Top 10 Books of 2021 So Far

Hey, welcome to another post! Today I want to share my top 10 books of the first 3 months of 2021. I’ve read so many great books already and I wanted to highlight the top ones to see if anything can beat them! I’m planning to do this for each quarter and compare them.

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10. Winter’s Orbit

Winter’s Orbit was 4 stars for me! I have a full review on my blog but to sum it up, it’s a comforting read with a slow burn romance and an action-packed plot. I haven’t reread a book since I was younger but this would be a strong contender for a reread and I really want to get a physical copy!

9. Jade City

It wasn’t quite a 5 star like I predicted but it was close at 4.5 stars! I had such a fun (and sad!) time following the Kaul family and other characters. The plot and politics were so intricate, and everything – from the magic system to the clan hierarchy to the wider world situation — felt so developed and real. I am determined to buy and read the next book before Jade Legacy is released!

8. This is How You Lose the Time War

What an amazing book! The prose was just stunning with every word feeling intentional, and the sapphic romance was everything! I adored seeing their relationship develop and bloom through letters. The last part had me hooked and I couldn’t put the book down. I rated this 4.5 stars but I think this is a book that I would enjoy even more on a reread, knowing the ending, so I might try out the audiobook if I have a chance.

7. The Vanishing Half

The Vanishing Half was a brilliant story which I rated 4.5 stars. It’s got everything, with captivating characters and insightful themes. I really enjoyed the slightly generational element – it definitely benefited from multiple POVs (Jude was my favourite character). This story is definitely one I won’t forget for a while!

6. Into the Drowning Deep

Another 4.5 stars! I have a full review for this one too. I loved the representation (deaf, autistic and a blossoming f/f romance!), and the sheer sense of dread that follows you right to the end. I never knew where it was going to go and the character set up at the start made me so invested in their safety!

5. The Black Coast

I’m so grateful I got an ARC of this because it’s probably one I wouldn’t have picked up in the bookstore of my own accord but it ending up being 4.5 stars and my favourite book of February! It has a really interesting premise – a fantasy centring around peace not war? Who’d have thought! It was a great set up for the rest of this high fantasy series, with a mix of close character studies and wider political intrigue. My full review is here.

4. The Obelisk Gate

The first 5 star read of this list! In my yearly wrap up I included the series instead of ranking books individually, but I think it’s okay for quarterly wrap ups (well, I’m doing it anyway!). The Obelisk Gate wasn’t quite as mind-blowing as The Fifth Season, but I liked how it developed the world and magic system, and introduced us to new perspectives. I can’t wait for the last book and if it’s anywhere near as good as the rest of the series then it might make an appearance in next quarter’s top 10 books!

3. Gods of Jade and Shadow

My review is here for more in-depth thoughts but wow. I fell in love with this fantasy full of gods, quests and a sprinkle of romance. I’m always down for a historical setting too and 1920s Mexico was beautifully portrayed. Strangely, Mexican Gothic was also the third best book I read in 2020!

2. The Burning God

The first 5 stars I gave in 2021! This is the first series that I’ve completed for years (except for Six of Crows but it’s a duology) and that alone says how much I loved it, but this last book was brutal (especially the ending – another one that made the books that made cry post). Some people felt disappointed in some of the choices made in the plot, but The Burning God is still on such a higher level than most books I’ve read. The character development/decline/descent into madness was everything. Definitely a book that’s hard to beat, except for one…

1. The Fifth Season

The Fifth Season totally lived up to the hype for me. I love how it put you straight into the world with no big info-dumps and you have to figure out what’s going on as the story progresses. There’s a sense of mystery throughout the book and I had so many questions at the end (and even more after The Obelisk Gate). The characters and their relationships are excellent, the social commentary is impactful, the magic system is intriguing, everything about this book is so clever!

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Thanks for reading, let’s see if any books I read in the next 3 months can top this list!

—ella♥

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