When A Contemporary Girl Reads Outside Her Box

As most of you probably know, I read A LOT of contemporaries -- both YA and Adult.  Typically I am drawn toward realistic fiction, the type of stories I can identify with emotionally and mentally.  However, I have not always been this way.  When I started my blog over five years ago, I read an array of books.  Over time though my reading interests have been with the contemporaries, though.  In the last year or so, I've made an effort to carve out some time and meander a bit from my usual reads.  In 2014 I started the Graceling series by Kristin Cashore and completely fell in love.  Her writing took me to a different place, and reminded me that just because the story is set in a fantastical realm does not necessarily mean I can't identify with it.

This past year, I started to read the Scarlet series by A.C. Gaughen, and wow what a treat it's been!  I love this series and am really looking forward to reading its last book, Lion Heart, some time this year (hopefully sooner, rather than later).  It was recommended to me by close friends, that understood my passion for contemporaries, but thought I'd really enjoy this re-telling of Robin Hood.  They were definitely right!  I've learned that stepping outside my box of contemporaries, and submerging myself in a world that is every bit fictional and fantastical, can lead to such a delightful reading experience.

Believe it or not, one of my all-time favorite series belongs to The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare.  I love the way she mixes historical with fantasy, featuring a romance to swoon for days over.  I read this series as it was published, and can still remember staying up late into the night to finish Clockwork Princess, revealing the most beautiful series ender my eyes had ever seen.   This series proves to me that I am capable of falling in love with stories outside my comfort zone of reading, but I just need to be willing to crawl out from under my box every once in awhile.

So this is where I need YOUR help, friends.  Help me decide which books I should make a point to read this year that are considered non-contemporary.  You can see from the books mentioned above what my reading tastes tend to lean toward, and also what I've already read.  Below is a few I've already considered, and perhaps with your personal recommendation, they might end up making the cut.

Or, if you have something else to recommend that is non-contemporary, I'm all ears!