Book Favourites: Killer Unicorn series by Diana Peterfreund

In a perfect world, reviewers would be able to review every single book they read. But as most of you know, you can't. Sometimes it's because you simply don't have the time. Sometimes it's because you just can't find the inspiration. And sometimes the book you're reading is so awesome that you can't describe it without turning into a blubbering fangirl. Every week I will be highlighting one of such books in Book Favourites.

This is one of my favourite series ever. EVER. I still can't believe these books aren't more popular. They so deserve it! The books I'm talking about are the Killer Unicorn books. I've mentioned them before in my vlog, and I actually wrote a review of the first book, Rampant. I'm actually thinking of doing a readalong event kind of thing for Rampant, so if there's any interest in that, let me know!

Why these books are awesome:

• It has unicorns. And not the fluffy, cute kind of unicorns. No, unicorns with venomous horns that would like to rip you appart
• KILLER UNICORNS
• The fact that, if the killer unicorns finally grows tiresome (which it never does) it's actually a really good story
• The main character Astrid is a realistic girl. She's kick-ass, but not in a "let's push everyone around me away" kind of way. She has boy trouble, just like any other girl, but in the meanwhile she makes sure the unicorns don't rip her friends apart
• The majority of the series is set in Rome. Rome is an amazing backdrop for a book
• They're gritty. The girls get hurt in fights, and don't miraculously heal
• I can only think of one downside of the books: there are only two of them!

I recommend these books if you like:

• Paranormal or fantasy reads
• Unique creatures
• Kick-ass heroines
• Amazing action scenes
• Good worldbuilding & background
• Messed up families

Book Favourites: Fracture by Megan Miranda

In a perfect world, reviewers would be able to review every single book they read. But as most of you know, you can't. Sometimes it's because you simply don't have the time. Sometimes it's because you just can't find the inspiration. And sometimes the book you're reading is so awesome that you can't describe it without turning into a blubbering fangirl. Every week I will be highlighting one of such books in Book Favourites.

This is my first Book Favourites post that doesn't feature a series. This book is so amazing, it deserves a post all on its own. I am talking about Megan Miranda's Fracture. It had been on my wishlist for quite some time, and since it came highly recommended by some bloggish friends, I decided to pick it up. And I didn't put it down for the rest of the day.

Why this book is awesome:

• It's so good, I couldn't write a review afterwards. You know a book is good when that happens
• The whole story. It's about a girl that falls through ice, and dies for eleven minutes. No one comes out of a coma when their brain hasn't had oxygen for such a long time. Yet Delaney does. After being dead, her whole outlook on life is changed. She is forced to examine what makes her want to live
• Dying didn't come without a cost. Her brain is damaged; she gets massive headaches, can't concentrate on reading anything. And she can sense when someone is about to die
• There is a slight mystery part which was predictable, but entertaining
• It's short, yet has so much depth
• A best friend kind of love interest! Those are the best kind, in my opinion
• I can't describe it, but this book is so much more than just a paranormal love story
• I'm slightly squeamish with non-paranormal books. This is the perfect mix of contemporary with a slight dash of paranormal

I recommend this book if you like:

• Contemporary novels
• Fast reads
• Books that make you think
• Novels dealing with death and it's aftermath
• Teen love stories

Book Favourites: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

In a perfect world, reviewers would be able to review every single book they read. But as most of you know, you can't. Sometimes it's because you simply don't have the time. Sometimes it's because you just can't find the inspiration. And sometimes the book you're reading is so awesome that you can't describe it without turning into a blubbering fangirl. Every week I will be highlighting one of such books in Book Favourites.

A friend of mine recommended this series, and I started reading it last year. I've finished the first two books, but I'm hoping to fit the rest of the series in with my reading schedule. I'm talking about the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams! These little books are a science-fiction classic, and rightly so.

Why this series is awesome:

• It's like the daydream of an astrophysicist on XTC. These books are completely crazy
• You can say what you like, but they're definitely original
• Did you know the name of the Babel Fish online translator comes from these books?
• Brilliant writing style
• Incredibly fast reads - these books are all about 200-250 pages
• If you have a particular sense of humour, these books are very funny

I recommend this series if you like:

• Science fiction
• Short books
• Daydreams of astrophysicists on XTC
• Space-travel
• Classics

Book Favourites: Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind

In a perfect world, reviewers would be able to review every single book they read. But as most of you know, you can't. Sometimes it's because you simply don't have the time. Sometimes it's because you just can't find the inspiration. And sometimes the book you're reading is so awesome that you can't describe it without turning into a blubbering fangirl. Every week I will be highlighting one of such books in Book Favourites.

You might not know it, but I'm also an epic fantasy fan-girl. I love to dive into these huge tomes with stories that span over thousands of pages. One of the first adult fantasy series I read and loved were the Sword of Truth books by Terry Goodkind. Even though all of his books are about six-hundred pages of length, I flew through them at an incredible speed. I own the entire series in hardcover and they look gorgeous on my shelf. I hope to reread them soon, maybe during the summer when I'll take a break from my blog (:

Why this series is awesome:

• The main character Richard. He is one of my favourite characters of all time. He's passionate and honest, and knows how to handle a sword
• His love and (further into the story) wife Kahlan. Kahlan has super awesome powers that not even the strongest man can resist. If that isn't girl-power, I don't know what is
• The fact that Richard and Kahlan stay true to each other, no matter what. Yes, they get separated a LOT. But there is never any real doubt that they love each other
• Awesome secondary characters - there is the ancient wizard grandfather, the blind but all-knowing bone lady, the formerly abused and torturer turned protector friend, the Mud people
• The story has this epic feel to it. There are massive battles and everything, but it never ventures into military blubbering that no average person understands
• It keeps you on the edge of your chair. Seriously, about everything that can go wrong actually goes wrong
• There is so much of it! It's almost like never-ending!
• It has been adapted for television (under the name Legend of the Seeker). Why yes, I'm using the actor that plays Richard and his abs to bribe you into reading this series
  

I recommend this series if you like:

• Epic fantasy
• Great couples & true love
• An incredibly detailed world
• Battles both small and big
• No really, the action scenes are to die for
• Old school wizarding
• Girl power

Book Favourites: Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris

In a perfect world, reviewers would be able to review every single book they read. But as most of you know, you can't. Sometimes it's because you simply don't have the time. Sometimes it's because you just can't find the inspiration. And sometimes the book you're reading is so awesome that you can't describe it without turning into a blubbering fangirl. Every week I will be highlighting one of such books in Book Favourites.

After featuring The Fever series, I thought I'd share another of my urban-fantasy favourites. My reviews seem to be dominated by YA books lately, even though I'm not a purely YA reader. So this is what I read when I'm sick of angsty teenagers: the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) series by Charlaine Harris! It's one of my guilty pleasures that I love to indulge in when I'm in the mood for something fast and fun. I've stopped at book four a few years ago, and am rereading them all now. So no spoilers for later books! *frowns*

Why this series is awesome:

• The heroine, Sookie. She can read people's minds, which is an awesome power, but she's a very realistic person too. I love how she struggles with accepting there are paranormal creatures in a much more believable way than almost any other main character
• The books are incredibly quick reads - perfect to read in between review books
• They have all kinds of paranormal creatures, without it making too confusing
• Viking vampire Eric. He's hot
• The fact that she doesn't sleep around while she's single. Seems like a strange thing to say, but I'm quite happy when paranormal romance doesn't have that much sex in it
• The mystery isn't predictable
• I want to know who Sookie ends up with!
• If you're not in the mood to read you can also watch the True Blood TV series. It's not the same, but it's fun

I recommend this series if you like:

• Urban fantasy
• Paranormal romance
• Realistic heroines
• Vampires
• Shifters
• Family drama
• Long ongoing series

Book Favourites: Fever series by Karen Marie Moning

In a perfect world, reviewers would be able to review every single book they read. But as most of you know, you can't. Sometimes it's because you simply don't have the time. Sometimes it's because you just can't find the inspiration. And sometimes the book you're reading is so awesome that you can't describe it without turning into a blubbering fangirl. Every week I will be highlighting one of such books in Book Favourites.

I'm going to kick this new feature off with one of my all-time favourites, the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. I managed to write a review for the first book in the series, Darkfever, but after that I just couldn't write any coherent thoughts down any more. One of the main reasons for that is that I flew through this series, immediately picking up the next after finishing.

Why this series is awesome:

• It's set in Dublin. I love unusual settings, and this one in particular interested me. Even though I've been to England countless times I don't know anything about the Irish culture. After reading this series I really want to travel there and visit the places MacKayla visited too
• Even though the main character Mac may start out annoying, she goes through dramatical change. Throughout the series she goes from pretty pink Barbie to kick-ass fae killer. I found her change very realistic and I liked how Mac notices that she's changing too
• It has Fae. Not the pussy flying kind, but the mythological Irish kind. For those of you not acquainted with Irish folklore: fae are bad news. Even those from the Seelie (the "good" kind) court are not to be trusted - there are fae that kill you by making you laugh until you die
• Barrons. He is the ultimate alpha male and while I'm usually more fan of the underdog, he is soooo swoon worthy. I fell in love with him in the first two books, was a little bit annoyed with him in the third, and loved him even more in the last two
• PLOT TWISTS. I'm not going to spoil anything, but at the showdown there are some twists that I hadn't seen coming for miles. Massive props for Ms Moning for pulling those off
• Barrons owns a book store. Did I mention that already?

I recommend this series if you like:

• Urban fantasy
• Alpha males
• Irish faeries
• Mystery
• Lots of action
• A kicking-ass heroine