Bored of revision? Ten novels to procrastinate with this exam season

It's April, a month which strikes dread in the heart of many students, as we start preparing for exam season once more. If, like me, you hate revision and take every opportunity to take a "short" (usually around 2 hour) break, then don't worry, I've got you covered, with ten books that you can escape into to avoid your revision. Because really, why do something today that you can put off till tomorrow?

1. Shades of Magic Trilogy, by VE Schwab

Jo, you ask, are you going to recommend this in every single one of your book lists? The answer of course is yes. What can I tell you, when I like a book/series, I will shove it into the hands of every person I know (virtually, via the internet of course). In all seriousness though, VE Schwab's fantasy series set in four parallel Londons with magicians who can walk through them, is incredibly immersive and a great way to distract yourself from your looming exams.

2. Unwind, by Neal Shusterman

I can personally speak to the powers of distraction this book posesses as when I was stuck waiting in a car for three hours, instead of revising for my AS levels, I was reading this book. It's kind of a disturbing concept (dystopian world where abortion is illegal but parents can "retroactively abort" their children between the ages of 13-18 through Unwinding, where they are basically taken apart and their organs used for transplants). It can be unsettling at times, but is an incredibly powerful and addictive read.

3. Dangerous Girls, by Abigail Haas

There is no better distraction than a good thriller, and Abigail Haas' is one of the best YA ones I've ever read. Fast paced and twisty, with an ending that will blow your mind, this is the perfect read to while away an hour or two and take you away from your revision.

4. Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo

I read this in just over a week last summer, but I'm a slow reader, so I bet some of you guys could finish faster! I was carried away by the adventures of Kaz Brekker and his gang of thieves, the character dynamics are incredible, the heist was great and the magical system was really cool. 

5. Caraval, by Stephanie Garber

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Love magic? Love circus-style settings? Love mystery? Then you should definitely try Stephanie Garber's debut novel, following seventeen year old Scarlett as she braves the legendary game of Caraval in order to find her missing sister Tella. This book with its vivid scenery and mysterious game at its centre is perfect for whiling away the hours and avoiding your revision.

6. The Bone Season, by Samantha Shannon

One of the most creative and different fantasy novels that I have read in the past few years, Samantha Shannon's Bone Season combines a dystopian future world, with a magical clairvoyant system. Sounds weird, I know, but it works really, really well.

7. The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater

This book follows psychic's daughter Blue, along with private school boys Gansey, Ronan, Adam and Noah as they search for dead Welsh King Glendower, whom they are hoping to bring back to life in order to be granted a wish. Sounds weird, I know, but it's really, really good and has one of the best friendship groups I've read about in a long time. Plus, there's nothing like a weird book to distract you from revision! 

8. Timekeeper, by Tara Sim

Set in an alternate Victorian world powered by clock towers, this creative, steampunk novel, follows clock mechanic Danny as he attempts to discover who is behind a series of clock tower bombings, whilst dealing with his feelings for a clock spirit (male clock spirit, such a cute gay relationship).

9. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Okay, so this is an old one, and probably most of you have read it already, but when it comes to great, immersive reads, The Hunger Games is definitely up there. I first read it when I was 15 and was up reading late into the night, turning pages furiously because I needed to find out what happened to Katniss. So definitely a good one to return to this exam season, if you want a distraction.

10. Rebel of The Sands, by Alwyn Hamilton

Alwyn Hamilton's Wild West meets Arabian Nights fantasy world is something I never knew I needed and is the perfect world to escape to and get lost in to avoid your revision. This fast paced novel has a creative magic system, wonderful characters and a brilliant setting, plus it made a five hour journey feel like far less!