Book Recs 🔥

[hybridlore]

@theducktator @esther-c @anyone-else-who-enjoys-good-books-which-is-probably-everyone-on-here 😉

I figured we might as well have a topic for this (I’m sure there’s a dozen of them buried in the forum somewhere, but hey, I like making new ones ;))

So yeah! Here’s the place to post about our favorite books, or books that are not your favorite and you want to warn other people about them. Y’all wanted YA recommendations, so . . . *sprinkles first books into the topic*

The Silence Between Us – Alison Gervais | Contemporary, deaf protagonist, high school romance | Content Warning: Kissing

All Fall Down – Ally Carter | Has sort of a fantasy/dystopian feel, but I think it’s still realistic fiction | Cool friendship/frenemy dynamics and adventurous plot full of twists | CW: Kissing, medium violence, death (Not very graphic) and the main character has PTSD from a traumatic event in her childhood

Recruit of Talionis series – C. J. Milacci | Dystopian with outright Christian themes and faith | CW: Kissing, medium violence, death

Disclaimer: the previous two might have mild cursing, I can’t remember, and I don’t know if that’s a problem for y’all. Nothing worse than d*** probably.

⭐ Recorder – Cathy McCrumb | This one has more of an adult feel, since the characters are actually young adults and not teens. Still clean tho | Sci-fi adventure with romance and dystopian gov | CW: Kissing, medium violence (probably has the most out of all of the ones I’ve listed), and mainly made-up curses

⭐ Bonus: Anything by Nadine Brandes is great: Always clean, usually historical fiction with fantasy twists or dystopian/science fiction. She’s one of my favorite authors. CW: Kissing, violence (depends on the book.)

 

Annddd… I shall add to this as I remember. 😁 If y’all have favorite genres, tell me and I can rack my brain for books specifically in that genre. Also, the star means it’s one of my favorite books/series.

'Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.'

[The Most Esteemed Feathered One]

@hybridlore

Ooh, I’ll have to check these out!

A YA book series I like is the Winter White and Wicked duology by Shannon Dittemore. CW: Mild swearing.

I, for one, really like Roman numerals.

[HighScribe]

The Door on Half-Bald Hill by Helena Sorensen. Fantastic book. Veeeeeery dark, but veeeeeery good. (and it doesn’t really have any ‘bad’ content, it’s just dark)

If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.

[Otherworldly Historian]

I, know it’s not YA but I just finished a short story collection by Steven King titled You Like it Darker. It was pretty tremendous and I really enjoyed his writing style as well as the horror and thriller elements he employed. I know King is like a pretty famous and mainstream author but I was really impressed. I was wondering if anyone had recommendations for which Steven King book to try next (or if there are similar authors you really enjoy).

 

I was also interested if anyone has any fantasy book recommendations. I’d really be fine with anything (that isn’t super long or Brandon Sanderson) but do generally prefer darker themes, and/or school settings, mystery, and political thriller subthemes.

Through darkness,
light shines brightest

[hybridlore]

@theducktator

I’ve seen those around!! I’ll have to try to get them now. They gave me very Elsa-vibes.

Also, it seems this is going to be a forum that doesn’t give notifs. 😒

@otherworldlyhistorian

I have not read anything by Steven King, but I would recommend Ted Dekker’s books to you. They have a similar horror/fantasy vibe with Christian elements.

Have you read Of Ash and Fire by Gillian Bronte Adams? It doesn’t really have any of the themes you mentioned, but it’s an amazing series.

'Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.'

[hybridlore]

Some YA I forgot to list yesterday:

Dust – Kara Swanson | Contemporary/fantasy Peter Pan retelling | features guilt and mental health | CW: Kissing, maybe slight cursing and violence, mentioned suicide attempt

Ignite – Kara Swanson | Fantasy phoenix story with strong abuse/mental health themes | CW: Violence, kissing, slight nudity (not described)

⭐️ Wonderland Trials – Sara Ella | Dystopian Alice in Wonderland retelling with mystery elements | CW: Kissing, mild violence, maybe a mild curse or two

Unblemished trilogy – Sara Ella | Fantasy similar to KOTLC, but Christian and more romance | CW: Kissing, mild/medium violence

Coral – Sara Ella | Ariel retelling w/ mental health and suicide focus | CW: Suicide, mild violence, kissing, mild cursing

'Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.'

[The Most Esteemed Feathered One]

@hybridlore

Also, it seems this is going to be a forum that doesn’t give notifs. 😒

Nooooooo! *subscribes*

I just got Dust and Ignite from the library! I’m excited to read them. I’ve heard of Sara Ella. I’ll have to check out some of her books.

@otherworldlyhistorian

I second what Hybridlore said about Ted Dekker. He’s amazing!

I, for one, really like Roman numerals.

[Otherworldly Historian]

@hybridlore

That book ‘Of Ash and Fire’ seems interesting. I will have to check it out.

Through darkness,
light shines brightest

[The Most Esteemed Feathered One]

Has anyone else read The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill? Its sooo good!!!!

I, for one, really like Roman numerals.

[hybridlore]

@theducktator

Yay!! Lemme know what you think!!

I have not read the Pushcart War. What’s it about?

@otherworldlyhistorian

Awesome!

'Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.'

[The Most Esteemed Feathered One]

@hybridlore

I have not read the Pushcart War. What’s it about?

It’s a children’s book, written to sound like a true story. Younger me believed it was true. XD It is essentially the tale of a war between the pushcarts, and the trucks.

“The Pushcart War started on the afternoon of March 16, 2026, when a truck ran down a truck belonging to a flower peddler. Daffodils were scattered all over the street. The pushcart was flattened, and the owner of the pushcart was pitched headfirst into a pickle barrel.”

The dates get changed every so often to be slightly in the future, and I was reading my mom’s old copy, so little me is to be forgiven for having believed this. XD

Yay!! Lemme know what you think!!

I loved Dust and Shadow soooo much! The ending made me so happy. I was sooo worried Peter or Claire would die. They’re so perfect together! I loved their voices so much. Sarcastic first person narrators are my favorite. And I love Tootles. He’s my favorite character.

I, for one, really like Roman numerals.

[Trailblazer]

I’ve got a few non-fiction books that have been highly impactful for me, and if you haven’t read them, you should XD.

-When Dreams Come True, by Eric and Leslie Ludy (basically their love story- there may be a few references to things such as p*rn, but it’s all from a Biblical perspective)

-Made for People, by Justin Whitmel Earley (talking about how humans were created for relationship and we’ve lost some of the art of friendship today. He gives very practical habits to cultivate deeper relationships) And yes, I quoted him in my signature.

-The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer (discussing how today’s world is so rushed and sharing insight into how we can deliberately slow down our lives and make space for what really matters in life- God and the people He’s placed in our lives) It’s super powerful, and to be honest, I’m not even quite finished with the book yet, but it’s been so good!

"Real love is for your good, not for your comfort." -Justin Whitmel Earley

[whaley]

I have some great recommendations! I love these books. :]

– 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

I pulled the book off my shelf to double check the title, and accidentally read half the book in one sitting. XD Granted, it is very short, because some of the parts were lost. This collection of letters between an American girl and a British bookseller is absolutely marvelous. It is non-fiction, and I think it happens somewhere during WWII. It is witty, messy, and sweet. The two writers have the best personalities. I highly recommend reading a physical copy.

– Greenglass House by Kate Milford

This mystery takes place in – wouldn’t you know it – an inn with green glass. The author builds up a cozy environment quite well, and I love the colorful guests who initiate the conflict. Milo, the main character, reminds me a lot of my little brother. Has some similarities with Mysterious Benedict Society, for fans of those books. This book is perfect for curling up in an armchair with a hot drink.

(Note: I haven’t finished the story yet, since I limit myself to one chapter an evening.)

– The Discoverers by Daniel J. Boorstin

This is a non-fiction history book, which I’ve been reading for school. Rather than organizing history chronologically or by location, it organizes itself by discovery. It starts with astronomy and the capturing of time by moon, and broadens its horizons from there. I got a lot of world-building inspiration from this book. I will warn, the author is anti-religion and he loves to use the word ‘dogma’ in tandem with Christianity, but he sounds more like a grumpy old man than a serious debate. As with any history book, keep bias in mind.

– The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell

A little Russian girl and her mother take in tamed wolves, the ones which Russian aristocrats have mishandled, and reintroduces them to the wild. The author is a master at metaphors and inviting the reader into the fairy-tale tone. The wolves themselves are important characters in the plot.

– Goblin Market by Christina Rosetti, and illustrated by Omar Rayyan

I mentioned the artist because he put together an illustrated special edition of the poem. He interprets the world of goblins beautifully. My mum bought several paintings of his to decorate our house, and I still have a couple of his works on my wish list. Please check his work out if you love traditional painting and dark/quirky concepts. The poem itself is also lovely; reminds me of the Jabberwocky.

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[The Most Esteemed Feathered One]

@whalekeeper

Greenglass House by Kate Milford

I started that one once, but I never finished it. I think because I had the stomach flu that day, and books just aren’t the same then. XD I should try it again.

I, for one, really like Roman numerals.

[whaley]

@theducktator

Such things happen, I can’t blame you. XD

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[Author]

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