After doing that post on the 20 books that I have given the highest ratings for, you might realize that it's comprised mainly of books from the same few series. I realized this too, and that post is a bit skewed, so I figured, why not do up another post where I mention a few books that, while they aren't the best books, they are pretty good and interesting. So here we are, fifteen books (from different series) that I thought, "hey, this is interesting!" and will be worth your time to read. As always, this is my opinion, and if you don't like it, then go away. Another disclaimer, I've only made up this list from books that I have reviewed already.
1) Last Battle of the Icemark by Stuart Hill
While not as great as Last Cry of the Icemark, this is an addictive read in it's own right. The sad news is that it doesn't fit that well within the trilogy. I say this because in the past two books, it focused on the war between Icemark and the Polypontian, while in the third book, it dwell less on warfare and more on the supernatural side. It dealt with another realm, and beyond death, which shifted much further away from realism. Anyway, I loved how the book ended, but sad really. After all the anguish and work, Oskan still cannot escape his fate. As usual, the war tactics and the effects of the alliance are satisfying.
2) Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
The timeless classic. I had my doubts whether I would enjoy this famous love story or not, and I'm happy to say, that I do. While the older style writing might be hard for some people, it's still very easy to understand. Cast aside your doubts and all the criticisms, and try to enjoy it as just a story, you might find that it's much easier that way, and a much better experience. I really liked how the character slowly warmed up to her future-to-be lover. There's a kind of beauty in where the pair of loves treat each other with hostility in the beginning, only to fall in love afterwards.
3) Barnaby Grimes: Curse of the Night Wolf by Paul Steward and Chris Riddel
An original and imaginative creation, there's really nothing like it. I like the blend of a realistic setting mixed with some supernatural, then add in some suspect and sarcastic humor, and this is a clear winner. The illustrations are drawn in a unique style, and complements the story very well. You might have your suspicions, but it never treads on an old path so there'll be a couple of surprised along the way.
4) The Tunnels of Ferdinand by James Moloney
Very impressive in how the author has managed to set up the plot AND make it so interesting within such a short number of pages. It's actually quite a dark story, and feels like survival of the fittest. You'll be acting like a sponge here, as you're absorbing all the information the author is throwing at you. The biggest thing that acts against this book is just the short length, you'll be wanting more afterwards.
5) The Book of Lies by James Moloney
The twists and turns of this book is amazing. It contains a complex plot set in a fantasy world. At the start of the book, you're presented with a mystery that will take the whole book to solve. On the way, nothing is as it seems as every few events, something major happens and you're left shocked and numbed from what happened. Lies are told and deception is the main theme, even once you've finished, you will be sitting there thinking, wow. It is a one good ride from start to finish.
6) The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud
A prequel to the series, and one that focuses upon one of the most frequent events that Bartimaeus mentions in the book, now we get to see what happens. I liked how Bartimaeus had one of the typical masters, yet eventually, he ended helping the grand scheme of things and fixing what was wrong. The plot is complicated and it's very funny with Bartimaeus' commentary.
7) Ruler of the Realm by Herbie Brennan
I like how the protagonist of the book isn't some sort of person with ridiculous good qualities, but is just a normal person. The book has a plot that contains many, many twists and turns, so much that you're going to get confused and be thrown off. However, this is all good news, coz as you slowly get through the story, you'll realise how the author has managed to weave all those points together into a very good story.
8) Transformers: Exodus by Alex Irvine
Consider the small amount of actual full length novels that features robots from the Transformers brand, and out of that small number, how many are good? Finally, we have one, and this is the one. Exodus was amazing, the writing was good and it provided a lot of nods towards Transformers fans (while not alienating non-fans). The plot was complex and meaningful, and handled superbly. I really liked how this dealt with the rise of Megatron and Optimus, rationalizing Megatron's point of view, and how he slowly became the villain we all know. This is an original story, do not confuse it as an adaptation of the War for Cybertron game. This is a story that you can easily lose yourself in.
9) The Golden Door by Emily Rodda
After the spectacular Deltora Quest 3 series, and the slightly boring Rondo series, The Three Doors trilogy brings some of that old magic back. The first book, The Golden Door, presents you with a new world that you're just itching to explore. Even better, it seems to be set in the same world as Deltora Quest! It provides a lot of nods and tidbits towards that series, adding some 'challenges' for the reader to see if they can pick it all up. However, that's not the reason this is a good book to read, the reason is for the slow building story that reaches it's peak at the end. Sure, it might have similar elements to the author's previous work (like Rye being the 'weakest' and most timid out of his brothers, bearing similarities to Rowan from Rowan of Rin), but it gives you back that feeling of an epic adventure set in a fantasy world.
10) Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
I would have recommended the latter books as they are better, but you really need to read the first one to see what is going on and get an understanding of the book's world. If you have read a lot of books, then many of the jokes will be familiar, and you won't get as much fun out of it. There's just something about a skeleton propped up by magic that's unique and special. It has a fairly typical plot (save the world etc etc), but it does get better than that.
11) Diary of a Wimpy Vampire by Tim Collins
Yes, it is a major rip off from Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Twilight but it's a parody that it is done right. You'll only get the full experience if you have read those two series. While it doesn't have a complicated plot or a sappy love story (if any of those are your things), the carefree nature and easy atmosphere makes it enjoyable. It really feels like a diary and not some gimmick.
12) The Poison Throne by Celine Kiernan
A very different experience, putting you into a role where you must be careful in every action you take, lest you sign your own death warrant. It is a very fitting title, as the book has a poisonous atmosphere, and the politics give you a feeling of dread with every chapter, fearing for the characters. The writing is addictive. It has it's flaws, such as actions that doesn't have clear motives and slow pacing, as well as too much foreshadowing, but a worthwhile book nonetheless.
13) The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
A good series but for those who have read Percy Jackson, the style and structure will be familiar. That said, I found The Throne of Fire was a better book than the first in the series (The Red Pyramid), as it was more exciting and the events were more interesting. It's based on Egyptian mythology, so if you at least have an idea of some of it, then it makes the book even more interesting when you see what the author has done to 'bring them to the present'. This is your typical save the world affair before the deadline, so you will know that the protagonists will win, but you're reading it for the sake of seeing how they win.
14) The Lunatic's Curse by F.E. Higgins
An addicting read, one that's filled with suspense and mystery. There will be a few places where you will lose yourself and be confused at what is happening. It still feels awkward when you read another book in this series, yet in no way does it link to any other books in the series story wise, there will only be a small reference or (if you're lucky) a cameo.
15) Will Buster and the Crucible Choice by Odo Hirsch
I like this version of the future, it's familiar and doesn't contain your typical inventions. Everything is interesting, and there are some nice references to the present time. What makes this a good book is once again, the intricate plot, that just springs stuff at you when you are least expecting it. It provides a nice ending to the series, and one that makes you think, "no way, that cannot be true, how could the author had written something this amazing".
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Hopefully, there were some books in this list that you may not have heard before, or were not sure whether to try it or not. Again, while these books aren't perfect, they're very good reads in their own right.
