Book Recommendations

This is a series of three books, but they went really quickly. It’s a story about an outcast kid in a village full of magical beings, except him (coming of age story). I like these type of stories where the main character discovers what’s so special about themselves, despite their upbringing.

Somewhat of a coming-of-age story about a normal high school kid in an unusual situation. I do not like scary books, but I am a fan of Stephen King’s non-horror books, which would include this one. Prepare to cry (a little) and be more than surprised (a few times).

Another one of Stephen King’s non-horror books. At least not outright scary, anyway. This is a 7-book series, but iMHO each one get increasingly better. Do not watch the movie because it’s nothing like the book, unless you just really like Idris Elba.

Brandon Sanderson is a great builder of magical worlds. A plagued area is walled off from a healthy city, with lots of mystery and intrigue. I read this one a few years ago, so I don’t remember it exactly but I do remember how I felt reading it: excited.

A very short book, which takes place in the same Sanderson-built world of Elantris. I loved this one with its female protagonist, with magical abilities, in a world where they’re frowned upon. Talk about not being able to put a book down…

Mistborn is a series, but I’ve only read this one. Another female protagonist, coming into her power. I particularly liked this one because of how the magic was explained almost to a scientific extent, even though it doesn’t actually exist in the real world.

Introducing yet another fascinating magic system, based on color. Absolutely loved the two female protagonists (sisters), in different situations, but both working to be their own hero. This one had a bit of politics too, but not overly confusing.

I’ve mentioned probably a few times now how much I avoid books with too much politics, because it’s difficult to follow, but this one was worth it. If you haven’t played the videogame, or seen the Netflix series, you should probably get started on those too.

Literally could not put this one down. I read once, nominated it for my book club, got it in, and then read it again. I haven’t read any Jason Bourne books, but I’d say it’s similar to the movies. And also the main character has been genetically changed. I wish I had this mutation…

I actually didn’t really care for this book the first time I read it. There’s a lot of politics in it, which was confusing. However, I read it again when the movie was coming out (before seeing it), and it was so much better. It is a series, but the first book is a complete story, which I appreciated.

I admit that I saw the Netflix series first, but it made me interested so much that I nominated for my book club to read. We all read it, and then I proceeded to watch the series a second time with our roommate, and then a time with my partner (once they’d read it too). Phenomenal.

Experiencing the life of a man doing the most to try and survive on another planet was unreal. Turns out it’s not real, but imagine if it did happen and you had front-row seats. One would think an engineer would survive, but a botanist?

So good that I’m trying to read it in Spanish. This one made me laugh out loud, at times. The narrator reveals more of the main character’s past, as he struggles to remember it too. Similar to the other Weir book on my list, he’s the only survivor.