Summer is my absolute favourite time of year. In my bestselling series, The Medoran Chronicles, Christmas — or ‘Kaldoras,’ as it’s called in Medora — is very similar to how we know it here. Family and friends come together and, you guessed it, eat lots of yummy food. That’s how I’m planning to spend my Christmas this year, with the added bonus of catching up on my overwhelming mountain of TBR — ‘to-be-read’ — books.
Or… that’s what I keep telling myself. But the truth is, I know I’m going to end up with a gazillion more titles added to that pile after Christmas. Because, let’s face it, books make the best presents. What’s not to love about a combination of letters on bound paper pages that transport readers into another life? As the Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling, once said so perfectly, “I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book” — and I could not agree with her more!
Because of that, I’d like to share some of my favourite recommendations to help you with the pesky, head-scratching moments of Christmas gift hunting. These are all in the ‘young adult’ category, but don’t let that put you off — the genre can (and is) read widely across all ages and demographics. A good story is a good story, regardless of all else!
Without further ado, here are my top seven book recommendations, in no particular order:
- For the more adulty-er YA readers, I would highly recommend anything by Sarah J. Maas. Both her Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses series offer gripping, powerful journeys that are full of action, adventure and romance.
- Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me trilogy is one I cannot recommend highly enough. The prose in this series is stunning, with the writing like a melody you never want to end. On top of that, the stakes are high, the plot is full of twists and turns, and the characters remain with you long after the final pages are turned.
- The Illuminae Files by Australian authors Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman are not-to-be-missed books that offer a masterfully creative, heart-pumping adventure. These highly visual novels are unlike anything I’ve ever encountered, and I will forever recommend them to anyone who will listen!
- Renée Ahdieh’s The Wrath and the Dawn duology is a stunning retelling of the One Thousand and One Nights I read these two books from cover to cover and never wanted them to end!
- Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor was one of my favourite reads of 2017. It is beautifully written and takes the reader on a journey that ensnares all the senses. I suffered from the worst book hangover after finishing this, and I’m anxiously awaiting news of the sequel!
- Maria V. Snyder’s Study series will always be counted among my top YA recommendations. Snyder’s novels are unique and full of adventure, magic and heart, with Poison Study being one of my all-time favourite reads.
- Lastly, for those more inclined towards the high-fantasy end of the scale, Kristen Britain’s Green Rider series is one I can re-read over and over again. The characters, the plot and the overall scope of this series boggles my mind. I only wish the books would be released faster!
Lynette Noni is the bestselling YA author of The Medoran Chronicles. The fourth book in the series, Graevale, is out on 1 February 2018 and is available to pre-order here.
Also look out for Whisper, the first book in an addictive new series launching in May 2018.
Follow Lynette on Twitter or Facebook.