because of how hooked I was. I was completely enthralled by this book as the plot centered around an institution that kidnaps extremely intelligent kids and devises a tortuous, sick process in attempts to derive physic powers which would be used to kill globally influential figures. The story develops perfectly as readers never expect what will come next, and King does a perfect job of describing characters and filling every plot hole. “The Institute” is the one of two novels that made it into my favorites lists, every other book I will be discussing is in a series. 

     The second novel that made it into my favorites is “Sad Girls” by Lang Leav. Technically this is classified as young adult fiction but I do not believe a specific genre could encapsulate all of the elements included. There are thrill factors, romance factors, mystery factors and coming of age elements all perfectly tied together. The plot follows an Australian girl Audrey as she navigates life after telling a lie that she believes somehow has caused her classmate to die. Audrey faces strong emotions of guilt and anxiety and this beautifully written work describes each detail wonderfully causing the reader to feel what Audrey is feeling. This book has definitely changed many points of view in my mind and I highly recommend it.

     Next up, I will be diving into some fantastical series that put a spell over my mind. “Six of Crows” by Leigh Barduo follows a band of crooks who plan an impossible heist in order to survive in the corrupt world surrounding them. Magic, betrayal, romance, adventure and darkness are all combined into this amazing duology with “Crooked Kingdom” being the second novel in this universe. I absolutely adored this series as the world of the Grishaverse came to life before my eyes. I highly recommend this duo for anyone who loves a good bit of fantasy. 

     Staying within the fantasy genre, “The Cruel Prince” trilogy by Holly Black definitely made it onto my favorites list of 2022. Unlike “Six of Crows” which was more of a dystopian and adventurous fantasy, “The Cruel Prince” is about royalty. The main character is a human who lives in a fairytale world and the story centers around the trials she faces of overcoming the royal monarch and making a life for herself in a world where she is rejected. Personally, the third book of this series is my favorite and the romance factor kept reeling me in. Betrayal and forbidden love is the best way to describe the romantics in these novels, and of course, I ate it up. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good fairytale turned sour story. 

     Journeying into the dystopian fantasy genre, the final series I will be discussing is titled “Gone” by Micheal Grant. A lengthy series consisting of six books as of now, I have yet to finish reading these, I have only read the first half. However, from the first chapter of the first book I was hooked. One day, life is normal in Perdido Beach California, then everyone over the age of 15 disappears and only kids are left. Anarchy begins, and suddenly kids begin mutating and developing powers. Facing challenges of societal structure, a darkness lurking below and the divide between “freaks” and humans, “Gone” proves to be a very interesting read. 

     Even though I have read several other books this year, these gems definitely have stayed in my mind and intrigued me vastly. So next time you are bored, perhaps pick up one of these novels, grab a cup of coffee, snuggle up in your favorite blanket and prepare for a good time.