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The Ultimate Bookshelf
27
items I got back into reading as an adult a few years ago after not reading novels since early high school. These are my personal recommendations from books that I have read in the past 5 years as an adult. Whether you are just getting back into reading, o...
Sections
5
Stand-Alones and Duologies
🌶️🔥❤️🔥
Fantasy Series and Universes
The Maasverse
Academia
Stand-Alones and Duologies
For people getting back into reading, or looking for books as a breather in between series
This book was so heart-wrenching and human. It's really for people who love stories that are truly about the characters
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (Stand-alone)
I love a dark story with an interesting magical system 🖤
One Dark Window (Shepard King Duology)
🌶️🔥❤️🔥
Spicy Stories that had me drooling
The couples in this series are to die for 🖤🌶️🌶️🌶️
Butcher & Blackbird (Ruinous Love Trilogy)
I ❤️ Kingfisher 🐦⬛
Quicksilver (Fae & Alchemy Series #1)
Fantasy Series and Universes
For when you want to start a heart-wrenching experience that will stick with you forever
The first book in the popular high fantasy series, and my recommendation of the first book to read when attempting the Maasverse. I recommend reading the series's in a very specific order :) Start with ACOTAR 1-3, Then the entirety of TOG, finish ACO...
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
One of my all-time favorite FMC's, and the first time I felt represented in a fantasy series as a POC often mistaken for being latina
The Cruel Prince (Folk of the Air Series #1)
The Maasverse
This is the Order that I recommend reading Sarah J Maas's collection of books. My biggest advice to you when reading this series though, is to STAY AWAY FROM ANY ONLINE CONTENT ABOUT THE BOOKS until you are done. Without fail you WILL encounter huge ...
This is the first book and series I recommend reading. The world building is somewhat easier than TOG and it is a little bit shorter, which makes it a little more approachable to start out with
A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses Series #1)
ACOTAR #2, and Maasverse #2
A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses Series #2)
ACOTAR #3 and Maasverse #3
A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses Series #3)
After ACOTAR #3 we'll jump to TOG #1, Throne of Glass. At this point the main first story of ACOTAR is done, and this is a good point for the much more dense TOG series. We'll come back to ACOTAR once we are done with TOG
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass Series #1)
TOG #2 and MV #5
Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass Series #2)
TOG #3 and MV #6
Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass Series #3)
There is a lot of heated debate about whether to read Assassin's Blade first in the series, or later. The argument for first is that Assassin's Blade was written and “published” before the rest of the series, and that reading Assassin's Blade first w...
The Assassin's Blade: The Throne of Glass Novellas
TOG #5 and MV #8
Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass Series #4)
If you have the mental fortitude to do a tandem read between Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn, I recommend doing so. There are a lot of guides online that you can use to sync up the chapters. Otherwise read Empire of Storms then Tower of Dawn
Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass Series #5)
A lot of people hate this book because they hate the character that it's about. Don't skip it even if you dislike the character. I didn't like him at first, but there is a big character arc and a lot of growth to be witness to in this book. I also lo...
Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass Series #6)
The last book in the TOG series and the most emotional one. I cried, I raged, I stared at the wall. This is the book that makes the series stick with you forever
Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass Series #7)
Now we return to ACOTAR #4 and MV #12. ACOFS is a good short, lighthearted breather after TOG, and will refresh you on the world and characters of ACOTAR if TOG took you a year or more to read
A Court of Frost and Starlight (A Court of Thorns and Roses Series)
ACOTAR #5 and MV #13. This is a lot of people's favorite so far in ACOTAR. It is a very good depiction of PTSD and mental health struggles and recovery
A Court of Silver Flames (A Court of Thorns and Roses Series #5)
CC #1 and MV #14. Crescent City is a little bit of a different world than we are used to with the other series. I really enjoyed the world and magic system in this series though
House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City Series #1)
CC #2 and MV #15. At this point you are so close to the end, even if you get a little bored of this one, PLEASE get to the end. It is so worth it and you will be so excited to read the next book
House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City Series #2)
CC #3 and MV #16. Congratulations! You have made it to the end of the Maasverse and are ready to read ACOTAR #6 & 7 when they come out later this year and early next year!
House of Flame and Shadow
Academia
From Secret Societies to Surprise Heiresses, these books may be vastly different but all involve university/school settings and satisfying tropes
Demonology, Secret Societies, and Yale. What more could you ask for? If you liked the Mortal Instruments, you will probably enjoy this darker, adult series.
Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1) by Leigh Bardugo
Thrilling and filled with clever puzzles that have you trying to guess what's next
The Inheritance Games (Inheritance Games Series #1)
I read this twice before starting the second book. The first in this series takes place primarily at a military academy, and is so worth reading.
The Poppy War (Poppy War Series #1)
All the best academia tropes set to the backdrop of a war college and interesting magic system. 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Fourth Wing
Divine Rivals does not take place in a school setting, but the bookish writer vibes and importance of war press land this book in the academia genre. A really great rivals to lovers story that takes place on a war front.
Divine Rivals: A Novel