Are you feeling . . . stuck? A slave to your TBR? Weighed down by all of your poor reading choices? We’ve all been there. Sometimes you read a book that’s so darn good that nothing you read afterward will ever compare, so you just wallow in your book hangover. Sometimes you just drift from book to book, listless and unable to make anything stick. Either way, we’re going to fix that with this post!
I want to preface this, of course, by saying that slumps are perfectly natural. Sometimes they’re just your brain’s way of saying it needs to hit pause for a bit and do something else. Reading obsessions can absolutely occur in cycles, so I would just caution not to become fatalistic if you find yourself feeling lackluster when trying to pick up something new. You’re not broken. You’re just healing.
Now that that’s out of the way . . .
This week’s Top Ten Tuesday is fantasy books guaranteed to break you out of your bookish slump. So if you’re struggling to get back into reading, give one of these fantasy books a try. You might just find your next favorite read!
Obviously, general warning that your mileage may vary! Books that I love and that break me out of reading slumps won’t work for everyone, as much as I’d like it to. Because y’all are weird. But you won’t know exactly what works for you until you give it a try! I’ve tried to provide a selection of books that are very different, so hopefully you can find one that is your perfect genre combination. I even added a few sci-fi books. Is that cheating? Absolutely. But it’s my blog and I do what I want. Also, you should read them anyway.
Also, please share with me your go-to slump breakers. I’m always looking for more recommendations!
Dungeon Crawler Carl
You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.
Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.
Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.
Why I Recommend It:
- Fast-paced and filled with action to suck you into the story!
- Princess Donut is the most delightful character. Also a talking cat.
- Carl is in so far over his head. (Then again, he’s always that way. But you’ll get used to that about him.)
- Dungeon crawling means high stakes and high mortality.
- Absolutely hilarious AI and lots of dark humor.
- Listen to the audiobook — the narrator is absolutely delightful!
- Plot twists galore that will keep you glued to the story.
First Lines:
The transformation occurred at approximately 2:23 AM., Pacific Standard Time. As far as I could tell, anyone who was indoors when it happened died instantly. If you had any sort of roof over you, you were dead. That included people in cars, airplanes, subways. Even tents and cardboard boxes. Hell, probably umbrellas, too. Though I’m not so sure about that one.
The House in the Cerulean Sea
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.
When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he’s given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.
But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.
Why I Recommend It:
- Cozy queer romantasy between middle-aged men.
- A heartwarming story that will give you all the warm fuzzies.
- Absolutely hilarious scenarios and banter.
- Adorable found family with fantasy creatures.
- But they all have unique, larger-than-life personalities.
- The antichrist. (But probably not what you’re thinking.)
First Lines:
That was an understatement. He watched in rapt wonder as an eleven-year-old girl named Daisy levitated blocks of wood high above her head. The blocks spun in slow, concentric circles. Daisy frowned in concentration, the tip of her tongue stuck out between her teeth. It went on for a good minute before the blocks slowly lowered to the floor. Her level of control was astounding.
All Systems Red
In a corporate-dominated space-faring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. For their own safety, exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.
On a distant planet, a team of scientists is conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid–a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, Murderbot wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is, but when a neighboring mission goes dark, it’s up to the scientists and Murderbot to get to the truth.
Why I Recommend It:
- Sociopathic robot trying to understand what it means to be human.
- Robot goes rogue is always a fun trope.
- Novella, which means it’s a short, quick read.
- The start of a novella series, so lots of opportunity for quick reads!
- Sarcastic, dry humor that will cause you to snort out loud.
- Fast-paced action mystery.
First Lines:
I could have become a mass murderer after I hacked my governor module, but then I realized I could access the combined feed of entertainment channels carried on the company satellites. It had been well over 35,000 hours or so since then, with still not much murdering, but probably, I don’t know, a little under 35,000 hours of movies, serials, books, plays, and music consumed.
Witch Hat Atelier
In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch…until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem…
Why I Recommend It:
- Gorgeous black-and-white illustrations.
- Manga, so it’s a quick, easy read.
- Super charming (yet also dangerous) world filled with magic.
- Adorable protagonist just doing her best, but making all the wrong decisions.
- A cute little squad of young witches supporting each other.
- Shady adults who are obviously keeping dark, deadly secrets.
- Magic! But done in a unique way.
Assistant to the Villain
ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem and terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.
With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer―naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.
But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain―and his entire nefarious empire―out.
Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.
After all, a good job is hard to find.
Why I Recommend It:
- Filled with dark humor and sarcastic banter.
- Will probably put your job in perspective and make it seem not so bad.
- Villains! Who are always fun. Especially if they’re hot. Even if you’re your boss.
- Explosions and lots of things inevitably going awry.
- Dragons!
- A squad of misfits that will absolutely steal your heart.
- Characters discovering their own inner strength.
First Lines:
Another failed attempt at the job fairs in her village. Another day with no source of income. Another day she was letting her sick father and little sister down. Which was why her mind was preoccupied as she wandered to the trees lined like fences at Hickory Forest’s edge—and walked right in.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
Hart is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the strange and magical wilds of Tanria. It’s an unforgiving job, and Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness.
Mercy never has a moment to herself. She’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest.
After yet another exasperating run-in with Mercy, Hart finds himself penning a letter addressed simply to “A Friend”. Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born.
If only Hart knew he’s been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most—Mercy. As the dangers from Tanria grow closer, so do the unlikely correspondents. But can their blossoming romance survive the fated discovery that their pen pals are their worst nightmares—each other?
Why I Recommend It:
- Swoonworthy enemies-to-lovers paranormal romance.
- Lots of sarcastic banter.
- Very cute penpal setup.
- Undertakers! Which are always a unique premise.
- Steamy scenes, if that’s your thing.
- Dark adventure with high stakes.
First Lines:
Out of habit, he ducked his head as he stepped into the lobby so that he wouldn’t smack his forehead on the doorframe. Bold-colored paintings of the death gods—the Salt Sea, the Warden, and Grandfather Bones—decorated the walls in gold frames. Two green velvet armchairs sat in front of a walnut coffee table, their whimsical lines imbuing the room with an upbeat charm. Vintage coffee bean tins served as homes for pens and candy on a counter that was polished to a sheen. This was not the somber, staid lobby of a respectable place like Cunningham’s Funeral Service. This was the appalling warmth of an undertaker who welcomed other people’s deaths with open arms.
Illuminae
This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival mega-corporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra — who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it’s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.
Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents — including emails, maps, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more — Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.
Why I Recommend It:
- Told in a really unique format of files, interviews, and images, so you interact differently with the story.
- Full-cast audiobook, if that’s more your speed.
- Lots of sarcasm, humor, and banter.
- A squad that you’ll definitely root for.
- High stakes, fast-paced, with lots of drama, where nobody is truly safe.
- An adorable AI who maaaay be slightly homicidal.
- Plot twists galore!
First Lines:
I won’t bore you with the tally of databases plundered, light-years jumped, or cute, sniffling orphans created in its compilation—our fee already reflects Level of Difficulty. But this dirt is out there, if you know where to look. Seems your cleanup crews weren’t quite as thorough as you’d like, and your little corporate war isn’t quite as secret as you’d hoped.
Scythe
A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
Why I Recommend It:
- Interesting play on the idea of immortality and mortality.
- A dystopian utopian society.
- Plot twists!
- Lots of action and drama.
- A society that keeps its secrets close to its chest. And it’s not ready to let them go just yet.
- Danger around every corner.
First Lines:
The scythe arrived late on a cold November afternoon. Citra was at the dining room table, slaving over a particularly difficult algebra problem, shuffling variables, unable to solve for X or Y, when this new and far more pernicious variable entered her life’s equation.
Nevermoor
Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she’s blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks–and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.
But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.
It’s then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city’s most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart – an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests – or she’ll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.
Why I Recommend It:
- A magical hotel filled with wonder that you will definitely want to live in.
- Various sorts of magic, each one as unique and wonderful as the next.
- A school for magical children to teach them how to control their powers.
- A chosen child with unique magic.
- Cute squad of children supporting each other.
- Adults keeping dark, potentially deadly secrets, like you do.
- The first of a longer series with an interesting overarching plot.
First Lines:
She didn’t know how it had happened, or when. She thought perhaps he’d eaten something poisonous overnight. There were no injuries to suggest a fox or dog attack. Apart from a bit of dried blood at the corner of his mouth, he looked like he was sleeping, but he was cold and stiff.
Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky
Seventh-grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in.
Tristan is dreading the month he’s going to spend on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, where he’s being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie’s journal. Tristan chases after it — is that a doll? — and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature’s hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world.
Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American gods John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?
Why I Recommend It:
- Sarcasm, banter, and lots of humor.
- A protagonist with a lot of heart, trying his best to do what’s right.
- Very thoughtful commentary on grief and healing.
- A world based on Southern and Black folklore and legends.
- Get to meet some of the legends you grew up with!
- Fast-paced and full of action and adventure.
First Lines:
Pop pop
It told a story.
Pop pop
Everybody thought they knew the story. They’d seen it before. He’ll get over it. Give him space. But they only knew fragments. They didn’t want to hear the rest . . .
Oh, you do?
Related
Fantasy Books Guaranteed to Break Your Slump — The Bookwyrm’s Den