Fantasy Recs Friday! ep 5 (I found a new favorite series)
I usually find these FRF episodes more taxing to write than my regular reviews because I have a hard time summarizing my thoughts. These are basically 4 reviews in one post but... it's fun. What better reason to do anything in life?
What is Fantasy Recs Friday?
- a recurring recommendation segment on my blog wherein I talk about SFF books separate from my reviews in a more rant-y way. I recommend 2 fantasy books that I have read and talk about 2 fantasy-ish books that I have had my eye on (a priority TBR, if you will). As a fantasy junkie that is always looking for new SFF books to read, I know the feeling. I got you.
BONUS: I try to include both Adult and Young Adult titles in each episode to cater to different reading preferences and just because I enjoy books from both age groups.
If you want to read my more in-depth thoughts on the books I have read, my Goodreads reviews are always linked :)
2 BOOKS THAT I HAVE READ AND LOVED
[ ☀️ Adult ]
┈ The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee ┈
Tags: Brutal Asian-inspired Urban Clan-Based Fantasy
Publishing Date: (first two books are out now and ready to read)
⚔️ complex, politically intriguing, and action-packed with a lot of heart ⚔️
Who wants to be adopted into the Kaul family with me?
I recently discovered a new favorite series of all-time after having finished both Jade City and Jade War in the few months that I have been away from this blog.
There are so many things to love and I don't even know how to begin to say how much I recommend this series but I will try. From the perfect balance of fantastical-realistic elements and character-plot driven narratives... you are really in for the ride of your life. It blows my mind because this is the exact series I have been searching for so long and if you want to be destroyed, read this and let's be destroyed together.
Complicated pre-established sibling relationships/banter and family dynamics was one of the main selling points to me. Even though the book centers around the Kauls, you really do end up caring about all the minor characters just as much as Hilo does and that's no small feat to achieve in a book.
“People were people. The power of jade didn’t make them better or closer to godliness; it just made them more powerful”
It has been a while since I felt this connected to a series and characters. It is actually crazy. The characters are the heart of this series and I completely flew through it.
P.S. the third book just came out last November 30, 2021 !!
Be warned though my friends: Life is cruel... and so is Fonda Lee.
[ ⛅️ Young Adult ]
┈ Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao ┈
Tags: Young Adult Sci-Fi Chinese-Inspired Fantasy
Publishing Date: September 21st, 2021
Came for the poly relationship, Stayed for the girlbosses and giant mecha fights.
I'm going to say this early that this has a lot of cheesy lines that might make you roll your eyes sometimes but what ultimately is the strong point of this book was the play on historical China and modern science. The set-up was extremely interesting and I do wish we got more of that than the character relationships that didn't really flow the best, in my opinion.
I do think it's still highly entertaining and one of the most fun I've had reading YA if you don't mind following that trope of this headstrong girl who doesn't know when to give up, while entirely focusing on the headstrong part.
“Perks of refusing to play by the rules: you don’t have to choose between the boy who’d torture a man to death with you and the boy who welcomes you back with pastries.”
I have described this as Mecha Attack on Titan style Sci-Fi that’s a little dark and with some morally grey but vulnerable and strong characters
2 BOOKS THAT I HAVE HAD MY EYE ON
[ ☀️ Adult ]
┈ Never Die by Rob J. Hayes ┈
Tags:
Publishing Date: January 29, 2019
How rare do we ever get Adult Standalone Fantasy... that's also Asian-inspired? This one is also a self-published novel and I think they need more appreciation.
In case it's of interest to you, I have marked this book for the next time that I am craving for:
- Japanese-inspired fantasy
- fast-paced and action-packed story
- this boy that can bind dead people to him and some people are already dead but some he has to kill or they have to die
[ ⛅️ Young Adult ]
┈ The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh ┈
Tags:
Publishing Date: February 2nd, 2021
I am down for any book that is pitched as inspired or reminiscent of Spirited Away 🌊✨ need I say more?
✧ likes and shares are highly appreciated ✧
Have a a great weekend everyone and hopefully, you found another book to excite you!
As usual, this University student has exams to study for and academic deadlines to meet before my bookish ones so I don't know when you're going to see me next but hopefully soon ⭑
stay safe, wear a mask, enjoy your books ♡
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