Jun 24 2013

Image

2013)

This is a feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish that allows bloggers the chance to geek out about their favorite books. This week’s topic:

Top Ten Favorite Books Read So Far in 2013

This was actually a hard one for me, as I can’t remember the last time I read so many 4.5+ star books in such a short timeframe. My strategy of giving up all the “obligations” and focusing solely on the books that excite me has really paid off!

(click on the covers for full reviews)

#1 Gameboard of the Gods – 5/5 stars

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

This was probably my favorite so far this year. Mead really outdid herself.

#2 The Selection – 4.5/5 stars

The Selection by Kiera Cass

This book tickled me.

#3 Black Magic Sanction – 5/5 stars

This one was my favorite Harrison book so far. It’s always nice when a series gets better and better as it goes along.

#4 Hex Hall – 5/5 stars

I am kicking myself for not reading this sooner – I loved it!

#5 Hounded – 4.5/5 stars

I consider this a must-read for any urban fantasy fan.

#6 The Bane – 4/5 stars

The Bane by Keary Taylor

This is dystopian, and I’m really excited to see where the story goes next. It’s perfect for fans of Divergent and Partials.

#7 The Ghost King – 5/5 stars

The Ghost King by R.A.Salvatore

Just when I think this author can’t possibly produce another great novel, he dazzles me.

#8 Indigo Spell – 5/5 stars

Ugh, I can’t wait for the next one. These are SO good!

#9 Frost Burned – 5/5 stars

One of the best urban fantasy series ever – this one was no exception.

#10 The Deepest Night – 5/5 stars

This novel was beautiful, breathtaking, and romantic.

Such good reading this year so far! What books made your list?

Jun 18 2013

Image

Top Ten Tuesday – Top 10 Books at the Top of my Summer 2013 TBR list! (6/18/2013)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature posted by The Broke and the Bookish. They often have really fun topics, and this one happens to be the one I’ve been waiting for!

Top 10 Books at the Top of my Summer 2013 TBR list!

: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

: Pale Demon by Kim Harrison

: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

: The Sharing Knife by Lois McMaster Bujold

: Enclave by Ann Aguirre

: Paranormalcy by Kristen White

: Orphans of Chaos by John C. Wright

: Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

: Wither by Lauren DeStefano

: Leviathan Wakes by James Corey

I am finally at the point where I can start new series. I have had so many different ones going that I made it a concerted effort over the last few months to get caught up. As you can see, all of the books (except for Kim Harrison) are first books. You might’ve also notice that most of them are teen… what can I say? I’m on a kick.

Of all the titles, I am most excited to read Everneath – I have seen so many rave reviews that I am convinced it’s going to be amazing! I have made it my personal goal to have all of these read before the Fall 2013 TBR list is due – wish me luck!

Are any of these books on your list? Or, even better, have you read them already?

Jun 10 2013

Image

Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Epic Adventures (6/4/2013)

This week’s feature, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, is supposed to feature travel in some way. Because travel is just not that exciting to me unless it’s in the form of some grand adventure, so I have tweaked to the category a bit:

Top Ten Epic Adventures!

: Magician Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist

: Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

: Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb

: Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey

: Sword – Dancer/Sword – Singer by Jennifer Roberson

: Redwall by Brian Jacques

: Pendragon: The Merchant of Death by D.J. MacHale

: The Thief’s Gamble by Juliet E.McKenna

: Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings

: The Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass

All of these contain epic adventures in one form or another, whether it be by the high seas or through dangerous ogre-infested mountains. They are guaranteed to make you feel like you are on the journey with them without ever leaving your armchair.

I have reviews for some of them, if you’d like to read them you can click on the covers below:

Magician: Apprentice (5/5 stars!)

Magician Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist

Sword Dancer/Sword Singer (4/5 stars)

Sword – Dancer/Sword – Singer by Jennifer Roberson

Pawn of Prophecy (4.5/5 stars)

Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings

Redwall (5/5 stars)

Redwall by Brian Jacques

These are all fantastic books and ones that I recommend constantly because who doesn’t love a good adventure? If you have a top ten list, I’d love to see it – leave a comment so I can come check it out! :-)

May 28 2013

Image

Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Book Blogs I Follow! (5/28/2013)

This is a weekly feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. They normally provide categories for us, but this week is a freebee week. Because this feature has allowed me to get to know many of you in the book-blogging community, I thought I would dedicate this week’s TTT to some of my favorite bloggers!

Top Ten Book Blogs I Follow!

While I frequent many book blogs that aren’t listed here, these are the ones that are currently featuring the type of books I’m interested in, have the best layouts and overall visual elements, and/or do a great job keeping me entertained throughout the week – enjoy!

#1: There Were Books Involved…

#2: Unlikely Librarian

#3: The Moonlight Library

#4: The Librarian Who Doesn’t Say “Shhh”

#5: Somewhere Between the Pages

#6: Paper Fantasies

#7: Snuggly Oranges

#8: Book Adoration

#9: Lilybloombooks

#10: Lovely Books Blog

There you have it! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!

I’d love to see what you’ve chosen for your TTT – leave me a comment so I can come check out your list. :)

May 21 2013

Image

Top Ten Tuesday – Top Ten Framable Book Covers!

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by The Broke and The Bookish once a week where book bloggers can network and find out what everybody else is reading. It is super fun, so if you haven’t participated yet you might be missing out! Of all the TTTs, this is probably one of my absolute favorites because I LOVE beautiful book covers. Most on my list are adult novels, but I could easily do a YA list with nothing but girls in pretty dresses. Incidentally, the insides of these choices were, for the most part, just as awesome as the outsides! :)

Top Ten Framable Book Covers!

I read the entire series based off of this cover alone, and you know what – I loved it! Luis Royo is by far my favorite artist and I will read anything he does the cover art for!

This is the cover for the fourth book of one of my all time favorite series. Not a lot of people know that Dawn Cook is an alias of Kim Harrison- I didn’t catch on myself until after about five years of wondering “Is Dawn Cook ever going to come out with something new?” Each book got better and better, and so did the covers (the originals, anyway. The new ones they are marketing this series with are painfully ugly).

Yup, I totally picked this up based solely on the beautiful cover. I am glad I did, too, because it was a breath of fresh air in the urban fantasy genre.

Speaking of urban fantasies, Patricia Briggs is one of the best out there and this happens to be (after some serious deliberation) my favorite cover art of the series – although they are each beautiful in their own way – I could have easily included her more than once.

The moment I saw this cover I went “Ooh! I definitely want to read this!” To this day it is still one of my favorite love stories. I consider it a must-read for fans of the teen genre.

This is yet another cover done by Luis Royo and is simultaneously my favorite series by Julie E. Czerneda. Gorgeous! And intriguing…

I’ve come to realize that everybody pictures dragons in a slightly different manner. Whoever did the artwork for this series captured perfectly the way I envision them – this one’s the best.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the original covers, but when they started re-releasing them with new artwork I kick myself for not buying them in hardcover. Beautiful art that captures scenes in the books with excellent motion and perspective – Loves!

Michael Whelan did the artwork for this series and, as I mentioned in my “Dragon Obsession – The Visual Files” post it is still one of my favorite Dragon artwork. I have tried to re-create it through several mediums but it never turns out quite right. Although it’s only been within the last few years that I’ve noticed the Dragon kind of looks like the giant cockroach alien on Men in Black…

It’s funny, when I first was considering this topic I figured more than half of the books on my list would be from the teen genre. It surprised me how many fantasy books made the list. In any case, of all the teen books out there this is my favorite cover. It saddens me because it was later replaced by one I don’t like near as well.

Honorable mentions:

: Pearls of Lutra by Brian Jacques

Seeing these three covers in my school library when I was 10 years old inspired me to get good enough at readings so that I could one day pick them up. I couldn’t possibly have a favorite cover list without including them!

What books made your list?