Much like everyone, I've been trying to get back into reading this year after a prolonged heavy slump. This is going to sound really cheesy, but I've always loved the alternate reality that comes with reading. Lately, I've been going through some less than ideal things and reading has been a great way to cope with my problems, so I wanted to share my favorite books with you.
1. "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
I think this is my favorite book of all time and I think everyone should read it. This book revolves around six teenagers who commit crimes for no reason other than that they're greedy. Out of all six main characters, three are part of the LGBTQ+ community, two are people of color, one is plus-sized, one is crippled, one struggles with addiction, and another one unlearned misogyny and cult behavior. The characters all feel extremely real and it's an excellent form for escapism.
2. "Crooked Kingdom" by Leigh Bardugo
"Crooked Kingdom" is the sequel to the first book on the list. This one involves the same characters as the first book, but it's centered around a different event. It's still a fantastic book - I just didn't find this event as exciting as the first one. I will say, I think the romantic plot points were much better in this one. It literally ripped my heart out and it still makes me sad a month later.
3. "Siege and Storm" by Leigh Bardugo
This book is only ranked so high because Nikolai Lanstov is introduced into the universe. He is truly the backbone of the entire Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising). Nikolai is the prince of the main country in the book, Ravka, but he also happens to be a privateer. He's tall, blond, sarcastic, and has a thigh tattoo. Enough said.
4. "Shadow and Bone" by Leigh Bardugo
"Shadow and Bone" by Leigh Bardugo is pretty solid. Without the Six of Crows duology and Nikolai Lanstov, it would've been number one. It's a really compelling story with interesting plot twists, making it an engaging and quick read. I believe as you start new books, it can be a little overwhelming, but it's really easy to get into this one. It's great for getting out of a reading slump. However, it lacks the complexity of the duology.
5. "Ruin and Rising" by Leigh Bardugo
There's a couple of reasons why this book is so low on my ranking. One is because the main love interest was incredibly annoying throughout this book. Also, he got a tattoo that says, "I am become blade." Clearly, he has poor judgment. The other reason is that Nikolai Lanstov deserved better than transpired in the narrative. I will say, the epilogue of this book was fantastic (except for Alina - who also deserves better) and made me cry incredibly hard.
In case you haven't noticed, I love this series and I highly recommend it.
