I had an ear infection in December, which made it so that all I wanted to do was lie in bed and stare at the ceiling and ponder how terrible my life is. Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake has been keeping me company during this terrible time. My ear is on the mend, finally, and I’m getting a chance to listen to book 6 of this series.
As you’re thinking about your goals for 2019, I thought I’d write a quick plug for our Reading Challenges. We have three:
If you do one of our challenges, let us know! Hashtag in #StackXLifeX so we can find you!
Now that we have looked back on 2018, it’s time to look ahead to 2019. We have a lot of fun things planned for next year. New challenges read a-longs and podcasts! But most of all we are excited for all the new books to read. Expanding our already to long to-read lists even more. 2019 is already shaping up to be our best year ever! So here are some of the books we are looking forward to the most reading next year.
Beth
Kate
What books are you looking forward to reading this year?
Beth has already given her list, so it’s time for me to do mine. I probably finished enough books this year to justify a Top Ten but Beth made me a graphic and I want to use it! Also, some of my favorites overlap with Beth! I feel like I don’t usually get to books when they first come out, so its been a wild and crazy year!
I liked this book so much, I read it twice. Well, read it once and then listened to the audiobook (read by Bahni Turpin) with my Mom while we prepared for Christmas. In this alternative history, Jane McKeene, a black woman, is born two days before the dead walk at Gettysburg. I was interested in the politics presented in this book and also in the zombies. Oh, and the romance. There are some book boyfriends in this, oh my yes.
2. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
It took me forever to finish this book, I parceled it out because I didn’t want it to end. The magic in this story was so interesting, I wanted to know more about each of the different types of magic. The world Adeyemi weaves in this novel is complex and lush and I’m so looking forward to the next book.
3.When Dimple Met Rishihi by Sandhya Menon
This novel was just so sweet. I loved it so much. In it, Dimple is excited to go to a summer program that, if she wins, means she’ll get to meet her hero. She doesn’t know that her parents have agreed to let her go because they’re trying to arrange her marriage with the son of a family friend who just happens to also be in the same summer program. I loved both Dimple and Rishi. I loved Rishi’s brother. This is such a heartwarming romance.
Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish
Tiffany Haddish herself reads the audiobook of Last Black Unicorn, which is a collection of autobiographical essays. It was funny, it was heartbreaking. I loved this and now I’m obsessed with Tiffany Haddish and seeing all of her movies.
Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
Ah, the vampire tale that launched the re-reading a bunch of other vampire tales for me. There was a lot to like in this book. I liked the relationships. I liked Tana’s relationship with her ex-boyfriend Aiden and her budding relationship with vampire Gabriel. I liked her relationship with her sister. I also enjoyed the vampire mythology. This is the second book on this list that I read twice this year. I really liked it.
Honorable Mentions
The Mortification of Fovea Munson by Mary Winn Heider: I loved Fovea, the talking heads, and her budding friendship with a boy at school! This was such a fun middle grade read! But, I also know the author so it feels weird putting it in the top five.
Tikka Chance on Me by Suleikha Snyder. You shouldn’t choose a book by its cover, but as soon as I saw the cover, I knew I needed to read this. Pinky Grover moved home (and dropped out of grad school. I always have time for books about grad students) to help her parents while her Mom was sick. She’s working on her parents Indian restaurant and lusting after Trucker Carrigan, member of a local biker gang who happens to eat a lot of Indian food. This book was so cute. It was just a fun, totally hot romance. This is the first thing I’ve read by Suleikha Snyder and I already started another book by her.
2. Bellamy and the Brute by Alicia Michaels. this was only a 3 star for me, but I loved Bellamy, she is such a kickass character. She was just so hardworking and thoughtful. I wanted her to succeed. So, this wasn’t the best thing I read this year, but I am looking forward to reading more about this character and by Alicia Michaels.
3. Head on by John Scalzi: This was on impulse pick that I grabbed walking through the library’s “No Holds! No Renewals! Get it if you can!” shelves. I love the author’s twitter presence, and this is the first book of his I’ve read. The premise was engaging, the world he’s built is interesting, and based on this I so need to read more set in this world.
Where to begin? The Reader trilogy is so well done. It really took you on a journey. From Sefia being just a girl on the run to a powerful sorcerer. Archer being a scared killer to a leader. They all have come a long way. The central theme is do we control our own fate or is it already determined. I won’t say how what the answer is because it’s a huge spoiler but maybe the biggest take away is whatever your fate is it’s irrelevant. It’s what you do and the impact you have on people that is more important. You touch so many people that you don’t know and probably will never know the impact. It was a harsh lesson for Sefia and Archer as they struggle with their own self doubt and the knowledge of what they had to do to accomplish what has to be done. Captain Reed has traveled the seas to ensure that his legacy will live on and so then would live on. Tanin who is willing to destroy the world to figure out why her two best friends would leave her and all they fought for behind. It was amazing series and I know this write up doesn’t do it justice but I don’t want give to much away. Go read it. It will be an unforgettable experience.
The latest chapter in the Shadowhunters chronicles. How will the shadowhunters save this world and what messes will they create for future shadowhunters?
We hope that if you are celebrating today that you have a lovely day. Heck, we hope that even if you are not celebrating, you still have a lovely day.
We leave you to enjoy your day with a Christmas classic posted by Greatest Audiobooks
Yes, I have already read it. I’m listening to it now with my Mom while we prepare for Christmas!
It’s that time of year where we take a look back at everything we have read this year and come up with our best of the year. It’s a tough job but not one we take lightly. It’s been a very diverse year for me.
1.Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi –This fantasy was like nothing I’ve ever read. A little bit of magic, a little bit of adventure and a little bit social commentary. It took me on a wild ride as Zelie discovers her own powers and does what she can to help her people from the evil King who has done all he can to erase her people. It was a breathtaking first book.
2. A Cruel Prince by Holly Black-Holly Black is at her best when she is writing about fairies. It really is her element. The lush world that Black has created is so rich and vibrant that I almost wanted to go if it wasn’t filled with blood thirsty fairies. Looking for a fantasy full of royal intrigue this one is also for you.
3. Shades of Magic Trilogy by V.E. Schwab –Technically I read the first book last year but I finished the trilogy so I’m counting them all as one. It was one wild fantasy series. From truly vile villains, pirates, royalty magic and supernatural forces it really did have everything but never felt too much.
4. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland- This one I think I liked for the very beginning. Jane was born a slave but when the dead of Civil War come back to life, Jane is sent to a boarding school that teaches her and other girls of color how to fight zombies so they may one day work in a nice home as protection. Jane is resourceful, smart and funny. She knows how to kill a zombie.
5. The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fischer –Carrie was truly one of a kind and is sorely missed. Her diary that she wrote while filming the first Star Wars was honest, raw and funny. Really what you would expect from Carrie Fischer.
6. Shadow and the Fox by Julie Kagawa- Add a little fox, a trained warroir with a demon infused sword and Japanese mythology and you get one fun book. I really enjoyed the story building and characters as they try to steal save the scroll that will summon the dragon that will grant wishes was great.
7. Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake- The third book in the series was definitely a keeper. I mean they all were but it was still great. We finally get to see more of the world outside of Fennbirn Island and how the Queens became to be. The mythology is really coming together and it’s going to lead to an epic finale.
8. Wildcard by Marie Lu – Emika is so cool. As she unravels the mysteries and tries to save not just Hideko from himself but everyone else from an even bigger conspiracy. It was a fun novel and reminder that not everyone on the internet is your friend.
9..Reaper at the Gates by Sabaa Tahir- Elias, Laia and Helene are on opposite sides of the fight against the Nightbringer and keeping the balance. It’s a thrilling race against time to bring down the Nightbringer and the Empire and Elias Mom, who is just frightening.
10. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson- I’m still waiting for the last book in her Shades of London series but this filled the void. Who doesn’t love a good boarding school mystery? Stevie decides she wants to go to this exclusive boarding school because she wants to be the one to solve it’s biggest mystery of who kidnapped and killed the daughter and wife of the school’s founder. Twice and turns abound in this one.
2 Women, So Many Books 