In My Mailbox [11]

IMM is a weekly post hosted by Kirsti at The Story Siren. But, IMM is officially on break for the Christmas period, so there is no post/linky over there today. However, I got a couple cool titles this week I wanted to share, so I'm still posting an IMM.

This is my first vlog attempt. Please don't laugh too hard and excuse the terrible light/sound quality... *cringes* should not have done this...



Bought:
Inside Out by Maria V Snyder - Goodreads - my review.

For review:
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney - Goodreads [Thank you to UK Book Tours!]
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney - Goodreads [Thank You Random House Children's Books!]

What's in your mailbox?

Best Books of 2010 - YA

2010 has been an awesome year for books! I’ve discovered a lot of new authors to love and said goodbye to some characters I adore. Choosing my 5 top YA reads of the year is damn near impossible as there are many, many deserving candidates and I've really liked or loved probably 90% of what I've read this year. But after much thought and umm-ing and ah-ing I have come up with my 5 favourites. And to be more fair, I’ve excluded all 2011 releases I’ve already read that I consider some of the best I’ve read this year. Instead I’ll highlight those in my 2011 Most Wanted post, which will go up later in the week.

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Sub-genre(s)/Subject(s): ghosts, romance

Why? It’s a hauntingly beautiful tale of grief, a brilliant ghost story and has a very sexy Scottish guy by the name of Zachary who I fell seriously in love with! The writing is fantastic, it’s a heartbreaking emotional read (many tears were shed) and left me craving book 2, Shift, in a serious way!!

Review

Matched by Ally Condie

Sub-genre(s)/Subject(s): dystopia, romance

Why? I loved how everything got so carefully revealed. Layer after layer peeled back and unveiling more depth, more secrets, and more awesome story. I loved the characters, the pacing was superb and I loved the almost poetic quality to it.

Review

Spirit Bound and Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead [Vampire Academy #5 & #6]

Sub-genre/Subject(s): urban fantasy (vampires)

Why? I’ve adored the Vampire Academy series from the start. Spirit Bound was a hard read for me first time around, but completely awesome. Last Sacrifice...well, honestly LS is probably the weakest book of the series plot and writing wise, and could have done with being darker like the rest, but the parts of it I loved, I really loved! And it is in many ways still a great conclusion to my favourite YA paranormal series, so for me it still manages to hit this list. If you’ve not yet tried this series, what’s keeping you?!

Reviews for the series: #1 Vampire Academy, #2 Frostbite, #3 Shadow Kiss, #4 Blood Promise, #5 Spirit Bound, #6 Last Sacrifice.

My Soul To Keep by Rachel Vincent [Soul Screamers #3]

Sub-genre(s)/Subject(s): urban fantasy (banshees), romance

Why? Rachel is a master at creating flawed characters who screw up massively and then cleaning it up with real strength. Characters who’s reactions are very real and who you can believe really exist. Not to mention making the creepy stuff really creepy! MSTKeep is an awesome continuation to the Soul Screamers series, though you really need to start at the beginning if you’ve not yet read any of them.

Reviews for the series: My Soul To Lose (ebook prequel novella), Reaper (ebook novella set pre-series), #1 My Soul To Take, #2 My Soul To Save, #3 My Soul To Keep, #4 My Soul To Steal (out Jan 1st 2011).

Boys Don’t Cry by Malorie Blackman

Sub-genre(s)/Subject(s): contemporary

Why? Heartfelt story of a 17 year old boy who suddenly discovers he has a kid, and that kid is dumped on him. Powerful writing covering how not all teen dads are bad! And how they are so often looked down on. As well as the truth about the difficulties involved with raising a kid.

Review

It goes without saying that all these books were un-put-downable! Choosing just 5 was really hard because there were so many to choose from! Check out my post of my favourite reads from the first half of 2010 for some other favourites, and my Read in 2010 page for highlighted favourites as well because these titles are hardly the only ones deserving of mention!

Thing is, as well as there being my favourite reads, there's also my favourite couples...many, many swoon worthy moments to be had in many reads this year. So here's another quick top 5, my top 5 couples in YA's this year! And surprisingly, not all of them come from the above books!

Meghan and Prince Ash - The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa (I so adore the broken Prince! Also TID missed out on top 5 status simply because I wanted a contemp up there as well)
Ren and Calla - Nightshade by Andrea Cremer (I didn't love the book, found it disappointing, but Ren and Calla are seriously hot together!)
Carlos and Kiara - Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles (*fans self* 'nuff said)
Rose and Dimitri - Spirit Bound/Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead (I'm NOT saying that's how it ends, for those who've not read it, but they are couple I've adored from book 1, and still think are perfect for each other)
Aura and Zachary - Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready (they don't have too many moments really, but when they do? *swoon*)

You Against Me by Jenny Downham

"If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right?

When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her, his world begins to fall apart.

If your brother's accused of a terrible crime but says he didn't do it, you defend him, don't you?

When Ellie's brother is charged with the offence, her world begins to unravel.

When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide."

Mikey and his family are fairly poor, his mum is an alcoholic and he struggles to keep his youngest sister in school and food on the table. He has dreams of being a chef, while working in a pub, mostly as a cleaner, because he needs the money. But when his sister Karen is raped, things really start to fall apart. Intent on revenge he ends up heading around to the house of the boy responsible, but instead of finding him, Mikey finds the boy's sister, Ellie.

Ellie and her family are pretty well off. They're intent on proving Tom's innocence and believe money and saying that the girl is simply looking for attention will show that everything is fine, that he didn't do anything. Ellie was in the house the night Karen says she was attacked, but her older brother Tom insists nothing happened, so why shouldn't she believe him? Ellie wants to believe in him, wants things to go back to normal, but they're a long way from that. And when Mikey shows up at her doorstep, they get even more confused.

I really enjoyed this book! It's written in third person, alternating between Mikey and Ellie's stories, so we get the chance to see what's going on for both of them, how they're coping and what it's like from their points of view. It's not a very easy read. It's very painful in places and heartfelt, no avoiding the harsh truths of rape and its effects here.

Mikey and Ellie are both very believable characters and I ached for both of them as they fought to figure out the truth and their growing feelings for each other. I loved the connection between them, how it steadily built, how they both needed an escape of some kind without really realising it. But while there is a love story here, it's not the focus, not really. The main focus remains on the rape and what it means for both their families. Neither one can forget about it for more than a moment or two.

I really enjoyed the development of both main characters throughout the book as the story unfolded. I actually really like that this story wasn't told by the victim, but by the family. And on both sides of it, because rape isn't something that only affects the victim. I also really liked the other elements at play, like the difference in class between Mikey and Ellie and how that figured in to it all. Neither had an easy family life before the assault, and it's harder still for them after, let alone before they got involved with each other.

Overall, a very well written book. A heartfelt story with believable characters and actions. I was almost in tears a couple of times through the story. The late stages of it in particular really moved me. I love that it's unflinching in it's look at the realities of rape. I'd highly recommend this!

Rating: 8/10

Reaper by Rachel Vincent

"Tod Hudson was a typical teenager. He liked girls, sports, food and tolerated his younger brother, Nash. If fact, he had his whole life in front of him - and due to his bean sidhe heritage, it should have been a very long life indeed.


All of that changed in one horrible moment and suddenly Tod had to make a choice. Life... Death... or something Between..."

Reaper is a ebook novella set in Rachel's YA Soul Screamers series. Tod is a secondary character in the main series and one of my favourite secondary characters full stop. I'm so glad he's got this novella from his POV which gives us a chance to get to know him a little better!

Reaper is set before the start of the series, timeline wise matching up with My Soul To Lose, the ebook prequel novella. But this might very well be better off read after the first couple books and knowing who Tod is and his role in the main series. Either way, it is a fantastic short story and one that all Soul Screamers fans should read!

I love this short story, I just wish it had been a whole lot longer! It's fantastically written, just like all of Rachels' SS books, and it throws a few pretty big shocks along the way. For a short story it's quite an emotional roller coaster (I think some of that comes from having read the first few books and already having a connection with the characters, but not all of it). I thoroughly enjoyed getting the chance to get to know Tod a little better and this story gave us a good insight in to him and how he really thinks. Plus, like I said at the start, I love Tod so more of him is always a good thing!! I would love to see more from his POV at a later date because he's such an interesting character. I love his strength and his snarky attitude. And his loyalty to those he loves.

If you're a Soul Screamers fan, you must check this novella out. If you've not yet tried Rachel's YA series, you need to!

Reaper is avail as a free download from Rachel's website here. It's also available for Kindle and Nook for free for a short time. But it will remain free from Rachel's site after other places start charging. You can also download the series prequel My Soul To Lose for free from Rachel's site, so check that one out too if you've not.

Rating: 9/10

My Soul To Steal by Rachel Vincent

Ecopy ARC received for review with thanks from NetGalley and HarlequinTEEN!

Spoilers for the end of the previous book My Soul To Keep.

"You want my soul and my boyfriend?

Trying to work things out with Nash - her maybe boyfriend - is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can't just pretend nothing happened. But "complicated" doesn't even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn't just an ordinary girl. She's a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people's fears - and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn't above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever - and whoever - she wants.

I don't think so."

I absolutely loved this book! Beginning to end I was captivated and could not put it down. The Soul Screamers series is very different to most YA series out there at the moment with it's focus on bean sidhes rather than the more popular topics of vampires and angels. It gives you something new to get your teeth in to but what really makes this series work is the very creepy dark side found in the Netherworld and the fantastic, realistic characters and the way they develop.

Not only is this a great paranormal story in which Kaylee is attempting to get to the bottom of a spate of sudden deaths and stop them, but she's also battling with very serious personal issues, which Rachel handles incredibly well. At the end of My Soul To Keep (book #3) Kaylee realised how badly her boyfriend Nash had betrayed her, and she was strong enough to walk away. Addiction is a difficult subject to handle, but Rachel has managed it perfectly. She could have easily written it so Kaylee simply forgave Nash and they lived happily ever after, or had her walk away and suddenly stop caring. Neither would have been realistic, but the former something that could possibly have been expected. But instead Rachel deals with it in a very real and honest way. Kaylee isn't about to stop loving Nash or wanting to be with him. And she's also not about to suddenly trust him again. Trust takes work and hard as it is for them, I'm really enjoying seeing both Nash and Kaylee work to make things better. Nash's addiction is not going to be left by the way side and forgotten. It's something that will be ongoing, just as any addiction in real life is. It's handled maturely, without talking down to readers and without glorifying any aspect either. There are plenty of harsh truths involved with addiction and many conflicting emotions, none of which are skipped over, making for an excellent story.

My Soul To Steal sees the addition of Sabine, Nash's ex. And wow, she's a hell of an addition! Sabine was introduced in the short story 'Fearless' (which she narrates) found in the 'Kiss Me Deadly' anthology. I loved that short and fell in love with Sabine then. I actually love her more now, after Steal, although I've no doubt many readers will dislike or even hate her. She's very forthright, very nasty at times, and very, very blunt about her reasons for being at Kaylee's school. She wants Nash back and she doesn't care who she has to hurt to get him. Sabine is such a fantastic, complex character and I also love how she tells Kaylee what's what, revealing some home truths and making Kaylee face them.

Another important character in Steal is Tod. Tod is quite possibly my favourite character in this series. He's funny, caring, selfish and when its really needed, he can be very honest as well. He has a scene with Kaylee in Steal which might well be one of my favourite scenes of the series. Tod clearly cares about Kaylee, but he doesn't protect her from the darker truths she needs to know about. I love the caring honesty he gives her and the way he's developed over the series.

The paranormal aspects of the story are beautifully blended with the personal creating an intense read and like I said at the start, I couldn't put MSTSteal down! This series has just gone from strength to strength. Steal is achingly painful at times, with some fantastic drama, laugh out loud moments and awesome character development as well. Kaylee is growing in strength and self confidence, something I love to see and enjoy following. Steal is easily my favourite book of the series so far and it left me hungry for more! One of my favourite reads of the year and I can not wait for book 5, If I Die! Spectacular work from a wonderful author and a must read series!

Rating: 10/10

Annexed by Sharon Dogar

September 2010, Anderson Press
320 pages, Hardback (mine was the paperback version)
Review copy

Children's, 12+ teen romance

Summary from Random House Children's Books
Everyone knows about Anne Frank, and her life hidden in the secret annexe – or do they?
Peter van Pels and his family are locked away with the Franks too, and Peter sees it all differently. What is it like to be forced into hiding with Anne Frank, to hate her and then find yourself falling in love with her? To know you’re being written about in her diary, day after day? What’s it like to sit and wait and watch whilst others die, and you wish you were fighting?
Anne’s diary ends on August 4 1944, but Peter’s story takes us on, beyond their betrayal and into the Nazi death camps. He details with accuracy, clarity and compassion, the reality of day to day survival in Auschwitz - and the terrible conclusion.

This book has been shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards 2010. I read The Diary of Anne Frank countless times when I was younger. I leapt at the chance to read this book. Peter never wrote a diary. Sharon has captured his feelings and thoughts on life both in and out of the annex. We will never know if Peter ever felt like this, but I believe that at times he must have been annoyed with Anne. Anne's diary gives a very distinctive opinion on Peter's family, an opinion which is reversed in Peter's side of events. He shows how gentle and kind his mother is, helping him when he has a few secrets to hid. He shows that his inability to speak clearly during some instances was because he didn't know what to say. Mostly he talks about those in the annex, but there is a purely fictional character to show a different side of Peter. Sometimes the events in Annexed happened slightly differently in Anne's diary, but Sharon points this out in concise footnotes.

I hadn't known what to expect when I read this. I thoroughly recommend having a box of tissues beside you. The story alternates (not evenly) Peter in his current state, then Peter remember the past (thankfully in chronological order). He puts up with a lot, and - perhaps inevitably - he grows feelings for Anne. Anne is quite a madam, which annoys Peter. Her father keeps a close eye on her, and hangs around making sure that Peter doesn't do anything he shouldn't.

Anne's story doesn't have a happy ending. The conditions Peter describes of life in the concentration camp was horrifying. I think most readers will need a large box of tissues. Peter's diary includes what it was like when they were all captured in the annex. I was in floods of tears, especially since all those captured acted according to their nature in the last few acts that they did. They endure inhumane treatment on their way to the camps. I still remember when I first learned about the holocaust when I was about 14 years old, because I was in tears at school as I went down the stairs with a teaching assistant. I remember asking her how could people do such a thing to other humans? She didn't really have an answer for me then, and I don't have an answer for myself now. History is still repeated all over the world. Sadly anti-Semitism is still an active movement (for lack of a better word) in the UK, which saddens me.

Despite their differences, both Peter's family and the Franks support each other as much as they can during the transportation process. Inevitably they are separated. There is so much love and compassion in the book that I cried harder (this is an emotional book. I know I cried for quite a few minutes after I'd finished it) I liked how at the end of the book the epilogue says what happened to each person. There is also a page stating the sources used for research.

Everyone who has read Anne Frank's diary should read this fictionalised diary of Peter, for an alternate view of events. If you haven't read Anne's diary, I suggest reading it after Annexed. Hers is a story which will never be forgotten.

I give this book a 9/10.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

E-ARC copy received for review from NetGalley and HarperTeen with thanks!

Unearthly is published January 4th in the US.

"In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees. . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what it is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place--and out of place, at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make--between honesty and deciet, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?"

Where to start...Oh. Freaking. Hell. I adored this book from beginning to end! There are times when you can start a book and from page one you know you’re on to a winner. Something that just sings to you, the character’s voice, the setting, whatever it is, just ‘clicks’ and you know you’re in for a great read, something that will be a lasting favourite. That was this book for me. I started it, loved chapter one and could barely put it down.

Clara is a 16 year old who two years previous found out that her mother is half angel. Making her a quarter angel. It took some adjusting, but she did. Now she’s starting to get visions, her ‘purpose’. They show a boy in the middle of a forest fire and Clara knows she has to save him. Going on the clues in her visions, she ends up moving, along with her mom and younger brother, from California to a small town in Wyoming. There she meets a boy, the boy, the one from her visions. But nothing is simple.

Clara has to fight to fit in at a new school, hide her ever growing angel powers, and figure out how to get close to the boy from the vision so she can do what she must when the time is right. Problems arise quickly as Clara begins to realise her mother has kept a lot about angels secret from her, because apparently she needs to find out for herself. The more Clara discovers though, the more danger she realises she faces. Fighting with her mom, hunting for her place in this new town, struggling to get close to the boy. None of it should have been so hard. Also, there was never meant to be another boy.

As I already said, I loved this book. It’s beautiful, smart, funny in just the right places and heart wrenching at times as well. I was hooked from page one where we enter Clara’s vision. The description of the scene drew me in so easily I felt like I was right there, and yet there is no overload of description at any point. It’s simple but powerful.

The characters are very well drawn, well rounded and easy to love. Even before we get to know some of them better, you get a great sense of them from how Clara sees them, and occasionally from comment from someone else. I love Clara. She’s the perfect blend of vulnerable, strong and awkward. Her struggling to fit in at a new school is something I find very easy to relate to, and the way she felt and dealt with it felt very real. I love the chemistry between the characters, whether its friendship or romantic based, they all have this spark between them that makes them come alive. Makes the more common conversations seem like more. You can really feel the depth and strength of certain relationships, and the uneasy edge to others.

The setting itself, the small town in the mountains, the small town school where everyone’s known each other since kindergarten, is almost as alive as the characters. Cynthia’s descriptions keep everything alive, but again, without overload. Very few books manage to make me feel so involved as this did in every aspect.

The story holds up just as well as the characters. I liked the twists alongside recognizable mythology. I like how there are different levels of angel and how the powers differ depending on what level they are. I liked that things were not straight forward or what I first thought. Some things were, but some I never saw coming. Towards the end in particular I kept trying to figure out what was going on and I just couldn’t. I held my breath through the last several chapters as the tension grew almost too much at times. My heart ached for Clara as she faced some big obstacles and incredibly hard decisions, and yes there were a few tears involved as well.

There was nothing about this book I didn’t love. And I adored one of the two guys in this. He’s just...perfect really. I just hope I am, for once, on the right side of this and he gets the girl in the end! I’ve got a few little theories about what could happen next, and some thoughts on one character in particular and the role they could play in the next book, but nothing I feel close to sure of. The ending was fantastic. It revealed some big things, but also left a lot of questions. Not the kind that frustrate, but the kind that made me wish I had book 2 sat beside me already! It’s going to be a very, very long wait for it. Stunning debut, fantastic book, and easily one of my favourite reads of the year. An absolute Must Have!!

Rating: 10/10

Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward

Lover Revealed is the forth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and picks up a little while after Lover Awakened. This is Butch's story. He's an ex-cop, human, living with the Brotherhood under their protection and with their friendship. He fell in love with vampire Marissa when he first met her but things have not been simple between them. Marissa fell for Butch at the same time, but she's spent 300 years being unwanted, and she doesn't believe Butch can really love her. When Butch is taken and almost killed by the lessers, Marissa steps up to help get him back to health. As their relationship changes and grows, Butch is also coming to terms with being a human in the vampire world, and what the lessers have done to him.

I really enjoyed the first three books in this series, but it's taken me a while to carry on and pick this one up. Not because I wasn't interested, but because I prefer UF and YA to paranormal romance. I will confess from the start that I skipped over all the sections that were from the POV of the lessers and just read what was from the Brothers and Marissa's POV. I don't think I really missed out on any of the story by doing so, and honestly the lessers bore me!

The majority of the story is very good. It's got a good pace to it, not hanging around but not rushed either. I love the development of some of the side characters through the book, John Matthew and Zsadist in particular. I didn't like Marissa before the start of this book, I've always found her annoying and whiny, although I can understand her discomfort. But by the end of the book I really liked her. She grew a lot through the book developing in to a really well rounded, stronger character and one I enjoyed reading about.

My problem with this book though, despite my overall enjoyment of it, is Butch. For a couple of reasons. One, because I wasn't too thrilled with where his story went, how he changed over the book, although I understand why it happened as it did. But mostly because I don't enjoy Butch and Marissa together. In fact I'm a huge supporter for Butch and V to be together. I love the way the bond between the two has grown through the books. I think they've got far more chemistry together than Butch has with Marissa and the way they play off each other is far more entertaining. I would have loved to have seen JR go there, to twist what was expected. I think it would have made for much better story. I did like how Butch was affected by the lessers and what it meant for him. I also enjoyed seeing him realise he was basically a kept man by the Brothers, everything he 'owned' bought with their money or given by them. It was nice to see his pride come out and start throwing his weight around again.

Overall I did like Lover Revealed, but I got to the end wishing more than ever that Butch had chosen V and not Marissa. That was kind of a let down really. The BDB books aren't short and after the time put in to it I was almost wishing I hadn't bothered. I will certainly read more of the series, I enjoy the switch up on characters in each book and they are well written for the most part (I was getting annoyed with their 'language' here, regular words aren't good enough?) but I'm disappointed with this one. Easily my least favourite so far.

Rating: 5/10

It's Monday! What are you reading?

It's Monday, what are you reading? Is a weekly post hosted by Sheila over at Book Journey as a chance to share what we're reading.

Over the past couple weeks I've read:

Lover Revealed [Black Dagger Brotherhood #4] by JR Ward
Eighth Grade Bites [The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #1] by Heather Brewer [review]
Finding Sky by Joss Stirling [review]
Ghost Town [Morganville Vampires #9] by Rachel Caine [review]
You Against Me by Jenny Downham
Eternal edited by PC Cast [review]
Outside In [Inside Out #2] by Maria V Snyder

Currently reading:

How To Ruin My Teenage Life by Simone Elkeles  [How To Ruin... #2] - Goodreads

And up next:

How To Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation [How To Ruin... #3] - Goodreads
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting - Goodreads
Losing Faith by Denise Jaden - Goodreads
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook - Goodreads
Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen - Goodreads

I don't actually expect to read all those this week, but they're all 'next up' titles cause I don't really know what I feel like reading at the moment!

What are you reading?

Top 5 Sundays

Top 5 Sunday's is hosted by Larissa at Larissa's Bookish Life. Each week there is a poll running for two possible subjects for Top 5, and the one with the most votes is then picked.

This weeks subject: Books YOU want for Christmas!

Normally I know pretty much everything I'm getting for Christmas ahead of time. I'm not too big a fan of surprises and I like getting stuff I really want over random stuff picked for me. Normally, none of this includes books because I buy far, far too many and it would be risky for me to give a list to someone of books I want cause I might end up buying them before hand anyway. This year though is different. My wishlist has exploded this year, my Amazon one standing at 64 titles (this is already out books, my 2011 releases one currently stands at 72) and my Goodreads one is longer. So I gave a long list of books to my parents for a change and I'm hoping that at least a couple of them end up under the tree!! Here are the 5 from that list, in no order, that I want most right now:

When The Stars Go Blue by Caridad Ferrer - Goodreads
Why? Because it sounds really good, I am craving some contemporary YA over paranormal and because while I know you shouldn't judge by a cover, I do love this cover!


Lament by Maggie Stiefvater [Books of Faerie #1] - Goodreads
Why? Because I met Maggie when she was in the UK earlier in the year and she's an awesome person. I didn't like Shiver, but I kind of loved Linger and combined, that really makes me want to check out her faerie books as well.

Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready [WVMP #1] - Goodreads
Why? Because I loved her first YA, Shade, and her short YA which is set in her WVMP world (but unconnected to the adult series, at least for now). I've been wanting to check this series out for a while, but now it's hit the top of my must have list.

Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler [Jane True #1] - Goodreads
Why? I read the start of chapter one in the back of...I forget which book, but I read it earlier this year and really liked it. A couple of my book buddies have read and loved the first couple books, so I'm really curious to find out more.

The Scent of Shadows by Vicki Pettersson [Sign of the Zodiac #1] - Goodreads
Why? It's another first in series I've heard good things about and sounds really interesting as well.

What about you guys? What books are you craving for Christmas?