words come alive the moment you let them exist
Last review of the books I read in December! This was the final book I read in 2019, and in the decade of the 10s. It was a great way to end the decade and the year.
Continue reading “Priory of the Orange Tree Review”We got word from FairyLoot that they are addressing the super slow book shipping times for US shipping. I hope that I can start getting my boxes in the month that I ordered them for, not two weeks into the next month. That would be nice.
FairyLoot Box: Defying the Odds (December 2019)
Continue reading “Defying the Odds: FairyLoot Box”
Here we go! First series review of the year! I hope you all had a great new years.
Continue reading “Iskari Series Review”
Hello! Hello! This is the second review you get from this week.
Continue reading “The Sky Weaver Review”
I wanted to do this list for a long time and honestly this was a fight to the death for me to decide which book got number one. I will explain the best I can for each book. Let’s go!
10.
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
This is probably recency bias, as it was the last book I read this year. However I loved it. The last third had me screaming as I raced through it. It was an epic read and an epic way to end the year.
9.
Tyrant’s Throne by Sebastien De Castel
If I could pick the whole series, I would. However this book defines the series. It shows the cumulation of all the themes. It creates tears, joy, and a unfathomable need to be valorous. This book made the series for me.
8.
Heartless by Melissa Meyer
I loved this retelling of Alice in Wonderland. I had to decide between this and Tyrant’s Throne, and this beat it out because it is a stand alone. If I compared this to The Greatcoats series, it would lose every time. This retelling stole my heart and made me cry for the transformation of the Queen of Hearts.
7.
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Fact, I fully believed this was a retelling of another book. Also fact, it is not. This book was amazing. Obviously, but the humor in it really got me. Fully got me. I loved every moment of it.
6.
The Wicked King by Holly Black
This is where we get into battle territory, as I had to decide which books were my absolute favorite reads of the year. I chose the second book of this series, because I saw the first and third coming, in a way, but the second took me on a joy ride. It’s my favorite of the series, and 100% why I adore this series so much.
5.
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
I went from confusion to adoration for this novel, all too quickly. I loved every moment of this book. The twists were great. The plot and setting were phenomenal. Everything about this book was amazing, but what separates this from the top four are themes, and their importance to me.
4.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
I had to decide where to put this book, as it is the only book that made me sob this year. I loved every moment that this book gave me, in solidarity, and in understanding. This book hit me hard and did not let go. It started my year off, and stays with me through it all, but it was not my favorite read.
3.
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
When I first reread Wicked, I was fully prepared to hate it. Instead I fell into it, and fell into the themes and was spun in the magic. This book had me analyzing the themes of a book in full, for the first time in such a long time. This book has so many quotable lines and everything I could ever hope for in a book.
2.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
Why two instead of one? That was a debate I still have. This book reinvigorated my love for reading, single handedly. I love this stand alone so frickin much that I have recommended it to nearly everyone I know has mildly enjoyed fantasy.
1.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
When you give me a new character to love. You win. When you give me themes that strike home. You win. When you give me a new life motto to live by and a resonance in my mind that sticks with me every night. You win, everything. This book was hands down the best book I read this year. Not because it was the best written, or the most important, or the best themed, but because this book fundamentally changed my life.
And that’s what’s important.
I had a LOT of fantasy novels on this list. I didn’t do this list last year, and I kind of wish I did, so I could see the comparison.
What books were your favorite for the year?
MM
The following is the story of a Witch. A Witch of charm and knowledge, who experienced love and loss. A Witch who found herself enthralled and enchanted by the words that were spoken and written. The following is the story of a Witch, and what was said about her, to her, and by her.
January 2019
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
A Burnable Book by Bruce Holsinger
Redwall by Brian Jacques (reread)
Total: 8
February 2019
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
Mattimeo by Brian Jacques (reread)
Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques (reread)
The Legend of Luke by Brian Jacques (reread)
Mossflower – Brian Jacques (reread)
Total: 9
March 2019
the witch doesn’t burn herself in this one by Amanda Lovelace
Glass by Ellen Hopkins
2fish by Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo
City of Dark Magic by Magnus Flyte
The Legend of Luke by Brian Jacques (reread)
The Outcast of Redwall by Brian Jacques (reread)
Total: 6
April 2019
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
A Bowlful of Stars by Florence Crannell Means
Mariel of Redwall by Brian Jacques (reread)
The Bellmaker by Brian Jacques (reread)
Suspect by Michael Robotham
Rat Race by Dick Francis
Article 5 by Kirsten Simmons
Breaking Point by Kirsten Simmons
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (reread)
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
I’m a Spider, so What (Japanese Webnovel)
Stormcaster by Cinda Williams Chima
Deathcaster by Cinda Williams Chima
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases by Nisioisin and translated by Andrew Cunningham from the original concept by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata
Love Her Wild by Atticus
The Dark Between Stars by Atticus
Total: 17
May 2019
Where I Ache by Megan O’Keeffe
Sparks of Phoenix by Najwa Zebian
We Rule the Night by Claire Eliza Bartlett
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
What in the Dickens by Gregory Maguire
Nocturna by Maya Motayne
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Animal Farm by George Orwell
Summer Island by Kristin Hannah
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
– The Magician’s Nephew
– The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
– The Horse and His Boy
– Prince Caspian
– The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
– The Silver Chair
– The Last Battle
Total: 17
June 2019
Salamandastron by Brian Jacques (reread)
The Pearls of Lutra by Brian Jacques (reread)
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseinh
Sorcery for Beginners by Matt Harry
The Bone Charmer by Breeana Shields
Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
The Wicked King by Holly Black
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
Total: 14
July 2019
State of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury
Before the Broken Star by Emily R. King
The Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton
Onyx & Ivory by Mindee Arnett
These Rebel Waves by Sara Raasch
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson
All For The Game by Nora Sakavic
– The Foxhole Court
– The Raven King
– The King’s Men
A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin
Marlfox by Brian Jaques (reread)
The Taggerung by Brian Jaques (reread)
Triss by Brian Jaques (reread)
Total: 13
August 2019
Spellslinger by Sebastien De CastellÂ
Shadowblack by Sebastien De Castell
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire
A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire
Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire
The Killing Moon by N.K. Jemisin
The Shadowed Sun by N.K. Jemisin
Peach Fuzz by Lindsay Cibos and Jared Hodges
Peach Fuzz 2 by Lindsay Cibos and Jared Hodges
The Keepers: WWIII by Rick Friar
The Keepers: Tribulation by Rick Friar
A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston
Spindle by E.K. Johnston
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Last Namsara by Kristen Cicarelli
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd
Total: 20
September 2019
Redwall Novels by Brian Jacques
– Loamhedge
– Rakkety Tam
– High Rhulain
– Eulalia!
– Doomwyte
– The Sable Qean
– The Rogue Crew
Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
– Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone/ Philosopher’s Stone
– Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
– Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
– Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
– Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
– Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
– Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
The Missing Series by Margaret Peterson Haddix
– Found
– Sent
– Sabotaged
– Torn
– Caught
– Sought
– Risked
– Rescued
– Revealed
– Redeemed
Charmcaster by Sebastien De Castell
Soulbinder by Sebastien De Castell
Queenslayer by Sebastien De Castell
Violin by Anne Rice
Total: 28
October 2019
Winter Glass by Lexa Hillyer
The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen
Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater
Three by Kristen Simmons
Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Ninth House by Leigh Bardough
The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh
to drink coffee with a ghost by Amanda Lovelace
Total: 10
November 2019
The Greatcoats by Sebastien De Castell
– Traitor’s Blade
– Knight’s Shadow
– Saint’s Blood
– Tyrant’s Throne
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
– A Dance with Dragons
Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks
– The Black Prism
– The Blinding Knife
– The Broken Eye
– The Blood Mirror
– The Burning White
Total: 11
December 2019
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Fallen Isle Trilogy by Jodi Meadows
– Before She Ignites
– As She Ascends
– When She Reigns
The Last Namsara Series by Kirstin Cirarelli
– The Caged Queen
– The Sky Weaver
Bright Star by Erin Swan
The Hunting of the Last Dragon by Sherryl Jordan
Dragon Rider Legacy by Nicole Conway
– Savage
– Harbringer
Dragon’s Trust by K.C. Glass
– Trusted
– Burned
– Stolen
Total: 13
Grand Total: 148
What I both hate, and love, about this challenge, is that it doesn’t include any of the manga, webtoons, webnovels, or otherwise that I read over the course of the year. Those numbers would bolster these ones by so much. I read through four whole webnovels. I keep up to date on so many manga and webtoons, and none of those technically count on this list. In some ways, it’s nice to see just what books I read, but it’s not all the reading that I have done. Next year I think I will make note of all the other forms of fiction that I read on a similar list.
Regardless, this challenge was fun and easy to do. I am doing it again next year, for certain!
And so here ends this challenge. We have more posts to come. See you soon.
MM
Series Finished:
– Shattered Realms (2 books) – Started in 2016
– The Missing (5 books) – Started in 2010
Books read: 7
Series Complete: 2
I think this is the saddest of my posts. Not my fault. I just didn’t read as many book series that were old, as I thought I would. Oh well. Next year, when I do it again, I’ll have far, far more.
I’m SO Angry. I missed two prompts because I couldn’t get myself to read them. I was so close to completing it! Oh well. Here you go!
Books:
Marlena Marie 