Top Ten Books of 2014 (So Far)
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Once again I’m linking up with The Broke and the Bookish’s Top Ten Tuesday. This week’s list is of
the top ten books I’ve read so far this year. Now we’re halfway through the
year, this is a great time to look back and appreciate the books I’ve read in
the first six months, before anticipating the good books I am sure to read in
next six. So without further ado, here are ten books I read and loved this
year.
1. Cress
Marissa
Meyer
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| Image Credit |
This book has been in several of my Top Ten Tuesday posts, with
very good reason. This sci-fi retelling of Rapunzel is a fantastic read. I love
all the characters, especially Cress. They’re all so distinct and lovable. One
of the best things about this book is that, even though I haven’t yet read
either of the first two books, I still understood what was happening perfectly,
without the backstory being overpowering. I think this is a sign of a well
written sequel.
2. The
Screaming Staircase
Jonathon Stroud
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Jonathon Stroud is one author whose books I pick up on the
strength of his name alone. This book features a group of not very successful ghost
hunters who go up against the largest ghostly threat they’ve ever faced. One of
the best things about Stroud’s writing is the imaginatively humorous
descriptions, which have made me laugh out loud more than once, and wish that I
could describe half as well as he can.
3. The
Raven Boys
Maggie Stiefvater
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I mentioned this book in last week’s Top Ten Tuesday post as
one book I looked forward to reading. Now I look forward to rereading it. This
book is just as good as its sequel, The
Dream Thieves, which I read first. It’s full of magic, loyal friends,
unexpected surprises and a fantastic cast with distinct personalities. I can’t
wait for the third book in this series to come out so I can find out the conclusion
to the Raven Boys’ adventures.
4. Unhinged
A.
G. Howard
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This is another book I mentioned wanting to read last week,
and it too immediately went on my top ten list. While it had a little too much romance
for my taste (I very rarely read any romance), the reimagining of the Alice in Wonderland
story is incredibly vivid and the whole book is littered with references to the
original book, which are fun to identify. I wish the main character had
actually gone to Wonderland properly, but I guess I’ll have to read the first
book Splintered to see what it’s
really like.
5. Monster
Blood Tattoo: Foundling
D. M. Cornish
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I borrowed this book on a whim without knowing anything
about it as it had no description on the back or inside the cover. Surprisingly,
I really enjoyed it. The world this book is set in reminds me very much of
Victorian England mixed with a fantasy world. From the main character, a boy
with a girl’s name, to the world building, and of course, the monsters, this
book was a pleasant surprise. I can’t wait to read the second one.
6. Embassy
S.
Alex Martin
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This book is a very special one for me, because I actually
know the author, and I had the great honour of helping critique the first
chapter. This is another sci-fi, and the world building in this book blows me
away. It’s set mainly on two planets, as well as in space, and the planets are
brought to life with amazingly vivid descriptions. I read this book at the very
beginning of the year, but it’s still one of my favourite reads of this year.
7. Pretties
Scott
Westerfield
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I heard a lot about this series, but took a while to read it,
despite the glowing recommendations it had. I’m very glad now I did try it.
Being me, I started with book two, and will soon read book three before I even
touch book one (libraries…). What really hooked me in this book is the whole
set up of the world, people being made pretty and having ‘perfect’ lives of fun
and parties, which are really being controlled, and characters trying to break
free from this life. Definitely one of the best series I’ve started reading
this year.
8. Princess
of the Silver Woods
Jessica Day George
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Fairy tale retellings are some of my favourite books, and
this is probably the best one I’ve read this year. It’s a retelling of Little
Red Riding Hood, which isn’t a retelling I’d read before. The story was really
creatively imagined and the wolf and grandmother certainly weren’t what I
expected. I loved the main family. They’re all so loyal, and brave, and ever so
slightly crazy to boot. I can’t wait to find the other books in this series and
see if they’re just as good.
9. What’s
Left of Me
Kat Zhang
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| Image Credit |
I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book, but it’s a firm
favourite now. In this book, everyone is born with two individual minds inside
their heads, but only one of them ends up in control of the body. This is a
very unique idea and that hooked me into the book initially, and the rest of
the story kept me there. I learnt, while hunting for a picture of the cover, that
there are another two books in this series, so it looks like I more books to
track down and read.
10. Artemis
Fowl and the Eternity Code
Eoin Colfer
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| Image Credit |
I am a big Artemis Fowl fan, and have read all the book
about him. I read this one early this year, and loved jumping back into the
world of Artemis Fowl. It combines fantasy, with fairies and centaurs, with
sci-fi, and a boy genius who is also a criminal. Put Artemis Fowl and fairies
together and you get an explosive mix that might be just the right thing to
save the world.
What is the best book
you’ve read this year? Have you read any of the books on my list this week?
12 comments
I really want to read The Raven Boys - I loved the Shiver books when they came out (I'm not sure I would love them if I read them for the first time now), but I've heard great things about The Raven Boys.
ReplyDeleteGreat list - thanks for sharing :)
I read the Shiver books just before I read The Raven Boys, and, in my opinion, The Raven Boys is way better. If you like her writing, then I think you'll definitely enjoy this book. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteAwesome picks! Dream Thieves actually made my list this week! =)
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
It's such a good book, isn't it? I'm a big Maggie Stiefvater fan now. Thanks for visiting my blog!
DeleteCress & Raven Boys & Unhinged... YESSSS. I love those books so much. I really need to read Westerfeld's Uglies series - I loved the Leviathan series, but just haven't gotten to Uglies yet!
ReplyDeleteThey're such awesome books. I resisted reading them for so long, and now I feel a bit of a fool for not giving in sooner. Ooh, the Leviathan series is a good one. I read those a while ago, and I really enjoyed them. Hopefully you'll enjoy the Uglies series when you get a chance to read it.
DeleteCress is such an amazing book, so much fun to read! It's definitely my favourite of the series so far! Great list a few books I need to read asap!
ReplyDeleteNew follower!
Becca @ Lost in Thought
http://lostinthought-becca.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/top-ten-books-ive-read-so-far-this-year.html
Thanks for following my blog Becca! You made my day. Cress is such an amazing book. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series and finding out if they're just as good. I'm glad I could recommend some books for you. I've got some great recommendations from your top ten list too. Thanks!
DeleteOooh, I like those updated covers to the Uglies series much better than the originals. It just seems to fit the story better, in my opinion anyway. Glad you're enjoying that series. I'm intrigued by The Screaming Staircase. I haven't heard of that one before, but the premise intrigues me... plus, seeing as it made your top ten list, it must be pretty entertaining! I better check it out!
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting when I'm looking for the covers for these posts and seeing different versions to the ones I've seen before. You should definitely check The Screaming Staircase out. I don't read a lot of ghost stories, but this one was ever so good. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWell you know how in love I am with The Raven Boys and Unhinged. OMG Those books just keep getting better and better!! XD I think I downloaded Embassy for free somewhere. Mm...maybe I should dig it up one of these days. x)
ReplyDeleteOh I know how much you love them. You're the person who convinced me to read them in the first place! And now I think I could almost rival you in how much I like them (phhft, who am I kidding. You are the ultimate book fan!)
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