Crossing Over: Historical Fantasies Full of Humor and Adventure

Hey all. It's been awhile since my last Crossing Over post. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature that stemmed from my desire to recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that are similar. I hate that we pigeonhole books into a specific age range and so I try to combat that. Plus it's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month (usually) here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. So this month my theme is historical mystery and honestly that was a pretty hard one for me. I feel like I don't read a ton of adult historical fiction and the ones that I do are very different from the YA I read. So I had to repeat a book. But it's been almost a year since I used it and the comparison is just so perfect I had to.

Jackaby by William Ritter
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This book is set during the mid-19th Century and is about a women who gets a job working for a paranormal detective. It does a great job combining all those elements together to make something you would not think would work but totally does. There's a great setting full of historical vibes, supernatural creatures, and a great mystery. The series definitely gets better and more complex as it goes on which makes it even more enjoyable.

But I think my favorite part of this book may have been the characters. This is a book that is full of fantastic and complex characters. Seriously, most of the characters in this book were incredibly fun and super likable. I instantly fell in love with Jackaby with his wit and Abigail for her sarcasm and pluck. Plus the secondary characters are all so delightful. And the romances. I'm not one for shipping but I ship these ships for sure.

Plus this is a book that is so much fun. It's full of action and adventure but it is also full of humor. I found myself laughing out loud while reading this book and it is the perfect palatte cleanser because it is just so fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously but if you're a historical fantasy, how can you.

In general, it's a good read and an interesting mystery. It's a done of fun and one of my all-time favorite series. If I have not done my job and convinced you to read it yet then you haven't been paying enough attention over the years.

Soulless by Gail Carriger
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This book is set during the mid-19th Century and is about a women who gets a job working as what is essentially a paranormal detective. It does a great job combining all those elements together to make something you would not think would work but totally does. There's a great setting full of historical vibes, supernatural creatures, and a great mystery. The series definitely gets better and more complex as it goes on which makes it even more enjoyable.

But I think my favorite part of this book may have been the characters. This is a book that is full of fantastic and complex characters. Seriously, most of the characters in this book were incredibly fun and super likable. I instantly fell in love with Alexia Tarabotti with his sass and Conall Maccon who is gruff and so kind. Plus the secondary characters are all so delightful. And the romances. I'm not one for shipping but I ship these ships for sure.

Plus this is a book that is so much fun. It's full of action and adventure but it is also full of humor. I found myself laughing out loud while reading this book and it is the perfect palatte cleanser because it is just so fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously but if you're a historical fantasy, how can you.

In general, it's a good read and an interesting mystery. It's a done of fun and one of my all-time favorite series. If I have not done my job and convinced you to read it yet then you need to read any of my Gail Carriger reviews because I've loved all of them

Besides the fact that both of these are historical  mysteries that involve paranormal elements, I would say that the main similarities are that they are light-hearted and fun. I really love books that don't take everything to seriously and can make me both laugh and be on the edge of my seat and these totally do that. Plus they combine so many things that shouldn't work and totally do. I love both series and totally recommend them.

Have you read Jackaby and/or Soulless? What did you think? What historical fantasies with crossover appeal do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over - Mysteries with Missing Persons

Hey all. It's been awhile since my last Crossing Over post. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature that stemmed from my desire to recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that are similar. I hate that we pigeonhole books into a specific age range and so I try to combat that. Plus it's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month (usually) here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. So this month my theme is historical fiction and honestly that was a pretty hard one for me. I feel like I don't read a ton of adult historical fiction and the ones that I do are very different from the YA I read. So I did a little bit of a twist on the topic and do time travel stories with a big focus on historical fiction

Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehring
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This book is about a girl who goes missing and how her best friend and boyfriend has to cope with that and find out exactly what happened to her. Everyone thinks she just ran away but the main character suspects foul play. As the book unfolds we learn more about both the character who goes missing and the narrator. In fact, much more of the focus is on the development of Flynn's character, which honestly was totally fine with me.

Because honestly, the best part of this book may have been the characters. This is a book that is full of fantastic and complex characters. Seriously, most of the characters in this book were incredibly unlikable, even January. But the author does a great job in making you connect with them. You don't agree with their motives but you respect them for their bad decisions. They felt realistic and interesting. Which to me is an essential part of a good mystery.

Speaking of that mystery, this was a pretty good one. I prefer my mysteries to be solvable. I want there to be clues along the way that help me figure it all our but not until the very end. I want it to unfold in a way where I am solving it with the characters. And while I did figure this one out pretty easily there were still plenty of surprises along the way.

In general, it's a good read and an interesting mystery. It's more character-driven than I expected but that was okay because the characters were some of the best things about this book. I totally recommend it to fans of YA mysteries.

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
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This book is about a girl who goes missing and how her best friend and roommate has to cope with that and find out exactly what happened to her. Everyone thinks she just ran away but the main character suspects foul play. Then there is the mysterious appearance of a woman in a town an hour away that the other main character is drawn to and no one else seems to care about or even notice really. As the book unfolds we learn more about the character who goes missing, the girl who just showed up, and the narrator. I don't want to give too much away but there are a lot of good reveals.

Because honestly, the characters were amazing. This is a book that is full of fantastic and complex characters. Seriously, most of the characters in this book were incredibly unlikable, even the narrators at times. But the author does a great job in making you connect with them. That is what Mary Kubica does so well in all her books. You don't agree with their motives but you respect them for their bad decisions. They felt realistic and interesting. Which to me is an essential part of a good mystery.

Speaking of that mystery, that was probably the best part. I prefer my mysteries to be solvable. I want there to be clues along the way that help me figure it all our but not until the very end. I want it to unfold in a way where I am solving it with the characters. And that is exactly what this book did. You don't have all the pieces of the puzzle until the very end and when you do and you see the whole picture you are shocked and so entertained.

In general, it's a good read and the perfect summer mystery. It's more character-driven than I expected but that was okay because the characters were one of the best things about this book. I totally recommend it to fans of mysteries.

Besides the fact that both of these mysteries involve kidnappings, I would say that the main similarities are that they focus more on the characters and who they are then on the over-arching whodunit kind of aspects of the mystery. That is one of the things I love about all Mary Kubica's books and I know Caleb Roehring focused a lot on making his characters complex but still sympathetic. If you like those kinds of mysteries check these two out for sure.

Have you read Last Seen Leaving and/or Don't You Cry? What did you think? What mystery novels with crossover appeal do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: Time Travel Books with a Focus on the History

Hey all. It's been awhile since my last Crossing Over post. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature that stemmed from my desire to recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that are similar. I hate that we pigeonhole books into a specific age range and so I try to combat that. Plus it's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month (usually) here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. So this month my theme is historical fiction and honestly that was a pretty hard one for me. I feel like I don't read a ton of adult historical fiction and the ones that I do are very different from the YA I read. So I did a little bit of a twist on the topic and do time travel stories with a big focus on historical fiction

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
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So I feel like the first thing I have to say about this book is that it is not really a crossover book. It is very adult. VERY. There are some really explicit sex scenes and a ton of violence. And there are also plenty of violent sex scenes. This book is not for the typical YA reader. But it is still really good and I don't think teens should avoid these kinds of books because they aren't "adults." Alright, that's out of the way so let's get to the good stuff.

This book is about a woman who is ahead of her time who ends up, unbeknownst to her, having the ability to travel back in time. She ends up in the Highlands of Scotland right before the Jacobite uprising and becomes entrenched with a family who is more than meets the eye. There's a ton of action and drama, plus a good amount of political intrigue. As the series develops she starts to realize that if she wants to save the people she loves, she may have to change history.

This book also has amazing characters. I absolutely love Claire for one. As I said she is ahead of her time which often puts her at odds with the historical time period. She's sassy and tough, brilliant and resourceful, and shows a lot of confidence under pressure. She's an easy character to get behind. But Jamie Fraser is also quite amazing as well. He's not your typical war-hardened soldier. He's got a real vulnerability to him which makes him quite complex.  But even more than that, this is a series full of amazing and odious characters including some truly vile villains. Plus the book is way more character driven than you would expect.

But the thing I liked most about this book is that it's a time travel story that reads like historical fiction. The focus is definitely not on the time travel at least not in the first few books (yes, I admit I have only read the first one and seen the second season of the TV show). The time travel is just a means of getting the character to the time period which is a great setting. I loved the themes about the period that were explored and think fans of historical fiction will enjoy it as well.

In general, it's a good read. It defies genre classifications because it has elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and romance. If you are worried it's too romance heavy, don't be. Take it from this romancephobic person, there is much more about this series to love. If you are a historical fiction fan check it out.

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
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So there are a lot of books out there that market themselves at Outlander for teens. Some because they are historical fiction that takle place in Scotland, some because they're time travel, some because they have both. But none of them quite get there. Passenger I think gets the closest. One because it's not trying to be Outlander and two, because it has the same kind of vibes,

This book is about a young woman who ends up, unbeknownst to her, having the ability to travel back in time. She ends up aboard a pirate ship right before the American Revolution and becomes entrenched with a family who is more than meets the eye. There's a ton of action and drama, plus a good amount of surprised. As the book and series develops she starts to realize that if she wants to save the people she loves, she may have to change history and travel through time even more.

This book also has amazing characters. I really liked Etta for one. Etta is a modern girl with modern sensibilities which often puts her at odds with the historical time period. She's tough, smart, resourceful, and shows a lot of confidence under pressure. She's an easy character to get behind. But Nicholas is also quite amazing as well. He's not your typical swash-buckling pirate. He's got a real vulnerability to him which makes him quite complex. But even more than that, this is a series full of amazing and odious characters including some truly vile villains. Plus the book is way more character driven than you would expect.

But the thing I liked most about this book is that it's a time travel story that reads like historical fiction. The focus is on the time travel but what it does right it perfectly capture the location and history of where it is taking you. The time travel is the main plot point but it doesn't neglect some of the larger implications and how the characters inhabit the locations. I loved the themes about the period that were explored and think fans of historical fiction will enjoy it as well.

In general, it's a good read. It defies genre classification by having great elements of historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance. Basically it has it all. If you are a fan of historical fiction I think you will like it just as much as fans of time travel.

Have you read Outlander and/or Passenger? What did you think? What steampunk novels with crossover appeal do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: Historical Fantasies With Atmospheric Settings

Hey all. It's been awhile Crossing Over post. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature that stemmed from my desire to recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that are similar. I hate that we pigeonhole books into a specific age range and so I try to combat that. Plus it's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month (usually) here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. So this month my focus is historical fantasy or historical mystery. This is one of my favorite subgenres because it combines elements of my three favorite genres to make something totally fun.

The Diviners by Libba Bray
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I love this series. It seemed like the kind of book I would enjoy but it took me forever to read it and I kind of regret that. It's surprisingly complex and incredibly engaging. For one thing it combines basically everything that I love: magic, mystery, adventure, and a historical setting that pulls you in (more on that later). Plus the way that this book is written, it is full of this atmospheric tone that borders on spooky. I mean at times it is downright scary. Plus it's a book full of surprises and a mystery that will keep you guessing and reading from beginning to end.

This is also a book with great characters. It changes perspectives many many times giving you a well rounded look at the what is happening and it's surprsingly easy to relate to every character. Many of them are kind of dubious and a few are super villainous in the best possible way. It's definitely got some unlikable main characters but I kind of like that.  You still totally root for them especially when they go through terrible things because the antagonists are so sinister.

But I think my favorite thing about this book is the setting. Libba Bray was able to perfectly take a familiar historical setting and show it to you in an interesting way. She takes real people and real things and then puts her own spin on them. And that spin is an amazing supernatural elements and an amazing magical system. It was incredibly complex and so engrossing. It all shouldn't work but it totally does,

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
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I loved this book. It seemed like the kind of book I would enjoy but it took me forever to read it and I kind of regret that. It's surprisingly complex and incredibly engaging. For one thing it combines basically everything that I love: magic, mystery, adventure, and a historical setting that pulls you in (more on that later). Plus the way that this book is written, it is full of this atmospheric tone that is so emotional and beautiful. I mean at times it is downright sad. Plus it's a book full of surprises and a mystery that will keep you guessing and reading from beginning to end.

This is also a book with great characters. It changes perspectives a few times giving you a well rounded look at the what is happening and it's surprising easy to relate to every character. . It's definitely got some unlikable main characters but I kind of like that.  You still totally root for them especially when they go through terrible things because the antagonists are so sinister.

But I think my favorite thing about this book is the setting. Libba Bray was able to perfectly take a familiar historical setting and show it to you in an interesting way. She takes real people and real things and then puts her own spin on them. And that spin is an amazing supernatural elements and an amazing magical system. It was incredibly complex and so engrossing. It all shouldn't work but it totally does,

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone. It has something for everyone. If you like fantasy, horror, historical fiction, mystery, doesn't matter. They combine all the things that I love to create an amazing novel. These are both good examples of books I think can combine genres really well. It combines fantasy and mystery in a way that is thrilling and interesting on it's own but then you add an atmospheric historical setting and things are taking to the next level. If you have read one of things I think you would really like the other.

Have you read The Diviners and/or The Golem and the Jinni? What did you think? What steampunk novels with crossover appeal do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: Steampunk Supernatural Adventures

Hey all. It's time for this month's Crossing Over post. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature that stemmed from my desire to recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that are similar. I hate that we pigeonhole books into a specific age range and so I try to combat that. Plus it's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month (usually) here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. So this month my focus is twofold, steampunk and science fiction but when thinking about which one I was going to do for this post the obvious choice was steampunk.

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
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I really enjoyed this series but if I am being entirely honest, I didn't love the first book. It's a series that gets better as it develops. But by the last book I was totally invested, both emotionally and intellectually in the outcome of the book. And I am still not over that ending!

This is a book the effortlessly combines a bunch of different elements that you wouldn't think would work well together and they do. Not only is it historical fiction with great elements about society and a woman's place in it, but it also has fantastic steampunk elements, and a mysterious plot that revolves around supernatural creatures. That's right, there are zombies in this book.

The best thing about this book however is the characters. It is a book full of interesting and likable characters, starting with the main character. Eleanor Fitt is a young women who has never really felt like she fit in with her society, but she's tough, plucky, and resourceful which makes her a great heroine. There also some fantastic secondary characters in the Spirit-Hunters, and a good love to hate relationship courtesy of one Daniel Sheridan who is pretty swoonworthy. Not to mention some great villains who are pretty odious and characters that walk a very fine line between good and evil, which I always like.

Throughout the series you are taken to different places throughout the world including France and Egypt, all in the name of adventure and mystery. It really is a great series that combines history, mystery, and fantasy really well.

Soulless by Gail Carriger
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It feels strange to mention a book that I haven't finished in one of these posts (I'm almost done!) but I really couldn't not mention it. I mean it is a really great steampunk story and has a ton of crossover appeal. Plus it does remind me a lot of Something Strange and Deadly so I think people who like one will really enjoy the other.

Soulless is a book the effortlessly combines a bunch of different elements that you wouldn't think would work well together and they do. Not only is it historical fiction with great elements about society and a woman's place in it, but it also has fantastic steampunk elements, and a mysterious plot that revolves around supernatural creatures. That's right, there are vampires and werewolves (amung other things) in this book.

The best thing about this book however is the characters. It is a book full of interesting and likable characters, starting with the main character. Alexia Tarabotti is such a spitfire. She doesn't quite fit in with her society, and that goes deeper than the fact that she preternatural. But she's tough, plucky, and resourceful which makes her a great heroine. There also some fantastic secondary characters. Great friendships in Ivy Hisslepenny and Lord Akeldama (the names in this book, you guys) and a good love to hate relationship courtesy of one Lord Maccon who is pretty swoonworthy (I will always and forever be Team Werewolf). Not to mention some great villains who are pretty odious and characters that walk a very fine line between good and evil, which I always like.

And a cursory scan of the covers for the rest of the series makes me think that I will also be taken to different places throughout the world including France and Egypt, all in the name of adventure and mystery, I hope. But seriously, even though I am not done I am really loving this book. It does a great job in how it combines history, mystery, and fantasy really well.

These are both good examples of books I think can combine genres really well. I'm all about historical fantasies and these take that and add steampunk elements their great. The obvious choice when recommending crossover Gail Carriger books is to recommend her other series like the Finishing School series which is like a lower YA or the Custard Protocol which is YA and I hope to read when I am done with this series. But like I said, I think the Something Strange and Deadly series is really similar.

Both series combine steampunk Victorian settings with supernatural creatures to make books full of adventure and mystery. Both books have spunky female heroines who are trying to navigate their places in society while fighting for or against these supernatural threats. Plus both main characters use a parasol as their weapon of choice. I think if you enjoyed one of these series, you should totally try the other.

Have you read Something Strange and Deadly and/or Soulless? What did you think? What steampunk novels with crossover appeal do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: Dark SF/F with Brutal and Violent Worlds

Hey all. It's been a few months since I have done a Crossing Over post. I think I'm being a perfectionist about them and haven't real been able to come up with the perfect one to fit the theme. Or I was busy. I don't know. On top of that fact, now that I am back to theme months I want to make them fit and that's not always possible. But at this point I am just going to do one that works and I have been saving in my archive.

If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature that stemmed from my desire to recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that are similar. I hate that we pigeonhole books into a specific age range and so I try to combat that. Plus it's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month (usually) here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. But like I said, this one doesn't really fit the theme.

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
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I am not up to date with this series but I did like the first book. Not as much as a lot of people but I think the hype train got the best of me here. Plus the audiobook narrators were ones I had listened to before and I kept comparing the two books which is not at all fair. But now that it is going to be a larger series I do kind of want to marathon it when all the books are out.

The biggest stand out to me with this book is the world. Wow, this is a super brutal fantasy world that kind of harkens back to Greek city states, particularly Sparta, and their warrior tendencies. It is not for the faint of heart and there is a serious body count with the main character doing horrible things in the face of a contest that requires him to be super brutal. But his violence is nothing compared to some of the other characters. This is a book full of awful and unlikable characters who make really questionable decisions but are complex and interesting which makes me want to learn more about them. There is also an undercurrent of rebellion that I hope and assume is explored more with later books. Like I said, I've only read this one but I am really hoping there is more rebellion in the future.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown
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I am not up to date with this series even though all the books are out, but I did like the first book. Not as much as a lot of people but I think the hype train got the best of me here too, well and the fact that I should not have listened to the audio. But now that all the books are out I do kind of want to marathon it, if only I could find the time.

The biggest stand out to me with this book is the world. Wow, this is a super brutal sci-fi world that kind of harkens back to Greek city states, particularly Sparta, and their warrior tendencies. I mean the Greek symbolism isn't veiled thinly at all. It is not for the faint of heart and there is a serious body count with the main character doing horrible things in the face of a contest that requires him to be super brutal. But his violence is nothing compared to some of the other characters. This is a book full of awful and unlikable characters who make really questionable decisions but are complex and interesting, which makes me want to learn more about them. There is also an undercurrent of rebellion that I hope and assume is explored more with later books.

These are both good examples of books I think of really dark sci-fi fantasies. They have these really great atmospheric tones and a unique settings but plot wise they are super brutal. If you don't like graphic violence or you don't want your main characters doing awful and violent things, maybe don't read these books. But if that is your thing, and I like me some violence from time to time, then check these books out. They are really complex and there are great themes of rebellion and humanity that I hope are explored in later books because that is kind of what I came here for. They are really similar in theme and tone too so if you liked one, check out the other.

Have you read An Ember in the Ashes and/or Red Rising? What did you think? What dark sci-fi/fantasies with crossover appeal do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: Atmospheric Fantasies with Surprisingly Sinister Antagonists

Hey all. This month's Crossing Over is a little later than usual because it was hard to decide on. On top of the fact that I don't have a theme this month to focus me, I've used up all my idea stockpile I put together when I first created the idea. But I finally decided on one and I'm really happy with it.

If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature that stemmed from my desire to recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that are similar. I hate that we pigeonhole books into a specific age range and so I try to combat that. Plus it's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. But like I said, no theme this month so here is a completely arbitrary choice.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Steivater
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First things first, this is an absolutely amazing book with gorgeous writing and an atmospheric tone that you will get swept away in. Plus the setting is so unique and enthralling you'll wish it was a real place. It's one of those books that forces you to slow down when you're reading and take it all in but at the same time it's not at all boring. The plot will have you wanting to find out what will happen next and there is a surprising amount of action. There is also a surprising antagonist. You don't expect sinister demon horses to be as vicious and terrifying but that's exactly what they are. And of course you have great characters that you will relate to, a complex family dynamic, and a really sweet romance. It's a fantastic read. Plus the audio is top notch!

Uprooted by Naomi Novik
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And of course Uprooted is also an absolutely amazing book with gorgeous writing and an atmospheric tone that you will get swept away in. Plus the setting is so unique and enthralling you'll wish it was a real place. It's one of those books that forces you to slow down when you're reading and take it all in. It will take longer than you expect to read it but at the same time it's not at all boring. The plot will have you wanting to find out what will happen next and there is a surprising amount of action. There is also a surprising antagonist. You don't expect a sentient wood to be as vicious and terrifying but that's exactly what it is. And of course you have great characters that you will love, an amazing female friendship, and a really good hate to love romance. It's a fantastic read and worth the time.

These are both good examples of books I think of as a modern fairy tale. They have these really great atmospheric tones and a unique setting that feels magical even if there isn't any magic in play. But then you add magic and/or magical creatures and it makes it all the more enjoyable. But I think the best thing about these books is how great of a conflict there is with an antagonist that is surprsingly sinister. And they'll both leaving having loved the way the standalone ended but wanting more.

Have you read The Scorpio Races and/or Uprooted? What did you think? What retelling that read like historical fiction crossovers do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: Mysteries With Shocking Endings

It has been a few month's since my last edition of Crossing Over so I think it's about time for me to do another one. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature that stemmed from my desire to recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that are similar. It's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. So because this is Mystery month I decided to go with two books that are pretty fantastic and fit the theme.

Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas
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Dangerous Girls is a fantastic YA Mystery that will absolutely mess with your head and have you questioning everything and everyone. It is about a young woman who is accused of murdering her best friend while they were on spring break and she has to try and figure out who did it so that she can avoid conviction. It is full of complex characters that are rather on the creepy side and kept me guessing throughout the entire book and is one of the best mysteries I have read with something that is solvable but complex, and an ending that will leave you reeling and totally blow your mind. It's kind of dark at times and almost feels like a True Crime kind of story with a lot of focus on the court process. In general this is one of the best mysteries I read in a long time.

Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little
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Dear Daughter is a really good Adult Mystery that will absolutely mess with your head and have you questioning everything and everyone. It is about a young woman who was convicted of murdering her mother and now that she is out of prison, she has to try and figure out who did it so that she can go on with her life. It is full of quirky characters that are rather on the creepy side and kept me guessing throughout the entire book and is a really good mystery I have read a few years back. The overall mystery was a little simpler than I like but the ending will leave you reeling and totally blow your mind. It's kind of dark at times and almost feels like a True Crime kind of story with a lot of focus on the affects that being convicted and going to prison can do to a person. In general this is a good mystery and I think fans of the genre should check out.

These are both good examples of what I love about mysteries. Something that has you questioning everything and anything to do with what is happening and "who done it" and whether you solve things or not, the ending has you totally shocked in the best possible way. This is of course not the only example of that, I did a Top Ten Tuesday for fans of Gone Girl and I think those are all books I would recommend to fantasy fans.

Have you read Scarlet and/or Bitter Greens? What did you think? What retelling that read like historical fiction crossovers do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: Retellings That Read Like Historical Fiction

It has been a few month's since my last edition of Crossing Over so I think it's about time for me to do another one. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature that stemmed from my desire to recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that are similar. It's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. So because this is Retellings month I decided to go with two books that are pretty fantastic and fit the theme.

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
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Scarlet is a retelling of a well-known story from a different perspective. In this book we see Robin Hood from the perspective of Will Scarlet. But this time around Will is not what he or she appears to be. There is a lot of mystery and action as the story unfolds. You can't help but connect with these characters who are complex and full of secrets. Not to mention the main character of Scarlet being an intelligent and snarky female protagonist. But one of the best things about this book is that it's a retelling that reads like historical fiction that shows what things were like for people during the time period, especially women. It's kind of dark at times and it doesn't shy away from some of the more negative parts of the time period. But it was historically accurate and that made it all the more enjoyable.

Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth
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Bitter Greens is a retelling of a well-known story from a different perspectives. In this book we see Rapunzel from the perspective of three very different women: the traditional young woman locked in a tower, the witch who kidnapped her, and the author of the famous story. All of these women are more than they appear to be. There is a lot of mystery and action as the story unfolds. You can't help but connect with these characters who are complex and full of secrets and the author does a great job of making even the witch sympathetic. Not to mention the main character of Charlotte-Rose being an intelligent and snarky female protagonist. But one of the best things about this book is that it's a retelling that reads like historical fiction. It shows what things were like for people during the time period, especially women. It's very of dark and does not shy away from the more brutal parts of the time period but it was historically accurate and that made it all the more enjoyable.

These are both amazing examples of how retellings can be just as interesting by playing up historical elements. I love it as much as the next person if retellings that make the story completely different with a contemporary or science fiction twist ala The Lunar Chronicles but sometimes it's even better to have the books keep with the historical setting. Those are some of my favorite retellings and these are just two examples (I also suggest The Steep and Thorny Way and The Song for Achilles). They also do a really great job of playing with the tropes and the stories in an interesting way. The characters are more than they appear to be and there are some really great twists here. I will warn you however that Bitter Greens is firmly an adult book. I think it will appear to fans of YA but it's doesn't shy away from sex and violence. If those things (especially those combined) are triggers for you then avoid this book. But if you are looking for dark and dramatic retellings that read like historical fiction then check these out.

Have you read Scarlet and/or Bitter Greens? What did you think? What retelling that read like historical fiction crossovers do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: His Dark Materials Reread Edition

Hi Everyone! It's time for the second post in the His Dark Materials Reread that I'm doing this month with Britt from Please Feed the Bookworm. If you didn't get a chance to see our joint review of The Golden Compass on Monday, check it out HERE.

And while the reviews are amazing and so fun, that is not all we have planned. Britt and I are each doing something fun based on features and posts we do on our blog. If you're not familiar with my feature Crossing Over, it is a monthly feature where I recommend books that have crossover appeal based on a similar adult and/or a YA book. His Dark Materials definitely has crossover appeal. I read it as an adult and was blown away by how serious and complex it is. But it's technically Middle Grade. Or YA. It's tough to say really. In fact when I was trying to figure out the books to recommend the ones that immediately came to mind were adult reads and other books hard to categorize.

So here are the books I would recommend if it are a fan of The Golden Compass in three different age marketing categories.

Middle Grade
Harry Potter by JK Rowling  
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief by Rick Riordan
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in A Ship of Her Own Making by Catherine M. Valente

Young Adult
A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Sabriel by Garth Nix

Adult
The Magicians by Lev Grossman
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

There you have it. The books with crossover appeal I would recommend if you are a fan of His Dark Materials. Have you read His Dark Materials? What books would you recommend? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: Science Fiction Survival Stories

It's time for this month's edition of Crossing Over. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature where I recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA book that is similar. It's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. I'm trying to make this a more regular thing where I pick the books based on that month's theme but I skipped last month because I used that theme in the previous month. Although it's only been about an extra two weeks since my last one so we'll go with it. So because this is Science Fiction month I decided to go with two books that are pretty hot right now but they are both fantastic!

Illunimae by Aime Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 
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Illuminae is a book that will serious mess with your head and give you feels that you were not expecting. After an attack on a planet deep in the solar system, the survivors need to figure out a way to survive despite all kinds of crazy circumstances working against them. The main characters use their understanding of technology and military training to get them through things. There are laughs, there are tears, there is tons of action and by the end of the book you will be on the edge of your seat so terrified about how it will all end for the hero you have come to know and love. But the best part is that it's told in an interesting format with a lot of different perspectives really making for a complex and engaging story.

The Martian by Andy Weir
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The Martian is a book that will give you feels that you were not expecting and have you so much more entertained than you thought a hard sci-fi novel would. After an accident on a planet deep in the solar system a man is left behind and needs to figure out a way to survive despite all kinds of crazy circumstances working against them. The main character uses his understanding of science and military training to get him through things. There are laughs, there are tears, there is tons of action and by the end of the book you will be on the edge of your seat so terrified about how it will all end for the hero you have come to know and love. But the best part is that it's told in an interesting format with a lot of different perspectives really making for a complex and engaging story.

These are both amazing examples of why I love Science Fiction and books about survival. There is a huge focus on science and technology but at the heart of the story it is really about the characters. And both of these books have highly intelligent and snarky, sarcastic characters. If you didn't know, those are the characters that I absolutely love. They are also books that just absolutely build to a conclusion that will have you so engrossed and attached that if you aren't worried or in tears, you must be an AI. They are without a doubt two of my top ten books of the year and must reads for anyone who likes Science Fiction.

Have you read Illuminae and/or The Martian? What did you think? What science fiction crossovers do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: Back to School Edition

It's time for this month's edition of Crossing Over. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature where I recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA book that is similar. It's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. I'm trying to make this a more regular thing where I pick the books based on that month's theme but I couldn't think of anything for mystery month. Instead I decided to do a back to school edition. If you didn't see my Instagram photo last weekend I posted a few of my favorite magical boarding schools which got me thinking about these books.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss 
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The Name of the Wind takes readers to the fictional land of where Kvothe, the most notorious wizard in the world is telling his story about how he got to be so notorious. We first meet him at a young age when he is orphaned from his loving family and forced to live on the streets, which is dangerous and not very ideal. It's all very Harry Potter. But then he enters a university where he learns all kinds of different kinds of magic including alchemy and naming, makes enemies and friends with a diverse and quirky cast of characters, and goes on adventures. The whole book is incredibly atmospheric with a pretty dark world that I just loved.

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
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Ink and Bone takes readers to the a revisionist future where the Library of Alexandria has maintained power and controls knowledge. We first meet our protagonist at a young age when he is forced by his family to do things that help them get by, which is dangerous and not very ideal. It's all very Harry Potter. But then he enters a boarding school where he learns all kinds of different kinds of magic including alchemy and steampunk technology, makes enemies and friends with a diverse and quirky cast of characters, and goes on adventures. The whole book is incredibly atmospheric with a pretty dark world that I just loved.

When I read Ink and Bone a lot of it reminded me of The Name of the Wind but in a great way. They're very different stories but the worlds are so similar and atmospheric and these are two of my favorite magical schools. They are both really dark and have pretty intricate plots that keep you reading and through all kinds of surprises at you. They not only have crossover feel in the way that they will appeal to fans of both YA and genre fiction but they also cross genres so they're good books if you are trying to explore a type of book you don't often read.

Have you read The Name of the and/or Ink and Bone? What did you think? What historical fiction crossovers do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: Contemporary Reads

It's been awhile since I've done a Crossing Over, I'm trying to make it a monthly thing where I base it on that month's theme on the blog but that hasn't really worked out for the past two months. But probably the easiest crossover books are contemporary romances and with this month's theme being contemp plus two recent YA reads reminded me a lot of some favorite adult reads that I think have crossover appeal so you get a two for one deal this month!

Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli 
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One of my favorite books of 2015 and an absolutely brilliant debut. It perfectly walks the line between funny, sweet, and serious and has a tone that will have you both laughing and crying. The characters are brilliant and so realistic including the main character Simon who is geeky and quirky in such an endearing way. But the best part is the romance that takes place over email and despite the characters not meeting until almost the end of the book you ship the crap out of them!

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
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One of my favorite books of 2014 and an absolutely brilliant debut (although it debuted in 2013). It perfectly walks the line between funny, sweet, and serious and has a tone that will have you both laughing and crying. The characters are brilliant and so realistic including the main character Lincoln who is geeky and quirky in such an charming way. But the best part is the romance that takes place as the MC reads email from the other character. And despite the characters not officially meeting until almost the end of the book you want them to get together.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Avile Saenz 
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I don't like sad books, I don't like books that are sad on purpose and yet I absolutely loved this book. But it was a fantastic coming of age story about characters you couldn't help but love and root for. The heart of this book is about friendship and loneliness and finding that one person you can connect with, the one person who truly understands you the way that you are. Plus it's beautifully written with prose that is both tragic and poetic.

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers 
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This is not really a contemporary novel, it's a "modern classic" but it's also one of my all-time favorite books. I don't like sad books, I don't like books that are sad on purpose and yet I absolutely loved this book. But it was a fantastic coming of age story about characters you couldn't help but love and root for. The heart of this book is about friendship and loneliness and finding that one person you can connect with, the one person who truly understands you the way that you are. Plus it's beautifully written with prose that is both tragic and poetic.

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? What are some of your favorite contemporary novels with crossover appeal? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Fantasy (And a few Sci Fi) Reads for Fans of Crossovers

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish 

1.) The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
This book is shelved as adult but it very easily could have been YA. It has all the hallmarks or a great YA fantasy series and I have often seen it called "the next Harry Potter." I'm also a big fan of this magical system and the characters so fantasy fans should check it out.

2.) Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
This one is shelved as YA but is on the list for basically the same reasons The Bone Season is on the list, it has all the hallmarks of a great adult series. Great characters, a complex world, and lots of action. Seriously, Celaena Sardothian is everything!

3.) Vicious by V.E. Schwab
You probably know that Victoria Schwab has written MG and YA books as well as adult stuff. This is one of her adult works and it will definitely appeal to fans of YA novels or anyone who likes stories about anti-heroes. It's such an engrossing story and worth a read.

4.) The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
This is one of my absolute favorite books. It's an amazing read that combines elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery. The main story is a teenage girl searching for her father who has gone missing and she learns about herself and her history along the way.

5.) The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
I'm working my way through the second book in this series and there is a huge coming-of-age story vibe to it. The MC starts out as a kid and we get to see him at school. I have seen many people compare this to Harry Potter and it seems like a fair comparison.

6.) These Broken Stars by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
This one is YA and in some respects it's pretty typical of the genre. But it's such a complex world with a thrilling plot and tons of twists that regardless of age  everyone should read this one and have their mind blown.

7.) The Young Elites by Marie Lu
This book is on the list for the same reason that These Broken Stars is on the list, well kind of. It is one of the darkest and most complex books I have ever read both adult and YA. It's similar to A Song of Ice and Fire in that you should can expect the unexpected.

8.) The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
This is the book that inspired me to create this blog years ago and it's still one of my favorites. It's an adult book but it's about a young shepherd searching for treasure and his personal history. YA falls will appreciate the hero's journey and the romance.

9.) Exquisite Captive by Heather Demetrios
This one is on the mature end of the YA spectrum for sure. There is some hardcore kissing scenes in this book and the main character has no problem using her sex appeal to her advantage. Plus I really like the magical system, it's one of my favorite elemental magic systems.

10.) Ready Player One by Ernest Cline 
This is just a phenomenal book with great characters and an amazing world and one of those books that is hard to shelf. It's considered an adult but it has so many elements of YA novels that I love. It's another one with a great coming-of-age story and I seriously love the themes of friendship.

11.) Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
You didn't think I would forget Mistborn did you? Sanderson, like Schwab, has written all kinds of different books. There is a reason it has been rebranded for a YA audience. The world is amazing, the characters are complex, and everything about this book is amazing no matter what kind of books you like.

What books are on your list? What is your favorite crossover book? Have you read any of these? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over - Contemporary With a Twist

This is the meme formerly known as "Recommending Adult Books." I haven't done one of these in awhile, but when I thought about doing one today I decided that a name change was in order. There's been so much YA hate going on lately and I didn't want to imply one was better than another. For me there's so much crossover. Young Adult is a marketing tool based often just on the age range of the MC. You often appreciate a book even if you aren't it's target audience.

So here are two books with crossover appeal. They have similar tones and characters, both are Contemporary with a twist.

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Amazon  -  Goodreads  -  My Review
We Were Liars is the story of a wealthy family with a dark secret. The book takes place over the course of two summers at the family's beach front mansion and explores the idea that upper class families may not have it all together. Told from the perspective of an unreliable narrator trying to find out the truth the book has a dark and ominous tone leaving the reader questioning everything and wondering what in the world could be going on here!

The Infinities by John Banville
Amazon  -  Goodreads
The Infinities is the story of a wealthy family with a dark secret. The book takes place over the course of a summer day at the family's country mansion and explores the idea that upper class families may not have it all together. They come together as their patriarch is on his death bed to learn the truth and comfort one another despite the fact that they have never been very good at that. But there is so much more going on here. The narrator for most of the book is not quite normal and while he's not unreliable you still get a sense of ominous confusion.

When I was reading We Were Liars I was instantly reminded of The Infinities which I had read a few years before. They are both great contemporary books with gorgeous writing and interesting twists. We Were Liars is much more of a mystery then The Infinites but they both kept me interested and hooked from beginning to end. If you liked We Were Liars check out The Infinities or vice versa!

And check out my other Crossing Over posts where I recommend Mystery and Science Fiction novels with crossover appeal! HAPPY READING!

Recommending Adult Books: Science Fiction

This is a feature I started a month ago where I recommend an adult book that is similar to a YA book that I have read recently. I personally think that the idea that because a book is written about a teenager adults can't read it and vice versa. So this is my attempt to recommend books that bridge the gap. This month I am tackling Science Fiction.

 When I was reading The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (check out my reviews of Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress) I couldn't help but think about one of my favorite series, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Hitchhiker's is a classic Sci Fi space opera and rollicking fun adventure. The five books tell the story of Arthur Dent an earthling rescued just as Earth is destroyed and picked up by a passing (stolen) spaceship captained by the President of the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox. And like The Lunar Chronicles the characters are likable and interesting. I'm a big fan of Zaphod, the idiotic lovable rogue of this tale but also Ford Prefect who's dark sense of humor and pragmatic pessimism result in him being frequently drunk. There is also the token strong female character, Trillion, and an amazing robot (Marvin, the Paranoid Android is the opposite of Iko and thinking of the two of them in the same sentence makes me so happy). The series is full of absurd humor that is both silly and sarcastic. Each of the five books stands as it's own individual story but build on the previous one to create one interesting and complicated series.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is not a retelling like The Lunar Chronicles. It is without a doubt classic Science Fiction but it is meant to be funny and it reads like a parody of books like Dune and Ender's Game. The villains are caricatures, the worlds and adventures are laughable and fun, and there are so many amazing quotes and situations that you can't help but find yourself immersed in this world and it will trickle into your every day life.

If you are a fan of The Lunar Chronicles and the world and story that Marissa Meyer created then check out The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. You won't be disappointed. If you have read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, what were your thoughts? Leave me a comment and the answer to the ultimate question.