High Fantasy
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (The Stormlight Archive #1)My review
I can't believe I waited a year to read this book. I enjoyed the rest of Sanderson's work reasonably well, but The Way of Kings was easily one of the best books I read this year. Amazing worldbuilding and very sympathetic characters make for a wonderful story.
The Chaos Crystal by Jennifer Fallon (Tide Lords #4)
It makes me terribly sad that Jennifer Fallon's books are published so much later in the US than in Australia, because I love her writing, characters, and the intricate plots she creates. The Chaos Crystal was an excellent conclusion to the Tide Lords series.
Urban Fantasy
Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning (Fever #5)Waiting for Shadowfever almost killed me. Anyone who has finished Dreamfever will know what I mean. I was so excited for Shadowfever to come out that I got mad at Amazon for sending it out at midnight Pacific time and not Eastern time. Fever is one of the most engrossing series I've ever read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it yet.
Pale Demon by Kim Harrison (The Hollows #9)
Pale Demon was by far the best installment of The Hollows thus far. Filled with surprising developments, not to mention danger, it was a thrill to read and made me want desperately to get my hands on A Perfect Blood.
Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #5)
I love, love, love this series. It's amazing. It's both funny and serious. There is swordfighting, romance, family drama, mystery, and basically everything that makes stories great.
YA Fantasy/Supernatural
The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie StiefvaterMy review
Maggie Stiefvater's writing is gorgeous. Sam and Grace are one of the sweetest couples I've seen, and the lack of stupid relationship drama was a refreshing change from most YA tales. The Wolves of Mercy Falls was a very interesting take on werewolves and I absolutely loved it.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
I love reading MG books. There's something so refreshingly wonderful about them. The Percy Jackson series is one of those great stories that's perfect for all ages, with heroes, villains, mythology, friendship, family, humor, and love. What more could you ask from a book?
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
My review
This book had a few pretty obvious flaws. The impressive part was that I realized that as I was reading and still couldn't put it down. Something about this story just grabbed me and wouldn't let go, and I loved the suspense and all the weird psychological things that happened.
Not Fantasy
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
I have only recently started branching out into non-fantasy-related genres. (Inconsistency is not one of my flaws. At least where books are concerned.) This book was one that I picked up because someone at my local bookstore recommended it, and I'm so glad she did. It's a wonderful, touching story that takes place shortly after World War II, and it's told in a series of letters and notes. I love it!
If I Stay by Gayle Forman (If I Stay #1)
My review
If I Stay is a brilliantly told, wonderfully emotional story about choices and love. It is spectacular. Just read it.
Stop by tomorrow for the top ten book covers of 2011!
If I Stay was a great one! I have it on my list too. I loved the Percy Jackson series and Shiver. I hope to read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and The Fever series soon!
ReplyDeleteMy Top 10 of 2011
Oh I loved the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. Glad to hear that it made it on your list of favorites this year.
ReplyDeleteAwesome, awesome list!!! I love the mix of YA and UF!! I've got Wolves of Mercy Falls and Kate Daniels sitting on my shelves just waiting to be read and I can't wait!!!
ReplyDeleteIf I Stay was so wonderful!!! I'll have to check out some of the others you have on here!
ReplyDeleteI want to read the Unbecoming of Mara Dyer so bad. Thanks for the reminder to move it up on the pile.
ReplyDeletePlease take a look at my new challenge to read the ALA YA Book Award winners for 2012.
Anne@HeadFullofBooks.
If I Stay was SO GOOD! I remember just sobbing and sobbing after reading it.
ReplyDeleteLove the Shiver series! Maggie S. is such an amazing writer!
ReplyDeleteI've got Mara Dyer, and I've not read it yet! I need to! I also loved the Shiver series! AMAZING. Period.
ReplyDeleteI love the Fever series! I also loved If I Stay. I cried like a baby.
ReplyDeleteMy Top Ten Favorites
If I Stay and Mara are two that I've seen on lots of lists. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHere's my Top Ten Favorite Books I Read in 2011.
The Wolves of Mercy Falls was my first werewolf series ever - and I fell completely head over heels in love with the books AND with Maggie Stiefvater's writing. It's just so good.
ReplyDeleteAnd I absolutely loved Percy Jackson, though these days it's getting eclipsed by The Heroes of Olympus, a Riordan series I definitely recommend :)