Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Top 5 Fantasy Reads!!

For my Blogoversary I enjoy sharing the Top 5 reads of different genre for the last year, June 1, 2012 through July 1, 2013.  These are the memorable reads with high recommendations from me.  Well worth looking into.

I can only bring myself to do the last year, as trying to figure out the best of all time...yea, no.  I love to many books on all different levels to try and figure that out.

Also, part of what makes this such an amazing thing, is my fellow bloggers.  I love sharing books with fellow bloggers and learning what they have loved to share with me as well.  This is a huge thing with me in the booking community.  I have with me a book lover of Fantasy books.  Sharing their Top 5 reads for the last year as well.

Top 5 of Fantasy!

My Picks, in no particular order:
The Relic by Colleen Helme (Amazon Link)
 I enjoyed reading this duo-logy (this is the second book).  Colleen blended a few interesting concepts into her world, and I enjoyed the characters along with the story of the flame.

The Dragonslayer's Sword by Resa Nelson (Amazon Link)
 I really enjoyed the tale of Dragons and adventures in life and love.

Iron Maiden by Resa Nelson (Amazon Link)
 Astrid learns more of herself, we see and learn more of dragons in this world, and pieces start to slide together with the connections of it all.

Tranquility's Grief by Krista D. Ball (Amazon Link)
 Wow, this story NEVER stopped for me.  Fast action and drew me into the situation at hand.  Loved the whole book and world.

Unlikely by Frances Pauli (Amazon Link)
 A magical story filled with fascinating magic that's layered with a current story and hints of the old Kingdoms lost.  Even finding a place one belongs and the love that blooms.








I've invited Ria of Bibliotropic to share her top reads for the last year.
Bibliotopic's picks:
So, top 5 books I've read between July 2012 and the end of June 2013 (plus some commentary on why I think they're awesome), in no particular order!

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of her Own Making, by Catherynne M Valente. (Amazon link) If you combine the timelss nature of the Narnia books with the fantastical whimsy of Alice in Wonderland, then you'll come close to Valente's Fairyland books. This was my introduction to an awesome world, and I think I'll be reading any Fairyland book that Valente writes from now on.

The Tainted City, by Courtney Schafer (Amazon link) The sequel to her incredible debut, The Whitefire Crossing, this book had me hooked from beginning to end. Then it hooked my roommate. And seems to have thus far hooked everyone I've recommended it to. I'm desperately awaiting the release date of the third and final book of the trilogy. If you want some exciting traditional fantasy with a creative world-building and endlessly intriguing characters, then this is the series to reach for.

The Warded Man, by Peter V Brett (Amazon link) The first in the Demon Cycle series, this book saw me through my first hospitalization, and it was a welcome treat to have at hand. Brett's combination of darker fantasy and diverse characters was exactly what I needed, and I'm really looking forward to continuing the series.

Quintessence, by David Walton (Amazon link) This book is historical fantasy rather than pure fantasy, so it takes place in our world, during the Age of Exploration. Between philosophical debates, attempting to explain magic with the scientific methods of the time, and the interesting world the characters discover and must survive in, this book is one that I think even fans of traditional fantasy would still really enjoy (after all, that's what happened to me).

And finally, Theft of Swords, by Michael J Sullivan (Amazon link). Technically two books in one, Theft of Swords is the first part of the Riyria Revelations, a series that was originally self-published before being taken on by Orbit. I admit, I wasn't too keen on this when I started it. The first book moved slowly, felt ponderous at times, and while the writing was okay, I'd seen better. Then I kept reading. And reading. And by the end, I didn't want to put the book down. The problems I started with faded by the end, and I was amazed at just how much my opinion had changed. Definitely worth reading, if you remember to be a little patient with it at first.

So that's my selection. It was actually hard to narrow things down to just 5 fantasy novels, though it helped by noticing that I'd read way more sci-fi and speculative stuff this past year than I first thought I had. I eliminated over a third of my books right there!


Thank you Ria for joining in with these amazing reads!  I've read two of them, and need to get the other three. :D


GIVEAWAY TIME!!

One winner will get to pick their choice of my top 5.
Open Internationally.
I'll order through Book Depository or Amazon, which ever delivers to you.

18 comments:

  1. Oh I love both these lists. I'd have to say my fave is the shifted world series by Philippa Ballentine. I really like the fantasy world she created with this one.

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    1. Melissa (B&T) I reeeeeally need to get to the second book of Shifter World by Pip. I just neeeeed it! :D Thank you!

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  2. Congratulations!!!!

    I love the series A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE by George RR Martin.

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    1. Mary Preston, Thank you! And I've heard wonderful things about George RR Martin. :) Thank you!

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  3. I have no idea what I would choose if I win *fingers crossed*

    Magician by Raymond E Feist..LOVE

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  4. Just wanted to pop in and say Congrats and Happy Blog B-Day!! :D

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  5. I really want to read Relic and Fairyland looks so cool. Thanks for sharing your top 5 with us, Ria! I entered the giveaway :D Thank you, Melissa. My favorite high fantasy this year was Justice and Surrender by Rhiannon Paille. Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.

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    1. Oh you are so welcome Jaclyn! I hope you get to try out Colleen's series, it's only two books, and I so loved it. :) Thank you for your suggestion too! :D

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  6. Awesome lists, I don't read a lot of fantasy but will read some of these!

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    1. Kimba, oh I hope you get a chance to read a few of these. :) Thank you!

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  7. I actually don't read that much fantasy, but I'm always on the lookout for more, and I see some excellent recommendations here. I think my favorite lately was Written in Red by Anne Bishop. people keep tagging it as UF, but it's really not.

    Thanks for sharing, Mel!

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    1. Thank you Maja! So glad to share some new finds for you. And Written in Red, I'll definitely look into it. I've hear very pleasing things about Anne Bishop's work. :) Thank you!

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  8. I have to confess I've read Game of Thrones in the last year and that just floored me with the scope and ambition of the story that actually was pulled off well!

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    1. Mel, I really need to get to Game of Thrones. I wish I could get caught up enough so I could put the time into it. Wow. Thank you!

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  9. I loved Splintered by AG Howard!

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    1. Makaela, that is a whole new name and author to me. I'll definitely go take a look. Thank you!

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