It’s Top Ten Tuesday Time again!
Here are 10 books I borrowed and read from the library that I had to purchase for my own collection
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin
Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
These are all the series that I have either read all the books this year or read the last book in the series that was published this year! I haven’t included any series that have unreleased books still, I will just add them onto future lists!
The Devouring Gray Duology by Christine Lynn Herman
The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty
Empirium Series by Claire Legrand
An Ember in the Ashes Series by Sabaa Tahir
Shattered Realms Series by Cinda Williams Chima
Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin
Cursebreakers Series by Brigid Kemmerer
Fable Duology by Adrienne Young
All the Stars and Teeth Duology by Adalyn Grace
The Aurora Cycle by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman
The Mirror Visitor Quartet by Christelle Dabos
These are 8 books that I read using my Kindle Unlimited subscription that I would highly recommend and two books that I haven’t read yet but have really great ratings if you just subscribed and are looking for a good fantasy read!
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima
City of Brass & The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
Sufficiently Advanced Magic by Andrew Rowe
Around this time last year I posted 5 of my favourite books over 500 pages so I figured I would do an update with 5 more books I read and absolutely loved from the last year that have over 500 pages!
The Black Prism by Brent Weeks – 739 pages
This was the perfect amount of world building and introduction of all the characters and their backstories without being overwhelming. Granted at the start as I am with most epic/high fantasy I read I am a little lost, but I established myself pretty quickly into this world and was invested almost instantaneously with the characters. The magic system was unique and interesting and had just enough information to keep me engaged yet eager to know more.
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas – 803 pages
From that first twist at the start I wasn’t able to predict anything that was going to happen next. The forced partnership between Bryce and Hunt, the investigation, the revelations, everything came together perfectly for me and even though it was over 800 pages I flew through this book!
Morning Star by Pierce Brown – 544 pages
It was honestly one of the best series I have ever read and I am itching to reread the whole thing again just to experience this epic rollercoaster of a tale again!
Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett – 512 pages
I really loved the setting of this book, the atmosphere and the conditions of the city really added a layer of depth to the storyline and set the tone for the book. The dark, grittiness of the commons was heavily described and the almost hopelessness Sancia felt whilst living there really captured my attention.
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty – 521 pages
I loved the overall concept and the premise of the story. The world building was wonderful and highly atmospheric. I could do with a little more information about the magic system and the extent of the powers of the different clans. I can’t wait to find out this world and how each of the characters develops as the story continues!
For some reason I didn’t think I was going to like this book, I’ve been putting it off for months and months now and I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved this book!
It follows Nahri a young woman in 18th century Cairo, who masquerades as a healer for the wealthy but ends up stealing from them to make ends meet. During one of her ceremonies Nahri ends up inadvertently summoning a djinn, thrusting her into a magical world she didn’t believe existed.
I really liked Nahri’s character and her development over the course of the story. It was a subtle shift but we really see her become a lot more open and honest both with Dara and herself. She was a little frustrating at times, especially when she refused to see the patients and didn’t even try to listen to Nisreen about the Daeva clan and what was happening to them out in the city. I’m glad Nisreen gave it to her straight and tried to make her accountable for her actions.
I’m not a fan of how Dara kept so many secrets from Nahri and just expected her to follow him with no explanation on his part. He did become a little too possessive over her in the end there and that did grate my nerves a little. He still intrigues me a lot and I am so very much invested in his storyline, what really happened all those years ago, who freed him from his slavery and what other secrets he is hiding.
Ali’s plotIine I wasn’t as invested in as the others, I guess I am a bit more biased towards the Daeva clan than I am with his family. I appreciated that he is trying to go against his father and help the Shafit plight in the city but he gives up to easily in my opinion, and I thought he deserved the punishment he got in the end. He was completely outclassed by his father and the Sheik’s death was pretty much in vain at this point. I guess I just expected more from his character, especially since he is built up to be this feared warrior.
I loved the overall concept and the premise of the story. The world building was wonderful and highly atmospheric. I could do with a little more information about the magic system and the extent of the powers of the different clans. I can’t wait to find out this world and how each of the characters develops as the story continues!
⭐️4/5 stars I need to continue ASAP!
Amy Leigh Reads 