Top 5 Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful Shanah @ Bionic Book Worm.
Yesterday I spoke about a few of the nonfiction books I would love to get to this month, and today I am sharing the top five fiction books on my TBR. I am such a mood reader and knowing myself I will say these are the five novels I want to read ASAP and I won’t actually get to them for months.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues–a bee, a key, and a sword–that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to an ancient library, hidden far below the surface of the earth.
What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians–it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect this realm, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also those who are intent on its destruction.
Together with Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired protector of the place, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances, Zachary travels the twisting tunnels, darkened stairwells, crowded ballrooms, and sweetly-soaked shores of this magical world, discovering his purpose–in both the mysterious book and in his own life.
It is no secret that I didn’t love Morgenstern’s debut novel, The Night Circus, but there is no denying she is a talented writer. I think part of the problem was that there was just so much hype for The Night Circus that is was impossible for it to meet my expectations. Libro fm and Penguin Random House Audio sent me the audiobook of The Starless Sea for review and I am excited to listen to it knowing that I have realistic expectations going in.
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Young Hiram Walker was born into bondage. When his mother was sold away, Hiram was robbed of all memory of her—but was gifted with a mysterious power. Years later, when Hiram almost drowns in a river, that same power saves his life. This brush with death births an urgency in Hiram and a daring scheme: to escape from the only home he’s ever known.
So begins an unexpected journey that takes Hiram from the corrupt grandeur of Virginia’s proud plantations to desperate guerrilla cells in the wilderness, from the coffin of the deep South to dangerously utopic movements in the North. Even as he’s enlisted in the underground war between slavers and the enslaved, Hiram’s resolve to rescue the family he left behind endures.
The Water Dancer is Oprah’s latest book club pick, and she has rarely steered me wrong. Ta-Hehisi Coates is one of those authors I have heard incredible things about, and I have mean meaning to read his work for years. I bought a copy of The Water Dancer the day is came out, but just haven’t had time to read it. I am thinking that it will happen in December and I am very much looking forward to it.
The Girl in the Tower (Winternight Trilogy #2) by Katherine Arden
Orphaned and cast out as a witch by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent, or allow her older sister to make her a match with a Moscovite prince. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the vast world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a boy and riding her horse into the woods. When a battle with some bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside earns her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow, she must carefully guard the secret of her gender to remain in his good graces—even as she realizes his kingdom is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
Tiffy and Leon share a flatTiffy and Leon share a bed
Tiffy and Leon have never met…Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rule book out the window…
I have read more contemporary romance in 2019 than ever have in past years, and I have been loving it! No other genre can bring such a smile of my face. I have noticed that I read a lot of dark and sad books, and it has been nice to break it up with something cheerful and heartwarming every once in awhile. I have heard so many incredible things about The Flatshare and I am so ready for it!
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Set in the days of civilization’s collapse, Station Eleven tells the story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.
One snowy night a famous Hollywood actor slumps over and dies onstage during a production of King Lear. Hours later, the world as we know it begins to dissolve. Moving back and forth in time—from the actor’s early days as a film star to fifteen years in the future, when a theater troupe known as the Traveling Symphony roams the wasteland of what remains—this suspenseful, elegiac, spellbinding novel charts the strange twists of fate that connect five people: the actor, the man who tried to save him, the actor’s first wife, his oldest friend, and a young actress with the Traveling Symphony, caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous self-proclaimed prophet.
Have you ever had one of those books that you just know you are going to love so you are saving it for the perfect time? That is Station Eleven for me! For everything I have heard about it I just know it has the potential to become one of my all time favourite novels. It was recently announced that it was being made into a mini-series on HBO and that has given me the push I needed to finally pick it up! I am trying to not over-hype it in my mind, but it is difficult!
What books is on the top of your TBR pile?
The Starless Sea and The Water Dancer are definitely at the top of my list as well! (And I also probably won’t get to them for months lol.) Great picks!
Thank you! I hope we both get to them sooner rather than later!
Morgenstern’s books definitely aren’t for everyone (especially if you don’t like flowery writing), but The Starless Sea is probably my favorite book of 2019, so I hope you enjoy it 🙂
I do like flowery writing! I think I was expecting The Night Circus to be even more whimsical. That is amazing- I have a feeling I am going to love it!
I need to read Station Eleven as well! Great list!
I hope we both get to it soon and love it!
I’m dying to read The Water Dancer and Flatshare, too💜
I am thinking of reading The Water Dancer and then Flatshare right after. I feeling like the former might destroy me and I will need to read the latter to cheer me up!
I’m with you there! I like following the heavy with light.
Great list! I adored the warm fuzzies I got from The Flatshare! Leon and Tiffy are 💜 I wanna read all the others too! They sound so good. Hope you enjoy these 🙂
I am so ready for the warm, fuzzy feelings!!
Fltshare sounds ADORABLE!! I’ll definitely be adding that one to my TBR!
I know right?!
Great list! I’m curious about The Water Dancer.
Me too! Looking forward to it!
The Girl In The Tower is my favourite one of the trilogy. It is action-packed and well written in equal measure. I hope you enjoy all these books!
Ohhh I am excited! I have a feeling it’s going to be very different than the first one.
These look so amazing!! I’ve heard so much hype around The Starless Sea too <3 I hope you enjoy the audiobook!
I hope so as well. I will definitely review it!
My copy of The Starless Sea shipped out today! EEKKKK!!! I’m sooooooo excited for that one! This is a great list – enjoy 🙂
Ah awesome!! Thank you!
I keep seeing the flatshare around a lot lately, I need to bump it up onmy TBR as well!
(www.evelynreads.com)
I don’t think I have seen a single bad review!
Station Eleven is such an interesting story. There were some parts that I didn’t love as much as others, but overall I really enjoyed it.
That’s good to know. Glad you enjoyed it!
I keep meaning to read the Winternight trilogy, but I definitely think it’s a book that should be experienced on those cold, cosy winter nights. There’s something so magical that puts you in the mood for those types of books. The Starless Sea has got to be one of my most anticipated books of the year. I’m trying to keep my expectations in check, but it’s not easy.
It is a series that you have to be in the mood for and is best read on a cold night! It is funny how there are just certain books like that.
I completely understand what you mean about The Starless Sea. It has been years since The Night Circus so fans of that books must be so hyped!
The Water Dancer has been on my must-read list since Oprah talked about it on Ellen!
I think it is going to be amazing!
I started Station Eleven today after blowing through my monthly TBR and I’m liking it so far. I too want to read Starless Sea and plan to pick it up later today 😀
So happy you are liking it so far!!
The Starless Sea is something I am really excited about!
Me too!
My TBR pile is magic – it keeps growing no matter how many books I read from it. Lol! Great list.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your week, Kristin. Here’s my Top 5 Tuesday Post
Flora x
Hahah it is funny how that happens!
Station Eleven is one of my favorite books of all time! It’s wonderful. I’m starting The Starless Sea as soon as I get home from work today. 🙂
I have a feeling Station Eleven has the potential to become one of my favourites as well. I hope you love The Starless Sea!
Two chapters in, and so far it’s lovely.
I’ve been meaning to read the 3rd book in the Bear and the Nightingale trilogy since it came out earlier this year… Hopefully, I’ll finally get to it in November! 😀
I hope with both continue on with the series soon!
great list! I wanna read station eleven too and I loved girl in the tower- hope you enjoy it!
Thank you. I am excited to continue with the series!
Heartsong by TJ Klune and The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco are at the top of my list 🙂
I will have to look into them!
I absolutely ADORE The Night Circus. Morgenstern’s writing style is so lovely, imo. But I can definitely see how some readers might not click with the book! I hope that The Starless Sea works a bit better for you. I nearly forgot to buy it this month. Thank you so much for the reminder!
She is a great writer for sure. I was wanting it to be even more whimsical! Hope you love The Starless Sea just as much.
Oh I agree! Despite my love for it, there was definitely more room for whimsy lol. Especially when there’s magic and the circus involved. Thank you! I hope so too.
I WANT TO READ “The Starless Sea” RIGHT NOW! Firstly, that cover. Secondly, that author. Thirdly … THAT STORY! Do you know if it’s going to stay as a standalone or will it be a series?
I believe it is a standalone! It took her seven years to write. I’m sure it is incredible!
Ooooooooo! That’s even MORE incentive to buy and read it! If i discover that it’s for sure a standalone, I might purchase a copy ha-ha! And seven years?! WOW! It must be pretty good ha-ha
I’m hoping to read The Starless Sea soon. I have it on order at the library, I just don’t know where I am in the list. Fingers crossed my copy arrives soon though. I’m also desperate to start the Bear & Nightingale books sometime. And I have the Flatshare on my TBR. I dont feel like I read enough cute books tbh and it sounds as if it’ll be one.
I hope you get it soon! This is the perfect time of year to read Bear and the Nightingale.
Flatshare really sounds adorable, doesn’t it?!
Thank you (: And that’s good to know.
It really does. I love the whole concept of the notes being used for communication 😀
Yep, winter is definitely a good time for the Winternight trilogy. Wish I had the time to reread them! And, I can’t wait to read Station Eleven either.
Station Eleven seems like another perfect winter read!
The Starless Sea is at the tip-top of my TBR, atm! I also want to read The Water Dancer and Station Eleven. This is a great list!
Thank you! I hope we both get to those books soon!