✨Welcome to Reading Under the Northern Lights ✨
This is a cozy little corner for readers who love to wander through stories of every kind. If immersive worlds, eerie tales, and the occasional emotional gut-punch are your thing, you’re in exactly the right place.
I couldn’t be more excited to kick things off by sharing a peek at my bookshelves!
When I say “bookshelves,” I do mean some of them. If you’re a fellow book lover, you know how it goes: a few shelves scattered through the house, a stack on the nightstand, maybe even a few tucked away in random drawers. I also read a lot from the library (I adore my Kobo) and almost always have an audiobook on the go. Honestly, I probably need to put myself on a book-buying ban next year, because I keep reaching for my library reads instead of the ones I already own.
Anyway — let’s take a little bookshelf tour!
Please, leave me a comment if you spot any of your favorites (or least favorites!). The ones you don’t like? They’re probably my husband’s.
📚 Basement Bookshelf
📚 Basement Bookshelf
📚 Family Room Bookshelf
📚 Discworld Bookshelf
A Few of My Favorite Reads
I wanted to share a few of the books from my shelves that hold a special place in my heart. These aren’t necessarily my top five of all time (that list might come one day!), but they’re stories that left a lasting impression.
A quick note for any book recommendations I make: if content warnings are important to you, I encourage checking them before diving in. Every reader’s comfort level is different, and that’s okay.
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1. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Dystopian, Literary Fiction, Science Fiction
I first read this one years ago after hearing Atwood speak at a university event and I revisited the book again in 2023. This book hit even harder the second time.
Set in a dystopian future called the Republic of Gilead, women have been stripped of all rights and reduced to specific roles. The story follows Offred, a woman forced into reproductive servitude as a “Handmaid.”
What makes it so chilling is how real it feels. Atwood has famously said that she didn’t invent anything new when writing this book and that she only used inspiration from real-world occurrences in history. That thought alone gives me goosebumps.
If you haven’t read it yet, or if it’s been years, this book still feels incredibly relevant. The sequel, The Testaments, released in 2019, is also fantastic, adding even more depth to Gilead’s world.
2. The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Fantasy, LGBTQIA+
I’ve recommended this one more times than I can count. I first borrowed it from the library, but when Illumicrate released their gorgeous special edition, I knew I needed my own copy.
This story follows Linus Baker, a “by-the-book” caseworker who inspects orphanages for magical children. His newest assignment is a mysterious, isolated orphanage that’s home to six children deemed the “most dangerous” in the country.
It’s whimsical, funny, and so full of heart, but it also explores deeper themes like prejudice, belonging, and love in unexpected places.
My husband read this one after my (overly) enthusiastic recommendation, and I loved laughing with him at some of my favorite moments as he quoted lines back to me.
A sequel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea was released in 2024 and I haven’t read that one yet but, I can’t wait to dive in soon!
3. Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft
Fantasy
This is the first book in The Books of Babel series, and I knew it was something special right away.
Thomas Senlin, a mild-mannered schoolmaster, takes his wife Marya to the legendary Tower of Babel for their honeymoon. Sounds nice right? Well, not so much. Marya vanishes into the crowd upon their arrival. The book follows Senlin on his search for his wife which takes him through the tower’s surreal, dangerous “ringdoms,” each one a strange little world of its own.
It’s steampunk, funny, and haunting all at once. Every level of the tower feels like a new discovery, and Senlin’s slow transformation is so satisfying to watch.
Book two of this series, Arm of the Sphinx, is excellent as well and I am hoping to get to book three, The Hod King, soon!
4. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Dystopian, Literary Fiction
This one was a slow burn for me. I didn’t realize how powerful it was until I reached the final pages and then it just… stuck with me.
Station Eleven weaves together several lives before, during, and after a global flu pandemic. Post-COVID, I was hesitant to pick it up because the last thing I wanted to do was to read about a pandemic. Given that so many people had recommended this one to me, I figured I would give it a try but with low expectations.
The story follows a traveling troupe of actors and musicians performing Shakespeare across the Great Lakes region, keeping art alive in the ruins of civilization. This is definitely not my typical type of book or something I thought I would enjoy.
The story is not about the apocalypse itself, but about what endures after. It turned out to be surprisingly hopeful and reflective which was not at all what I was expecting.
I loved it!
5. Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
Fantasy, Dark Fairy Tale
Probably my favorite T. Kingfisher so far, however, I have many, many more T. Kingfisher books to read.
This short, darkly whimsical fantasy follows Marra, a princess who sets out to rescue her sister from an abusive prince. It’s a fairy tale with grit, humor, and heart. Marra’s journey is full of strange magic, unlikely allies, and moments that are both creepy and tender.
Kingfisher’s writing feels like being told a bedtime story by a witty and slightly unhinged friend who makes you laugh and cry in the same breath.
It’s under 250 pages but feels epic, and it quietly explores themes of trauma, agency, and healing. Check content warnings before diving in for this one, it is a dark tale, but handled with care.
If you like fairy tales with teeth, clever heroines, and weird magic, this one’s for you.
Final Thoughts
Thanks so much for joining me for this little bookshelf tour including some of my favorite books! If you haven’t yet, check out my Welcome Post: From Self-Doubt to Book Bliss: My Reading Blog Story to learn more about me and what you can expect here at Reading Under the Northern Lights.
Now I’d love to hear from you! What are your favorite bookshelf treasures? Maybe it’s a special edition book, a comfort read, or a book that changed the way you see the world. Drop it in the comments below!
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~Kerri
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