Pages

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday [10]



Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is:

Top Ten Favorite Books With X Setting



What am I replacing the X with, you ask? Fantastical! I'm picking my top ten books set in fantasy worlds/settings. These books are in no particular order. Allons-y, shall we?



1. Eragon by Christopher Paolini (as well as the rest of the Inheritance Cycle). With the exception of Harry Potter, this is probably my favorite fantasy book. Set in the world of Alagaesia, the hero must encounter dragons, an evil ruler, magic, and so much more.

2. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. What can I say? This wizarding world is so finely detailed that it's easy to lose one's self completely in the setting alone. These books changed so many lives, and I am no exception.

3. The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. These classic works kind of speak for themselves, though I admit I have a newer appreciation for them since the blockbuster movie series came out. Elves, Hobbits, and evil jewelry? Count me in.



4. The Inkworld series by Cornelia Funke. This series plays on the idea that reading aloud can place people into a book, and bring things out of them as well. I always thought I'd love to live in a book, but when villains and the like come into play like in this series... Maybe not!

5. City of Masks by Mary Hoffman. Now, this is book one in a series, but I haven't read the others. But this book has a really cool twist on time travel/parallel worlds. Plus, the setting is in Venice, which is beautiful in and of itself.

6. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. Again, part of a series that I haven't yet continued. That being said I loved this book. It's like Harry Potter and Star Wars had a love child. It's well worth the hype.

7. The Kingdom Series by Marie Hall. Now, this one is a leap from YA. It has adult content and themes, and I adore them. Marie Hall gives classic fairy tales an erotic twist, and I adore the ones I've read so far!



8. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll. I mean, who hasn't fantasized about going through the rabbit hole at one point or another? This is probably my first encounter with fantasy, and it'll always be a favorite of mine.

9. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. This can arguably be defined as science fiction as well, but I'm basing the label of fantasy off of the fact that it's a retelling. Great setting, a great new twist on a classic. I can't wait for Cress to come out!

10. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. I know this makes me a cliche Lewis fan, but this particular book of the series is my favorite. I wish that I could find a whole new world in the back of my closet. Don't you?

What's your favorite setting?

153 comments:

  1. You could probably guess my favorite is....... Wonderland of course! But I'd need multiple rabbit holes to go to all of the other fantastic realms on this list, I adore all of them!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ooooh City of Masks! Loved that book when I was younger! Should read it again some day :D Great top 10!
    http://bookeline.blogspot.be/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the visit. I really need to get around to reading the others!

      Delete
  3. YAY I love your choice for setting. And of course, this just reminds me yet again I need to pick up Cinder. GAH! BTW, LOVE the name of your blog!

    Thanks for stopping by my TTT

    Stop by my giveaway if you have a moment!

    Jess @ Such A Novel Idea

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, why thank you! And Cinder is so good, I hope you like it when you get to it!

      Oh, and entered your giveaway :)

      Delete
  4. Interesting list! I think I've seen HP pop up in all sorts of lists this week :) I'm dying to read Cinder too.
    Thanks for stopping by!

    Aly @ My Heart Hearts Books

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love your topic and I love your choices! I am super interested in the Kingdom Series by Marie Hall – it looks saucy, ha ha. :-) Thanks for looking at my list this week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, definitely check it out. Last time I checked, the first book (Her Mad Hatter) was free on Amazon :)

      Delete
  6. I have Cinder on my to-read shelf. The whole series looks very interesting. I love retellings =) Thanks for stopping by our TTT!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you love retellings and scifi, Cinder is the book for you!

      Delete
  7. OH MY GOD I am having like 20 fangirl moments right now. Let me list them

    A. You're blog name is AWESOME
    B. Allons-y. You said it. SO MUCH YES.
    C. I love pretty much ALL of these books
    D. But a special shout out to City of Masks because NO ONE has read it and I love that sereis so much!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lmao, this comment made my night. Well, morning. But who's keeping track?

      Thank you so much, fellow Whovian. I don't know any one who has read City of Masks either! I'm so glad I happened to find a copy at Goodwill.

      Delete
  8. Hooray for fantasy! Love your list - Eragon, Tolkein, Harry Potter, Narnia. All worthy choices.

    Thanks for dropping by my TTT :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. HP made my list as well :). I really like the cover of City of Masks! It's so beautiful. I've heard so many things about Inkheart, but I haven't read it. A movie adaptation came out a few years ago right?

    Thank you for stopping by my blog!
    Cheers,
    Savindi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, a movie did come out awhile back. I haven't seen it, but I think Brendan Fraser was in it.

      Thanks for returning the visit!

      Delete
  10. omg! you have so many good books here!<3 thanks for stoppping by my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is one of my all time favourite books, I should reread it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's always worth a reread. I actually think I own more than one copy because I see an edition of it and buy it regardless haha.

      Delete
  12. Can't go wrong with Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Narnia! I am so intimidated by Lord of the Rings though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Understandably. For me, LOTR took a while to get into, but once the plot picked up, I was hooked. Just don't be afraid to take your time with them!

      Delete
  13. Great list! I still remember where I was when I grabbed the first copy, little did I know I would grow up with the series and be totally devastated when it ended :) Just read Cinder, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right? I never thought there'd be so big of an impact. And Cress CANNOT come out soon enough, in my opinion!

      Delete
  14. Ah, down the rabbit hole and through the looking glass! Very excellent list this week. I haven't journeyed to all these places yet, so I will have to check them out!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I admit I don't read many fantasy/sci-fi settings but I need to take note of some of these for when the mood strikes. I'd like to try the Cassandra Clare books one of these days! Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. From what I've read of her, she's a very good author. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  16. Great list! I'm not huge into fantasy but I did love HP (obviously!) and I enjoyed Cinderella and CS Lewis books are on my TBR!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for taking the time to stop by! (Everyone should love HP lol!)

      Delete
  17. This is a great one, but it's also a hard one...so many great fantasy novels! Thanks for sharing your list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree. Once I hit "post" I thought of ones that I'd forgotten that deserve mention!

      Delete
  18. I loved Cinder and City of Bones, both of those series are so great! I love fantasy books. Thanks for stopping by! ~Pam

    ReplyDelete
  19. I loved your theme, fantastical! I have the first Inkheart book, I really need to read it already! I almost forgot I had it until now! I have the first 3 books in that Cassandra Clare series, just haven't gotten to them yet. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was my favorite book in the Narnia series.. in fact, I didn't even read them all :X

    Fun list!

    April @ My Shelf Confessions

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't read them all either, I won't tell haha. Inkheart is one of my favorite books, I do hope you enjoy it when you get to it!

      Delete
  20. Alice in Wonderland is a great pick I didn't think of! Though I think technically I haven't read the book... it's one of those childhood classics where it's easy to think you've read if you haven't just because of the movie and whatnot. Good list; thanks for stopping by my blog!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know that feeling, I have some books like that too. For me, it's Anne of Green Gables. I know I saw the cartoon but I honestly have no idea if I read the book!

      Delete
  21. I love Harry Potter & Narnia! I'm reading City Of Bones right now and I think I'm gonna like this one too :) Great list :D

    Amy @ The Reading Realm

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting. I hope you like City of Bones as much as I did :)

      Delete
  22. So many things. First, you said allons-y and I thought "Doctor Who" and then I looked at your profile picture and said "YES".
    Second, I really need to read Eragon. I was avoiding it when it came out, because I didn't want to wait for the series to be finished. No excuses now!
    Third, I really need to finish Cinder and start City of Masks. Thank you for this reminder!!
    Sunrise Avenue

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome, fellow Whovian! I haven't read the last Eragon book yet, but I can say that book one is one of my favorites. I hope you like it, and City of Masks, when you get them!

      Delete
  23. Wooo! Love Cinder, LOTR, and TMI! All are so awesome! Great list girl!

    Thanks for stopping by my TTT!

    Jessica@Lovin' Los Libros

    ReplyDelete
  24. Nice list! I see TMI and The Chronicles of Narnia. :D
    - Veronica @ Talking Bookworm

    ReplyDelete
  25. Harry Potter keeps popping up on these lists. :) Goes to show how much of a classic he is/the series is!

    newest bloglovin follower

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely. It influenced a generation!

      Thanks so much for the follow <3

      Delete
  26. So many great books on your list. I absolutely love The Mortal Instruments series. I have not read Cinder yet but I have added it to my TBR list.
    Thanks for stopping by my TTT :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you love Cinder. There's two books now, with another on the way (so far). I need to get book 2 of TMI as soon as possible.

      Delete
  27. I read "Alice" and the Narnia books when I was a kid, and read LOTR in college. Classics! Great list :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for stopping by. I read LOTR in high school, but I'm kind of hoping I have to read it again for my college lit class this year!

      Delete
  28. I still haven't gotten to The Mortal Instruments, but they are on my list. My favorite fantasy has to be LOTR, but Harry Potter & Narnia follow closely. Other fantasy I have enjoyed: Graceling, Ella Enchanted and Beauty by Robin McKinley.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't read Graceling but I've seen it on a few blogs this week. I'll have to check it out.

      Delete
  29. Wonderful setting you picked! And a lot of my favorites are lined up nicely on your list - LOTR, HP, Eragon, City of Bones, Cinder, Narnia...wow.

    Thanks so much for checking out my TTT earlier. :)

    Erin @ YA Book Crush

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great minds think alike! Thanks for repaying the visit.

      Delete
  30. Love the list.I've read everything except Cinder.It's in my TBR though.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Always happy to find other Whovians on my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  32. The Inkworld is great! Have you checked out Tamora Pierce's books? Awesome fantasy setting with but-kicking female heroines. They're fun

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have not, but I've seen them on a few blogs lately. Sign me up, I love kick ass female characters!

      Delete
  33. Great choice for setting, I love high fantasy and stories set in a fantasy world! I love some of these books, and I can't believe I haven't read Lord of the Rings yet :/
    Thank you for visiting my blog, I'm a new follower!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the follow! LOTR is slow to get into, but well worth it.

      Delete
  34. I haven't read Eragon, Inkheart or Lord of the Rings yet! I really want to read them though (especially Lord of the Rings). I also really want to continue with the Chronicles of Narnia. I've read the first two books, but I never got around to the rest of them.
    Have you read Throne of Glass yet? It's got a brilliant fantasy world and a bad-ass main female character :)
    [New GFC follower!]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for the follow <3. I have not read Throne of Glass yet but I really want to. I see so much about it on the various blogs I follow!

      Delete
  35. Fantasy settings... There are so many from which to choose! That said, I'm only familiar with four of these settings/series. Nice choice of topic!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So many, I had problems whittling them down!

      Thanks for the visit!

      Delete
  36. Great list! I read and loved almost all of these books, HP being the best of course. Awesome picks!
    Happy reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by! Of course, there's no competition for HP!

      Delete
  37. Ooh good topic! I struggle sometimes with fantasy. I didn't like Eragon sadly, but really enjoyed The Hobbit and obviously adored Harry Potter! I tend to stick more to urban fantasy like The Mortal Instruments series, but I haven't heard of a few of these so I'm going to go look them up! Great list and great topic :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, I'm sorry to hear you didn't like Eragon. I don't read much urban fantasy, but after starting TMI I'm open to suggestions!

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  38. Some fantastic choices here both new and classic.
    The Kingdom series looks intriguing - going to check it out.

    Thanks for stopping by The Hottie Harem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope you like it. Book one (Her Mad Hatter) is free on Amazon :)

      Thanks for repaying the visit!

      Delete
  39. Allons-y indeed! Wonderful list. Downloaded Her Mad Hatter on your recommendation. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks for stopping by my list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yay! I hope you like it as much as I did. Happy reading!

      Delete
  40. Love your list!I really want to read Inkheart but its size scares me!Thanks for stopping by my TTT.

    Elena @ Book Lady's Reviews

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's long, but if you're like me you'll breeze right through it. It sucks you in!

      Delete
  41. Fantastic list :) Thanks for welcoming me and for stopping by :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No problem. Thanks for returning the visit :)

      Delete
  42. I can't wait for Cress to come out either! Great list with some wonderful picks. Going to look out for City of Masks as I don't think I've read anything set in Venice yet. Thanks for stopping by my blog this week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much. The setting in City of Masks is SO pretty. I really ought to finish the series.

      Delete
  43. I've read about half of these and most of the others are on my wishlist :) Fantastic (see what I did there? groan) list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. lmao. That was great haha. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  44. I am a big fan of fantasy novels and you have some great choice. Thanks for stopping by my TTT and I'm following you back :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why thank you, and thanks for the follow too :)

      Delete
  45. I love Wonderland, Middle Earth and Hogwarts. Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I'd live at Hogwarts in an instant if I could!

      Delete
  46. Great topic! I LOVE Inkheart! These fantasy worlds are all wonderful and I would love to visit all of them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yay, someone else who's read it! Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Delete
  47. Inkworld looks interesting. I've read most of the books on your list and the authors did an amazing job. thanks for stopping by my TTT.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't agree more. If you get the chance to read Inkheart, I hope you like it :)

      Delete
  48. Great list! I love City of Bones. :)
    Thanks for stopping by! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too, now I just need to read the rest!

      Thanks for repaying the visit.

      Delete
  49. Awesome list. Some of my all time favorites are on your list!

    Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives

    ReplyDelete
  50. This is a great list! I love Harry Potter, Cinder, Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia! And I'm currently reading The City of Bones.
    Thanks for stopping by my list.
    Alex @ The Book Banner

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How are you liking City of Bones? It took me a bit to get into it.

      Delete
  51. Loved Lunar Chronicles, I have yet to read the second one but I will once I cleared up my tbr pile. Awesome choices!

    Thanks for dropping my blog. :)

    Mitchii — The Aeropapers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The second one is better, I dare say. I loved one of the new characters in Scarlet.

      Happy reading!

      Delete
  52. I love Cinder! I am also dying for Cress to come out. I can't believe I forgot to put Lord of the Rings on my list! *smacks self in forehead* And of course, as you saw, I love love love TMI! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

    Rebecca @ The Library Canary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, I forgot His Dark Materials on mine. I always leave off one, no matter how hard I think lol.

      Delete
  53. Great list! The Kingdom series looks interesting! I might have to give it a try! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you do. Her Mad Hatter, book one, is free on Amazon

      Delete
  54. I liked the worlds in Harry Potter and LotR too. And I just got Cinder :)

    ReplyDelete
  55. those are some great picks and fantasy is my favorite genre as well. thanks so much for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just love the detail that goes into epics like this. Thanks for repaying the visit.

      Delete
  56. I think you can say it's Fantasy as well as Sci Fi! :) I love Cinder. Can't wait for Cress!
    Happy Reading and thanks for stopping by my TTT!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Great list! I wish I lived in Harry Potter's world. :-) I'll have to read the Inkheart books at some point as they've been on my list for ages.

    Thanks for stopping by my TTT!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish I did too. Go Slytherin ;) I hope you like Inkheart when you get to it!

      Delete
  58. So many of my favorite series! I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Great choices... and lots of fun, too!!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Great list. I just started Cinder. I own Inkheart but still need to read it. Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Some very interesting series here I hadn't heard of before, as well as some great classics. Cinder was great, I need to read Scarlet in preparation for Cress.

    Great list, thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I liked Scarlet even more than Cinder. I hope you like it as well :)

      Delete
  62. I need to do some more reading! I've only read 3 of these book/series. They all look so good though. Thanks for visiting my TTT.

    LisaILJ @ I’ll Tumble for YA

    ReplyDelete
  63. Ahhhh on Cinder! Yes. I need to take a look at the next book in that series. I haven't been able to get my hands on it yet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope you like it when you get to it. I'm dying for book 3 already!

      Delete
  64. I love the books on this list that I've read! Cinder was amazing and I really need to check out some of the others. Great list!

    Kate @ whYAnot

    ReplyDelete
  65. I'm in love with your list! I've read almost all of these series/books, and their settings are amazing. I was originally going to do fantastical settings, but I read SO much fantasy that it was too hard to cut the list down to 10.

    Thanks for stopping by my TTT!

    Ashling @ Reading, Writing, & Anything but Arithmetic

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I understand the feeling. I left off a few series that I wish I had room for (Like His Dark Materials).

      Delete
  66. So much awesomeness in one list! I really need to read Eragon and the rest of the series, I've had them on my TBR FOREVER! I really want to read the Inkwolrd series as well. Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I adore Eragon, though book one is my favorite.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  67. Oh,fantastical is always a great setting! I'm not nearly reading enough fantasy books, although that is - or at least used to be - my favorite genre! I have read most of your picks, though, and loved almost all of them!
    My absolute highlights are Cinder and Harry Potter (duh!)! I wasn't such a fan of the first Eragon book - would you recommend continuing the series anyways?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmmm. That's a hard question. If you didn't care for book one, then I think book two might be hard to get through. I would say give it a chance, but honestly book one was my favorite.

      Delete
  68. Great topic choice! I have started Cinder but haven't finished yet. I really need to. I have all of the Mortal Instruments on my Kindle but haven't read them yet though I loved the Infernal Devices. Thanks for stopping by my TTT. Old Bloglovin Follower

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't read the Infernal Devices yet. They're worth checking out?

      Delete
  69. Oh, I love your list! I adore the Lunar Chronicles and even if I'm one of the last to jump on board, I'm going to read at least the first Mortal Instruments book before the movie starts!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just finished City of Bones not that long ago, you're not the only late one to the party. Not going to lie, I only read it so I could see the movie!

      Delete
  70. Omg heY! I'm Rebecca from Vicariously! and I'm not even going to pretend that I'm not completely in love with you right now. You left a comment on my TTT and I've been moving and sick for the last couple of days (I should be all moved in by Sunday) so sorry for the long wait.

    But omg your list...your blog..your everything!!!! So if I had done fantasy as my X? I would have used 6 of the books that you did. The rest of the Stravaganza series is spectacular. You should check it out. They're never as good as the first book, but they're still worth the read because even though each book focuses on a new character? The previous ones are still very much in the story so you find what happens with them as well :)

    And ERAGON!!! My brother won't read it because he thought the movie was a piece of crap and thinks the book will be worse. I'm just sitting there like umm no. And my little brother loved the movie and I'm trying to coax him into it. At this point I think I'm just going to buy him the box set for Christmas so that he can't make anymore excuses. It took him FOREVER to read Harry Potter, but after he did? He loved it!

    Such great choices! I hope to see you around hon!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why thank you. And no problem at all, I've been moving myself. I hope you're feeling better!


      Whoa, six? Great minds think alike. I definitely want to read the rest of the series. I think I have book 1 and four or something. I need to fill the gap!

      That's a great gift. I personally didn't care for the Eragon film at all, but that book series is one of my favorites. Christopher Paolini did an amazing job making a detailed, precise, magical world to lose yourself in completely. And, obviously, I love Harry Potter myself!

      Followed via Twitter and GFC! <3

      Delete
  71. I definitely agree with you on Cinder. It is SO good. I mean Sailor Moon, Cinderella, and androids together? That's like a dream come true. :D
    Thanks for stopping by my TTT & sorry for the late response!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly! And no problem hun, thanks for returning the view!

      Delete
  72. This is a great list! Super happy to see the Inkworld series on here. Your list in general makes me wish I'd put together a list of fantasy settings too!

    Thanks for stopping by my TTT :)

    ReplyDelete
  73. Love this all! First off, allons-y... No need to say more. Secondly, you have the Inkworld trilogy on here! I'm rereading them right now. Well, listening to them in audio this time, anyway. It's one of my favorites! Along with the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, Cinder... you get the picture. There were only two I wasn't familiar with. Thanks for sharing and thanks for stopping by my blog, too. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for dropping by <3 Great minds think alike.

      Delete
  74. I love so many of the books you've included and I've yet so read some of them. Fantasy is awesome! Sorry for the late comment, but Blogger was playing up for me last week, so I bookmarked the blogs I wanted to return to! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  75. Excellent topic, I probably could have done a similar description, since I couldn't decide between fantasy and sci-fi haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I really ought to read more sci-fi, to be honest.

      Delete