Top Ten Tuesday (8): Top Ten All Time Favourite Fantasy Books

(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. To join in on this weekly meme, visit the blog here)

This week on Top Ten Tuesday it's

Top Ten All Time Favourite Fantasy Books

I chose fantasy as my genre this week because it's my absolute favourite. It's the genre that I've been reading since I was reading picture books (and this TTT I will feature two of those books), and to this day has remained a go-to of mine. So without further ado...

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

For some reason I only own one Munsch book, but I've read them all! This one has always been and will always be my favourite. It's classic Munsch, and features a very clever and out-spoken princess who has a run-in with a dragon. If you haven't read this yet, visit your local library and head to the kids' section and take two minutes to read this gem. It's superb.

The Balloon Tree by Phoebe Gilman

This one is another kid classic I adore. I think it was the pictures that really grabbed me as a youngster, but the story is cute as well. It teaches a few lessons as well and is a great introductory tale to the fantasy genre. The illustrations, too, are truly beautiful.





And for my non-little kid picks...

Song of the Lioness quartet by Tamora Pierce

Tamora Pierce is going to be featured a few times on this list, because she is my all-time favourite author. Alanna is the first book in this fantastic series, which features a girl who trades places with her twin brother so that she can be a knight (which women are not allowed to do) and her brother can learn magic (something women are expected to do instead of knighthood). A seriously wonderful quartet featuring one of YA's most insiring female characters.

The Immortals quartet by Tamora Pierce

Wild Magic, the first in this series, is the first book by Tamora Pierce that I read. It was bought for me or I picked it up because of the horse on the cover (my favourite animal, and I went through a very long phase where I only read Pony Pals and Saddle Club and Thoroughbred books, haha). SO glad I read this one, whatever the reason, because it made me seek out other books by this wonderful author. This one takes place in the same world as Alanna's series did, but features a different main female character and takes place after Alanna's story (but there is mention of Alanna).

Protector of the Small quartet by Tamora Pierce

She's really good for quartets, this author :) First Test is the first in a series featuring my favourite female main character ever, Keladry of Mindelan. This one takes place in the same land as the previous two series, and by Kel's time, knighthood had been open to women for the first time. And she is the first female to step up to the plate. But the males do not make it easy for her. This is my favourite Tamora Pierce series and the first series I read fully by this author (I read The Immortals after, and then Alanna. Oops!)

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

What's a fantasy list without Harry Potter? I don't think I need to say much on why this one is here. It's Harry freakin' Potter!

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

I'm so beyond proud that the author is from my city <3 But I fell in love this this book before I knew this fact. Falling Kingdoms is a genius high fantasy series by pseudonym author Morgan Rhodes (she also writes romance and other YA under Michelle Rowen and she is fantastic). Book 2 is recently out, Rebel Spring (which I've yet to read - ack! But I'll get there). Highly recommended if you like fantasy. The characters are so diverse and very interesting.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

This series features a heroine who was locked up for being an assassin, and freed under the condition that she compete to be the king's champion - which means freedom after serving as the king's personal assassin for a few years. She'll die if she stays locked up, but she hates the king, so while the choice is easy, it's not at all simple. Seriously such a fantastic series. Books one and two are out and you should go read them both right now right now right now :)

The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon

You may have heard of this one already - the young author's writing has been compared to that of J.K. Rowling - and it is not undeserved. I was a little apprehensive going into this one, because I tend to stick to YA and this one is in the adult fantasy category, but it was fantastic. It's the first of a planned eight-book series, and I an eagerly anticipating the second. It's very different from any fantasy I've read. It's like an AU fantasy that takes in a world where the English monarchy no longer reigns, and clairvoyants are hunted. The protagonist is a clairvoyant herself, and joins a gang of clairvoyants before she's captured (not a spoiler - it's in the blurb), and then spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler :)

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Dragons.
I feel like that's all I have to say, really. Hartman's dragons are quite unique, though. They have the ability to turn human, and I mean, who wouldn't want to be able to be a dragon? I go into this book in more detail in my review, which you can find here.

Top Ten Tuesday (7) Rewind: Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me

(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. To join in on this weekly meme, visit the blog here)

This week on Top Ten Tuesday it's a REWIND. I've chosen to do a topic I missed out on. This TTT topic was originally done on September 20th, 2011.

Top Ten Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me (that I hope to read)

The original meme is just 'top ten books I feel as though everyone has read but me', but I added the 'that I hope to read' because I figured that would be more fun than putting on books I don't want to read. In no particular order...

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

I own this series, at least, but I have yet to get around to reading it. One day I will, likely when I'm on my next post-apocalyptic/dystopian kick, which is bound to be soon.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

One day I will read this series. I've heard of its amazingness, so I will be adding it to my collection.

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

Another one I need to get on my bookshelf. I'll likely just wait until the entire series is out at this point. But I've heard good things!

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

I have seriously heard nothing but good things about this series. I own the first one, at least. Once the third is out I will likely pick these up finally.

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Confession: I own all of the published books, but I have only read up to Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse. I'll catch up, I swear! Trying to avoid spoilers for this series is the most difficult thing, so I need to get on it! Hopefully before Blood of Olympus is out, because I just don't think I'll be able to stay mostly spoiler-free after that one.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

This might be another one I wait for the whole series to be out. Maybe. I'll see if I can hold out that long.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

I haven't even seen the movie (although I've been told that's not a bad thing), but this series has been out for over ten years. I'm a tad behind with this one, so naturally most people I know have read this one. It's another series I have on my shelf, though, so I'll get there.

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Hey - I've at least read Vampire Academy. And I own the set, so I'll be getting to this one soon.

Looking For Alaska by John Green

The only John Green novel (not counting his short story in Let It Snow) that I've yet to read. It's on my shelf. I'll get there one day.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Another I own but have yet to read.

Top Ten Tuesday (6): Books That Will Make You Swoon

(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. To join in on this weekly meme, visit the blog here)

Top Ten Books What Will Make You Swoon

I'm not really a swooner, but do internally squeal and wish very hard for some romantic book moments to happen irl. These are the top ten books with those moments.

1. Clockwork Angel (or rather, the entire Infernal Devices trilogy) by Cassandra Clare

Between Jem's musical talent and sweetness and Will's passion for books and Tessa, this series certainly had me 'swooning'. Of course, there is a whole lot more to the steampunk fantasy series than the romance, these two Shadowhunters are at the top of my list of swoon-worthy guys in YA.


2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Levi Levi Levi. That's all I have to say.


3. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

I've yet to read Ignite Me, so it's going to have to be Unravel Me that is the most swoon-worthy of the series (or should I pick Destroy Me?). Nah. Unravel Me. Chapter 62.


4. Boy Meets Moy by David Levithan

If you haven't read it yet, I'll try not to spoil, but the lengths Paul goes to to get Noah back are just adorable and completely swoon-worthy, in my honest opinion. It had me giddily grinning nearly the entire way through.


5. The Collector by Victoria Scott

Can bad boys make you swoon? Um, yes. Dante Walker proves this (but maybe don't tell him that - his ego is inflated enough).


6. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

This series about angels and part-angels really got to me. And I'd say even quarter angels are swoon-worthy, wouldn't you?


7. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

I mean, Julian, man. He and Lena are just too adorable to not deem swoon-worthy. Sorry (not sorry), Alex.


8. Tight Knit by Allie Brennan

Just... Lachlan. All right, maybe he wouldn't appreciate being called swoon-worthy, but we don't have to tell him.

9. Switched/Torn/Ascend (Trylle trilogy) by Amanda Hocking

It's a series, so it counts as one. I mean... Loki.

10. Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

I'm more of a Puck fan myself, but I can't deny a more swoon-worthy performance than Ash's declaration to Meghan, and everything he goes through to be with her.

Top Ten Tuesday (5): Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2013

(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. To join in on this weekly meme, visit the blog here)

Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2013

These are in no particular order...

Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1) by Morgan Rhodes

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Received from the publisher via netgalley.
Review to come soon. Spoiler: 5/5 rating

The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa
Click here for my review

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Origin by Jessica Khoury
Review to come soon

Scrap by Emory Sharplin
Received from publisher via netgalley.
Click here for my review

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)

The 5th Wave (5th Wave) by Rick Yancey
Review to come soon

The Testing (The Testing #1) by Joelle Charbonneau
Click here for my review

Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2) by Tahereh Mafi

Top Ten Tuesday (4): Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. To join in on this weekly meme, visit the blog here)

Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

Books that deal with tough subjects are not generally the ones I pick up from the shelf, but the few I have read and enjoyed are as follows...

The Waiting Sky by Lara Zeilin

Our protagonist Jane's mother is an alcoholic who nearly gets Jane and Jane's best friend killed in a car accident. So Jane finally takes up her college student/tornado chaser brother Ethan's offer to join him and his friends for the summer chasing tornadoes. The book deals with dangerous weather-induced encounters, and some struggling realizations on Jane's part of just how dangerous her relationship with her mother is, and what it's doing to her future.

See my full review on this book here.

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

I'm sure this one will be on many other bloggers' Top Ten Tuesday posts this week.

Hazel Grace has cancer. She is dying. Her mother persuades her to join a support group, and there she meets the incredible Augustus Waters - a cancer survivor who attends the meeting as support for his friend Isaac. While John Green fills the pages with wit, comic relief, romance, and hope, the fact that this book left me literally curled up in a ball on my bed sobbing for an hour and questioning life itself makes this book an easy pick for this list (and not just because there are only two books on my list...)




Unfortunately I only have two novels I can contribute to this week's TTT, but they are both fantastic (despite the heartbreak they deliver). Both stories inspire hope and if you haven't read either, I highly recommend you do both.