Books Worth Your Time
September may have been a very bad month for me in terms of reading, but in October I read some very strong books, so let's analyze them (to fill your TBR even more):
1) Weak, by Lauren Roberts
Here I will speak to all Hunger Games fans, to everyone who loves fantasy books – especially romantasy, and to those who enjoy political conflicts in books of the genre. This one is the best choice!
We are in Ilia, a society where people are divided into Elites (those with magical powers) and Commons (those without). The protagonist of the book is Payden, who pretends to be a medium to survive, but in reality she is a Common, but not weak. One day, she ends up saving the future king’s executioner, Prince Kai, and her life changes completely as she finds herself participating in the Trials. Will she manage to survive?
Although it has quite a few pages, this book has wonderful writing, and is full of tension that will win over any fan of the genre. I read it in 3 days and honestly, I can't wait for the sequel. Also, a little plus is Kai… it's worth reading just to get to know him, trust me.
Prey. Hunter. Made for each other.
In the kingdom of Ilya, only those who are special have a place. Decades ago, the Plague bestowed abilities upon the Elites. Those born Ordinary remain exactly that: ordinary, exiled from the kingdom and scorned by society.
No one knows this better than Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary who pretends to be a Psychic in order to go unnoticed among the Elites. When she unexpectedly saves Kai Azer, one of Ilya’s princes, she is suddenly forced to take part in the Purging Trials, a brutal competition designed to showcase the powers of the Elites.
If the Trials or her rivals don’t kill her, the prince for whom she harbors forbidden feelings will, should he discover that Paedyn is… completely Ordinary.
The stunning first book in the epic and steamy romantic fantasy trilogy that has captivated readers around the world.
2) Duology: Anatomy-Immortality, by Dana Schwartz
Since the weather turned cold, I was in search of a slightly darker, more atmospheric and "cold" book to put me in a completely autumnal mood. Luckily for me, instead of one, I found two, and fortunately, they were exactly as I wanted them.
Initially, just the summary draws you in: we are in 19th century Edinburgh, where we meet Hazel, who wants to become a surgeon. Of course, for a woman to engage in anatomy at that time was nearly impossible, and that was a little problem.
Another little problem was that Hazel could fall in love with a rich man, a doctor, perhaps a lord. But nooo, she fell in love with a body snatcher, our beloved Jack. I know, it sounds quite strange, but when you read it, you'll find yourself envying Hazel.
We have an excellent and utterly gothic duology, with descriptions that transport you and make you want to snuggle under your blanket and read until morning. These particular books are well worth it, especially for these colder months.
A gothic story full of mystery and romance
Hazel Sinnett is a young woman who wants to become a surgeon more than she wants to get married.
Jack Currer is a body snatcher who is simply trying to survive in a city where it is tragically easy to die.
When the two of them meet by chance outside the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Hazel does not initially pay much attention. But when she is expelled from the classes of the renowned surgeon William Bitcham because she is a woman, she realizes that her new acquaintance may ultimately prove useful. For Hazel has made a deal with Dr. Bitcham: if she manages to pass the exams on her own, he will allow her to continue her career as a doctor. Without attending the official classes, however, Hazel will need more than her books to pass; she will need dead bodies to study.
Luckily for her, she has just met someone who digs them up for a living. Jack, however, has his own problems: strange men lurk in the cemeteries, his friends are disappearing from the streets, and the terrible Roman fever, which killed thousands of people a few years ago, seems to have returned with a vengeance. No one seems to care — only Hazel does.
Now she and Jack must work together to uncover the secrets hidden not only within the anonymous graves, but also in the heart of Edinburgh society itself.
The long-awaited sequel to the #1 bestselling gothic romantic novel ANATOMY: A LOVE STORY
Hazel Sinnett is alone and almost convinced that the events of the previous year—the immortality, Beecham’s vial—were figments of her imagination. She doesn’t even know whether Jack is alive or dead. All that remains for her is to continue seeing patients and caring for Hawthornden Castle, which has now begun to fall into ruin around her.
When saving a life leads to her arrest, Hazel seems doomed to rot in prison, until an unexpected message arrives. Hazel has been summoned to become the personal physician to Princess Charlotte, the ailing granddaughter of King George III. Soon she will find herself amid the splendor and romance of a Court where everyone has something to hide, especially the enigmatic, brilliant members of a social club called the Death Companions.
As her work brings her ever closer to the private affairs of the British Court, she realizes that her future as a surgeon is not the only thing at risk. Satanic forces are at work within the monarchy, and Hazel may be the only one who can set things right.
3) Heartstopper Series, by Alice Osman
Anyone looking for the sweetest & wholesome series that will take them back to school years, please read Heartstopper!
We have the lovable Charlie who has come out as gay and faced a lot of bullying for it, and Nick, the captain of the rugby team who is 100% straight. Long story short, they fall in love.
I loved this series because it was truly lovable. However, apart from the sweet side of the books that talk about love, acceptance & friendship, we also saw various more serious issues that might concern someone, such as identity crisis, school bullying, eating disorders, anxiety, family relationships, and many more.
I recommend these books to fans of the genre, regardless of age.
I also recommend the Netflix series, which I surprisingly found even better than the books!
Charlie and Nick are at the same school, but they've never met ... until one day when they're made to sit together. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance.
But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realised.
By Alice Oseman, winner of the YA Book Prize, Heartstopper is about love, friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie's lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.
Find the other books in the series
4) The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Vardø, Norway, 17th century:
Imagine looking at the raging sea due to a storm, and suddenly, with a lightning strike, all the men disappear with their ships…
This is what happened in Vardø one night, and since then, the women had to survive on their own. Some liked it, others did not, but those who certainly did not like it were the men from other towns (shock, no one expected it), and thus the accusations of witchcraft began.
A very, very chilling and atmospheric novel, with vivid writing that speaks about survival, superstitions, the power of women and will, but also the danger of power in the wrong hands.
It's perfect for autumn and winter, as you'll feel like you can see the ice in the sea, the animal skin coats, and the breath of the protagonists. The story starts slowly, with a climax at the end, where I would have liked a few more pages to enjoy it. In any case, I really liked it and would recommend it to those looking for something different.
On Christmas Eve of 1617, a terrible storm broke out in the sea of the remote Norwegian island of Vardø. Maren Magnusdatter stands and watches as the waves swallow forty fishermen, including her father and brother. The men of the village disappear in an instant - Vardø is now a place of women.
Eighteen months later, a threatening figure arrives in the village. Absalom Cornet has come from Scotland to tame a wild place, at the edge of the civilized world, and he knows what needs to be done to subdue the women of Vardø. Traveling with him is his young wife, Ursa. In Vardø, and in the face of Maren, Ursa finds something she has never seen before - independent women. However, Absalom sees only a place overflowing with insurmountable evil, which must be eradicated at all costs…
The Witches of Vardø, inspired by the real events of the Vardø storm and the witch trials that took place on the island, is a novel about how suspicion corrodes a community to its core and how love can prove to be both dangerous and powerful.
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