Top Ten Tuesday

#TopTenTuesday: Books Set in Another Time

Dini @ dinipandareads49 Comments

We’re back with another Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.

This week’s topic is 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.)

This is an interesting topic and honestly, not something that I’ve actually thought much about. I do read a lot of contemporary when it comes to romances but that’s less common in my fantasy/sci-fi (depending on the sub-genre too). So I’m taking this week’s prompt as a chance to look at some of the books set in another time that are on my TBR. This is probably going to be a mix of historical romance and some fantasy, but I think there are also plenty of futuristic fantasy/sci-fi books on my reading list that I want to read eventually. Most of the ones mentioned here are high up on my possibility pile for 2025!

Historical-ish

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
Valor by John Gwynne
A Chance At Love by Beverly Jenkins
In Memoriam by Alice Winn
Foxglove by Adalyn Grace

Future-ish

The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
The Long Way to A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
The Red Scholar’s Wake by Aliette de Bodard

Do you read a lot of books set in different periods than our current setting or do you prefer to read books in the current world setting? (Lol, why does that sound so weird to say?) Have you read any of these or are they on your TBR too?

49 thoughts on “#TopTenTuesday: Books Set in Another Time”

  1. Through my years in this blogging world and reading reviews or lists similar to this, I see SO many readers who enjoy Ruta’s books. They aren’t among the books I’ve read, but maybe someday they’ll be added to my list of someday-reads. Time will tell! 🙂

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    • I agree! Ruta Sepetys’ books are well-loved by so many readers and it makes me want to pick up all of her books. I’ve only read one of her books to date but I think I’ve got like five of them on my digital shelf or something, haha. 😂 I was clearly swept up in all the hype around her books (although to be fair, I loved the one book that I read)!

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    • Ooh, that’s good to know! I’ve actually not seen anyone talk about the book and have been wondering why (maybe I just don’t follow enough sci-fi readers)! I was going to look it up a bit more before picking it up to see what mood I should be in to read it, lol. 😂 I hope we both love it whenever we get around to it!

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    • It’s the second book in a YA gothic fantasy romance! I read the first book and adored it and I’ve been keen to pick Foxgloves up but just haven’t gotten around to it yet. 😂 I hope you enjoy it if you do give the series a try!

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  6. Oh my gosh.. Valor!! We need to get back to that series before I forget everything. haha. I can’t wait to read the Becky Chambers series together. I feel like we should just start it and take the whole month per book to fit it around other reads.

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    • Ngl, Leslie, I’ve already pretty much forgotten 99% of Malice LOL help 😂 You know how bad my memory is and if we’re gonna continue I definitely feel like I’m gonna have to re-read Malice or find a good site/video that recaps all the main bits! I still remember the feeling of finishing it and how much I loved it though (for whatever that’s worth, haha)! And YES I’m definitely keen to do that with Chambers’ books! Let’s do it!!! Maybe we can start in April? March will just be too intense with my Japan trip and all the leave prep I need to do at work, lol!

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      • No, I agree… I have forgotten a lot of it! We might have to do a re-read. I might do the audio this time, if there’s one at my library. I remember loving Malice, but it’s huge and I probably forgot so much. Ohh, okay!! Let’s start in April. March is crazy too with Spring Break and everything. I hope you get everything finished at work… so you can enjoy Japan stress free! ❤

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    • I’ve only read one Sepetys book to date but I have almost all of her books on my Kindle library! Which one was your favourite by her? I’m so excited to give I Must Betray You a try—I love hearing that it’s the one that stuck with you the most! Honestly, I’ve heard fantastic things about it. 😍

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  19. Ooh you have some wonderful sounding books listed here. I still need to try something by Ruta Sepetys 🙈 and I’ve seen a lot of rave reviews for In Memoriam. I’m guessing you’re at the same point with Belladonna as me (just book one read)? I think all of your futuristic ones are on my TBR too. I’ve seen so many rave reviews for a few of them, or the authors in general, and then I own The Lost Dreamer and majorly must get on with it 🙈 apparently I’m very good at adding books to my shelves then forgetting all about them.I love historical novels, especially with a touch of fantasy, but majorly need to read more. Same with dystopian ones 😅 I hope you enjoy all of these 🥰

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    • Omg, yes! Sepetys is so well loved and I’ve only read one of her books to date but I loved it so much. From that one book I can easily see why her books are so hyped. I also see a lot of amazing reviews for In Memoriam but also, all of them say that the book absolutely crushed them and I feel I have to really gear myself up to read it. As an emotional reader/easy crier, I know I’m going to be a hot mess, haha. 😂

      YES! I’ve only read Belladonna but it feels like so long ago that I want to re-read it before continuing on with Foxglove. Do you do buddy reads? If you’d like to do a buddy read for Foxglove sometime this year, I’d love to do one 🙂 Let me know!

      And haha, you’re defo not the only one who’s good at forgetting what books exist on my shelf. I’m a bit terrified of my digital shelf especially because as I was downloading them all off Amazon last week, I realised I’ve got way too many that I forgot even existed! It’s exciting but also completely overwhelming—send help, haha.

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      • Ooh which one have you read? Wow that’s very strong praise indeed and very promising to hear. Oh yes I’d definitely say you’ll need to be prepared then based on some of what I’ve heard. I don’t seem to cry at books 🤔 I have no clue why as I can get totally invested in them. Maybe I just don’t pick up enough sad ones?

        I do the same thing with a lot of series. It’s nice to refresh your memories before carrying on sometimes. I haven’t done any yet but I do want to try them and have a couple planned so I’m definitely up for one sometime. I need to do the one I first promised someone first and think it’s probably best to get my April one done first too as I know it’s a lengthy book 😂 anytime towards the later end of April or later in the year is fine with me though, as long as you’re okay with that too 🥰

        Omg I so relate to that. When I was looking for options for a challenge I saw a book on my Kindle that I had no recollection of whatsoever 🙈 plus I saw how many ebooks I had when one wouldn’t download once and it was enough to make me want to go into hibernation 😂😂 but we can get our kindle TBRs conquered 😅

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        • I read Between Shades of Gray. I think of her books are deeply emotional and I know that if I’m gonna read one I need to prep myself for it, haha. There are a lot of readers who get invested in stories but also don’t cry, so you’re defo not alone in that. Sometimes I wish I got less emotional and that I cried less but I’m an emotional person and that translates into my reading too, haha. It can be an inconvenience when reading in public, that’s for sure! 😂

          I’d definitely be down to do a buddy read for these books later on in the year, maybe closer to spooky season (August/September)? We can pick up the first book and see how we go, if we want to pick up the next book immediately, etc. 😃 Or we can just play it by ear, see when we feel like reading it but towards the second half of the year is ideal for me since I think the first two quarters are gonna pass in a blink. I can’t believe it’s already March!

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          • Ive heard good things about that one 🥰 that and Salt To The Sea are the two I’m torn between starting with 😂 and yes I imagine it must make reading in public awkward at times. I cry at films more than books 🤔 I couldn’t actually discuss one until I was back to the car once as I could feel my voice giving way to tears 🙈

            Yes sure that sounds like a plan, towards the spooky season makes sense for that kind of read. Plus isn’t there a novella of some kind out sort of around then? (I can’t remember if it’s September or October but I know I saw one). So if it goes well we could end up reading then all and finishing off with that. If you decide you want to pick them up sooner though I don’t mind. I’m fine whatever 😊 but yes I know what you mean. 2025 seems to be flying by.

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  23. I have no doubt that Sepetys will be a popular choice for lists this week! She has so many historical books and I hear amazing things about all of them. I hope we both enjoy The Lost Dreamer whenever we get to it, Carla!

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