Top Ten Tuesday

Ten Books To Read If You’re Looking For Something Unique {Top Ten Tuesday}

170411 TTT Unique

Hosted by The Broke & The Bookish

Hi guys, and welcome to a new Top Ten Tuesday! Today is all about unique books!

What actually makes a book unique? Plot, characters, writing style, formatting, POV? A combination of all of the above? While it can be unique in one way, it can be pretty standard in other ways.

For me, all the books below are unique in one way or another. Some I’ve already read, some are still on my TBR. But they all strike me as unique in their own way. They have a unique plot, a unique writing style, a unique narrator, or they are unique in any other aspect. So let’s just get into it!

<< Unique books I’ve read >>

The Red Winter trilogy by Annette Marie

red-winter-by-annette-marie Dark Tempest by Annette Marie Immortal Fire by Annette Marie

What’s unique about it? Japanese mythology! We’re all probably really familiar already with mythical creatures such as dragons, unicorns, mermaids and centaurs. But Japanese mythical creatures such as kami, yokai and kitsunes? Not so much!

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Cinder by Marissa Meyer Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Cress by Marissa Meyer Winter by Marissa Meyer

What’s unique about it? Well, the fact that they’re fairytale retellings is probably not that unique… But the fun little sci-fi twists? Oh yes! A cyborg Cinderella? A hacking Rapunzel? Bring it on!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

What’s unique about it? The narrator is Death. This brings in a pretty unique point-of-view and writing style.

The Shatter Me trilogy by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi unravel-me-by-tahereh-mafi Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

What’s unique about it? Honestly, not the plot or worldbuilding so much. But the writing style is pretty unique! It’s super poetic and well.. unique. It’s hit or miss, but for me it was definitely a hit!

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

What’s unique about it? The exquisite and wonderfully different worldbuilding, the intriguing characters and the gorgeous writing style all work together to create one of the most unique series I’ve ever read.

<< Unique books on my TBR >>

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

What’s unique about it? Honestly, I still hardly have any clue what this book is actually about. That, combined with the fact that it’s written by Laini Taylor and I’m pretty sure it’ll be another unique reading experience.

Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter

Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter

What’s unique about it? This book, based on Russian folklore, is frequently described as weird or bizarre. Sounds pretty unique, I guess!

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

illuminae-by-amie-kaufman-and-jay-kristoff

What’s unique about it? The format is definitely the highlight here! The entire story is told through emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more.

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich

the-love-interest-by-cale-dietrich

What’s unique about it? This book promises to be super meta and make fun of a lot of popular YA tropes. And that’s what will undoubtedly make it super unique and that’s also why it’s my most anticipated release of 2017.

You by Caroline Kepnes

you-by-caroline-kepnes

What’s unique about it? Told from the POV of a creepy stalker. Creepy AND pretty unique.

Do you agree with some of my picks? what are some of your favorite unique reads? What makes them unique?

40 Comments

  1. The Book Thief and Cinder made my list too this week. I hadn’t heard of The Red Winter trilogy before but it sounds pretty amazing!

    1. The Book Thief and Cinder are definitely unique 🙂 Oh, I do LOVE the Red Winter trilogy so, so much!

  2. The Book Thief being narrated by death was SO fascinating. I LOVED it! I really need to finish The Lunar Chronicles and Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. I’ve read and loved Strange the Dreamer, Illuminae and You! Strange the Dreamer is honestly one of the most creative Fantasy books I’ve seen in a long time. Pretty sure I don’t need to go on about how much I love Illuminae 😉 The 2nd POV in You is definitely one of the reasons I loved it so much. It could have missed the mark but Caroline Kepnes made it work SO well!

    1. The Book Thief was indeed super fascinating. I loved the narration and writing style 🙂 Oh, hope you’ll still enjoy the rest of the Lunar Chronicles and DOSAB series! I hope to start Strange the Dreamer soon, but I’m also a bit intimidated by it *oops* Oh, and I finally got a copy of Illuminae, so I am one stop closer to FINALLY reading it 😉 I’m hoping to read You soon, but I may keep it for the Halloween season…

  3. I so agree with The Lunar Chronicles!! I thought it was so different. You definitely need to get to Illuminae and You!

    1. Yes, the Lunar Chronicles was indeed so creative and unique! Oh yes, hope to get to both of those soon! I already have Illuminae on my bookshelf, so that’s one step closer 😉

  4. The Lunar Chronicles is a great choice – like you said, it’s not so much that it’s a fairy tale retelling part but this world the author was able to create taking inspiration from fairy tales. The Book Thief is on my TBR for this year – I think I’m the only person who hasn’t read it!

    1. Exactly, the world created in The Lunar Chronicles is so creative and unique 🙂 Oh, that’s great, I hope you’ll enjoy The Book Thief !

  5. Great list! The Book Thief sounds really interesting.
    Here is my TTT. Thanks!

    1. Thanks! The Book Thief is really great, hope you’ll enjoy it!

  6. Strange the Dreamer is so unique! I hope you love it as much as I did. I really need to read Illuminae!

    1. It does sounds super unique! Glad to hear you enjoyed it! I also hope to read Illuminae soon 🙂

  7. Okay – Illuminae just got promoted to have-to-be-on-next-month’s-library-card. It pops up everywhere on this week’s TTT! YOU was at my previous book club and yes, it was very popular. But I haven’t read it. And now we’ve moved away! Will see if I can get my hands on it again.

    I didn’t do a TTT on unique books, but on unique characters. Have a look! http://marelithalkink.blogspot.co.za/2017/04/top-ten-most-unique-characters.html

    1. I think Illuminae will definitely be worth the read! I’ve heard so many good things and it’s been on my TBR forever 🙂
      Hope we’ll both enjoy Illuminae and You when we get to it!

  8. I loved The Lunar Chronicles! Such a great series, and one of the few updated fairy tales that I really enjoyed. Stitching Snow was another cool futuristic fairy tale adaptation.

    Also–I’ve never heard of the Red Winter trilogy, but I love Japanese mythology so I’m going to hunt it down. So thank you!

    1. I didn’t know about Stitching Snow, but a futuristic fairy tale adaptation sounds super cool and since I loved TLC, I’ll definitely have to check it out 🙂
      Ahh, I so hope you’ll enjoy Red Winter! It’s definitely one of my faves and the Japanese mythology is amazing.

  9. Illuminae- definitely. And I just finished Gemina (after FINALLY getting to it) and it was awesome- I liked it even more. The Love Interest looks really interesting, and I’ve always loved those covers of the Smoke and Bone books.

    1. Oh, I definitely need to get to Illuminae! I have the book on my bookshelf now, so at least I’m already one step closer to actually reading it 🙂

  10. I had almost put The Lunar Chronicles and Shatter Me trilogy on my top ten as well but they only *just* didn’t make it. I love those books though! <3

    1. They are some pretty great and unique books indeed 🙂

  11. I haven’t read any of these yet (except for Cinder and Scarlet from the lunar chronicles), but almost all of them are on my TBR list! lol! Great list!

    1. Thanks! I hope you’ll enjoy these when you get to them 🙂

  12. *Immediately throws “The Red Winter Trilogy” into her TBR pile.* Thank you for that recommendation!

    I still have yet to read the book thief. This is mostly because I’m afraid of crying hysterically.

    My TTT

    1. YES, RED WINTER! I loved that series and I think it’s way too underrated so I REALLY hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did 🙂
      And I totally understand your hesitations about The Book Thief. It is absolutely gorgeous, but it’s almost impossible to get through without crying…

  13. Ahhh I love this list so, so much! The Lunar Chronicles is such a unique series, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it at first but I loved the unique twists in retellings, the world, and everything about it. <3
    Also, you haven't read Illuminae yet?! I can't WAIT to hear your thoughts about that one. It was unique, definitely. I hope you'll enjoy it 🙂

    1. Thanks Marie! 🙂 I absolutely felt the same way about TLC, but it ended up being one of my favorite series. And aah no I STILL haven’t read Illuminae *oops* I have a copy on my shelf though, so soon! Very soon 😉

  14. Love The Book Thief, it’s one of my favourite books!

    1. The Book Thief is indeed such an amazing book!

  15. Oh good list of books. I think I either loved the series or I have it on my wishlist. I really need to get back into the Shatter Me series. I’ve only read the first book and I loved it.

    1. Oh, if you loved Shatter Me, I’d definitely recommend continuing! I thought the series only got better with each new book 🙂

  16. Cori says:

    I am waiting soooo patiently for The Love Interest! Pretty much every time I read a love triangle, I’m hoping the guys will ditch the girl and just kiss each other. Haha. So when I read the description of this book I was like …… Someone has written a book for me!!!

    Great list. (: I really enjoyed You. The audiobook was extra creepy. Definitely check it out!

    1. Haha, YES, I totally relate to your feelings on love triangles! It’s like Cale Dietrich read our minds 😉
      Oh, the You audiobook sounds like a great idea! I think I’ll save it for the Halloween season though.

  17. Oh my gosh, I just finished the Red Winter trilogy and absolutely adored it. Thanks for raving about that series to bring it to my attention although – queue book hangover!

    I need to move on with the Lunar Chronicles but I agree, they are unique and fun!

    Having just finished Strange the Dreamer and LOVING it so much I really need to start DoS&B immediately! And it’s better if you don’t know too much about Strange the Dreamer before you go into it – it’s meant to be like that! I hope you’ll get to read it soon!

    Great list!

    1. AAAHH, Di, I am sooo happy that you loved the Red Winter trilogy! Haha, and you are so welcome! And… sorry about the book hangover 😉
      The Lunar Chronicles is one of those series I felt only got better with each next book, so I do hope you’ll enjoy the rest of the series!
      I’m definitely hoping to jump into Strange the Dreamer soon. I also jumped into DoSaB without knowing much and ended up loving it so I hope you’ll enjoy it as well 🙂

  18. Hi! I’ve been convinced to give The Book Thief another try 🙂
    My TTT
    Leslie

    1. Great, I do hope you’ll enjoy it! 😉

  19. Joe from You is one of my favorites! 😀

    Lauren @ Always Me

    1. I’m saving You for the Halloween season, but it sounds amazing!

  20. Hiiii LINDSEY! Sorry I have been pretty MIA these days?? But why haven’t you read Illuminae still? I feel like you need to rethink your priorities. But I think it’s kinda good you are not reading it rn since the release date for the third book got pushed back to March 2018 and I AM NOT OKAY. Great list!? The Book Thief was the best, but the tears that came afterwards weren’t so much??? I am so excited for The Love Interest though! I have heard nothing but great things from people who got ARCs!!

    1. Hiii Prabhleen! No worries, glad to see you back 🙂
      Haha, yes I know, what am I even doing with my life? I definitely need to sort out my priorities. Haha, but seriously I promise I’m getting to Illuminae soon. Like very soon. Like, it may be my next read… 😉
      The Book Thief was indeed so terrible for all the tears it gave me! But the book was still amazing even though it hurt…
      Ah yes, The Love Interest sounds so, so good! I’m counting down the days to be able to read it!

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