Top 5 Favourite Sci-Fi and Fantasy Novels + Waiting On Wednesday

Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly feature and you can find the goodreads group here. Ann is taking a break this week (well deserved I think) so I am taking over Top 5 Wednesday! It's been a while since I've done one of these but this is a topic I am excited for! 

1) Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

When this first came out I was skeptical but intrigued. I mean - I love Amie Kaufman and the format sounded interesting but it could so easily have gone wrong. Thankfully it did not. I love this book (and Gemina) so much and I can't wait for the third book.

2) Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I get the feeling this will be on  a lot of lists? Honestly this duology has kind of become my fantasy favourite. It's incredible and if you've read it then you definitely already know that and if you haven't? Why? Get on that!

3) The Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan

Definitely one of the first fantasies I ever read (I used to be waaaay more into Historical fiction) and one that has influenced my taste a lot. I loved the world building and the character development and I always love it on re-reads as well. 

4) Starflight by Melissa Landers

If you liked These Broken Stars or Illuminae you would probably like Starflight. I honestly got it because hello beautiful cover! But then the story was just wonderful. I recently got the sequel Starfall and I think actually I might do a re-read of this first just because I loved the characters so much!

5) Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

OMG my love for this series is so huge. It's one I constantly recommend to anyone whether they're asking for recommendations or not. I've re-read it so many times and I never get tired of it. I love the Glass series as well (which is set in the same world) and honestly I will probably just read anything Snyder writes.

Waiting on Wednesday:

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.

For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.

In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race...

I so, so, so nearly put These Broken Stars in my Top 5 - and honestly why didn't I just make it a Top 6? But Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner teaming up again makes me so happy. Plus this is described as Lara Croft IN SPACE. And I need that in my life. 

Released: January 9th 2018

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare), Facebook and Instagram to keep up with what we are reading. 

Wednesday Catch-Up 13th January

Every Wednesday we are linking up with WWW Wednesday and Waiting on Wednesday. WWW Wednesday is hosted at Taking on a World of Words and asks 3 questions: What are you currently reading?, What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you'll read next? 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted at Breaking the Spine and is a chance to show what upcoming releases you are excited for! Each week we will take it in turns to choose a book for Waiting on Wednesday and this week was Ann's turn! You can click any of the pictures in the post to go to that books goodreads page.

Ann:

Currently Reading: 

I am currently reading the prequel to the Throne of Glass series The Assassin's Blade. I am also reading the abridged version of Black Beauty for English at school.

Recently Finished: 

I recently finished Crown of Midnight which I loved and I am  loving the main character more and more in every book.

Planning to Read Next: 

Next I plan on reading either Heir of Fire or The Hunt depending on what mood I am in.

Clare:

Currently Reading:

I am currently about halfway through Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta which I am enjoying though it is quite a heavy read in some ways, it's definitely not the sort of book I see myself going through quickly! I am also still reading The Count of Monte Cristo, I really love Alexandre Dumas' writing and I am enjoying this one.

Recently Finished: 

I've had what, for me, is a fairly slow reading week. I adored the Falling Kingdoms series, these three but the last book gave me such a book hangover. It took me a while after finishing Frozen Tides before I was even able to think about starting another book!

Planning to Read Next:

I am planning to continue the Lumatere Chronicles. I am quite nervous about these because they are both enormous books but also, Froi is possibly my least favourite character so far, so a whole (huge) book from his perspective worries me but maybe my opinion of him will change. I am then planning to start the Mistborn books. My brother recently read The Final Empire and really enjoyed it so I am hoping I do too!

Waiting on Wednesday:

Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers

In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.
Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay.
With shades of The Godfather and Romeo and Juliet, this richly imagined fantasy from debut author Sarah Ahiers is a story of love, lies, and the ultimate vengeance.

Ann: Really sounds like my kind of book and I cannot wait to read it. This will be released on February 2nd.

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Wednesday Catch-Up 6th January 2016

Every Wednesday we are linking up with WWW Wednesday and Waiting on Wednesday. WWW Wednesday is hosted at Taking on a World of Words and asks 3 questions: What are you currently reading?, What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you'll read next? 

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted at Breaking the Spine and is a chance to show what upcoming releases you are excited for! Each week we will take it in turns to choose a book for Waiting on Wednesday and this week was Clare's turn! You can click any of the pictures in the post to go to that books goodreads page.

Ann:

Currently Reading:

I am still currently reading Crown of Midnight which I am enjoying but making very slow progress. I have read about 10-20 more pages of A Tale of Two Cities today at school and I am really enjoying it.

Recently Finished:

I recently finished a collection of short stories for my English homework. Some of the stories were okay but most of them I didn't enjoy.

Planning to Read Next:

Next I still plan on reading The Hunt because it sounds like my kind of book and I look forward to reading it.

Clare:

Currently Reading:

I have just started Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes which I am very excited about as I really enjoyed the first one. I am definitely keen to get up to date on this series! I am also reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas which is a horribly enormous book and quite daunting but I've loved everything of his I've read so far so I have high hopes for this.

Recently Finished:

Since last week I finished Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon which I did enjoy. I am not sure I will read the sequel/companion but I thought this was a good book. I then read The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean which I loved, it wasn't my favourite of her books so far but I still gave it 4.5 stars. Sorcerer to the Crown was a bit of a surprise for me as it started slow and I thought I might not like it but I stuck with it and by the end I was very nearly in love, definitely looking forward to more. And Newt's Emerald is a book I wish wasn't a stand-alone. I think the romance could have benefited from more development but otherwise this was a really fun read. City of a Thousand Dolls was good but didn't blow me away. I have the prequel but I am not sure I will read it just yet. How to Survive a Sharknado has been probably my favourite book of the year. This is clearly a book you'll only enjoy if you're a fan of Sharknado and films like it, but since I am that just made this perfect for me. Very funny and so very informative. I am prepared for all kinds of unnatural disasters now! I then read Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes which I really, really enjoyed. I am loving this series so far. 

Planning to Read Next: 

I plan to get all caught up with the Falling Kingdoms series and read Gathering Darkness, Frozen Tides and A Book of Spirits and Thieves next (and join the long wait for book 5!) and then I want to read Passenger by Alexandra Bracken which I am very, very excited to read!

Waiting on Wednesday:

Night Study by Maria V. Snyder

Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia are safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear. 
Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he's been keeping secrets from Valek...secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander's mysterious plans, they realize it's far more sinister that they could have ever imagined.

Clare: This is genuinely one of my favourite series of all time and I am beyond excited for Night Study!

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading

Wednesday Catch-Up 30th December

Every Wednesday we are linking up with WWW Wednesday, What Are You Reading Wednesday? and Waiting on Wednesday. WWW Wednesday is hosted at Taking on a World of Words and asks 3 questions: What are you currently reading?, What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you'll read next? 

What Are You Reading Wednesday are hosted on It's a Reading Thing and asks;

1. What's the name of your current read?

2. Go to page 34 or 34% in your e-book and share one complete sentence.

3. Would you like to live in the world that exists within your book? Why or why not?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted at Breaking the Spine and is a chance to show what upcoming releases you are excited for! Each week we will take it in turns to choose a book for Waiting on Wednesday and this week was Ann's turn! You can click any of the pictures in the post to go to that books goodreads page.

Ann:

Currently Reading:

I am currently reading the second book in the Throne of Glass series which I am enjoying cause I love the main character. I am also reading The Great Gatsby which I am nearly finished but not enjoying it.

"Celaena adjusted the position of her legs and rolled her neck." - page 34 Crown of Midnight

Recently Finished:

I have recently finished Username Evie which I really loved because I could relate to the main character.

Planning to Read Next:

Next I am planning on reading Sandrider which Clare got me and I am very excited to read.

Clare:

Currently Reading:

I am currently reading Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon which I am really enjoying, this is more or less everything I wanted from Soundless and didn't get. I know there is a sequel/companion but I am not sure yet whether I will buy it, we will see what I think by the end of the book. I am also reading How to Survive a Sharknado which is swiftly becoming one of my favourite books. It's perfect for me since I love not only the Sharknado film but all films of that kind!

"When volcanoes erupt, they typically release hot gas, debris, and lava. During a beeclipse, however, volcanoes launch something quite different into the air: billions of gigantic honeybees." - Page 35, How to Survive a Sharknado

I am not certain I'd want to be living in either of these worlds. Things seem pretty terrible for women in the Silver Phoenix world. And I don't especially want Sharks flying at my head. Although at least now I know that if that happens, I'm prepared!

Recently Finished:

I managed to read three more Christmas books before Christmas day. I enjoyed Married by Christmas and The Night Before Christmas by Scarlett Bailey - they were really light and put me in the Christmas mood. However The Winter Wedding slightly let me down as I couldn't connect to the writing style or the character. After Christmas I read How to Seduce a Scot as I was looking for something really light and easy and I definitely got that. It's not the best romance I've ever read but I did enjoy it and I will probably be continuing on with the series. I felt The School for Good and Evil was a good concept and well carried off but it may have been just a bit too young for me. I have passed the books on to my sister as I think she may enjoy them more than I did. I also finished Shadow Study by Maria V. Snyder which I loved, I don't know why it took me so long to get around to reading it but this is one amazing series and I loved being back with Yelena and Valek. I am very excited for Night Study to be released. 

Planning to Read Next:

I have so, so many new books at the moment thanks to Christmas money and I am hoping to make a start on them soon. I want to read The Rogue Not Taken first because I love Sarah MacLean's books and I feel like this will be a fun, quick read and then I am aiming to move on to Sorcerer to the Crown, Newt's Emerald and The Rook. I haven't heard much, either good or bad, about any of these so I am going in a little blind which I kind of like!

Waiting on Wednesday:

Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.
But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.
With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

Ann: This sounds like a really interesting book and also I love the cover. This is to be released on 9th February.

You can also find us on Goodreads (Ann and Clare) to keep up with what we are reading