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Hello Hello! How are you?
Today Iβm back on the blog with a new discussion post, and something Iβd like to talk to you more about this year, a.k.a. popular books I want to read! Iβve decided to break this down into different genres and since fantasy is my favourite genre, that is what Iβm going with first.Β
I had so much fun looking at loads of great popular fantasy books, both standalones and series, but Iβve finally settled on 10 titles that I really want to read, some of which are already on my physical TBR.
So without further ado, letβs get into this post!
Guards! Guards! (#8 Discworld, #1 The City Watch) by Terry Pratchett
The first book on this list is one in a quite confusing and very, very large series which Iβm sure youβve all already heard about: the Discworld series. I will admit to being quite overwhelmed by the sheer amount of books in this series, and not really knowing where to start. Fiona from Fiβs Bibliofiles loves this series and came to my aid, suggesting I start not in the chronological order (like I usually do), but instead in some of the smaller series/sub-series. So after lots of research and questions, I finally settled on starting with The City Watch sub-series, which is also what the website suggests as the first sub-series. I bought this beautiful edition ages ago, and I think Iβve got lots of expectations and almost like a tiny bit of stress about starting it, because itβs a big investment, but I do really, really want to start reading it soon, so I will do my best!Β
The Name of the Wind (#1 The Kingkiller Chronicles) by Patrick Rothfuss
I was ever so kindly gifted this beautiful anniversary edition of this book a few Christmasses ago, but I still havenβt gotten around to it. Itβs one of those books you hear about constantly on Book Twitter, Bookstagram and BookTube, but itβs the one you seem to never have time or energy to pick up. Iβm so intrigued by this premise, Iβve heard such AMAZING things about it, and Iβve put it on my 23 in 2023 TBR so I will make sure to pick it up this year. Iβm excited about it, and it deserves my time now, as itβs been sitting on my shelves for a long time.Β
The Final Empire (#1 Mistborn) by Brandon SandersonΒ
Out of this whole list, it is the only book I donβt own yet. I find it surprising that I own all these very popular fantasy books/series and have still not read any of them!! This is also a wildly popular series and Brandon Sandersonβs books are generally considered as extremely popular and enjoyable. And Iβve still not read a single one of them! Iβve heard a lot of people talk about this series, especially about the political and magical systems. It seems like quite a complex book and since itβs a series which kind of slots into the main world of this authorβs works, I do think Iβll need to be in the right frame of mind to properly enjoy this book, but it really interests me, and I fancy some unique and intense fantasy!Β
The Eye of the World (#1 The Wheel of Time) by Robert JordanΒ
This is another series that overwhelms me so much because a) the books are massive on their own and b) it is a 14-book series! I absolutely love book series, especially fantasy, and especially when it doesnβt just wrap up in a trilogy or a duology. I also know that Robert Jordan sadly passed away before finishing this series, and that his wife (who was also his editor I think?) asked Brandon Sanderson to step in and finish the final 3 volumes. Iβm kind of worried about starting this series and getting hooked because it will eat up my time and money, but Iβm also completely okay with that, in a sadistic way. Iβm excited, itβs probably the most βhigh-fantasyβ book I have on my TBR, and itβs about time I got stuck in!Β
The Fifth Season (#1 The Broken Earth) by N. K. JemisinΒ
This is a series that Iβve seen about so much in the book community and on social media, and Iβve also heard some absolutely fantastic things about it. Apparently this is a blend of fantasy, science fiction, and it has post-apocalyptic tropes, so it only just sort of fits in this list, but Iβm running with it. I absolutely love the premise of this book, it sounds like it has such a wide and complex world, it also sounds like it will be a really tense read, but I particularly like post-apocalyptic settings, especially in fantasy. I already have a copy of this first book in the series, so I must try it out soon.
Assassinβs Apprentice (#1 The Farseer Trilogy) by Robin Hobb
Iβve had this book on my TBR for a couple of years now, and have kept hearing really good things about it, but Iβve never picked it up. I think itβs again one of those long series with sub-series or trilogies set in the same world. Iβve always liked the sound of this premise. I like that it has royalty and is somewhat set at court, and that the main character, born a bastard, has a special magic link to animals. It sounds like an intriguing magical system, but also court politics, and watching the main character move away from magic to become a royal assassin. It was first published in 1995, and it is still really popular today, so I need to give it a fair chance.Β
The Lies of Locke Lamora (#1 Gentleman Bastard) by Scott Lynch
Iβve also seen this one about everywhere in the last couple of years since being on social media, and it seems to be one of the books that keeps appearing in βpopular fantasyβ lists. The Gentleman Bastard series has 4 books so far I think, with the next one expected to publish in 2024. That leaves me time to catch up with the first books in the series, as I generally donβt like waiting years between books, and wait until the whole series is published before diving in. Again, I think this book will have a really complex world, setting and political/magical system, and it is about an orphan, so itβs giving off magical/fantasy Oliver Twist vibes. I think it sounds really interesting, quite dark maybe, and I think itβll have a lot of suspense and action. Iβm totally ready for it!
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Ohhh this book! I started it ages and ages ago, and at this time, I never used to laugh while reading books, and this one made me roar with laughter so many times. Unfortunately, I was really stressed and busy while reading it, so I put it down and never picked it up, and Iβm ashamed of that. I love that this is a mix of fantasy, urban fantasy, sort of apocalyptic, with witches, gods, magic, prophecies and lots and lots of humour. I know I was very much enjoying it, and I know it is a very popular book. My fiancΓ© has also seen the series, which he adored, and keeps telling me I need to watch it, so itβs a good excuse to finally read the book. I think Iβll save it for when Iβm down, in need of a pick up, or feeling particularly cold, because it seems like it could turn into a comfort read.Β
The Golden Compass (#1 His Dark Materials) by Phillip Pullman
I have to admit that Iβm ashamed this book is on this list and that I havenβt read it yet. I started watching the BBC adaptation, and really enjoyed it, so I stopped before I got too far so I could read the book. I also own the bind-up of the whole series in a really beautiful edition, and Iβve put it on yearly TBRs so many years in a row. I love the premise, I liked what I saw in the TV show, I like that the main character is a young girl, the magic system seems so interesting, and the political intrigue seems complex and tense. This series has everything going for it, and I want to read so many more books by this author, so I have to start somewhere!!Β
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
And the final book on this list is maybe one of the most popular and one Iβve heard hundreds of people rave about. So maybe people say this is their favourite book!! I started reading it a few years ago and just couldnβt get into it, but after chatting with a few people, I realised my expectations for the book were set on the characters, and Iβve been told that the circus is the important part. Knowing that, I have a feeling Iβll enjoy it a lot more, and from what I had already read, I couldnβt fault the writing style, so Iβm going to give it another shot, and Iβm still very excited to read it.Β
Thatβs all for now, I hope you enjoyed reading this post.
See you soon, stay safe,
Ellie xx
I’ve read The Night Circus, The Fift Season and The Final Empire and unfortunately I struggled with all of these π I hope you’ll have better luck!
Good omens and Mistborn era 1 are such amazing books! I hope you have a great time reading both of them π
I have the rest on my TBR as well and some others I really wanna get to are Six of Crows, Stormlight archive and Codex Alera series