The Magicians by Lev Grossman

The Magicians by Lev Grossman is a book that grows with you. Reading it as the age of the characters, you feel their strife. Reading it as an older person with more experience, you feel the heartbreak that you know is unavoidable because there is nothing to be done to avoid the sorrows that come with growing up. I wholeheartedly recommend this book but please understand, this isn’t a grown up or dark Harry Potter. It’s depression and yearning and growing pains that can’t be avoided with magic thrown in.

Jade City by Fonda Lee

I have danced around picking up Jade City by Fonda Lee since it was first released. I’ve heard the praise and it seemed interesting, but for whatever reason, I could not motivate myself to pick it up. I guess I was worried it would be some weird and boring fantasy with a stronger focus on martial arts over the intricacies I usually gravitate toward. Well, I can readily admit I was an idiot. This was absolutely amazing and mind-blowing. The politics involved rival A Song of Ice and Fire and the worldbuilding is astounding.