Top 5 Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful Shanah @ Bionic Book Worm.
I am looking forward to see everyone’s choices for this week’s topic. Dystopian was all the rage around the time The Hunger Games was popular, but the hype around the genre seems to have quieted down in the last few years. I am still a lover of dystopian, but it has to do something unique and different. I am always on the hunt for more special dystopian novels!
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
It could be argued that Never Let Me Go is my favourite book of all time. It is one of those books that I continue to think about almost two years after having read it. I grow to appreciate it more and more as time goes on. Something that makes it such a great dystopian is that it is not that far-fetched- this is a future that has the potential to come to fruition. In my opinion, that is what makes a dystopian so intriguing and downright frightening. What is also amazing about Never Let Me Go is that the reader is slowly filled in as to what is going on as the story progresses. It is brilliantly done!
The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking #1) by Patrick Ness
It has been years since I read The Knife of Never Letting Me Go and I still have no forgiven Patrick Ness. As fast-paced and interesting this book was, there is something that happens that absolutely crushed me and I have not been able to continue on with the series because of it. That tells you a lot about Patrick Ness’s writing as he was able to make me so emotional and angry! I do hope to read the next book in the series in the future, because I was really invested in the first one!
Red Rising (Red Rising Saga #1) by Pierce Brown
Red Rising is the perfect book to read if you are a fantasy lover looking to dip your toe in to SciFi. There is something about a dystopian novel set on Mars that just works and is completely fascinating. Red Rising is action-packed and has such memorable characters, particularly Mustang- she is such a badass! It is shameful that I have read the other books in the series considering just how much I loved Red Rising. This Fall, maybe?
Scythe ( Arc of a Scythe #1) by Neal Shusterman
I have a feeling that Scythe will be on many lists this week- for good reason! The premise of this book is so original and Shusterman does it justice. Something I love in dystopian is when it raises some ethical and moral questions which Scythe certainly does. This novel also has one of the most evil and memorable villains that I have ever read. It is interesting because you can understand how the power would get to him. Scythe is one of those books that I recommend to everyone, of all ages and all interests!
The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa
Blood of Eden is such an underrated series so I try to mention it any time I get the chance. It is the only series on this list that I have actually completed, so that has to say something! It is a dystopian novel with vampires, and I think that may be the reason that many people didn’t give it a chance- everyone was so over vampires! I completely understand that, but Kagawa has an interesting take on them. Also, one of the villains in this series, Jackal, is probably my favourite villain ever. Please give this series a chance!
There you have it! Have you read any of these dystopian novels? Any recommendations?
Red Rising is my all time favorite in this genre! But, I’m too scared to read the third book😏
I can entirely relate to that!
Read it! It’s so good. And if you don’t, how will you ever get to book 4 & 5?
The Knife of Never Letting Go & Never Let Me Go ❤️
So good!
I haven’t read any of these but Never Let Me Go keeps popping up on lists. I think I have to put on my TBR list because I now I want to know what it is all about.
It is such a special book!
Love your list, per usual! I have Red Rising and Scythe on my TTT post for books I want to read asap!! This post made the hunger more real!!! =D https://bit.ly/30lumAT
Thank you! Both of those books are amazing. I really think you will enjoy them!
With my news feed being dominated by Dark Age, I’m truly hoping to get to Red Rising sooner than later!
I really need to read Scythe. Great choices!
Such a good book! Thank you!
You’re welcome!
Never Let Me Go is one of my fav dystopians too. Such an amazing book. Great post! :)))))
Agreed! Thank you!
So excited to see The Knife of Never Letting Go on your list! I have the full trilogy and kinda scared to dive in, not sure if I will love it as much as I hope to. Lol
I thought that the first book was well done- but it has been years since I have read it!
Loved Scythe and Red Rising! I’ll need to read the others too, great list!
Thank you! Both great books!
Ooo those sounds pretty good! Might need to add them to my list!
They are all really good in their own way!
It’s official – I’ve added Never Let Me Go to my wish list!! I’ve seen quite a few people mention it today but you’ve convinced me that I need it in my life!!
That makes me so happy!! I can not wait to see what you think!
Ok now you have Scythe and The Knife of Never Letting Go…. is there a favor you need to ask me for? Why are you buttering me up? Lol
Hahahaha! 🤣
I’ve never heard of Blood of Eden before but I’ve loved what I’ve read from Kagawa so I’ll definitely be looking into the series now – thanks!
Yay! It’s such a great series that really fell under the radar.
So under the radar! I’m so surprised. I’ve had three of her series pop up almost constantly for me and I’d not heard of this one once. Definitely going to be reading it!
I need to read most of these lol! I did really love Scythe though! Wonderful post💜
Thank you! Scythe is amazing!
Oh, I had Never Let me Go in my Top 5 Tuesday as well! I haven’t read the other books, but Scythe sounds intriguing. Great list!
Ah Scythe is so great. Thank you!
I’ve heard so much about never let me go! 🙂
It’s fantastic!!
I skipped the topic this week because dystopian books aren’t my thing, but I’d really like to try Red Rising and Scythe. I’m just so curious about them.
I would say they are both original takes on the dystopian genre. Red Rising has a SciFi twist and in some ways you could almost argue that Scythe is a utopia! I think you might like them both!
I’ve been wanting to read Never Let Me Go
It’s so amazing!
great post! I really need to read never let me go 🙂
Thank you! It’s a fantastic book!
Great list! I’ve only read Scythe and I love that series (can’t wait for The Toll!) but I’ve heard lots of good things about the others. Can’t wait to read Red Rising and The Knife of Never Letting Go!
I am so excited for The Toll!
All amazing books that I think you will enjoy!
I so need to read Red Rising. I have it but for some reason I just never want to pick it up. It seems daunting lol
It’s faster paced than you thibk. It does take a bit to get in to though!
This is such a great list! I’ve been meaning to read Scythe so I’m excited to see it on this list 🙂 <3
Thanks! Scythe is so so good!
Fantastic list! Love never let me go, red rising and scythe 😀
Thank you! Such great books!
The Blood of Eden trilogy is my favourite vampire series of all time and yes, it’s so underrated and it deserves so much more recognition. The Immortal Rules is one of my favourite books ever.
And the Red Rising series is also incredible and so complex!
Ah that makes me so happy to hear. It’s by far the best vampire series I have read. It has so much depth! I am tempted to reread at least the first book this fall!
I want to reread the first book soon as well. It’s been awhile 😄
i have heard so much about Never Let Me Go! i think i will have to read it
It is amazing!!! I think you’ll love it!
I love Never Let Me Go! Kazuo Ishiguro is my favorite author!
He is a genius!