The Best Of: Underrated YA Books #2

I would never claim to be the type of person who is a ‘trendsetter’ when it comes to books. More often than not I read the exact same books as everyone else. However, sometimes I come across a lesser-known book that I think everyone should read.

I am not claiming that I am the first person to talk about these books online and I want to state very clearly that this is just my opinion. I do not wish to offend anyone or especially the authors with this post. I am simply raising awareness for books that I really enjoyed that do not get a lot of attention online.

The Spoken Mage by Melanie Cellier

The Spoken Mage is a fantastic Kindle Unlimited series that I think everyone should check out. I would say it definitely falls on the younger side of YA as it has clean romance, but sometimes violent scenes.

When I first saw the title of this I was very intrigued. “The Spoken Mage? Don’t most mages speak their spells?”. Well not in this world. The written word controls magic, and only those who are ‘mageborn’ are allowed to learn to read and write. Or that’s what is believed until Elena changes everything.

The magic of this world is wholly unique and exciting and I loved every second of this series. With four books and a companion novel the world of The Spoken Mage is richly developed. If you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription then you should definitely think about checking this series out.

Goodreads synopsis: “In Elena’s world words have power over life and death–but none more so than hers.

As the daughter of shopkeepers, Elena has always known that the mysteries of reading and writing were closed to her. Only the mageborn can risk harnessing the power unleashed from putting pen to paper. Until Elena discovers an impossible new ability and joins the elite ranks of the mages.

But with the kingdom at war, the authorities can’t agree if Elena is an asset or a threat they need to eliminate. Thrust into the unknown world of the Royal Academy without friends or experience, Elena will need all of her wits, strength, and new power to carve a place for herself.

Except as the attacks become more personal, wits and strength won’t be enough. Elena will have to turn to new friends and an enigmatic prince to unlock the mysterious potential of her words and survive her first year as a trainee mage.”

The Siren by Kiera Cass

I know what you’re thinking “Kiera Cass is a popular author, how can one of her books be underrated?”. Well, I’ll tell you. The Selection is a popular book series, this standalone not so much.

I don’t think I’ve ever really seen anyone talking about this book online. A lot of people may love it and it does have a high Goodreads rating, but I’m looking more at how many people are talking about this online.

Although at times the plot seemed quite rushed. This new concept on sirens was really interesting and I loved every second.

I read this back in August and it took me only two days to get through. So if you’re as interested in sirens and mermaids as I am and you’re looking for a quick read then you should definitely consider The Siren.

Goodreads synopsis: “Kahlen is a Siren, bound to serve the Ocean by luring humans to watery graves with her voice, which is deadly to any human who hears it. Akinli is human—a kind, handsome boy who’s everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. Falling in love puts them both in danger . . . but Kahlen can’t bear to stay away. Will she risk everything to follow her heart?”

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

I spoke about this series in the very first ‘Books From My Teens’ post and I still love it just as much. If I have the time, at some point this year I want to re-read the entire series.

If you’re a fan of Greek mythology then this series is a must-read. I was definitely interested in it before picking this up and I found that I learnt a lot more than I already knew. This is definitely more of a teen read, but that’s actually what makes it so great.

I remember my mom buying me the first book. I read it the exact same day and then we went out to get the rest of the series. I read them back to back. They are such fun reads and you can get through the entire series quite quickly. So if you’re looking for a series to boost your Goodreads reading challenge then Starcrossed is a great place to start.

Goodreads synopsis: “How do you defy DESTINY?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is – no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it’s getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school, she’s haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood… and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they’re destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together – and trying to tear them apart.”