a week of recommdenations: day five

This is the fifth and final day of a week of recommendations! This week has been so much fun, and I hope that y'all have enjoyed it and at least gotten a couple recommendations from these posts! Special thanks for Violet for inviting me along with her on this week of posts!

This last day is a day for retellings, which are something that Violet and I cannot get enough of. I've always loved fairytales and myths and folklore, and retellings give me a chance to read stories that I love all over again, anew. Retellings are one of my favorite sub-genres under the umbrella of YA or Adult, and I am really excited to share some of my favorite picks with you. 

1. Cinder – Marissa Meyer

Cinder is the first in an eventual quartet called the Lunar Chronicles, and if you've been on booktube or around the blogging sphere then you'll know that these are extremely popular books with tons of people. Each installment is a sci/fi, futuristic fairy tale retelling, and they are all so creative, my mind is blown even more than I thought possible with every book. Cinder is, obviously, a retelling of Cinderella. Scarlet, the second book, is a Red Riding Hood retelling, and Cress, which is book three, tells the story of Rapunzel. However, all the characters and stories are so intertwined, there is a lot more going on in each book than just the retelling at hand. They're amazing! You should all read them! 

2. Cruel Beauty – Rosamund Hodge

This is a a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with elements of Roman society and mythology thrown in for good measure. I adored this book when I first read it, and the ending is seriously so epic! The world of Cruel Beauty is brilliant and different and dangerous, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a Beauty and the Beast story with a twist. 

3. The Land of Stories: The Wishing Well – Chris Colfer

Though this is a middle grade series, I enjoy myself immensely when I'm reading the Land of Stories books. Though they aren't strictly retellings, they do include characters from all of your favorite fairy tales, all in one world, so I count them. Since they are middle grade, they're fast paced and just so much fun. 

4. Entwined – Heather Dixon

I am a huge fan of the 12 Dancing Princesses, and I have read multiple retellings of this classic story. However, I think that Entwined is my favorite. It is darker and somehow deeper than most of the other versions that I have read, and I love the characters so much. The 12 Princesses, in this retelling are strong and three dimensional, quite a feat when there are 12+ characters to develop. I love this retelling, it is graceful and twisted. 

5. Splintered – A.G. Howard

This is the first book in a trilogy that retells Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland stories. Violet urged me to read this series for ages and I never got around to it until this year, and I was amazed. This too is a darker story than even the original Alice, which is pretty twisted in its own way. I think this is a must read for anyone who enjoys retellings of any sort, and even anyone who just wants to be swept away in a different sort of world. 

And here we come to the end of a week of recommendations! I hope you all had as much fun as I did. 

xx

Sunny

a week of recommendations: day four

Welcome back to A Week of Recommendations! This is the fourth of five days, and today's theme is Paranormal books!

I, frankly, have not read that many paranormal books. To be quite honest, I'm not exactly sure even what makes a book paranormal and not just fantastical. But, that being said, I am not a huge fan of vampires, monsters, ghosts, horror, etc, which I'm pretty sure is what the genre of "paranormal" is all about. However, I did scrape together the few I have read into a list for you guys :)

1. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown – Holly Black

I read this one in the end of 2013, and I absolutely loved it. I usually don't like vampires, (I actually think Twilight was the last vampire book that I read before this) but I actually really enjoyed what Holly Black did with hers. It definitely taught me not to discount vampire books. Black's take is creepy and elegant, with bits of grittiness and some seriously cool imagery. I personally think that this is a YA paranormal staple.

 

2. The Raven Boys – Maggie Stiefvater

This is one of the most unique stories that I have ever come across. It combines witches and seers with private school boys, ley lines and Welsh mythology, which sounds like it wouldn't go together at all, but somehow totally totally does. I have yet to continue on with the next two books in this eventual quartet, but once the final book comes out later this year, I intend to binge read all four of them. 

3. Unspoken – Sara Rees Brennan

I haven't read this one in a long time, but I do remember vaguely that it was Christmastime and my whole family was staying at my house, so I was sleeping on a blow up mattress in our bonus room and crying over this book at 2 in the morning. This is one about a girl and a boy who have always been in each other's heads, able to communicate telepathically. However, when this, very real, very live boy moves to the hometown of the girl counterpart and gruesome things start happening in the woods nearby, things get complicated. (I'd just like to point out that I was so DEVASTATED by the end of this book that I have yet to bring myself to proceed on with the series, so read at your own risk. It was still an amazing book though!)

4. Vampire Academy – Richelle Mead

This is the first book in a six book series about a school for vampires. I love the series with all of my heart, and the first installment is particularly stellar. This was a vampire book that I read in the wake of my "let's give vampires a chance!" kick that came from reading The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. And I did not regret giving these vampires a chance. I loved the way that Mead set up the whole hierarchy of vampires and half-vampires, and I would absolutely love to attend St. Vladimir's. 

Ok, four recommendations was about all I could manage for paranormal! (insert embarrassed, grimacing emoji) I've read others, but none that I really liked as much as these four! Obviously, I need help. Comment some paranormal suggestions below :) 

xx

Sunny

a week of recommendations: day three

And here we have come to day three of five of A Week of Recommendations. Today's theme is Contemporaries, yay! Throughout my reading life, I have always been drawn to contemporaries. Some of my favorite stories and worlds may be fantasy, but there is never a time where I fall into a slump in the middle of a contemporary. I just love them, especially when they're sweet and fun, but with some emotional depth. 

Ever since I was in middle school, I've been reading lighthearted contemporary novels. I remember falling in love with Jen Calonita's Secrets of my Hollywood Life, Liz Tigelaar's Playing With the Boys, anything by Meg Cabot, etc. etc. They're really what got me into reading religiously, and I've carried that love of contemporaries with me into this portion of my life. I had to really pare down the choices I had for this list, so the ones that made it on here are the best of the best. (I also went over the five book standard, but that's ok because I seriously couldn't decide.

1. I'll Give You The Sun – Jandy Nelson

Of course, the number one spot has to be one of my all time favorite books and the best book of 2014, I'll Give You The Sun. This is the most beautiful story about twins, Noah and Jude, and the ups and downs of their relationship with each other and with life in general. It is told from two points of view, and two points in time, and there is mystery and romance and heartbreak throughout. This is the first book I recommend to anyone who wants to read anything at all. It is lyrical, magical, truly. Something happens when you read this book, and you'll want it to happen to you. 

2. Jellicoe Road – Melina Marchetta

This is another book that, after I read it, I felt truly changed. For the first fifty or so pages, you're so confused and have no idea what's going on, but then you get into the groove of the story and I, quite literally, could not put the book down for the rest of the story. It is amazing, the way that Marchetta weaves the past in with the present and the connections that are made. The characters are another triumph of this one, they're raw and imperfect and that is why you love them. If you've already read this one, another great contemporary by Marchetta is Saving Francesca, which I also highly recommend.

3. Anna and The French Kiss – Stephanie Perkins

If you know me at all, you will probably have heard/read me rave on and on over how much I love this book and also Stephanie Perkins in general. The things I love so much about this book are as follows. 1) the setting. As Anna explores the city, we get to do so also, which is amazing. 2) the romance. This novel has one of those romances where the two people literally cannot stay away from each other, as if there is a magnetic pull between them, and I love that. 3) It's funny and it's fun, and the quirks in it make you feel like it is real, like it is happening to you. It also deals with family problems and sickness and what to do when you fall out of love but are too scared to be alone. I could go on and on about how much I love this one, but it would be much easier if you just read it. 

4. Amy & Roger's Epic Detour – Morgan Matson

I am a huge fan of roadtrips and roadtrip stories, and this is one of the best ones that I've ever read. Actually, everything by Morgan Matson is amazing and totally worth a read, but Amy and Roger happen to be my personal favorites. I love how they both went through so much character development, with the whole of America as the backdrop for their relationship and the way they grew from strangers to something more. This one deals with some hard subjects, and shows how, when bad things happen to you, after grieving, it's ok to move on. I think that's important, and I love the way this book doesn't undermine the grieving process.

5. To All The Boys I've Loved Before – Jenny Han

This is one of the most adorable books that I've ever read. I love the protag, Lara Jean, because she isn't jaded or cynical, she's open and innocent and, really, a breath of fresh air when you're reading from her POV. I really enjoyed seeing her story unfold, from the embarrassment she feels in the beginning, to her becoming stronger and being able to stand on her own in the end. I love the detail that Jenny Han put into characterizing Lara Jean, her sisters, and everyone else in the novel. This is a great spring/summer read.

6. Aristotle And Dante Discover The Secrets Of The Universe – Benjamin Alire Saenz

A different sort of contemporary than the other ones on this list, this is more about friendship than romance, except at the very end. It is about how one person can change the way you look at everything, can make you come out of your shell and just be more you. And those are the friends that you should hold onto. Aristotle and Dante broke my heart and then put it back together again, for this book is bittersweet and melancholy, told in a subdued tone that brings the emotions into sharper focus. It made me think, and I adored every second of it. 

7. Love Letters to the Dead – Ava Dellaria

This book isn't just about tragedy, it hinges on it. Nothing in this book would've happened without one single, tragic moment, when a beloved sister dies. Who she leaves behind is her younger sister Laurel, who is starting high school without her sister, falling in love without her sister, and sharply feeling everything that's left over without her sister. It's only when Laurel starts writing letters to dead people that she can puzzle out her own feelings and perspectives, both on her sister and herself. Love Letters to the Dead is sad and poignant, but it also emphasizes the importance of newness, all the while underlining the fact that, to move on, we must forgive.

What are some of your favorite contemporaries? 

xx

Sunny

a week of recommendations: day two

 Welcome to Day 2 of A Week of Recommendations! Today we are discussing our picks for sci/fi & fantasy, and I am so excited to share my picks for this theme. 

I always was a fan of fantasy, in the vague, "I like Harry Potter so if I read a few more books like that I'd be happy" kind of way. Never did I actually seek out new books in the genre, nor was I terribly adventurous in the fantasy books that I did read. Slowly, though, over the past year, I have been getting more into this amazing genre, and I have ready some truly incredible fantasy stories over the past couple of months. I'll refer you to my super long post which can serve as a guide to getting into fantasy here. Sci/fi is spottier for me. I have to really be in the mood for something that is sci/fi, and as such I haven't read much of it. But I do really enjoy the ones I have read, so there are a couple for you on this list.

1. Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas 

This is an eventual six book series, with the fourth installment coming out in September (SQUEE), but for today, I'm just recommending the first book in the series. Throne of Glass is set in a world where magic is forbidden, a power-mad king rules over races of people whom he treats like slaves, and one girl, one assassin, has been locked away in the salt mines for the rest of her life. Until she isn't. This is one of my favorite series, I love the characters and the world, and they are so action packed that I think everyone would be able to get into them. 

2. Princess in the Opal Mask – Jenny Lundquist

This book takes place in a fairy tale world, but it isn't a retelling. It is about two sisters, both princesses, separated at birth so that one thinks she is a mere commoner. The sister who stays princess always wears an opal mask, but why? When they meet, intrigue and plots and court life make everything complicated. This is a shorter fantasy novel, unlike most of the ones I've read, but that doesn't take away from its quality. The world is nicely built up, and there is also a sequel that I have not yet read. 

3. These Broken Stars – Amy Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

One of my most successful forays into sci/fi, this book has been described as "titanic, in space." And indeed it is about a rich girl and a poor soldier meeting and feeling attracted to one another, all the while aboard a luxury "spaceliner." And that spaceliner does indeed crash. But when they survive, the similarities end, and they are stranded on a deserted planet with no idea how to live, let alone be rescued. 

4. Zodiac – Romina Russell 

I just recently finished this one, and I have to say, the world is very original and interesting. Zodiac takes the twelve houses of the zodiac and turns them all into actual houses, with planets and people who are all different. When threats comes to the houses, with disasters striking right and left, a girl from Cancer determines that these threats are coming from a long-lost 13th house, and sets off with a solider and a diplomat from Libra to save their universe. 

5. Red Queen – Victoria Aveyard 

This is another recent finish for me, and I have a full review here. I have been pitching this to everyone as a Hunger Games meets Game of Thrones meets like X Men type thing. The world is nicely paced, with a very clear disparity between the reds, basically enslaved and poor workers, and the silvers, who are royalty with powers. But Mare is a red, and Mare has powers, and when the silvers find out, she finds herself thrust into a palace intrigue that could cost her her life. 

What are some of your fantasy and sci/fi picks? especially sci/fi because I'm always looking for more sci/fi to read. 

xx

Sunny

a week of recommendations: day one

Hi guys! So this week is going to be a little different here at Stardust and Words. (though there will still be regularly scheduled posts along with the special ones!) My friend Violet is doing a really fun theme week over on her blog, Paper Worlds and Swirls of Ink. She's invited me to participate for the week, and the link to her original post is here. Basically, it is a week of recommendations, where every day has a different theme, and we recommend books to you in that genre each day. The genres are as follows: 

Monday: Historical Fiction Tuesday: Fantasy/SciFi Wednesday: Contemporary Thursday: Paranormal Friday: Retellings

As you can see, today's theme is historical fiction, which, sadly, is something that I have never read a ton of. However, I do have a few recommendations from my meager experience with historical fiction. 

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – takes place in World War II Germany and one of my all time favorites, this revolves around an orphaned girl, her adoptive parents, and a jewish boy hiding in their basement. It's beautiful, brilliant, hearwrenching. 

 

2. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller– Ok I didn't know whether I could count this as historical fiction, because the events of the Trojan War aren't concrete historical events, but then I decided that I wanted to count it. I love reading about ancient Greece and especially the Trojan War, in school and in fiction, and this is such an amazing and interesting take on those events. 

 

3. The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson– This book takes place in Germany in the 1380s. It has the elements of a fairytale retelling, loosely based on Sleeping Beauty, but it is also much more grounded and decidedly less magical than many other fairy tale retellings that I've read. 

 

4. Secret Letters by Leah Scheier – This novel is set in Victorian London and involves Sherlock Holmes and mystery and cute boys. It's been almost two years since I've read this, but I do remember it being a fun one. 

 
5. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry– Another one set in World War II, this time in Denmark, I think this is one that most every elementary school-aged kid read at one point in their formative years. I remember loving it when I was a kid, and on a recent re-read I was surprised by how much I still enjoyed it. 

So there is the first of five recommendation posts coming at you this week! What are some of your favorite historical fiction reads? 

xx

Sunny