As a book lover and avid reader, there are always a handful of books that I am eagerly awaiting to get my hands on as soon as possible. In fact, there are a few books that I would go to extreme lengths to get early, including slaying a lion if necessary. So, without further ado, here is a list of the top ten books I would slay a lion to get early:

1. “The Winds of Winter” by George R.R. Martin – The long-awaited sixth book in the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, this book has been highly anticipated by fans of the TV show “Game of Thrones” for years.

2. “The Testaments” by Margaret Atwood – The sequel to Atwood’s dystopian masterpiece “The Handmaid’s Tale,” this book promises to delve deeper into the world of Gilead and the lives of its oppressed women.

3. “The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth” by Philip Pullman – The second book in Pullman’s follow-up trilogy to “His Dark Materials,” this book continues the story of Lyra and introduces new characters and worlds.

4. “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” by Suzanne Collins – A prequel to the “Hunger Games” series, this book explores the early years of President Snow and the origins of the Hunger Games.

5. “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue” by V.E. Schwab – A standalone novel from the popular author, this book tells the story of a woman who makes a Faustian bargain to live forever but is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.

6. “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens – A bestselling novel about a young girl who grows up alone in the marshes of North Carolina and becomes the subject of a murder investigation.

7. “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara – A heartbreaking novel about four college friends in New York City whose lives become intertwined as they navigate love, loss, and trauma.

8. “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah – A historical fiction novel set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, this book follows the lives of two sisters who must endure unimaginable hardships to survive.

9. “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt – A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a young boy who survives a terrorist attack at a museum and becomes entangled in a web of crime and deceit.

10. “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn – A psychological thriller about a woman who goes missing on her fifth wedding anniversary, leaving her husband as the prime suspect in her disappearance.

These books are just a small selection of the many titles that I am eagerly anticipating reading. Whether it’s a long-awaited sequel, a critically acclaimed novel, or a thrilling mystery, each of these books holds a special place on my reading list. And if it means slaying a lion to get my hands on them early, then so be it. The love of reading knows no bounds, and I will stop at nothing to get my hands on these literary treasures.