Book Bites: Five Books You Probably Have Not Read (and that you totally should)

Good evening, Cyberspace! As you all probably know by now, Smudged Thoughts is basically a Writer’s Resort where I scream and yell at you all with spittle flinging from my snarled teeth about how to be a better, more productive (bahahahahahaha) writer.

Well, today I’m going to be doing something a little bit different. (as usual)

Today, we shall be venturing into the world of books.

As in books that are actually and physically available to buy, and not just sitting on a hard-drive in your computer looking like the soggy, half-finished cookie that it is.

You see, back when I first began Smudged Thoughts, I wanted to not only talk about writing, but to also give out book recommendations for people like me. Or, more specifically, people who are terrified to buy a book because every single book in the history of books has…things.

Because something that seriously irks me (and has been growing exceedingly worse over the months) is that I cannot just waltz into a brick-and-mortar bookstore and snatch up ALL OF THE BOOKS without going home to find out that, “Oh joy! They’re cursing now. How lovely.”

Or saying or doing any other unmentionable things that make me want to throw said book across the room and scream like a curdled banshee.

Finding a good book to read is a constant struggle for people like me, which is really quite depressing. Reading is my absolute favorite hobby, but it seems like I’m slowly being shut out of that world with every new book I pick up.

And this, Cyberspace, should not happen.

So, starting today, I’m going to begin a quest to search for all of the books that are both A) clean, and B) interesting, fun, unique, dark, and all of the things that teenagers and adult readers want to read.

Because I don’t want to read the Berenstain Bears for my entire life, thank you.

So without further ado, I would like to present to thee–

Number One– Foundlings (Book #1 of The Peleg Chronicles by Matthew Christian Harding)

The Peleg Chronicles is literally one of my favorite series, guys. It’s got everything you’d ever want in a Historical Fiction/Fantasy-type trilogy: dragons; creepy bulging eyes; demented priests with snake-like tattoos; and hilarious, super quirky characters with kind of weird names like Lord McDougal and Fergus Leatherhead.

(not to mention that McDougal is an adorable idiot)

Oh. And there’s also a wolf pup. Have I sold you yet?

Now, The Peleg Chronicles is a Christian series, and while the Christian element is rather evident throughout the entire trilogy, it’s not necessarily a ‘hit you over the head with a bible’ type thing. Foundlings is the first book in the trilogy, and not only is it a wonderful beginning to a beautiful story, the ebook is also free on Amazon. So, if you ever find yourself in the mood for a unique Christian fantasy, I would highly recommend checking Foundlings out.

And then promptly buying the entire series because it is amazing.

Number Two– Lost Girl (Book #1 in the Neverwood Chronicles by Chanda Hahn)

For those of you who don’t know, Chanda Hahn is a self-published author, whose stories I absolutely adore. She also wrote the Unenchanted series, which is where my initial love of fairytale retellings originated.

(you can get the first ebook, Unenchanted, for free on Amazon)

Lost Girl is a Peter Pan retelling that follows the story of Wendy as she tries to recover from an extremely traumatic (and slightly terrifying) childhood.

When she was locked up in an experimentalization facility.

Not only does this book have literally the softest cover of a paperback that I have ever felt, but it also includes a bookstore with a huge St. Bernard named Nana, a sassy inventor Tinkerbell, an adorable band of misfit boys, and–of course–shadow beasts that haunt Wendy’s nightmares.

And there’s also that flying kid named Peter. #overrated

Lost Girl is book one in the Neverwood Chronicles, and I believe that book two, Lost Boy, is set to release later this year.

(which I am uber excited about, by the way)

Number Three– Implant by J. Grace Pennington

Oh my word. I literally fell in LOVE with this book. I read Implant last summer whilst swinging rather uncomfortably in a hammock out back, and I immediately became a fangirl of both science-fiction and time-travel.

*initiate love of Doctor Who*

Implant was one thrill of a read for me. It has time-travel (which I already mentioned) a weird smoking dude named Doc (he’s a doctor who smokes????), and also an implant (thus the name) that has completely eradicated all human disease.

Number Four– In Between (Book #1 in Katie Parker Productions by Jenny B. Jones)

This one actually might be something you’ve already read, as I think I’ve seen it floating around Cyberspace in the past; however, I’m going to include it because as soon as I read it, it was instantly a favorite.

The narrator of this story, Katie Parker, is absolutely hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud while reading it, which is not really something that happens all that much for me.

I know. How odd.

But this book really was amazing. It does have Christian elements, but again, they are not at all preachy. Instead, they’re really quite inspiring and leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. I haven’t gotten around to reading the rest of the series yet, but they are currently on my TBR. In Between is a definite, definite recommend.

And did I mention that the ebook is free on Amazon? Because the ebook is free on Amazon.

(I bet your wallet really loves me right now, eh? [your TBR, not so much])

And lastly–

Number Five– Waking Beauty by Sarah E. Morin

This. Book.

If you glean even one tiny crumb of information from this rather odd and abnormal post, it is that you MUST. READ. THIS. BOOK.

Trust me.

First of all, it’s a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. That in itself should be enough to get you to read it; however, if you desire more information, perhaps I can persuade you.

Waking Beauty follows three main characters–Prince Arpien, Brierly, and Nissa–and each and every one has their own distinct personality, voice, and are just so loveable and adorable that I couldn’t help falling in love with them all.

Nissa is a bookworm. (#relate)

Arpien is an adorable doof. (#relateagain)

And Brierly is a wise, ancient young maiden who has a penchant for getting herself into deadly situations. (#me)

This book also includes spicy grandmother pickles, fairies, and a deadly spindle. It also has sassy horses, a sword with a mind of its own, and tornado seeds.

And finally, if you are still not convinced, allow me to share with you the very first line of the book–

His princess was dusty.

And with that, I shall leave you.

Lots of love and cookies,

Kenzie :)

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So this was obviously not my usual post, was it? What do you guys think? Would you like me to continue this quest for clean fiction? Do you think I’m a loser for not reading more bravely? Have you read any of the books on this list? (or are you going to?) Let us squeal and chat and fangirl about all of the bookish things down below!

Also, as a slight side-note, I’m considering starting to write book reviews on the books that I’ve read more recently, so if that is something you’d like to see in the future, be sure to let me know down in the comments. Oh, and while you’re at it, make sure to tell me a series you’ve read (and loved [or hated?]) that you don’t think anyone else has ever read before, because I can’t be the only one who’s read weird books, right???

RIGHT????

*flings cookies in the air and disappears*