1. 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's committed the irreparable act of 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 Great Fae Lord, treats her like a princess.
And what is this evil that is eating away at the kingdom and threatening to spread to that of mortals?
Clearly, Feyre is no mere prisoner. But how could a young human of such humble origins come to the aid of such powerful lords?
Her freedom, in any case, seems to be at stake.
Why?
I discovered this saga a little late but OMG I loved it. It's become one of my favorites. The story is incredible, the invented world is magical. It's just a work of art.
And aside from the story, what makes the books so great are the characters. They're wonderful. The author offers us the most addictive story ever, with a magnificent universe.
My preference is for the second volume, where we meet the best characters in the saga.
2. The Folk of the Air by Holly Black
Summary:
Taken from the mortal world as a child, Jude lives among the Fæ, sublime, immortal creatures... and cruel. But being human in Terrafæ is a constant challenge. Knowing how to wield a sword, mastering its uses and protecting oneself from spells is not enough. All the more so as Jude has made an enemy of choice: Prince Cardan, heir to the crown. To earn his place at court, to truly belong to this land of magic, Jude must defy him, whatever the consequences.
Why?
Simply because of the universe and the characters. The dynamic between Carden and Jude, their pique. It's incredible and hilarious. A true ennemy-to-lovers.
Otherwise, the story is gripping. It's full of secrets and betrayals. You can't trust anyone in this book, ahah. But that's what makes it so addictive.
Plus, I got to meet the author in Paris.
3. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
Summary:
Trained in the arts of war, espionage and seduction, Lara is the secret weapon of her father, the King of Maridrina. Two certainties guide her steps: King Aren of Ithicana is her sworn enemy, and it's up to her to bring him to his knees.
In a world ravaged by savage storms, the bridge that crosses Ithicana is the only trade route, and Ithicana abuses this power to enrich itself at the expense of its bloodless neighbors. Under the pretext of honoring a peace treaty, Lara must marry King Aren... and breach the defenses of this impregnable bridge.
But as she gets to know this dangerous and bewitching place - a lush Eden surrounded by tumultuous seas - and the man who rules it, she questions everything she thought she knew.
Lara will have to choose her own destiny: will she be a king-killer or the savior of a people?
Why?
Wow! This book is a marvel. I fell in love with the story, the plot and, above all, the characters.
First of all, you get straight into the story. From the very first chapter, we're taken right to the heart of the matter with some unexpected action that sets the tone for the story. No time for nonsense, we're already down to business!
And the story is well-crafted. It's easy to guess how it's going to end for our heroes, but that didn't bother me too much.
Then there are the characters. I loved Lara. She's strong and courageous. Aren is just about the most generous man I've ever seen. And I love him. I loved the verbal jousting they did. It was incredible!
4. Lightlark by Alex Aster
Summary:
The Centennial begins...
To break the curse, one of them must die.
Every hundred years, the cursed island of Lightlark reappears to host the Centennal, a murderous competition in which the rulers of the six neighboring kingdoms are invited to take part. Invited, or rather forced, because this is their one and only chance to break the curse that has been plaguing their respective peoples for nearly five centuries, irreparably corrupting their powers. Each of the six adversaries has something to hide - all the more so as, as they all know, to dispel the curse, one of them must die.
Isla Calys reigns over the Savages, a people of tempters condemned to kill whomever they fall in love with. Feared and despised, all are counting on their sovereign to put an end to their ordeal by winning the Centennial. But the young queen is hiding a terrible secret. To survive, she'll have to cheat, deceive and betray... even when love finally enters the picture.
Why?
This book is incredible. From the very first pages, I was gripped by the story and knew I was going to love it right to the end.
We're caught up in an incredible, well-described universe. It's full of mysteries that we want to discover alongside our heroine Isla. A heroine I loved 100%. She's strong, courageous and willing to do anything to save her people. She makes mistakes, but that's precisely why I liked her so much.
I also really liked the other characters. Not least because they're so different from each other, but with a common goal: to break their curses.
Lightlark has everything I love: a mysterious, magical world, strong, deep characters, lots of action, a little romance, lots of secrets and betrayals you never see coming.
5. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Summary:
Simon Snow hates back-to-school. His girlfriend is breaking up with him; his favorite teacher is avoiding him; and Baz, his insufferable roommate and sworn enemy, has disappeared. The fact that he's at Watford Magic School doesn't make much difference. Simon has nothing, but really nothing, of the Chosen One. And yet, he has to move on, because life goes on...
Why?
A real favorite! I loved this book. The story is a bit like Harry Potter, but I really appreciated the differences. The characters of Simon and Baz are really endearing. They are the real strength of this book. So much so that I couldn't put the book down without knowing what was going to happen to them.
Photo Credit : Amélie Marmonier
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