Book Recommendations 2.0
Hey there! So I've been wanting to do this quite a while now, ever since a friend of mine here asked me to give her some book recommendations. I thought, why not do a more extensive one? So here it is. Much love to my precious Angel (x--tenshii) for the amazing layout. Feel free to have a book talk with me in the comments below regarding books you've read/want to read, even if they're not on my list! I welcome all suggestions/opinions (I won't get mad if you don't like the book I like, I promise). This is a mish-mash of genres and stuff, so perhaps I'll do others that are more focused on a genre or a specific 'type' if people actually read this.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Laini Taylor
ratings: ★★★★☆
synopsis:
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
thoughts:
"Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love.
It did not end well."
I've been recommending this to everybody, regardless of whether they approach me for a book recommendation or not. I may or may not have recommended this book before in my previous post, but it's worth being on this list. I mean, apart from chimaeras and fiery angels, what more can a girl want? And Zuzanna's sass will leave you giggling to yourself in public. Plus Laini Taylor is an exquisite storyteller. This is the first in a trilogy and, at the risk of sounding cliched, it only gets better. My favourite book is the second one, Days of Blood and Starlight. Mainly because... Well,if when you get to the end to the end of the book, you'll see.
reccomended for lovers of:
Seige and Storm, The Night Circus, Inheritance Cycle, Vampire Academy, lovers of fantasy and prose in general.
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
thoughts:
"Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love.
It did not end well."
I've been recommending this to everybody, regardless of whether they approach me for a book recommendation or not. I may or may not have recommended this book before in my previous post, but it's worth being on this list. I mean, apart from chimaeras and fiery angels, what more can a girl want? And Zuzanna's sass will leave you giggling to yourself in public. Plus Laini Taylor is an exquisite storyteller. This is the first in a trilogy and, at the risk of sounding cliched, it only gets better. My favourite book is the second one, Days of Blood and Starlight. Mainly because... Well,
reccomended for lovers of:
Seige and Storm, The Night Circus, Inheritance Cycle, Vampire Academy, lovers of fantasy and prose in general.
GENRE: fantasy, young adult, romance
The Girl with All the Gifts, M.R Carey
ratings: ★★★★★
synopsis:
Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class.
When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite.
But they don't laugh. Melanie is a very special girl.
thoughts:
"The truth is the truth, the only prize worth having. If you deny it, you are only proving that you are unworthy of it."
I don't even know where to begin with this thriller. The well-rounded characters, or the intricate twists within it? I loved it so much not only because of the writing, but the fact that everything within this book is thrilling. The characters and their motivations were believable, and that drew me in. In all honesty, I was sceptical when I first started. I thought it was just another dystpopian story out there, but I was wrong. The title does not mean 'gifts' the way I thought it did, and yet somehow it captures Melanie's essence so well. And when it ends, you'll cry. I bet you will.
reccomended for lovers of:
Warm Bodies, World War Z, Alice in Zombieland
Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class.
When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite.
But they don't laugh. Melanie is a very special girl.
thoughts:
"The truth is the truth, the only prize worth having. If you deny it, you are only proving that you are unworthy of it."
I don't even know where to begin with this thriller. The well-rounded characters, or the intricate twists within it? I loved it so much not only because of the writing, but the fact that everything within this book is thrilling. The characters and their motivations were believable, and that drew me in. In all honesty, I was sceptical when I first started. I thought it was just another dystpopian story out there, but I was wrong. The title does not mean 'gifts' the way I thought it did, and yet somehow it captures Melanie's essence so well. And when it ends, you'll cry. I bet you will.
reccomended for lovers of:
Warm Bodies, World War Z, Alice in Zombieland
GENRE:horror, post apocalypse, dystopian, ya
Magic Bites, Ilona Andrews
ratings: ★★★★★
synopsis:
When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.
Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta's magic circles.
The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate's guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she's way out of her league—but she wouldn't have it any other way…
thoughts:
Urban fantasy is by far my favourite sub-genre of my favourite genre, and people who know me will know that I love a kickass heroine. The Kate Daniels series is my favourite uf series, and not just because Kate owns a sword and knows how to wield it. Hell to anyone who lost faith in the supernatural genre after Twilight, because they lost out. Furthermore, Andrews tries her best to go beyond the usual supernatural fare and incorporate mythical creatures from other cultures, such as the Viking gods and the Japanese Oni's. There are too many things to gush about, so I'd just leave you guys to discover the wonders of urban fantasy.
reccomended for lovers of:
Mercy Thompson series, The Hollows, Georgina Kincaid series, Night Huntress series, Chicagoland Vampires, so on and so forth.
When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.
Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta's magic circles.
The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate's guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she's way out of her league—but she wouldn't have it any other way…
thoughts:
Urban fantasy is by far my favourite sub-genre of my favourite genre, and people who know me will know that I love a kickass heroine. The Kate Daniels series is my favourite uf series, and not just because Kate owns a sword and knows how to wield it. Hell to anyone who lost faith in the supernatural genre after Twilight, because they lost out. Furthermore, Andrews tries her best to go beyond the usual supernatural fare and incorporate mythical creatures from other cultures, such as the Viking gods and the Japanese Oni's. There are too many things to gush about, so I'd just leave you guys to discover the wonders of urban fantasy.
reccomended for lovers of:
Mercy Thompson series, The Hollows, Georgina Kincaid series, Night Huntress series, Chicagoland Vampires, so on and so forth.
GENRE:pnr, urban fantasy, adult
Shadow and Bone, Leigh Bardugo
ratings: ★★★★☆
synopsis:
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.
thoughts:
This is the first installment of Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy. According to reviews, this does not entirely follow the myth it originated from but it's good enough for me, since I don't know much about the original anyway. I've read this a while ago, but it was a decent fantasy read, with characters that you would root for. And if you happen to fall in love with a particular ginger pirate, do tell so that I would know I'm not the only one.
reccomended for lovers of:
Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Throne of Glass, Girl of Fire and Thorns, Queen of the Tearling, His Fair Assassin
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.
thoughts:
This is the first installment of Leigh Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy. According to reviews, this does not entirely follow the myth it originated from but it's good enough for me, since I don't know much about the original anyway. I've read this a while ago, but it was a decent fantasy read, with characters that you would root for. And if you happen to fall in love with a particular ginger pirate, do tell so that I would know I'm not the only one.
reccomended for lovers of:
Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Throne of Glass, Girl of Fire and Thorns, Queen of the Tearling, His Fair Assassin
GENRE:fantasy, romance, yA
Belle, Lesley Pearse
ratings: ★★★★☆
synopsis:
London 1910
Fifteen year-old Belle has lived in a brothel in Seven Dials all her life, with no understanding of what happens in the rooms upstairs. But her innocence is shattered when she witnesses the murder of one of the girls and, subsequently snatched from the streets by the killer, she is sold into ion in Paris.
No longer mistress of her own fate, Belle is blown across the globe to sensuous New Orleans where she comes of age and learns to enjoy life as a courtesan. Yet thoughts of home - and the knowledge her status as golden girl cannot last - compel her to break out of her gilded cage.
But Belle finds escaping tougher than she imagined, for her life is threatened by desperate men who crave her beauty and attention. Armed only with resourcefulness and spirit, she has a long and dangerous journey ahead of her.
Will courage be enough to sustain her? Can she make it back to her family and friends and find her chance at true happiness?
thoughts:
This book will put you through all sorts of heartbreaks and harrowing experiences. It strips away the romanticised version of London that is often seen in historical fiction and reveals the struggles of a woman who wishes to establish herself in the early 1900's. This was a book I absolutely couldn't put down when I first started. It has a sequel, and Lesley Pearse wrote another book about her daughter. I didn't like the one with her daughter much, but this has become one of my favourite books of the historical ficiton genre. Etienne's charm doesn't help either.
reccomended for lovers of:
Readers of Eva Godberson, Luxe, Jane Austen
London 1910
Fifteen year-old Belle has lived in a brothel in Seven Dials all her life, with no understanding of what happens in the rooms upstairs. But her innocence is shattered when she witnesses the murder of one of the girls and, subsequently snatched from the streets by the killer, she is sold into ion in Paris.
No longer mistress of her own fate, Belle is blown across the globe to sensuous New Orleans where she comes of age and learns to enjoy life as a courtesan. Yet thoughts of home - and the knowledge her status as golden girl cannot last - compel her to break out of her gilded cage.
But Belle finds escaping tougher than she imagined, for her life is threatened by desperate men who crave her beauty and attention. Armed only with resourcefulness and spirit, she has a long and dangerous journey ahead of her.
Will courage be enough to sustain her? Can she make it back to her family and friends and find her chance at true happiness?
thoughts:
This book will put you through all sorts of heartbreaks and harrowing experiences. It strips away the romanticised version of London that is often seen in historical fiction and reveals the struggles of a woman who wishes to establish herself in the early 1900's. This was a book I absolutely couldn't put down when I first started. It has a sequel, and Lesley Pearse wrote another book about her daughter. I didn't like the one with her daughter much, but this has become one of my favourite books of the historical ficiton genre. Etienne's charm doesn't help either.
reccomended for lovers of:
Readers of Eva Godberson, Luxe, Jane Austen
GENRE:romance, adult, historical fiction, drama
Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn
ratings: ★★★☆☆
synopsis:
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer?
As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?
thoughts:
Since the movie was released recently, I thought that it would be apt for this book to be on my list. It was an interesting read, so although it's no favourite of mine, I would recommend this book to others. If you liked the movie, you would have loved the book. Flynn just draws you into the characters' pace, and so even if there was foreshadowing, it was so well-placed and hidden that when the subtle twists came, you would be caught unaware and be all like "DAMN I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING". Somehow, Gillian Flynn just makes everything work. I didn't like it only because I'm not a fan of the unreliable narrator and the alternating chapters grated on my nerves at times. But it was an interesting way of telling a story, and even if this may not your usual kind of read, give it a go because I think you can learn a lot from this book, least of which is learning how to foreshadow. Pfft.
reccomended for lovers of:
Jack Reacher, The Secret Keeper, Nineteen Minutes, John Grisham
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer?
As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?
thoughts:
Since the movie was released recently, I thought that it would be apt for this book to be on my list. It was an interesting read, so although it's no favourite of mine, I would recommend this book to others. If you liked the movie, you would have loved the book. Flynn just draws you into the characters' pace, and so even if there was foreshadowing, it was so well-placed and hidden that when the subtle twists came, you would be caught unaware and be all like "DAMN I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING". Somehow, Gillian Flynn just makes everything work. I didn't like it only because I'm not a fan of the unreliable narrator and the alternating chapters grated on my nerves at times. But it was an interesting way of telling a story, and even if this may not your usual kind of read, give it a go because I think you can learn a lot from this book, least of which is learning how to foreshadow. Pfft.
reccomended for lovers of:
Jack Reacher, The Secret Keeper, Nineteen Minutes, John Grisham
GENRE:crime, suspense, adult, mystery
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