Writing this post is mainly for my benefit because these books have been on my TBR for a long time and I really need to get around to them. If you don’t keep telling me “pick up Caraval” or “A Darker Shade Of Magic is an amazing book you need to read it” then I never will. That’s the sad fact about book bloggers. Our TBRs are endless and we keep trying to ignore how huge they’re getting! However, this post is also for your benefit because you might find a book you’re really interested in.

Caraval – Stephanie Garber

Synopsis (on Goodreads)

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic.

I really want to read this book – not only because of its interesting synopsis, but also because of the hype of bookstagram. After reading The Night Circus, I’m really craving another circus-based novel and this sounds like the perfect one. The reason I haven’t yet picked it up it because 1) I only picked it up from the library a week ago and 2) I really don’t feel like reading fantasy at the moment!

A Darker Shade Of Magic – V.E Schwab

Synopsis (on Goodreads)

Kell is one of the last Antari—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.

Kell was raised in Arnes—Red London—and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see.

Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see. It’s a defiant hobby with dangerous consequences, which Kell is now seeing firsthand.

After an exchange goes awry, Kell escapes to Grey London and runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations. She first robs him, then saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

Now perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, they’ll first need to stay alive. 

I’m not a big fan of adult novels but I’m really interested in the concept of this novel. As a big fan of Doctor Who, I’m no stranger to parallel dimensions, but this sounds even more interesting (no offence Whovians). As the writing is a bit heavier (compared to YA) I will definitely be taking it slow but it excites me nonetheless! 

Stranger – Keren David

Synopsis (on Goodreads)

Astor, Ontario. 1904.

A boy staggers out of the forest covered in blood and collapses at the feet of 16-year-old Emmy. While others are suspicious and afraid, Emmy is drawn to him. Is he really the monster the townsfolk say he is?

Astor, Ontario. 1994. 

Megan arrives from London for her great grandmother Emmy’s 105th birthday. It should be a happy family occasion, but Megan is nursing a broken heart and carrying a secret she fears might consume her.

I picked up this novel from the library thinking that I would read it around Halloween (because it is a bit spooky) but then I ended up making plans for that night so I couldn’t get cosy in bed and read it cover to cover. However, I am still really intrigued by this book! I’ve not read a book written in different perspectives since Percy Jackson in summer XD and I would love to visit that style of writing again. Have any of you heard of this book? It seems a little but underrated.

Dorothy Must Die – Danielle Paige

Synopsis (on Goodreads)

I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask to be some kind of hero.

But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I’ve read the books. I’ve seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little bluebirds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can’t be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There’s still a yellow brick road—but even that’s crumbling.

What happened? Dorothy.

They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

I picked this up from Oxfam yesterday and it looks so good! I’m already 20 pages in (so I guess it’s not on my TBR anymore) and the way its written is just how I like it: simple but effective. I’ve not read any twisted tales (not even the Disney ones) so I was really intrigued by that element. It’s also quite chunky and covers issues like bullying, substance abuse and loneliness. I want to sit down at some point today and get a good chunk of reading done because I’m desperate to carry on reading!

Have you read any of these books? Are you, like me, struggling with endless TBR syndrome?

I hope you have a really good day that helps you tackle your huge TBR!

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