Isle of Blood and Stone by Makiia Lucier

In this third person epic fantasy novel, Isle of Blood and Stone, Lucier speaks to a reader’s sense of wanderlust and curiosity.  It’s unique in that while Elias is an adventurer, geographer, and mapmaker, the actual story takes place in his home, St. John del Mar. 
Elias returns from a months long journey to find himself thrust into a mystery with personal and political repercussions.  The author sticks to Elias in her narration which is perfect for the story told, and until more than half way through the book, leaves romance out of the story entirely.  The way she gets the romance in is entirely organic and works for this story without weakening or altering the original goals of the characters.
I truly enjoyed this fun other-world mystery and look forward to more by Lucier in future.

Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien

This is the third book I’ve read by Caragh O’Brien and the start of a dystopia trilogy.  It’s definitely in a different vein from her Vault of Dreamers books, but still has an addictive story and amazing protagonist.  Written in third person, this character driven story is a steady jog into the future.
What sets this apart from most other dystopias is the ambiguity of the conflicting groups.  The reader can easily side with the protagonist or the institution she’s trying to escape, to a certain degree.  It’s completely addictive and I can’t wait to read more.