Top books I read this spring 2017

I've read about 28 books this Spring. A lot of them were just okay reads, but few very pretty good. I have 3 favorite books and 1 complete series to share and recommend.
1. From Sand And Ash by Amy Harmon. 

“We are at war. War has a way of stripping us of perspective. War is about life and death, and it paints everything in shades of now or never.”

From Sand and Ash is definitely my number 1 read this year. I know it's only June, but I am pretty sure it will be one of my favorite reads of the whole 2017. Granted I am a WWII-fiction nut, but still. This story is so raw, heartbreaking and empowering at the same time, I can only regret not reading it sooner.

“How can you compromise with people who don't want you to exist? They want us to disappear. I can't adapt to death.”

I have written a full review, which you can read down below, although I am pretty sure I haven't done the book justice. I highly recommend reading this novel.

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Full Review

2. A Darker Shade Of Magic by V.E. Schwab. 
While this was not a 5 star read for me I still enjoyed it immensely. The end felt a little too easy and anti-climatic to me, but otherwise this was a fantastic read. 

A dark and pretty bloody fantasy set in London. Well more like few Londons.
“Sure I do,” countered Lila cheerfully. “There’s Dull London, Kell London, Creepy London, and Dead London,” she recited, ticking them off on her fingers. “See? I’m a fast learner.”

Blood magic, traveling between dimensions, an "accomplice" who is very fond of stealing and killing, and two power-hungry and crazy villains - make for a great story. Also there's a very lovable side character, which I have a feeling will soon stop being just a side character. If you read this already then you know that I am talking about Rhy. 
“A fine idea,” said Rhy. “But no. We must go out, you see, because we’re on a mission.” 
“Oh?” asked Kell. 
“Yes. Because unless you plan to wed me yourself—and don’t get me wrong, I think we’d make a dashing pair—I must try and find a mate.”
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I am about to read the second installment and I am very curious to see as to what happens next. 

3. Cress. Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer.

“She dreamed of deep soul connections and passionate kisses and daring escapades. She was certain that he simply had to meet her, just once, and he would feel the same way. It would be like those epic love affairs that exploded into existence and burned white hot for all eternity. The type of love that time and distance and even death couldn’t separate.”

​Cress was my favorite installment of the saga. I have also read Cinder and Scarlet this spring, and while they were good, Cress was amazing. Maybe it's because Rapunzel is my favorite, and Cress is a retelling of that. Maybe because I could relate big time to Cress and her anxieties. Maybe because Thorne was such a dream boat in this one.
“Yeah, I guess you're right," he said, squeezing. "Maybe there's a little bit of a hero in me after all. But... really, Cress. Only a little.”
Maybe because this was filled with feelings, and action and plot twist.
I LOVED it.

4. The Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. 

“The Darkling slumped back in his chair. “Fine,” he said with a weary shrug. “Make me your villain.”
Everybody's favorite villain is Darkling, am I right? Well he is mine. Although I know that many people love him as more than a villain, but not me. To me he was perfect just as he was - misunderstood, but still very evil.
“I will strip away all that you know, all that you love, until you have no shelter but mine.”

Shadow and Bone is definitely my favorite trilogy of the year, so far. Although it's pretty hard to beat that. Bardugo has created an amazing world of Grisha, and at this point I will read anything that has even a semblance to it. 

Alina and Mal are very far from being perfect, but I felt like they were simply meant to be. 
“A moment later the boy whispered, "I don't think you're ugly."
"Shhhh!" the girl hissed. But hidden by the deep shadows of the cupboard, she smiled”
Add some amazing and clever dialog, great and dimensional side characters (Nikolai I am looking at you!), amazing twist at the end and Grisha trilogy might just be a perfect ya fantasy. Highly recommend. Obviously.

Read the whole trilogy review here.

Grisha Trilogy Review