Beth has given you her list and so I am here giving you mine. As with last year, I’m going to give you my top faves and my most dislikeds. I feel it is important to remember when celebrating the end of something that there were terrible parts, too.
I read this book on my phone in two days. I loved it. I loved Cath, I loved Wren. I loved Reagan. I loved Levi. I loved Cath and Wren’s father. I loved the little bits of fan fiction that got mixed in. No, I haven’t yet gotten to Carry On but I am looking forward to it.
2. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Raise your hand if you are surprised Maggie Stiefvater is on this list! You there! In that back! You should probably read the blog more often! This is the second in the 4-book Raven cycle. There was some much needed character development in this book, which just made me love the raven boys even more. I cannot wait for the fourth book to come out in 2016!
3. Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
I will definitely be reading more of Okorafor’s books in the future. This was such a neat world that she created, full of things that were beautiful and tragic. Onye, the main character, is such a badass and the supporting characters were interesting and thoughtful and lovely.
4. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
The second of Rainbow Rowell’s book on my list, it was adorable and touching. Set in a pre-2000 newspaper in Omaha, Nebraska, this novel is full of wonderful characters, awkward situations and really touching moments.
5. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
I really enjoyed Beauty Queens because Bray created a funny and ridiculous situation into which she put a bunch of interesting characters. This novel is like Lord of the Flies if it were only beauty queens on the island and if the island was actually a secret base for a company trading with a country that is under sanctions. It was interesting, funny and fun.
6. Revolution by Russell Brand
Russell Brand talks about love, spirit, the planet, and what we could all be doing to make the world a better place. That’s a terrible description because it was a really enjoyable book. Brand is his usual self (which I find funny) and he presents on a wide range of topics that were interesting and thought provoking.
Randall Munroe is a smart guy and he’s also hilarious. I love the concept of this book. He takes a hypothetical (often ridiculous) question and answers it with everything he knows about science (which is a lot). Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a mole of moles? Well, stop wondering and read this book.
8. Fledgling by Octavia Butler
Best vampire book ever. Social commentary, interesting characters, beautiful writing. Perfect.
9. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
We read an award winner before it was an award winner! I loved Marie Laure and Werner and their families. This was such a beautiful book.
10. The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon
OH MY GOD THIS BOOK! This book, this book, this book. I finished this book and immediately re-read The Bone Season and then came back and read this one again. (Stuff like this is why I’m perilously close to not finishing this year’s book challenge.) Paige is one of my favorite heroines. She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s determined and she’s a good person trying to do good in the world. This is a spectacular book.
And, now that we’ve seen the Top, here are the bottom:
1. The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte
I can see what she was trying to do with this book but it was so poorly edited and full of unanalyzed views and positions that I couldn’t get behind it. To quote past-Kate, ” It was like reading someone’s notes or inferring a deeper meaning from a series of pinterest posts.” Ugh. It was awful.
2. Blood and Absinthe by Chloe Hart
There was nothing good about this book. Also, it made me so angry because of how it didn’t seem to know what consent is at all.
I am Bill Nye and this book is every woman who thinks the universe is sending them messages.
That, right there, is better than this book.
4. Dark Guardian by Christine Feehan
I actually had to break out the Nopetopus for this review, that’s how much I disliked this book.
This is the book that has convinced me that next year’s This Month in Reality needs to be about something other than self help. So, good job, Jairek Robbins?
I don’t normally read two books at once but I got Endure an ARC downloaded to my iPad and well my iPad and case doesn’t fit in my new purse. I need something to read on the train to work. This is a must. So it came down to this, move everything into a new bag so I can take my iPad with me to work or find another book to read on the train and read this at home.
So that’s what I decided to do. The Royal We was on sale a couple of weeks ago and since I follow both the authors on twitter and love their blog, 
With all of our talk about whether or not to reread previous books before starting the latest book in a series, this should have been one that I did that. This series has so many characters, subplots, locations and so many dead characters it’s hard to keep track. It’s very Games of Thrones like that. Which is actually what I think it’s trying to be or at least the teen version or it. While not as ambitious, it’s the same concept of multiple parties fighting over thrones and kingdoms but also looking for the mysterious kindred that grant to the owners with unprecedented powers to rule them all. So there is a lot going on. *Spoilers* 
There is so many things to love about this book and this series in general. It’s beyond funny. Sophornia is in finishing school but it’s not just any Victorian age finishing school. Yes, Miss Geraldine’s teaches her girls how to behave like a lady and how to land a good husband but also how to kill them too. Miss Geraldine’s develops the best lady intelligencer’s in the majesty’s realm. Sophronia and her friends may still be students but they are all that stands in the way from the evil Picklemen taking over the realm and keeping peace with the vampires and werewolves. So don’t take these girls lightly. They may have all the charm and manners of a lady of quality but that only makes them more deadly. If there was one downside to this and that it needs more Soap. Soap is Sophronia’s one true love. In a world where social class is important, they are a forbidden match. Sophronia doesn’t come from most wealthiest of families but she is expected to marry a certain class of gentlemen and a black sootie is not that class. At the end of the last book he is turned werewolf to save his life. In this Steampunk London, supernaturals are granted equal footing with the upper class but he’s still the wrong race and well now the wrong species. His role is a little lesser then in past books since he is no longer at the floating school. He is not really given much to do but he does make the most of the time he does have. All and all it was a good ending to a great series. I’m going to have to read Gail’s other series that take place in the same world because if these are any indication, they will be a hoot.
2 Women, So Many Books 