As a fantasy author myself, you would expect that I would particularly enjoy reading fantasy novels. And you would be right, of course. They say you should write the book that you would like to read, and I have the greatest fun doing that. I also have the best time exploring the worlds other people have created. There’s something about fantasy novels that really captures my imagination, all these amazing worlds, awesome magic, and epic quests. It’s nice to be able to escape from our own world for a while and explore another realm entirely through the pages of a book. Loving fantasy novels as I do, of course I have quite a few on my TBR list at any given time and today, I thought I would share five fantasy books currently on my reading list.
Akarnae
Lynette Noni
With just one step, sixteen-year-old Alexandra Jennings’s world changes—literally.
Dreading her first day at a new school, Alex is stunned when she walks through a doorway and finds herself stranded in Medora, a fantasy world full of impossibilities. Desperate to return home, she learns that only a man named Professor Marselle can help her… but he’s missing.
A book where the main character travels from the real world to a fantasy realm is always fun, because we get to see the wonder of a brand new world through the eyes of a person experiencing it for the first time in the same way we are, rather through the perspective of someone who has known nothing else. This book was recommended to me by a trusted friend, which is always an excellent thing, and I’m very intrigued to give this a read, and maybe pick up the rest of the series too.
The Way Of Kings
Brandon Sanderson
Speak again the ancient oaths,
Life before death
Strength before weakness
Journey before destination
And return to men the shards they once bore.
The Knights Radiant must stand again
As a fantasy author, I’m almost ashamed so say that I have read so very little Brandon Sanderson so far. His books are such a mainstay of the genre nowadays. I did pick up a couple of his Allomancy books from the library, which I read and enjoyed very much, but they were from the middle of a sequel series, and basically I did my usual thing of not starting from the beginning where I very much should have. I own both part one and part two of The Way Of Kings, and I’m looking forward to experiencing Brandon Sanderson’s fantasy books the way they’re actually meant to be read.
Enna Burning
Shannon Hale
Enna’s simple life changes forever when she learns to wield fire and burn anything at will. Enna is convinced that she can use her ability for good–to fight Tira, the kingdom threatening the Bayern borders–and goes on secret raids to set fire to the Tiran camps and villages. But as the power of the fire grows stronger, she is less able to control her need to burn.
When I first discovered Shannon Hale’s series The Books of Bayern, starting with The Goose Girl, I borrowed them from the library. Which is why I’ve never read the second book in the series, Enna Burning, because someone borrowed the book before me, and promptly lost it. I have far less excuse for not reading it now, as I actually own the entire series. This book has been sitting on my shelf since the middle of last year, waiting for me to get around to it. As I love the rest of the series, I’m fairly certain that this is going to be a great read.
The Cruel Prince
Holly Black
Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
I know very little about The Cruel Prince as a book except that every time I hear someone mention this series, they rave about it. Which suggests to me that maybe I should catch up and read it like apparently everyone else already has. I’ve got this book reserved as an audiobook from my local library, so I’m going to be listening to it very soon. I’ve actually read almost no Holly Black at all, and with her popularity, I feel like maybe I’m a little behind the times on more than one thing here.
The Night Circus
Erin Morgenstern
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
I don’t even know how long this book has been waiting to be read. I bought it partly because it sounds absolutely amazing. A circus that pops up overnight, full of intrigue, competition, and fate? Amazing. I also bought it partly because it was originally written during NaNoWriMo, and that is one of my favourite writing challenges, so I feel a sense of connection that way. I’ve been told many times that it’s amazing, and that I really, really need to read it, so I’ll be so doing that sometime very soon.
These are five of the fantasy books on my TBR list currently. Have you read any of these? What is one fantasy novel on your TBR at the moment?
I’ve actually read 3/5 of these! Brandon Sanderson is one of my go-to authors. His world building is just amazing and his characters are well developed, and I’m actually reading Words of Radiance, sequel to The Way of Kings right now. On my TBR? Oh, so many. Just a few: Romanov by Nadine Brandes (I also like her style!) and The Shattering Song (I’m behind on e-books I own).