Okay, I’m a self-proclaimed book addict. I seem to only read YA fantasy books – sorry, I know I’m a bit old for this genre, but I have to escape to somewhere when revision and coursework get to be too much! If you’re not a big fan of fantasy books why don’t you comment down below some other book recommendations, so we can find more and more fantastic books.
A Court of Thorns and Roses
Everyone that knows much just let out the biggest sigh, this is book series snatched the title of my favourite book series of all time from The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. Sarah J. Maas knows how to write books extremely well whilst keeping her reader guessing, this is shown not only in this book series but also in the Throne of Glass series too. Another plus, it that this book is part of a trilogy meaning that the story doesn’t just abruptly stop!
Goodreads shares the books description:
Feyre’s survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So, when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price …
Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre’s presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever.
(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16096824-a-court-of-thorns-and-roses?ac=1&from_search=true)
The book plays on a lot of folklore and does some retellings of fairy tales in the best possible way – you’ll have to read out to find out more.
Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones
- Jae-Jones gorgeous writing really makes this book an incredible and fun read. Wintersong has a storyline completely different to anything I have ever read before and is loosely based on a retelling of the classic movie, Labyrinth. This book is whimsical and worth the read – recently, Shadowsong, the sequel and finale to the book series was just recently released too meaning that there is even more to read!
Described by Goodreads, the book is about Liesl and the mysterious Goblin King:
All her life, nineteen-year-old Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, mysterious Goblin King. He is the Lord of Mischief, the Ruler Underground, and the muse around which her music is composed. Yet, as Liesl helps shoulder the burden of running her family’s inn, her dreams of composition and childish fancies about the Goblin King must be set aside in favour of more practical concerns.
But when her sister Käthe is taken by the goblins, Liesl journeys to their realm to rescue her sister and return her to the world above. The Goblin King agrees to let Käthe go—for a price. The life of a maiden must be given to the land, in accordance with the old laws. A life for a life, he says. Without sacrifice, nothing good can grow. Without death, there can be no rebirth. In exchange for her sister’s freedom, Liesl offers her hand in marriage to the Goblin King. He accepts.
(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24763621-wintersong?ac=1&from_search=true)
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Shadow and Bone is the first book to Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha Trilogy and what an absolutely amazing book. This book has everything you need from a book and more from romance, and action to suspense.
Goodreads describes this book as:
Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee. Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling. Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.
(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10194157-shadow-and-bone)
I had my reservations about this book but as soon as I got a few chapters in, I was taken by the entire series and even found myself rooting for people I wouldn’t usually like just shows how powerful and amazing Bardugo’s writing is.
So, there are my top 3 books I’ve read this year and I think that they’re great books that everyone should give a chance to! Escaping away in a fantasy land via books is both fun and provides a healthy break away from all the stress university may bring!
Becky Gibbs
