Books are the best, especially new books with new stories just waiting to be discovered and new characters just waiting to be introduced. Here's a list of some of the books I can hardly wait to get my hands on, some I must wait for and others I simply need to get the money for. Hope you enjoy! Embassy Row #1: All Fall Down by Ally Carter I have been a huge fan of Ally Carter's since I fell in love with her writing in her spies series, The Gallagher Girls. Ever since I heard the news of her new series, Embassy Row, I was hooked! Only just now have I discovered that the book's been released! In the novel, the main character, Grace Blakely, witnessed her mother's murder, but no one believes her (or at least never acknowledges it). Even her friends at Embassy Row won't help her. Grace is determined to avenge her mother's killer, and must endure the complicated life of granddaughter to the American ambassador of Adria (a fictional European country) as well as pursue her goals. The book looks like an exciting, adventurous, and hang-on-every-word start to the series. I can't wait to envelope myself into another one of Ally Carter's beautiful works! My Name Is Rapunzel by K. C. Hilton I know that one shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but look at that cover! It's so exquisite I just had to point it out first. When this photo and the little teaser synopsis was released, this book has been engraved in my mind! K.C. Hilton has written a rewrite of the classic fairytale, "Rapunzel", as an enchanting, 3-dimensional tale incorporating memorable characters and epic twists. Just reading the back of the book gives me the chills: "My tale has been told again and again, and I’ve heard each one. Except for my hair, I barely recognize the pitiful renditions. Muddled versions, crafted to entertain laughing children…but the children wouldn’t have laughed if they’d known the real story. It wasn't their fault. They didn't know the truth. Nobody did. My name is Rapunzel. I will tell you my story. I will tell you the truth." Isn't it beautiful? I'll be ordering this novel on Amazon as soon as I can. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak This is a novel I've been meaning to get for a long while now. The movie made me cry, and since then, I can't wait to sob over the pages of this beauty. The quotes I've read from this book are pure masterpieces, so I definitely know that Markus Zusak's writing is splendid. Nazi Germany during World War 2 through the eyes of young Liesel Meminger, this novel captivates the aspects of love and friendship and the power of books. The story line is gorgeous, the wording is spectacular, and the characters are endearing. I'm more than certain that Liesel is going to capture my heart. This is sure to be one of my favorites, added to the classics. Melanie Dickerson I absolutely love Melanie Dickerson's writing style and the way in which she retells fairy tales. Though I do like my fare share of magic, Melanie Dickerson tells her stories in such a way that they don't need the pixie dust and bippity-boppity-boo. I read one of her books, The Fairest Beauty, which I wholeheartedly adore! Seeing as she's written so many books, I'll include a few of them. The Captive Maiden is a wonderful spin on the story "Cinderella", focusing on the beautiful inside-and-out serving girl, Gisela, as she ventures to visit a life outside the walls of servitude her stepmother has barricaded her in. The Healer's Apprentice is loosely based on "Sleeping Beauty", incorporating the blood-shy healer's apprentice, Rose, and the injured future duke, Whilhem, this is sure to be an enthralling tale of love and danger. Finally, the last novel I will include is the first book in the Medieval Fairy Tale series, The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest. This thrilling mixture of "Robin Hood" and "Swan Lake" is about the gold-hearted outlaw, Odette, and the mangrave's forester, Jorgen, embarking on a page-turning adventure to stop the dangerous poaching ring... and falling in love, perhaps? I'm very tempted to go over to the closest bookstore to purchase Melanie Dickerson's whole collection of works! Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen by Serena Valentino I am a sucker for fairy tale rewrites, in case you haven't figured out by now. And I am a huge fan of Disney, so when I saw this cover, my heart skipped out of my chest! I had the opportunity to read a sample of the novel, and I am now dying to read the rest! A rewrite of the classic story, "Snow White", this book tells the tale from the Wicked Queen's side, which is incredible in itself! I have read another of Serena Valentino's Disney books, The Beast Within, which was so beautifully written from the Beast's side of the story in "Beauty and the Beast." Serena Valentino is also currently working on another Disney novel based on "The Little Mermaid" from Ursula's side of the story. I can't wait to read the both of them, plus any other fairy tale stories she has in store. Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan Now, I know I've mentioned Rick Riordan's new upcoming series before, but I just have to add it to this list! Magnus Chase is, presumably, Annabeth Chase's cousin. Anyway, in this series, Riordan has modernized the Norse myths in an epic series with the new young teen hero, Magnus Chase. And, of course, he's the son of a Norse god. The first book, The Sword of Summer, is set to release October 6th this year! I'm super excited about this new series, and I know that Rick Riordan isn't going to disappoint. Esther Friesner Another spinner of myths and legends, Esther Friesner is an author who includes both history and fantasy into her tales. I was very intrigued by her Princesses of Myth books, and I've been meaning to pick them up. These books include these renowned women: the beautiful Helen of Sparta in Nobody's Princess, the clever Nefertiti of Ancient Egypt in Sphinx's Princess, the confident Himiko of ancient Wa in Spirit's Princess, and the headstrong Maeve of Connacht in Deception's Princess. I honestly cannot wait to get my hands on these! Just the whole idea of getting into these strong, magnificent women's minds... Now the problem is which one to read first... The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble This book looks so good, I can't wait to get a hold of it! The way the summery is written makes it stand out from the other teen fiction, focusing on the fairytale side of fantasy rather than the modern movie side of fantasy. I love how straight from the get go the synopsis says how the book is about sisterly love. Not that there's no romance in the novel (because I'm thinking there is), but that I greatly appreciate a novel that doesn't instantly announce that two characters are going to fall in love (because it's very hard to exclude it!). The Mermaid's Sister is about the journey a young girl makes in order to save her sister from a fate she'd never have imagined! Clara soon discovers that perhaps the stories their Auntie told them were not as fictional as they'd thought. I've yet to read one of Carrie Anne Noble's books, but I'm certain that I'm going to fall in love with her writing right away! The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg I don't know what it is about this book that catches my eye... perhaps it's how artsy the cover is? The title is so unique? One of the characters has the same name (though differently spelled) as me? Well, whatever it is, The Paper Magician has caught a hold of my ink and paper heart and has made a home in a nice room of my mind. I love the new aspect Charlie N. Holmberg brings into the land of literary magic, and his character, Ceony, seems destined to take her place among the greats (great characters, that is). And in case you were wondering, the paper magician's name is Emery! I don't know why I find it so cool finding people/characters with basically the same name as me... even if this Emery is a man... Anyway, I'm ecstatic about this enchanting book! Enchanted by Alethea Kontis Yes, another fairytale rewrite. But this is "Princess and the Frog!" I love reading the stories based off of the not-so-popular tales. It's good to be unique (though of course I always enjoy the well-known legends as well). This is a story of Sunday, the youngest of seven girls... plus she's a story teller! This is a tale of frogs and princes, secrets and mysteries, and of course, love has to be involved. This is the first of the Woodcutter Sisters series, and I'm very excited to dive into Alethea Kontis' books! Grounded: The Untold Story of Peter Pan & Captain Hook by Jorge Enrique Ponce Peter Pan has always been my favorite story. Always! From the books to the movies, I just adore it! Grounded looks like it'll be added to another of my favorite stories of Neverland. Jorge Enrique Ponce has created a tale of the time before the Darlings came to Neverland, before James became the notorious pirate, before Pan was the boy who never grew up. I'm excited to see the back story to the characters I've always loved, or at least the way this author tells it; just follow the second star to the right, and straight on til morning. Queen of Hearts: The Crown by Colleen Oakes Wonderland is hands down my close second favorite world (right behind Neverland). And stories of the villain's side are always fascinating to me. Then, of course, the Queen of Hearts is such an intriguing villain, and I'm very curious to see how Collen Oakes portrays the blood thirsty Queen of Wonderland's back story. How and why did the Queen of Hearts become who we know her as today? That is the question. Dinah must have become this villainous queen somehow, right? As I understand it, this saga incorporates the beloved (and re-imagined) characters such as the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and White Rabbit, a kind of epic sisterly grudge, and of course some romance involved, all held in the most curious and whimsical world of Wonderland. I can't wait to read some of Colleen Oakes' works... plus, I've heard wind of a Wendy Darling series she's working on??? I'll be looking into that. Entwined by Heather Dixon Okay, firstly, look at that cover! Just look at it! Isn't beautiful? Alright, now that I've said that, I'm really excited about this read because I've been wanting to read it since I saw it at Barnes & Noble's a year or so ago but haven't had the chance to actually purchase it. This is a retelling of "the Twelve Dancing Princesses" by Heather Dixon, and I've heard a lot of good things about it. Told by the eldest of the dancing sisters, Azalea has everything any princess should desire... until it's taken away (*dun, dun, dun*) She's trapped, and apparently the Keeper is too (whoever he is...) With lavishing characters and enchanting scenes, Entwined is sure to bring mystery, excitement, and of course dancing! I can't wait to read it! There you have it! My list of but a portion of the books on my ever-growing reading list!
Has anyone read these novels? Any other book suggestions? If you have any suggestions or feedback of books, feel free to comment below! I'd love to do another one of these lists again (And I could always do with some more books on the shelf). Thanks for reading! Emory R. Frie
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"Stories help us remember what we never want to forget" - Neverland (The Realms Series, Book Two) AuthorEmory R. Frie is the award-winning author of Heart of a Lion and The Realms Series, and has works published by The Journal, Darling Magazine and Ramifications. She is the founder of Life Lights Copywriting for social businesses and nonprofits, has a bachelor's in creative writing at Berry College and currently lives in Boone, NC. |