Christmas Gift Ideas - Books, SciFi/Fantasy/YA Edition
Books to escape reality - because let's be honest, we all need to.
Christmas is fast approaching - frighteningly fast for someone like me, who is notoriously bad with dates and keeping track of what day of the week it is (oh, the joys of freelancing), so here comes my book recommendation list for the SciFi/Fantasy/Young Adult lover close to your heart - or for you, if you’re gifting yourself a gripping escape from the hellscape that is our current reality. I’ve put together my favourite novels from both genres that I’ve read in the last two years.
Let’s start with the fantastical! And maybe one of my favourite books of all time:
“The Wolf”, by Leo Carew
What is it about? An ancient people in the north of what could be the UK, centuries in the past, are at war with their Southern neighbours. Time flows differently in the North - and as both cultures clash, the future of the island is forged, not just through bloodshed (though there is plenty of that, too), but through political machinations. A young warlord inherits a kingdom and has to navigate the politics of the court, and a cunning adversary in the South. Military strategy, epic battles, fantasy elements like special/magical skills, excellent world-building and three novels to dive into. “Thw Wolf” is the first book in the series.
“The Gilded Ones”, by Namina Forna
What is it about? A 16-year old girl, who lives in a patriarchal, religious society, which ties girls’ worth to their “purity” of blood. But during the ritual where she must prove that she bleeds red and is therefore pure, her blood quells golden - and she is cast out as a demon. The punishment she has to endure is worse than death, until she gets rescued and brought to the court of the Emperor where she discovers what she is: a near-immortal with special gifts. The only option to save herself is to fight for the Emperor who sees her as inhuman, whose society tortured and tried to kill her - but Deka has to discover that in this court, nobody can be trusted - and motives and people are not what and who they seem at first glance.