Top Reads So Far of 2021 (Lizzie)

Can you believe it's late March already? I figured it was a good time to do a quarter-year favorite reads round up. I've been intentional about reading more this year, and I'm glad because I've loved to so many of the books I've read!

Here are my top reads of 2021 so far. 

1) The Healer's Rune and Guardian Prince by Laurica Matuska

It took me a bit to get into this story since it starts at a rough place with the heroine's friend being martyred by the cruel Rhuddan elves who've abused their treaty with the humans to enslave them, and who've just about killed off the other two races (one is extinct), but once in, there was plenty to keep me reading. (I actually read the series twice, which I seldom do). When Sabine's friend challenges her to seek the truth just before she dies, it sets her on a dangerous path. Sabine is a healer, and I loved her integrity and devotion to healing even though it put her in danger and caused her to help people who'd been horrible to her. With beloved or not-beloved but still well-developed secondary characters and a fascinating world with surprises and mysteries to solve, I highly recommend this series. I really connected with Sabine and am looking forward to book 3 (especially since the romance hinted at in book 2 will hopefully continue). 

2) A Castle Awakened by Sharon Rose

Another book that I absolutely loved was A Castle Awakened by Sharon Rose. It has such a classic knights, castle, and princess feel while being unique as well. I loved heroic Lord Tristan and cheered as the proud Princess Beth learned kindness from him. Tristan, who claimed a mysterious, abandoned castle in the woods, has to deal with an equal mysterious young lady rescued from attackers by his men. Unfortunately, the young lady, who unconvincely claims to be a peasant, refuses to reveal her identity. I also enjoyed the prequel A Castle Sealed and am looking forward to book 2, A Castle Contended.

3) Dawnsong by Brynn Shutt

One Guard, One City, Many Secrets. Unravel them all today. I adored this novelette by Brynn Shutt (and love the cover!). A city guards risks her job trying to help orphans in a city suffering from a plague and ends up meeting a kind new captain of the guard. The story feels like a prequel to a series, and I am looking forward to the next books! I loved the characters and am curious to find out the mysteries hinted at. 

4) Lost in Averell by Tara Grayce

This was a fun portal fantasy where a teenage girl manages both being a high schooler in the US and a princes in a fairytale world. When a classmate accidentally travels through the portal into the fairytale world (which is really quite dangerous to those who don't know it, humans in particular), she and a friend set out to find him and end up involved in a larger plot against the humans, unicorns, and dragons of their world. This was a cute story, and I'd enjoy reading more set in this world.

5) Out of Time series, starting with A Time to Die, by Nadine Brandes

This is one of those series that made me cry so much but which I still absolutely loved. The main character, Parvin, grows a lot during the series, and the hero was so lovable. It was a bit traumatic in places, just to warn you, but definitely worth it. The story is set in a world ravaged by natural disaster and disease and now separated into halves by a wall. There are very high tech, wealthy cities, and very poor ones. Everyone is supposed to be born with a clock that tells how long they have to live. Those numbers determine how much schooling and medical care you get and much else. If you don't have a clock, you're a radical and can be thrown through the wall to the dangerous West. Parvin and her twin brother have been secretly sharing their clock for the last almost eighteen years, and one of them will die on their eighteenth birthday. Parvin's sure she'll die, and her attempts to finally start living well before she dies have unexpected and far-reaching consequences, including getting her thrown through the wall.

Have you read any of these? What are your favorite reads of 2021?

Weekend Reads: Fierce Heart (Elven Alliance) by Tara Grayce (Lizzie)

Is it April yet? Because I have a bookish date in April with books 4 of the Elven Alliance series by Tara Grayce. It's only September, you say? In that case, I may have to solace myself by talking about, or maybe even re-reading, books 1-3. :)

In all seriousness, I do highly recommend this steampunk series by Tara Grayce, which begins with Fierce Heart. It's about a marriage alliance between a chatty human princess and a silent warrior elf prince. The goal of Essie and Farrendel's marriage is to help keep the peace between the humans of Escarland and the elves of Tarenheil, but traitors amongst their people and the trolls of the north are making that difficult. It will take all their diplomacy, fighting skills (which includes Farrendel's powerful magic), and a growing love to save their kingdoms. 

Refreshingly, there are no evil guardians or greedy parents, no selfish tantrums at all much less ones about an unwanted marriage, no attempts to run away with some charming cad. Just a dutiful princess with a caring family trying to bring peace between two kingdoms and a quiet elf prince scarred by war trying to do the same thing. They're honorable and kind and willing to sacrifice for their kingdoms in big ways and for each other in big ways and in small, everyday ways that make a huge difference in a relationship.

Essie and Farrendel (I love the way his name sounds) realize love is a choice and act kindly to one another, enduring the awkwardness of being suddenly married to a stranger and the difficulties of dealing with different cultures and unfriendly people. There's delightful humor, over-protective brothers, plenty of elf hair jokes (I want some of that elf shampoo), sadness in the scars left by war and the bad choices of others, some adventures, and of course, romance as Essie and Farrendel's relationship develops. There was a bit much of Essie admiring how handsome and fit Farrendel is for my taste, but considering he was a stranger when they married and he tends to be quiet, she didn't know much beyond what her eyes could tell her for a while. She works hard to know the whole Farrendel though, which makes up for it. The kingdom of the elves is pretty cool so, as is the magic. I absolutely loved Essie's family and over-protective brothers. I very much anticipate one brother ending up with a certain elf princess.

I read Fierce Heart pretty quickly and moved on to War Bound, then Death Wind (which I only had to wait a week to read, since I started the series late). Those books didn't disappoint. Plus, they added new characters and relationships to explore. I can't say too much without spoilers, but I imagine if you start the series, you'll want to continue on.

Have you read this series? I haven't read many elf books, but I am glad I broke from my usual "I only care about Tolkien's elves" mindset to read these.