Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.
I skipped two weeks because I disliked the themes, but I’m back at making lists again. Single-word title seemed like such an easy prompt, but it turned out to be more difficult than I expected – while I could find 10+ books easily enough, finding 10 I could call favourites was a bit of a challenge.
So for the hell of it, I decided to do this week’s prompt a little differently and split the list into two parts: first, five books with a single-word title I read, followed by another five (mostly lesser known) books from the depths of my TBR.
5 books with a single-word title I read
1. Sourdough by Robin Sloan
– goodreads –
One of my top reads of 2019, Sourdough is the story of a woman with a miserable job and how her life is transformed by magical sourdough bread. It feels like a warm hug and it will make you hungry. Very hungry.
2. Touch by Claire North
– goodreads –
Touch is the kind of story that sticks with you for a while. The concept explored is simple – what if there were ghosts that could possess bodies? – but it’s highly disturbing and very well writen.
3. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
– goodreads –
One of my all-time favourites. I’ve always been a sucker for books inspired by Slavic folktales.
4. Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
– goodreads –
So much fun. It follows a widow, just about to be forced into an arranged marriage by her horrible family, who accidentally discovers an enchanted sword that summons a swordsman when drawn. Adventure, older protagonists, and some romance.
5. Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett
– goodreads –
Foundryside is another book that’s really, really fucking fun. It has something for everyone – fast pacing, a heist, likable characters, a Sanderson-like magic system, some social critique…it feels a little as if Bennett was trying to write Mistborn, but better. I can’t wait to see where book 2 will take the story.
5 books with a single-word title from my TBR
6. Torn by Rowenna Miller
– goodreads –
Torn is the only one on this half of the list I actually already own. Magical sewing and revolutions, I don’t think much more needs to be said.
7. Medair by Andrea K. Höst
– goodreads –
I remember Medair being on my TBR for a mortal age. Goodreads says I added it sometime in 2015. I want to read it because the concept sounds interesting as all hell – a woman awakens several hundred years later to find the war she tried to win has been lost and everything is different. I really like the theme of coping with change.
8. Scriber by Ben S. Dobson
– goodreads –
The cover honestly does Scriber no favours and I can’t even remember who recommended it (possibly someone on r/fantasy?) but wow, I like the idea of a wimpy scribe being dragged on an adventure very much.
9. Vermilion by Molly Tanzer
– goodreads –
This first came to my attention when I was looking for Weird Westerns and books along those lines. The blurb mentioning a “gunslinging, chain smoking, Stetson-wearing Taoist psychopomp,” the cover…it sounds great. Whenever I pick my project on making a masterlist of Weird Westerns back up, I’m sure this will be among the first books I read.
10. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters
– goodreads –
Sapphic historical fiction about a thief, yes please!
Great list! I really want to read Foundryside!
My post!
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I have a copy of Vermilion and I’m sad I haven’t read it yet. Thanks for reminding me😁
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Oooh. I hope I can catch your review if you manage to read it before I do!
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I read Fingersmith years ago, can’t remember much but I think I liked it, gonna give it a reread. I know the narration was lovely, but that doesnt really help you
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Fingersmith was on my list, too! It’s such a good story.
My TTT .
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