I’ve really strayed from fantasy books lately but they do still have my heart. I think once December comes round I can start picking up longer books again as I won’t need to read any books for content that month because I should have my reviews finished by then. Here’s to hoping anyway.
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
I read this book a very long time ago but only finished the series in 2022. However, I could still remember everything that happened in book one. This series is so magical and is such a unique idea. I’m not sure exactly what age it’s for as I’d always assumed it was a children’s book but there’s a lot of complex language and scenarios going on. So don’t be deterred if you want to read it but it says it’s for children, this is easily enjoyed by any age. It’s one of the series I say everyone should read at least once in their life.
Also, can we just appreciate how gorgeous this cover is? I had the first book as a kid but when I bought the entire series as an adult I came across the ‘gift editions’ and they are stunning.
Synopsis: When Lyra’s friend Roger disappears, she and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, determine to find him.
The ensuing quest leads them to the bleak splendour of the North, where armoured bears rule the ice and witch-queens fly through the frozen skies – and where a team of scientists is conducting experiments too horrible to be spoken about.
Lyra overcomes these strange terrors, only to find something yet more perilous waiting for her – something with consequences which may even reach beyond the Northern Lights…
The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward
This series is so fun and it’s one I’d like to re-read to see if it still holds up. I loved the sections when Sam, our main character, would make potions and you’d get short descriptions of what the ingredients were and what they do – it’s so interesting. I have no idea if they are accurate to real life or if the descriptions are made up for the book but I love it. Obviously the magic parts are made up.
I still have the whole series and it’s one of the only ones from my teens that I didn’t get rid of when I did a big book sort out.
Synopsis: When the Princess of Nova accidentally poisons herself with a love potion meant for her crush, she falls crown-over-heels in love with her own reflection. Oops. A nationwide hunt is called to find the cure, with competitors travelling the world for the rarest ingredients, deep in magical forests and frozen tundras, facing death at every turn. Enter Samantha Kemi – an ordinary girl with an extraordinary talent. Sam’s family were once the most respected alchemists in the kingdom, but they’ve fallen on hard times, and winning the hunt would save their reputation. But can Sam really compete with the dazzling powers of the Zoro Aster megapharma company? Just how close is Sam willing to get to Zain Aster, her dashing former classmate and enemy, in the meantime? And just to add to the pressure, this quest is ALL OVER social media. And the world news. No big deal, then.
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