It's that time of year to list what you're thankful for. This being a blog dedicated to writing and books, I have a tradition of sharing books I am thankful for each year around this time. So, without further ado, on to the books.
I've talked about this book before on the blog and other venues. Hands down, Swan Song by Robert R.McCannon is one of the finest books I have ever read. It's reminiscent of Stephen King's The Stand, but it's better—by several orders of magnitude. It's a horrifying tale of a nuclear apocalypse, a fantastical adventure of epic proportions, and a yarn about good ultimately triumphing over evil. Rarely have I read a 900-page tome that seemed so short. This is one of the most disturbing and uplifting books I have ever read. Highly recommended.
My second entry is not a single book I am thankful for, but rather a series. The Red Queen's War by Mark Lawrence is one of those trilogies that proves that fantasy is one of the best genres out there. Sometimes, it's easy to become jaded with fantasy. So many series just go on and on and on without end. Other series might never be finished, at least in the author's lifetime. Many novels rehash ground thoroughly treaded by Tolkien and the like. Well, The Red Queen's War is entirely fresh, combining fantasy, science-fiction, and horror tropes to make a wild story. It's part buddy movie, part action adventure, part fantasy quest, and 100% fun. Highly recommended.
If you have a reluctant reader, this is a book to get them. My nine-year-old enjoyed the hell out of this book and is already two-thirds of the way through the second installment of the series. This is one of the most touching reads I have experienced in many years and has opened my eyes to how wonderful middle-grade fiction can be for readers of any age. This novel has won a place in my heart as one of my favorites. Highly recommended.