Top 5 Wednesday – Science Fiction and Fantasy on my TBR

This is an amazing topic because I have only recently gotten into fantasy (I’m still mostly not into SciFi, but I’m not against it, per se), and I have SO MANY sitting on my TBR shelf right now! I actually had to put some books back as I was narrowing it down to my top five. And this is just on my physical shelf—I have even more on my Kindle! So yeah—fantasy is on the docket this year.

Here’s a secret, before I get into this list—in general, I like going into fantasy books without much idea of what I’m getting myself into. I don’t like spoilers and I like judging the books on the writing, the worldbuilding, and the storytelling, so I go in pretty blind. Oftentimes, I hear a book is good, or I really want to read the author, and that’s all I know going in. So. With that being said, I’m just going to dive right in by telling you what little I know about the books. Haha.

5. Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones

I’ve heard so many wonderful things about this book! And it’s not very often you find a standalone fantasy YA novel (lots of trilogies; arguably, too many trilogies). Here’s what I know about it:

• It’s a Labyrinth retelling. But I haven’t seen Labyrinth, so…
• It’s written by a diverse lady author, which means I’m all in from the start.
• The cover is gorgeous.

Yeah. That’s literally all I know, and I’m still pumped about it. You’ll see this pattern throughout the post.

4. Shades of Magic trilogy by V.E. Schwab

Pretty much all of V.E./Victoria Schwab’s books are on my TBR, but I find starting a long trilogy daunting. I’ve heard many MANY good things about this one (and also some not so great things), which makes me excited and curious to finally dive into the world. Here’s what I know:

• It’s about two different realms of London. Or something like that.
• The word play in the titles is delightful: A Darker Shade of Magic, A Gathering of Shadows, A Conjuring of Light. I enjoy how the titles make it seem like the world gets brighter as the books go on.
• People die, and readers were wrecked.
• Ms. Schwab is pretty cool.
• The covers are the black, white, and red of my dreams.

3. Witchlands series by Susan Dennard

Honestly, I had heard next to nothing about these books until recently when I started seeing them raved about on booktube. And I happened across the first in the series for cheap on BookOutlet, and then the second one for cheap at a Barnes and Noble sale, so now I have them waiting in the wings! Here’s what I know:

• Witches.
• Impending war.
• Female friendship!!
• WITCHES.

My only concern with starting this series (which you’ll hear me repeat in the next point) has to do with O’Neal’s razor. (If you have no idea what I’m talking about, it likely means I’m nerdier than you – the short answer: Jeff O’Neal founded BookRiot and has a rule that he never starts a series until all the books are published, so he can binge and reach a conclusion.) So what I’m saying is that, according to Goodreads, there are still 2 more books coming with the last one not out until 2019. THAT’S A LONG TIME TO WAIT.

2. An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir

These books strike me as diverse and adventurous and I’m basically just saying words because I know next to nothing about them. They’ve been on my radar since Torch came out because bookish Twitter is all about them. Here’s what I know:

• Sabaa Tahir is one of my favorite Twitter follows.
• She’s another diverse lady author, so I’m ALL IN.
• I’ve heard great things, including a swoony love story.

There is another O’Neal’s razor problem here, because two more books are coming and the last won’t come out until 2019. So. THAT’S A LONG TIME TO WAIT.

1. Grisha trilogy + Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo

I’ve been wanting to read Leigh Bardugo since I dove headfirst into bookish Twitter about a year ago, and since she has quite the volume of works all set in the same world, I’ve been putting her off until I can read EVERYTHING ALL IN A ROW. I’m up to five books. I’ve got to make time soon, or I’m going to psych myself out! Here’s what I know:

• The Grisha trilogy came first and should be read before the Six of Crows duology—there is backstory to the Grishaverse that is skimmed over in Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom.
• The Grishaverse is based loosely on Russia? (I think?)
• LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT SHIPS. (And I’m mean relationships, not boats.)
• Ruin and Rising, the final book in the Grisha Trilogy, broke hearts around the world.
• There is more coming in this universe, which means I have to hurry up and read.
• The edges of the pages of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom are colored and I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
• Also, the covers are gorgeous for all the books.
• I just want to read them so bad.