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September 2012This month is a tie between two fantastically brilliant books.
'Unspoken' by Sarah Rees Brennan
Utterly brilliant, full of humour and heart ache, sleuthing, magic and mayhem - as well as a scooby gang of ninja journalist/cat burglars. Everything about the latest SRB is guaranteed to have you screaming at the end of the book that we have to wait a whole year to find out what happens next. Possibly my book of the year, Unspoken is utterly brilliant and completely broke my heart.
'The Raven Boys' by Maggie Stiefvater
And what was left of my heart after reading 'Unspoken' was eviscerated after finishing The Raven Boys. Maggie has such an incredible way with words. She creates beautiful settings, heart breakingly realistic characters and puts them in these surreal situations. She had me completely with The Scorpio Races, and she has built on that incredible foundation with the start to a new quartet. I cannot say enough how much this book meant to me, and how utterly beautiful it is.
August 2012
This book was fabulous. It was a fantasy novel packed full of its own fresh and innovative twists and turns - assassin nuns? You had me at that. It had all the elements that I love in my fantasy books, intrigue, politics, deviousness, poisons, assassins and romance. Fantastically written and full of life, I cannot wait for the second book in the 'His Fair Assassin' series.
July 2012
'For Darkness Shows the Stars' by Diana PeterfreundThis book completely took my breath away. A quietly beautiful re-telling of Persuasion, I was completely swept away. Heart breaking and quiet, you really felt for Elliot and her desperate struggle to protect those she cared for. The romance was such a slow simmering burn, and utterly delicious, and it more than lived up to my expectations.
An honourable mention should also go to 'Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas which again, completely blew me away. A strong and kick ass heroine, a page turner of a plot and an absolutely brilliant world and plot - I loved it!
June 2012
'Seraphina' by Rachel Hartman
Oh wow. When I first picked up Seraphina I had no idea how fantastic it was going to be. Hartman's debut novel completely knocks it out of the park. A beautifully novel full of deceptively simplistic prose, fantastic imagination and plot and a whole host of brilliant characters. I wanted nothing more than to sink straight back in after I finished it, and it's gone on my list of favourites of the year. An incredible read from a fresh new talent, you can read my review here
May 2012
'Bitterblue' by Kristin Cashore
Whilst I may be going officially for Bitterblue, the third book in the Seven Kingdoms Series by Kristin Cashore, I read all three books this month and adored all of them, so technically 'Graceling' and 'Fire' are also included in here as well. Utterly beautiful, completely breathtaking and captivating, Cashore has catapulted herself up as one of my all time favourite authors. These books are fantastic, quiet and understated but full of emotion and vividly drawn characters. I cannot recommend them enough.
April 2012'Black Heart' by Holly Black
I have loved the Curse Workers series right from the start. From the first book I was hooked, and with each instalment the world became more engrossing, the characters more vivid and the stakes higher. Cassell was a fantastic narrator and the only sadness comes from knowing that this was the final instalment in his tale. However this is a book, and a series that I will come back to again and again.
March 2012'Team Human' by Sarah Rees Brennan & Justine Larbalestier
This book is the best thing since sliced bread. Fact. One of my most anticipated reads of this year, it blew all of my expectations out of the water it was so fantastic. Funny, poignant, utterly heartbreaking and completely crazy - the best book you will read all year.
A notable mention also goes to 'The Snow Child' by Eowyn Ivey. A truly breathtakingly beautiful retelling of a classic tale.
February 2012
'The Fault In Our Stars' by John Green
This book was incredible. It made me laugh and it made me cry, and it drew me in with its poetically lyrical writing and brilliantly drawn characters. I was hooked from the first page and couldn't put it down until I'd finished, and I cried over it like I have never cried over a book before. A stunningly beautiful new book from John Green that I cannot recommend enough.You can read my review here.
A notable mention also goes to 'If I Die' by Rachel Vincent which is the fifth and latest book in the Soul Screamers series, and the best book to date. Rachel Vincent has really upped her game with this one, and it was a fantastic read.
January 2012
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This book, a new re-imagining of the Robin Hood tale was absolutely fantastic. Scarlet has to be one of my favourite heroines so far this year (I know, I know, we're only in January, but truly, she's made of awesome.) Gaughen's writing was fantastic, and I just wanted to read it over and over again! A must for fans of Robin Hood, thieves and generally awesome books.
You can read my review here.
There are also notable mentions, because this month has been a very good month for awesome books, for:
Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith
The Flappers: Vixen by Jillian Larkin
December 2011
'Daughter of Smoke and Bone' by Laini Taylor
This book absolutely blew my mind. An incredible blend of several different stories merging into one seamless thread. Writing that is an art form in itself, so incredibly lyrically beautiful and so evocative that it immerses you entirely in the story from the first meeting with Karou. I loved it.You can read my review here.
'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins
I didn't feel I could put this as my book of the month because I am really, really late coming to this series. However it is most definitely up there as my close runner up because it is absolutely incredible. I can't believe I haven't read this before now! The book had me from the first page and I literally couldn't put it down for the next four hours as I raced to the thrilling conclusion. A masterpiece feat of storytelling, I cannot wait for the second book to arrive. And for the movie to come out...Review to follow.
November 2011
An absolutely phenomenal continuation of The Infernal Devices trilogy. I adore her mix of Victorian with steampunk elements, and her ability to create brilliantly realistic characters and then develop them until you love the ones you thought you hated for being so human and loveable. Also, her ability to create swoon worthy men and sizzling love triangles remains unparalleled.
You can read my review here.
November was filled with amazing books so whilst this remains my book of the month, it is tied with the books listed below.
'Touch of Power' by Maria V Snyder
'Breakfast at Darcy's' by Ali McNamara
'Entwined' by Heather Dixon
'Shadows on the Moon' by Zoe Marriott
October 2011
This book is my book of the year. Hauntingly beautiful, it draws you into the legend of the water horses and the island of Thisby and takes you on a breathtaking journey. Impossible to shake free, even after you've finished reading, this book is incredible. You can read my full review here.
September 2011'The Night Circus' by Erin Morgenstern
There is no contest on this one - this is quite possibly one of the best books I have ever read. Incredibly beautiful, elegantly written with the most amazing plot and world ever constructed. I love it. You can read my full review here.
August 2011
I absolutely adored this book - a strong heroine that you can watch grow into herself and her power throughout, a fabulous fantasy world and a brilliant plot all combine to make this one of the best fantasy books I have read this year.
You can pre-order this book on Amazon for 29th September.
You can also read my full review here.
A very close runner up...
Wow, just wow. Urban fantasy just got epic again with this brilliant plot full of scary beasties, brilliant dialogue and kick ass girls.
This is one of my very high recommendations of the year, and a brilliant last read before 2012, because it's released on December 27th 2011. So get your pre-ordering hats on and get ready for a brilliant book.
You can read my review here.
July 2011
This book was absolutely brilliant. It was a standalone and featured such a brilliant concept, a host of well conceived characters, and enough tension and smoochyness to shake a stick at. Standing as Marr's first adult novel, it completely blew me away with the sheer vibrancy of the world building and concepts that were just wow. I want to go back and re-read it again very soon, just for another chance to get lost in the world and revel in the sheer decadence of the 'other side'.
Very close runner up:
'Looking for Alaska' by John Green
'Looking for Alaska' broke my heart, stomped on all the pieces and then put it back together again with sellotape. It was beautiful and poignant, and breathtakingly perfect. I cried and I laughed and as soon as I put it down I wanted to go back to the beginning and start all over again.
June 2011
Oh my gosh I love this book so much! I love the series, and the characters, and reading them feels like coming home. They're beautifully written, funny, terrifying and full of intrigue that even I cannot guess until Raybourn wants you to know the full truth. At the heart is an incredible love story that we've watched flourish from a spark of attraction through to marriage, and is fascinating to watch as they struggle through the emotional highs and lows that accompany it, and the overwhelming love that sears through everything.
You can read my full review here.
Very close runner up:
This series has been an absolute delight to read, and this stunning conclusion to the trilogy is possibly the best of them all. A staggeringly heart breaking read, it combines biting wit, stark emotions and raw love, and explores the all consuming desire to protect those you love no matter what the cost. Sin was a delightful narrator who really shows the characters in an outsiders light, and gave another view on the fabulously complex but always brilliant Ryves brothers.
You can read my review here.
May 2011'My Last Duchess' - American Title: The American Heiress
by: Daisy Goodwin
This book was filled with understated elegance. A delicious slow build that fulfilled ever fantasy in my head of the rich opulence of the age. Instead of the traditional historical romance, this book offers an incredible insight into the many facets of relationships and human emotion. A staggeringly beautiful read, I want to re immerse myself in the book again and again.
You can read my full review here.
April 2011
This month is going to be a little different, because I read so many awesome books, that I can't just pick one...
So I will pick one book of the month, but there will also be two close runner ups. And it was a really tough decision to even pick that!
Red Glove by Holly Black
Wow. This is such a fresh concept for young adult. Curse Workers, con artists, where to be a curse worker is effective to being in the mob. I just love the concept, I love Cassel, I love Holly Black's genius mind for giving me this series. You can read my full review of 'Red Glove' here.
And the runners up are...City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
I love this series, and I was so excited to see that after the initial trilogy, another three books were going to be added to that! The first of these is COFA, and boy is it awesome. We got to see the 'after the happily ever after' and see what our favourite band of heroes were up to now they'd defeated the big bad. And you know what? There's another big bad on the horizon now...
You can read my full review of 'City of Fallen Angels' here.
'I'd tell you I love you, but then I'd have to kill you' by Ally Carter
This book is amazing. If it was a boy I'd be signing our names together with little hearts. Hysterical, brilliant, poignant - it made me laugh out loud every few pages. Spy school? For geniuses? Hell yeah! Screw Hogwarts, I want to be a Gallagher Girl! You can read my full review (I warn you there are a lot of capitals to express my love...) here.
March 2011
The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
This book may well end up being my book of the year. Since reading it I'm struggling to recapture the same passion I felt reading anything else. This book haunts me, I keep going back to it, and I think it's ruined me for any others. You can read my review of it here
February 2011Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
I adored this book - it's such a compelling mix of depression, morbidity and beautifully breathtaking prose. It's Isaac's debut novel and is absolutely incredible with possibly one of the strangest love stories ever told. You can read my review of the book here
January 2011
Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel
Oh wow this reawakened my love of vampires in books. There has been a lack of fresh vampire tales since their surge in popularity and Infinite Days took the old tale and gave it a fresh breath of life. The two tales being told whip the reader up and keep them engaged with the story from start to finish. A brilliant new series, full of romance, danger and heartbreaking tragedy. You can read my review of the book here
December 2010
Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn
Words cannot describe my love for Deanna Raybourn's books. They are incredible. The level of detail, the research that has gone into them, the voice, the characters, everything is spot on and absolutely amazing. I could gush for hours over her books. Instead, I will nominate this, the fourth book in the Lady Julia Grey Series as my book of the month, and squee about the upcoming fifth book, released in June 2011. And you can read my incredibly gushy review of the book here
