My Favorite Book List

Hi everyone! Whenever someone asks me what I like to do, or what my hobbies are, well, I love reading! But whenever I say that, someone always asks the dreaded question..."What's your favorite book?"

I'm the type of reader who 1) cannot pick a favorite. I mean, how do you choose one single book that you label as the one you love the best when you have so many books that you love that are constantly changing on your leaderboard? and 2) the type of reader who's mind goes blank when anyone asks them the dreaded question. Like completely blank, can't remember a single book blank.

So, tired of not knowing what to say following listing my hobbies, I took to compiling a list of books that I would memorize and whip out when anyone asked me. It's seemed to work so far, although to be fair, no one really asks me my favorite book(s) that much anymore :(

So, I'm sharing it with you all! Here is my list of favs, hope you enjoy!

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Where do I even begin...? It's that good!

Six of Crows is about 6 characters (Kaz Brekker, Inej Ghafa, Nina Zenik, Matthias Helvar, Jesper Fahey, and Wylan) who band together to attempt to pull off a daring and almost impossible heist.

What would you do for money? For most people, breaking into an impenetrable fortress in a different country surrounded by people who most likely want you dead would be where they draw the line. For Kaz, it's not so simple. So somehow, Kaz and the Crows find themselves breaking into an impenetrable fortress...in a different country....surrounded by enemies...and trying to come out alive. Add in some humor, the best band of characters, complicated dynamics, and slowly unfolding backstories...well, you have a recipe for the best book!

Find my full review here.

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

One of my absolute favorite books, a fantasy pandemic novel with a swoony romance...

Tessa is an outlaw. As the people of Kandala battle sickness, she and her best friend steal Moonflower petals under the cover of night and brew an elixir to distribute to the people. Prince Corrick is brother to the king, occupying the role of the King's Justice, one that he never wanted. It's his job to quell the the cries of rebellion and stop smugglers, the only way to maintain order. When the unthinkable happens, Tessa finds herself in the palace, and thrown together with her enemy, Prince Corrick...will they be able to work together and save Kandala, without it falling to rebellion and chaos first?

This is a trilogy. Defy the Night is the first book, Defend the Dawn is the second, and Destroy the Day is the third. I love all the books! I think if I had to rank them, Destroy the Day would be my favorite, Defy the Night very very closely following. I'm sorry Defend the Dawn, I guess that leaves you last. I mean, I guess I could always say Defend the Dawn came third and then forget to mention there were only three books :)

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

The book centers around Shiori, princess of Kiata. When she stalls her unwanted betrothal ceremony by accidentally losing control of her forbidden magic, she is banished by her stepmother, Raikama, who isn't all that she seems. Her stepmother places a curse on Shiori, for every word that she speaks, one of her brothers (who Raikama turned into cranes) will die. Alone and voiceless, Shiori desperately searches for a way to find her brothers and break the curse. Shiori only has herself, an *awesome* paper bird named Kiki, and some help from the last people she expected, a dragon and the boy she fought so hard not to marry.

If it wasn't already apparent, I love Six Crimson Cranes! Some of my favorite parts are the beautiful cover, dynamics between Shiori and Kiki (Kiki's funny, sarcastic, and can talk!), Shiori's passion for food and cooking (something I share), Shiori's relationship with her brothers, Seryu - the dragon, and most of all: how sweet Takkan is and all the precious stolen moments between Shiori and Takkan. So, basically everything!

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

A enemies-to-lovers romance novel set in a fantasy world. What could be better? This book centers around Iris Winnow, an aspiring journalist, competing for the lead columnist spot at the Oath Gazette, against her enemy Roman Kitt. When Iris gets an opportunity to head to the front lines in a war of the gods, she jumps at the chance to leave her narrow-minded town, find out more about the war, and maybe even find her missing brother. She's glad to escape, but is shocked and not sure how to feel when Roman, her enemy, follows her to the front lines just to outshine her again. Well, there might be more to it than it seems, and maybe the two find a way to get closer to each other, despite the quickly approaching danger.

Find my full review here.

Better than the Movies by Lynn Painter

Lynn Painter writes good rom-coms, but by far, Better than the Movies is my favorite! There's nothing like an enemies-to-lovers romance and a very music-oriented main character. Liz Buxbaum and Wes Bennet are neighbors, and absolute enemies. They constantly compete for "the Spot" (the best parking spot right next to their houses) and they're always arguing about everything. But when Michael Young, Liz's crush, moves back into town, she decides to strike a deal with Wes (yes, her enemy), to help Liz get closer to Michael. But what happens when she starts falling for the last person's she's supposed to....her enemy who's not at all interested in her too - Wes?

Words on Fire by Jennifer Nielsen

I read this novel a pretty long time ago, but I immediately loved it and I still do! Being historical fiction, it focuses on Lithuania during the Russian occupation. It's a dangerous time in Lithuania. Russians occupy the country, and they work to ensure everything is Russian. There is no Lithuanian culture, no language, and their books are banned. At least...according to the Russians.

The book smugglers fight to reclaim their country one book, one story, one Lithuanian word at a time. Audra, the smart, stubborn main character finds herself on the run after the Cossacks show up on her doorstep one fateful evening. Alone, and afraid for herself and her parents, she embarks on a journey to deliver a mysterious package (at her parents' behest) and finds herself caught up in the resistance. Struggling between what to do, and how to save her parents, she decides to join, if only to find out more about what her parents were doing.

One of the my favorite parts of this book was the characters. Nielsen writes great characters. Audra is a relatable main character, she can be shy and suspicious at times, and feisty, smart, and stubborn at others. She's a born magician, always with a trick up her sleeve (whether for calming younger kids or distracting Cossacks), and has a knack for thinking outside the box. She's determined and brave, even when faced with great odds. Lukas, the other mc, is funny and sassy, yet sweet and protective. His backstory too...ahhh. There are backstories to everyone it seems, and they're all done well, and they all weave together so well! There's not much else I can say except: just read the book!

Legend by Marie Lu

I normally don't really read dystopia that much, but I thought I should have at least one dystopia book on here. I have read a couple (well, maybe a lot more than a couple), and out of them, my favorite is Legend by Marie Lu. I've read a lot of Marie Lu's books, and I've liked a lot of them: Legend, Stars and Smoke, and Warcross. Now, onto the book that's actually on this list, Legend. It takes place in a dystopian United States, now called the Republic. The book centers around June, star prodigy of the Republic's military, and Day, criminal on the run. They might seem very different, but when thrown together, the two get closer, and discover secrets the Republic would do anything to keep from the light.

So here it is, my favorite book list. Thanks for reading!