Welcome back to Special for Sundays!
Special for Sundays is an original feature, created by Heather of ‘Heather's Opinion on All Things Book Related’ and Ems of ‘In which Ems ReviewsBooks’. We’ll rotate each week through various subjects, as follows:
1st Sunday: One of your Favorite Books and why is it so special to you
2nd Sunday: Two books that everyone must read and why
3rd Sunday: One of your Favorite Authors and why you pick their books up again and again
4th Sunday: A book on your TBR list, why you picked it, and when do you hope to read it
5th Sunday (on the rare occassions): Random book we have read and a quickie review.
We hope you’ll join us for this fun feature!
Ready for two more books that you really need to read? I hope so, because I'm going to give them to you regardless!
First, I think you all need to read Matched, by Ally Condie.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate... until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.
I really loved Matched. I loved the tension, I loved the characters, and I loved how Cassia grew as we went along. It kept me engaged the entire time and I couldn't wait for the sequel, Crossed. I wasn't disappointed with it at all, and now I'm dying to get my hands on Reached!
Next, I think y'all need to read A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray.
Goodreads Synopsis:
A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy--jumble them all together and you have this complicated and unusual first novel.
Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.
I was intrigued by this one when I saw the cover. I know, never judge a book by its cover. But I do. I'll admit it. And this was a fabulous cover. And guess what? The insides match it! It was a fascinating story and one that I lived while I was reading it. I was lucky enough that the entire trilogy was out by the time I found it, so I didn't have to go through the agony of waiting for the next book. You should also read Rebel Angels and The Sweet Far Thing too. They're worth it!
