Reading is magic. A book is a balm for stress, a sleek boat through the choppy waters of life. It's a place where you are finally not just focusing on yourself, "me myself and I" the center of our lives, but rather the adventures of another, indulging in fantasies thought up by another human mind where the sky's the limit. And these words aside, quarantine has surely freed up some additional reading time, and if you're lost without a book to read, that's what these book reviews are for. In this article, I wish to recommend two books.

We begin with Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (yes, that’s her real name!). She herself is quite a formidable author, with her debut novel Attachments published in 2011, another one or more books published every single year following her first. Carry On itself has a relation to Harry Potter, a well-known and well-loved series, beginning as Harry Potter fanfiction. The novel follows the adventures of Simon Snow, in a world where mages are magic wielders, their spells coming from the words that the non-magical civilians speak, Simon being one of the most powerful mage at a young age- his power rich, yet uncontrollable. The blurb begins with “Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.” In these fantasy worlds, there must be a villain, and this one happens to be “a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face.” But Rowell never fails to surprise… just wait until the end.

The second book I would like to recommend is Storm Siren by Mary Weber. While not as well-known in the genre of fantasy, this first book of a trilogy is still quite potent, with an idea surprisingly original when considering an aspect frequently met in imaginary realms: the elements. As stated in the blurb, “Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.” The protagonist, Nym wields much of that power, with her command over the elements of the sky. She is a slave and an orphan of a kingdom stuck in a weary war, and when she becomes fostered by a court advisor, “Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight.” Her Elemental kind is rare, and typically killed at birth, which makes her an invaluable asset. As a result, she is at the center of hands reaching to claim her power, and there is only so much a teenager can do. A beautifully woven story of plot twists and characters, the storm doesn’t cease… until the war is won. By which side, and in what way? That remains to be read.

All in all, well… stay book-loving and magical, everyone!