It’s space opera day on Beware Of The Reader! Top 5 space stories with a surprise for Greg and for Lashaan!

Top 5 books set in space : this is this week’s topic on @bionicbookworm!

I thought I would never have five books read set in space to share with you as I am a newbie “space stories” lover but when I looked closer at my shelves I realized that I had read books either set in space either featuring aliens and some intergalactic travel!

I took the liberty to open the topic to aliens too even if no real space travel happens in the story self because aliens come from space right? Plus look at the “newbie” comment here above: I had to amp up my game!

But first a question for you: would you be ready to travel into space?

Personally  have always been fascinated by astronomy. I wanted to study astrophysics untill my teacher told me it was a lot of math and few hours observing the stars…
Way to discourage an eager and young mind!

As much as I love looking at the stars and reading books on astronomy I am so NOT ready to embark on a space ship and be launched into space!
Movies like The Martian and Gravity give me claustrophobia!!!!!!!!!!

And there is the minor detail  of my fear of flying….
Maybe if you’d give me a leviathan like Nadim I would be ready to  travel. Because he is not a failing machine but a transient living being!
Otherwise…no Sir!

Obviously I am one of the few as many authors have been inspired by space travels and alien beings.

After having a look at my recent and old past reads I came up with these choices:

The Honors Series by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre (YOU HAVE TO READ IT!!!!! Zara + Nadim = Zadim forever)

Synopsis

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that’s made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead of moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn’t much better than a prison cell.

Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan—a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth’s dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she’s assigned, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time. But nothing could have prepared her for the dark, ominous truths that lurk behind the alluring glitter of starlight.

Mia & Korum (The Krinar Chronicle 1-3) by Anna Zaires ( dang HAWT yet so good!!!)

Synopsis

Dark Passion. Betrayal. Danger. Love.

Five years in the future, humans are no longer the most advanced species. Earth is ruled by the Krinar, a beautiful, mysterious race from another galaxy.

A shy and inexperienced college student, Mia Stalis has never had much interaction with the invaders—until one fateful meeting in Central Park changes everything. Having caught Korum’s eye, she must now contend with a powerful, dangerously seductive Krinar who will do anything to possess her . . . even take away her freedom.

From the skyscrapers of New York City to the alien landscapes of Krina, their epic passion will transform the world.

Alienated by Melissa Landers (because hot alien and human/alien exchange program kind of like our Erasmus student exchange in Europe 😀 )

Synopsis

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara’s classmates get swept up by anti-L’eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn’t safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara’s locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she’s fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet.

Inside Out by Maria V Snyder

Synopsis

Keep Your Head Down.
Don’t Get Noticed.
Or Else.

I’m Trella. I’m a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I’ve got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

The Darkest Star and Lux series by Jennifer L Armentrout ( no space travel but hot alien. Daemon!!! )

Synopsis

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

And I have a little something for you today from my country!

We are famous for our comics (Tintin, Spirou, The Smurfs, Blake & Mortimer, Thorgal,…) and I am following for over 40 years Yoko Tsuno! She is a  female heroine from Japanese origins and traveling the world and space with a bunch of friends, embarking on every possible adventure. She has been to Vinea!

This choice is a special one for Greg @bookhaven and Lashaan @bookidote as I know they are fans of comics!

See guys, I love them too!

And I also have watched ET. Does that count????

Now do tell me what are your top 5 stories set in space?

Thanks for reading!

Sophie