2016 Reads

JANUARY

1. Sorceress (Spellcaster #3) by Claudia Gray | 352pp | 01.21.16 | A+
2. Wings (Wings #1) by Aprilynne Pike | 290pp | 01.25.16 | A++
3. Rush (Breathless #1) by Maya Banks | 396pp | 01.26.16 | A++
4. Fever (Breathless #2) by Maya Banks | 416pp | 01.27.16 | A++
5. Caught Up In Us (Caught Up In Love, #1) by Lauren Blakely | 240pp | 01.28.16 | A+

FEBRUARY

1. The Coven (Sweep, #2) by Cate Tiernan | 185pp | 02.01.16 | A+
2. Blood Witch (Sweep, #3) by Cate Tiernan | 202pp | 02.01.16 | A+
3. Trophy Husband (Caught Up In Love, #3) by Lauren Blakely | 222pp | 02.06.16 | A-
4. Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) by Sarah J. Maas | 404pp | 02.14.16 | A++
5. Dark Magick (Sweep, #4) by Cate Tiernan | 186pp | 02.16.16 | A+
6. Awakening (Sweep, #5) by Cate Tiernan | 188pp | 02.17.16 | A+
7. Spellbound (Sweep, #6) by Cate Tiernan | 192pp | 02.18.16 | A+
8. Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2) by Sarah J. Maas | 418pp | 02.24.16 | A++
9. Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass, #3) by Sarah J. Maas | 562pp | 02.28.16 | A++

MARCH

1. Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass, #4) by Sarah J. Maas | 648pp | 03.02.16 | A++
2. Stormdancer (The Lotus War, #1) by Jay Kristoff | 451pp | 03.06.15 | A+
3. Desperately Seeking A Duke (Heiress Brides, #1) by Celester Bradley | 332pp | 03.09.16 | A+
4. We Were Liars by E. Lockhard | 242pp | 03.17.16 | A+
5. A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy, #1) by Deborah Harkness | 579pp | 03.18.16 | A+

APRIL

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MAY

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2. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (Between, #1) by April Tucholke | 360pp | 05.05.16 | A-
3. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1) by Cassandra Clare | 485pp | 05.10.16 | A-
4. Prodigy (Legend, #2) by Marie Lu | 371pp | 05.12.16 | A++

JUNE

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JULY

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Ten Finished Series I Have YET to Finish

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics and info on how to participate, click here! 

1. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare - I've started this when there were still three books. I've finished the 3rd book last 2012, and I haven't since picked up the 4th installment. I've seen the movie, and ticked the prequel to the series (Infernal Devices) to be read, but I HAVEN'T PICKED UP the 4th book in the series. Why? I'm planning to reread books 1-3, like RIGHT NOW.
2. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard - The second book left me no longing to grab the conclusion in the series. It's good but I was disappointed with the heroine's lost hand.
3. The Maze Runner by James Dashner - I've seen the movie, and justified some questions when I read the book.  I guess I loved the movie (and Thomas in the movie - blame it on Teen Wolf), and I wasn't in a hurry to finish the series since the movie itself satisfied my craving.
4. House of Night by P.C./Kristin Cast - I think I need a pat on the back for this series. I went on and on even when I've read a lot of negative reviews. For a while I was like, finish the series already! I promised myself to stop at book 10, and I did.  Two books later, the series was concluded. Gaaah!
5. The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken - I recently read the Darkest Minds, and it has a compelling plot, and one of my interesting reads in YA. I'm not sure if it's a trilogy but this is one among many series that I wanted to do a 'readathon'.
6. Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen - This lady in tights ala Robin Hood. Two books more to go!
7. Darkest Powers by Kelley Armstrong - there's a lot of novellas in the series, and I haven't read them one bit. I try to stay away from the novellas and concentrate on the books, and I'm only one book left.
8. Divergent by Veronica Roth - the truth is, I'm seldom into Dystopia and Science Fiction, but for me to understand the whole of the story, I need to delve into the books. So, book first, then movie. At a time.
9. The Keatyn Chronicles by Jillian Dodd - This is a chick lit that I really like. I just don't have access to it since it was not available in my local library. I bought the e-book online, and I'm itching for the succeeding installments.  Gotta have control. Gotta have control.
10. Historical romance series by Various Historical Romance Authors - my list won't be complete if I don't include historical romances in my top ten. I can't list them since they go by the dozens but they're definitely included in my YET TO FINISH list.

Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo

4.5 stars • 368 pages • Done June 2, 2015

Published by Henry Holt and Co • June 5th 2012

Young Adult • Fantasy • Adventure

I've expected this book to be good, but I didn't anticipate that I won't be able to put this down!  It was good, with two lengthy scenes - the first was when Alina first displayed her power, and the second was when she and Mal was trekking to get away from the Darkling and tracking down the Morozova's herd. At first, I was leaning towards the Darkling as her mate (and comparing it to Death of the Arcana Chronicles).  But, considering the Darkling's intention somewhere along the book, I went back to Mal, with whatever little romance going on between them.  

After reading this book, I've read reviews that critically bashed the language, the names, the whatnots.  But people, THIS IS A FANTASY.  Anybody can do and write anything they can in their book!  Some have issues on its technicalities, I've had issues with Alina's prowess (because, really, that's all she can do?), and the non-existent romance that was squeezed at the end,  but I commend this for IMAGINATION, which this book did deliver.  

Would I follow through? Definitely.  I want to see Alina bloom, the Darkling humbled, and Mal, some sense of a love story, and not an attachment.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

110 pages • Done June 2, 2015

Published by Vintage  • April 3rd 1991 (1st 1984)

Young Adult • Realistic Fiction

Chicago, Illinois. Acclaimed by critics, beloved by readers of all ages, taught everywhere from inner-city grade schools to universities across the country, and translated all over the world, The House on Mango Street is the remarkable story of Esperanza Cordero. 

Told in a series of vignettes – sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous – it is the story of a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago, inventing for herself who and what she will become. Few other books in our time have touched so many readers. (via GoodReads)

This book, in its snippets, was an interesting collection of struggles and challenges that people on Mango Street have experienced.

Graceling (Graceling Realm #1) by Kristin Cashore

4 stars • 471 pages • Done May 18, 2015

Published by Harcourt  • October 1st 2008 

Young Adult • Urban Fantasy

This has a delicate happy ending. For Po to lose something he truly cherished.  For Katsa to be definite on her decision.  The story was truly amazing, more realistic with the emotions of its characters in a fantasy realm of the Graces.  But in the end, I would want to see Katsa and Po end up together.  I would truly want to see them married.  This book made me feel a little bit Bitterblue.

Myth and Knowing: An Introduction to World Mythology by Scott A. Leonard, Michael McClure

480 pages • Done May 5, 2015

Published by McGraw-Hill • February 18th 2003

Genre Mythology • Reference

"Myth and Knowing" is a rich resource of myths and mythology through the ages, in which scholarly and literary materials combine to provide a seamless portrait of this multicultural topic. Balanced and nuanced discussions explore the ways in which myths have portrayed both men and women. In addition, art and maps contextualize selected myths, providing insights into the cultures and religious traditions from which they originated. (via GoodReads)

- excerpt from Chapter 5: Trickster Myths, Elderberry Flute Song by Peter Blue Cloud -

It's not learning that's important, but the leaning. You must lean towards your questions, your problems; lean slowly so that you don't bend the solution too badly out of shape. 

Gentle Rogue (Malory-Anderson Family #3) by Johanna Lindsey

426 pages • Done on May 4, 2015

Published by Avon • March 29th 2005 (1st 1990)

Historical Romance

 London • Connecticut • Pacific Ocean.  Heartsick and desperate to return home to America, Georgina Anderson boards the Maiden Anne disguised as a cabin boy, never dreaming she'll be forced into intimate servitude at the whim of the ship's irrepressible captain, James Mallory. The black sheep of a proud and tempestuous family, the handsome ex-pirate once swore no woman alive could entice him into matrimony. But on the high seas his resolve will be weakened by an unrestrained passion and by the high-spirited beauty whose love of freedom and adventure rivals his own.

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

182 pages • Done May 4, 2015

Published by Bantam/Spectra • June 1st 1984 (May 1950)

Science Fiction • Classics

Mars.  The strange and wonderful tale of man’s experiences on Mars, filled with intense images and astonishing visions. Now part of the Voyager Classics collection.

The Martian Chronicles tells the story of humanity’s repeated attempts to colonize the red planet. The first men were few. Most succumbed to a disease they called the Great Loneliness when they saw their home planet dwindle to the size of a fist. They felt they had never been born. Those few that survived found no welcome on Mars. The shape-changing Martians thought they were native lunatics and duly locked them up.

But more rockets arrived from Earth, and more, piercing the hallucinations projected by the Martians. People brought their old prejudices with them – and their desires and fantasies, tainted dreams. These were soon inhabited by the strange native beings, with their caged flowers and birds of flame.

This was a weird read, maybe since I'm not a huge fan of science fiction. The stories were spasmodic written like the Twilight Zone. It was that weird.

Ray Bradbury did see something worthwhile here, since this may be pure fiction, but in this day and age, people ARE going to Mars, 65 years after this book was first published.