In 19th century England, people presume magic to be long dead. But they’d be wrong, two magicians of vastly different personalities continue their work today. As the country heads into the Napoleonic wars, they might just need the help of these two bizarre men. Meanwhile, the fairies grow bored, and wander into the human world looking for fun, often causing hijinks and chaos.
Invincible: Compendium One by Robert Kirkman follows the journey of Mark Grayson, a teenage boy who inherits superpowers from his father, Omni-Man, a heroic figure with a dark secret. As Mark embraces his role as the superhero Invincible, he faces numerous challenges, including powerful enemies and the realization that his father’s intentions may not be as noble as they first appeared. The book blends action, personal struggles and family dynamics while exploring themes of responsibility, morality and identity.
Hench is a novel that revolves around Anna Tromedlov, a hench who does data entry for supervillains. Her only “superpower” is being exceptional at spreadsheets and organization. But when she is called to take part in a hands-on mission with a supervillain, an encounter with a hero leaves her bed-bound. With a new cane and a newfound sense of determination, Anna is angered that she was laid-off and considered a casualty to heroes who couldn’t care less about people like her.
The Cruel Prince follows the story of Jude Duarte, a seemingly normal human living an average life. However, after witnessing her parents’ murder at 7 years old, she was dragged to live alongside these magical and perfect faeries in Elfhame. Growing up Jude was always belittled and questioned because of her lack of powers. She was bullied by other faeries, especially the king's youngest son, Prince Cardan.
Following four siblings who have been told the exact day they will die, and how that shapes the outcomes of their lives, The Immortalists is a truly incredible book. Benjamin seamlessly takes you from the life of a troubled young man suffering through the AIDS crisis to his wild and free sister who dreams of becoming a magician. Their older brother feels responsibility for the family, and the oldest sister watches from her solitude as everything falls apart.
Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust is a LGBTQ+ YA Fantasy novel with enemies to lovers and forbidden love tropes. This book is about a princess named Soraya with a power, or rather a curse, that kills anything she touches. Cursed before birth by a div, a magical faerie, and all her misfortunes make her question if she is a princess or simply a monster with poison rushing through her veins.
In the final book of the Harry Potter series, Harry and his two closest friends - Ron and Hermione - set off on a mission to destroy the dark forces that are terrorizing the wizarding world. Their objective is to hunt down and eliminate Voldemort’s Horcruxes, so they have a chance of beating the dark lord once and for all. Along the way, they will uncover secrets about the past, face life-threatening challenges, and learn about the mysterious legend of the Deathly Hallows.
Circe by Madeline Miller reimagines the life of the Greek mythological witch Circe, daughter of Helios, as she hones her powers during exile on the island of Aiaia and encounters legendary figures like Odysseus. This tale is a captivating exploration of her journey toward self-discovery and empowerment in a world of gods, monsters and magic. While reading Circe, I felt deeply immersed in the mythological world while empathizing with Circe's struggles and triumphs.
Fourth Wing is probably one of the best booktok recommendations out there. It follows twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengai. Violet has always wanted to become a scribe, but as the daughter of a general that is not an option for her. She has to become a dragon rider. The problem is she is small and what some people say “fragile”. Can Violet even make it through the trials and through people who hate her because of her mom? Specifically, the infamous Xaden Riorson who is one of the best riders.
Taryn, Jude’s twin sisters, wants to tell Jude the story of how she fell for Locke. Locke fell in love with Taryn first. But he also used Jude and played her, justifying his actions by saying it was all for Taryn. However, Taryn knew all about this and did not inform Jude. Jude learns about this later and feels betrayed by her twin sister. Taryn tries to explain herself through this story. Taryn describes how Locke threw stones at her window, took her out on late night adventures, and promised to marry her and love her. In the end, Taryn and Jude are still tense with each other.
