It’s Top Ten Tuesday again, hosted by the fabulous folks over at The Broke and the Bookish! And the topic this week is one of those things that I think helps set “great” books apart from “good” books.
Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings In Books
World building! That feeling that you’re actually in the setting of the story instead of simply reading about it. Sometimes a book has a really interesting plot that engages me, but I have a hard time picturing the world, making the book simply “good.” Other times, I feel transported to a different time or place, and those are the books that really stand out to me.
So here are my Top 10 books that have the best world building, in alphabetical order:
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Defiance by C.J. Redwine
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Harry Potter (entire series) by J.K. Rowling
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb (Yes, this is technically the same world as Assassin’s Apprentice, but the two series focus on totally different aspects of that world, so I think it’s valid to include both)
Awesome list! I included HP and LOTR on mine as well (naturally). I really liked a lot of these other books too though they didn’t make my list for best worlds. I’ll be reading Defiance soon so now I’m pretty excited about the setting for it. Awesome list!
Jenny recently posted..Top Ten Most Vivid Literary Worlds & Settings
Yay! Enders Game! I haven’t seen that on any others lists, but it’s on mine and I totally have to agree. I haven’t heard of many people reading Robin Hobb’s series either, but I’m glad you liked them! I think I liked the Ship of Magic series the best (it got better as it went, I really really didn’t like some of the characters at the outset but then they got better). Great list!
Here’s a link to mine!
Scarlett recently posted..Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings in Books
PS- I REALLY like your blog name : )
Scarlett recently posted..Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings in Books
I agree that it took me a while to get into the Liveship series, and I HATED some of the characters in the beginning (Malta, ugh), but totally adored it by the end. I think I liked the Tawny Man trilogy the best in that world, but I really adore all of them.
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: Whispers in Autumn by Trisha Leigh
I’m wondering why Lord of the Rings has a strike though it… I think t’d be a fantastic world to live in… but I’ve not read the books. Only seen the movies. But I still think it sounds both beautiul and violent. and sort of magical at the same time.
Kate recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings in Books
The strike was from my link being bad – whoops! I fixed it 🙂 And yes, it would be an awesome world to live in, assuming Sauron was no longer in control!
I have outlander on my to read list. Might have to get to it sooner 🙂
Awesome picks!
-Cassie
GreatMunchieReads
Girl of Fire and Thorns is such an awesome choice! I loved that book sooo much. I really need to read Ender’s Game soon! Fabulous picks.
Lori recently posted..Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds or Settings
I heard they were making Outlander into a movie – I really want to start that series, and that might be the kick I need! Great list!
Jessica recently posted..Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds/Settings In Books
I think it’s going to be a cable series, like Game of Thrones (but tooooootally different). Which means I’m going to need to start getting cable, stat.
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: Whispers in Autumn by Trisha Leigh
I had a couple of those on my list. A friend just recommended Outlander to me yetserday… Maybe I DO need to read this book.
Megan recently posted..Booking Through Thursday–One or Many?
You do. You really, really do.
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: Whispers in Autumn by Trisha Leigh
Hogwarts and Panem! Everybody keeps telling me to read Robin Hobb’s books — I suppose I should give them a try!
Nicole recently posted..Top Ten Most Vivid Settings
They’re so, so good. My favorite fantasy series by far.
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: Whispers in Autumn by Trisha Leigh
Oohh I can’t wait to read Defiance! And of course everyone loves HP & THG 🙂
J.R.R. Tolkien? I’m excited to see him on the list. I haven’t read any of his books yet (for shame!) but I’m determined to read The Hobbit before the movie comes out.
Melanie recently posted..Cupcakes!
We had some similar answers: Hunger Games, Outlander, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. I have Assassin’s Apprentice on my TBR shelf, but haven’t gotten to it yet. Someday!
Jennifer @ Feminist Fairy Tale Reviews recently posted..TOP TEN TUESDAY (30): Vivid Worlds and Settings in Books
You need to move it to the TOP of the list!
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: Whispers in Autumn by Trisha Leigh
Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings made my list as well! I can’t wait to read Defiance, so I’m glad you enjoyed the setting of that one! 😀
~Keertana
Ivy Book Bindings
Keertana @ Ivy Book Bindings recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday (#6)
It was fabulous, and so different than other books. I hope you love it!
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: Whispers in Autumn by Trisha Leigh
The setting of Harry Potter was so well written that I think everyone knew what his world looked like before the films came out. The films were so good, that everyone’s pictures in their heads were confirmed.
Angela @ AJ Arndt Books Blog recently posted..Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Most Vivid Book Settings
Totally agree. J.K. Rowling is a genius.
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: Whispers in Autumn by Trisha Leigh
I really loved the way the school and the sci-fi world was created in Ender’s Game as well. That totally slipped my mind when I was creating my own top ten list. I also really love The Hunger Game’s Pandem, and of course, my favorite has to be Hogwarts from Harry Potter. I haven’t read some of these other books though, but I’m realy curous about them and their world building (next on my list is Girl of Fire and Thorns).
Great list!
Aimee @ Penmanship Smitten recently posted..[Top Ten Tuesday] Top Ten Most Vivid Worlds or Settings in Books
It’s a totally different type of fantasy world in GoFaT, and I hope you love it!
TheHouseworkCanWait recently posted..Review: Whispers in Autumn by Trisha Leigh
I’m glad you included “The Girl of Fire and Thorns” too! I’m so intrigued by that world, I think it was incredibly well done.
And seriously, you left off FLORIN? I’m shocked 😉
Sarah @ Breaking the BInding recently posted..[Waiting On Wednesday] Second Chance by Heather Brewer
I know, I KNOW. I am fired.