Last week I wrote an article about my absolute and complete love for reading, so I thought I should put my money where my mouth is and share with everyone the top five books I've read during my life that I would consider among the greatest. It wasn't easy, since I've read thousands of books and I loved each and every one of them in their own way, but I've finally narrowed down a concise list of only the greatest books. So without further ado, here's my list of top five books I've ever read!

(Disclaimer: I did not include theHarry Potter series in my list because it should be an automatic given that those books hold a special place in my heart and cannot even be quantified on a menial list)

1. Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

History has always been my favorite subject; there's something about learning about our past that I think many find fascinating and irresistible. So when you combine history and books, you get historical fiction and subsequently, a happy me. I've read hundreds of historical fiction novels about many time periods, regions, and people. But no author has injected such vivid imagery, such lush landscapes, or such detailed descriptions of a people, of a world that was lost to us for thousands of years as Michelle Moran did with her novel of Nefertiti. The book is set during the reign of Amenhotep IV, or as he is later known as, Akhenaten, and his Queen and eventual Co-Pharaoh Neferneferuaten-Nefertiti. But it is told from the perspective of Nefertiti's younger sister Mutnodjmet, a figure who has been lost to the annals of history beneath the shadow of her illustrious sister. The book follows their early lives as privileged daughters of the grand vizier, and follows Nefertiti's life and the birth of an unprecedented six princesses in Egyptian history. The Amarna period, as Akhenaten's rule is called, is an ambiguous and shadowy part of Egyptian history that has been ignored by historians due to its brief existence. But Moran brings the period to life in such a way that you forget you're actually reading about real people and you're learning something, because you're so invested in this story of rival sisters who together, ruled an empire.

2. The Secrets of Jin-shei by Alma Alexander

This book is unique because it is one of the only historical fantasy novels I have read to date that is actually one of the most thought-provoking and well done novels I've ever had the pleasure to encounter. Historical fantasy is an interesting genre that strikes out more often than it hits a home run; if someone wants to read about history, why read a fantasy version of it? To most, it's a waste of time, or it's not appealing, myself included. But Alma Alexander creates a world in this novel that is so convincing, I honestly had to remind myself it wasn't real historical fiction. The book is set in a fictional China, with mentions of a fictional Russian area as well. It follows six young girls who, through an ancient tradition passed down through the female line of their ancestors, mother to daughter, form an unbreakable sisterhood though the majority of their lives. From a spare princess to a laundress' daughter, from a doctor's apprentice to a crippled nun, this book shows that no matter where you come from in life, friendship, or the "jin-shei" bond, is a sacred thing. Alexander crafts the setting of this book in such a way that if I hadn't told you this was historical fantasy, you would be frowning in confusion and wondering how you could have missed such an interesting time in Chinese history.

3. The Books of Pellinor by Alison Croggon

I think it's totally cheating if I use one slot for a whole series, but this series is good enough that it deserves it. I won't lie, these books are each a considerable size, an average of 400-600 pages each, but they are well worth the time it takes to read them. I've been burned by so many high fantasy series in my lifetime that I didn't even want to pick up the first book in the series, The Naming, because I thought it would be another dud. Boy, was I wrong. I can honestly say that in a separate list of just my favorite high fantasy series of all time, this would be number one. And that includes A Song of Ice and Fire, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter in the same list! The book follows main heroine Maerad, an orphan in a seedy mountain town who is convinced she's going to die in the hellhole where she lives until mysterious stranger Cadvan stumbles into her barn, tired and bleeding. And so begins an epic journey that spans four books and countless years of my life. Croggon has a distinct voice that is prevalent throughout the series, and it's consistently good. She's so meticulous in how she describes the world she's created that you can quite literally picture what she's describing. Such attention to detail, which you would think is instinctive and expected in high fantasy, is actually quite rare to find in such an epic series as this, and when you do find it, it's horribly done. If you're looking for a high fantasy series during the ASOIAF drought, or you're just in the mood for a straight up well written book, trust me, you won't be sorry by trying this series out.

4. The Blessing Stone by Barbara Wood

If I ever have to create a list of my favorite authors, Barbara Wood would definitely make the cut. She's a prolific writer among the likes of Stephen King and John Grisham, but so so much better. She writes primarily historical and modern contemporary fiction novels, so she is right up my alley, and if those are your types of books, then she's up your alley too. I currently own 14 of her books and honestly, I would recommend every single one of them wholeheartedly. But I chose The Blessing Stone because it's one of the best examples of her talent as an author in my opinion. The book follows the existence and journey of this blue rock. Just an ordinary blue rock with no special powers. But every person this stone comes in contact with has their lives affected in a lasting way. The book begins at the dawn of time with the very first peoples who emerged out of Africa, visiting every time period imaginable until it ends with the Gold Rush in America. What really made this book special for me was the interesting and unique explanations Wood gave for some of the historical facts she mentions in her book; for example, she attributes the sainthood of a popular Christian martyr to the direct intervention of this stone and what she does with it when it comes into her possession. I won't spoil more than that, you'll have to fully understand what I mean by reading the book!

5. Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

There are two reasons why this book being on my list is so unique: the first is that unlike the other four books on my list, this is a book I read recently, whereas the others I originally read many many years ago. The second is that the subject matter of this book is something I find abhorrent and usually stay very far away from. The book is about Maya and Lochan, two teenagers who have been forced to step in as pseudo-parents for their three younger siblings in suburban UK after their mother mentally checks out of their lives when their father leaves them. As a result, they grew up as friends, companions, and co-parents rather than a normal brother and sister. Without giving away too much of the plot, the subject matter of the novel is something very taboo in modern society, and is outright illegal in UK, where the book takes place. If any other author had tried to tackle this book, it would have come out gratuitous and indulgent, some pervert's sick fantasy. But Suzuma tackles the sensitive subject matter with grace and eloquence, and writes a compelling narrative to boot. In my life, only three books have ever made me cry: the ending of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the ending of The Golden Fool by Robin Hobb, and the ending of this book. It's a very quick read, but it packs a powerful punch. I cannot recommend this book enough!