Scrolling through various book blogs and YouTube channels, I came across this tag challenge titled the “Ruler of Books,” which appears to have been a thing a couple years ago. As per usual, I am late on the uptake—but these questions seemed like a lot of fun, and a good excuse to go perusing through my bookcases of all the books I’ve read. For this challenge, I asked a good friend and fellow Pine Reads Blogger to help me out and also answer these questions, as our tastes in books tends to vary greatly. For the purposes of this blog and to keep everything on a level playing field, only YA titles and authors were permitted. So, let’s get started!
1. What book would you make everyone read?
Sierra: Hmm, dear oh dear, so many. But, after careful consideration and a look back into books that I frequently re-read, I chose: Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder. Okay yes, it is geared more for older YA readers, but still is classified as YA. And honestly, the original Study Trilogy by Maria V. Snyder is so amazing and one of my favorite fantasy reads and really just one word sums up my love: Valek. Ah, now I must read them again.
Cheyenne: Out of the most recent books I’ve read, I would definitely say Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi! Out the books I’ve read over the years? Probably Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones; after all, I quoted Howl in high school for my senior yearbook.
2. What would you abolish in book construction?
Sierra: Okay, so I went for literal book construction on this one, as in the physical components of a book. I do not know that it necessarily applies to YA books today, but nevertheless: the preface. I do not mind Acknowledgments pages or dedications, but I just do not like to read why or how a book came to be before I have even read the book! I myself just want to get into the action. This is entirely my personal preference.
Cheyenne: Construction? I’m not sure what we’re getting at here but if we’re talking just basic book components, then I’d want to abolish the omission of chapter numbers. Some books have chapter numbers and some don’t; I read books with chapter numbers faster because I have goals to work towards. Books without chapter numbers are something I have to slog through.
3. What author would you commission to write any book?
Sierra: This is a tough one: different authors specialize in different types of books. If its epic fantasy? Sarah J. Maas, all the way. Slice of life with a special twist? Meg Cabot (I adore the Mediator series and the 1-800-WHERE-R-U series). But, for any book? Kelley Armstrong. I love all of her work, YA and adult. My favorite trilogy of all time will forever and always be, The Darkest Powers.
Cheyenne: Three choices: Rick Riordan, Obert Skye, or Garth Nix. I have no idea what I’d commission them to write. If Rick Riordan could be persuaded into writing a short story about Percy and Annabeth in college instead of having them as cameos in his latest books, then I would be one happy camper. Pun intended.
4. What book would you demote to the library basement to make room for new books?
Sierra: Easy: Awakened by P.C. and Kristen Cast. The eighth book in the House of Night series. Jack. Did. Not. Deserve. Death. Don’t even get me started on Heath. Let’s move on.
Cheyenne: Awakened by P.C. and Kristin Cast. Spoiler alert: Jack Twist did not deserve to die. It’s been years and I’m still salty. Don’t even get me started on Heath’s death in Tempted. His name is Heath Luck for crying out loud! There was nothing lucky about the turn of events at the end of that book. I want to forget that any of that ever happened!
5. What cover artist would you commission to make a mural?
Sierra: Christopher Stengel, who did the cover art designs for Maggie Stiefvater’s series, Shiver and The Raven Boys. Though the Shiver series is not one of my favorites, I really appreciated the stark white design, simple but elegant, in a world of dark dystopic YA covers of the world ending. That cover is what drew me to that book.
Cheyenne: Molly Idle! John Rocco! Ben Sowards! Quentin Blake! Gerald Brom!
6. What character’s face would you put on a coin?
Sierra: I went with instinct on this one, which character could I see actually having their profile on a coin and being awesome enough to pull that off? The winner is: Aphrodite from P.C. and Kristen Cast’s House of Night series. Enough said.
Cheyenne: How recognizable are Hearth and Blitzen from the Magnus Chase series? A fashionable Dwarf on one side and everyone’s favorite Deaf elf on the other.
7. What book would you award the “Ruler of Books” 2017 prize to?
Sierra: For me, the winner would actually be two books, as the first one came out in 2016 but the sequel came out in 2017: The Girl from Everywhere and The Ship Beyond Time by Heidi Heilig. Time travel and pirates, what more can a girl want?
Cheyenne: Noah Can’t Even by Simon James Green! Never ever have I suffered so fiercely from second-hand embarrassment—in both a good and a bad way. As a reader I was mortified throughout the entire book but everything works out in the end. I’m honestly holding my breath for Noah Could Never.
PRR Writers, Sierra Jackson & Cheyenne Lopex