Maiden Knight

Every once in a while when I just really need to escape into a great series of books, I pull out my Tamora Pierce sets. This past weekend I've been really sick and bedridden so I needed something to do whenever I wasn't sleeping. Being too uncoordinated for knitting or video games I pulled out my old standby book Alanna The First Adventure.

Being a young adult series this is a fairly quick read and really great for immersing yourself. The series consists of three quartets, Song of the Lioness, The Immortals, and The Protector of the Small. There are also a few books that follow or precede these quartets, but these three are the original ones I read. All the quartets follow strong (but not without weakness) female characters trying to be true to themselves in a fantastic world full of challenges.

I generally go back to Alanna and read all the way through the twelve main books. I always forget just how much I love them, and rereading them is like visiting old friends. They are filled with magic, adventure and romance, but also everyday struggles that women deal with when deciding the path their lives should take. These are fantasy books set in the medieval world of Tortall.

This series is young adult, however, and does deal with some subjects like fighting and killing, female menstruation and other women's issues, and a small amount of sex. This is not a graphic series though and all these subjects are mentioned very tastefully and in keeping with the storyline. I think it is a fantastic series for a preteen or teen to read because it is really relatable for someone who is dealing with growing up.

Tamora Pierce Books

The Night Circus

I just finished the most amazing book called The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I don't normally read a book just because it's popular, but this book is worth all the hype. I love that novels in the Victorian era are becoming more prevalent, but this one is impressive because it is really different from anything I've read before. I really love that this book has an overall air of mystery, the story is not told linearly (the story skips forward and backwards in time until it converges at the end of the book), and she ties together all the ends very neatly after the climax.

If you love fantasy novels and want something that is suspenseful but still whimsical then this is a fantastic book. The Night Circus has been compared to Harry Potter, which while I think it does have a similar feel to it, this book is unique enough that it will hold you to the end, and familiar enough that is understandable and enjoyable. So if you want a good read, then I highly recommend this book.

Amazon: The Night Circus
The Night Circus Website
Erin Morgenstern's Website