Paranormal - A Week of Recommendations

We're almost to the end of A Week of Recommendations! I hope you all have been enjoying this series so far! Towards the end of this week, I wanted to talk about some genres that I've loved a lot in the past and enjoyed reading, and share some recommendations with you all. Paranormals are a genre that I read a lot of and enjoyed in the past. I haven't been reading as many lately, but I definitely had some recommendations I wanted to share with you all.

no. 1 - Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Rebel Belle is a really entertaining book. This has some of the best character interactions and witty banter that I've read, and I really enjoyed reading about Harper and how she handles being thrown into a different world. She's funny, unique, and memorable, and I think her and David are some of the funniest characters I read in 2014.

no. 2 - Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

I think this is a series that's hard to classify, but it's a paranormal post-apocalyptic tale. This is a series with plot twists and turns set in a supernatural version of our world. Also this is a series that is longer (I think right now there's at least four books?) but each book is a quick read and draws you into the story quickly.

no. 3 - The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

This is a faerie series that I really loved reading several years ago. This was a great paranormal series to me because it combined the elements of the protagonist being from the ordinary world and suddenly being thrown into a magical and unpredictable situation. The world Julie Kagawa created has a lot of intrigue and mystery that comes with being set in a faerie world, and the series is one I remember reading and loving.

no. 4 - Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

This was a more recent read for me, and it had a lot of mythology meets modern day elements. I was definitely thinking of doing a review for this book and continuing on with the series, so let me know if you all would be interested in a full review for the book or a Series in Summation, which is one review with short reviews of each book in the series. Anyways, this is an enjoyable read that is a great start to a series!

no. 5 - Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

This is a book that's a Little Red Riding Hood retelling, but definitely a change in the story. It focuses on two sisters and how they hunt werewolves.

Here's another day of A Week of Recommendations! Let me know what your recommendations are, and I'll see you all next time!

From the paper world,
V

Contemporary - A Week of Recommendations

Today's theme for A Week of Recommendations is Contemporary novels. I think that contemporaries are books that I hadn't read much of previously, but after getting some good recommendations, I've been reading more of them and finding some that I've really enjoyed and also some that really meant a lot to me. So, I'm happy to share some with you all as well! Also, in case you were curious about A Week of Recommendations or wanted to follow along and share your own recommendations too, here's the post I wrote earlier about it. 

no. 1 - On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

This is an amazing book. It felt like I was going on an emotional journey as I read along. I think this is a contemporary that's thought provoking and very unique in writing style. It's one I definitely want to reread sometime, and I'm happy my friends convinced me to read it.

no. 2 - Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

I loved how this book was lighthearted and adventurous, but also a book that could have some serious moments as well. Anna explores Paris and brings the reader along with her, and along with way we meet some great characters.

no. 3 - To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

This book. This book is probably the one I've reread all or parts of the most, and it is definitely, definitely one of my favorite reads of 2014. I absolutely loved this novel, and how it was fun and entertaining, but also had a lot of depth and character development. And the characters aren't perfect, they're flawed and make mistakes, but they also change throughout the story. Lara Jean is such a great narrator, and a really relatable character as well. I loved the character dynamics, the witty banter, and the serious moments interwoven with a cute and adventurous story. I am so excited for P. S. I Still Love You!

no. 4 - Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

This is a book that has incredible character development. I think it's a pretty character driven book, because although Amy and Roger are going on this adventure, at the same time a lot of this is about Amy and Roger and who they are. This is a book that's got a lot of fun extras to it that make the story engaging, but also a lot of character development that makes the book shine.

no. 5 - The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes

This is a contemporary with a very unique premise. It brings in an ancient text into a modern contemporary story. Combine that with some hilarious and fun, yet flawed characters and this is a great story. 

Here is the third day of A Week of Recommendations! I hope you all are enjoying this series, and let me know about any suggestions you have! I'll be back tomorrow with paranormal recommendations!

From the paper world,
V

Fantasy and Science Fiction - A Week of Recommendations

Welcome back to A Week of Recommendations! Today's topic is about fantasy novels and science fiction. These are two genres I haven't read much of previously, but have really been enjoying lately, so I'd love to share my recommendations with you all and get some suggestions in return! Here are today's recommendations!

no. 1 - The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

This is one I finished reading very recently (this past week!) and really enjoyed it. I've been reading a lot more fantasy novels because of enjoying this book so much, but I've already got plans to talk about this book and how much I enjoyed it some other time. So, suffice it to say I loved this novel and definitely think it's a great read. The sequel came out recently, too, and I am definitely planning on picking that up soon!

no. 2 - Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen

Stolen Songbird is a novel that is this epic fantasy and has this incredibly unique world building that completely drew me into the novel. This story has a mysterious prince and an unknown magical kingdom that our protagonist falls into, and I am loving this series. You can read my full review of Stolen Songbird here, and I am excited for the sequel to come out in a few months!

no. 3 - Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

This is a fantasy that is unlike any I've read. It kind of had what I thought of as a mystery for the story but with fantasy interwoven and the setting and country of Ixia is really unique as well. Yelena is an awesome protagonist, and I loved the side characters and how they all developed through the series. Also, this is one where the series is continuing, and the fourth book came out recently as well and I have yet to read it, but I'm super excited to.

no. 4 - Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

I actually completed reading this trilogy recently, and each time I read one of the novels I was struck by the incredible world building and story telling. These books really drew me in, and each story was unique. I think this is a story that combines fantastic and detailed world building with great character development without sacrificing the story line.

no. 5 - These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

This list has a lot of fantasy novels and not so many science fiction, huh? If you want more science fiction recommendations you can check out my recommendations of historical fiction and science fiction from my First Half of 2014 posts here, but I could definitely use some science fiction recommendations! Anyways, These Broken Stars is an incredible book. It involves a lot of drama and unpredictable twists in the story. The two points of view narrations really work well in this story, and there's a lot of character development and interactions. I haven't read the sequel yet, but it's on my TBR and hopefully I'll get to it sometime soon!

Here's the second day of A Week of Recommendations! Tomorrow's theme is Contemporaries! Let me know your recommendations for today, and if you did a post for recommendations for today, leave me a link to it in the comments so I can see your recommendations! 

From the paper world,
V

Historical Fiction - A Week of Recommendations

Hello, everyone! I'm so excited to be sharing A Week of Recommendations with you all! Just to recap quickly, if you missed my post about this you can check it out here and check out the schedule of what genre of books will be posted on what day. Today we're talking about historical fiction novels, which I haven't read much about in the past but I'm really loving lately. Historical fiction has incredible world building amidst the story, and I have some recommendations to share with you all!

no. 1 - The Falconer by Elizabeth May

The Falconer is the sort of story that's unlike anything I've ever read. It's historical fiction meets steampunk meets fantasy and faeries. If that's not unique enough to get your attention, let's add incredible characters and world building, a daring race and mystery set in 1800's Scotland, and one of the most unpredictable stories and endings I read last year. I ended up emailing Cassi of My Thoughts...Literally! about this book because I loved it so much and had to talk to someone about it. The sequel for this one comes out in a few months and I am so excited to continue on with this series.

no. 2 - The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

This is another historical fiction that has some paranormal elements to it. The Red Necklace has a lot of mystery and drama to it. It's set during the French Revolution and tells the story of several very different narrators and protagonists. I loved reading about all the different stories and the mystery and suspense made me so nervous for the characters! I've yet to pick up the sequel but I definitely hope to in the near future.

no. 3 - The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

This is the first novel by Victoria Schwab I've read, but it definitely won't be the last! I loved her storytelling and how this novel was told. It felt like we were drawn in to this old story and tale following Lexi and the mystery of what's going on in the town of Near. Also, for some reason, reading this reminded me of watching Hocus Pocus with my family and so I was totally picturing that old town kind of setting for this novel. 

no. 4 - Sekret by Lindsay Smith

This is a book I read with Cassi and we both really enjoyed it. Sekret is set in Cold War era Soviet Union, and a lot of the novel centers around Yelena and how she is navigating having supernatural powers. I thought the characters in this story were really unique and had a good character dynamic, as well as a story with a lot of mystery and intrigue. I'm really excited to read the sequel soon with Cassi! I also have a review of Sekret posted here.

no. 5 - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I read The Book Thief years ago with a friend and I still remember being so moved by that book. It's very unusual- Death is the narrator and it tells the story of a girl living through World War II. Although it's been so long since I've read this book, I think I want to reread it sometime. It's incredibly written and a memorable story.

So, here is the first day of A Week of Recommendations! Let me know if you've read any of these, or want a review of some of the ones I don't have reviews posted for. Also, please share any recommendations for historical fiction in the comments, and don't forget tomorrow's theme is fantasy novels and science fiction, so if you're curious be sure to stop by then, and I would love to hear your recommendations for that as well!

From the paper world,
V

Books I'd Give to People Who Haven't Read Fairy Tale Retellings - Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at The Broke and the Bookish, and each week is a different topic to pick ten books for. Today's theme is Top Ten Books I'd Give to Someone who hasn't read ____ Genre. I choose fairy tale retellings, which is one of my favorite genres and I think isn't a more popular one. It's not ten picks, but I tried to pick my favorites to share from the genre.

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce - This story is one that retells Little Red Riding Hood, and it's a very unique retelling, with two sisters who become werewolf hunters after a childhood tragedy. The character development is compelling and the story is a dark and intense version of the classic tale.

 Sweetly by Jackson Pearce - While this is technically the sequel to Sisters Red, I had to include it separately because it's my favorite. Sweetly's characters are ones I connected to, and the story was unpredictable despite it being a retelling. 

East by Edith Pattou - This is a retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon, which is one of my favorite fairy tales. I think it's very easy to depict the protagonist in the wrong light, and make the second half of the story drag, but East does neither. Instead, it creates a beautiful and enchanting story that I loved reading, and even pick up to reread on occassion.

Splintered  by A.G. Howard - Well, I had to mention my favorite Alice in Wonderland retelling. This series captures the whimsy and complexity of Wonderland while being a unique, fresh take on the world and original story. More than a retelling, this retells what happened in Alice in Wonderland in the form of Alice's descendants.

The Storyteller's Daughter  by Cameron Dokey - This story is truly rich and intricate, much like the tapestries in the story. The writing and tone of this novel is magical, enchanting. It's a story that I couldn't put down. The characters go through struggles and development as the story itself builds, and for a short novel this is one of my all time favorites.

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer - I first picked up Cinder two or three years ago when a friend lent her copy to me. I was struck by how unique of a retelling this series is- science fiction and futuristic. Now, it's one of my favorite series, with Cress being one of my favorite 2014 reads thus far. 

Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson - Bluebeard's Wives is definitely one of the darker, grim fairy tales. This retelling captures the eerie, spooky vibe of it perfectly. I was held in suspense the entire time as we follow the narrator's plight and intense story.

Goose Girl by Shannon Hale- The Goose Girl is a fairy tale retelling, although until recently I had been unaware of the original story. Shannon Hale is an author I've discussed before in a Top Ten Tuesday, and this was perhaps one of the first books I read by her. It's unique, beautifully written, and a well told story.

From the paper world,

V

If, Then for Books! Vol. 1

Sometimes, when I read a book I'm blown away and I want to read as many others in that specific genre as I can. With that in mind, welcome to If, Then for Books! Basically, I'm going to give a list of recommendations and a brief explanation.

If you liked The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd then you might like Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard.

 try 

Why? 

These darker tales involve supernatural science and a heroine with a relative lost in the mystery of the story. 

If you liked Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins then you might like Alienated by Melissa Landers.
                   try

Why?

A snarky, intellectual protagonist matches wits with a not-so normal guy, and both are quick, fast paced reads.


So, this is the first of a series of book recommendations. This will be a sporadic series, since it's just as I think of books that I enjoyed that have similar elements. I wanted to suggest different types of books that have some similar aspects so that if you want to try a different genre or explore more of a similar one, you can read some of these books. Let me know if you've read any of this books, or if you have any If, Then recommendations for me, and what you think of this idea as a series!

From the paper world,
V

The First Half of 2014 Grand Finale - Top 5 Books I've Read So Far ThisYear

I really wanted to make this as difficult for myself as possible, didn't I? In all honesty, though, I loved picking the different categories and giving my recommendations from them. However, I wanted to recommend my top 5 from any of the lists, the true best of the best for me. I tried to pick ones that made me feel something extra when I was reading them, that fully immersed me in the story and these are also from a wide range of genres (we've even got a contemporary on this list!). 2014 has been a fantastic, book filled year thus far and I cannot wait to see what other fabulous books are coming. 

Also, because I couldn't pick and I can add on to this, there are three honorable mentions at the bottom. I've talked about all of these in the other lists, so if you want my thoughts on them feel free to check out the other 'First Half of 2014' posts and see my thoughts as well as the other winners for this series. 

Dark Triumph

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Unhinged

Cress

Endless Knight

Honorable Mention:
          
Rebel Belle

Stolen Songbird

Sweetly

Thank you so much for joining me for The First Half of 2014! I hope you enjoyed reading about this series, and I had so much fun coming up with the different genres and trying to pick out just the right books for it. I hope the rest of 2014 is a fantastic reading year, and well year in general too, for everyone, and see you soon! Also, stay tuned tomorrow because there may be some bonus material coming your way!

From the paper world,
V

The First Half of 2014 Part V - Top Five Paranormal

For a genre that's traditionally been one of my favorites, I read some paranormal this year, but I've branched out into quite a few other genres as well. However, I wanted to share my picks of paranormals as well for the first half of 2014. As usual, if you have any paranormal favorites I would love to hear about them! 

no. 1 - Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

This was a book I had heard a lot about, namely everyone saying they loved the cover. For me, the cover's not a favorite, but the story within definitely is. Harper is absolutely wonderful- snarky and flawed but she develops into an even better character as the story progresses. And her witty banter with David? Absolutely priceless. While I wasn't a fan of Harper's past friends and circle, she really becomes someone unique in this story and I can't wait to see how her tale continues on. Also, Rachel Hawkins's writing style is fabulous, and I had to pick up Hex Hall because I loved how fast paced and engaging the writing is. 

no. 2 - Abandon by Meg Cabot

I loved how this story incorporated some elements of Greek mythology to it, yet was its own story, idea, and plot. The narration jumps between past and present, yet does so in a way that just gives the reader the full context of the events, and by the end I was ready to continue on with a series that has unique and witty characters and a fast paced plot.

no. 3 - City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

To be completely and fully honest, City of Heavenly Fire is not my favorite book of The Mortal Instruments. However, despite my qualms with it, this is the finale of a series that I've enjoyed and treasured for years, and so I thought it appropriate to include it on my list. I think series finales are books with a lot of expectations on them, but COHF is definitely a fan favorite and a great conclusion to a hugely popular series.

no. 4 - Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier

Speaking of series finales, let's talk about Emerald Green. I love how the entire Precious Stone trilogy is comprised of a really unique take on time travel as well as fast paced books with lighthearted characters. Is there insta-love? Yes, but since whole books encompass a few days it doesn't feel as rushed and underdeveloped as some, and Gwen is definitely a flawed but likeable character. She had me laughing, cheering her on, and truly loving this ending to a unique and wonderful trilogy.

no. 5 - Gilded by Christina Farley

Gilded was a 2014 debut I was really excited about. I mean, that cover's amazing and I was super excited about reading a book set in Korea- I'd yet to read one in Seoul and my inner wanderlust and reader was curious. I picked Gilded up after reading a book I hadn't much enjoyed, yet I fell in love with the world, rich background, and story. Jae wasn't my favorite protagonist because of her recklessness, but overall I thought she became a better character and her story is definitely just getting started and is already fantastic. I can't wait for Silvern and more of Jae's tale in Korea!

From the paper world,

V

The First Half of 2014 Part IV - Top Five Fantasy and Retellings

Today's books have come from what are probably two of the genres that I have especially enjoyed this year. Fairy tale retellings, and retellings in general, are some of my favorite reads and so I found some wonderful ones this year. However, I stumbled across a few fantasy reads that were excellent as well, and since fantasy is a genre that I normally don't read as often, I was thrilled to have read some great books from it.

It's day four so let me know what your picks are and let me know your thoughts! I'm so excited to share my picks for this list, these books were really wonderful!

no. 1 - Unhinged by A.G. Howard

Are you surprised? Of course this Alice in Wonderland retelling trilogy is among my favorite book series ever, and Unhinged was absolutely incredible. I was kept in suspense the entire time, and I loved returning to this world and characters (especially my beloved Morpheus!) and this is a sequel that's thrilling, an excellent continuation, and leaves you ready for Ensnared!

no. 2 - Cress by Marissa Meyer
This is by far my favorite book in The Lunar Chronicles thus far. While each is great, Cress's storyline was fast paced, filled with action and incredible characters. I loved the witty banter and group that we see in this book, and Cress is an awesome addition to the leading ladies of The Lunar Chronicles. This was a book I couldn't put down, and it has made an already awesome series become one of my favorites. While we won't be getting Winter until November 2015, I'm definitely excited for more of this series with the prequel Fairest that's coming out in January. 

no. 3 - Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

I really loved this second book in Jackson Pearce's retellings series. The characters were really wonderful- each was unique, well developed, and their personalities complemented each other well. I loved the sibling dynamic and bond between Ansel and Gretchen, and the mystery that fills the story as well. I found the characters to be memorable and engaging, and the story was well written and fast paced without dragging. I found myself immersed in the world of this small town and Gretchen's quest for answers.

no. 4 - Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen

This was the 2014 debut I was looking forward to the most, and Stolen Songbird was really wonderful. I had, for some reason, thought it was a paranormal instead of a fantasy before I'd picked the book up, but this is an incredible fantasy that shines. The world that Danielle L. Jensen has created is intricate, beautiful, and riddled with mystery. I loved seeing Celine's character grow, and how her and Tristan got to know each other. This book is one that has me very excited to read its sequel as well, Hidden Huntress, which comes out in 2015.

no. 5 - Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Incarnate is a book that I discovered through a readalong, and I'm so happy I did. The world in this fantasy is absolutely incredible- it's truly unlike any concept I've read. This book has elements that are unusual in YA and Ana is a great lead. I fell in love with the world building and the characters.

From the paper world,

V