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| Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. |
It's time for another Top Ten Tuesday. This week is about hidden gems aka books that deserve so much more love, but weren't talked much when first published or marketed as strongly as they should or published by a famous publishing house (maybe it's just me, but it seems that if a book isn't published by a well-known publishing company -for example, Penguin or Bloomsbury- it's difficult for the book to make it on the market. I know small publishing houses don't have much money to spend on marketing, but I feel some readers have a few prejudices concerning them). Anyway, it's time to show you my hidden gems.
Cadaver & Queen by Alisa Kwitney. This year marks the bicentenary of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and many writers decided to write their own version of this Gothic romance - one of the most awaited is The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White. Because of such, Cadaver & Queen has slipped under the radar. And that's a shame. The ending does have plot holes (but a sequel will be published), but this book discusses gender equality and twists Gothic tropes, creating a strong female character that defies conventions. If you liked Stalking Jack the Ripper, you may want to give this book an opportunity.
Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub. Before the short-lived TV show (which I haven't watched yet because I live outside USA and it isn't on Netflic), there was the book. Benvolio and Rosaline become the new star-crossed lovers in this beautiful "retelling". Another hidden gem that also follows Benvolio and Rosaline is Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine. Just read these two gems and fall in love with this perfect couple. Okay?
The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King. Yes, the book uses one of the tropes that I hate the most ( insta-love), but it still is a hidden gem. It addresses gender equality and how history is changed in order to benefit those in power. Moreover, it's based on Sumerian deities and I can never say "no" to mythology - who can say "no" to mythology?!
Thorn by Intisar Khanani. Isn't this book supposed to be only released in 2019 by HarperTeen? Well, Thorn, whose story is loosely inspired by the fairytale The Goose Girl, was self-published five years ago and sadly it didn't receive all the love it should have. I'm happy this hidden gem has been given a second chance. Please, add it to your wishlist - I'm also adding to mine because I got my copy from Netgalley (you can search for my review if you dare; if you think my English is terrible now, back then it was cringe worthy). Also, the book is being rewritten, so there will be a few changes that I don't want to miss.
Keeper of the Bees by Meg Kassel. This book was only released last week and there aren't enough people talking about it. WHY?! The story is hauntingly beautiful and the worldbuiling is fascinating - it's a macabre world of magical creatures that follow death. This hidden gem has just been dug and I fear it will be buried before it shines.
Which books do you think should receive more love?
Do you think readers have prejudices regarding not well-known publishing houses?
Share with me your favourite small publishing houses.
Do you think readers have prejudices regarding not well-known publishing houses?
Share with me your favourite small publishing houses.
Posts
Yes, Thorn! It would have been on my list, but I did Adult Fiction and Middle Grade. 📚
ReplyDeleteThorn is such an underrated novel. Happy readings! ;)
DeleteI've heard that Keeper of the Bees is excellent, and it really looks like it's worth a read. I've also been meaning to start The Hundredth Queen - I love the sound of it!
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a good week :)
Keeper of the Bees is one of my favourite readings of this year. I loved everything about it - not only the worldbuilding, but the characters and the plot. I hope you can read The Hundredth Queen soon.
DeleteThank you. Happy readings Amy! ;)
I've heard a few things about Keeper of the Bees recently, so I will definitely have to give it a go, especially as the premise also sounds super intriguing! I am also going to add Cadaver & Queen to my TBR, as I am a huge fan of Frankenstein and have been highly anticipating Kierstein White's retelling, so I am super excited to learn of another, underrated retelling :)
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
I hope you enjoy both books. Keeper of the Bees is such an unique story and Cadaver & Queen deserves to be a lot more appreciated.
DeleteHappy readings! ;)
For the Darkness Shows the Stars is a BEAUTIFUL cover!! You're so right about those last 5 books. I did see quite a bit about them at first, but not much in recent years.
ReplyDeleteThe cover is so gorgeous. *.* It's just so sad when books fall into oblivion.
DeleteHappy readings! ;)
OOh nice picks! I LOVED Angelfall! I remember liking Darkness Before Dawn too, though at the time I was reading another series that felt really similar so I struggle to tell them apart in my memories now! Lol. I liked Stolen Songbird but the end of the trilogy really had me upset for reasons that I am sure you remember! Lol! Great picks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my TTT post earlier today!
Thorn sounds interesting. I'll have to add it to my tbr. Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it. Happy readings! ;)
DeleteThe Cadaver Queen is making an appearance on a bunch of lists today. I remember seeing this one around a bunch, before it came out. I have not read that Peterfreund book, but I wish she would have finished the Killer Unicorns series.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that Angelfall is really good. I have yet to pick it up, but you're post has intrigued me enough to put it higher on my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteI'm so surprised that Cadaver & Queen didn't get the attention - it deserves it...
ReplyDeleteI need to read some Rachel Caine, I've been meaning to for a while!
ReplyDeleteA few of these are completely new to me. Keep of the Bees is on my TBR list. I’m looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Your post reminds me that I need to continue The Hundredth Queen series. I read and enjoyed the first book but then got distracted and forgot there are more books.
ReplyDeleteI've actually read a couple of these, but most of them are new to me! I do need to finish the Darkness Before Dawn series at some point!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for the rerelease of Thorn so I can finally get to read this story. I did hear about cadaver & queen but I think some of the reviews on the plot holes kept me from going for this book.
ReplyDeleteThorn! I loved that book, definitely one which deserved more love. I didn't know it was now getting republished though. That's pretty awesome. And Still Star Crossed will forever be on my TBR because it's so hard to find a copy! I feel like a few folks have at least read Angelfall, and that's a series I could still reread now and enjoy I think. Some good choices on here.
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