Nayuleska's Book Recommendations for 2010

Okay so today's post is cheating a little. I haven't quite got a book review prepared, and I'm in the middle of an awesome morning working on my wip (just written a whole chapter!). So I'm have copied and pasted my ten recommended reads of books I've read in 2010. The original post was over on Enduring Romance, but as the author I'm happy to post it here too!

I am not creating a 'top ten' list. I look at books as belonging to levels, rather than lists. There are numerous levels, and the following books are only a handful that I believe everyone should read this year (or next year...two of the books aren't out until Jan/Feb). I've included links to my reviews for further

First up on the list I am quite happy to put first (only because she put it last on her list). I genuinely adore SUGAR RUSH by Kimber An. This Young Adult book has everything that's cool for me. Go and read it to find out about the sewing machine incident. This is Kimber An's awesome year!

Next up is THE MOCKINGBIRDS. I read this as part of blog tour, and will definitely be getting my own copy. It's a powerful Young Adult book, and hands down is at the top level of books. It's a tough read, and quite emotional, but explores a sensitive subject in a way that can hopefully help other victims cope.

Now I have a joint entry, WHEN I WAS JOE and ALMOST TRUE by Keren David. These children's books deal with inner city knife crime well, as well as self-harm. Like Kimber An, this was Keren's debut year as a published author. A third book will be out in 2011 - but not the third in the series, it's a standalone book.

I'm majorly cheating on this book - it isn't actually out until 20th January 2011, but I have already read it. It is an awesome Young Adult Paranormal book. THE IRON WITCH by Karen Mahoney, is about a girl who has magic infused in her body. This affects how she lives, for she tries to hide it from the world. A faerie world where she has to face the monsters that killed her father and gave her her gift. It is Kaz's debut novel, and she is also an awesome person.

I stumbled across this next Young Adult book, IT HAPPENED TO NANCY by Anon when a friend asked if I wanted to review something for World AIDS day. I said yes, and this book has really touched my heart. Nancy gets AIDS after being raped (she was seduced first). This is her diary, transformed so other teens can learn from her mistakes. It deals with every single symptom and feeling she endures as the disease progresses.

Although this next one can be classed as Young Adult (although I'm not sure how since the protagonist is 26 years old...) it is predominantly a Dark Urban Fantasy. It is super awesome, and the first in a trilogy. BLACK SWAN RISING by Lee Carroll ticks every box for me. If you love books with a strong female lead, secondary characters whose loyalty is often debatable, great plot twists and scenes of magic that take your breath away, then go read this book.

Time for a Paranormal Romance novel, BOADICEA'S LEGACY by Traci E Hall. I loved Traci's WILD MAGIC, (part of a series), but her latest book rocks! Imagine being given a gift/curse from an ancient warrior queen, which affects who you can marry. Ela spends most of the novel running away from a creep who has serious possession issues. It has the right mix of action, a strong willed protagonist, laughter, danger, a hero with faults to work on and a sleazy villain.

Coming up next is a Graphic Novel (aimed primarily at girls, but it appeals to all ages). MO-BOT HIGH, book 1 (yes, there is another coming!!) by Neill Cameron. Asha starts a new school, where students battle each other using robots conjured up from mobile phones. Asha has to learn how to use the Mo-Bots because a bully is eager to put her through her paces. I want every girl in the world to own this book, it's that good. It's even got a character with my real name - and her Mo-Bot is really cool!

I love all of Maria V Snyder's work, but her latest one is her first Young Adult, dystopian book. Get ready to be surprised by INSIDE OUT. This unputdownable book ticks many boxes on my What Makes A Great Book List, and adds boxes that I never knew existed. It comes out in January 2011, with the sequel coming out in February so you won't have to wait long to find out what happens next. (I read the ARC really early - the day it arrived.)

Eeek, I really need to wrap things up now. I wish I could list every book I've read, but I can't. I'd like to thank Cem for letting me post each Wednesday. It's fun getting to know her and share the book love with another person. I look forward to an equally awesome 2011, and I hope you've all read great books this year.

Best of 2010 - Adult

Yesterday I was talking about my favourite YA reads of the year, today I'm talking about my adult favourites. This list was very easy compared to the YA one because I haven't read very much adult fiction this year. I unintentionally ended up very YA focused. So here's a rare adult spotlight for me:

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews [Kate Daniels #4]
Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews [The Edge #2]
Why? Kate 4: Because Kate and Curran kick serious ass!! Oh, you wanted a serious answer? Okay. Because the Kate series has awesome world building, a kick ass protagonist who definitely doesn't need any saving, very well developed characters, brilliant use of mythology and a very strong story. It's dark, gritty, funny, smart and all around awesome and book 4 is no exception. If you haven't yet started this series, you must!! (and if you don't think book one is much, keep going because I promise you that books 2-4 are amazing!!) And I'm throwing Bayou Moon on to the list because it's just as awesome, with a broken hero to adore and a girl who knows how to use her sword! Very nearly as awesome as Magic Bleeds. Couldn't get enough of William!
Reviews: Magic Bleeds, Bayou Moon

Shift & Alpha by Rachel Vincent [Shifters #5 & #6]
Why? Same reason Rachel's YA My Soul To Keep hit my faves list. Flawed characters at their very best. I love the werecat world Rachel's created, I love that she doesn't sacrifice realness in her characters attitudes for sake of the story. These two books make for a great set up and final chapter of the Shifters series! Lots of action, heartache and a seriously fantastic ending! Dark and gritty, and once more a protagonist who doesn't need a guy to do the ass kicking for her! Also, one very hot werecat who's name starts with J makes the whole series worth reading...
Reviews for the series: #1 Stray, #4 Prey, #5 Shift, #6 Alpha

Waking The Witch by Kelley Armstrong [The Otherworld #11]
Why? I have loved seeing Savannah grow up through the course of the series and now seeing her take the lead and get to narrate is awesome. She's sassy, smart and a lot more vulnerable at times than I'd expected. Magic blended with PI work while Savannah attempts to prove herself. Another great story with yet more expansion of an already vast world! One of Kelley's best Otherworld books to date! Watch out for that cliff hanger though ;)
Review

Blood of the Demon by Diana Rowland [Kara Gillian #2]
Why? Paranormal detective fiction with a very real edge to it. I love how Kara is very much a normal person, worrying about her weight, trying to hold her own and prove herself as a cop in a mans world, only she's got a little paranormal punch as well. I should throw book 1, Mark of the Demon, on the list too because I only read it this year. Both books are excellent with a great story and a paranormal twist that blends in beautifully.
Reviews: #1 Mark of the Demon,  #2 Blood of the Demon

Changeless & Blameless by Gail Carriger [Parasol Protectorate #2 & #3]
Why? Lets see: Victorian London, steampunk, a sexy werewolf and one of the most entertaining main characters I've read! The books are sassy and smart and I love the growth of the story through books 2 & 3 on the romantic front and on the general preternatural one. Very funny, very brilliant and a must read on any list. Can't wait for the next ones!
Reviews for the series: #1 Soulless, #2 Changeless, #3 Blameless

All the above are new releases this year, but there is one series I'm new to (very new, I just read them a couple of weeks ago) which hasn't had a new release this year, but absolutely needs to be on this list because it's one of the very best series I've read and had an almost instantaneous place on my favourites shelf!

Fever series by Karen Marie Moning
Why? One word: AWESOME. I'm completely cheating here because none of the books were released this year and it's 4 books instead of picking one. But oh well! I am very much a late comer to this series with the first 4 books out, Darkfever, Bloodfever, Faefever and Dreamfever, with just the final book, Shadowfever, due out in January. But it's one of my favourites! Very dark, very funny in places, very little romance, a spoiled girl who learns to kick some serious ass, an addictive narrative, a guy who very little is known about but is one of the smexyish characters I've read (Barrons), erm, okay, that's probably enough for here. You get the idea yes? Just read the series!!
Reviews for the series: #1 Darkfever, #2 Bloodfever, #3 Faefever & #4 Dreamfever

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*)

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.