Vivi’s 5 Star Indie Reads
by Viviana Kingston
The Glass Palace by Katherine Trattner
When I read this, the first thing that popped into my head was a Snow Queen or a Beauty and the Beast retelling, because honestly, that’s how the story progresses, a mixture of both elements. I was a bit disappointed to find out the book was instead a retelling of classic fairy tale East of the Sun and West of the Moon, but you won’t be! Chinook, the main character’s companion, is a furry ball of funny that will surely keep you entertained throughout almost every page. So what’s the story about? Astrid’s been engaged to a stranger her whole life until a tragedy occurs and her betrothed, Tyhr, steps up to the plate. The only catch? Tyhr has been cursed, forced to live with a silver mask and is suspended in time, unless Astrid can do something about it. But it’s not as easy as it seems. City of Birds by Elisha Reids This one is perfect for dystopian book lovers like myself. If you’re a fan of Divergent, this book may just be for you! We’re thrown into a world where the elite and middle class finds themselves barred off from the outside world with a huge wall. No one has any idea why it was built in the first place. The author doesn’t think she did her best work, but I feel it’s definitely a book to give a chance to - there’s betrayal, found family, adventure, heartbreak and secrets that have effects like Pandora’s box. It definitely gives you a lot to ponder on, characters to root for and more than enough characters to hate! What’s the story about? Elyria’s life is changed forever when she finds herself forced to join a rebellion group. Her mission is to deceive and collect intel to take down her corrupt government, but her newest task has her falling for someone she shouldn’t and being used by the people she trusts the most. Will she be able to uncover the real reason they’re all walked in? An Ocean of Stars by Becca Mionis Another dystopian read but this time, imagine living on a space colony? No need to imagine when you can read it. This book explores how lonely space can be, how not all foes are your enemy and how sometimes you need a meddling intruder to spice up your life! Two teenagers on a spaceship with no one but AI powered robots as chaperones? Shenanigans are destined to happen. What’s the story about? I think the author says it best with snippets of her blurb: “Girl, meet boy. He’s the reason you’re lost in space. He's a boy her age who has never met another human before. And it shows. Boy, meet girl. She’s the one thing that could put your mission at risk. He certainly wasn’t supposed to rescue a stranded spacer girl, especially one whose ship he had to destroy–and who his android crew insists is dangerous. Their paths were never supposed to cross, but what begins as a shaky alliance grows into a genuine connection that's tested with each new obstacle they encounter, both within the confines of the Atlantis… and without.” The Forgotten Colony by JB Ryder If you made it this far, you may realise a pattern in my favourite books (I swear, it’s not intentional). This book is dystopian too. Though caution. There is mild cursing and descriptions of death and sickness that may be triggering. The most astounding thing about this book is the author is only 17! And he definitely proves that age is just a number when it comes to writing quality. What’s this book about? Earth is dying, and the only way humanity can be saved is through the Prescott Colony, a thing of Zach’s past that he wants to forget. But when a drop ship from the project comes crashing from space, Zach is forced to uncover his past and possibly save as much as humanity as he can, even if everyone doesn’t support him. |