Top 5 Tuesday #7: Top 5 Fantasy

Top 5 Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Shanah, the Bionic Book Worm.

This week’s topic:

top 5 fantasy books

This was difficult. It was hard to choose only five and even harder to place them in order; so instead I chose 6 and didn’t bother with an order except to mention the most obvious ones first.

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

I adore these books, like many others who’ve read them, and immediately fell in love with the world and the characters when I first read them. I considered making this list without mentioning these books, but that wouldn’t be fair. They are some of my favorite fantasy books, and I reread them often and even collect different editions, so I must include them in my list of favs.

Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce

There was a time in my middle-school years when all I read was Tamora Pierce’s books. I just kept reading them over and over again, especially the Song of the Lioness ones, which were my favorites. They are about a girl who poses as a boy so that she can train to become a knight. I love the story for its gutsy protagonist and the strong friendships she develops throughout the story as well as the fun adventures she goes on. I couldn’t get enough of this story, and I still can’t. I’m now rereading the books again. 🙂

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I love this book so much! I think I first fell in love with the writing, then the setting, and then the story itself. The circus sucked me in. The magic that operates it worked upon me, making me want to visit and experience it whenever I revisit the book. I also love the story and enjoyed reading about the romance and other relationships, and, of course, I love the writing. I can’t wait to see what Morgenstern does next. I was so disappointed to miss getting a signed copy of her upcoming book, The Starless Sea, at the American Library Association conference. So disappointed. 😥

The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold

A mark of a good story told is one that makes me want to read it again as soon as I’m done. That was my experience with The Curse of Chalion. I began reading it again about a month or so after completing it. It is a great read, and I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. It’s about a veteran who returns to his country seeking peace and solace but is instead appointed tutor to a princess and gets caught up in political and spiritual intrigues. It was intriguing and fun. I loved the protagonist Cazaril, who provided a refreshing perspective since he’s older than the usual fantasy adventure protagonists.

Tawney Man trilogy by Robin Hobb

Of course I had to mention a Robin Hobb book. You must have known this was coming. Of all her Realm of the Elderlings books, the Tawney Man ones are my favorite because I love the Fool as Lord Golden. 🙂 The Tawney Man trilogy is the third set of books in the large Realm of the Elderlings series, which begins with Assassin’s Apprentice about the bastard son of a prince who becomes an apprentice to an assassin. The story has a slow build, but it’s worth being patient with it for the characters and expansive world building.

A Song of Ice & Fire by George R.R. Martin

Yea… I had to mention these books as well. I enjoy the complex story and love the characters, who are all sorts of shades of gray. I wish the books were done so that I can just reread them all and finally complete them. I wonder how the story will wrap up and what will become of the characters I like.

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Although this was a difficult list to make, I haven’t read as much fantasy as I would like or as diversely as I would like. I’m working toward changing that. More fantasy, always.

I’m open to recommendations if there’s a great fantasy novel you’ve read. 🙂