The List
1. Rebel Angels ~ Libba Bray
2. The Sweet Far Thing ~ Libba Bray
3. Blood Price ~ Tanya Huff
4. Dead Until Dark ~ Charlaine Harris
5. Grave Surprise ~ Charlaine Harris
6. An Ice Cold Grave ~ Charlaine Harris
7. Grave Sight ~ Charlaine Harris
8. Living Dead in Dallas ~ Charlaine Harris
9. Stray ~ Rachel Vincent
10. The Last Days ~ Scott Westerfeld
11. Briar Rose ~ Jane Yolen
12. The Hero and the Crown ~ Robin McKinley
13. The Secret Hour (Midnighters Series book 1) ~ Scott Westerfeld
14. Touching Darkness (Midnighters Series book 2) ~ Scott Westerfeld
15. Blue Noon (Midnighters Series book 3) ~ Scott Westerfeld
16. The Turning (Blood Ties Book One) ~ Jennifer Armintrout
17. The Midnight Club ~ Christopher Pike
18. The Time Traveler's Wife ~ Audrey Niffenegger
19. Speak ~ Laurie Halse Anderson
20. Vampire Academy ~ Richelle Mead
21. Marked (a house of night novel) ~ PC Cast and Kristin Cast
22. Betrayed (a house of night novel) ~ PC Cast and Kristin Cast
23. Chosen (a house of night novel) ~ PC Cast and Kristin Cast
24. Blue Bloods ~ Melissa De La Cruz
25. Masquerade ~ Melissa De La Cruz
26. Rogue ~ Rachel Vincent
27. Halfway to the Grave ~ Jeaniene Frost
28. Dead Witch Walking ~ Kim Harrison
29. The Good, The Bad, and the Undead ~ Kim Harrison
30. Every Which Way but Dead ~ Kim Harrison
31. A Fistful of Charms ~ Kim Harrison
32. For a Few Demons More ~ Kim Harrison
33. Prom Nights From Hell ~ Anthology (Meyer, Harrison)
34. One Foot in the Grave ~ Jeaniene Frost
35. The Outlaw Demon Wails ~ Kim Harrison
36. Club Dead ~ Charlaine Harris
37. The Host ~ Stephenie Meyer
38. Dead to the World ~ Charlaine Harris
39. Dead as a Doornail ~ Charlaine Harris
40. Definitely Dead ~ Charlaine Harris
41. Twilight ~ Stephenie Meyer
42. New Moon ~ Stephenie Meyer
43. Eclipse ~ Stephenie Meyer
44. Blood Noir ~ Laurell K. Hamilton
45. Lover Enshrined ~ JR Ward
46. Succubus Blues ~ Richelle Mead
47. Succubus on Top ~ Richelle Mead
48. Frostbite ~ Richelle Mead
49. Weddings from Hell ~ Anthology
50. Magic Bites ~ Ilona Andrews
51. Magic Burns ~ Ilona Andrews
52. Wicked Lovely ~ Melissa Marr
53. Ink Exchange ~ Melissa Marr
54. Tithe ~ Holly Black
55. Ironside ~ Holly Black
56. Looking for Alaska ~ John Green
57. Wake ~ Lisa McMann
58. The Scent of Shadows ~ Vicki Pettersson
59. The Taste of Night ~ Vicki Petterson
60. The Touch of Twilight ~ Vicki Pettersson
61. Alltogether Dead ~ Charlaine Harris
62. Fairest ~ Gail Carson Levine
63. A Certain Slant of Light ~ Laura Whitcomb
64. Darkhenge ~ Catherine Fisher
65. The Starlight Crystal ~ Christopher Pike
66. Breaking Dawn ~ Stephenie Meyer
67. Storm Born ~ Richelle Mead
68. Hell's Belles ~ Jackie Kessler
69. Moon Called ~ Patricia Briggs
70. Blood Bound ~ Patricia Briggs
71. Iron Kissed ~ Patricia Briggs
72. Bitten ~ Kelley Armstrong
73. Stolen ~ Kelley Armstrong
74. Dime Store Magic ~ Kelley Armstrong
75. Industrial Magic ~ Kelley Armstrong
76. Cry Wolf ~ Patricia Briggs
77. Haunted ~ Kelley Armstrong
78. Broken ~ Kelley Armstrong
79. No Humans Involved ~ Kelley Armstrong
80. Touch the Dark ~ Karen Chance
81. Carpe Demon (Demon Hunting Soccer Mom) ~ Julie Kenner
82. Claimed by Shadow ~ Karen Chance
83. Embrace the Night ~ Karen Chance
84. Personal Demon ~ Kelley Armstrong
85. Immortal (Anthology) ~ Editor PC Cast
86. In the Forests of the Night ~ Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
87. From Dead to Worse ~ Charlaine Harris
88. As of Yet Unpublished Novel EOL ~ by EMR
89. At Graves End ~ JF
90. Possession ~ Jennifer Armintrout
91. City of Bones ~ Cassandra Clare
92. City of Ashes ~ Cassandra Clare
93. Untamed (a house of night novel) ~ PC Cast and Kristen Cast
94. Uglies ~ Scott Westerfeld
95. Pretties ~ Scott Westerfeld
96. Specials ~ Scott Westerfeld
97. Faerie Wars ~ Herbie Brennan
98. The Purple Emperor ~ Herbie Brennan
99. Ruler of the Realm ~ Herbie Brennan
100. Flowers in the Attic ~ VC Andrews
101. An Abundance of Katherines ~ John Green
102. Paper Towns ~ John Green
103. Let it Snow ~ John Green, M Johnson, L Myracle
104. Shadow Kiss ~ Richelle Mead
105. Havemercy ~ Jaida Jones & Danielle Bennett
106. Valiant ~ Holly Black
107. Succubus Dreams ~ Richelle Mead
1. 1/05/2008 I've read this book before, and found it just as enjoyable the second time. I wanted to smack Gemma for missing what was so glaringly obvious. I'd not payed much mind to the chess game between Gemma and her father the first time I read it, but it made me smile this time. Up next is The Sweet Far Thing, and I can't wait to find out how everything ends for Gemma (and Kartik. Dear sexy Kartik)
2. 1/11/2007 I cried like an idiot. Up until the very last page, *I* kept expecting him to show up on the lawn, too. When she went back to the realms, I was holding out every hope that he would be there, and she would bring him home, they would move to India, and the dream they shared in the Temple would come true. That being said, I thought it was beautiful in the hopefullness despite the loss ending. As for Pippa and Fee, I SOOOO called it. In AGATB when they are discussing 'Sophists' in the cave, their reactions made me wonder...and then as the story and relationships progressed, I REALLY began to wonder. I would be lying if I didn't say "HA!" out loud when I read the confirmation of it. As for the true villian, I won't lie. I had this one figured out very early on (or most of it, anyway) but that in no way hampered my enjoyment of reading it. I absolutely ADORE Libba Bray's writing, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
Although, was anyone else bothered by the sudden change in the Spence School Motto? It was "Grace, Charm, and Beauty." Now it is (and they act as if it always was) "Grace, Strength, and Beauty." Hmmph.
I love that Ann finally stepped out and made her own destiny, and that she found the strength to do it without the magic (I didn't believe she would actually sing on the street!), and that Felicity finally will have the freedom to callous and ill mannered, and under no ones wing. I love Tom's reaction to Gemma with the Rakshana. I love each and every little thing about Kartik. His faults, his words. He is quite possibly the most romantic male in the pages of any book. Not because of his flowery words, but because of the grit of him, and his actions. Love me some Kartik. Gemma is one of the best heriones I have ever had the pleasure to accompany along her journeyShe made me think about the cages we allow others to fit us in, the cages we construct for ourselves, and those we try to bridle each other with. Maybe we haven't come so far after all..
3. 1/16/2008. This book was kind of a let down. Don't get me wrong. The writing wasn't bad, exactly. And the story itself was good. I think part of it was that I'd seen this story before. The pilot of Blood Ties was, in essence, this book....but better. I think thats a big part of my peeve with it. The TV show is much better than the book. That shouldn't happen. Ever. But it did. Also, there were a crazy number of POV swaps. Paragraph to paragraph you didn't know whose head you were going to be in. It was distracting.
And Henry Fitzroy isn't actually a writer of comic books...he writes trashy romance novels under the pseudonym Elizabeth Fitzroy. TV Henry pwns book Henry, who is also four inches shorter than Vicki. I've already bought the other four books, so I will probably read them...but not yet. I'm moving on.
4. 1/17/2008. So, after the dull as dirt Tanya Huff book, Im ecstatic to say that I read the first Sookie Stackhouse book, Dead Until Dark) and absolutely adored it! The writing is witty and fun, and the plot was good. The outcome hadn't been completely obvious from the get go, and there were tons of cute surprises. It also made me wonder if Eric Kripke is a Sookie fan, what with the whole Sam/Dean thing. *snork* I can't wait to read the rest of them! I confess that this book has been sitting on my shelf for quite some time. It came highly reccd, but everyone talked about what a 'fun' read it was. For some unknown reason, that discouraged me from reading it. I guess in my own prejudiced mind I wasn't expecting a story about a girl named Sookie and a Vampire named Bill (seriously, what is WITH these names for Vamps. Bill, Edward, Henry...BORING) to be any good. Well, I'm not too proud to admit when I am wrong. It isn't good. It is GREAT! And how much fun was the cameo by the man from memphis?
5. 1/19/2008 LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. I think I prefer it to Sookie, actually. *starts next Harper Connely book immediately*
6. 1/20/2008 ~ Yup. Definitely prefer Harper to Sookie. There won't be another Harper book for well over a year. Pity.
7. 1/24/2008 ~ I didn't realize that this was the first book in this series. I read 2 and 3 first accidentally, but I loved it anyway. It was cute to watch the foreshadow of Halliver in the making. Great story, great book great author!
8. 1/25/2008 ~ Still loving Charlaine, still loving Sookie. Yay for Dallas! However, it did seem like this book had climax issues...the real climax of the book was in the middle, and then there was the orgy and random other bits that seemed less important than the events that happened earlier...maybe it's just me?
9. 1/26/2008. HOLY BOOKGASM. This has been my favorite book so far this year. Absolutely fantastic. I love Faythe's independence, I love Marc....OH HOW I LOVE MARC. It is currently 2:30 am, and thus I cannot completely and accurately convey how much I LOVE this book...but I will come back and add to this later. :D
10. 1/31/2008
11. 2/01/2008: Briar Rose was about the Holocaust. Though it is fiction, much of it was true. It was about the Granddaughter of a women who constantly told the story of Sleeping Beauty, and actually claimed to BE Briar Rose. The Grandmother had made Becca (the grandaughter) promise to find "her castle" on her deathbed, and the story is about Becca's quest to learn about Gemma (the grandma). The fairytale is a metaphor for Gemma's real life. It is a very touching book. It is YA, and quite short. The language is simple, but the message behind it holds real power.
A mist. A great mist. It covered the entire kingdom. And everyone in it--the good people and the not-so-good, the young people and the not-so-young, and even Briar Rose's mother and father fell asleep. Everyone slept; lords and laides, teachers and tummlers, dogs and doves, rabits and rabbitzen and all kinds of citizens. So fast asleep they were, they were not able to wake up for a hundred years."
"Are you a hundred years, Gemma?"
"Not yet."
"Is a hundred a lot?"
"A hundred years is forever."
I was drawn to Briar Rose because Sleeping Beauty is my favorite. My favorite fairy tale, my favorite ballet, my favorite Disney movie. The end all. When I ordered it from paperbackswap, I assumed it was just a retelling of the story. I've only read one fairy tale retelling: Beauty by McKinley (which I ADORE, and which is actually referenced in this book, and I quote: "She went to bed and finished only a few pages of McKinley's Beauty, a book she reread whenever she felt troubled." When it actually arrived I read the back and was immediately taken with the idea. I read the whole thing through this evening. Pure love. I really can't say enough about it.
12. 2/03/2008: I adored it. I loved the quest. I loved the determination. I loved the characters, the mythology built into it, and the pacing. There was very little form or flow to the pacing, which I think fit nicely. It wasn't predictable. The major conflicts weren't lined up evenly. It made it more realistic (rofl...realistic fantasy, you know what I mean) and more entertaining. I was very happy with the ending, and suddenly have a desire to begin riding horses. *giggle* I plan to read The Blue Sword very soon. :D
13. 2/04/08: The Secret Hour is the first book in the Midnighters Trilogy. Firstly, if you've read it, you will realize the irony of the fact that it was book # 13 of my 2008 reading list. :D I have to say that I absolutely adore this entire cast. There is the same sort of quirkyness here that I really liked in Peeps, and that I thought was slight overkill in The Last Days. Jessica is just so...normal.(something about you is so...11:59) She is a perfect contrast to the others and their varying degrees of crazy. :D The characters are funny and likable, the plot is solid, and more importantly, the world that Westerfeld has built is vivid and crazy fun to read. I read the whole book in one sitting and woke up the next morning to drive to Borders to get books 2 and 3...with my two kids in tow. You know they have to be something special for me to deem an out of town trip to a bookstore with a 2 and a 4 year old worthwhile. ;) Also, I found myself counting everything I heard to see if it was a tridecalogism. ;)
14. 2/05/2008: Touching Darkness was the 2nd Midnighter Book. Again, great character development, character continuity, and I really liked the plot of this one, too. Westerfeld does a fantastic job of not letting the novelty of this new world wear off on the reader. The person we meet in this book (who we briefly glanced in the first) is very interesting. ;) Oh, and I <3 Jonathan.
15.2/07/2008: Blue Noon was the final book in the Midnighters Series, and it was a fantastic way to close it out. I've heard some complaint about the way the series ended, but it was right up my alley. Weve had this discussion before, I think there should be a price, and there is...and it isn't unbearable. I think it was brilliant. :D
16. 2/08/2008: I really liked this book once I got into it. Nathan/Nolen is awesome as a closed down male (and the wedding ring thing at the end...grah! I love Carrie. I love how quickly she "gives in" to her nature. Its just about perfect. :D
17. 2/08/2008. Ah. What can be better than rediscovering old favorites? I was really in the mood for this after I read the Armintrout book. It isn't that I don't like the new books. The new Vamp series. New paranormal. But it all makes me long for the way books used to make me feel, before I had read hundreds of them (probably thousands actually) When stories themselves were novelties, and I first fell in love with them. Christopher Pike was my first literary obsession, and when I return to the first books I became enamoured with, I'm taken back in time. I remember reading it on a Summer day, my 12th birthday, when I had taken all $150 of my birthday money to half price books and spent every last penny of it (along with about $30 I had saved up) on books. I had them all read in less than a month. Im back in the chaise lounge beside the pool, my face not getting tan with the rest of my body because the book is blocking the sun. I remember being the aide in gym class, and spending the class periods in the locker room sprawled out on the uncomfortable bench oblivious to the pain in my back and the odor of smelly socks because I was somewhere very far away absorbed in a story I already knew by heart. I'm in the backseat of my Mom's Lexus, realizing that shes put out with me because I haven't heard a word of her 20 minute speech about our family's vacation plans. My nose was in a tattered old book. I'm back in Greg's college house, not studying for tomorrow morning's A&P final, because I finally unpacked my last box in my dorm room, and found at the very bottom of the box a book that had been read so many times that the cover was no longer attached to the pages. I love this book. I hold it, and I remember. Favorite books remind us of who we are better than our own handwritten journals could ever hope to.
18. 2/13/2008: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Okay, there isn't enough tissue in the world for this. I cried so hard it wasn't even crying anymore. I sobbed. The book was so good, but so sad. I don't even know what to say. Phenomenal story. Loved it loved it loved it...and hated it. I hear they are making a movie? Should be interesting...I'm not sure if I will see it (though I probably will) I need a really perky book next...
19. 2/14/2008: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Yeah. I didn't move on to perky. I read Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson. This book was very powerful. Very moving. This one definitely found a home on the shelf of books that I will, no doubt, read again. If I had a daughter, I would want her to read it...as it is, I will likely have my sons read it when they are older. The very IDEA of this book being banned makes my eyeballs flame (which would be a cool, if somewhat painful superpower to have). Stupid Stupid Censory People.
20. 2/17/2008: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
WOOT! I finally moved on to a 'lighter' book, even though there was plenty of tension and drama in this book, none of it was heartbreakingly sad in the way that the last two (scratch that, Midnight Club by Christopher Pike is set in a hospice for dying Teenagers, where all the MCs, well, die) THREE books I read were.
So I started reading this at nearly midnight last night, thinking that I would just read a chapter or so and then head off to bed. That...didn't happen. I couldn't put it down (just one more chapter...no, just one MORE chapter) I one more chaptered myself through the whole thing. :D
It will never be a literary classic taught at universities or anything, but it is well written with likable characters and a fun plot. The mythology is a neat twist, and it is revealed at a nice tempo, with no massive info dumps. I just saw that there is a sequel Frostbite coming out on April 10. I will absolutely be getting it!
21. 2/17/2008: Marked (A House of Night Novel) by PC Cast and Kristin Cast
I'll be honest and say that I didn't expect much from this book. I don't know why. The cover was cool (and that's always the most telling thing....right?) But I went into it with low expectations, and was really surprised by how much I liked it! The characters are fun, the MC is easy to identify with, and her circle of friends are enviable. At first all of the magic/circles/goddess stuff made me a little twitchy, but then I decided to relax and read it for what it is: fantasy. Then I was able to really enjoy it. In fact, I read it while my little ones took a nap (a fairly extended nap, but they were tired out from rising early for Church that a.m.) I liked it so much, that I started the second book in the series right away!
22. 2/18/2008 Betrayed (A House of Night Novel) by PC Cast and Kristin Cast
One thing I really like about this book: the plot 'twists' are all sufficiently hinted at before they occur. None of the major plot points were really that much of a surprise, they were all built up to in a way that the reader would have to be a moron not to see it, but the MCs lack of foreknowledge is still believable. It works.
Another thing I really like is the writing style. It is completely informal, and a whole lot of fun. The story is told from the POV of a 16 year old female, and it feels like it is. When she is talking and she references something sci fi/fantasy pop culture, she calls herself a dork (to the reader) Later when she mentions that the tunnels look like they were dug by very drunk Tolkein dwarves it says (yeah I know, I'm still a dork.) It feels RIGHT in this story. Almost like Zoey (the MC) were typing all this out on her LJ for her flist to read. It feels like she really IS telling her own story. Not forced. I want the third book NOW...but it doesn't come out until next month. *stomps around impatiently*
23. 3/??/2008 Chosen (a house of night novel) by PC Cast and Kristin Cast
24. 3/29/2008 Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz
25. 4/3/2008 Masquerade by Melissa De La Cruz
26. 4/9/2008 Rogue by Rachel Vincent
27. 4/12/2008 Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (This book definitely withstands multiple readings!)
28. 4/15/2008 Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
29. 4/20/2008 The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison
30.4/21/2008 Every Which Way but Dead by Kim Harrison
31. 4/25/2008 A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison
32. 4/27/2008 For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison
33. 4/28/2008 Prom Nights from Hell (Anthology)
34. 4/29/2008 One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
35. 5/02/2008 The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison
36. 05/05/2008 Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
37. 05/06/2008 The Host by Stephenie Meyer
38. 05/18/2008 Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
39. 05/18/2008 Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris
40. 05/21/2008 Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris
41. 05/28/2008 Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (for about the millionth time)
42. 05/31/2008 New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (also for about the millionth time)
43. 06/04/2008 Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer (dude, are you seeing the pattern here?)
44. 06/16/2008 Blood Noir by Laurell K Hamilton. *Jason Rocks!*
45. 06/16/2008 Lover Enshrined by JR Ward
46. 06/17/2008 Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
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| review: | This is easily one of the very best paranormal books that I have ever read. The world Richelle builds is easy to get into, and unfolds at just the right pace. The characters are likable, the dialogue is fun, the plot is solid, and it left me wanting more!
I couldn't make myself put this one down (which goes against the protagonist's 5 page a day rule that she imposes on herself when reading her favorite author), and I'm so glad that I bought the sequel when I bought Succubus Blues. I already...more This is easily one of the very best paranormal books that I have ever read. The world Richelle builds is easy to get into, and unfolds at just the right pace. The characters are likable, the dialogue is fun, the plot is solid, and it left me wanting more!
I couldn't make myself put this one down (which goes against the protagonist's 5 page a day rule that she imposes on herself when reading her favorite author), and I'm so glad that I bought the sequel when I bought Succubus Blues. I already know I'll be up all night on a binge read! |
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47. 06/18/2008 Succubus on Top by Richelle Mead ~ I blew through these two books, and then was so sad that I have to wait until October for the third book in the series to come out. *cries a little* These books are so different, and so much fun to read. This author is just fan freaking tastic. Seriously.
48. 06/19/2008 Frostbite by Richelle Mead YAY! I liked this one even better than the debut! FANTASTIC!
49. 06/21/2008 Weddings from Hell: Jeaniene's story was hands down the best, and that isn't just because of the cameo by Bones. (uh, how long do we have to wait for At Grave's End again? Crap. Too long.)
All the stories were entertaining, though, and I find myself wanting to hunt up some other works by TG.
Generally speaking, I prefer novels to short stories, since I really like to dig in deep with the characters, but these were well worth a read!
50. 6/24/2008 Magic Bites from Ilona Andrews This book was different than what I expected. I knew going into it that several of my fave authors are fans of this series, so I went in expecting to really like it. For some reason I had trouble getting into the beginning of it. I can't really tell you what that reason <i>is</I, though. The characters are interesting, the universe is captivating, and the writing is fantastic...but I just wasn't "there" with it. I spent two days on the first 50 pages or so (which is unusual for me) but then something changed. I ended up so absorbed in the characters and the story that I couldn't stop reading, and devoured the entire rest of the book without moving my little tushy off of the couch.
51. 6/27/2008 Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews ~ Holy UST, Batman!
This book kicked the first's books butt. The plot is solid, the characters are more developed, and I was enthralled from the very first page. I LOVE Ilona's slow and steady revelations about Kate's heritage, she leads you to suspect the truth before she confirms it, avoiding any major info dumps, which in an alternate history series such as this is awfully hard to do!
And the very last paragraph? DUDE! That's all I'm going to say. When the heck does the next book come out?
I started the second book and had to pry myself away from it to come write this review and date the book as read so I can keep up with my 2008 reading log, but I'm jumping right back into the sequel, Magic Burns, as soon as I hit "save."
52. 6/28/2008 Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr ~ I'd been meaning to get around to reading this for awhile. It was nothing short of captivating. The characters (I know, there I go again with the characters) are perfect because they are so very imperfect. Told from 3rd person multiple POV, you really get a feel for the conflicts (internal and external) and the motivations for everything that is happening.
I really enjoyed Tithe by Holly Black, but I adored this book much, much more. I read it in one sitting. Put this on your to-be-read list folks, and then do yourself a favor, and bump it up to the top. :D
53. 6/28/2008 Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr ~ Firstly, I have a confession to make. These books had been on my TBR list for awhile. I'd even already bought them, and they were sitting pretty on my "YA Fantasy Shelf" right between Holly Black and Herbie Brennan. In fact, Wicked Lovely had been at the TOP of my TBR list for quite some time, but every time I finished the "now reading" book, someone on my flist would say "Oh! Now you have to read *insert random title here* because nobody else has read it and I want to discuss it with somebody!" And I'm a pushover, so I did. Yesterday morning (after inhaling Ilona Andrews Magic Burns the night before) I woke up to the sound of my five year old singing "Let's Go to Grams and swim! Let's go to Gram's and swim! Get out of bed, you sleepy head, let's go to Gram's and swim!" (to the tune of Farmer in the Dell, no less) Being sunburned (yeah, yeah...spare me the lecture. I know a grown woman should know better than to let herself get fried, but it is what it is) and was definitely not feeling up for a swim. I decided to grab a book and take him to Gram's pool, where I could sit under the umbrella (ella ella) with my toes in the water and read. I shot a quick look at my shelves as to what to take. Since I was going to my parents house-- and hoping to avoid the incessant teasing--I wanted nothing with almost naked people on the cover and nothing with lover, lust, blood, death, or succubus in the title (although my Dad's expression when I pulled out Succubus Blues to read in the waiting room of a his Dr. Appt last week was priceless) I thought "Oh! Perfect time to start Wicked Lovely." Yeah. to START Wicked Lovely. Start. Ha.
I devoured both books between breakfast and bedtime, and then went back to reread some of my favorite scenes several more times. The prose was just...wow. So gritty and dark. So beautiful. Parts of it made me cry, a lot of it made me smile, and all of it made me forget to do the laundry.
My first thought when I finished Wicked Lovely was "Sheesh. I love this more than I loved Tithe." Let me just say that I really, really love Tithe. I didn't think a faery story could be written that I love more than Holly Black's take on the genre. As an experiment I started a reread of Tithe today, thinking maybe my opinion was skewed because of the year or so it has been since I read it. I stand by my first reaction. I love Wicked Lovely more. It is a truly powerful thing to have a favorite genre author knocked from the podium to make room for new blood (or ink. *grin*) It doesn't happen often, especially to people who read so many books that a lot of them blur together. It takes something special to really stand out. Melissa Marr's works do.
Have you guys read them? What was your take?
If you haven't read them, I can't tell you enough how much you should. Log off right now and go do it, but make sure you have a clear day ahead of you and the telephone number for the pizza delivery guys. I physically couldn't put them down. Melissa Marr is like Pringles Potato Chips...once you pop, you can't stop.
54. 07/06/2008 Tithe by Holly Black
Tithe is one of those books that I devoured in one sitting, and absolutely loved. The problem with books like that, is that I often forget how much I love them since I spend so little time with the characters in my inability to stop reading straight through.
I finally got my hands on a copy of Ironside, and wanted a refresher on Tithe so I wouldn't be lost or miss any of the subtle nuances of the story.
It happened again. I drank this story down, closed the final page and gave a great sigh of satisfaction. Fantastic story. So edgy and dark without being overtly so, and without being edgy just for the sake of being edgy. Everything feels and flows just like it should.
55. 07/06/2008 Ironside by Holly Black
The sequel that is better than the original is a rare thing...but this one is.
Ironside is primarily about the characters from Tithe, but several cameos from Valiant are present, too.
Kaye is fiercer, Corny is...well...more pitiful and awesome at the same time. The plot is solid. The characters are believable and relatable despite the fact that we obviously can't have the same literal struggles they do (symbolism abounds here folks). And the prose is in-your-face-damnit-why-will-my-writing-never-rock-this-hard?! amazing
56. 07/07/2008 Looking for Alaska by John Green
I will preface this by saying that I was completely unprepared for this book. I read it primarily for three reasons. #1. Because of the controversy surrounding it's being taught in certain school districts. Bring on the banned books. #2. When learning of the banning of the book, I stumbled across John's youtube channel and blogs, and he is amazing. Amazing and witty and hilarious and sarcastic in the way that so many try for, and so very few accomplish. His description of the "Awkward, embarrasing, and wholly unerotic" sex scene was enough to sell me that I must get my hands on this book. #3. My friends that have read it all shouted from the rooftops how fantastic it is.
They told me it was fantastic--which, incidentally is correct--but none of them actually told me what it was about. I suppose that is because it would be impossible to really capture. But I was unaware of what the "before" and "after" parts of the story were about, and because of that, I think it hit me harder than if I'd been prepared.
If you haven't already been spoiled, then I'm sure as heck not going to be the one to do it...but read this book.
57. 07/07/08 Wake by Lisa McMann
Rachel Vincent recommended this book on her blog a few weeks ago, and when I came across it I couldn't say no.
After gorging myself on Looking for Alaska, I felt the need to pick something else up immediately. (LfA was fantastic, but sheesh was it ever depressing...I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't get the taste of it out of my thoughts)
Anyway, this is a book I know without a doubt I will read multiple times. It is written in 3rd person, with alternating POVs (though mostly it sticks to Janie)
It is completely disjointed, and flashing and that is exactly how it is meant to be. The main character gets sucked into people's dreams and it is ruining her life. I won't give anything else away, but I can't WAIT for the sequel!
58. The Scent of Shadows (The First Sign of the Zodiac) by Vicki Pettersson 7/12/2008
59. The Taste of Night (The Second Sign of the Zodiac) by Vicki Pettersson 7/16/2008
60. The Touch of Twilight ~ Vicki Pettersson 7/21/2008
61 Alltogether Dead ~ Charlaine Harris 7/21/2008
62. Fairest by Gail Carson Levine 7/22/2008
63. A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb 7/22/2008
64. Darkhenge by Catherine Fisher
65. the Starlight Crystal by Christopher Pike
66. Breaking Dawn ~ Stephenie Meyer 08/02/2008
67. Storm Born ~ Richelle Mead 08/05/2008
68. Hell's Belles ~ Jackie Kessler 08/09/08
69. Moon Called ~ Patricia Briggs 08/10/08
70. Blood Bound ~ Patricia Briggs 08/14/2008
71. Iron Kissed ~ Patricia Briggs 08/18/2008
72. Bitten ~ Kelley Armstrong 08/19/2008
73. Stolen ~ Kelley Armstrong 08/20/2008
74. Dime Store Magic ~ Kelley Armstrong 08/21/2008
75. Industrial Magic ~ Kelley Armstrong 08/22/2008
76. Cry Wolf ~ Patricia Briggs 08/23/2008
77. Haunted ~ Kelley Armstrong 08/25/2008
78. Broken ~ Kelley Armstrong 08/26/2008
79. No Humans Involved ~ Kelley Armstrong 08/27/2008
80. Touch the Dark ~ Karen Chance 08/29/2008
81. Carpe Demon (Adventures of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom) ~ Julie Kenner 08/31/2008
This book was very fun to read. Not at all my usual style, as I normally go for the darker toned snarky female narrators, and this was the lightly snarky (though hilarious) type story.
Absolutely worth reading, and I can't wait to locate the rest of this series!
82. Claimed by Shadow ~ Karen Chance 09/01/2008
83. Embrace the Night ~ Karen Chance 09/02/2008
84. Personal Demon ~ Kelley Armstrong 09/05/2008
85. Immortal (Anthology) ~ PC Cast Editor 09/06/2008
I gave this book four stars, but it would be better to break it down by story,because their individual ratings would vary WIDELY.
The best of the best? Richelle Mead. Her story was interesting and entertaining and you wanted to read more about the characters and their story when it was over. It was set in a completely different world than her vampire academy books with brand new characters and a brand new mythology. So freaking fabulous! (though I wouldn't have said no to a story IN the VA world, particularly a story that involved a Rose/Dimitri indiscretion...)5 stars
Next best was Claudia Gray's story. It was absorbing as well, and now I absolutely MUST get my hands on a copy of Evernight.
Nancy Holder's story felt a lot like "someone trying to imitate Holly Black writing a vampire story." I didn't HATE it, but I didn't love it either. I'm not even sure that I liked it. Probably I did though. It's hard to tell. ;) 3 stars.
Kristen Cast's story wasn't bad either. But it was very abrupt. Too much mythos for such a small word count. 3 stars.
I didn't read the Morganville vamp story, mostly because I have the books on my shelf and didn't want to be spoiled on them, but I will eventually.
The other stories were...well, they were not enjoyable at all. Cynthia L Smith wrote Tantalize, which I absolutely detested, and as it turns out, it wasn't just that story I didn't enjoy. The short story left me unimpressed as well. She isn't a bad writer, just not something I'm likely to ever enjoy. 2 stars.
Tanith Lee's story was meh. That is all I can muster the energy to say about it. Meh. 2 stars
86. In the Forests of the Night ~ Amelia Atwater Rhodes 09/08/2008 Meh.
87. From Dead to Worse ~ Charlaine Harris 09/11/2008
88. EOL by EMR ~ 9/12/2008
89. AGE by JF ~ 9/17/2008
90. Possesion by Jennifer Armintrout ~ 10/03/2008 Meh. Just Meh.
91. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare ~ 10/04/2008
DUDE. Why did no one on my flist INSIST that I read this sooner? Seriously.
92. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare ~ 10/06/20
Oh, man. I love this book so much. So so so much. I really don't have time for another fandom, but I'm SO THERE
93. Untamed by PC and Kristen Cast ~ 10/14/2008
This book took me an entire week to get through. Not because it was a particularly difficult read, but because the first part of it made me want to grind my teeth and start hitting things. It wasn't the plot that was so GRR! inducing, but rather the dialogue.
Why do "Vampyres" in Tulsa talk like 1990s Valley Girls? It was seriously much more overdone in this book than in the previous three. Either that, or I noticed it so much more because I just finished reading the Cassandra Clare Mortal Instruments series, in which the witty dialogue is actually witty. This just seemed like the authors were trying way too hard.
That being said, the last 100-150 pages were actually fairly good. The characters spoke normally, and less annoyingly (apart from the UBER sterotype of poor Jack. Yes, he's gay. Just because he likes boys doesn't mean that he's a darling little puppy dog that squeals and needs to be patted on the head. This was very annoying.)
Anywho, were it not for my obsessive compulsion about never leaving a series that I start unfinished, I wouldn't read the next one. (Alright, without that compulsion I wouldn't have read THIS one) But if the next book (due out in March! I think they are overextending themselves, and that may account for some of the MEH factor) reads like the last half of this book, instead of the first half of this book, it might actually be...enjoyable94. 10/16/2008 Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. I love this book. I love this author. That is all.
95. 10/17/2008 Pretties by Scott Westerfeld. YEAH!
96. 10/18/2008 Specials by Scott Westerfeld. WHAT DOES HE HAVE AGAINST HAPPY ENDINGS?
WHAT??!!!
97. 10/21/2008 Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan
This book was a really fun read. A little slow at first, mostly because even though it has great action and prose, you don't care too much about the characters.
About halfway through the book, that really starts to change. Holly Blue is love, and Pyrgus and Henry end up being great characters, too.
Parts of the plot are predictable, but not in a bad way. More in a "the author set that up well" way. I really enjoyed it, enough that I plan to read the sequel this afternoon. I believe there are four (three? five?) already in print in this series. Great fun, light reads.
98. 10/22/2008 The Purple Emperor by Herbie Brennan
LOVED IT SO MUCH!
99. Ruler of the Realm ~ Herbie Brennan ~ WHOA SO GOOD! I'm in love with this series. I can't wait to read the last one!
100. Flowers in the Attic ~ VC Andrews
Um...disturbing much?
101. An Abundance of Katherines ~ John Green
One of the best books ever. Also, incidentally, my name anagrams to funky crab murder, which just might be the awesomest happening to date.
102. Paper Towns ~ John Green 11/12/2008
Um...wow. Most brilliant man ever. Seriously. My heart hearts, and I'm amazed. In a really good way.
I'm not sure I can adequately put into words how much I love John. Seriously. He is by far the most brilliant contemporary writer in any genre. Looking for Alaska was the most touching book I had ever read, an Abundance of Katherine's was one of the most hilarious. Paper Towns? Was like the perfect marriage of the two. I finally got a copy of PT last night and had a marathon reading session. I'm pretty sure I didn't even get off the couch to use the bathroom or get a drink. I was that lost to his narrative. When I was done, my heart hurt in that really pleasant way. The way when a story ends not with a false happily-ever-after, but with the hopeful "we-all-make-our-own-way-and-happine
ss-i
s-relative" ending that he does so well. Every time I think "Well, thats it. He can't possibly be any more brilliant than he was before." I'm proven wrong and blown away anew. There were whole chapters of the story where I was laughing so hard I was crying, and whole chapters where I was having to blink away tears to be able to read. All in all, its a wonder I didn't wake the whole house up.
Paper Towns is one of those books that I know I will be thinking about for a very long time. And I have no doubt its one of the few books that will be on my list of books to reread every single year. If you haven't read John's books, I really suggest that you do. And if you aren't a Nerdfighter...Well. I'm pretty sure my entire flist is, some of you just may not know it yet. ;)
103. Let it Snow ~ John Green, Maureen Johnson, Lauren Myracle 11/14/2008
I read John's first (and it was my favorite) because I didn't realize the stories were interconnected. I really enjoyed them all, although in this order John Green > Maureen Johnson > Lauren Myracle.
I had warm bubblies after John's story, and I definitely plan to check out other writing by Maureen after reading this! LOVE
104. Shadow Kiss ~ Richelle Mead 11/16/2008
I loved this book so much. I love Richelle's writing style, and I love that despite the series name, which makes the books sound like they might be juvenile, I love that they really aren't. They sure as heck have a lot more depth than the other YA Va...more I loved this book so much. I love Richelle's writing style, and I love that despite the series name, which makes the books sound like they might be juvenile, I love that they really aren't. They sure as heck have a lot more depth than the other YA Vamp series that is so popular (which I also love, but that is beside the point here)
So once again I'm flying through the pages, completely absorbed in Richelle's writing and riding the wave of emotions along with the characters. There was foreshadowing to what was coming, or at least that SOMETHING was, and then we arrived at the scene in the cabin.
I was torn between wanting to pump my fist in the air with glee (trust me, I was smiling like an IDIOT at this point. Those two are one of my favorite pairings of all time, easily in my top ten, maybe even top 5, so there was celebrating) and then it hit me. It was too early in the book for me to feel that happy. I wanted to shout at them "No! Didn't you watch Buffy! I know what is going to happen now NO NO NO NO NO!" Something bad was coming, and it was coming fast. There were three ways I could see this playing out, but the one that would have the most gut wrenching implications (and okay, set up the next book the most) was the one that I most feared. I kept thinking "No. She won't have that happen. It won't end that way. Really, it won't. Surely not."
I'd almost convinced myself that Miss Mead was a big tease, and that we were going to get our happily for now ending after all...and then BOOM. It happened. I would be lying if I said there weren't tears. RIP ship. RIP.
That being said, book four is going to be an exercise in heartfail. I can't wait.
105. Havemercy by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett ~ 12/05/2008
LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. Royston/Hal FTW!
106. 12/15/2008 This was a second reading. Loved it WAY more the second time! WIN WIN WIN!
107. 12/29/2008 OH RICHELLE WHY RIP OUT MY HEART THIS WAY? Loved it. Very Very Much!