Tiff's Top 10: Book and Book Series Edition

I mentioned it in my last post, and alas - here we are. This is the first post in my Tiff's Top 10 series, where I'll share some of my favorite things with you.

One of the author's book displays in her home library

Without further ado, in no particular order...

Tiff's Top 10: Books and Book Series

1. Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series - This one can be divisive for fans of Fantasy. Jordan's worldbuilding can be matched by very few authors (and some of them are on this list...). The descriptions are lush and verbose, which is where he loses some readers. These books are not for the faint of heart - the entire series clocks in at more than four million words. It is a LONG read, but worth it if you can get through the first 600 pages of The Eye of the World and into the real excitement.

2. Amber V. Nicole's Gods & Monsters series - GODS, I love these books so much. She's not done yet (the third book releases soon), but the fast-paced action and exceptional strength and vulnerability she imbues her characters with is incredible. Added bonus? Amber is a super cool human who interacts with her fans all the time on social media!

3. Nisha J. Tuli's Artefacts of Ouranos series - Y'all. It's another one that's not even finished yet, but I'm counting the days until the next book is released. I fell in love with Lor and the incredible world of Ouranos from page one, and I know y'all will, too. Nisha is also super sweet and very active on social media.

4. Cassandra L. Thompson's The Ancient Ones trilogy - I love vampires in nearly all of their iterations (do not make them glitter, I'm not down). So when I was offered the chance to read The Ancient Ones as an ARC reader in 2020, I jumped at the opportunity, and I never looked back. I've been extremely lucky to build a friendship and working relationship with Cassandra and had the privilege of editing books two and three in this series. Despite editing two of the three books, this is a series I'll pick up when I want to read but can't bring myself to start a new book. Her prose always snaps me out of a reading rut, and I cannot praise these stories enough.

5. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy - Remember earlier when I mentioned that there are very few authors who can match Robert Jordan in worldbuilding skill? Tolkien is arguably the #1 worldbuilder in the history of time. The Lord of the Rings is an incredible epic fantasy and remains one of the only book series to be made into movies that are actually good.

6. Jeff Wheeler's Kingfountain series - Magic, mystery, and royal maneuvering, told through the eyes of a young boy (age eight in the first book) as he grows to adulthood, Wheeler's Kingfountain series is a reimagining of Arthurian legends and is a favorite of mine that I forever recommend to friends with young adults who love Fantasy.

7. Stacia Stark's Kingdom of Lies - I clearly have a thing for enemies-to-lovers in a romantasy setting, and this is no exception. Prisca's story and her evolution from terrified young woman to powerful badass is incredible, and the romance is top notch.

8. Tara Conklin's The House Girl - This book made me THINK. It was an incredible exploration of a delicate topic in history, and it was masterfully written in a respectful way.

9. Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned - It's not even question. Anne Rice spawned my love of vampires, and Queen of the Damned is easily my favorite of her books.

10. Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City - H.H. Holmes. That's it. That's the reason. It's an incredible, in-depth look into one of the most notorious American serial killers.

The author's copies of The Ancient Ones trilogy in its place of honor on her shelf

Honorable Mentions:

• Ali Hazelwood's Bride - This supernatural romance was delicious. I enjoyed every second of it and sincerely hope that a sequel is coming.
  

• Rosalyn Briar's Her Dark Enchantments - A Maleficent retelling with incredibly written characters and gorgeous descriptions.

Series I refuse to put on this list, even though I loved the books:

• A Song of Ice and Fire - listen. I'm an author. I get it - it's hard to write, especially with looming deadlines. But If I had a rabid fanbase, I sure as hell would make sure I was finishing my series. Not even for the sales (in truth, I don't much care about money), but for my fans. We deserve to know the ending!!!!

• The Kingkiller Chronicle - I can't tell you how many times I've been let down by Patrick Rothfuss as he advertises updates or news and it's yet another short story or he's going to play video games. GIVE ME THE LAST BOOK.

• Any thing Sarah J. Maas - I love her stories. I do. But I also think that inclusivity and respect for others is extremely important. Hard stop.
  

If you're looking for some great bookish merchandise, I highly recommend checking out The Crow Shoppe over at Quill & Crow Publishing House. You can find some of my favorite merch here.

Thanks for spending time with me today, dear readers.

-T.