Top 5 Tuesday || Books I’m Glad I Read

Some books never leave you, and it’s for the very best.

Thanks to Meeghan @ Meeghan Reads, today I get to celebrate some of the books I’m glad I read! These five titles are hardly an inclusive list, but they do mark some of the books that have made the most profound impact on me lately. I can’t imagine where I’d be as a reader without them, and I suspect I’ll revisit them all more often than others on my shelves!

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab (Shades of Magic #1)

While it’s been ages since I read A Darker Shade of Magic, despite every promise I’ve made to reread it, it still holds a special place in my heart. The worlds, the magic, the characters all enchant me so deeply, and I also used it as a pillar in my senior thesis. Even if I reread it some day and find that my opinion has changed to some degree, I suspect I’ll always still love it.

Plus, V.E. Schwab has some of my favorite prose in the world. I aspire to write with a fluid grace like hers someday, and appreciate the time and effort that goes into fitting the words together so beautifully.

 

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (The Locked Tomb #1)

I didn’t read Gideon the Ninth right when it came out, mostly because I didn’t have a copy, but also because Twitter opinion seemed pretty divided. People seem to either love or hate this book based on how willing they are to forgive an unusual tone for adult sci-fi and their tolerance for suspension of disbelief.

And since I’m game to try most things once if they’re adjacent to things I already like, I gave it whirl.

Thank goodness I did, too, because Gideon Nav is a snarky and terrible and bold and ridiculous protagonist, and I love her deeply. She’s unexpected in so many ways, and also gets some wildly entertaining dialogue.

What can I say? Sharp banter and big swords are charming.

 

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa (Shadow of the Fox #1)

Shadow of the Fox was the very first ARC I ever received, way back when Hail & Well Read was still The Words Gremlin! Not only is it a solid, adventurous read, but it’s a reminder of where I started. Underneath all the jokes and such, I suppose I’m just a mushy, sentimental lump.

Can you blame me for it, though?

(Also, Shadow of the Fox has a distinctly anime feel to it, given the expanding cast and fight scenes. It makes it vibrant and fun in a way I can’t quite describe. Check it out if you haven’t!)

 

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

THIS BOOK, FOLKS. Sentient libraries, sword fights, unusual magic, and a slowburn romance featuring an arguably demisexual and definitely bisexual love interest? Also a demon who sometimes disguises himself as a super fluffy kitty?

Honestly, Sorcery of Thorns is a masterpiece in every way, from the delightful banter, the rich world-building, and the amazing way it captures an entire plot in a single book. Easily one of the best stand-alone books I’ve read in a long time, I can’t recommend it enough.

Though if it ended up with sequels, or even not-sequels set in the same world, I sure wouldn’t complain! Why would I, if it means more library action and magical danger?

 

Lobizona by Romina Garber (Wolves of No World #1)

Easily one of my favorite reads this year, I will push Lobizona at pretty much anyone who will listen. Romina Garber tackles so many things so deftly, and I remain in awe of the way she built up her cast. One by one, you come to love these characters and their conviction in building a better future. You learn to adore the magic they wield, and the boundaries they dismantle.

And on top of it all, Lobizona proves to be such a beautifully fresh take on werewolves.

It’s a book that blends the mundane with the magical in such exciting ways, and I’m so grateful that I read it!

 

I wish I could list all the books I’m glad I read, but that would end up being a long list. We’ll just have to settle for these five instead, and hope it gives you at least some picture of the kinds of stories I’m most enamored with!

What about you? Do we share any titles on our lists? Do we (gasp) disagree at all? Let’s chat!