Orbit Ambassador: Amy May’s Five Favourite Orbit Books

Hello, my name is Amy May and when it comes to reading I love all things fantasy and adventure. Orbit have had some of my favourite reads of the year, from A Dowry of Blood to The Jasmine Throne. I adore Orbit because they have something for everyone, whether you’re new to fantasy or a seasoned high fantasy reader, there will always be something for you.

Read on to discover Amy May’s five favourite Orbit books!

A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson

A Dowry of Blood was one of the most beautiful books I have ever read, the writing is so poetic and romantic and has so many unexpected moments and twists. The story is told from Constanta’s point of view and is expressed through letters to the man that turned her into a Vampire. She starts to become quite compliant under him and ultimately ends up killing (don’t worry this is all revealed on page one). From the first page you’re hooked as you wonder what went so wrong between these two characters and what lead to such a gruesome outcome. Much to my dismay as soon as I finished this book I found out is was a standalone, however, the author has recently revealed that there will be a companion novel that I cannot wait to read.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

One Dark Window was definitely one of those books that pleasantly surprised me. The sole message of this book is that magic has a cost and that was one of the reasons I absolutely loved it. The magic system was something I have never seen before which, nowadays, is very rare in fantasy books. The story follows a Kingdom that has been cursed by a mist that destroys the land and infects the people that live there, the King hunts those who survive the fever to possess the magic that they get from the fever. Our main character Elspeth gets infected as a child and is hidden form the King but the fever causes her to be possessed by one of the cards, The Nightmare. The setting was perfectly dark and gothic (two of my favourite things) and I’m genuinely so excited for then sequel coming this year.

Jade City by Fonda Lee

When I picked up Jade City it already had so much hype around it which worried me but it really did live up to it! This was more of an urban political high fantasy which can sometimes be hard to follow but I think Fonda Lee writes in such a manner that is easy to follow. The characters, the worldbuilding and overall atmosphere of this book were so special and unique. The book follows the Kaul family which are one of the two crime syndicates that control Kekon Island, the only island that produces Jade that can grant people with superhuman powers. The families that once respected the use of Jade now involve themselves in commerce and construction and have forgotten the old traditions. A new drug emerges that lets foreigners wield the jade which increases the tensions between the Kaul family and their biggest rivals.

The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne

This was my first ever Norse inspired book and it did not disappoint. If you’re looking for a book with strong female characters, unique creatures, dragons, and morally grey characters then this is the book for you. The Gods in this story are dead but their magic and blood still runs in the veins of many and grants them all different abilities. We follow the stories of three very different but incredible characters; a huntress, a thrall and a nobleman’s daughter. the setting of this book is so grim and well so very very Viking, there’s monsters lurking in the woods, blood shed around every corner. It’s these high stakes that keep you on the edge of your seat and make you root for these characters even more.

The Unbroken by C.L. Clark

The Unbroken is everything you could want in a fantasy book and more. It is an epic fantasy about loyalty and what I loved most about it was that you could tell that so much thought went into building this world and it really paid off as the world is rich and full of life. The story is an unwavering insight into the ruthlessness of this empire and the ways in which it not only colonises people but their minds as well. We follow Touraine who was stolen as a child and brought up as a soldier to kill and die for the Empire only to be sent to her homeland to put an end to a rebellion. Our second character is Luca, a princess who wants her uncle off of the throne and needs someone to sway the rebels towards peace and not violence.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP AMY’S LIST!