Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!
This week’s theme is all about the backlist books we want to read, which is basically the story of my life. There are so many older books I still want to read, some I own and some I’ve only discovered recently, but to stop myself from driving myself too crazy with all the books I still haven’t read, today I’m going to talk about some of the 2017 releases I still need to read!
The Good People by Hannah Kent: You’re about to see a bit of a recurring theme in that 2017 seemed to be the year that a lot of second books by authors I love were published. I adored Kent’s debut, Burial Rites, and have been meaning to read The Good People since it came out last year but I’ve never quite been in the mood for it. I have a feeling it’s going to be another sad read, and right now I feel like I need stuff that will make me happy.
Take Courage: Anne Brontë and the Art of Life by Samantha Ellis: I had so much with Ellis’s How To Be a Heroine and Anne Brontë is my favourite of the Brontë sisters, so I should have read this by now, but I haven’t read any non-fiction at all this year. Now that it’s non-fiction November I’ve started reading non-fiction again for the first time in months, but I’m not quite in the mood for this one yet.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng: Ng’s debut, Everything I Never Told You, was my favourite read of 2016 so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her sophomore novel, and yet I still haven’t read it because I’m the worst. Again, I’m very much a mood reader and this year I’ve been craving fantasy so contemporary and literary fiction has fallen to the wayside for the time being.
Florence in Ecstasy by Jessie Chaffee: Another more literary book that I simply haven’t reached for. I do want to read it, though, because Florence is my favourite European city and I’d love to revisit it via this novel. It sounds brilliant, it’s just not what I want to read right now.
The Witchfinder’s Sister by Beth Underdown: Matthew Hopkins, or the Witchfinder General, is one man from history I loathe. He was a horrid man, and I love the idea of watching his campaign against England’s women through the eyes of his own sister. I’ve heard great things about this, and I think there are plans to adapt it for television, I just haven’t reached for it yet.
Red Sister by Mark Lawrence: Assassin. Nuns. I definitely should have read this one by now.
The Ship Beyond Time by Heidi Heilig: I really, really enjoyed The Girl From Everywhere, a lot more than I thought I would actually, and considering this year has made me realise I love duologies it’s about time I got to this one. As it’s currently Sci-Fi Month I might try to read and review this one soon, it all depends on how NaNoWriMo goes!
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden: This one sounds right up my street and I still haven’t read it because, as stated above, I’m the worst. This sounds like the ideal read for the winter, though, so I’m going to save it for then.
Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng: I love the sound of this debut novel so much and I still haven’t read it. I really want to read this one soon!
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant: I’m disappointed because I’d hoped to read this and some other horror titles during October, but October ended up being a bit of a slumpy month for me which was a real shame. I’d like to read this one soon, though, because killer mermaids are for life, not just for Halloween.
Which books made your list this week?
Jessticulates 
The Bear and the Nightingale is a must read! It’s so lyrical and fantastic.
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Every time I hear about The Bear and the Nightingale it makes me want to read it. Someday… there’s a lot of room for new reads in 2019…
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I really need to read into the drowning deep too!
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I might see if I can cross that one off my TBR for Sci-Fi Month!
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I am a bit shocked that you still haven’t read Mermurder. Because… Mira Grant! I hope you do love it when you get to it- I have heard nothing but amazing things. I also hear good things about Red Sister but I have gone back and forth. Read it and let me know 😉 I also want to read The Bear and the Nightingale one day. Oh, and The Ship Beyond Time… well it didn’t *quite* live up to The Girl From Everywhere for me, if that helps you prioritize!
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I know, I’m very ashamed of myself for not having read it yet. That’s a shame you didn’t like The Ship Beyond Time as much! Ugh, I want to read all the things I just need more time to do it – if I only I didn’t have to have this pesky ‘job’ thing…
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I picked up The Good People as soon as it came out — and still haven’t read it. I’m the worst too. 🙂 I loved The Bear & the Nightingale (definitely a good winter read and Into the Drowning Deep! Just read Little Fires Everywhere with my book group, and really enjoyed it as well. Great list — good luck!
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Haha, it’s good to know I’m not the only one! I want to try and get to The Bear and the Nightingale and Into the Drowning Deep really soon.
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I really liked The Witchfinder’s sister. It was a great book. Lovely list!
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Thanks Chrissi, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed that one!
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The Bear and the Nightingale is excellent! One of my favorite recent series!
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Oh good, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it! 🙂
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Red Sister By Mark Lawrence sounds, at the very least, fascinating. After you said assassin nuns I definitely want to know more 🙂
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I’d also recommend the His Fair Assassin series if you want more books with assassin nuns! 🙂
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Yes, The Bear and the Nightingale would be the perfect thing to read over the winter. I hope you enjoy it.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
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Thank you, I hope so too!
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I bought a copy of The Bear and the Nightingale recently. It seems like the perfect winter read, so I’ll definitely be reading it in the coming months!
My TTT post!
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It does seem like the perfect book to read as the nights get darker and colder!
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Baby Got Backlist!!! I was trying to come up with some cool title for my list this week and…. well, you win. I knew there was something catchy out there and I just couldn’t think of it. Anyway, Little Fires Everywhere is one I was interested in– I’ve been reading a lot more Adult lately.
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Hahaha thanks! Yes, when I’m in the mood for something more literary I’d like to pick that one up, her debut’s amazing, I’ve just been in a very fantasy mood this year. 🙂
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I’ve heard such good things about The Bear and the Nightingale! Hope you enjoy all these!
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Thanks, I can’t wait to cross that one off my TBR!
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I had a very slumpy October too, but in general, not just in reading. I had hoped to read a quite a few horror/thriller books as well, but with a five-month-old and working full-time, it’s really hard! I think I just got myself into trouble coming to your blog because there’s a whole bunch of new-to-me titles, and killer mermaids is one I’m definitely going to have to read about!!!
My Top Ten Tuesday!
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I feel you, there’s so much to read and so little time! I hope November is a better reading month for you. 🙂
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I need Red sister too.
Into the Drowning Deep was pretty good. Can’t go wrong with killer mermaids.
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Glad to hear you enjoyed Into the Drowning Deep!
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Ohh that’s quite a nice list you got there! Hope you get around to reading them soon. I’m really interested in Red Sister by Mark Lawrence but I want to read his other trilogy I have on my own tbr first; Prince of Thorns
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Thanks, I hope so too! 🙂 I’ve heard pretty good things about his first series, but as soon as I heard ‘assassin nuns’ I knew I had to reach for Red Sister first.
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