Top 5 Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Thoughts on Tomes and created by Lainey @ Ginger Reads Lainey. You can check out the group’s Goodreads page for this month’s topics!
This week’s topic is favorite fantasy and science fiction books in collaboration with BooktubeSFF Awards! I decided to do both genres but in only Young Adult. I have read and reviewed all of these books so I’ll attach my review links to the titles if you want to read more of my thoughts on each of these!
5.) Kingdom of Ash and Briars by Hannah West
I’ve said this countless times but it’s so true: this book is a hidden gem! Not only did I find the world building very good but also the fact that it had it’s own plot going on along with four sort of “mini stories” and each is a fairy tale retelling (Mulan, Emma, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella). I loved all of the characters as well and actually grew very attached, I didn’t even mind the romance either!
4.) Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
The romance in this one did have some problems but I still really enjoyed it, the characters, and the world building was AMAZING! Also Laini Taylor has THE most gorgeous writing I’ve ever come across, seriously I’d read the woman’s grocery list. Overall the story is just so engaging and I really recommend reading it.
3.) The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
Let’s see here: actual badass main character, lots of action and plot twists, plenty of “court intrigue” with plotting and revenge, and a romance I could actually ship. Not to mention it’s all in space! If you’re looking for a fast paced space adventure than this is definitely a book I recommend reading, it’s one of my new favorite sci-fi books of all time!
2.) Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
I think you’ve all heard about “Illuminae” but in case you haven’t…..its yet another super fast-paced, action-packed, space opera! Complete with crazy AIs, mutating space viruses, and hella plot twists. Plus there’s that unique formatting that is to die for! If you’re looking for an awesome YA sci-fi book look no further.
1.) Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff
While I do acknowledge that this book is very problematic (as seems to be the case with a lot of Kristoff’s books) I still consider it to be one of my all time favorite fantasy books. It’s got fantastic world building (some of the best I’ve seen) and mythology and great characters that I grew very attached too! Plus there’s a bit of steampunk in it as well, they have chainsaw katanas!
What are some of your favorite YA fantasy or sci-fi books?
Have you read any of these on my list? What did you think?
Let me know in the comments and feel free to link up your T5W as well!
thesassygeek.wordpress.com 
I actually haven’t read a single book on your list, BUT Daughter Of Smoke & Bone is on my TBR (and has been for way too long, probably) and reading your little snippet on the book makes me definitely excited to hopefully pick the book up soon!
I actually talked about my top 5 books on my blog, if you want to have a read: https://readingthroughthenights.wordpress.com/2017/03/08/top-5-wednesday-favorite-science-fictionfantasy-books/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know Daughter of Smoke and Bone sat on my TBR for a very long time before I read it last year! It was very good though and I was mad I didn’t pick it up sooner, I really hope you enjoy it when you get a chance to read it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree Laini Taylor has one of the most beautiful writing styles! 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
She definitely does, I have yet to find someone comparable! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also have Daughter of Smoke and Bone in my list, it’s an amazing trilogy and each book is better than the previous one! I never heard anything about Stormdancer in general and especially about its problematic aspects, but it’s been in my TBR since I read (and loved) Nevernight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m really glad to hear the books get better in that trilogy, I have to continue the series still!
I think the controversy surrounding Stormdancer is mostly about the fact that it’s set in a fantasy world strongly based off of Asian culture. So people of that culture have pointed out that it’s problematic but since I’m a white American girl I obviously did not notice anything but like to acknowledge problems others have noticed. I still personally found it to be a very entertaining book I loved it even more than Nevernight so I definitely think you’ll love Stormdancer! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have only read Illuminae, and it is also one of my favorite books 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Illuminae is definitely a wonderful book, so much action! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Laini Taylor’s writing, it is so beautiful with a bit of quirkiness which I love. I loved the DOSAB series however the last book ended up falling a bit flat with me, but maybe that was because I read it really fast so didn’t take everything in…I don’t know, I just felt a bit disappointed. But Illuminae…OMG I loved that book so much!!! I will have to add Stormdancer to my TBR list. Awesome list 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
I will read anything and everything by Laini, her writing is so gorgeous!
I’m sorry to hear the last book wasn’t that great for you, I think I might just go into the last 2 books with lower expectations just in case!
Stormdancer was definitely a lot of fun, I hope you enjoy it when you get around to it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I need to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone! I think my favourite YA Fantasys are forever going to be Harry Potter, not sure if The Mortal Instruments is classed as a fantasy? If so that would definitely be on my list because it made me fall back in love with reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, you do haha! It’s one of those books that I personally feel the hype is worth.
Harry Potter is of course the greatest series of all time period no matter the genre, haha, and TMI I think would be Urban Fantasy which is still Fantasy sooooo I’d say it is! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have basically read none of the books you mentioned. BUT I really want to read the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy! I have heard wonderful things about it and everyone says the writing is beautiful. I hope to get my hands on it really soon. Illuminae is one I really want to check out as well, especially since it’s very uniquely written. Great list! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s almost safe to say you’ll love the DoSaB trilogy (even though I’ve only read book 1 so far)! We seem to like a lot of the same books so I’m confident haha. Same goes for Illuminae! Thanks Anna! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Illuminae are both on my TBR list, and I’m super excited to read them someday. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about the latter, and I remember reading a Laini Taylor short story (in one of the Stephanie Perkins’ anthologies-I can’t remember which though) and really liking the writing. Aside from those two I hadn’t heard of the others so I’ll definitely be checking the rest out. Thanks for sharing, Heather!
– Summer
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really hope you enjoy both Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Illuminae, they were both 5 star reads for me! Laini’s writing is one of my all time favorites, even if I didn’t enjoy the plot in her books I’d still love the writing!
Thanks Summer! 🙂
LikeLike