As the year's wrapping up, I figured I'd share some of my favorite books that I've read this year. I've read approximately 120 books, which may be a new record for me this year! The following are not in any exact order of awesome, and not all of them were 2012 debuts, it just happened to be this year that I read them. Give these a shot, if you haven't already! (Click on the titles, they're all links to the goodreads descriptions)
Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman Seraphina shocked and awed me. It's a rather complex book, with lots of additional detail in the world building (some of which, I felt, was completely unnecessary and rather distracting). For a first bow from Ms. Hartman, though, this book was phenomenal. The soaring love of language just is captivating, and Seraphina as a character is so well-executed, so deep and so real, that it overcomes almost all flaws in construction. There's a lot going on in this book, and a lot to love about it. If there's one book you should read, it's really this one.
Bitterblue, by Kristin Cashore It's no secret that my coauthor of this blog and I are OBSESSED with the writing of Cashore. We refer to her as our goddess of writing. I've seen her books get a lot of flack recently for so-called "raging feminist agendas," which I think is an entirely unfair critique of her work. Her female characters are so well-rendered and so varied from one another. Just because she dares to be different and have one character (seriously, just one - Katsa, beginning in Graceling but continuing in Bitterblue) choose to remain in a loving, committed relationship, without getting married, people FREAK THE EFF OUT. Seriously, guys, there's nothing to not be in awe of when reading Cashore's work. BB is a great addition to her Graceling realm, and I cried, laughed, and gasped while reading this book. It takes some great writing to elicit physical responses from me, and this is writing at its best.
On the Jellicoe Road, by Melina Marchetta M.M. is quickly becoming another goddess of writing for me. Whether it's her amazing fantasy series (Finnikin of the Rock, Froi of the Exiles, and Quintana of Charyn make up her Lumatere chronicles) or her heart-breaking renditions of families and friends in relationship, she's got a finger on the pulse of human emotion and doesn't let you forget about it. Reading Jellicoe was, at times, an emotional beating. People lie and steal and hit each other and love and kiss and fight. In other words, they're real. Marchetta specializes in multi-generational epics, and she does them so well. Jellicoe is an older book, but one that I just discovered this year.
Past Perfect, by Lelia Sales The cover of this book actually really doesn't correlate to its innards in any way. It's such a fun romp, but surprisingly emotional too. I was so shocked by how much I enjoyed this book and how badly I didn't want it to end.
Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins Wow. This one was a lot of fun, and also just sucks you right into the story. Stephanie Perkins reminds me a lot of Sarah Dessen, but with more fun and light, if that makes any sense? Lola and the Boy Next Door is its follow up and is also really great.
Cinder, by Marissa Meyer We've taken to referring to Marissa Meyer as the Greater Meyer, and the author of the vampire books which shall not be named as the Meyer the Lesser. SERIOUSLY GUYS CINDER IS AMAZING AOFGKNFDOJSOANOPJFSJOPAD - okay, I'm sorry. I fangirled out for a second. Just do yourself a favor and GO READ THIS.
Shadow & Bone, by Leigh Bardugo Russians. Alternate steampunk-y universe. Magic. Grisha. Cool robes. Sexy villain literally called "The Darkling." Satisfying romance. COOL FIGHT SEQUENCES. Raptors who attack from the sky! A Christmas ball. I don't know what more you could ask for! I'm so excited for next summer's Siege and Storm and the continuation of this trilogy. Also, Ms. Bardugo is so sweet and once answered my ask on her tumblr. I love it when authors are kind to readers!
The Name of the Star, by Maureen Johnson honestly, I think this is the great M.J.'s best work yet. Funny, creepy, scary, hilarious, ENGLAND, ghosts! GHOSTS! I think you're doing YOURSELF a disservice if you don't give this one a whirl. Honestly.
Second Chance Summer, by Morgan Matson I wept while reading this book. WEPT. Convulsive sobbing that shook my bed. My throat was sore and my eyes were bloodshot, that's how hard I wept. If that's not a glowing enough recommendation, I don't know WHAT is.
The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater Maggie has a way with words. Her books are just haunting, to me. I didn't read her werewolves trilogy because it just seemed TERRIBLE to me (I could be wrong, haven't even read a page of it) but the Raven Boys just sealed her in my mind as amazing and I cannot get enough. Court scored an ARC of it, which she graciously lent to me, and let me tell you guys - this is a 2012 debut that you should definitely one hundred percent be reading. I can't really go into too much detail about the plot, but it's such a rich book to sink your teeth into. Read it - you won't be sorry.
How bout you guys? Any awesome books of this year that I've left out?
- Fire
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