I might actually continue doing these seasonal wrap-ups instead of monthly ones because I like seeing everything all together, and school does have its dark sides–like ALMOST ENTIRELY PREVENTING ME FROM READING FOR FUN AND THEREFORE RUINING MY LIFE–but, uh, I should probably get one done first. So here we go!
Graceling by Kristin Cashore – This book filled me with a whole lot of love and a whole lot of regret! The characters are great, their dynamic is great, the romance is great, the plot is great, the world is great, SO MUCH IS GREAT AND I SHOULD HAVE READ IT 8 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST HAD THE CHANCE!
Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner – This one was all right. As an origin story/retelling of the Ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti I felt it fell a little flat (though I'll concede I'm probably biased here, given my Egypt love and all) and there were some pacing and character issue I wasn't fond of but overall it's okay.
Compulsion by Martina Boone – Quite the pleasant surprise! It's set on Gothic Southern plantations and has a ghost plot murder mystery–how much more can you ask for?! There's a big lull in the middle and the ending really comes out of left field but overall I enjoyed it!
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken – I sincerely apologize to the friend who told me to read this for not reading it when you told me to because damn. I'm not usually much of a dystopia gal, but this one is intriguing and original and up to its eyeballs in crazy Holocaust-level dark sh*t and awesome characters so it's great!
The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason – This book is the most beautiful hodgepodge I have ever read and I thoroughly surprised myself by loving it! Sherlock Holmes + Bram Stoker + time travel + steampunk + raising an Egyptian goddess = an unexpectedly delicious fictional buffet of Mandarin proportions.
Venom by Fiona Paul – This one started stronger than it ended up being overall but I mostly enjoyed the read. It's a murder mystery/romance that's more romance than mystery set in Renaissance Venice so it's almost worth reading just for the rich setting.
Deception's Princess by Esther Friesner – Mostly the same feelings here as earlier with Sphinx's Princess, though this time 'round I think I may have enjoyed myself a teeeeeensy bit more.
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard – Okay I know this is going to be a source of contention, but I didn't really love it like everyone else seems to (please don't throw me into an electric pit with Evangeline!). HOWEVER! I still enjoyed it, I'm glad I read it, and the ending has made me super pumped to go get the next one!!!
The Kiss of Deception by Mary E. Pearson – I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. SO. FREAKING. MUCH. I could go on for hours but I'll graciously spare you if you promise to read it. Or sacrifice to me a stuffed llama.
Unrivaled by Alyson Noël – Funny story: I dreaded this book. Now? IT'S SO GOOD. Unrivaled really digs into the gritty, manipulative underbelly of LA and celebrity culture, which is fascinating in itself. Plus the missing persons mystery (despite the lull in the middle) is intriguing so overall I quite liked it!
Into the Dim by Janet B. Taylor – THIS BOOK IS MY EVERYTHING. Okay, maybe not but it has my everything. Time travel, the Middle Ages (Eleanor and Henry II's court, no less!!!!!), AND forbidden romances? My inner history nerd and hopeless romantic spent the entire novel screaming of joy. The writing and the plot and the characters are all great too BTW–just so you don't go thinking I slacked off when I got excited (I totally did. I'm overexcited).
Notice the not so lovely shift from the 14 books I read in July to the 1 single book I read in all of August? See what happens when school starts rearing its partially ugly head? See how utterly tragic this is?
These are my top 3 reads of the summer! Heartless was going to be second place until I remembered the heartbreak and tears I suffered at its hands so…nope! I loved you, but you hurt me. Into the Dim, on the other hand, was not cruel to me so welcome to second place! And of course, OF COURSE, The Kiss of Deception is going to be my number one! I don't stop talking about it! I can't stop talking about it! I will never stop talking about it.
For now I'll just say a little prayer to all the pantheons to give me just a little free reading time this school year (pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease).
For now, happy reading! And for anyone also heading back to school, may your classes be interesting and your homework be limited.