Weirdly, fantasy isn’t a genre I’ve been reaching for lately, but most of my favourite books are fantasies. I’ve always loved the escapism of new worlds and magic but I think we can all agree that strong worldbuilding can be intimidating sometimes. I think I need to get stuck into some good romantasies to fuel my love for fantasy again.
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
I’ve talked about this book a lot and for good reason. It’s one of my favourite siren-themed books and I just love how cutthroat the world is. Right down to the descriptions. It’s such a beautiful book, despite all of the gore and action, and I’d expect nothing less from a book about sirens.
This has major The Little Mermaid vibes but Lira is more like Ursula than Ariel. She’s effortlessly cool and all round badass. There are a lot of parallels but this book is told from the perspective of a siren that doesn’t want to be human. It’s a fun take on the classic story and may actually be more brutal than the original Hans Christian Andersen tale.
Synopsis: Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.
The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?
Air Awakens by Elise Kova
If you’re a fan of elemental magic, Air Awakens is the book, and series, for you. The descriptions of the magic are so cool and it’s so fun to see how the elements can work together.
The characters are endearing and authentic, the storyline goes from one plot twist to the next (never a boring moment) and the world-building is something that I am in awe of.
I pretty much read this entire series back to back, which isn’t something I do very often. I’ve been thinking about re-reading this series a lot lately. This was the first book I read on my Kindle so it has a very special place in my heart.
Synopsis: A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond…
The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.
Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world.
Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined.
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Like this post? Why not read this one too: Book Review: Bountiful Magic by Iris Beaglehole