Monday 24 December 2012

My Top Books of 2012

Another year gone and it's the first one with my blog to record my reading and bore strangers with my opinions on books!

Anyway, apparently it is customary, or at least popular, to look back at all the books I've read in the last 12 months, record the great and the not so great. So here we go, my top however-many books of 2012 (blank because I'm not sure how many there'll be, but probably more than 10).

And of course Merry Christmas <3

The Immortal Rules by Julia Kagawa
One of the best vampire books I've ever read. Plain and simple. Vampires as bad and scary, not romantic and sparkly? Finally! I loved Allie as the heroine, someone who didn't want to be a vampire, who struggled with her lost humanity, mostly by herself. And Zeke was a fantastically gorgeous good guy, helping the small and looking out for his family, even accepting Allie when he probably shouldn't have. Such a detailed and well developed story with a fascinating vampire legend. (Review)

Black Dawn and Bitter Blood by Rachel Caine
Number 12 of Morganville came out in May, 13 last month. As anyone will know, I love this series with all my heart. The town, the characters, the bad guys, everything is incredibly brilliant and I read each new instalment in a weekend, making my hands ache from holding the book up! (Review of Black Dawn and Bitter Blood)

Emma Hearts LA by Keris Stainton
I was introduced to Keris by Sophie, both on twitter and by her lending me her book. I loved it, flew through it and instantly fell for her characters. Simple yet touching, the streets of LA seemed real and dramas gave subtle reference to real themes of divorce and love. Not to mention Oscar, what a guy! (Review)

Blood Read Road and Rebel Heart by Moira Young
Pressured and persuaded by Sophie once again, I ended up loving the book and rushed to get a hold of the second in the summer and get them both signed! Saba, torn apart from her twin brother, is ridiculously strong, even though it took me a while to warm to her due to her lack of showing emotions. Jack, the hero of this tale, was gorgeous and brilliant and I'm running out of adjectives to describe the fantasticness! Their journey through the dustlands was awe-inspiring, an amazing addition to the dystopian genre. (Review of Blood Red Road and Rebel Heart)

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
I'm not normally one for contemporary but I can not resist a romance, and Anna and St. Clair was up there with the greats. Simple acts and seemingly boring past times were rejuvenated with their sparkling and heartbreaking love story. (Review)

Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost
The first in the new spin-off series for Vlad and Leila. I adore Vlad with all my heart and he desperately needed his own story and now he does! A whole series of books to be fantastic and sexy in! Plus, how gorgeous is the model- I mean the cover? So much happened in this book, so many little plot points that developed Vlad and Leila's relationship, the hunt for the bad guy, or both. (Review)

Undead and Unfed by Kirsty McKay
My first zombie book. Low on my list of great paranormal creatures but fantastic in this series. My heart was in my throat through the whole book, literally could not put it down, I had to know that they all lived! Completely gross but still so enthralling, Bobby was an amazing heroine, Smitty was incredible and sweet and such a jackass! And of course Alice and Pete, the last of the unlikely gang of survival. (Review of Undead and Unfed)

Looking for Alaska by John Green
A present at Easter by my boyfriend, my first John Green book, that I read in a few days with tears in my eyes. I am literally unable to put into words how much I loved this and how much it hurt to read. I cried, as I am given to understand is typical of John Green's novels, and I laughed a lot, all the characters were fantastic and so real that I had heartache for days. A touching story that will stay with you. (Review)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Read early in the year, already knowing it was a favourite of my little brother's and my friends, I was unprepared for the raw emotions, heavy plot and pure awesome that was this created world with an evil Capitol and hidden heroes. Every character had something to bring to the story and most left me breathless or with tears in my eyes. (Review)

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
My first proper dual-narrative story, I believe, and I was not disappointed. A great way to start the Christmas season, not to mention a really cute love story that was subtle and believable. (Review)

5 comments:

  1. Yay for Hunger Games! I haven't read Looking for Alaska yet, but hopefully I'll get to it next year.

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  2. some brilliant books here! I loved a lot of these too :) Lets hope 2013 brings you some gems too

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  3. You've chosen some amazing books there! I absolutely LOVED Blood Red Road, Anna and the French Kiss, Looking For Alaska and The Immortal Rules. Hurrah for amazing books in 2012 and here's hoping they are even more awesome in 2013 :)

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  4. I read "The Hunger Games" and it happens to be on my top ten as well. I thought it was brilliant! I liked the characters, the setting (time period and area), and especially the concept of the competition. Unfortunately, the sequels did not live up to the first.

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