Top Ten Tuesday, a concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, is a themed post that connects bloggers to bloggers, bloggers to readers, and readers to readers. Every Tuesday has a special topic, and this Tuesday is Top Ten Books I Can’t Believe I Haven’t Read From X Genre. You know what I’m most ashamed about? Working in a bookstore, reading all the book reviews from fellow bloggers, and contributing to conversations and getting excited about books I haven’t read. It always feels like I’ve read the books because I hear so much about them, but I haven’t read them. Part of it is because I want to stay away from the hype, and part of it is because I have a hard time believing I’d pick up the book for any other reason apart from, “I heard about it.” Half the time when I’m browsing, I’m really just looking for books I’ve heard about. Would I really pick any of these up blindly? Maybe. Maybe not. But these are the top ten in YA fantasy I haven’t read. Please don’t throw tomatoes at me!
Why I Haven’t Read These Yet
- Falling Kingdoms — four perspectives? YA Game of Thrones? I mean, reading the jacket summary makes it seem daunting, and yet so very intriguing. I’m curious. And scared.
- Cinder — cyborgs? I dunno. I’m not much of a sci-fi / space person. So many of my friends have read this, friends who were just in it for fairy tales, friends who definitely are not sci-fi people, and they’ve enjoyed it. So I really do need to give this a chance.
- Throne of Glass — no excuse. I own the book (and Crown of Midnight), so I need to get cracking!
Why I Haven’t Read These Yet
- Legend — dystopia. I’m over it. But this looks so good. So maybe I’m not over it. Have you read it? What’s your take on it?
- A Thousand Pieces of You — So much pre-pub hype. Back when I was browsing upcoming releases, before there was any hype, before print and digital proofs were sent to bloggers, I wanted to read this. And the moment I received my digital ARC, I avoided it like the plague. Sometimes when something gets so much hype, I run the opposite direction and wait a year or two.
- Shadow and Bone — It all began with Russian names on the wrong gender or used incorrectly. That’s so nitpicky, because the story is apparently fantastic! And reading the jackets for the trilogy gets me all excited.
Why I Haven’t Read These Yet
- Graceling — no excuse. I want to read this.
- The Iron King — no excuse. FAERIES!
- Shatter Me — I’ve heard mixed reviews about the lyrical writing. Every quote I’ve read sounds so beautiful, and yet it’s also up for ridicule. I’ve actually no idea what the series is about, just that the writing is poetic. And, um, major cover love.
- Life As We Knew It — the whole concept of a moon knocking us out of orbit is totally possible and has me terrified. But I want to read it. But I don’t. But I do.
Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts on them? What are some of your favorite YA fantasy books?
24 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday: Haven’t Read These YA Fantasy Books”
The Bookish God
Fantastical Top 10! You need to read Cinder and Throne of Glass ASAP, you’re missing out! haha I do need to read Graceling too!
Laura
Throne of Glass will most likely be read this year, for sure! What did you like most about Cinder??
The Bookish God
I loved the writing, the love interest, the pace of the book, CINDER! I don’t know I loved everything about it haha I’m not a space kind of guy either but this serie is worth it 🙂
Laura
Well if you’re not a space kind of reader and you still loved it, then maybe I should give it a shot! 🙂
Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense
Throne of Glass is just a fantastic series and Cinder is such an original take on fairy tales. I hope you get to read these soon,
My TTT
Laura
That’s what I’ve heard! I should take a peek at it.
Mallory @ The Local Muse
Throne of Glass is sooooo good! But I’m sure you’ve heard that a million times! The Grisha trilogy was a really fast and action packed read, and Life as we Know It looks really great.
Laura
What did you like most about the Grisha trilogy?
Elizabeth
I’m just going to say that the ones I’ve read on this list were ones that I read because of hype and I didn’t really like any of them. Eep. I hope you have better luck with hyped books than I do!
Laura
Aww, yeah I understand. Any in particular you think I should steer clear from for a while longer? Any you suggest I DO pick up and read?
Elizabeth
I didn’t particularly enjoy Throne of Glass or Shadow and Bone, but I can see that the series have potential, they just weren’t for me. Shatter Me’s writing style really turned me off, but many people liked it, so just a personal preference thing. My favorite YA fantasy series are probably His Fair Assassins (Grave Mercy, etc) and The Girl of Fire and Thorns, if you haven’t read those yet!
Laura
I’ve read Grave Mercy, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read the others. Did they live up to the first book?
Elizabeth
I thought the second one was pretty good, the third was just ok… I liked the political intrigue and religious/supernatural aspect in those books perhaps more than the characters/romance.
Caught Read Handed
I loved Throne of Glass – and Crown of Midnight is on my TTT this week, as is Legend, Shadow and Bone, and Shatter Me. Looks like we both need to get reading! 🙂
My TTT!
Laura
ACK! It sure does! Hahaha. Do you have a favorite YA fantasy book you’ve read but it seems like no one else has? (Mine are Shadowfell and Defiance. More people are reading Seraphina now, but when I read it barely anyone knew what I was talking about.)
Caught Read Handed
I have a few – The Passage (a creepy, awesome vampire-ish story) and S. (by J.J. Abrams)! They aren’t your typical fantasy, of course, but both are really, really good.
Morgan @ Gone with the Words
Cinder is a perfect intro for someone who doesn’t read sci fi I think. The story is so inventive but still familiar with Cinderella beneath the surface and the worldbuilding and characters are fantastic. I also think she’s one of the best authors at foreshadowing and connecting books together since JKR. You’ll see something in book 3 from book 1 and go WHOA. I love that! Also Graceling YES. My sister got me to read this series, so great. Liked Throne of Glass, loooved Crown of Midnight! Shadow and Bone is also inventive and wonderful; the Russian terminology isn’t distracting after awhile. I really didn’t care for Falling Kingdoms at all. Marketing fail with wooden characters and stale writing. But who knows, it’s popular so maybe you’ll like it 🙂 I need to read A Thousand Pieces of You too!
Laura
MORGAAAAAN you know just how to truly convince me to read Cinder. When you mentioned JKR-esque plotting my eyes went O.O and my heart stopped. I’m gonna do it now. I’m gonna read this book. I WILL I WILL I WILL.
Throne of Glass will totally be read this year, and I’ll eventually get to Graceling and Shadow & Bone. They’re both such great, high concepts. I keep staring at the books and reading the summaries. It’s like they follow me…
Frannie Pan @ In Clouds of Pages
Many of these books are on my list as well, like A thousand pieces of you and The Young elites. But you should definitely read Cinder and Shatter me and Throne of glass as sooooon as you can, they’re incredible!!! *-*
My TTT: http://frannieinthepages.blogspot.it/2015/02/top-ten-tuesday-ten-books-i-cant.html
Laura
What did you like most about Shatter Me?
Tina
I haven’t read any of these either, but I’ve heard such great things! New follower!
Tina @ Pages of Comfort
http://pagesofcomfort.blogspot.com
Rachel
OMG Yes to Throne of Glass, get on that immediately! Cinder, Shatter Me, Legend and Shadow and Bone are all on my neverending TBR too, so I can’t say much about those!
R x
My TTT: https://confessionsofabookgeek.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/top-ten-tuesday-books-i-own-i-cant-believe-i-havent-read-yet/
lkeyser8
You should definitely read Shadow and Bone and Graceling! I loved both. Legend is also quite good and I liked Shatter Me but never got around to finishing the series. But I couldn’t connect with Falling Kingdoms at all. I don’t know why but I didn’t get invested in any of the characters. I thought I would really love it since I love fantasy, but it didn’t live up to my expectations.
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