BookTok Made Me Read These
TikTok was not something I expected to spend so much time on, but it sucked me in and BookTok was a large part of it. With minute-long videos featuring theme music and quotes, my TBR has quickly lost any sense of control. These are some of the titles featured on there that have taken up permanent residence on my bookshelf. These put spins of war and fantasy on your more traditional…
<p>I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for a good Hades and Persephone story. The world set up by Neon Gods is a refreshing spin on familiar gods. Everyone fits the role they’ve been assigned but have their own personality as well. This is a the first in a series, and I look forward to seeing how the other couples vary from their classic counterparts. The adult themes lean more towards "Fifty Shades of Grey" in this book.</p>
<p>Another book that takes elements from classic tales and gives them a spin, bringing a world of faeries and magic to life. There’s war, enemies at every corner, including some you don’t expect. And, at the heart of it is a human girl trying to stay in the world of the living and not lose herself or her heart. A strong start to the series.</p>
<p>When I say I was devastated by the turn of events the start of this book took from where book one ended, I mean I didn’t want to read it for a bit. But, I’m glad I trusted and kept moving forward. Characters introduced in this book are some of my favorites in the series, and part of why I read through the rest of them as fast as I could.</p>
<p>The thrilling conclusion to the initial story started in "A Court of Thorns and Roses." There was laughter. There was crying. There was ugly depression curled up in my blanket trying to cope from the crying. I loved the answers that were given in this book and storylines wrapped up and was even more excited for the ones left to be answered in books to come.</p>
These Vampires Don’t Sparkle
I’ve always been drawn to vampires, studying how the mythology was born and evolved into the media frenzy that surrounded the elusive creatures when "Twilight" came out. These are some of the novels that have stood out from some of the others, particularly for their unique take on vampires. Or unique spin to the world vampires occupy.
<p>Hot off of BookTok, this book is first in a series and debuts two types of vampires, as well as werewolves and some other supernatural delights. The two types of vampires are also at war with one another, one is more traditional and stuck in the dark while the other is golden eyed and loves the sunlight. There is war and love, and most things in between in this tale, and nothing is as it first appears.</p>
<p>Vampires, ghosts, what else is missing from this college town? This is a fairly standard outcast girl goes to the new school, finds friends when she’s true to herself, ends up on the wrong side of some big bad vampires. Classic. What I like about these vampires is they don’t get all pretty when they’re turned. They look the same as when they were human, a nice twist.</p>
<p>Another school setting, this series features two and a half vampire species. Strigoi are the bad vampires, cut off from their souls, and Moroi are the vampires they used to be, still in touch with the magic of the earth. Dhampirs are half human and half vampire, and they protect the Moroi. These stories have politics of a hidden vampire world, different mythos drawn from vampire tales around the world, and of course a forbidden romance or two.</p>
<p>While werewolves and werecoyotes might be the main creatures in this series, you can’t disregard the vampires. This series takes place in Tri-Cities and the surrounding area which makes it particularly exciting to read. It was very cool to be reading and hear familiar land marks and towns mentioned, especially when I was by those places myself.</p>
Read To Me
These are the readers and audiobooks that I come back to time and time again.
<p>The reader for this book–and many of their earlier titles–is Scott Brick. I haven’t found a book yet that isn’t made better when read by Scott. He really shines with mystery adventures such as this one. With a mysterious treasure hunt, a charismatic New York reporter, and enough history lessons to leave you questioning what’s real and fiction, this story is one that draws you in and doesn’t let go.</p>
<p>This has been one of my favorite audiobooks for a long time. I'm pretty sure my family wore out a copy of it once. Nathaniel Parker makes these characters larger than life, even though the majority of them are smaller than the twelve year old leading boy. The play on leprechauns, and their pot of gold, made this book a winner from the start.</p>
<p>I’m not generally a fan of audiobooks read by women; they tend to force their voices too deep when pretending to be men, and it takes me out of the story. Jennifer Ikeda does not do that. She can flow between male and female characters with ease, and does a lovely French accent. This book is all about magic and the power of love in all its forms. Featuring witches, vampires, and a fair amount of history, there is something new I appreciate from it every time I listen.</p>
<p>A very quick audiobook, I get this one every November to help get me in the holiday spirit. Dennis Boutsikaris is just the right reader for this book. There are no frills or excitement, but all the characters come to life. With a good old fashioned rivalry helping to spur conflict along, some classic Christmas carols and the magic of a first snowfall, there’s a little something for everyone in this holiday tale.</p>