In my not inconsiderable 25 years of age at the time of writing, I’ve read a book or two. While I will be the first to admit that it has been a tad skewed towards genre reading, the best bit about a good book is that it often rises above others because it spans genres, or even defies them. Hopefully, a few of those on the list below do that for you. Nonetheless, here is a list including, but not limited to, my recommendations to you:  

– The Painted Man by Peter V. Brett

Incredible world building, an original system of magic, multiple characters growing into themselves. This instantly went to the top of my favourite fantasy book pile. I actually used this to introduce a lot of my “I don’t really do fantasy” friends to fantasy fiction.

– Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

A classic of the science-fiction genre with so many elements that have come to fruition in the modern world. Pulling no punches when it comes to violence, manipulation and cruelty, you can’t help but root for Ender from start to finish.

– The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffeneger

I think this was the most adult book I had read at the age of fifteen and it was the novel to show me that science-fiction didn’t have to be about spaceships and lasers to be engrossing. The human elements in this book are incredible and take you on a journey through the emotional spectrum that I had, up until that point, never felt in a book.

– The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall

Mind-bending and fascinating in equal measure, this book introduced a completely original idea and just blew my mind with it. I read this during my university years and several scenes have stuck with me ever since. I will definitely be re-reading this at some point.

– The Tales Of The Ketty Jay by Chris Wooding

This quadrilogy is brilliant from start to finish. Who doesn’t love airships and sky pirates? But those parts are far surpassed by engaging characters, each with in depth, fleshed out backstories that give you a case of what I call “Firefly-syndrome”; a condition whereby I only want to put down the book if I will magically be transported to their air- (or space-)ship. And pleasantly surprising was the fairly conclusive-yet-room-for-more ending.

More books on the way once I think of them…