I'm an art nerd and a bookworm and, therefore, I love bookish fanarts. Coming to think of it, how could I not love the work of thousands of great artists out there who choose to portray my favorite characters?
Another great thing about fanarts is that sometimes they work in reverse too. Sometimes, I'll see on Tumblr or Pinterest some incredibly gorgeous artwork that makes me want to read the book. It has happened, for example, with To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo and with The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern.
But could you blame me? I mean, look at these masterpieces.
Anyway, in this post, I'll be showing you some of those books I want to read and their respective fanarts. Maybe they'll convince you too, I don't know.
Crier's War by Nina Varela
Impossible love between two girls —one human, one Made.A love that could birth a revolution.
After the War of Kinds ravaged the kingdom of Rabu, the Automae, Designed to be the playthings of royals, took over the estates of their owners and bent the human race to their will.
Now, Ayla, a human servant rising the ranks at the House of the Sovereign, dreams of avenging the death of her family… by killing the Sovereign’s daughter, Lady Crier. Crier, who was Made to be beautiful, to be flawless. And to take over the work of her father.
Crier had been preparing to do just that—to inherit her father’s rule over the land. But that was before she was betrothed to Scyre Kinok, who seems to have a thousand secrets. That was before she discovered her father isn’t as benevolent as she thought. That was before she met Ayla.
Set in a richly-imagined fantasy world, Nina Varela’s debut novel is a sweepingly romantic tale of love, loss and revenge, that challenges what it really means to be human.
To be honest, I have had my eyes on Crier's War by Nina Varela since before its release last year, but I had kind of forgotten about the book until I saw Lucy's piece and oh my gods. Look at the knives, at the mutual pining/bloodthirst. I'm definitely looking forward to reading this peak enemies-to-lovers.
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orléans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orléans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful.
But it’s not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orléans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie—that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision.
With the future of Orléans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide—save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles—or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever.
I had never heard of The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton before I saw this fanart but since I'm a sucker for pretty girls and pretty dresses, of course, I had to add this book to my TBR as soon as possible. I have to thank Melanie Bourgeois for that. I mean, look at this XVIII century vibe, look at the fan, her eyes. It's all just "chef's kiss".
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.
But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.
True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.
Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is on my radar since I read her other book, The Starless Sea, and dear gods her fandom seems to be just a ton of artists committed to delivering outstanding artworks. Christine Kornacki did that with oils. Look at the circus, the skies, the magic.
Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.
But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.
Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber is one of those books I always hear about (mostly good things) but never consider start reading. At least not until I saw this fanart by Gabriella Bujdosó. Remember what I just said about pretty girls and pretty dresses? Well, then.
We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal
People lived because she killed.People died because he lived.
Zafira is the Hunter, disguising herself as a man when she braves the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those foolish enough to defy his autocratic father, the king. If Zafira was exposed as a girl, all of her achievements would be rejected; if Nasir displayed his compassion, his father would punish him in the most brutal of ways.
Both are legends in the kingdom of Arawiya—but neither wants to be.
War is brewing, and the Arz sweeps closer with each passing day, engulfing the land in shadow. When Zafira embarks on a quest to uncover a lost artifact that can restore magic to her suffering world and stop the Arz, Nasir is sent by the king on a similar mission: retrieve the artifact and kill the Hunter. But an ancient evil stirs as their journey unfolds—and the prize they seek may pose a threat greater than either can imagine.
Set in a richly detailed world inspired by ancient Arabia, We Hunt the Flame is a gripping debut of discovery, conquering fear, and taking identity into your own hands.
We Hunt The Flame by Hafsah Faizal is also one of those books I've seen a lot of readers and book bloggers alike hype about since its release. However, I've never been motivated to pick it up, but then I saw this artwork by rosiethorns88 on my Tumblr and pretty girls holding knives at their love interests' throat is an instant seller for my bisexual ass, thank you very much.
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.
Okay, everyone knows that The Folk of the Air trilogy by Holly Black is swamped with beautiful fanarts, but the one I chose actually made me consider reading The Cruel Prince (after I saw all the hype and disappointment with The Queen of Nothing, that is). This gorgeous artwork by Monica a. Borg portraying Jude, the main character, as a Prince Cardan's puppeteer master, made me realize how much I miss cold, calculating, morally gray girls in books.
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
The Emperor needs necromancers.The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit.Tamsyn Muir's Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as necromantic skeletons. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won't set her free without a service. Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon's sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die. (more)
I think the only person I know that has read Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir is Bee from The Book Stack — which only proves that I live in a bubble, honestly — but who cares. I saw a fanart by Mandy, I know it's gay and maybe skeleton-related? I don't know, but I'm totally on board.
Anyway, hopefully, you liked this post (or at least enjoyed the breathtaking artworks from these amazing artists). Feel free to follow me on Pinterest (I have an entire board dedicated to bookish fanarts) and tell me in the comments: do you have a favorite fanart? Or, more importantly, have you ever read a book because of a fanart you saw? Did you end up liking it?
till next time!
books
caraval
crier's warm
english
fanart
gideon the ninth
the belles
the cruel prince
the night circus
we hunt the flame
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