Not only is it about assassins, it’s about a school of assassins! It’s so funny and so well written in my opinion and I loved everything about it. The second book came out earlier this month and I can’t wait to read it! I really need to find some time to read, cause I’ve been reading almost nothing lately.

I have a review of Nevernight, if you’d like to know more.

Graceling by Kristin Kashore

Another really cool book about an assassin. It’s a cool series, really but only the first one is really about the assassin. I found this to be a rather unique book among YA novels. I know a lot of people find the book and the series in general, a bit slow, but I really loved it.

The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

This is an underrated series in my opinion. Nobody talks about it and it’s so cool and unique in a way. It’s a duology and it brings together two of the coolest things: assassins and pirates. Why would you not want to read this?

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

Now, with this one, the main character is not exactly an assassin. She’s a food taster. However, the love interest is the poison master and while it’s not explored that much, it’s implied that he’s therefore also the court assassin. So I’m counting it because it’s a cool series and also slightly underrated.

Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

This book was a bit slow to begin, but I did enjoy it and I think it has promise as a series. I’ve only read the first book so far, but I do plan to continue with the series. I don’t have a review of it yet, because I’m super behind, but hopefully I’ll get to it soon.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

The only reason this series is so far down the list is because it doesn’t really focus on assassins. It’s basically about a heist, so still criminals. And one of the main characters is an assassin. It’s just that the book doesn’t really focus on that. But it is an amazing series and if you’ve not read it, what are you doing with your life, go read it!

I have reviews for both books in the series, if you’re interested (SoC; CK)

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

This is a book that a lot of people have issues with. It’s a strange book, a bit confusing. I really enjoyed it though. I actually liked the mindfuck element to it and all the impossible and paradoxical things that happened. And while it’s not so much focused on assassins, the main character does set out on an assassination mission in the beginning of the book, so it counts.

I also have a review of this if you are interested.

Shadow Kin by M. J. Smith

This isn’t the best series ever, to be honest. It’s not bad, it’s just not that great either. But the main character is an assassin and she’s a really interesting assassin in my opinion. She has the unique ability of becoming shadow and I thought that was really cool and is probably the main reason I’m including this on here. This is an adult series and it focuses a bit too much on sex in my opinion, but if you overlook that, it’s not a bad book.

Elemental Assassin Series by Jennifer Estep

Again, not the best series out there. It’s a really long series and I’ve read maybe 4 or 5 books of it. It’s not bad, but it’s not great. They’re really quick to read and the magic system is interesting and there’s a lot of assassin stuff going on, so the books are entertaining. I just wouldn’t say it’s very high quality literature. This is also an adult series.

Top Ten Books With Covers That Don’t Reflect the Inside

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is book covers. I’ve chosen to tell you about 10 books that have covers that are simply discordant to their content. Whether the cover is beautiful and the book isn’t, or the other way around, or the cover simply has nothing to do with the book.

---

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

This book is gorgeous. Both the UK and the US editions are just so beautiful, I can’t even! But the actual story is absolute shit. I hated it so much, but it’s so beautiful that I’m never going to get rid of it. I have both a spoiler free review and a rant review of this, if you would like to know more about it.

Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard

Another one where the covers are beautiful, but the books are just not. Well, the first book was okay. I absolutely hated the second one. I obviously haven’t read the third one because I’m not subjecting myself to another book of rage and frustration, but yeah… I hated Glass Sword. You can check out my review of it if you are interested in knowing more.

The Sin Eater’s Daughter series by Melinda Salisbury

This series has such cool covers! And it’s so… boring. I’ve only read the first book, but it was so boring that I cannot imagine what happens in two more of them. I am telling you, this was a 250 page book of nothing happening.

The US Editions of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series by Laini Taylor

These covers don’t do the series justice. The UK covers are stunning, but I would not be interested in these books at all based on these covers. They’re kind of ugly. And they really don’t have anything to do with the plot. What close ups of girls wearing masks or makeup has to do with this? I don’t know. This series is so beautiful and the writing is magical and these covers just don’t reflect that.

Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder

I know there are some other editions of the books, but these covers make no sense to me. To me, this looks like some period romance/court intrigue series. It’s not. These covers just do not reflect the content of the books at all, in my opinion. Based on these covers, I would never buy these books. They’re not necessarily ugly covers, but they speak to me of a genre that I’m usually not very interested in.

The Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer

I don’t think this series has an entire set of matching covers. There are like 5 different cover editions at least and none of them are complete as far as I could tell. It’s so annoying. And what’s even worse is that all those editions are just varying shades of bad. The one in the picture is the edition I hate the most. It’s just so… bad. It does not do the series justice. The series is awesome! I want them re-released in a nice edition where they all match. Is that too much to ask?

The Diabolic by S. J. Kincaid

It’s a really nice cover… I just don’t understand what a butterfly has to do with anything. I suppose the two halves of the butterfly could represent Sidonia and Nemesis, one soft and one sharp and serrated. But… why butterflies? They did that for Replica by Lauren Oliver as well. It’s like they have no idea what to put on the cover, so they just slap a butterfly on it and call it a day.

The Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer

Again, very aesthetic covers, just… what do they have to do with the books? I suppose the theme of black, white and red does capture the vampire-y, but why an apple, a petal, a ribbon and whatever else? Could have been some objects that reflect the story somehow? I mean, I like these covers. And they’re so iconic by now, that everyone would recognise them. But I just wonder what the thought process was when first printing this. “Hmm… so this is a book about vampires. It’s called Twilight… let’s put an apple on the cover.”

The US editions of the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson

Both the US hardback and the US paperback editions are just hideous. This looks like some shitty comic-book covers. They’re so, so ugly and this series does not deserve such ugly covers. Thankfully, the UK editions are really cool. I’ve only read The Final Empire so far, but it was so amazing, I can’t wait to read the rest of them. I have both a spoiler-free review of it and a rave review if you are interested to know more of my thoughts.

The US covers of the Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss

These aren’t horrible, but they certainly don’t do the books justice. The UK covers are much better and I feel also capture the essence of the series much better. I absolutely adore these books, it’s one of my favourite series. I have reviews of both The Name of the Wind  and of The Wise Man’s Fear, if you are interested.

Ten Unique Books – Top 10 Tuesday

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is 10 unique books you’ve read.

It’s not Tuesday, it’s Thursday, let’s move on. I think it’s become clear by now that it’s an event when I actually make a top 10 Tuesday post on a Tuesday.

---

The Graceling Series by Kristin Kashore

This companion series was so unique to me because for one, I believe it was the first companion series I had read. And the thing that links these three novels together is the villain, which I thought was really cool. Also, the relationships in this series are quite unique within the YA genre and I loved that aspect of it. It’s an amazing series that I feel does not get the hype it deserves.

The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

I found this duology to be unique because generally in YA, the main characters are always so physically beautiful. And to have a main character who was not flawless, for a change, was really refreshing and quite unique at least within the YA genre. It also had some pretty cool mythology. Another really underrated series, in my opinion.

The Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer

I feel like hardly a post goes by when I don’t talk about this series. I honestly love it so much and it’s so, freaking underrated (this is turning into an underrated books post). The blend of magic and technology and the spin it puts on fairies and just celtic folklore is amazing. The characters are quite unique, the titular character, Artemis, is one of my favourite characters ever. It’s just a great series guys. Read it.

Pale Highway by Nicholas Conley

This is not a book that I enjoyed that much. You can read my full review on it for my thoughts and opinions. But it was definitely unique. I have to give it that. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that had me kinda cringing from its… uniqueness, but also kinda curious to see what the actual hell. So yeah, it definitely has a place on this list.

Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix

I’ve only read the first book in this series. I recently read it, and I enjoyed it. I should have a review of it soon. I thought it was pretty unique because it’s not every day you read a book with a necromancer as the protagonist. It has a cool mythology that reminds me a bit of Dante’s Inferno and a bit of the Greek mythology of the Underworld. It’s cool. It’s unique. At least I’ve not read anything quite like it before.

The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis

This story is told through letters from Screwtape, a senior demon, to his nephew to guide him in his attempt to lead his assigned human into temptation and eventually to hell. I thought it was very unique and I loved this book. I don’t think I’ve ever read a C. S. Lewis book I have not loved, to be honest. This is satire and I love satire. And it’s really good satire.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

I can’t really say why I think this is unique because spoilers. I mean, it’s been forever since the books came out, the movies are all out as well (though I don’t know whether they changed the ending or not, cause I haven’t watched the last ones), but I still don’t like outright spoiling things, particularly that this is such a major thing. Most of you probably know what I’m talking about.

The series in itself was not particularly unique. It stands out among YA dystopian as one of the better ones, but other than that… it’s not so unique. Except for the ending of this book. That’s not really something you see very often in YA. I don’t think I have ever seen it in any other book. So, it deserves a place on this list.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

This series has a pretty cool and unique take on dragons. I’ve only read the first book so far and I really enjoyed it. Particularly the dragons and how they work. I thought they were really cool and unique. I also enjoyed the very political nature of the plot. I know a lot of books have political plots, but this one stands out in my mind for some reason.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

I loved this book so much. I read it… easily 8 years ago and I still remember it so vividly. I think this was the first novel I ever finished in one day. I could not stop reading. So well written, so unique in its idea and construct and just… gah! This book is a masterpiece. And if you’ve not read it, you’re missing out.

The Tunnels Series by Rodrick Gordon and Brian Williams

I used to be obsessed with this series. I’m sad that I never finished it and that I’ve forgotten so much about it, that I would have to reread it in order to continue, which I doubt will happen. I think there are 6 books in the series. At the time I read it, there were 4 out and I’ve read those, but then I had to wait and I just never continued with it.

This series takes place mostly underground where an entire civilization lives. And it’s so cool, it’s quite dark and mysterious and kind of conspiracy theory-esque. It’s awesome and has a really unique plot and characters as well, and just the whole underground civilization is really cool and I’ve not seen anything quite like it.

Top 10 Authors I Would Like to Meet – Top 10 Tuesday

Top 10 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is Top 10 authors you’d like to meet.

I haven’t done a top 10 Tuesday in agessss! Yeah, okay it’s not Tuesday, but that’s beside the point. I’ll do authors I would like to meet and have not yet met.

---

1. J. K Rowling

I think most people have her on their bucket list. I would love to meet her some day. She seems like a lovely woman and I mean… Harry Potter.

2. John Green

I love John Green. I love his books and I love the vlogbrothers and I would really, really love to meet both him an Hank some day (so sad I can’t go to VidCon Europe this year. Hopefully they’ll do it again next year and I’ll be able to go then.)

3. Patrick Rothfuss

The Kingkiller Chronicle has become one of my favourite series ever and I would absolutely love to meet Pat and have my books signed and ask him questions he’s probably had to answer 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times before (like WHEN IS BOOK THREE COMING OUT?!)

4. Victoria Schwab

I have fallen in love with her Shades of Magic series and her writing and her stories and I can’t wait to read her other books and I want to meet her so badly akfjdjllkhgskdla;iw!

5. Laini Taylor

I think Laini Taylor has the most beautifully magical writing style I have ever come across and i absolutely adore it. I love her Daughter of Smoke and Bone series so much, it’s just… magical (even though I still have no read book 3. Goddammit! I have to get on with it!). I am so, so, SO excited about her new book, I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

6. Eoin Colfer

I have said it before and I will say it for as long as my lungs can draw breath and my fingers can type: Artemis Fowl is unfairly underrated and it NEEDS more recognition because it’s amazing! I would absolutely love to meet Eoin and tell him how much I love his books and have them signed.

7. Leigh Bardugo

The Six of Crows duology destroyed me and I just NEED to have those books signed. I just… I need to. *sobs*

8. Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is the series that got me into YA. I owe many, many hours of amazing books to this lady. I would love to meet her.

9. Rick Riordan

As a child, I was obsessed with mythology, and particularly Greek mythology. I loved it so much and I still do, but these days, I’m too old to read anything but children’s books. Rick Riordan sustains me.

10. G. R. R. Martin

Yeah… I have some questions for Mr. Martin as well (WHEN…). Intelligent (…IS…), pertinent (…THE…), insightful (…NEXT…) questions that I’m sure he will be delighted (…ONE…) and pleased (…COMING…) to answer and discuss with me (…OUT?!). Mhm, yep.

---

Oh, look. I got 5 men and 5 women. Didn’t even plan it this way, but it pleases me. Nice and even. Cassandra Clare and of course, the QUEEN Sarah J. Mass would have obviously made it on this list, except that I have already had the privilege of meeting these lovely ladies.

Bookish Holiday Wishlist – Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s theme is “holiday gift guide freebie”. I chose to share with you my top 10 books on my (very long) wishlist. This is going to be difficult because there are a lot, and I mean a lot of books on my wish list. My bookish amazon wishlist currently has 129 items on it and that’s not including additional copies of books that I already have that I really want. So let’s just say this list is the tip of the iceberg. These are the books that I really hope to get soon.

As a little aside, last week I announced I’d be doing a Q&A. I haven’t forgotten, I’ll probably have that post up by the end of the week (I hope!). In the mean time, feel free to send me more questions here.

Alright, I’ll stop rambling now and get on with it.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

I really want to read this book. As a lover of fantasy, I feel like this is one of those books I have to read.

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

I recently read An Ember in the Ashes (review here) and I loved it. So now I really want to read the second one. Plus, it’s pretty. So I want it.

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco

This sounds like such a cool, and kind of messed up thriller. It’s right up my alley. I want to read it.

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

The description I read for this book is so vague, I honestly have very little idea what to expect from it. But is sounds very ominous and dark and also, look at that pretty raven on the cover.

This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

Earlier this year, I fell in love with Schwab’s writing and this one sounds so freaking amazing, I don’t know why I haven’t read it yet.

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

I have wanted to read this book since I first heard of it more than a year ago. I still don’t own it and I still haven’t read it. Why? I don’t know. But I want it.

Fantastic beasts and Where to Find Them

The film was AWESOME, guys. I adored it. I am so, so, SO excited for  the other ones. I can’t wait. I literally cannot wait. So of course I want the screenplay. Also, look at this beauty! Just look at it.

The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury

It’s an Aladdin retelling. I have never read an Aladdin retelling. I love retellings. It’s blurbed by Sarah J. Maas. And it’s pretty. All very valid reasons for why I want this.

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

This series is really beautiful. Both inside and outside. And I want to finish it.

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

I hear so many great things about this series. I need to read it!

These are 10 of the books that I want the most. But if you’re curious to see more of the books that I want, or you know someone who you think might enjoy the same books as I do and want to buy them a nice Christmas gift, you can check out my Amazon wishlist.