Tuesday 11 September 2018

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Top Ten Tuesday: Hidden Gems

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme run by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s topic is Hidden Gems.

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

I absolutely loved this magical realism novel that follows several generations in a family, until we get to Ava Lavender, a girl born with wings! It's completely enchanting, with beautiful writing. It's just absolutely wonderful! I don't think enough people talk about it. My review.

A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley

A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley

A Little Wanting Song is an absolutely gorgeous, beautifully written story of grief, friendship, and self-confidence. It's about yearning, about wanting to get out, about wanting to be seen, about wanting a friend, and about how heavy grief lays on a family. On finishing this novel, I felt like this was a rare diamond of a book, and how lucky I was to have read it. And so many more should, too. My review.

5 to 1 by Holly Bodger

5 to 1 by Holly Bodger

This a feminist dystopian novel set in India. Not happy with the import placed on boys over girls, an area of India revolted and created their own country, where women rule and men serve. However, due to the termination of female foetuses in the past, there are more boys than there are girls - five boys to every one girl, in fact. So now, when a girl turns 17, five boys must compete to win her hand. In this book, it's the men who are oppressed, but there is very little choice for young girls, either. They must choose a husband from the five boys risking their lives, they must marry a stranger. It's a really thought provoking read dual narrated by Sudasa and Contestant Five, about how even a world that is a matriarchy isn't better than a patriarchy, and that gender equality is what's needed. But I don't think many have read it? My review.

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Mate, Fury is one hell of a book! Furies are creates that mete out justice for wrong doing. Any kind of wrong, with the worst punishment. Em has started a relationship with her best friend's boyfriend,  and Chase, who plays at being the perfect guy, has done something cruel. Now the furies - three beautiful, mysterious, supernatural girls - are in town, and it's time for Em and Chase to pay. Fury was exciting and fast paced, with twists I absolutely did not see coming. It was just incredible! And I really don't know why I have yet to read it's sequel! I must get on that. While there was some buzz around Fury when it was released, it's not a book that has continued to be talked about, like The Hunger Games, for example. I really think people who haven't yet read this should give it a go, it's just so awesome!  My review.

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Lila has telekinesis - she can move things by looking at them - a power she is trying to keep hidden. But her ability is exposed when she is the victim of a mugging, and runs to the people she know will keep her safe, her brother Jack and his best friend, Alex - who she has been in love with for years. However, Jack and Alex are hunting the man who killed her and Jack's mother, Demos. A guy who has an ability of his own, one that seems to make him unbeatable. This is a fast paced, action packed urban fantasy thriller that was gripping from beginning to end! And it's also chock full of such incredible sexual tension and chemistry! It reminded me very much of Heroes, the TV show. So, so good! Incredibly exciting! Again, there was some buzz when it was released, but it died out. I really wish more people would pick it up. My review.

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Oh, how I love the Elemental series! The series follows the four Merrick brothers who are elementals; each one of them can control a different element. However, they are the strongest of the elementals, and other elementals are scared of them. They must keep their powers in check, or they will be killed. Each book follows a different brother, and is dual narrated by them and a possible, but maybe not, love interest. The first book follows Chris, who can control water, and Becca, who saves him from a beating and discovers his ability - and now she's in just as much danger as the brothers. Not nearly enough people have read these books! They are incredible! Do please pick them up! My review.

The Testament of Jessie Lamb by Jane Rogers

The Testament of Jessie Lamb by Jane Rogers

Oh man, this book was absolutely incredible! As an act of biological terrorism, a virus has been released, but it only affects pregnant people. When someone becomes pregnant, they will die. The future of the population is at stake. The story follows teenager Jessie Lamb as she lives in this world, sees the devastation caused, and makes a choice that could save the human race, but at a great cost. This book is just mind blowing. I don't know of a single other person who has read this book, but more people definitely should. My review.

Don't Let Me Go by J. H. Trumble

Don't Let Me Go by J. H. Trumble

This is a really powerful story of the relationship between two boys in the aftermath following Nate being the victim of a brutal homophobic attack, and Adam moving away for college.Nate is still struggling after what he's dealt with, and no longer has his boyfriend by his side. He's also become jealous and mistrustful of Adam while he's away. It's a really difficult, emotional and upsetting read, but it's an important one, that is also really beautiful in places. It also has one of the most beautiful friendships. Again, I don't know anyone who has read this book, and it's such a shame. My review.

The Culling by Steven dos Santos

The Culling by Steven dos Santos

Maaate! The Culling is an incredibly intense dystopian novel! Lucky has been recruited for training by his totalitarian government. He must compete in a series of violent training competitions with other recruits. The result of losing one of those competitions? One of your Incentives - two loved ones - must die, and you must choose who. When both of your Incentives are dead, you will die if you lose again. This book is brutal! It's fast paced and action packed, and with Lucky falling for one of his fellow recruits, Digory, it adds further tension, because only one of the five recruits will survive to the end. It's just unbelievable, and I don't know why it's not raved about. My review.

The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough

The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough

This is an incredible historical fantasy in which Love and Death meddle in the lives of real people for the sake of a competition. This time, their players are Henry and Flora. Flora is a Black girl who sings in a jazz club, but dreams of being the next Amelia Earhart. Henry is a white boy being brought up by a wealthy adopted family, with a college scholarship. Love and Death bring the two together, feelings develop, and they continue to meddle. Who will win, Love or Death? This is such an awesome idea, and I absolutely loved this story! The characters of Love and Death were a lot more complex than I imagined, and the romance is just beautiful. But with the meddling, you don't know how things are going to end up. A wonderful story! More people should be raving about it, in my opinion. My review.

Over to you! Have you read any of these books? Did you love them? Or are you now going to read them after reading about them here? Let me know! And leave me links to your own Top Ten Tuesday posts!


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8 comments:

  1. I was just screaming about Cath Crowley on someone else's page. She is so awesome! Love all her books.

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    1. She is amazing! I haven't read enough of her books, really. I need to catch up!

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  2. I've been meaning to read 5 to 1 for quite a while---need to pick that up. And I LOVE the Elementals Series. It stands out in my mind as one of my favorite paranormal series of all time for sure!!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Oh, I really enjoyed 5 to 1, and with half of it being in verse, it's a really quick read!

      Aah, the Elementals series is just amazing! I love those books! A great example of how to write fast, action packed books, and fantastic chemistry!

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  3. Ava Lavender is one of my favorite books ever. I loved The Game of Love and Death, too. Neither of those books get enough attention.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. Right? They're both really awesome! Ava Lavender is just gorgeous, and The Game of Love and Death was clever! I loved them both!

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  4. Oh I loved The Game Of Love And Death!! And it's definitely so underrated because I constantly forget about it, oops.😂It should be right up there with The Book Thief! I also really looove Brigid Kememerer's stuff so I don't know why I haven't read the Elemental books yet?! Definitely on the to-do list this year.

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    1. Aah, I adored The Game of Love and Death! It was just so cool and so clever! (I actually wasn't a huge fan of The Book Thief, but shhh.)

      Ooh, I really hope you enjoy the Elemental series! They're pretty different from her contemporary stuff, being urban fantasy, but they are so exciting! I would love it if you loved them, too!

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