So as I said in an earlier post, it seems like one of my mutuals is asking for book recs every week or two, and being tired of typing out more or less the same selections of books based on their interests, (lies, all lies, I love giving book recs), I decided to create a post with my personal favorites that I can direct their attention to. You have @imherongraystairstrash enthusiastic yes to blame for this if you donāt like it. (Just joking, sheās amazing, any problems you have with this direct it to me) So, to any one of my 91 (how in the hell do I have 91 followers by the way?!?!) followers searching for a book to read, or to anyone who is directed to this (or misdirected, or just stumbles upon this by accident (or fate)), I hope this proves to be of some use.
And also, I never said it explicitly when I was talking about making this, but bar a few notable exceptions, this is going to be mostly YA. Itās also going to focus on some older and less known YA for the most part, considering how much attention the newest and most popular books get, and you have probably already formed an opinion on them one way or the other that I could do nothing to change. If there is significant interest in my opinion on adult or children books, Iāll see what I can wrangle up. And yes, this list is kind of long, but itās hard to chose only a book or two when there are so many good ones that my library has shown me.
So I guess the first place to start off this list would be with two series that straddle the line of the children/YA genre. The Roman Mysteries by Caroline Lawrence and The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede. Both of these series can be enjoyed by readers of any age in my opinion though (except for the itty bitty ones of course).
The Roman Mysteries is about a group of children who, youāve guessed by now Iām sure, solve mysteries, like an Ancient Roman Scooby Gang. But Lawrence isnāt afraid to show what life was like back then, the dark sides and all. She is never patronizing to the reader, and anyone who reads these books will come away with knowledge about the culture of Ancient Rome, about the mixed cultures and religions that make up the Roman Empire at the time, and a bit of Latin as well. She mixes it all astoundingly well and it never feels forced. The books are amazing, and the mains even travel, so you get glimpses of other cultures and places as well! This series is criminally underrated and definitely deserves more attention than it gets. And like I said above, this is a series that can be enjoyed by readers of any age, although depending on personal tolerance for violence, it might be slightly triggering. (In which case I would direct you to the sibling series meant for young readers!)
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles is another series that toes this very fine line. Iām sure you all know the story about how a princess gets kidnapped by a dragon and has to be rescued by a knight, right? Of course you have, itās an incredibly common trope. But how about the princess who runs away to the dragon and tells off any knight who tries to rescue her? Which by the way is how the first book starts. And it goes from there. This series is all about subverting normal fairy tale tropes and it is a great read! Fun fact, the last book was written first, with the first 3 books being written as a backstory, so depending on what edition you have of the 4th book, there will be some differences as changes were made to account for the other books. But because of how (comparatively) old this series is, it is often forgotten and left by the wayside.
So, now that I have given you these two series to start you off with, hereās the list of book recs proper, sorted by genre, more or less.
High Fantasy
So to start off talking about books that belong to this category I have to talk about Tamora Pierce. I could write essays on why you should read all of her books, and on why sheās an amazing human being and writer, but that would defeat the purpose of this list to talk of only one author among many. Instead I will say this; her books defined my childhood. I picked up one series, The Immortals, in an airport and have been hooked ever since. She has two main universes that her books are split between, Tortall and Emelan (Circle). She is unafraid to write about topics that can get brushed aside by many other authors and she creates incredibly diverse casts of characters. Her world building, is bar none, some of the best I have ever seen. She is responsive to fans, and listens to them. When it became clear that many fans were identifying a main character as aroace, she not only said that it was a valid reading, she said it was canon. And considering that Pierce started writing and publishing these books in the 80ās, the fact that there are LGBTQ+ characters in some of the earlier books is remarkable. She is very supportive and for any reader there is a book that they might like. If you like Spy novels, you will love the Trickster series. If you like detective novels, the Beka Cooper series is for you. If you like reading about knights and power struggles, The Lioness series and Alanna stand ready and waiting. Did I mention that almost all of her main characters are girls and women? They are, and in a genre where it is so easy to make female mains a damsel in distress, or to make them one-dimensional, Pierce has never done that. And in the Emelan (Circle) Universe, her characters are even more diverse if that was even possible. With her characters and books you get to watch the characters grow and develop, as you do right alongside them. So seriously, just pick a series, and start reading. You will not regret it! Side note: if you are actually interested, I wrote a more informative guide on where to start here for @immortal-enemies.
Next in this list would be Stardust, by Neil Gaiman. Now this novel has an interesting history, as itās origin lies in a comic mini-series, which was later adapted into a novel sans illustrations, which was then later adapted into a movie (which was quite good). Stardust as a novel and as a graphic novel, is amazing! The story is incredible, moving from this world, into Faerie, and it dances along that line between YA and adult. There is a sex scene in the first chapter, but after that, you are mostly in the clear (unless you abhor violence and bloodshed, in which case, why are you reading fairy tales?). This adventure follows Tristran Thorne as he seeks to gain his hearts desire, where he meets a Star, yes that kind of star, who is in fact a living, breathing, woman, who has unfortunately fallen from the sky. Some people might not enjoy the tale, but it is one of my favorites, and Charles Vessā artwork is not a sight to be missed! And if Iām bringing up @neil-gaiman, this has to be said. He has written books in almost every genre, so if Stardust is not to your taste, that doesnāt mean that you wonāt enjoy one of his other many many books! Coraline for instance, or The Graveyard Book, are definitely more in line with YA, even if they arenāt personal favorites of mine, for all that they are enjoyable reads. So go forth, and look up his books, Iām sure that there is something by him that you will like! (And if you are a fan of comics, just take a look at what heās written there as well! Sandman is incredible and has some of my favorite scenes and lines, and is where one of my favorite characters came from.)
(With one exception to come later, the focus is going to be on individual books and series now, so these should be far shorter.)
The Splintered series by A. G. Howard is a retelling of Alice in Wonderland, and it is a rollercoaster of emotion. Thereās always something waiting around the corner, some twist or turn that will leave you wanting more, and Wonderland, well it isnāt quite what you think, and the characters are always surprising you. But then, what else would you expect from any version of Wonderland? (She also has giveaways occasionally so go check her out if youāre interested!)
Low Fantasy
The Abandon Series by the amazing Meg Cabot is a retelling of one of the most infamous love stories of all time, that of Hades and Persephone. You will binge read this series and not stop for anything if youāre at all like me. These books will lure you in with their dark charm and youāll find yourself not wanting to leave the Underworld by the time the series is finished. (This isnāt the last time sheāll show up on here either!)
The Faerie Path Series by Frewin Jones is an odder series I will grant, taking place bouncing back and forth between two worlds. It stars Anita, or Tania, the daughter of Oberon and Titania, and also of two human parents. It can play a little close to tropes at times, but honestly, thatās half the fun of it. Who doesnāt want to read something easy once in a while? And this series delivers easy reads in spades, while having enough action to satisfy any appetite. (Plus it has enough glitz and glamour to satisfy Magnus Bane!) Seriously though, this series is highly enjoyable.
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida CĆ³rdova is the first book in a series, and features an all POC main cast, and has a strong focus on familial relationships, which is something that can get overlooked in YA books. Itās a bit Alice in Wonderland meets PJO, in the sense that deities are definitely real and have an effect on things. The queer representation in the book is also a very nice plus! I havenāt had a chance to read the further books, but they are near the top of my list.
The Wicked Series by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie is a shorter series, and incredibly convoluted at times, but it is a worthwhile read. Itās a bit on the older side of YA, and while there are some sex scenes in it, I wouldnāt say that they are overly explicit, granted I could be misremembering. Fair warning, itās one of those series that you wind up either loving it or hating; and it can be a bit difficult to get past the first book for some people. If you do though, the story you follow is great, weaving itself back and forth throughout the present and the past. Just be prepared for the cliffhangers.
Iām sure that most people would expect to see the PJO series on here, which is why it isnāt. (Just joking) (Sort of) The Rick Riordan series that I would recommend is the Kane Chronicles. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the PJO and Magnus Chase series it can often be overshadowed by them, especially as there is little interaction between the series. The trilogy focuses on Egyptian mythology, and in my personal opinion, is actually better than the PJO series, but Iāll leave that up to you to decide. We follow the tale of Carter and Sadie, two siblings, who can be possessed by Horus and Isis, and perform magic when not.
The Diviners by Libba Bray is the first book in one hell of a series, set in Prohibition era New York, and as always, Bray is wonderful at researching for historical accuracy! The characters are imperfect, and a mixed group of people that outside of any other circumstances would never have given each other a second glance, but when youāre trying to solve a murder, you work with who will believe you and your psychic abilities, right? And the murderer? Well I wouldnāt read this book in a dark room or at night if your imagination is as overactive as mine is. Side note: She uses a great deal of 1920ās slang, I thoroughly enjoy, some might not.
An Earthly Knight by Janet McNaughton is a retelling of the Ballad of Tam Lin, with the focus being on his lover, Jenny. It sticks very close to the original ballad, simply adding in more details to make it seem more real to life, and history, although it is not entirely historically accurate (for obvious reasons). It is a very enjoyable book, especially if you have an interest in old folk tales and ballads.
Urban Fantasy
Welcome to Bordertown, the newest addition to the Bordertown Anthology series, was edited by Holly Black, and is a great introduction to an older anthology series, with many popular writers and artists involved in this edition. This anthology series takes place in āBordertownā which is nowhere and yet everywhere, and sits on the border of the human world and faerie world. Itās a place where magic and technology mix, not always for the better, and anarchy is the rule of law. This is an incredible collection of stories, and is not to be missed! One of the stories was even written by CC and Holly Black! (Most of you presumably follow me because of TSC)
The Wicked Lovely Series by Melissa Marr is dark. There really is no other way to describe it. Marr delves deeply into building on existing folklore and mythology to create a world were faeries live aside humans, but unseen by most. And if youāve ever read any older folklore on faeries, you know that it can be very disturbing. Marr manages to bring that history fully into this series and create something new but familiar (contradictory, I know). The series, is admittedly, not for everyone, considering that it can trigger some readers, but it is worth at least a glance. Personally speaking for all that I do enjoy the series, there have been moments where I had to put down a book and walk away. Just being honest here folks. I always went back to it after some time. I needed to know what happened next.
The Shades of London Series by Maureen Johnson is about an ex-pat attending a boarding school in London, near Whitechapel. She has a near death experience and wakes up being able to see ghosts. Yes Iām aware of how this sounds, but as usual, the incomparable Johnson manages to take what should be another awful take at an overdone trope and make it nothing short of astounding. Really. Iām not going to spoil how the first book ends, but I will say that I bought the next two and immediately read them. And am now anxiously awaiting the fourth.
The Daughters of the Moon series by Lynne Ewing is almost a prototype PJO series, featuring a diverse cast of female characters. Itās a little like Charmed, or Sailor Moon, maybe? The focus is primarily on the friendships throughout the books, rather than any romantic entanglements, although there are some of those too. Itās aged very well, and I cannot say enough how much you should read this series if you want more kickass girls/women. I would recommend The Sisters of Isis, also by this author, but that series was sadly never finished. (If you do read it please yell at the publisher. Maybe if enough people do the series will get more books!)
The Silver Trilogy by Kerstin Gier is a great addition to anyoneās bookshelves! Take teenagers who can share dreams, add in almost step siblings, and summoning demons into the mix. Thatās not to mention the blood sacrifices, high school gossip, and potential romances. Itās a very successful translation from the original German books.
The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot is a must read! Itās about Suze, who can see ghosts, and has been able to her whole life. When she moves to California, to live with her mom and new stepfather and stepbrothers, she finds that her bedroom is haunted by the ghost of a long dead boy named Jesse. She spends the series solving mysteries, helping ghosts, including discovering what brought Jesse to an untimely end, and the latest (and probably last) book in this series is definitely adult even though the first 6 books are YA. Meg Cabot in general though, is an author who you should definitely go out and read all of her books that catch your eye, because for all that she does mainly write in YA, she does so in a few different genres. (Special shout out for Avalon High!)
The Sweep Series by Cate Tiernan has a very heavy focus on Wicca, and worldbuilding as we see through the eyes of Morgan, who is introduced to magic as an outsider, and becomes part of a world where it is part of everything. This isnāt like HP at all by the way. This was probably one of the first books I read in the YA genre, and I have loved it ever since. There is a large focus on the female protagonists, however the male protagonists (and antagonists) are just as important and fascinating. The antagonists are nuanced, as are the mains, and no one is perfect. The books are on the shorter side of things, but that just means that you can binge read the series more quickly!
I canāt talk about urban fantasy without mentioning Kelley Armstrong. Her YA series, The Darkest Powers, always makes you want more of the series and characters. Not to spoil anything, but the series follows a group of teenagers who reside at a group home for mentally ill teenagers. Not that they are of course, but who wants to tell their supernaturally gifted child that they were part of a group of experiments? These books do take place in the same world as her adult series, Women of the Otherworld, (which is amazing by the way), but you donāt have to read that series to read Darkest Powers.
Historical Fiction
The Gentlemanās Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee is a very popular book about Monty, his sister Felicity, and his best friend (and secret crush), Percy. They are off on a grand tour of Europe when it gets derailed by Montyās actions. The book then turns into a chase across Europe, where you discover Monty and Percyās secrets. This book (obviously) features queer characters, a character with a disability, and Percy is also a POC. The book is a great read, with a wide assortment of characters. Did I mention that itās also only the first book in the series? Side note: Yes Iām aware of the fact that it is a little controversial in certain circles, however I enjoy the book greatly and feel others might as well.
The Lady Grace Mystery Series by Grace Cavendish (supposedly) is a series that is more aimed at the younger side of YA, and is sometimes classified under childrenās books, but honestly, they can be enjoyed by any reader who enjoys mysteries set in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. (Just donāt go into them looking for historical accuracy)
Mystery/Spy
The Gallagher Girls by Ally Carter is a series about a group of girls attending a boarding school. Did I mention that the school is training them to be spies? And yeah, thereās a romance sub-plot, but the real story is about the friendship between four girls and how they save the world. Repeatedly.
The Virals Series by Kathy and Brendan Reichs is so incredibly good. If you have an interest in science, or forensics, this is the book series for you! Itās a little bit sci-fi for reasons that I will leave you to discover rather than spoiling it, but it is actually relatively plausible given what science is capable of. The teens, led by Tory, investigate and solve mysteries and crimes around their home in South Carolina, while dealing with high school and family problems. And the series can be kind of heavy with the science and history, but honestly, speaking as someone who doesnāt really get science, I never minded or thought that there was too much.
One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus has been getting a lot of attention and understandably so. It has everything, murder, secret romances, affairs, a gossip girl style column, and itās all set in a high school. The mystery is who killed Simon? The answer, well, itās one hell of a twist that you probably wonāt see coming unless you grew up devouring mystery books (like I did). Itās a little like Murder on the Orient Express meets Gossip Girl meets Breakfast Club, except that it is set in your average, ordinary high school. So pick it up, you wonāt regret it.
Sci-Fi
Ok, so this is a special shout out because I could not resist. Star Wars books by various authors, but specifically the X-Wing series, are not necessarily YA books, but honestly they can be read by anyone who has an interest in Star Wars. And there are well over a hundred books altogether, the X-Wing series is just my favorite because of Wedge Antilles and Wes Janson. As far as books go, these are part of the Star Wars extended universe, and have comics that go along with these as well, and they are all so incredibly good and add so much more depth to the movies.
Even if Disney did make a huge mistake in deciding that they werenāt canon anymore.
Yub Yub Commander!
Modern
Heist Society by Ally Carter is another incredible series, that takes something that shouldnāt work, and makes it happen. The story centers around a group of teenagers who all grew up raised as thieves, with the exception of Hale, who just joined because it seemed interesting. But they have rules! Think any of the Oceanās movies with teenagers and make it better. Seriously, these books are so funny and will have you gasping for air sometimes. It does discuss some real world information that makes you think, but in a very good way, and is worth making room for on your reading lists!
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart is one of those books that defies any and all explanation. It takes a good hard look at gender politics through the view of Frankie, who attends a co-ed boarding school, and deals with secret societies, politics, and just maybe, feminism. But it makes all of this funny and readable. The dialogue is amazing, and this book will make you think by the time you finish it, about the world we live in.
13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson deserves every bit of praise it has ever received. Who doesnāt like to read about travel, right? But add in a teenager following the last wishes of her dead aunt, with instructions left in little blue envelopes, and you have a winner on your hands. This book, and itās sequel, are both vibrant, however they also make you realize just how precious life is, and why you should take every chance you have to follow your dreams with both hands. Some parts make you laugh, and there are a few parts that will leave you sobbing, but I promise you that every tear shed is worth it.
The Year of Secret Assignments by Jacklyn Moriarty is the book for you if you enjoy humor and pranks, great dialogue, and burgeoning romances between rival schools. We follow the letters and diary entries of three best friends as they enter a pen-pal program, and it is hilarious. Each girl has her own writing style, making it easy to believe that this really is a collection of letters/entries from 3 separate girls.
Genre Defying
Terry Pratchett was an amazing author while he was alive. To not include him on a book recommendation list would be sheer negligence and worthy of criminal charges I do believe. His books do tend to skew more towards the adult side of fiction, but he does have series set in his Discworld Universe aimed at younger readers. His Discworld series, is nothing less than a work of art. It is a parody of fantasy novels in the best way possible. If youāve ever watched Monty Python, you might have a slight feel for his writing already. The best possible way to give you a feel for it is to show you a small clip to watch, here. The constitutional peasant scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail gives you an excellent idea of what youāre in for when youāre visiting the Disc! But seriously, I cannot recommend his books enough, the smaller āseriesā in Discworld give you plenty of choices depending on your personal tastes and there are a ton of guides online that can help you chose the best book for you to start with.
Jennifer Donnelly wrote a masterpiece of a book called Revolution that fits in so many genres, but doesnāt wholly belong to any of them. Itās modern, itās historical, and itās just the slightest bit paranormal. It is also potentially triggering to anyone who has dealt with depression before, so fair warning. When I read this book, I was in a bad place and it saved my life, which I mean quite literally. The ending gave me hope, and let me feel like a better day might come, which it did eventually. The book delves deep into the mind of Andi, who is severely depressed following the death of her younger brother, and we follow her journey, as it mixes with Alexās, who is living in the midst of the French Revolution, and we see their stories collide, and come apart. It can be a little slow moving at times, especially in the beginning, but Donnelly did so much research for the purpose of making this book as accurate as possible, that I never minded it, and the journey was a moving one, even if it makes you cry at times.
Tales of Beauty and Madness by Lili St. Crow is a trilogy of books all taking place in a reality where magic exists, in a slightly post-dystopian society. It is also the only book even remotely related to that genre that you will see me recommend. It could fit in Urban Fantasy, and certainly does, except for that whole post-dystopian tag that it rightly deserves. The series focuses on retelling classic fairytales that we all grew up reading or watching, and it draws quite a bit of inspiration from the original, darker versions. This series can be quite dark at some points, and can certainly trigger some people. But it also deals with issues that are seen in the real world frequently, in ways that are honestly somewhat refreshing. The main characters throughout the three books are all very close friends, and we see that friendship save one of their lives. Yes, there is romance throughout the books, and it features quite heavily, but itās real strength lies in itās elaborate world building. That being said, there are parts of this world that are never quite explained, which would have been nice.
So, if youāre still reading this far down, I would like to thank @hitheresomeoneusingthus-deactiv for helping me edit the beginning, and @thomas-gaypanic-lightwood and @666-notsatan for listening to me rant. @merry-thieves you asked me to tag you in this, and Iām assuming that @beginningistheend14 you would also like to be tagged in this. Hope you found this helpful and to your liking!
