Top Ten Tuesday | Ten Books On My Summer 2021 TBR List

July 20, 2021

Happy Tuesday everyone! It's officially summer and that demands an epic and hot summer reading list, don't you think? Today's post is about my top ten books on my TBR list. However, I sometimes dare to deviate from that list, but I'm gonna try to stick with it this time! ;) Here are ten books on my summer TBR list.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

"Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself." - Goodreads

Why? I love a good dark fantasy novel and The Cruel Prince seems like the perfect example of that. I also heard a lot of good things about the book that made me a bit curious as to why.

Daughter of The Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

In Daughter of The Pirate King, the seventeen year old Alosa is sent on a mission to retrieve a part of a map. Alosa is the daughter of the well known pirate king. A merciless man with almost no compassion and a heart cold as ice. Because of him, Alosa became one of the best captains to ever rule the ocean.

To be able to go on a legendary treasure trove, Alosa needs an ancient map that was split in three divided over three great captains. One of them was her father. Now she is set to steal the second part. Therefor, she lets herself get captured by her enemy, what gives her the perfect opportunity to learn the location of the map.

But there is only one problem standing in her way: the utterly and most attractive first mate, Riden. The chemistry between the two rises and although their worlds seem to go upside down, Alosa can't forget her mission. She will and must succeed at all costs and no handsome pirate can stop the daughter of the pirate king.

Why? It's been a long time since I read any adventurous pirate story and besides, if I need to believe the recommendations, Daughter of The Pirate King is the ultimate enemies to lovers romance.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

"Feyre's survival rests upon her ability to hunt and kill – the forest where she lives is a cold, bleak place in the long winter months. So when she spots a deer in the forest being pursued by a wolf, she cannot resist fighting it for the flesh. But to do so, she must kill the predator and killing something so precious comes at a price ...

Dragged to a magical kingdom for the murder of a faerie, Feyre discovers that her captor, his face obscured by a jewelled mask, is hiding far more than his piercing green eyes would suggest. Feyre's presence at the court is closely guarded, and as she begins to learn why, her feelings for him turn from hostility to passion and the faerie lands become an even more dangerous place. Feyre must fight to break an ancient curse, or she will lose him forever." - Goodreads

Why? I haven't read a lot of reviews yet to avoid bumping into spoilers, but the synopsis is really promising if you ask me.

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

Kingdom of the Wicked is the first book in the new upcoming series of Kerri Maniscalco. The book follows the life of Emilia, a young witch who lives with her family in Sicily. Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are forced to live in secret among the humans to avoid notice and persecution. However, when witches started turning up dead, they can't help but wonder who's responsible for this witch hunt. One night, Emilia's twin sister's body was found after she didn't turn up on the family dinner. Emilia is set to seek revenge and goes to find Vittoria's killer. She's willing to do absolutely anything to bring the brutal monster that killed her sister justice; even if that means she needs to use the one thing that is forbidden at all costs... dark magic. Along the way she finds herself falling in love with the not so warm hearted prince of Hell, Wrath. Although their bond seems strong, they really seem to know how to push each other's buttons. Both can't deny to have a soft spot for one another, but as Heaven and Hell lie far from each other, should they really trust each other?

Why? I heard so much about this book that is it almost inevitable to not read the book. A little bit of enemies to lovers and a little bit adventure and you have the perfect combo.

Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin

"Bound as one to love, honor, or burn.

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned.

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony.

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made. And love makes fools of us all." - Goodreads

Why? Serpent And Dove is one of the most popular books on bookstagram the past time, so I thought to give it a try.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

"Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart." - Goodreads

Why? I have seen the Netflix show and I couldn't help but wonder if the books were better. (Like in most cases)

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron

"Darkness blooms in bestselling author Kalynn Bayron's new contemporary fantasy about a girl with a unique and deadly power. Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms with a single touch.

When Briseis's aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York, Bri and her parents decide to leave Brooklyn behind for the summer. Hopefully there, surrounded by plants and flowers, Bri will finally learn to control her gift. But their new home is sinister in ways they could never have imagined--it comes with a specific set of instructions, an old-school apothecary, and a walled garden filled with the deadliest botanicals in the world that can only be entered by those who share Bri's unique family lineage.

When strangers begin to arrive on their doorstep, asking for tinctures and elixirs, Bri learns she has a surprising talent for creating them. One of the visitors is Marie, a mysterious young woman who Bri befriends, only to find that Marie is keeping dark secrets about the history of the estate and its surrounding community. There is more to Bri's sudden inheritance than she could have imagined, and she is determined to uncover it . . . until a nefarious group comes after her in search of a rare and dangerous immortality elixir. Up against a centuries-old curse and the deadliest plant on earth, Bri must harness her gift to protect herself and her family.

From the bestselling author of Cinderella Is Dead comes another inspiring and deeply compelling story about a young woman with the power to conquer the dark forces descending around her." - Goodreads

Why? Although this book just got released, it has a lot of convo going on on social media. It kinda triggered my curiosity to be honest.

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

"A Maiden…

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.

A Duty…

The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden.

A Kingdom…

Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel." - Goodreads

Why? Not gonna lie, the book cover really got my attention. Besides, Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my favorite writers of all time!

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

"Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first." - Goodreads

Why? Someone on Instagram recommended this book so I shall give it a try.

A Curse So Dark And Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

A curse so dark and lonely, the retelling story of the all time Beauty and the Beast.

Punished because of an unforgivable decision in his past, prince Rhen is cursed to relive the autumn of his eighteenth summer. As prince of Emberfall, Rhen thought it would be easy to lift the curse, but as time passes by, he realises it won't be as easy as he thought it would be.

Like every fairy tale there is a strong love required that can destroy any curse in the universe. The only thing Rhen needs to break the curse is to fall in love and make the girl he fell for fall in love with him too. And to his luck, he may or may not have found that girl.

Harper has never had the easy love; a father that abandoned her, a dead mother and a brother who doesn't believe in her, life can be quite difficult for the seventeen year old girl. Because of all the misfortune in her life, she learned to be an independent and strong woman. Tough enough to survive the horrors of this world. But as she tries to save a stranger on the streets of Washington, she's pulled into a new world full of magic and awe.

There are a few problems though. As powerful forces stand against Emberfall, the clock keeps ticking away. Will the curse be broken? Or will time run them out?

Why? I'm really curious about the plot of the story, seen as it is a retelling of the fairy tale Beauty And The Beast.

Have you read any of these books? Leave a comment below! <3

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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event that focuses on a top ten book category.