By Maria Lytrivi, @marialytr_author
“City of Bones” by Cassandra Clare (published in 2007) is an urban fantasy YA novel that follows 15-year-old Clary Fray. After her mother’s disappearance, Clary gets swept up in a world full of demons, vampires, werewolves, and the legendary Shadowhunters, a secret race of humans born with angel blood, protectors of the mundane world (meaning the ordinary human world) from the monsters that lie within it. During her search for her mother, Clary will have to face her past, uncover hidden truths about her heritage, and navigate friendships and love as a not-so-regular teenager.
By Rodamanthi Sofikitou, @greek_studyholic
Orwell’s “Coming Up for Air” is an extraordinary book, which tells a story from a point in the late 1930s. It was published in 1939, just months before the start of World War II. His main character, George Bowling, represents an ordinary Englishman who tries to find himself between the wars. He is a mediocre middle-aged man married with a middle-class wife, Hilda, and they are living in a middle-class house.
By Irene Loukisa, @irinilou_born_to_read
Frank Szatowski hasn't seen his daughter Maggie in years, and it breaks his heart every day. So when she calls him out of the blue, to tell him that she's getting married and he's invited, Frank is overjoyed. Maggie is marrying into one of the richest families in the country, and Frank finds himself overwhelmed by the social circle she now moves in. He'll do anything to reconnect, though, and arrives at their New Hampshire estate ready to bond however he can with Maggie's in-laws.
But as the wedding weekend gets underway, it becomes clear to Frank that although they have spared no expense, there's something strange about Maggie's fiancé. And maybe Frank shouldn't be celebrating just yet...
By Irene Loukisa, @irinilou_born_to_read
"Happy endings can be caught, but they are difficult to hold on to. They are dreams that want to escape the night. They are treasure with wings. "
By Pauline Georgiou, @littl.miss.bookworm
Another big, big King’s book!
Jake Epping is a high school English teacher, and Al is a 53-year-old diner owner. Together, they discover a way to travel back in time and decide to prevent the assassination of JFK in hopes of changing history—and perhaps the world we live in today.
Stephen King—my all-time favorite author—transports us to America in the 1950s and ’60s with remarkable ease and vivid detail. The atmosphere feels authentic, from the music and slang to the social tensions simmering beneath the surface. I loved every thread of the story, both individually and as they were woven together into a rich, immersive narrative. King takes his time developing the world and his characters, and that patience truly pays off.
Some readers might feel frustrated when the narrative seems to reset partway through, revisiting events with slight variations, but I found this structure fascinating rather than repetitive. It highlights the complexity of time travel and reinforces the idea that even small changes can ripple outward in unexpected ways. More importantly, it allows for deeper exploration of Jake’s character, his motivations, and the emotional weight of his choices.
This isn’t a horror novel; instead, it blends historical fiction with alternate reality, making it appealing even to readers who usually avoid King’s darker works. There is tension, of course, but it comes more from the stakes of altering history and the unpredictability of time itself than from supernatural terror. At times, it nods to earlier books such as "It" and "Christine", which longtime fans will especially enjoy—like me! These subtle connections add an extra layer of enjoyment without overwhelming the story.
What stayed with me most was the emotional core. Beneath the time-travel premise lies a deeply human story about love, sacrifice, and the consequences of trying to “fix” the past. Even if you never read another one of his novels, finishing this book gives you the satisfaction of proudly saying, “Yes, I’ve read Stephen King.”
The book has been first published by Scribner publishing house on November 8th, 2011, https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/11-22-63/Stephen-King/9781451627299
The book is no longer available in Greek, but it has been translated by Giannis Spandonis for Bell publishing house, https://www.protoporia.gr/kingk-stefen-22-11-63-367846.html?srsltid=AfmBOorlVDkhyWj_CQ8uHrluVjoxbfqyZDwihnQ9kUwmY1zsGh9m1D3D.
By Pauline Georgiou @littl.miss.bookworm
The final book of the trilogy is without a doubt my favorite! From the very first pages, it delivers exactly what I had been waiting for: action. The story opens with an intense battle against the dark wielders and their dragons, filled with powerful magic, brutal hand-to-hand combat, devastating losses, and hard-won victories. It immediately pulls you in and refuses to let go. The pacing is relentless, and the tension never truly fades. Every chapter leaves you holding your breath, wondering who will survive and what sacrifice will be required next.
By Pauline Georgiou, @littl.miss.bookworm
The second year at Basgiath War College is usually more relaxed for all riders. Not so for Violet. She has become entwined in a dangerous secret, which not only exposes her to stronger enemies but also puts her in the path of even more assassination attempts. The growing distance between her and Xaden does little to ease her burden, and the brutal, relentless training imposed by the college only adds to her challenges. Every day is a test of strength, courage, and resilience, and Violet must navigate it all while keeping her deepest secrets hidden.
By Irene Loukisa @irinilou_born_to_read
"How are you? The three most useless words in the universe of communication. Nobody who asks that question wants to know the answer. And nobody who answers ever tells the truth."
Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are searching for the house of their dreams. But when they visit the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier, a violent winter storm traps them at the estate… with no chance of escape until the blizzard comes to an end. Tricia feels uneasy and starts serching the house. During her search she discovers a secret room in which Dr. Hale stored tapes containing the interviews with her patients... Tricia cannot help herself and starts listening to them. And the dreadful truth, among other hair-raising events begin to unravel!
By Pauline Georgiou, @littl.miss.bookworm
The story follows Violet, the daughter of the formidable Commander Sorrengail, who finds herself forced into the Riders Quadrant instead of the Scribes, the path she had always dreamed of. In a world where strength, brutality, and survival are the only currencies that matter, Violet is suddenly surrounded by cadets who are faster, stronger, and far more willing to kill to secure their place. Her goal is simple yet terrifying: graduate alive. If fate allows it, she may even bond with and ride a dragon, becoming one of the elite defenders of Navarre’s borders alongside the other riders.
The Best Book I Read This Year
By Anastasia M., @anastasia_readsgr
Without a doubt, The Serpent and the Wings of Night is one of the best books I read this year.
By Irene Loukisa, @Irinilou_born_to_read
Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets. But nothing comes for free, especially magic. When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason...
By Anastasia M., @anastasia_readsgr
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a comforting, clever, and just a little bit unsettling book. It’s the perfect balance of cozy and eerie, blending rich folklore with an icy northern setting that constantly reminds you that magic is beautiful, but it’s also dangerous.
By Pauline Georgiou @littl.miss.bookworm
Millie and Nina. Two women so different from one another, yet destined to share the same harsh experiences.
By Anastasia M. @anastasia_readsgr
As a lifelong fantasy reader, I’ve learned to recognize the signs of a story that will stay with me — and Feather and Famine is one of those reads. Let me start by reassuring my fellow fantasy lovers: yes, there’s a Shadow-yielding male main character and a strong, capable female lead. You’re in safe hands.