I’ve always been a fan of reading, and over my many years of digesting books at an alarming rate, I’d like to say that I have collected a decent sample of book suggestions. Whenever people ask me for a book to read, I immediately want to know what they are looking for. A series? A stand-alone novel? Romance, or adventure? I’ve gathered here some of my go-to selections, books that I find myself re-reading or reminiscing about regularly. So whether you’re dying for a quick read, or looking to get into something for the long-haul, hopefully there’s something here for you.
The Stormlight Archive
I told myself when I started drafting that I wouldn’t put just Brandon Sanderson books, so when forced to choose I’d pick this series anytime. It may seem daunting at first-a five book collection of over 6,000 pages total, but trust me when I say that they never seem like enough. The Stormlight Archive is high-fantasy at it’s finest, my first thought when I think of the genre. As of writing this article, I’m still chipping away at the latest release, Wind and Truth, and I cannot wait to see how it ends.
The series starts with The Way of Kings, this first book focusing on four central points of view. Kaladin Stormblessed, a former army captain turned slave after a man he admired betrayed him. Kaladin must do his best to survive now as a bridgeman, forced to run into battle, helping to carry one of the bridges that the army needs to traverse the chasms of the Shattered Plains. Dalinar Kholin, brother to the recently assassinated king and uncle to the current monarch, is grappling with his role in the current war, contemplating if the kingdom of Alethkar is fighting the wrong battles. His son, Adolin, must confront his feelings and decide to stand by his wavering father or continue to fight as he has been. And lastly, Shallan Davar, a burgeoning scholar, is seeking an apprenticeship under Jasnah, the sister of the Alethi king, seeking a powerful relic that will aid her struggling family.
Throughout the five novels, wars will be waged, allies won and lost, old systems of lost magic will return, and the world will either unite to defeat a common threat, or fall under the pressure of an omnipotent foe.
One of my favorite aspects of this series is the way the scope changes. It begins zoomed in on a few key regions of the world. As it progresses, more characters are introduced, political allies are made all over the continent, and the world opens up in a way I haven’t seen any other series replicate. If you enjoy fantastic world building, characters with depth and passion, and a plot that promises a conflict of cosmic proportions, this series is for you. And now is the perfect time with begin, with the first half of the series finished and ready to devour.
The Dresden Files
If a 1,000 page book is a little too daunting for you, may I suggest the Dresden Files, which centers on Harry Dresden, Chicago’s one and only wizard for hire. Set primarily in and around Chicago Illinois, each book finds Harry confronted with a new case to solve, often involving vampire families, courts of scheming fey, fallen angels, and more. Harry works with various allies like Karrin Murphey, a cop in Chicago’s Special Investigations department, Bob, a spirit of intellect inhabiting a magical skull, Thomas Wraith, a vampire of the white court, and Michael Carpenter, a holy knight wielding a sword blessed by god. And he needs all the help he can get, with the stakes raising with each and every adventure.
Each book has its own contained mystery, with an over-arching plot that spans over the course of seventeen novels. This series is easy to devour one book at a time, following Harry as he learns the secrets surrounding his past, the increasing threat of otherworldly beings simply referred to as ‘Outsiders’, and his role to play in the future to come.
I’m a huge fan of how Jim Butcher incorporates a variety of magical lore, creatures from cultures across the globe, and confronts religion, belief, and the power behind one’s beliefs. Harry can go from facing werewolves and mischievous fairies in one book, to fighting alongside bigfoot and misunderstood succubi in the next.
The Dresden Files is the perfect blend of mystery, romance, magic, humor and more. There are plenty of novels already released, and with the series getting closer to its final mystery, now is the perfect time to begin your journey.
An Enchantment of Ravens
If you’re looking for something a little simpler and sweeter, An Enchantment of Ravens is a lovely romantasy novel that I return to again and again and again. I’m a sucker for any novel with a focus on fae, and having an awkward but incredibly endearing faerie prince as the romantic lead can never go wrong. This book has everything I felt A Court of Thorns and Roses was missing, with a more traditional take on faerie lore and a relationship that is mutual and is much less… problematic.
The novel follows Isobel, a talented portrait artist whose commissioners are almost all faeries, and Rook, the prince of the autumn court who hasn’t been seen by humans for hundreds of years. As Isobel works on Rook’s portrait, the pair begin to fall for one another, a romance that they both know would spell disaster.
When Rook spells Isobel in the middle of the night over a misunderstanding, both her safety and his position as the autumn prince will be in danger, as the summer lands begin to rot and the fae of winter begin to hunt them down. Isobel will need to change the world she’s been flung into, but how can a mere mortal change something as eternal as the seasons and the fae who dwell within them?
I think one of the best parts of the book is the way it integrates traditional fae lore and asks questions about its limits. Fae cannot lie directly, but how can they skirt the truth? Does iron have the power to undo the fae as well as simply harm them? Who is more inferior, the humans who are frail but can create and change, or the fae, who are near immortal and constant?
I absolutely love this book and find myself coming back to it every year or so. I’ve never gotten tired of it, enjoying the characters and the world they inhabit. I’d do anything for another novel within this setting, but I’m satisfied with the tale Margaret Rogerson tells in this stunning novel.
World War Z
I very recently read World War Z in my book club, and I was astounded by how incredible it was. I listened to the audio book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys zombie stories, anthology collections, or audio books with an incredible cast and production. I finished this book in a single day, unable to help myself as I got swept into the world that mirrors our own. Max Brooks does a phenomenal job predicting what the world could become, should we be faced with an incurable zombie outbreak.
This narrative is told through a variety of interviews from a variety of witnesses. The narrator interviews people from all around the world, including a doctor who suspects that infected organ transplants may have helped the initial spread, a girl whose parents fled with her to the mountains of Canada, where their encampment had to resort to cannibalism, an American soldier who was a part of the initial flawed battles and the eventual sweep to clear zombies from the US, and even a self described otaku, who needs to traverse through a massive apartment complex in Japan.
Max brooks shies away from nothing, exploring social, political, and environmental impacts that are highly plausible. He dares to ask what countries would resort to, how governments will act and change, who will ally with whom, and what kind of world will emerge from this conflict. I thoroughly enjoyed his speculations and insights, and had no trouble picturing the world he created.
One of my favorite parts of this novel is that the interviews are happening after the threat has been mostly neutralized, with the interviewees recounting their experiences. Having the juxtaposition of a post-war setting with a war time narrative allows the reader to connect the dots between past, present, and potential future. Anyone who is interested in zombie apocalypse worlds and dystopic settings should definitely check this one out.
Tress of the Emerald Sea
My last book here is one I have seen on many people’s lists, and for good reason. Brandon Sanderson outdid himself with Tress of the Emerald Sea, a seafaring adventure that plays around with reversing the roles of the gallant gentleman and the damsel in distress.
When the protagonist, Tress, learns that her romantic interest Charlie has been taken by the Sorceress, a mysterious dark resident of the Midnight Seas. Tress decides to go to his aid, unaware of the magnitude of the dangers that are between herself and her beloved. Magical spore, pirates, and even dragons behold Tress, as she is aided by a talking rat, Huck, Hoid, a man gone mad after encountering the Sorceress, and various other charming members of her newfound crew.
Tress’s journey and development are wonderful to behold, as she masters what used to frighten her. She learns to believe in herself and be proactive, knowing that she is the only one coming to Charlie’s aid. The narration is a treat, being full of fourth wall breaks, subtle jokes and innuendos, and references to other books within Sanderson’s Cosmere universe.
If anyone is interested in jumping into the Cosmere, but is unsure where to start, this is my suggestion. It’s full of hints and teases other worlds and magic systems without being overwhelming or dauntingly long. It also stands on its own, giving the reader a resolution and full plot in one novel, rather than half a dozen epic tomes. Tress is charming, hilarious, and endearing like no other book I’ve read, perfectly suited for those looking for some whimsy and magic.
There are dozens of other books I could add to this list, but this is my current selection of must-reads. If you’re interested in more of my thoughts, feel free to check out our book club collection, or take a peek at my reviews on Goodreads. Happy reading!
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