In an effort to get me more active on this blog, combined with my love of talking about books, I've decided to do a 30-day book challenge for the month of June. There are a ton of book challenges out there, and I lowkey want to do all of them, but I had to just pick one so here it is. For the thirty days of June I am going to (try) and post a book every day to fit the challenges parameters. This will be fun because I get to talk about one of my favorite subjects: books, and hopefully some of you might be inspired to read some of them! So here we go. 

This one is a hard one. I read a lot of good ones last year. If you're actually interested in hearing the full answer to the best bookS I read last year, here's a post I made about it. Since I already made a full post on my favorite reads of last yea, I won't dive too in depth here. I'll just pick one. 

This one actually surprised me last year-- many of the books were ones I was expecting to be on the list, but  I didn't even know this one existed until I happened to stumble across it in Barnes and Noble. And wow, I am so glad that I happened to pick it up. This is an author that I had never even read a book from before, but it absolutely blew me away. You know how loose fairytale retellings are all the rage right now? Well, Stain falls right in that category, but it's not any of the commonly used tales-- cinderella, beauty and the beast, the little mermaid. Nope, Stain uses the Princess and the Pea for its inspiration, a much more badass and tough Princess and the Pea, but it still manages the capture the magic and enchanting aspect of a fairytale. 
Stain is set in a fantasy world where one kingdom in the past was split into two. Now the two kingdoms are day and night, and they have been at war for as long as anyone can remember. But now may be the time for the two to come back together, after all, the beginnings of the prophecy have started to be fulfilled. A night princess was born to the day royalty and a day prince was born to the night royalty. All they have to do is come together to fulfill the prophecy and rejoin the two kingdoms... Except it can never be that easy, can it? When you throw in an evil stepmother and stepsisters, along with a lot of magic as well as nefarious creatures? Definitely not an easy task. 
The writing and tone are magical, really truly feeling like you are reading a fairytale, and not just some modern rendition. I can't emphasize enough how much I loved this book. Please, please read it! 
Here's the real synopsis: 
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"Once upon a nightmare, her fairy tale begins...

This high-fantasy gothic fairytale, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea, is set in an alternative medieval world split apart by magic. To win back her kingdom of perpetual day, save her night prince, and reunite the sun with the moon, a princess incapable of speech or sound must prove herself everything a traditional princess is not: tough enough to sleep on a bed of nails, and loud enough to be heard without a voice."

​If you missed my first post, basically I decided I'd recommend some of my favorite reads to help ease the boredom of being trapped at home. To make it a little easier to find what you might be looking for, I'm splitting up the books into LOOSE categories. The first post covered Romance and Fantasy, and this one is Urban Fantasy, Dystopian and Childhood/Nostalgic Books. If you're more interested in fantasy or romance (my loose definitions are below) then check out my last post! If not, here are the Urban Fantasy, Dystopian and Childhood/Nostalgic Books! 

Fantasy 
Urban Fantasy (using this term very loosely. By using urban fantasy I mean something with magic that is set in our own contemporary world.) 
Romance (Like, contemporary romance) 
Dystopian (I know everyone is sick of dystopians like the Hunger Games, but trust me, you can get a lot deeper and have more interesting set ups than the chosen one trope and such. Dystopian is just a setting, it doesn't necessarily follow the Hunger Games type set up that so many other movies tried to follow up after the massive success those movies had.) 
Childhood/Nostalgic Books (Yes, books I associate with my childhood that I still praise as fantastic reads. Anyone can read them, doesn't matter what age you are.) 

Again I would like to say: THESE BOOKS DO NOT FIT PERFECTLY INTO THESE CATEGORIES. I was just looking for something broader to fit the different novels into. There is almost definitely romance in every single one of these, or at least connections and friendships being built and developed-- what good book doesn't have that? I would highly recommend all of these books, obviously, they're all some of my favorite books. That means that they all have good plots, characters etc. Even if I highlight good character development in one overview, that doesn't mean the rest of the books don't have it. It just means that the one book's character development particularly stood out to me.
​
Anyway, let's get into the recommendations, shall we? 

House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas (Crescent City #1) 
Rating: 9.8/10 stars 
Action, Intrigue, Romance and Amazing Relationships in general (friendship is a big one), as usual, Sarah J. Maas books have it all 
This is a more mature book, with some heavier themes. Definitely not just a quick, light read if that's what you're looking for. (It's not heavy and dark, though, and there are definitely some light, fun scenes). 

Why break the habit of starting this post duology with Sarah J .Maas books? This woman is after all, my favorite author and from what I've seen thus far, everything she writes is pure gold. Unlike her other two series, this newest series (only the first book is out so far) takes place in a more modern world. While it is still set in a fantasy city, it has all the modern essentials and technology so I'm counting this story under more urban fantasy than just regularly high fantasy. It's an odd blending of high fantasy with the urban setting and somehow Sarah managed to blend the two together seamlessly. 
I will admit that the beginning of this book is a little slow. There has to be a lot fo set up for the world, the characters and the relationships-- you most likely will not be sucked in from the very first page. Being sucked in sneaks up on you slowly. One minute you think you can put it down, the next you're turning the final page of the book and the sun is rising... Wait that's just me? Whoops. Honestly though, after a while I was utterly enchanted with this book and couldn't put it down for the life of me, despite the awareness of the late hour (or should I say early?). 
As I mentioned earlier, this book has everything you could want: romance, action, intrigue, mystery. The most important and standout characteristic of this novel, though, would have to be the friendships and the bonds between characters. Wow, even just thinking back on them now leaves a poignant sense inside my chest. The friendships between characters in this book are just so strong and beautiful, there really isn't any way to describe just how, well, beautiful they are. It really left an impression on me, that's to be sure. Sure, there's a good slow burn romance, badass protagonists, an intriguing plot and some hilarious and touching moments, but just the biggest shining star comes in the form of friendships. I read a lot of books, and I haven't come across many whose friendships depict anything near as deep as the friendships depicted here. It sticks with you, I can say that. I know I'm just going in circles here, but I can't emphasize enough how utterly amazing and beautiful the friendships-- specifically one that is the whole center of the plot-- are in this book. I can't get over it. 
The characters are all flawed, but that's what makes them so much more real and relatable. What makes their stories even more moving is how they have to learn from their mistakes, and how they change. Watching that is... it's amazing. I loved it. This one is long, and if you have the patience for a longer book, this is definitely one to add to your list!  

Synopsis: 

Bound by blood.
Tempted by desire.
Unleashed by destiny.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life—working hard all day and partying all night—until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She’ll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths.

Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose—to assassinate his boss’s enemies, no questions asked. But with a demon wreaking havoc in the city, he’s offered an irresistible deal: help Bryce find the murderer, and his freedom will be within reach.

As Bryce and Hunt dig deep into Crescent City’s underbelly, they discover a dark power that threatens everything and everyone they hold dear, and they find, in each other, a blazing passion—one that could set them both free, if they’d only let it.

With unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and page-turning suspense, this richly inventive new fantasy series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas delves into the heartache of loss, the price of freedom—and the power of love.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (Alex Stern #1) 
Rating: 9/10 stars 
Mystery, Action, AMAZING CHARACTERS 
This is also a mature book. It's very dark with a lot of heavy topics and themes, but if you're able and willing to read it, I would say it's definitely worth it 

I don't even know where to start with this book. The synopsis doesn't do it justice because I will admit that I wasn't all that enthusiastic when starting it-- not to say I was bored starting it, just that it wasn't the most exciting thing. Yet, I'd heard a lot of good stuff about this one so I wanted to see what all the hype was about... And yes, for once, this book actually deserves all of the hype that it gets. I love this book, it's intriguing and mysterious-- once you actually get the feel of it, it's very hard to put down. The protagonist along with most other characters in this book (except for Daniel) is incredibly flawed, with a very dark and twisted past... Yet, that only shapes her to be a better protagonist. I absolutely love this book. Though, like I mentioned above it is very dark and heavy-- not by any means a light read. It shows the worst in people, and there are a lot of topics in there that are no light matter including that of rape, abuse and drugs. It's an intense read from start to finish. So if you feel like that's not something that you can read, then don't read it. I don't want anyone to feel pressured to read it just because I think this is a masterpiece of a book-- if you're triggered by its contents, no matter how good I think it is, it definitely won't be a good read for you. Still, that being said, if it is something that even piques your interest, I would encourage you to read it-- it's an extremely well-written, well thought out book, and I can't wait to see what the rest of the series has in store. 

Synopsis: 
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Galaxy “Alex” Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale’s freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. By age twenty, in fact, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she’s thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world’s most elite universities on a full ride. What’s the catch, and why her?

Still searching for answers to this herself, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale’s secret societies. These eight windowless “tombs” are well-known to be haunts of the future rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street and Hollywood’s biggest players. But their occult activities are revealed to be more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Devices #1) 
Series Rating: 10/10 Stars 
Action, romance, intrigue-- these books are a colossal amount of fun to read. Not too heavy either! 

Not in the mood for a heavy read, but also don't just want to read fun fluff? This is a good book series to fulfill that need. For those of you who know me, you'll probably be quite aware that I am a big fan of Cassandra Clare's books. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy, romance and action. Unlike the two novels above, this is not a more adult book and its main protagonists are more young adults around 17-18. This book series doesn't necessarily take place in the parameters that I set for urban fantasy, see, they take place in Victorian London, so not present day... But I figured they fit better into the Urban Fantasy setting than that of high fantasy/just normal fantasy so here we are. 
While these books are a lot of fun to read, they also are filled with touching moments with more depth than just surface level fun. The characters are very easy to grow attached to, and the plot is perfectly paced-- not too fast or too slow. If you enjoy a lot of sarcasm and sass, these books have plenty of that as well. 

Synopsis: 
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In a time when Shadowhunters are barely winning the fight against the forces of darkness, one battle will change the course of history forever. Welcome to the Infernal Devices trilogy, a stunning and dangerous prequel to the New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments #1) 
Series Rating: 9/10 stars 
Action, Humor, Romance, Intrigue-- same as above 

I just thought I'd mention that yes, these books have a TV show as well as a movie based off them, and no we are not going to talk deeper on that because I hate both renditions as they are basically nothing like their source material. So if you happen to know and like/dislike the TV show or movie, well, don't let that sway your opinion on this series, because it is completely different either way. 
Unlike the Infernal Devices series, this series takes place in basically modern day New York. (If we want to get real specific, it's 2007 New York). It's set in the same world as the Infernal Devices, though, so if you take a liking to either series you'll be glad to know that there are companion series in the same world! It's actually a lot of fun. There are three more series set in this world not on this list along with a ton of companion novels, so if you dive into the Shadowhunter world and fall in love with it like many before you, there's plenty of content to devour. It's fun because even though each series is about different characters in different times, they're connected to each other, so there are similar things, characters and families throughout. 
If I'm being honest and ignoring the nostalgia of this particular series, I would have to admit that the Infernal Devices is the superior series in terms of pacing, writing and general plot than the Mortal Instruments. Still, Cassandra Clare is a writing genius and all of her works are fantastic, so while I would say that starting with the Infernal Devices may be the more guaranteed option for you to be sucked into the series, I would also say that I started with City of Bones and love it just as much as anyone else. Honestly, when deciding between the two I feel like it would just come down to which synopsis interests you more-- but again, I would say Clockwork Angel is a better written first novel than City of Bones, just because Clare had more practice writing by then and City of Bones was her debut. They're both amazing though, so you pick! 
(Side note: if you do decide you want to read all of the books, I would recommend finishing The Infernal Devices before finishing the final book in the Mortal Instruments (City of Heavenly Fire) just because the final book has spoilers from The Infernal Devices in it. Also, I would reccomend finishing these two first series before diving into the other series in the world (The Dark Artifices, The Last Hours and the Scrolls of Magic) because they all have spoilers to these first two series. To enhance your reading experience there are also accompanying novellas, such as the Bane Chronicles, the Shadowhunter Academy and Ghosts of the Shadow Market. These novella bindups are by no means necessary to enjoy the books themselves, but they are just enjoyable and add more depth to the characters and the world). 

Synopsis: 
​
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux #1) 
Series Rating: 8.5/10 Stars 
Very light, fun reads, humor, action, romance 
Character age: teenagers 

​Now here is a very light, quick, easy and fun read. Everyone I've recommended this series to has loved it. It's definitely the opposite of the first two books on this list, because it's not heavy at all. These books are light and cute, and they read very quick. You'll be on the back cover before you know it. There are five books in total in this series, and something that I think is particularly fun is that the main antagonist of each novel is different, so it adds a fun new dynamic to each book. 
Also I should mention: this is not really fantasy. It's more sci-fi than fantasy, but it's set in modern day and I didn't have any other really good sci-fi books to add to my list so I just stuck it in with urban fantasy.  
Also! If you enjoy the easy writing style and general feel of these books, Jennifer L. Armentrout has a few other series set in the same genre of YA that are also quite fun reads! 

Synopsis: 
Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy #1)
Series Rating: 8.8/10 Stars 
Lots of sass, sarcasm and humor, action, romance, mystery 
Characters in their late teens, some twenties

Okay, okay hear me out. Yeah, the series name and first book title is completely terrible and cliche sounding, especially when combined with the early 2000s trend of sexy vampires-- but this series is not nearly as dumb as it sounds! I promise. It is a really unfortunate series name, and the covers are also unfortunate, and the movie was not great either, so you'll just trust me when I say that the book content is really good and a lot of fun to read. This is another light series that you'll feel like you're just flying through. It's really fun because the main character is very sarcastic and witty, but she's also a badass so that's always a plus. Like Obsidian, the Vampire Academy series is unique and fun also because the main antagonist in each book is different, so you're never quite sure what to expect. These are really fun reads that I really enjoyed, I would definitely recommend. The mythology around vampires is different from anything I've heard before too, so if you're sick of vampires, well, this is a little different from the stereotypically vampire idea of bloodsuckers who are undead and bite others to turn them etc. 

Synopsis: 
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ONLY A TRUE BEST FRIEND CAN PROTECT YOU FROM YOUR IMMORTAL ENEMIES...

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest vampires - the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them.

After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger... and the Strigoi are always close by.

Rose and Lissa must navigate their dangerous world, confront the temptations of forbidden love, and never once let their guard down, lest the evil undead make Lissa one of them forever...

Scythe by Neal Shusterman (Arc of a Scythe #1) 
Series Rating: 7.8/10 stars 
Action, lots of character building, some really interesting themes & ideas 

Scythe is a weird series, because I love it, I really do, but I honestly have no idea how to describe it to someone. While it's not a light, fluffy read, it's also not all that dense or heavy either. This series is particularly fun because the characters are interesting as is the plot, but it also gets you thinking. See, Scythe is set in a world where humanity has "escaped" death. Our technology has gone so far that we no longer die. To avoid overpopulation, there is one way for people to meet their final end: the Scythes, an order tasked with permanently ending lives. It's really interesting to think about the meaning of life if there was no end, and also the idea death. Each Scythe treats it differently, some give their targets warning in advance, while others spontaneously end a life to simulate the unpredictability of death as it once was-- like if you had the ability to determine who lives and who dies and how, how would you determine it? Anyway, just some weird thoughts of mine, haha. While the first book starts off slow, it eventually catches up and then you'll not want to put it down until the series is over. There are so many interesting characters and plot points. I was honestly so sad when I finished the last book because I would've loved to spend more time with these characters. 

Synopsis: 
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Thou shalt kill.

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.

Renegades by Marissa Meyer (Renegades #1) 
Series Rating: 8/10 stars 
action, romance, humor, deception, superheroes 

This series is a lot of fun to read, if I were to just give it one word I'd say fun pretty much encapsulates the whole thing, the characters are fun, the plot is fun-- the book is just a fun time. Something I really enjoyed about this series, especially with the first couple of books, is that even though there are heroes and villains, there isn't necessarily a definable line between good and evil. The "heroes" are real, and they are flawed. They make mistakes and aren't wholeheartedly good, even if they're trying to be, and the villains aren't all necessarily evil. They fight for what they believe in. A point made by one of the main characters is that people are so reliant on the heroes to save them and help them that they never do anything for themselves-- which is an interesting thought, I honestly felt pulled between both sides while reading these, which is precisely the point. See, the novel is told from two perspectives: the villain's and the superheroes. To clarify, Nova, the "villain" is the niece to the biggest supervillain of all, a man who was defeated approximately 10 years prior to the events of the novel. Then there's Adrian, the superhero side of things. He's the son of the two biggest superheroes and therefore solidly believes in everything the Renegades stand for. Their paths meet when Nova infiltrates the Renegades' ranks as part of he anarchists' (villains) plan. Obviously things get a little twisted, especially with feelings thrown in the mix. Like I said, this book is a lot of fun, the deception of it is entertaining, as is watching their alter egos being archenemies while their normal personas grow closer. 
Another cool thing to mention about this series is that the powers are pretty unique.While there are the typical powers of super-strength and invisibility, but there are also superpowers of being able to bring their art to life, or turning into a swarm of butterflies or bleeding gems that can be weaponized or not needing to sleep/being able to knock others out. It's just fun seeing the unique powers throughout. 

Synopsis:

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies — humans with extraordinary abilities — who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone... except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice — and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

Angelfall by Susan Ee (Penryn & the End of Days #1) 
Series Rating: 8/10 Stars 
Action, lots of banter & sass, humor, romance 

This is another very fun read. Also, these books are very short, so if you're not looking for a long commitment, these are the books for you. 
While the setting for these books is incredibly dark, it's hardly noticeable above all the humor and banter. If you enjoy banter and sarcasm, these are definitely something that you want to check out. I love the main character, she's strong, brave, sassy-- basically anything you could want out of a YA heroine. Anyway, nothing else to say but read these! 

Synopsis: 

It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (The Darkest Minds #1) 
Series Rating: 8.5/10 Stars 
Action, Romance, Road Trip trope

Last, but certainly not least in my list of dystopians is a book series that has a special series in my heart. This trilogy is one of the first few that I was reading just when I was starting my real big book obsession, and they really helped to fuel it. 
I'm going to say this upfront-- this book does have a bit of a slow start. The first 50 or so pages are a little eh, but once the pace picks up there's no going back.
Just thinking about this series is making me smile and get the warm fuzzies. The characters are just so lovable. I adore the relationship building in this book-- both romantic and platonic. 
(P.S. If you watched the movie, do yourself a favor and ERASE IT FROM YOUR MEMORY. We don't talk about that poser). 

Synopsis: 
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When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #1) 
Rating: 10/10 Stars 
Magic

The most obvious of obvious books that basically is the epitome of this category. What is more nostalgic than Harry Potter? I'm assuming most of you have already read this, but why not read it again? Might bring you back to those happy younger days... (Even if they weren't actively a part of your childhood specifically, you were still younger when they came out!) 
And to those of you who haven't read it yet... WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! There's a reason why this series was and is such a worldwide phenomenon and don't just give me the "oh I watched the movies" bull. Yes, the movies are very good, unlike many of the book-to-movie adaptations mentioned on this list, but guess what? The books are better! They expand so much more on the world and are more detailed in ways you never even realized you were missing out on. 

Synopsis: (Do y'all really even need this?) 
​
Harry Potter's life is miserable. His parents are dead and he's stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he's a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry.

Though Harry's first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it's his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined.

Full of sympathetic characters, wildly imaginative situations, and countless exciting details, the first installment in the series assembles an unforgettable magical world and sets the stage for many high-stakes adventures to come. 

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Person Jackson and the Olympians #1) 
Rating: 9.8/10 Stars 
Mythology 

Yeah, here's the source of where most people my age learned our greek mythology from ahah. Here's another series where we get to watch the character grow up-- starting out as a 12-year-old and going up to 17. A bit like Harry Potter in terms of the sort of "chosen-one" trope but trust me when I say Percy Jackson is very much its own thing. This series is hilarious-- the characters, the scenes, everything is stuffed full of humor, and there's so much sass and sarcasm... Honestly, these are some of the most fun reads you'll ever come across.
And guess what? If you like the writing style there are plenty of other series by Rick Riordan like this! There's a sequel series that follows up this one called the Heroes of Olympus which is just as fun and encapsulates the magic perfectly. Then there's a couple loosely connected sequels to that (Magnus Chase, the Trials of Apollo). Riordan's series span past using Greek mythology for inspiration as well, with Heroes of Olympus taking inspiration from Roman mythology, and Magnus Chase being Norse mythology. Also! There's the Kane Chronicles which is based on Egyptian Mythology! If I'm being honest, I've only actually read Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, and Kane Chronicles-- all of which I have adored, so I'm just saying, if you enjoy the writing and story style, there's plenty more material. 

Synopsis: 
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Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse - Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy's mom finds out, she knows it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he'll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena - Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods

Eragon by Christopher Paolini (The Inheritance Cycle #1) 
Series Rating: 8/10 Stars 
High fantasy, dragons! 

This is another favorite that I've read over and over and over again. These books are all the very roots of my adoration for the fantasy genre, though I suspect that Eragon had a lot of influence over me seeing as high fantasy is probably my favorite genre. This is another series that's pretty famous, and if you haven't read it, odds are you've probably seen it around. The core idea around these books is dragon riders, which is very fun. The books are well-written, with intriguing plots and characters as well as spectacular character growth and evolving relationships. I will admit they are rather lengthy, with parts that can feel long so if you're not a patient reader, perhaps these are not the books for you. 

Synopsis: 

​One boy...
One dragon...
A world of adventure.

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.

Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds.

Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands.

Thanks for reading & I hope you fall in love with these books the same way I did :) 
​-Anj