I am a French-American book nerd who graduated from NYU Global Liberal Studies and am only now able to catch up on four year's worth of reading she missed out on. Epic fantasy is my drug, the bigger the book, the better. If it looks like a brick, it's for me.
Get swept by this epic tale following our three main characters, a penniless noblewoman trying to save her house, a surgeon turned slave, and a war hero general as they follow their destiny to save the world - or destroy it. Within this gripping tale, Sanderson explores issues such as the ethics of war, gender roles, politics, personal duty, class systems, and many more. This book is great for readers looking for epic fantasy, ideally with some experience with the genre. --Louise
Grant makes a powerful case counteracting the idea that in order to be a successful businessman, you have to be ruthless and apathetic. Instead, he argues, using real-life examples, that in the long term, someone who is a “giver” is bound to be more successful over time because they build goodwill around them. This eventually allows them to grow further than they could on their own. --Louise
Follows the story of Kip, the illegitimate son of the country’s most powerful man, who must join him in the capital following his mother’s death. The series has one of the most original magic systems of any fantasy series I’ve ever read, exploring the transformation of colors into having physical properties. The world-building is incredible, and the character development will make you fall in love with every single, flawed, character. --Louise
Do you like fantasy? Do you love complex female characters? Not only is this book beautifully written, but it also includes possibly the best and most interesting main character of any YA novel I’ve read. Great for advanced reading teens looking for a strong and complex main character as well as interesting lore. The story follows Fire, a monster capable of enthralling any human with her beauty and controlling their mind, as she navigates the political intrigue of those who would use her talents to further their own purpose, while mysterious men with empty minds keep appearing and try to kill her. --Louise
The uncensored history of the United States, exploring those who were sacrificed in the name of the American dream, such as African Americans, Native Americans, and other minorities. This book should be required reading for everyone living in the US. It reads like a story and recontextualizes our history in a way that will change your entire understanding of this country. --Louise