What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
► Suggest books for me
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Young, lonely MC has to accomplish something or has a problem, forced to grow up fast, gloomy tone
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you might like The Carpet People, about a young man helping his brother to lead their tribe (group of tiny people who live in a carpet) - way better than it sounds!Also, it's not fantasy or sci-fi like the examples you gave, but maybe What's Eating Gilbert Grape? About a teenage boy who has to grow up fast and support his family after his father dies. It's pretty bleak and sad.
How about Nation? Not that a book by Pratchett can have an overall gloomy tone even if he tries, but everything else is there. Spoiler for the start of the book: (view spoiler)
The Oaken Throne pretty much fits the description you gave perfectly. It is about a young squirrel maiden who must leave her home and become the new queen. Her parents sacrifice their lives as a distraction so she can escape and on her journey, she experiences many more heartaches. She is forced to mature quickly from a giggly, fun-loving princess to a strong, capable leader who has learned compassion through terrible grief. On top of it all, there is indeed a gut-wrenching surprise at the very end, as if things couldn't get any worse for her.
Oh thank you! Sounds great! Do you recommend I read the first book in the series first?
You wouldn't have to with this trilogy. Each book stands on its own, set in the same universe but in different time periods. They serve as prequels to The Deptford Mice trilogy, but really you don't have to have read those to appreciate these stories. I would recommend reading the Mice books in order, but each of the Histories can be read in any order with no issues.
There's Legend by Marie Lu, which I found somewhat heartbreaking (you'll see what I mean in bk 3).Other protagonists I clicked with:
(view spoiler) in The False Prince
Nick in The Merlin Conspiracy
Cinder & co. in The Lunar Chronicles Boxed Set: Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Fairest, Winter
Jacob in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Hope that helps!
Thank you!!!I was in the middle of Legend #2 when I dropped it...not sure why but I'll try to pick it up again!
I'll check out the others too :)
The Lost Gate (I've heard the conclusion of the trilogy bites)The Iron Dragon's Daughter (mature themes)
Jumper (get the original, not the movie novelization)
I second the nomination of The False Prince! That one earned 5 stars from le Winterfae.Oh! And you (or anyone else, really, who doesn't mind profanity) may like
Everybody Sees the Ants. I remember that this was a suggested summer reading book for my brother one year.... Fair warning: Mature themes. I'll try not to write any spoilers, but I definitely recall profanity, themes of suicide, talk about sexual violence/infidelity/hurt, severe bullying, aggression & (war?) violence, mental disturbance, etc.This was definitely a book that made me think. Funny, often in a wry, rather dark way. I enjoyed it and learned from it. Maybe y'all could too!
When I read "...maybe one or two friends along the way that still they can't 100% rely on," I thought immediately of the protagonist's "friends"; or, at least, the guys he hangs out with. Some revelations go on in his head about what, exactly, constitutes a "friend", helped along by some people who actually do care about him enough to say: "Friends act like friends."
Other profound quotes:
“They don't know what love is. Here they learn what hate is, and I am so sad that they might never know love because hate came first.”
"New skin amazes me. New skin is a miracle. It is proof that we can heal.”
"The ants say: ...You'll never see her again. She lives two thousand miles away!
Then I think of Granddad and wonder why I dream about a man who is twelve thousand miles away. It makes me ask: Why do I care so much about people who are so far away from me?”
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and SweetGirlchild
I don't know that these say in a dark place, but they go there.
The Queens's Thief series, by Megan Whalen Turner. The Thief is the first one, though the latter ones are closer to what you are asking for. I'm not sure "gloomy" is the right word for them (I think of "gloomy" as fairly close to "depressing") but there is loss and grief and melancholy.
What's the Name of That Book???
Books mentioned in this topic
The Case of the Missing Marquess (other topics)The Thief (other topics)
Girlchild (other topics)
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet (other topics)
The False Prince (other topics)
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I guess if I analyze the pattern I like books where there is a lonely main character that has to figure something HUGE out and is forced to grow up in the process due to the pressure. Meeting maybe one or two friends along the way that still they can't 100% rely on. A gut wrenching surprise at the very end is a big plus. A book with an overall gloomy tone. The main character is young but his/her problem is so difficult it causes them to have to grow up before their time.
Here are my two favorites:
Ender's Game
The Bartimaeus Trilogy
They both were reads where I had to take a complete reading break after and just process what happened, experiencing actual heartbreak.
Soo any suggestions for me? I know it's a long shot since you're just suppose to stumble across these type of books that blow you away but it's been awhile and I want to fall I love again sooon lol >_______<
Also, I know my description might scream Harry Potter!! I already read that series though :) and HP actually didn't do it for me. I enjoyed the wonderful, magical series as a whole but Harry isn't a character I cry for in my heart.