Friday 10 May 2019

, , ,

Books I Want to Reread - Fantasy Edition

Books I Want to Reread - Fantasy Edition

This post contains affiliate links.

Titles marked with an asterisk (*) were gifted to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Rereads. I absolutely love them. But being a book blogger, with an ever growing TBR, I don't reread as much as I would like. Most years, I manage to fit in a reread of one series, but I don't get to reread everything. Plus there's the guilt of not read the books I already have, and worrying about what to post on my blog, as most of the time, the books have already been reviewed.

It can be a quandary. Especially as I'm not the fastest of readers. But I do love rereading, so much. The warmth and familiarity that comes with opening up a book where the characters feel like friends, getting to spend time with them again. I know some people don't reread, and don't understand why someone would want to read a book where they already know the story, and everything that will happen. Well, for me, more often than not, enough time has gone by (we're talking years) that I only remember the basic bones of the story, so most of it is new-ish again. Plus there's picking up on things you missed before, or how parts or elements of the book can take on a deeper meaning with time and age and your own lived experience. Or you've read a number consecutively disappointing books, and want to remember what it was that made you fall in love with reading again - or at the very least read a book you know you will enjoy! And sometimes, you're just in a frame of mind - maybe you're ill or having a hard time - when you want to read something comforting, something that will make me feel good, and going back to old, familiar stories can bring you a little joy.

There are so many reasons to reread! And so much joy to be found in doing so! But, as I said, I don't get to do it so often. So I thought I'd share with you some of the books I would most love to reread again. Top of the list would be Drown by Esther Dalseno, The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig*, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor*, but I talk about those books all the time, so it's time for some others.

The Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh EddingsThe Redemption of Althalus by David and Leigh Eddings

It would be sheer folly to try to conceal the true nature of Althalus, for his flaws are the stuff of legend. He is, as all men know, a thief, a liar, an occasional murderer, an outrageous braggart, and a man devoid of even the slightest hint of honor.

Yet of all the men in the world, it is Althalus, unrepentant rogue and scoundrel, who will become the champion of humanity in its desperate struggle against the forces of an ancient god determined to return the universe to nothingness. On his way to steal The Book from the House at the End of the World, Althalus is confronted by a cat—a cat with eyes like emeralds, the voice of a woman, and the powers of a goddess.

She is Dweia, sister to The Gods and a greater thief even than Althalus. She must be: for in no time at all, she has stolen his heart. And more. She has stolen time itself. For when Althalus leaves the House at the End of the World, much wiser but not a day older than when he'd first entered it, thousands of years have gone by.

But Dweia is not the only one able to manipulate time. Her evil brother shares the power, and while Dweia has been teaching Althalus the secrets of The Book, the ancient God has been using the dark magic of his own Book to rewrite history. Yet all is not lost. But only if Althalus, still a thief at heart, can bring together a ragtag group of men, women, and children with no reason to trust him or each other.
From Goodreads.

Book Depository | Wordery | Goodreads

This standalone high fantasy of 913 pages is amazing! I absolutely love David Eddings, the author who had me falling in love with reading when I picked up Pawn of Prophecy when I was 12, and this book is just brilliant! It has everything you could want from a high fantasy, without having to commit to an epicly long series. I love Althalus and Emmy/Dweia, and the four that join them on their quest, and the House at the End of the World whose doors can open to anywhere in the world and any time. Mate, it's just brilliant!

Stray by Rachel VincentStray by Rachel Vincent

There are only eight breeding female werecats left...

And I'm one of them.

I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.

Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.

I'd been warned about Strays — werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female, and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.

This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back... for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever — and whoever — I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays — 'cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them...
From Goodreads.

Book Depository | Wordery | Goodreads

Aaah, I love this series! The Shifters is an urban fantasy series that gives a twist to werewolves - in that there are no actual wolves in this series, but other animals, mainly a family of werecats, people who shift into panther-like cats. This series is just fantastic; it's action packed, addictive and so twisty! But there's also the politics of the various werecat families and how they interact, but also with other species of weres, and how things really differ. Mate, I just love series! I really, really want to reread! And there's the companion series Rachel self-published, Wildcats, which follows some other characters from the Shifters series, the first of which The Lion's Share, I have but haven't yet read!

Belgarath the Sorcerer by David and Leigh EddingsBelgarath the Sorcerer by David and Leigh Eddings

Bestselling authors David and Leigh Eddings welcome readers back to the time before The Belgariad and The Malloreon series. Join them as they chronicle that fateful conflict between two mortally opposed Destinies, in a monumental war of men and kings and Gods.

When the world was young and Gods still walked among their mortal children, a headstrong orphan boy set out to explore the world. Thus began the extraordinary adventures that would mold that youthful vagabond into a man, and the man into the finely honed instrument of Prophecy known to all the world as Belgarath the Sorcerer.

Then came the dark day when the Dark God Torak split the world asunder, and the God Aldur and his disciples began their monumental labor to set Destiny aright. Foremost among their number was Belgarath. His ceaseless devotion was foredoomed to cost him that which he held most dear - even as his loyal service would extend through echoing centuries of loss, of struggle, and of ultimate triumph
From Goodreads.

Book Depository | Wordery | Goodreads

I want to mention Polgara the Sorceress here as well. Both Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress are set before The Belgariad and The Mallorean (the first book of which is Guardians of the West) series, showing us the "legends" of old that we hear about in the other series, but never see. The events that lead up to the start of Garion's story in Pawn of Prophecy. What's brilliant about these two books is that they are actually "autobiographies" - they are both written down by Belgarath and Polgara after the events of The Mallorean. They each have a prologue that is the discussion between the characters we know about them trying to convince both to write their histories, and then we have each character tell us their story. And they're just both fantastic.

Glass Houses by Rachel CaineGlass Houses by Rachel Caine

From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood. Will she be able to face the town's terror or will she drown like everyone else?
From Goodreads.

Goodreads

Aah, I love The Morganville Vampires series! They're so, so good, and just get better with each new book! So action-packed and exciting and clever! And as you read on the lines between who is good and who is bad blur. Your opinions of the prominent secondary characters change so often! Mate, we just don't see much urban fantasy - YA or adult - these days, and nothing like my favourites! A reread is definitely in order.

The Night Circus by Erin MorgensternThe Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern*

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des RĂªves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love - a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
From Goodreads.

Book Depository | Wordery | Goodreads

Oh my god, this book! It is absolutely incredible! It's better, I think, to go in not knowing a huge amount about it, but it's completely enchanting, so captivating, and the descriptions of everything - but especially food - is just so lavish! This book is just so, so beautiful! It blew me away, and I most definitely need to reread.

Magician by Raymond E. FeistMagician by Raymond E. Feist

He held the fate of two worlds in his hands... Once he was an orphan called Pug, apprenticed to a sorcerer of the enchanted land of Midkemia.. Then he was captured and enslaved by the Tsurani, a strange, warlike race of invaders from another world.

There, in the exotic Empire of Kelewan, he earned a new name-- "Milamber." He learned to tame the unnimagined powers that lay withing him. And he took his place in an ancient struggle against an evil Enemy older than time itself.
From Goodreads.

Book Depository | Wordery | Goodreads

Mate, it's been such a long time since I read this, the first book in The Riftwar Saga, that I barely remember what happens. All I do remember is that I loved it! Despite the invasion of an alien race, and of Pug ending up on another world, this is high fantasy, not sci-fi. There's no mention of Tomas or any of the other characters here, as it's really Pug's story, but the narration jumps between several people to show the invasion and the war that follows in Midkemia and in the other world whose name I can't remember. It's pretty epic, and this is only the first book. There are lot of spin off series, too, and I never read them all. Could be cool to jump back in and catch up.

Maresi by Maria TurtschaninoffMaresi by Maria Turtschaninoff

Maresi came to the Red Abbey when she was thirteen, in the Hunger Winter. Before then, she had only heard rumours of its existence in secret folk tales. In a world where girls aren't allowed to learn or do as they please, an island inhabited solely by women sounded like a fantasy. But now Maresi is here, and she knows it is real. She is safe.

Then one day Jai tangled fair hair, clothes stiff with dirt, scars on her back arrives on a ship. She has fled to the island to escape terrible danger and unimaginable cruelty. And the men who hurt her will stop at nothing to find her.

Now the women and girls of the Red Abbey must use all their powers and ancient knowledge to combat the forces that wish to destroy them. And Maresi, haunted by her own nightmares, must confront her very deepest, darkest fears.

A story of friendship and survival, magic and wonder, beauty and terror, Maresi will grip you and hold you spellbound.
From Goodreads.

Book Depository | Wordery | Goodreads

The third and final book in The Red Abbey Chronicles series, Maresi Red Mantle, comes out in June! But it's been a few years since I read Maresi - as Naondel, although book 2, is actually a prequel that shows how  the Red Abbey was formed. Maresi Red Mantle starts where Maresi left off, and I am a little fuzzy about what happens in the first book. So I am in major need of a reread before the third book! But I also just want to reread this book. It was just so awesome! I loved it!

Over to you graphic

Are you a rereader? What books would you most like to dive back into? Have you read any of these, and if so, what did you think? Any you might pick up now? Let me know in the comments!

--
If you enjoyed this post,
please consider buying the book using my affiliate links, and following / supporting me:
Bloglovin' | Twitter | Goodreads | Ko-Fi

1 comment:

  1. The Night Circus is the only book I've heard of on this list, lol. I've reread it and it's just as amazing as the first time.
    Vivien @ Pages of Wonderland

    ReplyDelete