The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

I’m probably not gonna shut up about this book for a good long while 😂I loved it so much! It’s a fantasy with flavorings of sci-fi that is absolutely captivating. It’s raw and dark and so compelling I found it hard to put it down! Excellent world-building, fascinating characters, and incredible writing all combined to make a book I won’t soon forget!

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Dex and Mosscap deserve all the rights forever and I will be hearing NO ARGUMENTS. I adored this short little book but my favorite part was definitely the characters. They brought such heart and joy to this story! Becky Chambers has a way of writing a book that just makes it so freakin’ cozy. Everything about this, from Dex striking out into the world as a tea monk to them meeting Mosscap, combined into a story that feels like a warm hug ❤

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

I’m gonna steal Danni’s answer because, honestly, is there a better adaptation than the Lord of the Rings movies? The three LotR movies directed by Peter Jackson are damn near perfection! I think it’s even more astonishing that all three of them are so freakin’ good. One, sure. Two, that’s pretty impressive. But all three?! Pure magic. To this day, I can still quote whole scenes from any of the movies off the cuff. I really want to re-watch them all now…

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

I’m mentioned before how I’m intimidated by poetry. So when everyone was raving about this ‘book in verse’, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t like it. Or not ‘get’ it, ya know? I needn’t have worried, though, because this book spoke to my soul! It was stunning and even more so in audiobook form. Listening to the author perform her craft is a gift, honestly. I can’t wait to hear and read more of her work!

The Great Library series by Rachel Caine

So I’m not technically done with this series. I have one book left. But seeming as all the other books in this series have been four or five star reads, I think it’s safe to say I’m going to love the last one, as well! This is such an incredibly series that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough. I’m excited to see it through to the end, but I’m also going to be sad to say goodbye to Jess and the crew.

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

This is one of those books that you will have a different experience with every time you read it. Which reminds me that I really want to re-read it soon! There’s so much wrapped up in this story, little nuggets to pick out as you read through it again and again. This book resonated with me so much and it will always have a special place in my heart.

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

This is definitely a book I loved but don’t talk about nearly enough! This is such a magical, wonderful middle grade story that had me completely captivated. I love Amari, our main character. She is such a smart and headstrong girl and I loved watching her find her place in the supernatural world. Now I’m eager to continue her story in the sequel that comes out later this year!

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Fantasy is my favorite genre. Fantasy with great world-building and fantastic characters is definitely my ‘staple’. So of course I have to pick one of my favorite fantasy books from the last few years! Besides, it’s not a recommendation post from me if I don’t somehow mention Raybearer 😂 This is a beautiful and immersive read that I will probably be recommending until the end of time.

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

This book and all the ones that followed after it are some of the first books I remember falling in love with. I had a teacher give me All Creatures Great and Small in fourth grade because she knew I enjoyed reading and wanted to be a veterinarian, at the time. I devoured this book and quickly sought out the other ones because I couldn’t get enough of James Herriot’s story.