Discussion: What are some of your favorite books?

Hey all, Dani here.

It’s Book Lovers’ Day, so I figured I would celebrate that with today’s discussion topic. I always find it fascinating to see what books really resonate with each of us, what books we consider to be important to our soul, what books we can’t help but recommend to others in most every conversation.

The first book I feel like I have to talk about is Colorworld by Rachel E. Kelly. This book, and the team behind it, have really meant so much to me and have definitely changed my life, the way I view people and situations, and the goals and standards I have for myself. Honestly, I don’t know if I would have figured out what I needed and deserved from a romantic relationship, leading to me finding and flirting with Damian, if I hadn’t felt so deeply about the character relationships in this series. Not to mention seeing the real-life relationship between Rachel and her husband Brad. I own most of the Colorworld series in paperback, illustrated paperback, e-book, and audiobook, and I end up thinking about the characters and events of these books quite a bit of the time.

Next, I’m going back to my childhood, because I have to talk about the Animorphs series. I was such a huge fan of this series. I counted down the days between releases. I convinced my friends to play Animorphs on the playground at recess. I even wrote fanfiction where I put myself into the story as another one of the teens. When the TV show came around I literally fought my brother for control of the remote so I could watch each new episode. Even now I own the entire series. They will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Also going back to my childhood, I feel like I should mention both His Dark Materials and Harry Potter. Both are wonderfully imaginative series that transcend an age group. It doesn’t matter if you are a child, a teen, or an adult. Everyone will find something to relate to or enjoy with both of these series. Okay, yes, I came into the Harry Potter fandom a little late. I didn’t start reading them until a few months before the fourth one was released, but after that I was definitely waiting at the store for midnight releases. And I definitely flew through His Dark Materials from the library.

Coming back to adulthood there’s a few other books I want to talk about a little bit. Firstly there’s Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson. I discovered Brandon Sanderson when I was in college thanks to a recommendation from a classmate, and it has changed my fantasy loving life forever. The way he builds worlds, creates complex characters, and even more intriguing plots, I just absolutely adore all of his books. My first Brandon Sanderson was Warbreaker, but Mistborn is the one that has stuck with me more.

Then there’s The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. There is just something about this book. The magical dream-like feel of the circus has stuck with me for years and years. I have this in hardcover, e-book, and audiobook, and I have read them all. I like to pull it out every few years and re-read it.

Next is All Rights Reserved by Gregory Scott Katsoulis. I will just keep saying how terrifying this book was for me with the way it handled free speech, or rather the restriction of speech. This book was just immensely powerful in my mind and I’m still thinking about it almost three years later.

Oh, I also need to mention the comic series/graphic novel, Vox Machina Origins by Matt Colville, Matthew Mercer, Olivia Samson, and Chris Northrop (at least for Series I; Series II has some new artist contributors and new writers). This makes the cut because it is the prequel/origin story of characters I grew to love from the show “Critical Role.” The lessons I’ve learned from the characters, and especially from the people who created these characters, it has been an immense inspiration for me. It is companies like Critical Role and Colorworld Books that make me want to dream for that sort of awesome and geeky lifestyle/career in the future.

Obviously, I also definitely have to talk about Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan. As a fan of D&D, as well as a player of Skyrim…and you know, a lover of fantasy adventure tales, and books with cool magic systems and awesomely weird names…this book definitely ranks high on my list. Plus, I have totally realized that especially since adopting cleric as my favorite and most preferred class in D&D, I absolutely love any fantasy tale that includes present or absent deities, and this story does that, plus a war between users of divine magic and blood magic, which is utterly fascinating.

Finally, the newest addition to this list, once again I have to talk about The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen. Just the way this story made me think about how people treat others who they deem as less than them was so darn powerful. In this book it’s mostly how the other castes treat Crows, but it just resonated with so many issues I feel like we see in society today, from the class divide, to ableism, racism, sexism, etc, etc. This is definitely going to be a book I’m going to think on and remember for quite some time.

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So I want to know, on this wonderful holiday of Book Lovers’ Day, what are some of the books that have stuck with you? Let’s talk books in the comments, and I’ll be back soon with more bookish content.