hello friends!!! like this if you want some book recs

i'll try to add some few comments too

(1) The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss

- Adult high fantasy series.
- Story of Kvothe: the greatest magician his world has ever seen.
- 700 pages on the first book, almost a thousand pages for the second. But you won't notice that, you won't be able to put this down.

Rothfuss' writing style is absolutely phenomenal. This series is a masterpiece, its world building so beautifully done.

You haven't experience true fantasy if you haven't read this series. The only awful thing that I can say: where is the third book??

(2) Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson

- Adult epic fantasy.
- Features Allomancy, the magic of metals.
- Once you read how thorough the magic system in this series, any other will fail into comparison.
- About 600+ pages for each book.

I've read this 2016 and I'm still heart broken (because of THAT one character). This is an epic and tragic adventure.

(3) Shades of Magic trilogy by V.E. Schwab

- Adult historical fantasy series.
- Set in four parallel Londons: Red (flourishes with magic), Grey (magicless), White (brutal starving of magic), and Black (obliterated).
- Fantastic world building, one of my all time favorites.

We also have a set of amazing and appealing characters!

Kell is an Antari, a magician able to travel between parallel Londons. Powerful. My absolute sweetheart.

And Delilah Bard. A badass pirate queen. I am willing to die for her.

Also, there are a few LGBT characters in this book. One is a major character, a royal prince who is a bisexual. He will later on meet another major character who is gay. Its a gorgeously written MLM relationship.

(4) Uprooted by Naomi Novik

- Adult high fantasy novel (standalone)
- This is a dark fairy tale with wizards, magic, a haunted forest, and a brave, stubborn girl with a deadly destiny.
- Spectacular writing.

(5) Pandava Quintet by Roshani Chokshi

- MG fantasy series based off of Hindu mythology
- Follows the story of Aru Shah, a demigod and a reincarnation of one of the five Pandavas.
- Ridiculously fun narration + loveable (DIVERSE!) characters + heart tugging story lines.

Trust me, this is as good as the Percy Jackson books!

These books are highly entertaining, filled with witty dialogues, and has one of the best friends-found-family trope I've read not just in MG, but also in YA books.

The Pandava Quintet so far:

Aru Shah and the End of Time
Aru Shah and the Song of Death
Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes
Aru Shah and the City of Gold (2021)
And a fifth book out 2022!

(6) Verity by Colleen Hoover

- Adult thriller/romance novel (standalone)
- This is a disturbing, fucked up story with fucked up characters. Which is why its brilliant!
- A gripping page-turner, my favorite out of all Hoover's works.

Verity follows the story of Lowen, a broke struggling writer. She then gets a job opportunity to write the remaining books in a popular series because the original author is now unable to continue it.

This novel is hella twisted.

TW: Child abuse, graphic violence.

(7) Legend trilogy by Marie Lu

- YA dystopian series
- A high stakes plot brimming with action and suspense.
- With your typical oppressive government in power, war, and two protagonists who might be able to change it all.

I'm a sucker for dystopians so Legend is just the perfect dish.

Also, June and Day deserve everything that is pure and good and happy in this world.

Found my goodreads review of the third book Champion back in 2014, and I must say - yeah same.

(8) The Young Elites trilogy by Marie Lu

- YA dark fantasy series
- Set in a world where a deadly illness swept through the nation and those who survived were left with strange markings and abilities.
- This is cruel, sweet, and a tragic story of an anti-hero. My favorite kind.

Adelina Amouteru is one of my favorite protagonist ever. She is despicable, destructive, but utterly kick-ass and remarkable.

I love Marie Lu, if that isn't obvious. Her exquisite writing style is just *chef's kiss*. And her trilogy endings just breaks my heart all the time, I wouldn't want it another way.

(9) The Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo

- YA fantasy series
- Follows a disastrous, deadly, mind numbing, and heart palpitating heist.
- Six main protagonists, each characterization so wonderfully done.
- Overall, phenomenal books. One of my all time favorites.

Six of Crows is set in the same Grishaverse as Bardugo's trilogy Shadow and Bone. Grisha are people with the ability to control elements such as wind, light, etc.

You can read Six of Crows without reading Shadow and Bone, its a standalone duology.

However, if you want to have an in depth (and chronological) experience within Grishaverse then you can read the Shadow and Bone trilogy too. I liked S&B but didn't love it. It still has some unforgettable characters that will appear in the other books of Grishaverse.

We also have a pretty diverse cast in Six of Crows! The major characters include non-able-bodied leads, POCs (main brown girl!), and we have an MLM relationship.

Bardugo weaves her characters with tragedy, hope, and the right amount of charm to hook you in.

Everything is done right in this duology.

With a crew who might kill each other but will also kill for each other, set in a plush world building with the occasional misery and weeping in every plot twist, these might be your next favorite books!

BONUS: My review of Six of Crows when I first read it over 5 years ago, 2015.

Yes, I haven't posted a complete review lateeeeeer its been 5 years since.

Yes, my review of the second book Crooked Kingdom when I read it over 4 years ago, 2016, is as good.

(I actually have some long and proper reviews written in goodreads, I swear.)

(10) The Poppy War series by R. F. Kuang

- Adult dark, historical fantasy series.
- Follows the story of Rin, an orphan who enters a military academy, set in mid 20th century China.
- All the atrocities of war and everything unpleasant.
- Thoroughly satisfying and heart breaking

If you want to read this series, make sure you have the time because you will not put this down. The first two books, with almost 700 pages each, are filled with shamans, gods, and terror and the cruelty of war.

Not for the faint of heart. Terribly amazing.

Kuang's narration is dazzling and utterly addictive (not a pun). Unforgettable characters that you will root for. There are no good guys or bad guys, everyone is a victim.

The third book - The Burning God is out November this year.

// Hey I reached 10 recs, and a total number of 23 books!

A reminder that my numbering is only for keeping up with the number of likes.

The order doesn't necessarily reflect my ranking of these books/series.

Feel free to ask anything, I'll always try to answer.

(11) The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

- Adult contemporary romance.
- Follows the story of 30 year old Stella who has Asperger's syndrome as she navigates sex and relationships.
- #ownvoices.
- Steamy, sexy, and a fun romance book

This is not YA, there's a lot of graphic sex scenes. Hoang does it so well too, the relationship between the characters are genuine and just endearing.

The male lead, Michael is Vietnamese-Swedish. His respect for Stella's boundaries and understanding of consent is hella sexy.

(12) The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

- Adult contemporary romance.
- Follows the story of Lucy and Joshua, both up for the highest position in their company. Not just dislike nor barely tolerate, they HATE each other.
- Hilarious, sexy, and the classic enemies to lovers trope.

This just made me yearn for a colleague that I can have agonizing sexual tension with.

BONUS: My review of the Hating Game when I read it three years ago, 2017.

(13) The Wrong Side of Right by Jenn Marie Thorne

- YA contemporary romance.
- Follows the story of Kate Quinn who found out that her father is actually a politician, the Republican Presidential candidate with the elections approaching near.
- Romance AND politics? Yes, please.

Kate never knew her father but she was then found to be a presidential candidate's daughter. To mitigate the mess (scandal!), she now has to join in his campaign.

The complications starts now since her father is Republican, Kate is not. Kate's best friend are immigrants too.

I adore this book! The romance side is cute too, but its the careful and informative manner that the author tackled several social and political issues that made The Wrong Side of Right one of my favorites.

Also, the title is really witty, don't all of you think?

(14) An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir

- YA fantasy series.
- Set in a world inspired by ancient Rome.
- Follows the story of Laia and Elias, both victims fighting against the tyrannical Martial empire.
- Brutal, evil, and absolutely compelling.

This is the kind of series you read in one go. A definite page turner, Tahir's writing style is immersive and captivating.

We have well rounded characters that you will love and hate. Helene is my favorite. All of them deserves a seemingly impossible break.

There are authors who make their characters suffer. And you have Tahir. There is always more pain and torture coming. I love these books

The fourth book A Sky Behind the Storm comes out December this year.

(15) Unwind Dystology by Neil Shusterman

- YA horror/thriller dystopian series
- Set in a world where from ages 13-18, parents can "unwind" their children where all of their internal organs are transplanted so life doesn't technically end.
- Disturbing and extremely important.

This is the dystopian series that will leave you with an existential crisis.

It will disturb you, it will shock you. It may leave you horrified. (Literally, with THAT SCENE ON THE FIRST BOOK, WHAT THE FUCK)

But it will make you think, and for that it is worth it.

(16) Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young

- YA sci-fi/dystopian series
- Follows the story of Mena attending the Innovations Academy, training her to be the "best" girl: obedient, well behaved and beautiful.
- Suspenseful, and an important read tackling sexism and feminism.

Our characters are getting restricted diets and unwarranted, disturbing comments about their physical appearances, etc - all under the controlling and abusive administration of the Academy.

Not only is this book terrifying, it is also the reality for women around the world.

Best thing about this book: women friendships! The pacing is just right too, a slow thrill until we uncover the dark secrets behind the schooling of these girls.

This is a trilogy. Girls with Razor Hearts was just published last March. The third book will be published next year.

(17) Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

- YA fantasy series.
- Fairy tale retelling of Cinderella, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White. All of them badass.
- You can't start this series without wanting to binge read it. One of my all time favorites.

Setting all the heterosexual ships aside (I'm kidding, I actually liked all of them), this is the kind of fun and chill books to binge read.

Engaging and fast paced narration + wonderful and loveable characters. You'll breeze through this.

BONUS: My book review of Winter, the last book in the series.

(18) The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

- YA dystopian (standalone).
- Follows the story of Tierney from Garner County where girls are banished at their 16th year to rid of their magic, be purified and ready for marriage.
- A haunting, thought provoking, feminist thriller.

There is nothing more dystopian than an oppressive patriarchal society in one of its extreme form.

In this county, girls have magic - supposed to be their ability to seduce men and lure them into sins. Once they reach 16, they will be banished on an island. Only few comes back.

Kind of like a mix between the Hunger Games and the Handmaid's Tale, the Grace Year is horrifying in its own way. It is the brutal and vicious form of women fighting each other to appease men.

This is a fast read too, hooking you in with the urgency and tension in its story.

(19) House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin Craig

- YA retelling of the Grimm Brothers' Twelve Dancing Princesses.
- Follows Annaleigh and her sisters, four already died and each death is more tragic than the last.
- Filled with curses, madness, horror, and all things goth.

We know all this story. Sisters sharing the same room locked but in the morning we discover that their shoes are all worn out as if they danced all night! Like the Barbie movie!

Except in this book - the sisters die one by one, each death more grotesque than the last.

(20) The Darkest Minds trilogy by Alexandra Bracken

- YA fantasy/dystopian.
- Follows the story of Ruby, in a world where a disease killed children throughout, and the survivors developed supernatural abilities.
- Full of heartbreaking twists and vivid characters.

I'm generally a sucker for books with characters that have supernatural abilities, so this trilogy is right up my alley. However, the real power in these books are in its characters. Most of the time, I'm not into the romantic aspect of a book but Ruby and Liam made me weep.

There is a 2018 movie adaptation but I haven't watched it, I'm not sure if its accurate too. Bracken's writing style is one of my favorites too (you'll see a few more of her books in this thread), so grab the chance to read this trilogy!