Giant paperbacks with maps at the front
Go ahead, you deserve a break.
I’ve had this one teed up for awhile because people are always asking me about A Court of Thorns and Roses. And you know what, let’s give the people what they want.
This EELS is a tribute to my middle school self—who definitely should not have been allowed to read Outlander but definitely should have been allowed to read ACOTAR because it is super tame. More on that below.
For a slightly younger version, check out my child’s recommendation of Eragon (EELS: You know, for the kids), which definitely has a map and, bonus, involves dragons.
If you’re new here, guess what! There’s an archive spreadsheet to see all my recommendations from this year in one handy spot! If you’re a subscriber, you can have it!
🧚 A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas, 2015
This series of giant paperbacks with maps in the front was sent to me by oft-mentioned book pal Kira because she knew I’d never get into it otherwise. Y’all, they are not Great Books, but they are compelling books. And they are often called the Sexy Fairy books, and that is a great moniker because ACOTAR is a mouthful and “Sexy Fairy” is fun to say, but it’s not a great moniker because they’re…not all that sexy. Don’t get weirded out by “sexy.” I’d not even go so far as to call it a romance. It’s simply a tame fantasy book that’s pretty fun.
Bear with me here, but the first book—which has the actual ACOTAR—is the tamest of the bunch. Read it just so you can get to the second one, A Court of Mist and Fury, which I’m pretty sure was penned after Maas took a writing class. I couldn’t put it down. Resentfully. Excitedly. Stupid fairies. Stupid Rhys. Stupid Feyre. Stupid, stupid, stupid Tamlin. God, I love and hate all of you so much.
Important note: A Court of Mist and Fury is famously on banned book lists for school libraries and I genuinely do not understand it. I guess there is maybe an incredibly tame sex scene in it that is genuinely nothing a middle schooler has never seen on TV before? This annoys me for all banned book reasons, but it also annoys me because it weirdly elevates these books to an important Toni Morrison level. No.
Recommended for: Those who like a little romance with their sword fighting and magic and all that. It’s fun! The sentences aren’t great but who cares. There are magic guys with bat wings, and none of it makes sense and you’ll predict a lot of it, but some of it you won’t! It’s a hugely popular series that you can talk about with your friends, and laugh and buy each other weird Etsy fan art for. I may or may not have already done this.
⛰️ Outlander
Diana Gabaldon, 1991
Now this giant paperback with a map in the front (actually, I don’t remember if it has a map, but it should—it’s that kind of thing, at least), is what I’m really talking about. Gabaldon has done some serious homework about the Highlands of Scotland. She also, I guess, did some sort of research on time travel because this whole series for whatever reason did not trigger my normal “time travel doesn’t make any sense in a narrative” irritation for me.
I maintain that this series did itself a disservice—though, granted, a disservice that made everyone huge kilt-loads of money—by seemingly marketing it just to women. There is enough political intrigue, gory violence, and wolf attacks in here to satisfy the biggest macho Game of Thrones man you know. And I know this because I’ve made some of them read it, with great success! And it does it all while being super female-forward and awesome. Sassenach! You are the best! I may or may not have bought Etsy fan art for this book, too!
Recommended for: Those who love a good, twisting plot, with a lot of really detailed historical fiction in there. And also medicinal herbs!
🪨 The Fifth Season
N.K. Jemisin, 2015
Of all the giant paperbacks with maps (possibly) in the front, this book (and series) is the best written and most awarded. If you’re a serious fantasy and/or sci-fi fan, you simply must pick up this trilogy, which is called The Broken Earth. It is creative and fresh from beginning to end. I realize now that I can’t say that about Outlander, which I had to stop reading after book five.
But Jemisin! Whew! Does she know how to tightly write a giant paperback about moving rocks, prejudice, and superpowers (kind of?). This is one of those that you’ll fly through, using the map as your guide, and suddenly you’ll just be… finished. And sad that you’re finished. Rocks!
Recommended for: Those who just need something frigging different from their giant map paperbacks for a change! No offense, sexy fairies and sassenachs.
And now, a bonus recommendation that is on theme!
🐺 The Dark Star Trilogy — Marlon James, 2019
Recommended for: “The kind of person who is equally into Cormac McCarthy and Ursula K. Le Guin.”
Recommended by: Elijah, who kind of got roped into this, and so I did not have time to get the last three books he loved. Let’s imagine they were three giant paperbacks with maps at the front.
If you’ve got a recommendation, by all means, give it to me! You can do so by hitting reply to this email, shouting your truth, and we’ll get it going.
That was the thirty-fifth EELS! As always, send any and all questions, feedback, and shouted book recommendations by hitting reply.
📚 Susan