Tuesday 31 December 2013

Top 13 of 2013

Alright, this was a huge struggle. I read a bunch of amazing books this year. So I was thinking of just doing my top reads of 2013 post. But no, let's do this! This list was cut throat. A lot of fantastic books got pushed out of the way. But I picked these 13 for a reason. Here yah go!




13. Crewel(Crewel World #1) by Gennifer Albin: One of the first books I read this year. I loved the world building. So original. And of course the story was brilliant too.


12. The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa: I read all six books(that were published back in April) in six days. They are that addicting. And I've never really liked any book focusing on Fey before these. So what a surprise I got here.


11. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes: Holy crap the feels this one brought. But the chemistry and dialogue between Lou and Will was fantastic. Lots of LOL moments to go along with all the other moments. This one was also a little bit of a thinker. Just a how would you handle the situation if you were faced with it like Will.


10. Liberty by Annie Laurie Cechini: I don't remember where I found out about this one, but it was described as Firefly for YA. And that was it. I needed it in my hands ASAP. And oh how that was pretty much spot on, any Firefly fan will fall in love with Liberty too. Brilliant Sci-Fi book. The sad part is that there's no guarantee of when the sequel will be out. Or if. Don't leave it like this Cechini!


9. Scarlet(Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer: As much as I loved Cinder, I actually loved Scarlet even more. I loved the multiple POV's, and the even bigger spectrum of the wold. Oh, and of course Scarlet and Wolf.


8. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay: This is the type of NA book I'm looking for when picking up that genre. It's for a more mature audience because of the content. Not because of the sexual content. Nastya and Josh have not had it easy. Life has shit on them. But they find each other and the offer each other the friendship they both need. And how they learn to deal with life. The book is hard to put down, be warned!


7. Elemental Series by Brigid Kemmerer: So a bunch of hot boys with that can control the elements. With writing, dialogue and characters that couldn't be any more perfect. Full of action on top of that. Just read them.


6. The House of Hades(Heroes of Olympus #4) by Rick Riordan: Well after that nasty cliffhanger in Mark of Athena, I can tell you it was a very long year wait for this. Riordan didn't disappoint. I absolutely am both excited and dreading The Blood of Olympus.


5. Froi of the Exiles(Lumatere Chronicles #2) by Melina Marchetta: I thought Finnikin was amazing, but than I read Froi and it just blew my mind. This epic fantasy story is incredible. The characters, the world, the magic, the story. Just doesn't get any better!


4. Rainbow Rowell: So I'm going to cheat a little here. I couldn't pick just one of her books. That's like picking a favourite child. I read all three this year(pretty sure this was Rainbow's year!) and they just continuously just kept blowing my mind. All three offer something different in the story and characters. I also got the chance to meet her this year. And let me tell you how bubbly and fun of a person she was. Love her! And love her books!


3. Allegiant(Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth: Was there a more controversial, more talked about and debated YA book this year than Allegiant? I don't think so. Yea it effing broke my heart. Destroyed my feels. But I loved it. I honestly couldn't have asked for a more truer ending. It was where the story was going from the beginning and it sucks. But Roth stuck with it, didn't get scared and gave us the proper ending to one of the best trilogies out there right now.


2. Clockwork Princess(The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare: Talk about feels. Clockwork Princess was definitely my favourite series ender this year. Another author that didn't disappoint on that front. There's not much to say expect that I obviously loved it. Tessa, Jem and Will's story were completed in a way that left me feeling extremely satisfied.


1. Crown of Midnight(Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas: There was no contest for this number one spot. When I finished CoM back at the beginning of August I knew it would be top. This book is amazeballs! I absolutely loved Throne of Glass but this one just blew it out of the water. Celaena is even more badass. The fantasy and magic elements became even more prominent. And Chaol(no explanation needed). With four or five more books to come, I just know that this is going to be an epic fantasy series!

So that's it! Unfortunately I had to leave a bunch of others out, so I just wanted to give honorable mentions to Shades of Earth(Across the Universe #3) for being a totally unexpected but amazing finish to a trilogy. And Kasie West. I read both her books this year and they blew me away. She's another author to watch out for in the coming years.

What were some of your top reads of the year?
Here's to an even better 2014 reading year!

Happy reading!

Brittany



2013 Wrap Up & 2014 Goals

So that's that. Buh-bye 2013! I swear this seems like the fastest year ever. It was an interesting year to say the least. Lots of changes and new ventures had. Including starting this blog. Yay!
2013 was also a fantastic reading year for me. 191 books read. Which I think is pretty awesome(although no where near close enough to clear my TBR lol). And a huge percentage of those I rated four and five star. Of course there were some not so great reads(find that post  here). But overall the not so good reads didn't come anywhere close to the many amazing books I read this year. I started and finished quite a few good series this year. There was also some series finales that came out this year, that I was desperately waiting for. And I found some awesome new authors that I now will read anything they publish.
As for the 2013 goals I set for myself, I had my reading challenge met by June. And ended up increasing that quite a few times throughout the year. I also had set a goal of re-reading 20 books this year. I read 15. So I'm good with that. I also wanted to try to start and finish 12 series this year. I ended up with 6, almost 7, so not bad. But I'm definitely going to try harder to read through more in 2014.
I also set the laughable goal of reading 6 classics. I say laughable because I don't do classics, although I so wish I could. But I did read The Great Gatsby and really enjoyed it.

As for 2014, setting a few goals as well doing a few challenges.
1. Read at least 180 books.
2. Re-read at least 20 books.
3. Start and finish 12 different series.
4. Pick two books from my TBR jar each month.
5. The Dystopia Reading Challenge.
And that's all I'm sure of right now. I'm going to look around for maybe a Fantasy and/or Sci-Fi challenge as well.

How did you guys do in 2013? Any goals for 2014?

Happy New Year!

Brittany

Monday 30 December 2013

My 2013 Reading Disappointments

So no one goes into a booking knowing they're going to hate it. At least for me, every book I pick up and start reading is because I want to(well in my adult life it is). I'm wanting this book to blow my socks off. But unfortunately not every book will.
According to my GoodReads stats I had a very good reading year. A good percentage of the 191 books I read this year I rated four star or higher. In fact I only rated 43 books three star or less.
So that means there were some disappointments for me. :(
Here are the ones that were the biggest let downs for me. I really thought I was going to enjoy them, but not so much.

1. Let's just get this one star over with first. It honestly doesn't even deserve that star. I actually did somewhat enjoy The Selection. But good God what a freakin' mess The Elite was. Obviously I don't have anything nice to say about it. But if you want to enjoy my review, here it is.


2. The most overly-hyped book of 2013, The 5th Wave. And I did fall for it. I read this pretty much as soon as it was released. Then I started to see all the gushing for it spreading around the book communities and I was confused. Did I get a different book then everyone else? Unfortunately not. The 5th Wave just didn't gel with me. There were bits of the story I enjoyed, mostly Cassie's parts. But for the most part I was bored. The 5th Wave ended up with two stars from me.


3. I finally got around to reading Shatter Me a few months ago and of course I was expecting something amazing because there's so much hype for it. But nope, I strongly disliked this one. The writing was my biggest annoyance. Then on top of that you have the awful Juliette. God she was annoying. And Adam, I also have nothing nice to say about him. Unfortunately Shatter Me earned at two star from me.


4. Oh Kingdom Keepers Dark Passage(#6) how much you disappointed me. I thoroughly enjoy this series. It's based in Disney World and now beyond and it's action packed. Except for this one. This one had no plot. At all. It was just a continuous chase with no ending. And then an unnecessary death. Another two star.


5. This was my first Gaiman book. And it was weird. Maybe it's because I just didn't get The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I just didn't really like it. The good thing is it hasn't detoured me from wanting to pick up another of his books. Another two star for me.


6. I was actually quite excited for The Coldest Girl in Coldtown. Obviously it turned out I was a little let down. I just found it a very slow read. And wasn't really impressed with any of the characters. But there were some parts of the story I enjoyed. In the end this one ended as another two star for me.


7. Yea, with 172 Hours on the Moon I was looking for something that I thought it was promising me and just didn't deliver. I'm just going to link my review up here. Again, another two star.


8. The Girl of Fire and Thorns did receive a three star from me and the reason I'm including it in this post is because I just kept hearing about how amazing and epic this fantasy trilogy was. Unfortunately I didn't find that it was. Especially not in this here first book(the trilogy did massively get better in the next two books though). It was quite slow going. But in the end I'm glad I continued on with the trilogy. I do have a review up on here if you want to check it out.


So how about for you guys? Any books you read this year that you were maybe super excited for but just ended up letting you down? Let me know below!

Happy reading!

Brittany

Sunday 29 December 2013

Showcase Sunday #16

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme held by Books, Biscuits and Tea. It allows fellow bloggers to show off any books or bookish things they've compiled over the week.

So Christmas SS, YAY! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season so far. Just been busy seeing family, friends and working. But I am excited to read the books I got for Christmas(which all but one of my physical books were gifts, thanks friends and family).


Purchased/Gifted

Taste of Darkness(Healer #3) by Maria V Snyder
Not A Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis
Emerald Green(The Ruby Red Trilogy #3) by Kerstin Gier
Scorched(Scorched #1) by Mari Mancusi
Crash Into You(Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry
All Our Yesterdays(All Our Yesterdays #1) by Cristin Terrill

E-Books Purchased
A lot of great books this week, I think. Taste of Darkness is definitely the one I'm most looking forward to. Thanks to Chapters for having it out a week early! I'll definitely be reading it before the year's out.

Hope Santa was good to you guys as well. Let me know down below.

Happy reading!

Brittany






Tuesday 24 December 2013

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme held by The Broke and the Bookish.

This weeks topic is:

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me!



 
Not A Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis


Crash Into You(Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry


Altered(Crewel World #2) by Gennifer Albin


Emerald Green(Ruby Red Trilogy #3) by Kerstin Gier


Vicious by Victoria Schwab


Game(Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga

The Paradox of Vertical Flight by Emil Ostrovski

All Our Yesterdays(All Our Yesterdays #1) by Cristin Terrill

The Name of the Wind(The Kingkiller Chronicle #1) by Patrick Rothfuss

Harry Potter Complete Series(Paperback cover re-design) by J.K. Rowling & art by Kazu Kibuishi

Hope Santa is good to you guys! Have a very Happy Christmas! Enjoy the time with family and friends.

Happy Reading!

Brittany














Monday 23 December 2013

Review:Defy(Defy #1) by Sara B. Larson

Defy by Sara B. Larson

Publication Date:
January 7th, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 336
Series: Defy
Source: Netgalley/Publisher
Rating: 2.5/5
Add to Goodreads

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick with and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

Oh how I wanted to like this one a lot more than I did. It's fantasy. That's totally my thing. But unfortunately I found Defy only alright.
After reading the description you totally think of Mulan. At least I sure did. But the similarities between Mulan and Defy pretty much start and end at a girl pretending to be a boy.

My biggest problem with Defy is the romance. Well really the love triangle. I found it was totally shoved in my face. It also took over the plot and story of the book. Which for me when reading a fantasy novel is not what I'm looking for. Sure I want the romance there, but I'm looking for it take the back seat. This story was all about who is Alex going to choose? The prince who is so wrong for her. Or her longtime friend and fellow guard, who is perfect for her. I'm sure that just like me you totally know where this is going.

My other issue was when Alex's big secret of actually being a girl is starting to be revealed. Nobody. And I mean nobody had any issues about it. In fact it seems that people were aware of it for years and just decided to keep it to themselves. Really?! To me it doesn't matter that she is the best fighter in the king's army. As wrong as we find it to discriminate against women now-a-days, that's not how a lot of fantasy novels see it. The men are in the army. Fine, totally makes sense. Even in Defy it's only men in the army, as to why Alex is pretending to be one. So why does the prince, king, her captain, anyone not even bring it up? Punish her? Make some sort of qualm about it? Totally doesn't fit with the plot Larson is trying to pull off.

As far as Alex goes, it's not that I didn't like her. I just found her to be another Bella Swan. Didn't really think she had any stand out qualities besides being this ridiculously fantastic fighter. Couldn't even really picture a face on her when I was reading. So meh.
Sure as hell didn't like Prince Damien. He's a douche. Normal prince behavior. Until he "surprises" Alex by being good with a sword and saving her. Then going on to tell her how much he needs her because they're so similar. Whateves...
I did really like Rylan and actually most of the secondary characters. They're really what saved the story for me. Most of them had more personality come through in the bits they had than Alex.
Also liked the setting being a jungle. That's something different for a fantasy novel. Usually it's mountainous or forest setting.

When I was rating this on Goodreads I was surprised to find out that this is going to be a series, trilogy, whatever. There's going to be another book. The ending was pretty complete. And I was actually quite happy with the choices Alex made. So I'm not sure I'll continue on. I don't think there needs to more to this story for me.
Like I mentioned I didn't hate this book, it just wasn't my thing. To much of the main story bugged me. I actually think Defy would be more suited to readers that are new to the fantasy genre or someone that isn't a big fantasy fan. For myself, I'm quite into epic fantasy and like the detail of it.

Happy reading!

Brittany

Sunday 22 December 2013

Showcase Sunday #15

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme held by Books, Biscuits and Tea. It allows fellow bloggers to show off any books or bookish things they've compiled over the week. 

Actually been another pretty busy week. But I guess it is that time of year. I was hoping to get some things done this weekend but we've been having iceageddon. It was especially bad overnight. Trees down, power out for over 250 000 people. So of course they're telling us to stay inside. :/ I just want to drive the one minute to the grocery store.
Anyhow, onto books. Not much this week. I forget to post my first win off of Epic Reads last week. But otherwise this week I took advantage of some more Kindle daily deals and such.



E-Books Purchased

In the After(In the After #1) by Demitria Lunetta
Through the Ever Night(Under the Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
The Park Service(Park Service Trilogy #1) by Ryan Winfield
Shaman by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise
The Holders(Holders #1) by Julianna Scott

Netgalley

The Seers(Holders #2) by Julianna Scott
Confessions of a Hostie by Danielle Hugh

Won

Two or Three Things I forgot to Tell You by Joyce Carol Oates


What you guys get? Let me know. Hope everyone is having a great holiday season.

Happy reading!

Brittany