Another week, another Five for Friday! It's more high fantasy recs, but this time focusing on YA books. Less focused on underrated books this week, just some YA novels I really love. (Also this time, I remembered to do it on Friday!)
Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
Content Warnings: attempted rape, graphic descriptions of violence
Synopsis: Finnikin of the Rock and his guardian, Sir Topher, have not been home to their beloved Lumatere for ten years. Not since the dark days when the royal family was murdered and the kingdom put under a terrible curse. But then Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young woman with an incredible claim: the heir to the throne of Lumatere, Prince Balthazar, is alive.
Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.
But Evanjalin is not what she seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin's faith in her . . . but in himself.
Comments: We were never going to get through this without me reccing Melina Marchetta at some point, let's be real. Finnikin of the Rock is the start of a trilogy, but can be read as a standalone, and is probably up there as my favourite fantasy novel ever.
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Synopsis: The king's scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skillful thief, and he selects Gen from the king's prison. The magus is interested only in the thief's abilities.
What Gen is interested in is anyone's guess. Their journey toward the treasure is both dangerous and difficult, lightened only imperceptibly by the tales they tell of the old gods and goddesses.
Comments: Melina Marchetta got inspiration for The Lumatere Chronicles from this series, and it is truly very good. Apparently, the later books in the series are even better, which is going to be really something because I loved book 1.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Synopsis: In the land of Ingary, where seven-league boots and cloaks of invisibility really exist, Sophie Hatter attracts the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste, who puts a curse on her. Determined to make the best of things, Sophie travels to the one place where she might get help - the moving castle which hovers on the nearby hills.
But the castle belongs to the dreaded Wizard Howl whose appetite, they say, is satisfied only by the hearts of young girls...
Comments: Everyone knows the Studio Ghibli film of this, but it feels like so few people know it was a book, written by the queen of fantasy Diana Wynne Jones, first. It's very different to the film, just as a warning, but it's amazing in its own right.
The Princess and the Captain by Anne-Laure Bondoux
Synopsis: Malva is the princess of Galnicia, destined to marry the Prince of Andemark, or so her parents think. On the eve of her wedding, she escapes at dead of night, little realising that she is letting herself in for a life of peril and adventure, including being shipwrecked in a huge storm and being captured as part of a harem.
Comments: This book really fucked me up when I first read it aged something like 13. Like, fucked me up so bad I haven't dared reread it since. Nonetheless, I'm reccing it now. Join me as an emotional wreck!
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco
Synopsis: When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she's a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.
In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha-one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles...and make a powerful choice.
Comments: If you like morally ambiguous protagonists/antiheroes, this book is for you. Rin Chupeco's writing is amazing and I just know this series is going to end up breaking my heart.
0 comments:
Post a Comment