My Top Five Pine Reads Review Books

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A little bit over a year ago, I got the opportunity to write for Pine Reads Review. This experience has been both fun and educational while letting me enjoy reading during my last year of college. I have gotten to appreciate a variety of stories, ranging from picture books with beautiful colors to fast-paced novels where every page is an adventure. So, for my last blog, I decided to do a little reflection. The list below contains my top five favorite books that I have read during my internship with Pine Reads!

Thieves’ Gambit by Kavyion Lewis

Thieves’ Gambit by Kavyion Lewis is perfect for fans of high-stakes thrillers. The book follows Ross Quest, who attempts to leave behind her family’s infamous lifestyle of thieving. When things go sideways, her mother gets kidnapped. But luck might be on her side when she gets invited to participate in the Thieves’ Gambit, a heist competition between the best teenage thieves of her generation. The winner’s prize is a wish, but things won’t be simple when two of her competitors are her childhood nemesis and a charismatic boy who seems set on gaining her trust. The three heists of the competition get bigger and crazier each time, and I was surprised with each one. This novel is exciting, fast-paced, and has some of the most intriguing characters I’ve read. And not only is this book fantastic, but the sequel is just as thrilling as this one!


The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton

Alwyn Hamilton’s The Notorious Virtues is the first book in her fantasy trilogy and I loved every bit of it. When the heir of the most powerful family in the city of Walstad is found dead, a new heir must take her place. Nora must compete against her cousins in the Veritaz Trials to inherit her family’s fortunes: a great well of magic and wealth. But when she discovers secrets about her mother’s, or the late heir’s, murder, she is stuck between trying to discover more and trying to survive the danger of the competition. Throw in a reporter with a devil-may-care attitude, a sworn protector, and a secret cousin, nothing might go Nora’s way. This story has exciting twists, excellent characters, and a surprising ending. While only the first book is out, this is a great read for those who are looking for an original fantasy that has all the nostalgia of a fairy tale. 


Starling’s Weave by L.E. Sterling

Starling’s Weave by L.E. Sterling is also the first book of a fantasy series. I always adore a good pirate story, and Sterling’s novel does not disappoint. Set in a world in which the gods have vanished, the world suffers. Nieve is the only person in her village that does not possess water magic, and when things go wrong, she ends up way out of her depth. In an attempt to help not just her village but the entire world, Nieve ends up sailing with Captain Manseray and his pirates. But he has his own objectives, which he needs Nieve’s help to complete. Under the rule of a tyrannical king, though, things might not go to plan for either of them. Starling’s Weave is a great story for fans of epic fantasy, with dual perspectives and a unique magic system that genuinely sets it apart.


For She is Wrath by Emily Varga

For those who are looking for a standalone, For She is Wrath by Emily Varga is a fascinating fantasy story that constantly kept me on the edge of my seat. The novel is a retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo with influence from Pakistani culture and mythology. When Dania and her family are betrayed, she is sent to a cruel and remote prison. She teams up with Noor, another girl trapped in the prison, to escape. Dania is a talented sword fighter and Noor knows how to create djinn magic from the source, zoraat seeds, making them a deadly duo. But the boy that sent Dania to prison is the same one she thought she loved, which makes her revenge plot all kinds of complicated. Varga’s book is a gripping story that combines rage and revenge into one compelling narrative.


The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor is a dark academia standalone with a truly unique magical system. Years before the book begins, Maeve’s father was blamed for releasing a beast on one of the three known worlds. In order to stop it, the Written Doors were burned to sever the connection between worlds. But when Maeve receives an old letter that says her father is innocent, she pretends to be a courier-in-training for the Otherwhere Post. There, she is taught how to enchant letters, but secrets threaten to be revealed as she hunts down answers to the mystery of what happened to her father. Maeve must keep her identity hidden to survive, but little seems to get past her mentor. I loved everything about this story, and the dynamic characters, world-building, and history makes this book one of my all-time favorites. 


Now I will be quick to admit that most of these books are in the fantasy genre. I love a book with an interesting magic system and cool world-building, but I also like dynamic characters that seem to come to life, which all of these books have. I am beyond grateful for this experience, and I hope that you enjoy these books as much as I did!

Hannah Goerndt, Pine Reads Review Writer


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