This is the first time I've been able to do a quarterly reading list, because I'm finally keeping track of the books I'm reading. Hooray!
1. SERAPHINA by Rachel Hartman
Beautiful writing, and one of the few series where I want to buy the next one. I'm looking forward to the adventure promised! (Please please please let it be an awesome adventure.)
2. THE GATHERING DARK by Leigh Bardugo (known as SMOKE AND BONE in the US)
Don't hate me. It was okay, but the hype for it was insane, and I just didn't love it as much as the rest of the world.
3. THE LOST WORLD by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Staggering amount of racist and sexist issues in this book. I'd only recommend it if you were able to look past those issues and read it for the adventure alone.
4. DEVINE INTERVENTION by Martha Brockenbrough
Cute, funny, light-hearted read, but I still haven't recovered from the ending.
5. OUT OF THE SILENT PLANET by C. S. Lewis
It was okay. Didn't leave as much of an impression as I was hoping, especially because I love love love the Narnia stories (except THE LAST BATTLE, and let's just pretend that one doesn't exist).
6. TO THE GENTLEMAN IN THE BACK by Marissa Meyer (under the penname Alicia Blade)
If you were to ask me what my favourite story of all time is (published or unpublished), THE ANSWER IS THIS. It's on ff.net, but my best friend printed and bound it for me so I have a copy to read in bed. This is my sixth? seventh? reread. I'll never get sick of it. You too can enjoy the madness, giggles, and romance here.
Yes, I read the Lunar Chronicles as her crit partner, but I always read them again in book form!
8. CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein
Read it. Just. Read it.
9. A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES by Deborah Harkness
Despite the similarities to TWILIGHT and the fact the possessiveness of vampires makes me queasy, I did enjoy this book.
10. YELLOWCAKE SPRINGS by Guy Salvidge
A book set in Western Australia about a community created around a nuclear reactor facility. As creepy as you expect it to be, and I loved the idea of Controlled Dreaming State! (But not the Controlled Waking State *cough* *runs away*)
11. ASYMMETRY by Thoraiya Dyer
Oh wow. Oh wow. One of the best short story collections I've ever read (up there with LOVE AND ROMANPUNK by Tansy Rayner Roberts). If you can snag a copy on your kindle, do it. I never wanted to leave the worlds Dyer created! Looking forward to reading more of her work.
Currently reading SPLASHDANCE SILVER by Tansy Rayner Roberts. A female pirate who's also a witch? YUSSSS.
As you can see, the list isn't huge. I haven't mentioned the few books I didn't finish. Also, I spent one and a half months writing instead of reading. Every spare moment felt like precious writing time at that stage, so I didn't pick up a book for a while. Taking that into consideration, I think I did well.
What are the best books you've read this year? (And don't talk about THE MADNESS UNDERNEATH, I'm still waiting for my bookstore to get their butts into gear, and I'm very mad about it.)
