By Oona Dawson
The Final Empire (#1 in Mistborn series)
By: Brandon Sanderson
The Final Empire is set in an empire polluted by ash, and controlled by the all-powerful and immortal Lord Ruler, a crew of con men and thieves, led by a legendary criminal genius, form a rebellion, one that would change the world. Within this rebellion is Vin, an unlikely hero who joined this uprising to fight back against the very system that has been dragging her down her entire life. As her powers grow and she learns what it means to be a Mistborn, she begins to play a much more pivotal role than she ever could have imagined. This is a high stakes fantasy with immersive world building, as well as realistic characters, that will keep you engaged for the entire book.
Carmilla
By: J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Carmilla, Published in 1872, is a gothic horror that predates Dracula and makes you wonder why it isn’t just as famous. It follows Laura, a nineteen year old woman, who lives an isolated life spent at home with her father. When a carriage accident in front of her home brings an unexpected guest into her life, Laura is overjoyed to have a friend her age for the first time: Carmilla. The two quickly become close friends, however when mysterious things start to happen it becomes clear that Carmilla is hiding something. With less than 200 pages, this book can be a quick read that transports you to a time and place of horse drawn carriages and gothic castles.
It
By: Stephen King
It follows seven friends from Derry, Maine as they are all drawn back to their hometown to end the evil they thought they had gotten rid of 27 years ago. With chapters alternating between the characters’ present and past, this book follows a group of friends that you can’t help growing attached to. Despite being a horror novel, the chapters that take place in the past when the characters are 12, often have similar themes to a coming of age story. The kids learn to face fears, strengthen their friendship, and overall grow as people. I’m not done with this book yet because it is quite long, but I really love it and I definitely recommend the movies too if you like horror.