Book Recommendations – November 2017

1. The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive Series)
Speak again the ancient oaths, Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before Destination. And return to men the Shards they once bore. The Knights Radiant must stand again.
Roshar is a world of stone swept by tempests that shape ecology and civilization. Animals and plants retract; cities are built in shelter. In centuries since ten orders of Knights fell, their Shardblade swords and Shardplate armor still transform men into near-invincible warriors. Wars are fought for them, and won by them.
In one such war on the ruined Shattered Plains, slave Kaladin struggles to save his men and fathom leaders who deem them expendable, in senseless wars where ten armies fight separately against one foe.
Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Fascinated by the ancient text named The Way of Kings and troubled by visions of ancient times, he doubts his sanity.
Across the ocean, Shallan trains under eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar’s niece Jasnah. Though Shallan genuinely loves learning, she plans a daring theft. Her research hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.
Thoughts
I must say, I have never heard of this author, nor have I ever hear of this series before today. But, as I have been trying to push my boundaries with the book genres that I am reading and to try to mix things up a little bit, I have decided that I want to give this book a try. I am not big on war stories as I am a romantic at heart and there aren’t a lot of war books that can retain my attention for too long as I find it always being to strategical and political, but after seeing all the glowing reviews from those who has read it, and from what I have read from the excerpt, this book definitely seems interesting enough to keep my attention all the way to the end.
So yes, I will definitely be putting this book in my to-be-read list. Let’s pray that this book lives up to the expectation.

Click here to get “The Becoming of Noah Shaw” by Michelle Hodkin
2. The Becoming of Noah Shaw (The Shaw Confessions Series)
In the first book of the Shaw Confessions, the companion series to the New York Times bestselling Mara Dyer novels, old skeletons are laid bare and new promises prove deadly. This is what happens after happily ever after.
Everyone thinks seventeen-year-old Noah Shaw has the world on a string.
They’re wrong.
Mara Dyer is the only one he trusts with his secrets and his future.
He shouldn’t.
And both are scared that uncovering the truth about themselves will force them apart.
They’re right.
Thoughts

3. Little Broken Things
An engrossing and suspenseful novel for fans of Liane Moriarty and Amy Hatvany about an affluent suburban family whose carefully constructed facade starts to come apart with the unexpected arrival of an endangered young girl.
I have something for you. When Quinn Cruz receives that cryptic text message from her older sister Nora, she doesn’t think much of it. They haven’t seen each other in nearly a year and thanks to Nora’s fierce aloofness, their relationship consists mostly of infrequent phone calls and an occasional email or text. But when a haunted Nora shows up at the lake near Quinn’s house just hours later, a chain reaction is set into motion that will change both of their lives forever.
Nora’s “something” is more shocking than Quinn could have ever imagined: a little girl, cowering, wide-eyed, and tight-lipped. Nora hands her over to Quinn with instructions to keep her safe, and not to utter a word about the child to anyone, especially not their buttoned-up mother who seems determined to pretend everything is perfect. But before Quinn can ask even one of the million questions swirling around her head, Nora disappears, and Quinn finds herself the unlikely caretaker of a girl introduced simply as Lucy.
While Quinn struggles to honor her sister’s desperate request and care for the lost, scared Lucy, she fears that Nora may have gotten involved in something way over her head—something that will threaten them all. But Quinn’s worries are nothing compared to the firestorm that Nora is facing. It’s a matter of life and death, of family and freedom, and ultimately, about the lengths a woman will go to protect the ones she loves.
Thoughts
Bonus Book

4. Darker (Fifty Shades #5)
E L James revisits the world of Fifty Shades with a deeper and darker take on the love story that has enthralled millions of readers around the globe.
Their scorching, sensual affair ended in heartbreak and recrimination, but Christian Grey cannot get Anastasia Steele out of his mind, or his blood. Determined to win her back, he tries to suppress his darkest desires and his need for complete control, and to love Ana on her own terms.
But the horrors of his childhood still haunt him, and Ana’s scheming boss, Jack Hyde, clearly wants her for himself. Can Christian’s confidant and therapist, Dr. Flynn, help him face down his demons?
Or will the possessiveness of Elena, his seducer, and the deranged devotion of Leila, his former submissive, drag Christian down into the past?
And if Christian does win Ana back, can a man so dark and damaged ever hope to keep her?
I have Little Broken Things on my TBR and sounds like Darker is a pass for me. Thanx for the reviews – you saved me some time and frustration 😉
I keep trying to start The Way of Kings. Each time I give up. Looks like I'm going to have to try it again!
really? Why was that? Was the book not good?
I want The Way of the Kings so bad! The cover looks fantastic!
These are good reviews, might I recommend one book called Bray Road? Written by Scott Newman. It needs a few edits but as a story I couldn't put it down.
The becoming of Noah Shaw has been on my list! That’s a lovely list
I'm the guilty party who is a fan of FSoG, I like the plot and I do agree that the writing style is bad, but still entertaining for me. The becoming of Noah Shaw is something that I've been on the fence about adding to my TBR, It's kinda has me but something just isn't fitting me. Maybe it's just the timing that's not working with me ( like the mindset I'm in) Idk. Thanks for all the recommended
I haven't even heard of these books except Darker. It's good that you are willing to branch out and challenge yourself with what you read. And BTW, I love your profile picture.
Little Broken things looks really good. But I COMPLETELY agree with you regarding Darker. She should have left it at 3 and been done with it.
I know, I don't mean to hate on those who love this series, but yeah, I really think she should start a new series now rather than keep on trying to milk what is left from FSOG series
Aw Thank you!
Oh lord, I thought I'm the only one who feel that way about Noah Shaw and Mara Dyer series. I too was not able to connect with the characters and the story line. It felt very forced to me as I wanted to stop yet I am still curious as to what is going to happen next
These are all new books or authors for me. Thanks for the thoughts!
As you have mentioned I have never heard of these author nor have I ever hear of these series before today.
Thanks for recommendations.
Little broken thing is on my reading list now.
Sometimes I get into slumps or I have other fantasy books lined up that I want to read more so if it doesn't hook me right off I can't get into it.
Ah I see. From what you are saying, it seems like the pacing in this book is a little bit slow?