Favourite Books of H1 2015

Happy New Financial Year! As we enter the second half of the year, I'd like to take some time to appreciate some of the amazing titles that have been released in H1 of 2015. These are my favourite books so far! And I can't wait for the books that will be released in H2.

All books listed here got a minimum 4 star rating.

Debuts

This has been a year of glorious debuts and I honestly can't wait to read more from these authors. I honestly can't believe that these are debuts because these books are so well written, I was blown away.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

While not Niven's first book, it's her YA debut and she's grasped writing for the age group perfectly. This contemporary majorly hit me in the feels. Told in dual POV, we meet Violet and Finch on top of the their school's belltower as they both contemplate suicide. What ensues is an amazing journey of self-discovery. YOU WILL CRY. Prepare the tissues.

Red Queen (Red Queen #1) by Victoria Aveyard

I was immediately drawn in by that glorious cover. It's a book that sounds like a lot of YA dystopians we've already read. It's definitely an amalgamation of these. Poor girl is taken into a palace, politics, royalty versus commoners. But with the X-Men vibe combined, it feels like a lot of the stuff we've read before but done better. I'm so excited for the sequel!

The Girl at Midnight (The Girl at Midnight #1) by Melissa Grey

This one reminded me a lot of Daughter of Smoke and Bone which it was definitely compared with. Grey of course has her own twist to it and I adored the snarky MC. Two races that have been at war for eons, a power that can end it, and the mystery/journey that follows. Also, a really swoony guy. *Makes grabby hands at book 2*.

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Zomg THIS. BOOK. I ADORE IT SO MUCH. Basically our boy Simon gets blackmailed by someone who finds out he's gay. This is a real, sweet, cute and amazingly well written story of a guy just trying to make his way through high school and find his place as he falls in love. Oreos are required for reading. All the characters are genuine, non-cliched, and an extremely relatable depiction of high school.

The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn #1) by Renee Ahdieh

Oh my sweet baby Jesus. Feels you guys. FEELS. Based on A Thousand and One Nights, we follow Shazi as she marries the tyrant king Khalid to get vengeance on his killing her best friend. And all the other young brides he's had executed. But is he really a tyrant? What secrets does he hold? AHHH THE ANGST. THE EMOTIONS. That intense push and pull between Shazi and Khalid. I need book 2 NOW. I SAID NOW.

Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley

My heart hurts. This was such a bittersweet, poignant story that just soared. Aza's always had trouble breathing and takes meds which, when she starts seeing ships in the sky, she believes are hallucinations. The writing in this book was like poetry that sang right to my heart. The way the characters thought, their outlook on life, the way they dealt with fear/stress/love. As a lover of Final Fantasy I've always been in awe of the concept of airships. I feel that Magonia spoke directly to my love of FF. Admiring that cover.

New Series

These are new releases by authors who have previously published YA books.

A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J. Maas

It's a well-known fact that I'm a massive SJM fan. Her Beauty and the Beast retelling with a Nordic/Scandinavian and fey twist is amazing. Not enough words. Sexy, steamy, enthralling. Book 2 is A Court of Abs and Pecs. Honestly, Sarah's fictional men are superb.

A Darker Shade of Magic (A Darker Shade of Magic #1) by VE Schwab

My goodness this lady has one of the most imaginative, fabulous brains. Her writing and her concepts are mind-blowing. Three parallel Londons: magic, dreary or dangerous? Kell is one of the only people who can travel across these worlds and trouble follows him everywhere. What an adventure.

Series Continuations

The Mime Order (The Bone Season #2) by Samantha Shannon

You haven't seen world-building until you've seen it done by Shannon. The sequel to the gorgeous and complex Bone Season takes us deeper into Scion-London to a grand and dangerous underground of Mime Lords and Mime Queens. Layers of each character are peeled back, more secrets are unearthed, and THEN THE SWOON.

End of Days (Penryn and the End of Days #3) by Susan Ee

The conclusion to this original trilogy about a post-apocalyptic world where angels are the bad guys. The girl power is strong. The steamy is intense. The macabre is real. And hell is just a fall away. One of the best endings for a trilogy I could have asked for.

Well there you have it. My favourite releases of 2015 so far. Bring it on H2!

2013 End of Year Book Survey

2013 is approaching its end (woah how time flies) which means I'm once again doing Jamie @ The Perpetual Page Turner's End of Year Book Survey. Whilst I did it at the end of last year too, I wasn't officially blogging back then and was a total noob (I still am but yeah :D)

Twenty-thirteen has been an amazing year of books and blogging for me. For one it's my first year of blogging and my first whole year of getting back into reading (I'd started getting back into YA in August 2012).

The year has introduced many great debut authors, continued many series favourites, and concluded some of my most adored series.

It was so hard picking my favourites but it had to be done!

1. Best Book You Read In 2013? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)

I am going to cheat and break it down by genre, but I DO have a favourite book of 2013! Which I will reveal at the very end.

Contemporary – Crash into You by Katie McGarry - The third Pushing the Limits book. Isaiah <3

Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic – Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi - book 2 in the Under the Never Sky trilogy; the FEELS in this though woah.

Paranormal – Empower by Jessica Shirvington - EPIC conclusion to the amazing Violet Eden Chapters.

Science Fiction — These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner.
Honorary mention to Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington (since Jess takes one category, I thought it was fair to give sci-fi to another book)

Fantasy – Apollyon and Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout (I consider these one as they're the same series :P). These last 2 books in the Covenant series just left me reeling. Gorgeous, gorgeous series.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Oh god The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead. I was all kinds of disappointed with this. I STILL haven't finished this - I've got 90 pages to go but I'm just like blaaaaaaaaah.

Also, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, this one has also taken me forever to read... It's not living up to it hype :(

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?

All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill. I had never heard of this when Bloomsbury sent it to me but I was blown away. ALSO, WHAT IS THIS ABOUT FINN AND EM BEING WRONG? I CANNOT DEAL.

4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?

Standalone: Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington
Series: Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

5. Best series you discovered in 2013?

The Legend Trilogy by Marie Lu

HOLY SHIT. I've had Legend and Prodigy sitting on my shelf since February but never read them. In my sort of reading slump I picked up Legend and zomgggggggggggggg COULD NOT put in down. I finished Legend in 1 day, Prodigy in about 2-3 and Champion in 3 days when I had the money to go out and buy it. I finished the trilogy (Champion) yesterday night and was just SOBBING at the story and it's ending/epilogue. Woah just WOAH guys I am recommending this series to you if you haven't read it. I swear you will NOT regret it. Marie's writing is awesome, the characters so strong and the story never slows - so action-packed. There is also so much heart-ache, unforgivable acts and tonnes of teary moments. The power of her secondary characters is amazing - despite Metias' death in book 1 being the driver for the story and the reader only getting about a chapter or 2 with him, his memory lives on throughout the trilogy. He provides June with support, guidance and love even though he's not there. He's one of the reasons I cried so much. His memory was so powerful, Lu created him so the reader felt like they really knew him and had spent time with him rather than seeing the glimpses of him through June's memory. 

I legit just had tears pouring down my face after closing Champion. It's a beautiful trilogy about a girl born into wealth, a boy born into poverty and how the different circumstances have made these two extremely strong characters who they are. It's about power, a totalitarian government versus extreme capitalism, vengeance, retribution, and forgiveness. 

Honorary mention to:

The Summer series by CJ Duggan – contemporary Aussie YA at it's finest. Beaches and sun; laid back, HOT Aussie guys who are sweet and funny; and a 90s vibe makes it the perfect summer read.

The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning - it's adult paranormal romance at it's best. The protagonist/heroine is the most amazing female I've ever read. She doesn't take shit, listens to instructions when she knows what's good for her and has this fire about her that never goes out.

6. Favourite new author you discovered in 2013?

Kasie West.

I’ve read all 3 of her books this year and love them all! (Pivot Point, Split Second and The Distance Between Us). Her paranormal duology Pivot Point/Split Second was one of the most unique I've ever read and her contemporary TDBU is so sweet and lovely. Her writing is stunning!

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry (Historical Fiction)

The writing style was very different and the subject matter wasn’t light. Definitely would recommend.

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?

Empower by Jessica Shrivinton

The conclusion to The Violet Eden Chapters! Mein Gott. Let me put this in perspective. I got this book on November 1. On November 8 I had a 50% weighted assessment due, a research proposal with a 5000 word count and I hadn't started. I needed to do extensive research and propose a conceptual framework, provide theoretical grounding etc. for this paper. I was MEANT to start on the 1st. I read a chapter of Empower on the train home. I told myself I'd stop when I got off the train. I finished it at 3am when I finished the whole book, not having put it down at all. Jess' books always do this to me.

9. Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Apollyon and Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout or Marie Lu's Legend trilogy.

10. Favourite cover of a book you read in 2013?

11. Most memorable character in 2013?

From a book released in 2013:
Evan Walker from The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. The premise of his character was amazing.

From a book I read in 2013:

Day from the Legend trilogy by Marie Lu - especially in Champion.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Honorary mentions to These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner and The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe, both of which were very eloquent and lyrical in nature.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

THAT. ENDING. ZOMG.

Honorary mention to Champion by Marie Lu with that ending/epilogue.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?

Definitely Angelfall by Susan Ee hands down WOW!

15. Favourite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?

Longest: Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning (671 pages)

Shortest (not including novellas): Something Like Normal by Trish Doller (224 pages)

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
Chapter 62. Seriously. Chapter FREAKING 62. I will take UM out JUST to read this chapter sweet baby Jesus this chapter ;jsdf;lsdkfljsfsdfasdkfdfa.

18. Favourite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2013 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

Romantic: Alexandria Andros and Aiden St. Delphi in Apollyon/Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Friendship: Addie and Laila in Split Second by Kasie West

Familial: June and Metias; Day and Eden from Champion by Marie Lu

19. Favourite Book You Read in 2013 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington

20. Best Book You Read In 2013 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

The Boys of Summer by CJ Duggan recommended to me by Shirley and Hannah

21. Genre You Read The Most From in 2013?

It's a tie between paranormal and contemporary!

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2013?

Garrick Taylor from Losing It by Cora Carmack. *Grabby hands* can haz hot English boy plez?

23. Best 2013 debut you read?

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

24. Most vivid world/imagery in a book you read in 2013?

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi. The Aether never ceases to amaze me.

25. Book That Was The Most Fun To Read in 2013?

Losing It by Cora Carmack

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2013?

AHAHAHA here’s ALL the books that made me cry this year:

1. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi
2. Boundless by Cynthia Hand
3. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay
4. Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout
5. The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe
6. Flawed by Kate Avelynn
7. Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington
8. This Girl by Colleen Hoover
9. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
10. All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill
11. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
12. Kinslayer by Jay Kristoff
13. Crash into You by Katie McGarry
14. Antigoddess by Kendare Blake (I cried a bit at the end, nothing compared to the rest though)
15. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
16. Empower by Jessica Shirvington
17. Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout
18. Prodigy by Marie Lu
19. Champion by Marie Lu

27. Book You Read in 2013 That You Think Got Overlooked This Year Or When It Came Out?

Angelfall by Susan Ee

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So there we have it. My books of 2013. Now let's pick the Best of the Best. Regardless of how many categories an author will take.

The Best:

Crown of Midnight just topped everything - it was EVERYTHING I wanted in a YA book and sequel - amazing romance, the most swoon-worthy male love interest, an intense and thrilling plot, elegant writing, and an independent, strong and killer heroine.