Your gateway to endless inspiration
Bookrec - Blog Posts
WHILE WE ALL HATE GAME OF THRONES
I’mma just remind everyone that the fantasy series you have been dreaming of, the one with a diverse as hell cast (I’m talking 50/50 gender split, 80% LGBT, 70% POC), with battles for Power ultimately being proven pointless in the face of the battle for Existence, with characters who are damaged and morally grey as hell but always still likeable and still understandable, with meaningful relationships of all kinds between said characters: THAT SERIES EXISTS.
Everyone go read A Crown for Cold Silver by Alex Marshall. (Then A Blade of Black Steel, then A War in Crimson Embers)
It’s finished. The endgame is perfect. You can thank me later, and then hate me for having hoarded all the canon urls already.
1. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
“It really shines a light on the effect depression has on LGBT+ youth, and I think it’s also really important that it addresses being gay in a Latino community, where being gay is unheard of. It’s a really important book and I recommend it to everyone.”
2. Maurice by E.M. Forster
“It’s a classic about a man in Edwardian England who falls mutually in love with a peer at Cambridge and their subsequent years together. It deals heavily with class difference and societal expectations for a man in the upper middle class during this era but it ends happily, so that’s a plus.”
3. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
“It’s such an amazing and well-written book that not only explores queerness but also being a POC (specifically being Mexican) and figuring out who you are and learning to accept and love yourself. It’s such a great book and I love it so much.”
4. I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
“It’s a beautiful book about love (in all its forms), loss, and starting anew. The book is amazing and I always find something new in it each time I re-read it. It’s a must read for all LGBT+ rights advocates.”
5. Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan
“It was great because it showed a POC who didn’t know how to come out to her Muslim parents.”
6. Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley
“It’s about the hardships endured during the 1950s in Virginia, especially with integration and accepting your sexuality at that time. The two main characters Sarah and Linda are complete opposites, both on different sides of the battle for civil rights, but soon realise they are falling for each other.”
7. Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown
“This was a great lesbian coming-of-age novel that highlighted all the issues people in the LGBT community faced back then [in the ’60s]. It’s important for me to not ignore the advances that people fought for, for me to be comfortable coming out today.”
8. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
“It’s about an intersex person and their family’s history as Greek-American immigrants.”
9. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechtel
“It’s a graphic memoir that parallels many experiences young queer folk have when coming out and claiming their own identity. It’s a MUST read.”
10. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
“It’s the type of book that’ll leave you bawling your eyes out in the middle of the night after you throw your book at the wall.”
SEE FULL LIST IN LINK ABOVE
What to read after Throne of Glass
If you, like me, are still going through complete Sarah J Maas withdrawal, and can’t really stand to wait for her next books, check out the list below to tide you over! Each book has many of the things I adored about both ToG and ACOMAF: strong and interesting female characters, magic, deeply beautiful writing, love stories to cry about, and an all around sense of adventure. If you have any more recommendations to add, definitely let me know!
Black Jewels: Anne Bishop
I just finished this series, and I am still amazed by how masterfully Anne Bishop weaves her stories. Welcome to the Dark Kingdom, a matriarchal realm ruled by strong queens and the males that support and serve them (Rowan and Aedion anyone?). There is a prophecy fortelling the rise of a Queen with more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself, which gives us a wonderful story full of scheming, war, adventure, and a badass court I would kill to be a part of. Prepare your heart!
Graceling by Kristian Cashore
Graceling is the best series for all you folks who couldn’t get enough of badass assassin Celaena. Katsa is an assassin Celaena would be proud of, due to her rare ability as a Graceling. She is Graced with a killing power, and has spent her life as the king’s tool in doling out his reign of terror. In waltzes Po, Graced with fighting, and here to shake everything Katsa knows about her world. Cashore definitely gives us a twist Sarah would most certainly support!
The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski
This book aligns more with the romance and court mystique that Sarah presents so wonderfully in ToG and ACOMAF. Kestrel is the daughter of a general who helped the emperor conquer territory after territory. As she is faced with a choice, marry or join the military, Kestrel finds a friend in one of the slaves from the conquered people, and so begins one of the most interesting political schemes I have read in awhile! I haven’t finished the trilogy yet, because I am out of the country and can’t get my hands on the final book, but I would highly recommend it.
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Cue another really cool empire written by an author who isn’t afraid to be inventive or go beyond the normal realms of fantasy. Vin is another Celaena-esque character, as the abandoned street child who turned thief who struggles to stay alive. When a mentor takes her under his wing, she discovers that her luck on the streets might be more than she could ever explain. Magic, mystery, and of course, a few court balls thrown in make for a wonderful mix. Warning: the last book made me cry. Like really cry. But in a good, I’m-still-mad-at-you-but-I-understand-and-respect-your-story-line type of way.
Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
Raisa is everything that I have ever wanted in a princess. She is intelligent, passionate, feisty, and super compassionate. So when a war arises between the clans and the wizards, you can bet she has goals to achieve and empires to shake up. Throw Han Alister into the mix, a street wise leader, and things get tricky and fireworks explode. One of my favorite love stories in a long time, because it isn’t a story about just romantic love, but also what the love of a princess for her country can do.
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Yelena is set for execution for murder, but is given the choice to be the next food taster of the Commander of Ixia. As if the threat of having poison in her system wasn’t enough, she is also given a dose of Butterfly’s Dust, which she needs every day to stay alive, and can of course only get from the chief of security. Fighting for her life soon becomes more than just guessing the right poison, but also a game of magic, love, and all out war. Best kind of combo out there!
Legend by Marie Lu
This is the only book in the list to be set in a dystopian universe as opposed to a kingdom, but with a prodigy like June, no one can make any complaints. After a war tore the country apart, the Western United States is under the martial rule of the Republic, and June is their perfectly groomed soldier golden child. Day, on the other hand, is a slums boy who has become the Republic’s most wanted criminal. What happens when their paths cross is enough to make any country tremble, and to keep me hanging on to every word!
And finally:
Literally anything by Tamora Pierce!
Tamora Pierce has been my favorite author since I was a little girl. Each of her series is set in the same universe, based around the story of an interesting and kickass female character, from the first female warrior to a wild-mage. I first found these stories when my mother decided my sister and I didn’t have enough strong women in our literature and Tamora really rose to the occasion. Start with the first series, Song of the Lioness, and work your way from there! I have reread her books at least once every year since I was a little girl and they get better every time. I cannot recommend these books enough!
If you read or have read any of these books, feel free to shoot me a message; I am always ready to geek out over them.