Do you ever read a book that you think everyone should be reading and talking about and sharing, and then you realise that no one has ever heard of this book besides you? Or at least, fewer people than you’d like. It’s very frustrating, which is why I have compiled a list of books that I don’t think enough people are reading, yet I think that so many people would love. I hope you find something interesting among these that you might want to read – or better yet, read all of them, because they are all amazing!
1: The Dragon’s Legacy by Deborah A Wolf
This is the one that I think the least people have even heard of, let alone read, which is really sad because it is such a good epic fantasy. The world created is so rich and expansive and detailed and the author so obviously put so much into this book. The writing itself is beautiful, and there is a huge cast of characters to fall in love with. Plus cats! Big cats that the desert dwellers bond with! I fully recommend this book, especially to those people who love epic fantasy like A Game of Thrones or books by Brandon Sanderson. You are missing out!
2: State of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury
This is a YA fantasy that everyone seems to be sleeping on at the moment because it is so! damn! good! The second and final book in the duology came out earlier this year, so now is a perfect time to start reading this series! I love the characters, the romance (it has a soft boy who wears glasses and sasses people and I just can’t!!), the plot and the world – it is such a unique little book that needs way more popularity. The world is incredible and it has more of a democratic system rather than a monarchy which is something I haven’t really read in fantasy before.
3: The Orphanage of Gods by Helena Coggan
For some reason this book has a really low average rating on Goodreads which I just do not understand? There were some things I didn’t love about it, but there are so many good things about this book, and all the characters are really flawed and interesting. It’s a slightly futuristic/alternate reality in which there are “gods” who have children with magical powers. It’s told from three different POVs and it is a very interesting book. Plus, there is a female/female romance! I’m not sure if there is going to be a sequel or not, because it ended on a sort of cliffhanger, but I hope there is! Definitely check this one out.
4: The Afterward by E K Johnston
This is one of my favourite books of the year so far…so why is no one talking about it? This is a story about the most badass of female knights, diversity and a twist on the traditional “and they all lived happily ever after”. This book follows what happens after the end of the quest…because not everything is always perfect. The writing is gorgeous and I loved the characters and the romance. Please go read this book!
5: Ignite The Stars by Maura Milan
First of all, let me just say, the cover of this book is absolutely stunning and so is the sequel’s, so all of you bookworms who are prone to a spontaneous cover buy (like me)…But seriously, this book has strong and dynamic female characters, with a sci-fi sort of academy and a plot full of twists and turns. I am so excited for the sequel which comes out in September. It is going to be everything. What more could you want from a book?
6: Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Perez
This book is a retelling of a breathtakingly beautiful Celtic tale (Tristan and Isolde) and incorporates so much amazing culture that makes me want to physically live in the book and never leave. The characters are perfectly flawed and I love them and the relationships between them so much. It is a really well crafted book which also has a sequel coming soon, which I will definitely be reading, so now is the perfect time to immerse yourself in some Celtic mythology.
7: I Stop Somewhere by T E Carter
This is definitely a very dark book which covers the heavy topic of sexual assault, so please be aware of that going into it. It is absolutely beautifully written, and has so many important things to say. For such a little book, it packs a really big punch, and I am kind of sad to see this one getting passed over. I wholeheartedly recommend it, and if you are okay with reading about this, then I urge you to pick it up and read it.
Please go and check out these books, and then scream about them into the internet so that other people might read them too. In my opinion, these books deserve so much love and attention that they simply do not receive. All of them are books I have loved and have the need to push them into other people’s hands. Of course, you don’t have to read them, but if they sound interesting to you….you should.
The Bookish Courtier 