Since I read a lot, my top 10 favorite books change often. It also evolves because my tastes vary. However, lately, with my new readings, I have discovered some nuggets, stories that resonated with me and will be part of this new top 10. Without further ado, here is the list of my 10 new reads (you will find my new top 10 at the end).
A Court of Thorns and Roses (Sarah J. Maas)
The Mortal Instruments - The Last Hours (Cassandra Clare)
From Blood and Ash (Jennifer L. Armentrout)
The Bridgerton Chronicles (Julia Quinn)
La carte des confins (The Map to the Confines (Marie Reppelin)
A curse so dark and lonely (Brigid Kemmerer)
Witch and God - Book 1 (Liv Stone)
Serpent & Dove (Shelby Mahurin)
Seasons of the Storm (Elle Cosimano)
The hating game (Sally Thorne)
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Summary:
While hunting in the snowy woods, Feyre only wanted to feed her family. But she has done the irreparable by killing a Fae, and now she's been taken by force to Prythian, realm of the immortals.
There, however, her prison is a magnificent palace and her jailer is no monster. Tamlin, a Fae High Lord, treats her like a princess.
And what is this evil that plagues the kingdom and threatens to spread to the mortal realm?
Clearly, Feyre is no mere prisoner. But how could a young human girl of such humble origins come to the aid of such powerful lords?
Her freedom, in any case, seems to be at that price.
Review:
I LOVED all the books. I devoured them so quickly that I got into the story (which at the beginning is inspired by the Beauty and the Beast tale, but moves away from it as it goes along). The characters are endearing, I particularly liked Feyre, of course, but also Rhysand, Lucien, Cassian and Azriel. What I particularly appreciated in these books, besides the imagination of the author, was to see the evolution of the character of Feyre. We know her as a human being, strong in character but fragile all the same, to become a strong and confident person at the end.
The Mortal Instruments - The Last Hours by Cassandra Clare
Summary:
What if falling in love was more complicated than fighting the creatures of darkness?
Cordelia Carstairs imagined her future was set: train hard to become a Shadowhunter and protect the world. But when her father is arrested, everything changes. Accompanied by her brother, she travels to London to try to get him out of trouble. There, she reconnects with James and Lucie Herondale, her childhood friends.
Soon, Cordelia finds herself being dragged from balls to secret missions... all the while trying to suppress her budding feelings for James, who is already committed. Meanwhile, danger lurks. When a series of demonic attacks of unprecedented magnitude puts the city on fire, Cordelia and her friends decide to act. But how do you crush the enemy when he is invincible? And who is behind these attacks? Another question becomes haunting: do they have what it takes to be heroes?
Review:
Maybe you don't know my passion for this series (I've read all The Mortal Instruments tomes, there are a little over 15 of them), but I really adhered to this particular saga, the one about The Last Hours. I was immediately drawn into the story and it is so addictive. I think that if I was really into this story, it's because of the previous volumes since we follow the same family but in different times. I find the characters more touching in The Last Hours, especially Cordelia and James who I adore. I can't wait to read the sequel to find out the outcome of the last volume.
From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Summary:
As rivalry grows between two kingdoms that have always been enemies, a young woman whose destiny was all set sees her certainties shattered, and more than anything...her heart.
A virgin...
Chosen from birth to usher in a new era of her kingdom, Poppy's life has never really been her own. Her parents were killed when she was young and she has lived a reclusive, overprotected life ever since. A lonely life, untouched and unseen, with no contact with the outside world and only one moment to look forward to: the day of her Ascension.
A duty...
The future of the entire kingdom rests on Poppy's shoulders, but she's not sure she wants that destiny. Because she has a heart, a soul, and she'd rather fight the creatures that caused her misfortune. And when Hawke, an honor guard charged with protecting her until her Ascension, bursts into her life, he challenges her beliefs, even to the point of the forbidden.
A kingdom...
Abandoned by the gods and feared by mortals, another fallen kingdom rises up, determined to take back what is owed to it through violence and revenge. And as the threat closes in, Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being deemed unworthy by the gods, but her own life as everything that made up her world inexorably crumbles.
Review:
I've read several books by Jennifer L. Armentrout before (including the Lux saga, which I love), but I enjoyed this book immensely. The story is original (even if we can guess the end, at least for me), and I devoured it. The author introduces us to a whole new world through the eyes of Poppy, a character I really enjoyed. And at the end, she gives us a taste of the next volume, which I can't wait to read because it sounds so fantastic, even if it means buying it in VO.
The Bridgerton Chronicles by Julia Quinn
Summary:
Dearest readers, what a season! With the rhythm of balls and receptions, I have told you the breathless story of the mad romance between Miss Daphne Bridgerton and Simon, the dark Duke of Hastings. Lustful waltzes, funny twists and memorable fights have kept us on the edge of our seats until the epilogue of unbridled romanticism. Will we have time to catch our breath? It is to be feared that not, because it is already whispered in London that Anthony, Daphne's brother, would be decided to marry as well.
Alas, the chosen one has an obnoxious sister who is categorically opposed to this union because of the viscount's libertine past. This promises us many adventures. And since there are still six Bridgertons to marry, your devoted columnist has a lot to look forward to. Don't lose track, dear readers, the saga has just begun!
Lady Whistledown's society column, London, 1814
Review:
I had started by watching the series, which I of course loved, and then, what could be more normal, I read the books. And I am literally a fan. Julia Quinn is a genius for writing romance at a time when etiquette and regency offers a novelty and a breath of fresh air to the story. Personally, I preferred the tomes about Anthony, Colin and Hyacinth. Mostly because I became more attached to their characters over the course of the volumes. And now I'm reading the Rokesby books that take place a generation earlier.
La Carte des confins (The map of the confines) by Marie Reppelin
Summary:
Callie is a master thief. She even managed to get hold of an enchanted marine compass. It would allow her to find the mysterious map of the Confines, a world beyond ours from which no one has ever returned. Exploring the Confines is the certainty of becoming a legend, the dearest desire of Blake Jackson, young captain of the Avalon, the most feared pirate ship on the seas. Ready to do anything to get what he wants, he will convince Callie to help him in his quest. The dangerous pirate and the mysterious thief become companions and gradually reveal and tame each other. But the heavy secret Callie hides could ruin their only hope of getting their hands on the Map... and change their lives forever.
Review:
How can you not love a story with adventure, a little magic and a lot of humor. Fluidly written for ease of reading, we follow Callie on a journey that will take her to pirates to find a mysterious map, but several plots will get in the way. I had a real crush on this story. The characters are endearing, the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat (especially the ending, which makes you want to read the sequel quickly) and I especially liked the verbal jousting between Callie and Blake, which is enormously funny.
A curse so dark and lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Summary:
One night on the streets of Washington, D.C., 17-year-old Harper witnesses an attempted kidnapping. Ignoring the danger, the partially disabled young woman steps in. But the kidnapper releases his first prey and, after subduing Harper, takes her with him...
With the wave of a magic wand, Harper is transported to another world. She discovers a place that has all the makings of a fairy tale castle: an orchestra without musicians, an enchanted kitchen and, of course, a handsome and enigmatic prince. A cursed prince, in fact.
Stuck in an eternal autumn, Prince Rhen seeks to rid his people of a bloodthirsty creature. To break the curse, he orders Commander Grey to kidnap young women, season after season... But what he doesn't say is that he himself is the bloodthirsty monster. To break the curse, he must make himself loved before winter begins, before he starts killing again... Nothing could be easier, on the surface, for this attractive young man. Yet none of the hundreds of young women before Harper have succumbed to his charm.
Review:
As Beauty and the Beast is my favorite tale, I of course loved this story based on it. But I also enjoyed the originality behind the story with the character of Harper, who is very stubborn. You can relate to her. And I liked the revelations that are implied at the end of the volume, which gives us a taste of the next book, which is normally released in May.
Witch & God by Liv Stone
Summary:
Ella is a young, ungifted, playful, bubbly witch living quietly in the human world, where she attends Springfall University. This year, she will once again attend the witch community's festival with her two powerful sisters. But this year is special: the witches and the gods have decided to put an end to the conflict that has been going on between them for decades. To seal this peace, they organize a wedding between a representative of each community.
Ella is outraged to learn that her sister Meroe is the designated witch for this union, and even more so when the master of the gods, Zeus, introduces the future groom: his grandson Deimos, god of Terror. Cold and arrogant, he has the terrible and black shape of the night. Ella can't believe it: there is no way her sister will marry the incarnation of Terror!
But Deimos upsets the negotiations by refusing the fiancée that is imposed on him. He himself designates the bride he has chosen: the ungifted witch no one expected, Ella.
Review:
This book is a favorite. I loved the story, which I find super original, the characters are complex but endearing with a shadowy side, and this book contains all my favorite elements. That is to say: humor, a bit of intrigue, a beautiful love story and a bit of Greek mythology.
I liked the second volume as well, but not as much as the first, although the story is deeper and more complex with more and more stakes being set up nicely for the third volume, which I'm looking forward to reading by the way to see where the plot will lead.
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Summary:
Two years ago, Louise fled her clan and fled to the town of Caesarine where witches like her are feared, hunted, and burned. The young woman has given up magic and now lives on petty theft. As she prepares to steal a rare magic ring, one thing leads to another and everything falls into chaos.
Reid, a Church-sworn hunter, lives his life by one principle: not to leave a single witch alive. His path should never have crossed that of Louise, but a combination of circumstances will bring them together in spite of themselves and force them into an impossible and unexpected union: holy matrimony.
The war between the witches and the Church is long-standing and Louise's dangerous enemies pose a terrible threat. Torn between her growing feelings and her nature, the young woman will have to make a choice between her heart and her reason.
Review:
I had a hard time getting into the story. But once I got into the story, I was immediately hooked. It's full of magic, intrigue and incredible revelations. And I especially liked the third part (which is also the last part if I remember correctly) which has a lot of action and mystery. I'm very eager to read the sequel, both to find out what happens to the main characters but also to stay in this magical world.
The seasons of the storm by Elle Cosimano
Summary:
Having become physical embodiments of the seasons, they must kill each other to survive. What will happen if they unite? One long, cold night, Jack Sommers was faced with a choice: live forever by Gaia's ancient magical rules, or die. Jack chose to live, and in exchange, he became a Winter - a physical embodiment of the season on Earth. Each year, he must hunt the Season that precedes him.
Summer kills Spring. Autumn kills Summer. Winter kills Autumn. And Spring kills Winter. All of this is governed by a macabre ranking that gives the right to promotion or total annihilation. But against all odds, Jack falls in love with Fleur, the Spring who is in charge of eliminating him. To be together, they will have to escape the terrible murderous cycle in which they are trapped.
But their creator will not let them go so easily... A fascinating tale of love, death and friendship.
Review:
This is a very original and innovative story that sets up the seasons as living people with magical powers. They have to follow a rota system, and are not allowed certain rules. And of course, our characters are going to shake up those rules a bit. I enjoyed this story immensely as it took me by surprise. I didn't guess anything and so with each page, I was a little more expectant to know what was going to happen next. It's addictive and I can't wait to read the sequel in May.
The hating game by Sally Thorne
Summary:
The day Lucy meets her new colleague, Joshua Templeman, she can't believe it: he's a knockout! Except that it doesn't take her more than two seconds to discover that he's also cold, cynical, ruthless... absolutely hateful! So when their respective bosses put them in competition for a promotion, Lucy is ready to do anything to beat him. Because, if she wins, she'll be his boss. If he wins... she'll quit. She has no choice but to win. But when, one evening, in the elevator, this traitorous Josh kisses her passionately, she is completely destabilized. Was she wrong about him all along? Or is this a tactic by Josh to make her lose her temper?
Review:
Even though at first glance this is a pretty standard romance, I still enjoyed this story. I found it touching and very funny. It is light, easy to read but on the other hand, it is very easy to guess the ending. What I liked was to see the evolution of these two characters that were thought to be diametrically opposed, but who turn out to be perfect for each other. Also, the movie (released in 2022) respects the book quite well.
My new Top 10:
The last song
Avalon High
A Court of thornes et roses
Book of Ivy
The Mortal Instruments - The Last Hours
Confess
From Blood and Ash
The Bridgerton Chronicles
Lux Saga
The Ruby Red trilogy
Photo Credit : Amélie Marmonier
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