Top 5 Wednesday: Favorite Sci-Fi / Fantasy Books


Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey at GingerReadsLainey.
Click HERE for a complete list of participants and future topics.
This week's Top 5 Wednesday theme is about all time favorite science fiction and fantasy books. Since I never read sci-fi (I can't think of any that I would consider sci-fi, anyway) and I very rarely reach for fantasy, this is going to be tough. I'm going to be a little lax when it comes to the definition of fantasy because I'm throwing in some paranormal as well. Because I'm a rebel like that.


A COURT OF MIST AND FURY
(A Court of Thorns and Roses series)
Sarah J. Maas
Just as ACOTAR was a favorite in 2015, ACOMAF was a stand-out in 2016. For someone who isn't typically drawn to fantasy, I am 100% hooked on these characters and this world.

CITY OF HEAVENLY FIRE
(The Mortal Instruments series)
Cassandra Clare
I clearly remember the first time I saw City of Bones in a bookstore. I was intrigued by the cover, and the synopsis was so different from what I usually read. Over the next several years I gobbled up each new release and was so invested in how it would all play out in the final book.

THE CROWN'S GAME
(The Crown's Game series)
Evelyn Skye
Discovering this book last year was super exciting. A historical Russian setting mixed with magic? I was so on board for that. It was just as good as I had hoped. 

OBSIDIAN
(The Lux series)
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Is anyone surprised at me throwing in the Lux series any chance I get? I've always considered this a paranormal series but it's aliens so... that's sci-fi, right? No matter what you call it, it's one of my favorite series ever and one of the few that I've ever re-read. Love the story, love the characters, love the dialogue. I never get tired of this one.  

WHITE HOT KISS
(The Dark Elements trilogy)
Jennifer L. Armentrout
This is another that I've always considered paranormal but with gargoyles and demons... sounds fantastical to me. Sure, this one is heavy on the romance (probably why I like it so much) but there's so much more. Including an irresistible Crown Prince of Hell with protectors/tattoos that he names after Disney characters. Gotta love that.
Have you read any of these?
What's your favorite sci-fi/fantasy book?



24 comments

  1. ACOMAF was in my DREAMS last night. I need to return to that world and THEN I need novellas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that you dreamed about ACOMAF! :) And how awesome would novellas be?! I wish, I wish...

      Delete
  2. I think the Lux series could also be considered Sci-fi since they are aliens. I so need to get back to the Maas series and I still need to read Clare MI series. Good list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what I figured, Melissa. Aliens = sci-fi. :) The Mortal Instruments series is a lot of fun. So many different stories and threads woven together - I loved it!

      Delete
  3. haha I'm not surprised to JLA on here twice! But this is a great list. I haven't read most of them, but I'm definitely interested.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Sarah Maas books do seem to be favorites for a lot of people.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They definitely are, Greg. While I never could get into her Throne of Glass series (and never continued on with the series), the ACOTAR series really grabbed me from the start.

      Delete
  5. I have NOT read any of these. I'm not a HUGE sci-fi/fantasy person, but I have branched out more and I'm glad. I LOVE Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor and the other two in the series. That would be fantasy. As for sci-fi, I like Illuminae and the sequel Gemina. I need the third one now!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I still haven't read DoSaB by Laini Taylor. I've been so unsure about it. Then last year I read one of her short stories in an anthology and didn't care for it at all. So now I'm even more hesitant to pick up DoSaB. I haven't read Illuminae and Gemina but my husband loved them!

      Delete
  6. LOVED White Hot Kiss :) And I did enjoy Obsidian. Lovely list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. White Hot Kiss (and the whole Dark Elements trilogy) was so much fun. :)

      Delete
  7. All three of your top series' has been on my TBR shelf for ages! I have started with ACOTAR last year, but then I got distracted by something else. Life most probably. Need to pick it up again. Thanks for reminding me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you'll love ACOTAR when you get around to picking it up again. It was definitely not my usual kind of read but I ended up loving it. So glad I took a chance on it!

      Delete
  8. Nope, not surprised one bit Daemon showed up on this list. ;) I also love The Mortal Instruments series, but the others on your list are still on my tbr. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I read the 6 Mortal Instruments books and the 3 Infernal Devices books by Cassandra Clare and enjoyed them all so much. Really got hooked on them. I know a lot of people preferred the kind of steampunk setting of TID series but I totally had a soft spot for the characters in TMI.

      Delete
  9. OOO! City of Heavenly Fire looks awesome. *runs to check it out* :) Thanks for sharing your list Tanya. ~Aleen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. City of Heavenly Fire is actually the final book in The Mortal Instruments series - there are five previous books. But I highly recommend the series! It's so interesting and entertaining. :)

      Delete
  10. I was just thinking to myself today how it's been forever since I read a good sci-fi, that is a great selection you got up there

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lily. It's not something I go for on a regular basis but sometimes something fantastical is just what you need. :)

      Delete
  11. oh well.. I CANNOT BELIEVE I HAVEN'T STARTED ANY of these series with the exception of Mortal Instruments which I abandoned at book 2. I HAVE TO READ ACOTAR!!! What is wrong with me??? Great list Tanya!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apparently I need to start sending you weekly reminders to read ACOTAR. LOL :)

      Delete
  12. WHYYY have I still not read ACOMAF!? I am going to forget ALL the things that happened in ACOTAR! Sobs. I loved The Crown's Game too! I was not a huge fan of CoHF though. It was just so... long. I am not sure what my favorite sci-fi fantasy book is, actually! I have a few that I like a lot, but come to think of it, very few of my all-time faves have been fantasy, which is kind of surprising!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know!!! You're going to forget all the details, all the good stuff. And ACOWAR is going to release (in 50 days!) and everyone will be reading it and you'll be all by your lonesome. Must avoid this at all costs! You have 50 days... go read ACOMAF! :)
      OMG, *all* of Cassandra Clare's books are crazy long. I did love CoHF but I haven't started her newest series (Lady Midnight or something?) and probably won't. I loved the Shadowhunters series (TMI and TID) but I'm just kind of done with them.

      Delete