10 Fantasy Books You Have To Read
Whether you have sat around waiting for your Hogwarts letter or looked for Narnia in the back of a closet, you have probably dreamt of stepping into your favorite fantasy books and leaving the real world behind. You are sure to enjoy these 10 fantasy books that will sweep you away to another time, another place.
From Ashes (Phoenix: A LexTal Chronicle) by Elise Faber
Gabby has a secret. A secret that might get her kicked out of the only true home she’s ever known. When her powers malfunction and bring her into direct conflict with Mason — a widowed LexTal warrior who makes her heart pound and her legs weak — she scrambles to hold onto her carefully constructed world. Mason’s wounded past keeps him from getting close to anyone but he can’t resist Gabby. There’s an essence about her his soul can’t ignore no matter how much his mind protests. Her secret threatens to tear Gabby and Mason apart before they’ve even begun to explore the draw between them. But with the unprecedented hold she has on Mason’s heart and magic, how can he bear to let her go?
Cambion Lord (Dark Warrior Alliance #23) by Brenda Trim
A Fallen Angel. The Leader of Cambion Hybrids. Dangerous Sexual Attraction. Desperate to calm the raging desires of his insatiable inner beast, incubus-human hybrid Dante volunteers to lead recruitment and training for the Dark Warriors. But the demands of Cambion leadership do nothing to quell his physical needs or quiet his troubled mind. As he battles to regain control of his urges and shake the mistakes of his past, he's closer than ever to giving in to his demonic side. Unlike the rest of the Fallen Angels, Chloe has an uncanny ability to stay off the radar. Millennia of eschewing romantic entanglements and staying out of trouble has served her very well. But after a Daeva demon leaves her for dead, she feels a certain longing to join her fellow Angels in the war to eradicate the demons. And that longing is matched only by her unexpected need for the sexy Cambion Lord who saved her life. On opposite sides of a battle neither asked for, will Chloe and Dante forsake their truest natures and give in to love?
Queen Of Dreams by Kathryn Ann Kingsley
I died. It was supposed to be the end of my story. But after Aon buried me in the Pool of the Ancients, I learned that Under wasn’t done with me yet. Even though I escaped death the first time, there’s a prophecy predicting my demise, and it’s driving Aon mad. His desperation to protect me is dangerous, deadly, and I’m afraid of what he might do. The void that threatens to destroy this world is receding, yet Under is still not safe. I can feel it in my blood, the warning that something terrible is coming. Something bigger and stronger than all of us. But I am no longer the human girl merely fighting for survival. I’m different now, changed into something this world hasn’t seen in fifteen hundred years. I am immortal, a queen of Under. I am the Queen of Dreams.
Prideful Savage: An Alien Breeder Romance by Miranda Bridges and Kyra Snow
Seven warriors bring an affliction upon themselves due to their arrogance. And their curse? Each one now battles with a vice that will lead them to destruction and death. Unless... they find a female that is their opposite in every way. This is a rendition of the seven deadly sins and how each one affects the hero but ultimately leads him to his fated mate.
Goodreads
Dragon Cursed (Call of Ancient Magic Book 2) by River King
Anastasia needs more than her fae strength to deal with what's ahead. As the mystery deepens surrounding Hugo's curse, Ana finds out she has a bigger part to play in events than she ever thought possible. With the vampires in open rebellion against the supernatural community, and the Council becoming more untrustworthy than ever, she must uphold her promise to find out more about the sinister magic and its growing threat on their lives.
Faking Perfection (Royal Factions #4) by W.J. May
Some chains are meant to be broken… When Elise makes a fateful decision, her world is changed forever. Now she and her friends find themselves trapped with a deadly secret and they're running out of time. The clock is ticking. The palace is on the brink of a royal wedding and courtiers have journeyed from every corner of the realm. Torn between a life of servitude and the threat of capture, the friends are faced with a sudden decision, and once they make it, there will be no turning back. Will they stay in the palace or make a desperate bid for freedom? Is it really freedom if they're living on the run? How far can they go before their sins catch up with them? Most importantly…can they ever escape the weight of the crown?
A Family Oath by Auburn Tempest and Michael Anderle
Ye screw with this lass, ye get put on yer ass. Since being marked as the heir apparent I’ve been stabbed, kidnapped, black-listed, tortured, targeted, and accused of being the cause of pretty much every magical mishap that’s hit the streets of Toronto. To some, I’m a nuisance, to others a curiosity, and others still—a problem to be eliminated. Whatevs, haters gotta hate. But when a mushroom cloud of dark and dangerous falls over my family and friends, there is nothing to be done but answer the call and fight. Who’s manipulating things behind the scenes? Who’s coming after the people I care about? And who the hell is stupid enough to think resurrecting the evil Morgan le Fey is a good idea? Yeah-no, it’s not. With evil brewing, enemies running rampant, and The Lakeshore Guild of Empowered Ones ineffective at policing its members, my family and cool new friends set out to right the wrongs of our world. Be the change, am I right? Fiona brings you more druid adventure, family shenanigans, and mythical tales of magic and mystery in the third installment of the Chronicles of the Urban Druid.
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A Novel Way to Die (Nevermore Bookshop Mysteries Book 6) by Steffanie Holmes
Mina Wilde – bookstore owner, girlfriend to three of the hottest heroes of literature, and now… reluctant vampire hunter. In the sixth novel in the Nevermore Bookshop Mysteries, Mina, Heathcliff, Morrie, and Quoth face off against their ultimate enemy. Add meddling villages, an army of fictional characters to wrangle, Mina’s mother’s latest get-rich-quick-scheme, and a curious dog into the mix, and Mina’s got her hands full. But Nevermore Bookshop still has secrets to reveal. Mina and her men are ready for an epic showdown worthy of a Homeric poem… if they survive.
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Clark (Klaxian Cyborgs' Mates Book 3) by L. Starfyre
Clark had never been able to come out of the closet because he was in the US Space Force and it was safer to hide his preferences. His pathetic excuse for a boyfriend, Dale, was using it against him. Dale threatened to be very vocal about Clark's sexual preferences if he left him. He felt trapped. Clark goes on a mission to rescue humans from the aliens but finds out not all is as it seems. Somehow, he finds himself matched to three aliens. Will he finally be able to live out in the open? Will he find true love?
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Raven's Oath: The Raven and Crown by B. Robinson and Marie Robinson
An assassin with a secret. A Seider who can't stand aside. A general with a need for justice. A queen who must risk everything. The kingdom of Asgarath depends on four people. Together, they might end a war before the first real battle. So long as their secrets don't tear them apart first.
Goodreads
Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients Crispy onions
2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs, plus more for sprinkling
½ teaspoon salt
Ingredients Filling
1½ pounds green beans, trimmed and halved
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
16 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons tamari
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
¼ cup all-purpose flour
3 cups unsweetened almond milk
1½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for sprinkling
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Make the crispy onions: Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. In a large bowl, toss the onions with the oil, flour, panko, and salt. Spread evenly onto the baking sheets and bake for 25 to 35 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes (rotating the pans in the oven as necessary), until lightly browned and crispy. Remove from the oven and lower the oven temperature to 400°F. Prepare the filling: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and set a large bowl of ice water nearby. Drop the green beans into the boiling water and blanch for 4 minutes. Drain, and immediately immerse in the ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain, and transfer to a towel to dry. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet, add the mushrooms, and cook until soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the tamari, garlic, and thyme. Sprinkle the flour over the mushrooms and stir again. Add the almond milk and mustard and stir to combine. Simmer until thickened, whisking often, for 20 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and pepper.Spread ⅓ of the sauce into the baking dish. Layer with green beans and top with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle the onions on top and bake, covered, for 10 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 more minutes. If the onions start to brown too much, cover the dish for the remainder of the baking time. Garnish with sprinkles of panko and Parmesan, if desired. Serve hot.
Note: Make this vegan by omitting the cheese and adding a few extra pinches of salt to the mushroom sauce.