Last week I mentioned five books in my comfort zone, books that depict what I like in my reads. Today I bring five books I enjoyed despite elements I usually dislike and I’m glad I went out of my comfort zone to give them a try. This post is part of my participation in the Wyrd & Wonder event, a month-long celebration of all things fantastical. Follow the hosts to not miss a thing: Annemieke (A Dance With Books), Ariana (The Book Nook), Jorie (Jorie Loves A Story), Lisa (Dear Geek Place), and Imyril (There’s Always Room For One More).
Red Rising, by Pierce Brown
Let’s start with a popular title (and cheating a little since this one is sci-fi). This book features a lot of action, which I usually have trouble following up; the main character is insufferable, but I still wanted him to succeed as I believed in his cause; and it’s deeply misogynistic. But I had a lot of fun in its melodrama. I’m even listening to the second one right now.
Seasons of Albadone, by Élan Marché & christopher Warman
I’m not a fan of anthologies and the cover gave me MG vibes, but these four interconnected stories bring the original fairytale feeling that I crave. They are definitely adult and dark with jaw-dropping twists. Book 2 of The Eight Chant Series is out now and they can be read in any order.
Unbury the Bones, by Coyote J.M. Edwards
Paranormal elements and a contemporary setting are not usually my thing, but the coziness and main character’s humanity won me over. The main character is a nonbinary vampire detective trying to solve a mystery to help people in their city with the assistance of a werewolf police officer who tries to befriend them. Beautiful depiction of a platonic relationship.
Mazarin Blues, by Al Hess
The setting is futuristic, but close enough to feel contemporary. Oh, and this one is also sci-fi. Excellent pace, likeable characters, and lots of great rep (race, gender, mental health, disability) made this book surpass my expectations. With a bonus of queerness allegories and a charming little AI.
To Poison a King, by S.G. Prince
I’ll close this list with one of my favourite books. Age-gap is not a subject I’m comfortable with, especially since the main character begins the story as a teenager, but it is done thoughtfully and the main character is forced to grow up due to her circumstances. Part coming-of-age and full slow-burn romance, this book is character-heavy. The prose is exquisite and the character development remarkable.
Tune-in next Sunday for a list I’m excited about: five characters (you know how much I love talking about characters) in their comfort zone.
Tiny Elf Arcanist 
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