My to be read shelf on Goodreads is an actual mess and I really ought to organise it properly at some point. There are books on it that were added in 2014 and let’s be honest I probably won’t be reading any of those anytime soon. With that being said I am again sharing a few of the books that have been on my to be read the longest and would really appreciate any advice on whether to keep or purge any of the books on the list.
Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo
I wanted to read Six of Crows long before I even knew about Shadow and Bone. I may have made a mistake when choosing to read Shadow and Bone first as now I’m really not sure about Leigh Bardugo’s books. I have mentioned several times in the last few months that Siege and Storm (Shadow and Bone #2) really was not my cup of tea.
Let me know if I definitely should read Six of Crows as I do already own it so it would be a shame if I wasted my money. However, if it is anything like Siege and Storm, I think I’ll pass.
Goodreads synopsis: “Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .
A convict with a thirst for revenge
A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager
A runaway with a privileged past
A spy known as the Wraith
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes
Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.”
Bright Smoke, Cold Fire (Bright Smoke, Cold Fire #1) by Rosamund Hodge
I remember adding this to my to be read because I really liked the cover. Yes we all know by now that I’m quite shallow when it comes to picking books, there’s nothing wrong with liking a pretty cover.
I don’t think I have ever seen anyone talking about this series online and I definitely haven’t checked out any reviews. If you have read Bright Smoke, Cold Fire then please let me know if it is worth keeping on my to be read or if I should straight up purge it.
Goodreads synopsis: “When the mysterious fog of the Ruining crept over the world, the living died and the dead rose. Only the walled city of Viyara was left untouched.
The heirs of the city’s most powerful—and warring—families, Mahyanai Romeo and Juliet Catresou share a love deeper than duty, honour, even life itself. But the magic laid on Juliet at birth compels her to punish the enemies of her clan—and Romeo has just killed her cousin Tybalt. Which means he must die.
Paris Catresou has always wanted to serve his family by guarding Juliet. But when his ward tries to escape her fate, magic goes terribly wrong—killing her and leaving Paris bound to Romeo. If he wants to discover the truth of what happened, Paris must delve deep into the city, ally with his worst enemy . . . and perhaps turn against his own clan.
Mahyanai Runajo just wants to protect her city—but she’s the only one who believes it’s in peril. In her desperate hunt for information, she accidentally pulls Juliet from the mouth of death—and finds herself bound to the bitter, angry girl. Runajo quickly discovers Juliet might be the one person who can help her recover the secret to saving Viyara.
Both pairs will find friendship where they least expect it. Both will find that Viyara holds more secrets and dangers than anyone ever expected. And outside the walls, death is waiting. . .”
Three Dark Crowns (Three Dark Crowns #1) by Kendare Blake
So this has only been on my to be read for three years, but has that been too long? Is it realistic to think I will buy a book from that long ago when there are so many new books released each month? Who knows, I certainly don’t.
The last book in this series was released earlier this year and I have seen a lot of people raving about it, so maybe I will read it at some point.
Goodreads synopsis: “When kingdom come, there will be one.
In every generation on the island of Fennbirn, a set of triplets is born—three queens, all equal heirs to the crown and each possessor of a coveted magic. Mirabella is a fierce elemental, able to spark hungry flames or vicious storms at the snap of her fingers. Katharine is a poisoner, one who can ingest the deadliest poisons without so much as a stomachache. Arsinoe, a naturalist, is said to have the ability to bloom the reddest rose and control the fiercest of lions.
But becoming the Queen Crowned isn’t solely a matter of royal birth. Each sister has to fight for it. And it’s not just a game of win or lose…it’s life or death. The night the sisters turn sixteen, the battle begins.
The last queen standing gets the crown.”
Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor
I have wanted to continue this series so badly, however, I read Daughter of Smoke and Bone at a time when I didn’t make money for myself so I was not able to buy the next book. I read it on my iPhone because it was free and at this point in my life I did not want to spend any money on ebooks as I thought it was a waste of money. 2020 me now laughs at that whilst scrolling through my 30+ pages of ebooks on my kindle.
I know what you’re thinking, why not buy it now that you do have your own money? Well, the simple answer to that is I don’t quite remember what happened in the first book and I don’t have time to re-read it as my to be read is now over 200 books.
Any thoughts on whether or not I should re-read the first book and buy the rest of the series would be well appreciated.
Goodreads synopsis: “Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.
This is not that world.
Art student and monster’s apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.
In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.
While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.
But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?”
I personally really liked Six of Crows, but hated Shadow and Bone. Six of Crows had a more complex storyline and I liked the characters much better.
That’s good to know!
I’ve read the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy and really loved them. If you liked the first, I’d continue on!!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
I enjoyed the Shadow and Bone series, and also liked Six of Crows too. I think the Six of Crows duology is quite different from the Shadow and Bone books, so I would say give it a go because it is very good.
That’s good to know, thanks!
Great list! I definitely recommend reading Six of Crows – I found the Shadow and Bone trilogy pretty meh, and I was so glad I’d read SoC first – it’s so great, it even made S&B more interesting!