Kim Harvey, owner of The Mad Hatter Bookshop in Burford and Creative Director of The Burford Literary Festival shares her latest reading suggestions.
With holiday season in full swing and the sun showing us her finest performance, it is too hot to do anything but submit to the beauty of the summer haze, make yourself a jug of lemonade and read a good book. Given that (at time of writing) we appear to be in the midst of a heatwave what better time to embrace the latest genre to sweep its perfectly toned arm across the world? Romantasy! It’s been exactly twenty years since the door to this world was pushed ajar by Twilight, and we welcome with open arms the spicy world of romantasy literature.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
We must start by paying homage to the spark that ignited a literary phenomenon and in one publication redefined the romance novel: the OG love story between girl and vampire. Isabella’s life in small time America is made infinitely less boring by the arrival of Edward Cullen: alluring, mysterious and definitely dangerous. Twilight epitomises the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. The publishers are drawing us back into the dark with this anniversary edition, and it’s time to rediscover the book with bite.
Powerless by Lauren Roberts
The position of Queen of Romantasy is currently occupied by author Sarah J Maas but Lauren Roberts is most certainly a contender for heir presumptive. Powerless is the first in the sizzling series and introduces us to the ‘Elites’, all of whom possess powers, while those born ‘Ordinary’ are just that – banished from the kingdom and shunned from society. No one knows this better than Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary posing as an Elite. When she unsuspectingly saves one of Ilya’s princes, Kai Azer, she’s thrown into the Purging Trials, a brutal competition to showcase her Elite powers. Does it feel a little like The Hunger Games meets Fourth Wing? Yes, it does, and we love it. You will devour Powerless and come back for Reckless.
Filthy Rich Fae by Geneva Lee
A mortal caught between desire and damnation; somewhere we all like to be on a Sunday afternoon after lunch. Cate is a trauma nurse, used to seeing the worst of humanity then she meets the folk of the fae underworld – a realm where beauty is a weapon, desire is a trap and where mortals who stray too far, don’t return. Filthy Rich Fae is the perfect, slow burn, enemies to lovers story. Cate is converted, Lachlan Gage is ruthless and something ancient is warping fae magic. Get comfortable because this is a ‘read in one sitting’ kind of book.
The Familiars by Leigh Bardugo
If Sarah J Mass is the Queen, Leigh Bardugo is Prime Minister. Author of the multimillion seller series Shadow and Bone, The Familiars is her latest offering at the altar of Romantasy Literature. In a shabby house in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil. But, when her scheming mistress discovers her scullion is hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to win over the royal court. Determined to seize this chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of power-hungry nobility, desperate kings, holy men, and seers; where the lines between magic, science and fraud blur. With the pyres of the Inquisition burning, she must use every bit of her wit and resilience to win fame and hide the truth of her ancestry – even if that means enlisting the help of an embittered immortal familiar, whose own secrets could cost her everything. Reading Bardugo is akin to slipping into an expensive silk dress, it’s comfortable, sensual and touches all the right places.
Do come to Madhatter Bookshop and peruse our Romantasy shelves and we look forward to welcoming you. Each of these beautiful books is available from our shop in Burford’s High Street or from madhatterbookshop.co.uk
Whatever you do this month, find time for yourself and pick up a good book.
The Madhatter Bookshop
122 High Street, Burford OX18 4QJ
01993 822539
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