It’s time for another Top 5 Saturday, a weekly meme created by Mandy @ Devouring Books and this week’s topic is: books that cast a spell on me. I think this topic is pretty open to interpretation; it can be about a book that wrapped you up completely in its story, it can be a book whose cover enchanted you, it can be a magical/witchy story. For this one I think I’m going to look at five books that cast a spell on me by completely wrapping me up in its story, only to spit me out at the end in a daze (almost always very satisfied with the ending and most of the time also emotionally destroyed).
After hearing so much hype about this book, I read it together with a group of bookstagram buddies in June and it completely shattered me. I a crying hot mess by the end of this story–and I’m not just talking about silent tears, it was the ugly kind of crying where I couldn’t catch my breath. This book honestly sucked me in so much that I felt like I’d never been SO INVESTED in the lives of book characters before I read it. Obviously, that’s not true, but the story swept me up completely and I was lost in both Isabelle and Vianne’s lives. If you love historical fiction set during WWII/the Holocaust, strong/bad ass female characters, sister relationships, and a touch of romance, then read this book!
I literally just finished this book yesterday and every time I picked this book up, I felt completely immersed in this terrifying gothic tale. It’s like a shroud of creeping horror would be pulled over my head each time I started reading it again (you can get I made sure to only read it during the day)! It was really unique and I don’t think I’ve read anything like this before. It was definitely refreshing to read a retelling based one of the more obscure fairytales by the Brothers Grimm.
I honestly don’t know what to say about this book other than it gave me the biggest book hangover of my life. I wasn’t able to focus on another book for almost a month after finishing ALL! I also spent a full day in bed after finishing it bawling my eyes out and basically scaring everyone at home who came to check on me to make sure I was well (I WASN’T). This is probably one of the most difficult books I’ve read emotionally and mentally. There’s a lot of criticism against it but also a lot of praise for it–I kind of feel like there’s no middle ground when it comes to ALL. But I was completely in it all the way to the heartbreaking end. THIS BOOK.
This book has been shared a lot every where by everyone and I think by now a lot of people are sick of hearing it always be recommended (same might go for The Nightingale actually lol). But the way Owens wrote about the marsh teeming full of all kinds of life, and about Kya, the Marsh Girl, who absolutely stole my heart, definitely cast a spell on me. This was a very slow paced novel, but it was so atmospheric, I felt I could smell the tang of the salt from the sea, the dragging humidity of the marsh, and the call of the wildlife all around me. It was beautifully written and one of my favorites this year!
I’ve mentioned this book frequently on this blog. This was my first Gaiman and it was what made me want to catapult myself into the wildly bizarre and captivating worlds in his stories. I was enchanted by the dark and magical elements of London Below. I love stories that write an alternate reality of places I’ve been and am somewhat familiar with. My imagination would love to believe much of it is true, although it would also be terrifying.
What are the books that cast a spell on you? Any of these get you like they did me? I’d love to know in the comments below! Let’s chat! 😂
dinipandareads 
I hear so much hype for A Little Life and I’m scared to jump in to such a big book. Great list! Happy Saturday
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I know, it’s incredibly hyped and also incredibly divisive?! Haha I’m one of those really melancholy souls that loved it though, but I can totally totally understand why people would hate it/dislike it 😅
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[…] Dinipandareads […]
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I loved The Nightingale! Unfortunately I haven’t read any of the rest yet.
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The Nightingale was so the best 💙
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[…] Dini @ dinipandareads. […]
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yeees house of salt and sorrows and i really really really need to read crawdads!! i keep hearing wondrous things about it!
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I really really enjoyed it but I know some people also really didn’t like it. I personally thought the writing was beautifully poetic/lyrical and the descriptions of the marsh and biology surrounding it so atmospheric! I hope you enjoy it if you give it a try, Amanda 🧡
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Probably best if I don’t tell you how I feel about crawdads or nightingale then…. I AM SO SORRY DINI!!!! Why don’t we ever agree. I know… It’s me. I’m just so difficult 🙈🙈🙈🙈 Wonderful post. Maybe house of salt and sorrows will be the one that we both like. I do love that original fairytale :))))))))
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Hahaha I’m honestly not even surprised anymore when a book I like is one that you don’t like, Emer 🤣🤣🤣But it’s totally fine, we can all love/hate what we want!! 🧡 Are you going to read House of Salt and Sorrows?! It might not be scary for you if you’re not bad with ghosty stuff! That’s what I’m worst at and well, there was a lot of that haha
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Dini I’m scared of my own shadow……………. WHY DO WE DO THESE THINGS TO OURSELVES :)))))))))))))))
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[…] Dini @ Dinipandareads — Top 5 Saturday: Books that Cast a Spell on Me! […]
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The Nightingale was so, so amazing. I felt like I was living it all with Isabelle and Vianne. So emotional.
Tanya @ Girl Plus Books
http://girlplusbooks.blogspot.com
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It was absolutely the same for me too, Tanya! I was completely sucked into their story. So incredible and defo emotional 😂
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I felt the same way about The Nightingale, it really sucked me in too and I loved it!
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How good is that book though? Just thinking about the story can sometimes already make me emotional 😅
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[…] Tag:– Becky @Becky’sbookblog– Dini @Dinipandareads– Lauren @Lala’sbookreviews – Leelynn @Sometimesleelynnreads – Mandy […]
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Never where looks so good!
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OHHH! House of Salt and Sorrows was SUCH a perfect choice for this topic! I was spellbound for sure!
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omg if I’d remembered to, would have totally put a little life in my list too. That book was sensational, can’t believe how much it hooked me given the length. Longest most all-consuming book ever. Definitely going to check out Neverwhere and Where The Crawdads Sing too.Fabulous list!
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[…] Dini @ dinipandareads. […]
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