1. Golden Son - Red Rising Trilogy
The follow up to Red Rising easily surpasses its predecessor in every facet. Darrow and his companions are force to take on all new roles in the real world politics of their society, with a variety of stratagems playing themselves out across the canvas of our solar system. From Arcosian insults to Obsidian mythology, Pierce Browns' world continues to elevate itself with interesting paradigms and subtle glances into our own history. Golden Son is a fantastic read, and if you haven't already, you should definitely give this glorious book a read!
2. A Thousand Pieces of You - The Firebird Series
The first in what might be a very popular series for young adults, A Thousand Pieces of You is a compelling story about one girl on a mission to catch her parents murders. While straight forward as far as plots go, the story becomes significantly more complicated when our heroine is forced to travel between alternate dimensions in order to pursue the assailant. Caludia Grey, expertly crafts a story that brings together all the angst of youth and the bittersweet truths of human nature. A Thousand Pieces of You is a novel that is sure to capture the attention of any young person that picks it up.
3. The Magicians
Frankly, the television series that recently started back in January does this book and its follow ups no favors whatsoever. Lev Grossman's The Magicians has to be one of the most interesting takes on a magical world that I have ever experienced. Consider Harry Potter combined with Narnia and then give the mix a harsh adult twist reminisce of a Stephen King work and you'll have something that comes close to what The Magicians is all about. Like many of us, the protagonist, Quentin Coldwater has loved and has wanted to believe with all his heart that magic is real. Unlike many of us, Quentin's wish comes true and he soon finds himself whisked away to the prestigious Breakbills College, where many aspiring young magicians attempt to hone their craft away from the prying eyes of the normal world. Naturally, not everything is as it seems at Breakbills and soon Quentin finds the gift of magic far more burdensome than one might expect. A book that really puts across the harsh realities that might come with having magic, The Magicians is an foray into a brand new world of magic.
4. Seven Princes - Books of the Shaper
Seven Princes is a book that is particularly close to my heart. The depth of the characters, the intelligence of the writing and the overall conception of the world were all powerful drawing factors. With seven "main" characters and a host of "subordinate" characters, one might perceive Seven Princes to be a difficult or arduous read. However, John Fultz has done a stand up job of writing an epic saga in a manner that is easily accessible for reader's averse to small fonts and aggressively overlapping storylines. Combine this with the some very cool, very zen magic, and the Seven Princes becomes one of those books that you can't put down until you've spotted the final punctuation mark on the last page.
5. Lord of Chaos - The Wheel of Time Series
For those of you that don't know, I had never read the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan until about two years ago. Since then, I have been carefully reading through each of his books, and the Lord of Chaos has to be one of his best works. Following all the tribulations of The Fires of Heaven, Rand and his friends now find themselves face to face with truly hard decisions about their potential futures, and the futures of the land and its peoples as well. However, with his own power still threatening to overwhelm him, Rand is faced with all manner of temptation and evil as he attempts to force destiny and prophecy to work for him rather than the other way around. If you haven't read the Wheel of Time series, I would recommend that you dive into the masterpiece written by Robert Jordan. It is one of the most glorious of reads, and truly holds up to its title as a classic of fantasy literature.
6. The Emperor's Blades - Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne
Brian Staveley is a genius. That's really all there is to it. The man has to be one of the most incredible authors I have ever had the pleasure of reading. From the carefully crafted world of the Unhewn Throne, to the vast depths of the characters and plot, Brian Staveley has created something that inspires awe and leaves readers leaping to find the next book in the series. Following the death of the Annurian Emperor, it becomes glaringly apparent that his death is no simple matter, and dark forces are at work within the Annurian political spheres. To make matters worse, the later emperor's three children are spread out across the empire, each engrossed in their own training with little to no knowledge about the events surrounding their father's death. Under the circumstances one might expect a lot of political maneuvering and Machiavellian dealings, however Brian goes far above and beyond this. The Emperor's Blades employs asceticism, wilderness survival, and deep seated mystery to enthrall readers into the world of the Annurian Empire. Even if you've read this book, it seems to only get better with repeated reads!
7. Endgame: The Calling
This series has to be one of the most unique series in the world. What makes Endgame so interesting is not only the sheer complexity of the story and the gorgeous character development, but the fact that this sort of book could not have existed two decades ago. Endgame tells the story of twelve bloodlines, each selected to raise a young champion to fight for the continued existence of them and the world as we know it. While this premise might seem shallow and overdone, James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton breath new life into this survival game themed series. Did I mention that there is also a prize associated with the series? Endgame employs transmedia storytelling in order to get as many people involved in the story as possible. What this means is that for those of you that read the book, visit the url links and are capable of some very serious puzzle solving, you could potential get flown out to Las Vegas and awarded $500,000 in gold. For those of you who are nonbelievers, you need only go to Caesar's Palace in Vegas to see the gold for yourself. Happy hunting!
8. A Short History of Nearly Everything
Understanding science can more often then not seem like one of the most arduous of undertakings. This book by Bill Bryson definitely aids in expediting the whole process of learning about quantum physics in a tone that is both deeply insightful and charmingly witty. Covering a wide variety of topics, A Short History of Nearly Everything seeks to educate readers about ... everything. From the finest of particles that make up our world to theoretical laws and premises we know surround and make our very lives possible, Bryson does a number on making these topics extremely accessible to the casual reader. If you've ever wanted to really understand some of the more complex theories and theorems, but didn't know where to start, this book is a gem that will definitely get you on your way to understanding the world around you a little better.
9. Making Money
Rest in Peace, Terry Pratchett. If you don't know about Pratchett's Discworld novels then you have truly been missing out on one of literature's most charming and witty storytelling series ever written. Though the master himself has passed on, his works continue to speak for themselves and you really can't help but laugh when you read his books. Making Money is the second book following character Moist von Lipwig, a former con man in the midst of really trying to turn his life around for the better. Regrettably for Moist, he's been put in charge of both the Royal Mint and the bank next door. The only problem is that both institutions are a disgrace to good banking sense, architectural ambiance, and are running at a very serious loss. Unfortunately, Moist's troubles don't start and stop with his new gig as the head of the bank and the Royal Mint. He'll have to save his girlfriend from a three hundred year old wizard, put down whatever is lurking around in his cellar, fight off the Assassin's Guild, overcome potential fraud charges AND take the Chairman out for his daily walk before he can even think about getting started on anything else. Who said Making Money was going to be easy?
10. Rokka no Yuusha
This Japanese lightnovel series was recently turned into an anime. It didn't take more than six episodes of the anime to get me interested in the mystery of Rokka no Yuusha, or Heroes of the Six Flowers in English. As is in the title, Rokka no Yuusha follows six individuals all of whom are selected by the Goddess of Fate based on their potential skills and abilities in order to suppress the threat of the Demon God's revival. In order to recognize one another, the heroes are each blessed with a crest marking them as the Goddess' chosen ones as the time for the revival draws closer. Once endowed with their crest, each of the heroes then make their way to a historically preordained location in order to take stock and prepare to fight the Demon God. Imagine how quickly the entire relationship between these heroes deteriorates when seven people show up instead of only six. With each member of the team claiming to be a true Hero of the Six Flowers, the group quickly falls into chaos as each member attempts to prove their innocence and expose the true liar within their ranks. Rokka no Yuusha is a must read for anyone interested in truly enthralling mystery stories.
The follow up to Red Rising easily surpasses its predecessor in every facet. Darrow and his companions are force to take on all new roles in the real world politics of their society, with a variety of stratagems playing themselves out across the canvas of our solar system. From Arcosian insults to Obsidian mythology, Pierce Browns' world continues to elevate itself with interesting paradigms and subtle glances into our own history. Golden Son is a fantastic read, and if you haven't already, you should definitely give this glorious book a read!
2. A Thousand Pieces of You - The Firebird Series
The first in what might be a very popular series for young adults, A Thousand Pieces of You is a compelling story about one girl on a mission to catch her parents murders. While straight forward as far as plots go, the story becomes significantly more complicated when our heroine is forced to travel between alternate dimensions in order to pursue the assailant. Caludia Grey, expertly crafts a story that brings together all the angst of youth and the bittersweet truths of human nature. A Thousand Pieces of You is a novel that is sure to capture the attention of any young person that picks it up.
3. The Magicians
Frankly, the television series that recently started back in January does this book and its follow ups no favors whatsoever. Lev Grossman's The Magicians has to be one of the most interesting takes on a magical world that I have ever experienced. Consider Harry Potter combined with Narnia and then give the mix a harsh adult twist reminisce of a Stephen King work and you'll have something that comes close to what The Magicians is all about. Like many of us, the protagonist, Quentin Coldwater has loved and has wanted to believe with all his heart that magic is real. Unlike many of us, Quentin's wish comes true and he soon finds himself whisked away to the prestigious Breakbills College, where many aspiring young magicians attempt to hone their craft away from the prying eyes of the normal world. Naturally, not everything is as it seems at Breakbills and soon Quentin finds the gift of magic far more burdensome than one might expect. A book that really puts across the harsh realities that might come with having magic, The Magicians is an foray into a brand new world of magic.
4. Seven Princes - Books of the Shaper
Seven Princes is a book that is particularly close to my heart. The depth of the characters, the intelligence of the writing and the overall conception of the world were all powerful drawing factors. With seven "main" characters and a host of "subordinate" characters, one might perceive Seven Princes to be a difficult or arduous read. However, John Fultz has done a stand up job of writing an epic saga in a manner that is easily accessible for reader's averse to small fonts and aggressively overlapping storylines. Combine this with the some very cool, very zen magic, and the Seven Princes becomes one of those books that you can't put down until you've spotted the final punctuation mark on the last page.
5. Lord of Chaos - The Wheel of Time Series
For those of you that don't know, I had never read the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan until about two years ago. Since then, I have been carefully reading through each of his books, and the Lord of Chaos has to be one of his best works. Following all the tribulations of The Fires of Heaven, Rand and his friends now find themselves face to face with truly hard decisions about their potential futures, and the futures of the land and its peoples as well. However, with his own power still threatening to overwhelm him, Rand is faced with all manner of temptation and evil as he attempts to force destiny and prophecy to work for him rather than the other way around. If you haven't read the Wheel of Time series, I would recommend that you dive into the masterpiece written by Robert Jordan. It is one of the most glorious of reads, and truly holds up to its title as a classic of fantasy literature.
6. The Emperor's Blades - Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne
Brian Staveley is a genius. That's really all there is to it. The man has to be one of the most incredible authors I have ever had the pleasure of reading. From the carefully crafted world of the Unhewn Throne, to the vast depths of the characters and plot, Brian Staveley has created something that inspires awe and leaves readers leaping to find the next book in the series. Following the death of the Annurian Emperor, it becomes glaringly apparent that his death is no simple matter, and dark forces are at work within the Annurian political spheres. To make matters worse, the later emperor's three children are spread out across the empire, each engrossed in their own training with little to no knowledge about the events surrounding their father's death. Under the circumstances one might expect a lot of political maneuvering and Machiavellian dealings, however Brian goes far above and beyond this. The Emperor's Blades employs asceticism, wilderness survival, and deep seated mystery to enthrall readers into the world of the Annurian Empire. Even if you've read this book, it seems to only get better with repeated reads!
7. Endgame: The Calling
This series has to be one of the most unique series in the world. What makes Endgame so interesting is not only the sheer complexity of the story and the gorgeous character development, but the fact that this sort of book could not have existed two decades ago. Endgame tells the story of twelve bloodlines, each selected to raise a young champion to fight for the continued existence of them and the world as we know it. While this premise might seem shallow and overdone, James Frey and Nils Johnson-Shelton breath new life into this survival game themed series. Did I mention that there is also a prize associated with the series? Endgame employs transmedia storytelling in order to get as many people involved in the story as possible. What this means is that for those of you that read the book, visit the url links and are capable of some very serious puzzle solving, you could potential get flown out to Las Vegas and awarded $500,000 in gold. For those of you who are nonbelievers, you need only go to Caesar's Palace in Vegas to see the gold for yourself. Happy hunting!
8. A Short History of Nearly Everything
Understanding science can more often then not seem like one of the most arduous of undertakings. This book by Bill Bryson definitely aids in expediting the whole process of learning about quantum physics in a tone that is both deeply insightful and charmingly witty. Covering a wide variety of topics, A Short History of Nearly Everything seeks to educate readers about ... everything. From the finest of particles that make up our world to theoretical laws and premises we know surround and make our very lives possible, Bryson does a number on making these topics extremely accessible to the casual reader. If you've ever wanted to really understand some of the more complex theories and theorems, but didn't know where to start, this book is a gem that will definitely get you on your way to understanding the world around you a little better.
9. Making Money
Rest in Peace, Terry Pratchett. If you don't know about Pratchett's Discworld novels then you have truly been missing out on one of literature's most charming and witty storytelling series ever written. Though the master himself has passed on, his works continue to speak for themselves and you really can't help but laugh when you read his books. Making Money is the second book following character Moist von Lipwig, a former con man in the midst of really trying to turn his life around for the better. Regrettably for Moist, he's been put in charge of both the Royal Mint and the bank next door. The only problem is that both institutions are a disgrace to good banking sense, architectural ambiance, and are running at a very serious loss. Unfortunately, Moist's troubles don't start and stop with his new gig as the head of the bank and the Royal Mint. He'll have to save his girlfriend from a three hundred year old wizard, put down whatever is lurking around in his cellar, fight off the Assassin's Guild, overcome potential fraud charges AND take the Chairman out for his daily walk before he can even think about getting started on anything else. Who said Making Money was going to be easy?
10. Rokka no Yuusha
This Japanese lightnovel series was recently turned into an anime. It didn't take more than six episodes of the anime to get me interested in the mystery of Rokka no Yuusha, or Heroes of the Six Flowers in English. As is in the title, Rokka no Yuusha follows six individuals all of whom are selected by the Goddess of Fate based on their potential skills and abilities in order to suppress the threat of the Demon God's revival. In order to recognize one another, the heroes are each blessed with a crest marking them as the Goddess' chosen ones as the time for the revival draws closer. Once endowed with their crest, each of the heroes then make their way to a historically preordained location in order to take stock and prepare to fight the Demon God. Imagine how quickly the entire relationship between these heroes deteriorates when seven people show up instead of only six. With each member of the team claiming to be a true Hero of the Six Flowers, the group quickly falls into chaos as each member attempts to prove their innocence and expose the true liar within their ranks. Rokka no Yuusha is a must read for anyone interested in truly enthralling mystery stories.