Sometimes, you just need a book to leave you reeling for a little while.
That’s why this week, the Top 5 Tuesday topic from Shanah @ Bionic Bookworm Blog is all about books that caused a major reading hangover! They seem few and far between, but they’re each a gem in their own right. I love them because they left me wanting even more, so much that I wasn’t willing to move onto another book right away!
Even if I had to keep reading, because I refuse to let ARC deadlines get the better of me.
So, which books have hit me the hardest? Let’s go down the list!
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
I talked a little bit about it on Twitter, but there’s one scene in this book that emphasizes the importance of total trust and platonic love in a friendship, and it made me cry. Keep in mind that I’m also not much of a crier, and you might start to understand why I stumbled out of this book all too ready to stumble right back in. It hit me at a point where I was feeling really despondent about the state of my own friendships and what long distance might do to them, and the idea of being so completely loved and trusted bowled me over like nothing else.
Also, this is an 800+ page beast about dragons, an f/f royal/bodyguard ship, and unwavering hope and determination in the face of the apocalypse, which is everything I crave ever. The Priory of the Orange Tree targeted me specifically, and I haven’t decided if I forgive it for doing so (just kidding, I totally do and welcome Samantha Shannon to do it again).
Read my review here, if you’re so inclined, and join in major reading hangover land!
Descendant of the Crane by Joan He
It makes me sad to see the hype around Descendant of the Crane vanish now that it’s been out for a while, because it was outstanding. Even more odd, it’s only a standalone for now, and I’m baffled that more people didn’t push to show their support to publishers, emphasizing that yes, people want to read a sequel, because it was that good. Murder? Family secrets? A stunning cover? Brilliant prose? Essentially, everything about Descendant of the Crane was a masterpiece, and I need more of it. I also need my own copy. And a copy in my local library.
If you want more details, be sure to check out my ARC review here!
The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson (Truly Devious #3)
A recent read, and one I needed almost a week to recover from, The Hand on the Wall closes out the Truly Devious trilogy with a bang. Literally. If you’ve read it, you know what I’m talking about. And if you haven’t, don’t worry about it; there’s plenty of time to get there.
Anyway, we finally get all the answers to the Truly Devious mystery. Better yet, I discovered that my initial guess about the riddle from the first book was right, albeit in a roundabout way! I left the series feeling vindicated and at ease about the conclusion, and tempted to reread the series so that I can put together all the pieces I missed the first time around!
For now, though, I’ll just reread my review and gush over how delightful a conclusion it was. 10/10, would recommend for a major reading hangover again.
Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
This book. Oh, this book. I knew I was going to love it from the premise alone, and the knowledge that it had an f/f ship front and center. But what really knocked me off my feet was the asexual representation. Reading Sawkill Girls was the first time I can remember feeling truly represented, well and truly seen, and that feeling still lingers in the warmest way.
Also, how do you follow up a read about creepy islands and demonic presences and abuses of power? Nothing else had the potential to be satisfying until I cooled my heels a bit.
Want to know more about that ace rep and how good it was, though? You can read that review right here!
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab (Shades of Magic #3)
Ah, the T5T tradition at Hail & Well Read: sticking a Schwab book on the list. But A Conjuring of Light earned its spot like all the rest. It remains one of the strongest finales I’ve ever consumed, book or otherwise, tying all the threads together and cutting them off in neat, bloody knots. It’s stunning and emotional and beautifully crafted in the ways that matter most to me, and I’m still not over it. Combine my deep attachment to this book with the fact that I’ll be cosplaying Lila Bard later this year (cue internal screaming oh my god I’m not cool enough for this but I’m doing it anyway), and it’s high time I reread the entire Shades of Magic trilogy. Just so all the emotions punch me for the second time.
If you have the ACoL reminiscence bug, you might want to stop by my review of it here!
Do we have any bookish hangover sources in common? What is it in a book that makes you want to linger? Let’s chat about your books that caused a major reading hangover!