Unusual Must-Reads!

Ok all,

I love to read. Since I have been working, I have significantly slowed down how much I read, but I probably get in about a book a week, not counting the books I read online while procrastinating (don't judge me, lol). So, this is basically a book recommendation post.

For those that don't know, I am in my early twenties, but I also have a 16-year-old sister that is truly one of my best friends. We have similar tastes in a lot of things, and books are at the top of the list. That being said, she reads a lot of books that seem old for her, and I read plenty that you can generally only find in the "Teen" section of the bookstore. And that section, my friends, is where these recommendations come from today.

Don't turn your nose up just yet. Technically, if you are a Harry Potter or Twilight fan, you're already on my wavelength. And the series (yes, series) that I have to recommend today are also in the realm of fantasy. Not my usual cup of tea, but these stories.... are just really very good.

So the first up is the Mortal Instruments series. The books are City of Bones, City of Ashes, and City of Glass. I am just abou

t to start the last, but the themes of sacrifice, loyalty, friendship, and family have blazed throughout the first two books. These are the same themes that attracted me so strongly to the Harry Potter and Twilight words, and they are clearly prevalent in this series. Just... read the books.

Ok, so the next series is also truly amazing, and I'm not sure when it will be over... There are two books out right now Gone and Hunger. In general, the books are about what happens when in a certain area, all people over the age of 15 disappear. Really, all of the themes I mentioned before run rampant in these books, as well as powerful group-think, and some really, really dark tones like extreme sadism and psychopathy. But the story is so intricately spun, and the images powerfully gripping, intensely beautiful, and at times, horrifyingly offensive and realistic (in a fantasy-realism kind of way) that I really cannot put the books down once I pick them up. Beware though: these are Harry Potter sized books. Mortal Instruments books are not too long, but these are very long. But also very much worth the time investment. Pick them up. Read them. You won't regret it.