Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the Broke and Bookish and now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl where bloggers are given a prompt that is usually a list of ten bookish things.
Todays prompt: Books Set in Another Time (These can be historical, futuristic, alternate universes, or even in a world where you’re not sure when it takes place you just know it’s not right now.)
All links will take you to the full review with an age rating, expansive content warnings and the Damsel rating system so you can be delighted with your read and not stumble into any unwanted violence or spice!
If the book is not linked then the reviews will be coming soon but all of these recommendations are YA and no spice however some of them are more violent than others so do check when the reviews are put up!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the Broke and Bookish and now hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl where bloggers are given a prompt that is usually a list of ten bookish things.
This weeks prompt was –
Books I Never Reviewed (Share the titles of books you never reviewed on your blog/tiktok/insta/etc. and if you liked them or not!)
Okay so this was actually a really easy prompt to start (and a really hard one to finish I could keep going forever) because I have just started and there are sooooo many books that I haven’t reviewed yet. I am going to tweak the prompt a little to SERIES that I haven’t yet reviewed or finished reviewing.
Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce – I love Tamora Pierce’s world so much and I am much due a reread of her series!
The Twelfth Keeper series by Belle Malory – the final book is out! It came out late January and my fyp didn’t think to tell me this until I randomly looked it up (i have been waiting for this book for at least three years) and its out! So reviews are coming for the whole series and the new book Until the Sun Rises!
All of KM Shea’s Magiford series and the individual trilogies – this is sweet clean paranormal fantasy with a new couple every trilogy (I have my favourites but honestly they are all five star couples).
Three Dark Thrones Series by Kendare Blake – (and the prequal! Which is on my TBR as well as a complete reread of this epically dark fantasy).
Kirenmala and the Kingdom Beyond by Sayantani DasGupta – Indian mythology, vibrant worlds and a really cute demon prince this should have been reviewed by me before but I am 100% digging it out later for a reread.
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger – I have only reviewed the first! I have read the rest before but now I am going to go back and revisit them (I can barely remember all the complexities of the plot!) and this time review them too!
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard – only reviewed the first one which is a travesty because this series is honestly in my top reads of all time and I am always thinking about it so I should have!
Eragon by Christopher Paolini – I haven’t reviewed any of these books but I really am going to because he was the author that got me into fantasy and dragons and without this series I would not have so many cluttered shelves of epic fantasy! I also got the illustrated edition that I need to show of so a review for this is definitely coming.
Elven Alliance by Tara Grayce – currently on my third read of the entire series and there is a new book coming out so I need to catch up on all my reviews for then!
Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas – again only reviewed the first book but I am going to buy the series in paperback for my third reread (I originally read them on Borrowbox) and then reviews upon reviews and book lists are coming.
Galdoni by Cheree Alsop – this whole trilogy is just gorgeous (and she has written another sci-fi book that I also loved!). We have winged gladiators, a sweet romance and a beautiful exploration of the best and worst of humanity, even if the protagonists are regularly told they are less than human. Reviews are coming!
This is more than 10 now so I am going to stop now but this post really reminded me of all the reviews and books I want to share with all of you so its now a 2025 goal to review all of the books on this list!
This is for all the people out there who want a fictional valentine! Here are my top five couples from various books and my favourite most romantic quotes from each one from various books! I’m always looking for more recommendations, so do send me yours. I have tried to do one from each genre I review so have a look down!
Fantasy Valentine
Powerless, Paedyn and Kai are just *chef’s kiss*. It seems they are in every booklist and post I create but it is because they are truly one of the booktok books that exceeded all the hype it was given. Picking their quotes was like eating one sweet but here they are!
Quotes:
“Remind me to make you smile like that again, when you arent dying and i have all the time in the world to memorise it.” – Kai
Paedyn: “I could get used to you being a gentlemen, Azer.”
Kai: “and i could get used to being one for you, Gray”
Pae: “I didnt realise you had watched me so closely.”
Kai: “Watched? Darling I never stopped.”
Dystopian Valentine
See this is really tricky to pick! I love dystopian so much, Red Queen and others like it are constantly being added to my shelves and their romances all deserve to be on this list (although Mare and Cal are especially adorable). In the end I decided Kennedy and Phoenix (twelfth keeper) took the prize (despite the age gap which I try really hard to ignore).
Quotes:
Phoenix: “I dont bite”
Kennedy: “No you just burn”
Phoenix: “true”
Special (kinda cheating a little because it isnt from the first book but i had to include”
Kennedy: “If my soul has a compass, it always points to Phoenix. Wherever he goes, I follow.”
Historical (like victorican feel but with magic) Fantasy Valentine
Fierce Heart by Tara Grayce – this is actually on kindle unlimited so if you have that then it can be downloaded in time for Valentines! This is a elf/human arranged marriage slowburn and I’ve read the entire series twice over and the romance is just so cute. Really hard to find a super romantic quote because it is a slowburn over the series and they are more demonstrative in their romantic interest like learning about each others culture and language.
Quotes:
Farrendel – “Your smile. No one else was smiling. They were looking at each other as enemies. but you smiled, as if we were people you were happy to meet.”
Warrior/Assassin/Fighter Valentine
The one is from The Throne of Glass series, the prequel which is called the Assassins Blade. I adore Caeleana and Sam, and honestly, they are the epitome of a good rivals to lovers/assassin to assassin trope and jostle for the position of my favourite book couple EVER.
Favourite Quote
“She would tuck Sam into her heart, a bright light for her to take out whenever things were darkest.”
Urban Fantasy Valentine
The Lies of Vampires and Slayers by K.M Shea
Jade and Connor. 100% percent. They just win hands down. He is a vampire so one of my favourite things is all his teasing nicknames for her like “afternoon tea” and “emergency rations”. they are so comfortable together and these ever changing fond nicknames are just adorable. Its also a slowburn so no direct quotes from this one but it is so worth the read and it is a completed trilogy! It is also on kindle unlimited!
Happy 2025 Damsels! The first month has gone (slowly) but I have read some great reads fresh to my hoard from the Christmas presents! From sweet dystopian romance to high fantasy to booktok mystery-thrillers there is something for every reader!
These books have been all over the booksta for years but I somehow havent read them until now! I picked them up early in the month and devoured them in two days. I would 100% recommend and I have full reviews for 1, 2 and 3 for more details and content warnings. If you are looking for mystery thriller, a smart lead that doesn’t make you want to shake some sense into them and a really complex plot then GGGTM is everything!
This is a really fast paced read, full of Greek gods and trials in a gorgeous ancient Greek mythology inspired world. With revenge fueled participation in trials that are designed to be an amusing and violent gods entertainment and a unlimited wish at the end for anything but immortality and a little bit of romance its a great read. My full review is here
Stunning twist on the traditional damsel and dragon tale – this is YA fantasy at its best and Elodie is one of the most realistic heroines i have read in a while. This is going straight onto the best reads of 2025 – link to review here
I loved this from start to finish – super hero satire and a feminist take on the outdated ‘love interest’ trope? I was completely sold and read it in less than 48 hours it was just gorgeous. Full review here but let me heavily encourage you that this should go straight on your TBR it is a breath of fresh air all readers need!
These are gorgeous books set in a fantasy world with lots of magic centered around tea and its ceremonies. With a sweet romantic subplot, an self-exiled princess learning about the realities of the oppression refugees in her kingdom are facing and a gorgeous tea dragon in the second you NEED to read this series. Its just gorgeous.
Damsel in Delight 