The BookTok community has been thriving, introducing many new up and coming authors, series and stories. With so many options, it can be extremely tough deciding on your next read - and if you've already laughed, cried and swooned over all the trending books, what other source of reading sustenance is there? Here are some underrated, overlooked book series and standalones: are they hidden gems or total misses?

1) The Temptation of Magic by Megan Scott

Genre: supernatural fantasy, romance, mystery

Image Credit: Ee Lynn Gan

TTOM is set to become a debut trilogy by Megan Scott, an author hailing from England with a passion for art and ancient cultures. Personally, I loved it.

Imagine How To Train Your Dragon, but in the modern world, where creatures of myth and legend live amongst oblivious humans in society. What's keeping them in check? The Wake, an organisation that kills off any supernatural being with malicious intent, using Empyreals. Empyreals are the apex predators of their world, having the unparalleled power and ability to morph into any creature's natural enemy, and Nicole Palmer is one of them.

Determined to discover the dark secrets of The Wake, the ones that got her mother killed, and the ones that the current serving Empyreals have been lied to about, Nicole is forced to work together with The Wake's best hunter, Kyan McCarter, in the hopes of bringing disturbing truths to light.

Thoughts:

This book is a slow-burn romance with forced proximity. While some readers expressed disappointment about its 'spice level', I personally think it has just the right amount - it is only the first book, after all. The pace and plot development of the story is extremely well-planned and kept me up all night just waiting to see what happens next!

Throughout my reading sessions, the book never failed to immerse me in its dark, secretive atmosphere, making the small town setting feel almost tangible. Often, these sort of supernatural creature books can come off as cringy or repetitive - too fantastical and vibrant that the plot and characters get overshadowed, but TTOM avoids that pitfall entirely.

"Now he understood why the Wake encouraged them away from memories and family... from partners. If you had family, love, you had fear. And fear for Nicole felt like the only thing that could kill him."

- Kyan ('s thoughts)

2) The Graces by Laure Eve

Genre: paranormal, mystery

Image Credit: Ee Lynn Gan

This one may not be a total hit, but it is not a total miss either. The Graces duology delves into themes of witchcraft in a small town setting, greatly appealing to readers who enjoy dark, atmospheric tales about magic and obsession. I would not recommend it to those who get easily spooked (like me), however, I do appreciate its mysterious world-building and unique characters!

The story follows River, the new girl in town, and her simple desire to fit in at her new school. Cliche, I know, but it gets better. She soon becomes allured by Grace siblings (Fenrin, Thalia and Summer), rumoured to come from a family of witches who have blended into society over decades. With a strong new-found will to be a part of their world, River's fascination drives her deeper into the world of magic and witchcraft, where dark truths are slowly uncovered.

Thoughts:

This book offers a fresh insight into the paranormal world. It never directly tells you what's going on, which makes it confusing at times, but forces your brain to think and deduce the situation before the reality is later on revealed bit by bit.

There are many tense, goosebump-inducing moments, but also times where the characters are just having fun as normal students should. The Graces really depicts how life would be like living amongst the presence of supernatural beings, and every teen's innate wish to stand out or belong.

If you're into dark, unsettling, and sometimes psychotic plots, the kind that seem perfectly fine on the surface but hide layers of disturbing truths beneath, then The Graces (and its sequel, The Curses) should definitely be on your TBR (to be read) list!

"That night I think we were trying to fight against death, against boredom and banality, against everything that made us cry and stare at our futures full in the face with dread."

- River

3) Hyo the Hellmaker by Mina Ikemoto Ghosh

Genre: supernatural fantasy, action, mystery

Image Credit: Ee Lynn Gan

I was gifted this book for Christmas 2024 by my anime-loving sibling, and it really did it feel like reading through the episodes of an action-horror-mystery anime! But even if you're not the biggest fan of Japanese culture, Hyo the Hellmaker offers tons of intricate world-building and unpredictable plot twists that left me jaw-dropped in shock.

Hyo is a 'hellmaker', tasked with carrying out punishments of vengeance or spite for paying clients. She is able to curse the intended with much 'unluck', and no force can stop it. The price to pay?

Perhaps half of your remaining life span, or your family's prized generational heirloom. Curses are expensive.

When commissioned by a demon to investigate a matter on Onogoro, a prosperous island where gods live among humans, Hyo and her older brother, Mansaku, travel there. They are pulled into strings of manipulation by the Onogoro gods and forced to untangle the mystery that may cause the downfall of this independent, wealthy island nation.

Thoughts:

I loved how this book had two parallel stories that linked up in the end to give a single grand ending. The book also features beautiful art along the pages, with some occupying the entire page, which helps readers better envision the book's setting and characters' appearances. The story takes place in a fictional era that is heavily inspired by the Edo era, but with lots of modern twists! Hyo and Mansaku's sibling relationship is also a prominent reason why I'd recommend this book without hesitation: it's extremely wholesome!

" "O'Hyo..." Mansaku murmured. He reached over the table to poke her in the wrist. "Did Natsu-san make you cry? Say the word.

I will punch his pretty patchwork face until he cries too. Tears for tears. I don't really want to, but it's big-brother protocol." "

- Mansaku

4) Song of the Six Realms by Judy I. Lin

Genre: mythology, fantasy, romance

Image Credit: Ee Lynn Gan

Song of the Six Realms probably wins for the best cover art in this list! The cover heavily persuaded me to get the book, however, I do have some regrets.

The story takes place in what I call the 'traditional Chinese dynasty' era. Xue is a talented music performer at the Entertainment District. During a performance, her skill captivates a nobleman who invites her to perform at his manor for a few years under contract. But she is completely unaware of this nobleman's actual identity: he is Meng Jinglang, the Duke of Dreams, a divine ruler of the Celestial Realm.

With Jinglang's help, Xue is asked to stop the political downfall of the Celestial Realm and restore its balance before dark forces and old enemies re-emerge.

Thoughts:

The world-setting is vibrant and fantastical, falling on the more colourful side of the fantasy world spectrum, which I absolutely loved! Lin's descriptions of the architecture and creatures of the Celestial Realm truly took my breath away. Unfortunately, sometimes the plot seemed cliche and predictable.

While featuring a slow-burn romance between Xue and Jinglang, their relationship development felt quite abrupt at times. Since this book is a standalone, I am slightly disappointed about not getting to see the other realms as only two to three were mentioned and described in the story. However, since Lin's duology A Magic Steeped In Poison also takes place in the same Celestial Realm, the other realms are probably more mentioned in that story instead of this one.

Overall, this was a really fun read! I would recommend it to anyone wanting a light-hearted fantasy romance with a classic storyline.

"I put my arms around him and said nothing at all.

Around us, the snow began to fall, silently and steadily. The tree branches glimmered once again with frost. Everything was quiet and still except for the rise and fall of our breathing. It was as if there was only the two of us in all the world."

- Xue ('s thoughts)

5) The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai

Genre: slice of life, cozy mystery

Image Credit: Ee Lynn Gan

This book is perfect for a cozy quick read. It revolves around a quiet restaurant isolated from the rest of Kyoto, run by a father-daughter duo who advertise themselves as 'food detectives'. What do they investigate?

The tastes of childhood and long-forgotten places. Clients from all over come to their doorstep with hopes that these detectives can successfully replicate the dish of their memories and provide them with a sense of warmth and much-needed comfort.

Thoughts:

Each food investigation is covered in one chapter, which makes me feel as though I am reading the episodes of a slice of life anime! Unlike Hyo the Hellmaker which felt like watching a three season action-thriller show, The Kamogawa Food Detectives seemed more like a simple, light-hearted twelve episode series.

If you're a fan of more dramatic, in-depth plots, then this book is most definitely not for you. On the other hand, if you're searching for a comfort read in the middle of a stressful school term or work period, consider trying The Kamogawa Food Detectives!

"We get used to things too easily. You think something's tasty the first time you eat it, but then you start taking it for granted. Never forget your first impressions.

- Tomomi

That concludes my study regarding the case of under-the-radar books! Though these books have achieved bestseller status, with some having been nominated for awards, they don't really receive much mainstream buzz. Even if you don't really resonate with any of these books, fear not - this article barely scratches the surface of hidden reading gems. Happy reading from one fellow bookworm to another!