I love it when the book community gets really into a particular book or a series. There are gorgeous cover shots everywhere, fangirl moments over characters, eager anticipation for the release of more books in the series, and anguish that the wait will be so long before the next instalment. I’ve been fairly active over on Instagram recently, and it’s been such a journey to see how the bookstagrammers come together to celebrate the release of a new book, or to geek out about old ones that have suddenly become relevant again. It all makes me wish that I was a better, or at least a faster reader. I’ve read plenty of books, but a lot of the time I miss out on reading the popular ones at the height of their fame. There are whole series that were super famous, and now have movie adaptations and spin-offs, which I’ve still not managed to get around to reading yet. Today, I thought I would share three books I have sitting on my shelf which have been super popular, but which I’m still late to the party reading.
Caraval | Stephanie Garber
Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.
I remember when this book was first released, and how there was such a lot of hype surrounding it. Back then, I was a poor penniless reader who relied on the library for every book I read, and only bought a book once I had already read it and knew I would appreciate owning it. (Did anyone else ever buy books unless they’d read them before or was it just me?) My local library didn’t own a copy at the time, so I never did manage to read it. Now, much later down the track, I finally treated myself to my own copy of this book. It sounds just as amazing now as it did back then, with a truly magical performance, a game with dangerous consequences, and sisters.I’m not fond of audience participation, but I could make an exception for this!
Shadow And Bone | Leigh Bardugo
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.
With the release of the new Netflix show, this book is everywhere, and it’s amazing to see everyone coming together in their mutual enthusiasm for both the book, and their excitement for the show. I am eager to watch the Netflix show for myself, even though I’ve never read the series. However, I feel like, to truly appreciate the show (and my fingers are crossed that it is as good as everyone has been hoping), perhaps it would be wisest to actually read the series first. I bought myself a gorgeous edition of the first book and it’s now sitting waiting for me to have a moment free to get started on it. (This cover is seriously gorgeous though!)
Vicious | V. E. Schwab
Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.
Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end?
I have been a fan of V. E. Schwab for ages, even though I have never actually read any of her books. Back when I was on Twitter, I used to follow her, and she was one of my favourite accounts. I did buy The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue when that released, though it’s still waiting to be read as well, unfortunately, but the book I have been most excited about getting my hands on is this one, Vicious. I mean, what is not to love about it? Gaining superhero powers, becoming villains, betrayal, loss, and revenge. They’re the recipe for a fantastic read. Plus, the girl at the bookshop who served me was the biggest V. E. Schward fan, who follows all her accounts, has read every book, and has seen her speak twice. She was so enthusiastic about these books her excitement was infectious. I am so eager to finally read Vicious for myself .
What popular books are you still getting around to reading? Have you read any of these? Are you planning on watching the Shadow and Bone Netflix show? Let’s chat in the comments down below!
Looking for another great book to add to your TBR? Why not try my YA fantasy The Crystal Tree? It’s a cosy fantasy adventure about magic, music, sisters, sacrifices, and strong friendships. Available on Amazon now!
Briar has finally managed to rebuild her life after losing her parents to the fire that destroyed her entire village. But when the magic-wielding Nameless Ones kidnap her sister, Briar is forced to leave the safety of her new home to save her.
With the help of some travellers on a mission of their own, and her own magic, Briar chases after the Nameless Ones, only to find that her sister’s capture is a small part in a dark plot that threatens the safety of the entire country.
A dark magician has risen, and the legendary Crystal Tree might be the only thing that can save them now.
Looking at my TBR pile, I have just accepted that I will be roughly two years behind any book craze 😉 Your first book is still waiting in there, too!