Best of First Half of 2010

Can't quite believe we're almost half way through the year already, but we are. So far this year I've read 67 books and most of them have been great reads that I've thoroughly enjoyed. Narrowing the list down is very hard, but here are some of the very best I've read.

Best New YA Releases
1) Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy #5)
2) Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready (sequel out 2011)
3) Glimmerglass by Jenna Black (Faeriewalker #1)
4) My Soul To Keep by Rachel Vincent (Soul Screamers #3)
5) White Cat by Holly Black (Curse Workers #1)


Best New Adult Releases
1) Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #4)
2) Shift by Rachel Vincent (Shifters #5)
3) Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #5)
4) Soulless/Changeless by Gail Carriger (Parasol Protectorate #1 & 2)
5) Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead (Georgina Kincaid #5)

Best Books Regardless of Release Date (excluding those above)
1) The Hunger Games/Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games #1 & 2, YA dystopia)
2) Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles (sequel coming late 2010, YA contemporary)
3) Lover Eternal by J. R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood #2, PNR)
4) Betrayals by Lili St. Crow (Strange Angels #2, YA UF)
5) The Black Magician trilogy by Trudi Canavan (take your pick classing as YA or adult, fantasy)

7 Other Top Picks (ie the ones that tie with some above and deserve mention, in no order)
Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur (Riley Jenson #9, adult UF)
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves (stand alone, YA UF)
Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray (historical YA fantasy)
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry #1, YA contemporary)
The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong (Darkest Powers #3, YA UF)
Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder (Inside Out #1, YA SF/dystopia)
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (sequel out 2011, YA UF)

So far, it's been an awesome year for books. The second half of 2010 shows just as much promise with many more titles I'm very excited for. I'll try and post a 'looking forward to' post about them in the next few days.