To be honest I’m probably going to miss out on some good ones. This list is in no particular order. Free for all!
Anywho I won’t repeat books in a series just like with my other Top Ten.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Grab it: Goodreads | Amazon
This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.
This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.
Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.
To be honest when I first read the synopsis and while it interested me. Then I noticed Jay Kristoff’s name. Excitement took over. And than I found Jay Kristoff’s review. Holly. Freaking. Yes!!!!
Jay Kristoff is one of my top authors his writing is amazing. The emotions it evokes. The power of his plots and epicness of the story crafting.
Now I haven’t read any of Amie Kaufman’s work, now I own it! So hopefully I’ll get to read it before this book comes out and my excitement will soar to new heights.
Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy (Fairy Tale Retelling)
Grab it: Goodreads | Amazon
When Rachelle was fifteen she was good—apprenticed to her aunt and in training to protect her village from dark magic. But she was also reckless— straying from the forest path in search of a way to free her world from the threat of eternal darkness. After an illicit meeting goes dreadfully wrong, Rachelle is forced to make a terrible choice that binds her to the very evil she had hoped to defeat.
Three years later, Rachelle has given her life to serving the realm, fighting deadly creatures in an effort to atone. When the king orders her to guard his son Armand—the man she hates most—Rachelle forces Armand to help her find the legendary sword that might save their world. As the two become unexpected allies, they uncover far-reaching conspiracies, hidden magic, and a love that may be their undoing. In a palace built on unbelievable wealth and dangerous secrets, can Rachelle discover the truth and stop the fall of endless night?
Inspired by the classic fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Crimson Bound is an exhilarating tale of darkness, love, and redemption.
(This is a standalone novel, not part of the Cruel Beauty Universe.)
While I’m bummed it’s not a part of the Cruel Beauty universe, it’s only a little. Because Cruel Beauty was so amazing that it elevated Rosamund Hodge to such epic author-bossness that anything she writes, I will come.
Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Grab it: Goodreads | Amazon
The “smoldering heat, epic romance, and awesome action” of Nalini Singh’s New York Times bestselling series continues as two Arrows find themselves caught in a chilling conspiracy that spans all three races…
Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn’t welcome outsiders.
And they must survive. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign. Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and death and pain. Zaira has no such hope. She knows she’s too damaged to return from the abyss. Her driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter what.
This time, even Aden’s passionate determination may not be enough—because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken…like Zaira.
OK. I’ve ranted a lot. Everywhere.
Psy-Changeling book. Nuff said.
The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian (Though I though it was fantasy at one point.)
Grab it: Goodreads | Amazon
The Handmaid’s Tale meets Blood Red Road in Glass Arrow, the story of Aya, who lives with a small group of women on the run from the men who hunt them, men who want to auction off breeding rights to the highest bidder.
In a world where females are scarce and are hunted, then bought and sold at market for their breeding rights, 15-year old Aya has learned how to hide. With a ragtag bunch of other women and girls, she has successfully avoided capture and eked out a nomadic but free existence in the mountains. But when Aya’s luck runs out and she’s caught by a group of businessmen on a hunting expedition, fighting to survive takes on a whole new meaning.
It amazes me how many books this year, and recently, have tried doing the whole “women breeding” thing lately. Especially dystopians. Defy was the most recent book with it, a YA fantasy, that failed to bring it.
This book has the possibility to tear up the Young Adult genre and bring it. If the author is willing to go there.
Because I’ve been waiting . . .
Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Grab it: Goodreads | Amazon
The Others freed the cassandra sangue to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.
Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.
For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…
Holy crap! This series blew me AWAY last year!! If my own rules for top 10 book of year allowed it both the first and second book would have been on my list. Darn! Best new Urban Fantasy series in years!
The Others series gives me hope that the UF genre is not yet tapped out. Just give it to me now!
The Veil by Chloe Niell
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Grab it: Goodreads | Amazon
Seven years ago, the Veil that separates humanity from what lies beyond was torn apart, and New Orleans was engulfed in a supernatural war. Now, those with paranormal powers have been confined in a walled community that humans call the District. Those who live there call it Devil's Isle.
Claire Connolly is a good girl with a dangerous secret: she’s a Sensitive, a human endowed with magic that seeped through the Veil. Claire knows that revealing her skills would mean being confined to Devil’s Isle. Unfortunately, hiding her power has left her untrained and unfocused.
Liam Quinn knows from experience that magic makes monsters of the weak, and he has no time for a Sensitive with no control of her own strength. But when he sees Claire using her powers to save a human under attack—in full view of the French Quarter—Liam decides to bring her to Devil’s Isle and the teacher she needs, even though getting her out of his way isn’t the same as keeping her out of his head.
But when the Veil threatens to shatter completely, Claire and Liam must work together to stop it, or else New Orleans will burn…
Now I know that I’m still stuck on a certain Chicagoland book, after a certain someone rises. However, Niell’s writing is something love. While Ethan is a horrible love interest, I do enjoy Niell’s so much. Clearly. I want more.
Plus, it’s in New Orleans. Next to Savannah it’s one of my favorite US cities to read an Urban Fantasy taking place.
The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent
Genre: Paranormal Young Adult
Grab it: Goodreads | Amazon
Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.
When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.
To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?
Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.
Rachel Vincent is really hit or miss for me. However, this idea just sounds so cool. And when it’s a hit, everything is soooooo good.
Invaded by Melissa Landers
Genre: Sci/fi Young Adult
Grab it: Goodreads | Amazon
The romantic sequel to Alienated takes long-distance relationships to a new level as Cara and Aelyx long for each other from opposite ends of the universe...until a threat to both their worlds reunites them.
Cara always knew life on planet L’eihr would be an adjustment. With Aelyx, her L’eihr boyfriend, back on Earth, working to mend the broken alliance between their two planets, Cara is left to fend for herself at a new school, surrounded by hostile alien clones. Even the weird dorm pet hates her.
Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L’eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L’eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.
Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L’eihr relations. Humans don’t know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx’s people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists’ multiple attempts on Aelyx’s life.
The Way clearly needs humans’ help . . . but with what? And what will they ask for in return?
The first book made it on to my top 10 of 2014. So it’s no wonder that I’ve been eagerly awaiting this sequel. Let the epic space love continue! Oh, and don’t forget that earth’s survival is depending on the diplomacy of one girl.
Reap the Wind by Karen Chance
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Grab it: Goodreads | Amazon
You’d think that being Chief Seer for the supernatural world would come with a few perks. But as Cassie Palmer has learned, being Pythia doesn’t mean you don’t have to do things the hard way. That’s why she finds herself on a rescue mission skipping through time—even though she doesn't entirely understand her dimension-bending new power.
Rescuing her friend John Pritkin should have been an in and out kind of deal, but with the near-immortal mage’s soul lost in time, Cassie has to hunt for it through the ages—with Pritkin’s demon dad in tow. He’s the only one who can reverse Pritkin’s curse, but with the guardians of the time-line dead set on stopping anyone from mucking about, Cassie will have to figure out how to get her friend back without ruffling too many feathers—or causing a world-ending paradox or two...
Reap the Wind has been postponed. Read announcement from
Karen Chance.
Started my re-read for this series because of this book. It was supposed to be a November 2014, however it was than bumped to 2016. The date know states 2015. So here’s hoping.
However, Chance take your time. You’re books are amazing. Take however, much time you need. I have faith.
Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Grab it: Goodreads | Amazon
Can Evie convince her rival loves to work together? Their survival depends on it in this third book of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole’s Arcana Chronicles, a nonstop action tale of rescue, redemption, and a revenge most wicked.
Heartbreaking decisions
Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, The Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death’s uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.Uncertain victory
Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a frozen and perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on The Lovers and the vast army they command. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them once and for all may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn’t know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.Two heroes returned
There’s a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn’t know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first?
I haven’t even touched the second book yet. Oh, I’ve been so tempted. Good bookness so tempted. But I’ve been waiting for this book so I can binge read.
The honorable mentions actually mean I’m still pumped for them! But the ones above having me practically pleading. You know making deals with the devil, signing my name away on the dotted line.
Here are my honorable mentions:
- Untitled (Mercy Thompson #9) by Patricia Briggs Goodreads | Amazon
- The Drafter (Peri Reed #1) by Kim Harrison Goodreads | Amazon
- Untitled (Hidden Legacy, book 1) by Ilona Andrews Goodreads | Amazon
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