Best of the Bunch March 2014

Best of the Bunch is a book blog hop hosted here on the last day of each month, where we can look back over the books we have read over this past month and give a Best of the Bunch award to our favourite book of that month.

I always put up my post on the last day of the month, but remember, you can add your link in anytime in the following month.

March 2014

This month I have read-

• Ash by Malindo Lo - 4 of 5 stars
• Acid by Emma Pass - 4.5 of 5 stars
• Invisibilty by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan - 4 of 5 stars
• Once Every Never by Lesley Livingstone - 4 of 5 stars
• The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle - 4.5 of 5 stars
• Breathe by Sarah Crossan - 3.5 of 5 stars
• Dark Star by Bethany Frenette - 4 of 5 stars

And the winner of Best of the Bunch March 2014 is...

...drumroll...

...The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle! 

The Hallowed Ones  by Laura Bickle
Goodreads

Katie is on the verge of her Rumspringa, the time in Amish life when teenagers can get a taste of the real world. But the real world comes to her in this dystopian tale with a philosophical bent. Rumors of massive unrest on the “Outside” abound. Something murderous is out there. Amish elders make a rule: No one goes outside, and no outsiders come in. But when Katie finds a gravely injured young man, she can’t leave him to die. She smuggles him into her family’s barn—at what cost to her community?

The suspense of this vividly told, truly horrific thriller will keep the pages turning.

I really enjoyed this book. It's spooky, atmospheric and terrifying- a frightening vision of a world in the midst of an apocalypse from the perspective of one of the most closed off groups of people on the planet. I loved finding out about what was happening in the world through the limited view that the characters had. I read quite a lot of vampire books, but this one felt unique and quirkily different. 

And I loved the characters in the book as well. Despite not knowing much about Amish life and traditions before starting this book I was quickly and easily immersed in this world, and spent the whole book rooting for Katie- the sweet and likeable main character. Would I recommend this book? A resounding "yes". 

That was my Best of the Bunch pick for this month. What has your month been like?

Let me know! Who gets your bananas?

Best of the Bunch February- The post that should have been!

This is the month I have moved house, and it has been totally crazy for me lately. I want to start blogging regularly again and this is the BotB post that should have gone up at the end of March- if I had had an internet connection. 

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Best of the Bunch is a book blog hop hosted here on the last day of each month, where we can look back over the books we have read over this past month and give a Best of the Bunch award to our favourite book of that month.

I always put up my post on the last day of the month, but remember, you can add your link in anytime in the following month.
February 2014

I only read five books this month, which is shockingly bad- normally I can read around 9-10, which just goes to show how little time to myself I have had recently. I am all moved in to my new place now and busily sorting out my new flat.

This month I have read-

• Jenny Pox by J. L Bryan - 3 of 5 stars
• Ten Tiny Breaths by K. A Tucker - 5 of 5 stars
• Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis - 4.5 of 5 stars
• Cress (Lunar Chronicles, book 3) by Marissa Meyer - 5 of 5 stars
• The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin - 3 of 5 stars

It was obviously a case of quality over quantity as I read some amazing books!

And the winner of Best of the Bunch January 2014 is...

...dramatic pause...

... Cress by Marissa Meyer!

Cress  by Marissa Meyer
Goodreads

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. 

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

This series is so clever... and so cool! I loved it from the very first page, and when I finished reading this book I felt both uplifted and despondent- happy because the book was so good, and sad because I have to wait over a year until the next one!  This book is a flawless and well deserved 5 stars. I hope to find time to write a full review that will do this book justice.

Honourable mention goes to...

Ten Tiny Breaths by K. A Tucker. I adored this story, I was totally engrossed and moved, and I know that this book will stay with me for a long time. Fantastic read. 

That was my Best of the Bunch pick for this month. What has your month been like?

Let me know!

(No linky this month- leave your links in the comments section)