Best of the Bunch December 2013

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.
For more info and to grab the button and stickers visit the BOTB page here and then when you've written up your post, add your linky to the list below. 

December 2013
This month I have read-

• The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher - 3 of 5 stars
• Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Divergent, book 3) - 4 of 5 stars
• Fractured by Sarah Fine (Guards of the Shadowlands, book 2) - 3.5 of 5 stars
• Vanish by Sophie Jordan (Firelight, book 2) - 4 of 5 stars
• The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead (Bloodlines, book 4) - 4.5 of 5 stars
• When the World was Flat (and we were in love) by Ingrid Jonach - 3 of 5 stars
• Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder (Healer Avry of Kazan, book 3) - 4.5 of 5 stars
• Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (Anna Dressed in Blood, book 2) - 4 of 5 stars

I have reviewed- 

• The 100 by Kass Morgan (My review)

I also wrote a post of my top ten books of 2013

And the winner of the Best of the Bunch for December 2013 is...

...dramatic pause...

Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead!

Fiery Heart  by Richelle Mead
Goodreads

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets – and human lives.

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life, and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her . . .

But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path – or risk being sent to re-education. Her skill with magic is growing in ways she never imagined – but that doesn't stop the near-constant threat of evil magic users, Vampire Hunters, and Strigoi from growing ever closer.

I adore all of Richelle Mead's books anyway- her writing just sucks me into these worlds and puts me square in the shoes of her characters, but I think this series has gone from strength to strength and this book is probably the best one so far. It's action packed, so romantic, funny and smart. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. 

So I'd love to know- what was the best book you read/ reviewed this month? Link it up here! 

Already written up a monthly wrap-up post? Why not link it up here!? And don't forget to visit the other blogs to get some great new book recs. 

Just let me know- Who gets your bananas?

Thanks for stopping by!

Top 10 books read in 2013

Well it's nearly the end of the year now, and I wanted to sum up the best books of the year.
These are the top ten books I read in 2013...

Boy, this has been a hard list to narrow down!

• Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (Infernal Devices, book 3), probably the most anticipated release of this year- and it didn't disappoint!
• Altered by Jennifer Rush. A surprising thrill ride of a book, very clever.
• Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles, book 2)- I love everything about this series.

• Angel Fever by L.A Weatherly (Angel, book 3). I was so excited to read this one- I picked it up the second it arrived and then couldn't put it down. This series is so absorbing.
• Deadly Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock. Not sure you like werewolf books? Then try this book- it may just change your mind! I love it.

• Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger. The potential of this series is huge- I felt like it was a new Harry Potter series, with magic and intrigue, humour and a great cast of characters in a school setting. 
• Dare You To by Katie McGarry (Pushing The Limits, book 2). I didn't think anything that strayed from the story of Noah and Echo would ever be as good- but this one took my breath away just as much as the first in the series. This one kept me awake at night because I couldn't put it down. 

• The 100 by Kass Morgan. I can literally not stop thinking about this book- it's got it all- action, survival, a great cast of characters, a romance and a good back story. 
• Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, book 2). I love this series so much- the complexity of it and the great characters, and the beautiful writing... if I was stranded on a desert island I would want this series with me to reread over and over again.
• If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch. This book made me cry. I admired the strength and integrity of the main character so much, and the story itself kept me gripped. This is another book I couldn't put down. I always say I don't read very many contemporary novels, but the ones I have picked up this year have been incredible. 

So, those were the best books I read in 2013.

I read a lot of really amazing books this year, and I've enjoyed reminding myself of these gems I loved throughout the year. 

Review: The 100 by Kass Morgan

The 100 by Gail Carriger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Source: Bought 

Synopsis from Goodreads:
In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late.

Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again.

This is probably one of the best books I have read this year- I seriously loved and connected with this story. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. 

I love that feeling when you are reading a book and you are completely immersed in it- you love the characters, you can see the world in your head, and when you stop reading you can't stop thinking about it. Since I finished reading The 100 I have thrust it into at least two people's hands going "you HAVE to read this book!"

THAT'S HOW GOOD IT IS!

So, if I can stop fangirling for a minute and try and explain why I loved it so much...

A lot of people when they hear 'sci-fi' just think aliens and spaceships, and "not a real story", but this book focuses so heavily on the experiences, emotions and lives of this band of fantastic characters that it is easy to believe in, and connect with them. 

It is almost like two stories in one as you have in every chapter the story itself unfolding, and then flashbacks to what happened a year ago, relevant to what is happening in the present. What is very clever about this is not only a gradual unfolding of the complete picture, but you can see how each everything is connected to each other. Each of the character's lives and stories, and all the events are all linked up to one another in very subtle ways, and I loved seeing all the tiny puzzle pieces slowly coming together by the end. 

For me personally I don't think any story is whole without a decent love story within it, and in this book we have at least two really good ones. There are struggles, forgiveness, separations, complications- it is never easy, but it feels real, and you really root for these people.

The society itself is hard and brutal. The main characters are all criminals, but for a lot of them it is a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or just being unlucky. You get the sense immediately that really they are decent people with a good heart, that have just had a tough break. 

You have the guy who's desperate to protect his younger sister; the rich kid who would do anything to look after the girl he accidentally betrayed; the former rich girl prisoner who escapes to find her former love; and the troubled girl who is tormented by the memory of her parent's death. 

The young criminals are sent to try to recolonise a damaged and polluted Earth, being the only members of the population the leaders of the ships are willing to risk attempting to find out if it is safe to live on Earth again after 300 years. It becomes a story of survival, and I loved seeing these youngsters struggle to adapt, survive and learn to work together in the woods on Earth.

But running parallel to these events we also see the events unfolding on the spaceships after the 100 leave, through the eyes of Glass, the only one who managed to escape off the drop ship. The ships themselves are interesting to read about- you have sectors that are like uptown and downtown- the poor side and the rich side, and both have very different motivations. 

It is currently being made into a TV series, and I can't wait to see it converted onto the screen- I think it will translate really well because the book itself is written in a very narrative way. This book is clever, moving, exciting and a constant thrill ride. I cannot wait to watch the show, and I'm keeping a lookout for a follow up book as well. 

This book also won the Best of the Bunch award on the blog for November 

End of the Year 2013 Reading Cram Read-a-thon!

So, I have decided to take part in the

End of the Year 2013 Reading Cram Read-a-thon!

hosted by Juliababyjen's Reading Room and Dana Square to try and chisel off some of my huge TBR pile before the end of the year. 

Goodreads tells me I am 32 books behind where I should be at this point in the year to achieve my goal of reading 130 books- so I obviously don't think I'm going to manage to achieve that challenge this year! 

But, I would like to pack a few more books in toward that target before starting afresh with 2014.

The readathon runs from December 9th to 22nd, and there are lots of mini-challenges and the chance to network with other bloggers and  to spur each other on!

I'll also be updating progress on twitter with the hashtag #ReadingCram

Goals

I hate setting goals of specific books to read, (as I normally change my mind and end up reading something completely different), but I'm hoping to get through at least 6 books in that time. I normally read around 2 books a week, so this is more than usual but still achievable for me. 

the books, possibly-

•  Taste of Darkness by Maria V. Snyder
• Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead
• Vanish by Sophie Jordan

• Elegy by Tara Hudson
• Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
• Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Getting reading to read like a demon- here I go!

#ReadingCram

Best of the Bunch November 2013

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.
For more info and to grab the button and stickers visit the BOTB page here and then when you've written up your post, add your linky to the list below. 

October 2013
This month I have read-

• The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black- 4 of 5 stars
• Tributary by Lisa T. Bergren (River of time novella 3.2)- 3 of 5 stars
• Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson- 4 of 5 stars
• More Than This by Patrick Ness- 4.5 of 5 stars
• The Originals by Cat Patrick- 4.5 of 5 stars
• The 100 by Kass Morgan- 5 of 5 stars
• Crash Into You by Katie McGarry- 4 of 5 stars
• Sanctum by Sarah Fine- 4 of 5 stars
• Pawn by Aimee Carter- 4 of 5 stars

I have reviewed-

• More Than This by Patrick Ness
• Ettiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger
• Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
• The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

And the winner of Best of the Bunch November 2013 is...

...dramatic pause...

...The 100 by Kass Morgan!

The 100  by Kass Morgan
Goodreads

An epic journey from the depths of outer space to a wild, futuristic Earth

In 3010, humanity lives in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland . . . before it's too late.

Now a hundred juvenile delinquents are sent on a high-stakes mission to re-colonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community and to get over their dark pasts. In order to survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again.

I LOVED this book! It spoke to me, it moved me, it enthralled me, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. Since I finished it I've thrust it into two people's hands crying "read this book"! Unquestionably one of the BEST books I have read this year (and I read a lot of books). If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. 

It was an easy pick for a winner for me this month. 

So I'd love to know- what was the best book you read/ reviewed this month? Link it up here! 

Already written up a monthly wrap-up post? Why not link it up here!? And don't forget to visit the other blogs to get some great new book recs. 

Just let me know- Who gets your bananas?

Sunday Post 24th November 2013

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ to recap the past week on the blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

A good week this week-

Bought:

• Deadly Thorns by Kathleen Peacock (Hemlock, book 2)
• Champion by Marie Lu (Legend, book 2)

From the library:

• Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Divergent, book 3). Woo! My reservation finally came in! Looking forward to reading this one.

For review:

• White Space by Ilsa J. Bick. 

I posted two book reviews:

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

I wished for Shifting on Wishlist Wednesday

This Saturday is the last day of the month- which means it's time for Best of the Bunch!

Click the link above to find out more, and then write up your post ready to join in on Saturday.

Children's Laureate Malorie Blackman is launching an initiative to find the public's favourite teen books

"A mission to name the nation’s ultimate teen tomes has begun as Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman invites nominations for ‘Writes of Passage’.

The award-winning author of bestselling teenage series Noughts and Crosses is calling on book lovers of all ages to help compile the definitive range of titles for young people to try by the time they hit 16.

We want to know which books YAs have read that they couldn’t wait to tell their friends about. And we also want grown-ups to cast their minds back to their teenage years and nominate the reads that rocked their world."

Click the link above to join in by voting for your favourite books. 

Thanks for stopping by! What's your book news for this week?

Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


Source: Bought hardback and audiobook

Synopsis from Goodreads:
When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp. Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

This book blew me away with how emotional it actually is! Its a great story too- thrilling and action-packed, but I mainly loved the bonds between the characters, and the journey they take together. Its a fabulous sci-fi/ superhero journey. A great read- recommended.

Darkest Minds is a brilliantly written, exciting and moving sci-fi story. It's a book about teenagers with superpowers, the rest of the world who are afraid of them and want to contain them, and a world all gone to hell. 

A mutated virus is spreading across the world infecting children, and around age ten either kills them or leaves them with dangerous and strange powers. This is a very pacy book- a real thrill ride- and there is always something going on, the characters escaping capture, or rushing here and there, or just trying to survive. And you are thrown into the middle of the story right from the first page.

What I loved most about it was the depth of the characters and the journey they take together. They all have such a complicated past, and issues. Ruby and the band of misfits that she falls in with- Liam, Chubs and Suzume are a great support to each other, and their skills and characters complement so well. They become like a little family and only trust each other. I liked the "us against them" sense about them- that they would rush in defend each other if necessary. You can't help but become attached to these characters and their quirks as they drive across America searching for answers.

Ruby has spent six years in a rehabilitation camp, so her knowledge of the politics of the world outside is very limited, and we find out everything that is going on with the world as she does. The story is told completely from Ruby's point of view, which I liked, but it still takes a while to understand exactly what she has been through. Her traumatic past is hinted at but not fully explained until later.This is a dark run-down world run by corrupt organisations, and Ruby is only just starting to get to grips with understanding her powers. I enjoyed this slow revealing of the whole story though, and was never left confused.

There is also a love story in this book and it is very sweet. I instantly liked the guy, and the good-hearted way about him. Their romance is slow to develop but had a real substance to it, and it was nice to see the attraction brewing between the two characters even in such extreme circumstances. There are no awkwardly forced conversations, they just fit, and I liked the easiness of the two of them together. He always made me smile, and is one of the bright sparks in a dark book.

Its a dark and gut-wrenching adventurous tale of survival through persecution and desperation. Quite harrowing and violent in parts, it can get quite sinister. The adults are afraid of the teenagers, but with the desperate circumstances and lack of any rules or guidance the kids can turn on each other as well. It's quite a long book and it felt like a heck of a journey that they all went through.

A haunting, emotional and beautiful crafted world and story.  In a YA market saturated with dystopian stories, this is one of the better ones. It definitely stands out from the crowd and offers something a little different.

Wishlist Wednesday #39

Wishlist Wednesday is a weekly book blog hop hosted by Dani at Pen to Paper where we will post about a book that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added, that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our bookshelves.

I really love the sound of this one- a girl with a supernatural secret. This was published in 2011, and I keep hearing good things about it. 

Shifting  by Bethany Wiggins
Goodreads

After bouncing from foster home to foster home, Magdalene Mae is transferred to what should be her last foster home in the tiny town of Silver City, New Mexico. Now that she's eighteen and has only a year left in high school, she's determined to stay out of trouble and just be normal.

Agreeing to go to the prom with Bridger O'Connell is a good first step. Fitting in has never been her strong suit, but it's not for the reasons most people would expect-it all has to do with the deep secret that she is a shape shifter. But even in her new home danger lurks, waiting in the shadows to pounce. They are the Skinwalkers of Navajo legend, who have traded their souls to become the animal whose skin they wear-and Maggie is their next target.

Full of romance, mysticism, and intrigue, this dark take on Navajo legend will haunt readers to the final page.

Looks good right? Anybody read this one already? 

Thanks for stopping by!

Review: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Source: Bought paperback and audiobook

Synopsis from Goodreads:
Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . .

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up

Tiger Lily is a brilliantly imaginative re-working of the Peter Pan story, showing a love story between Peter and Tiger Lily before Wendy came into the picture, and telling us a different version of the original tale. It focuses on Tiger Lily's life with the tribe, and the links between all the different characters. 

It is also told from Tink the fairy's point of view, as she spies from various perspectives on her favourite personalities like we might watch soap operas unfolding, and this gives a unique edge to the narration. It gives us an insight into different aspects of the island and the characters on it. 

The whole book feels full of magic and possibility, but there are dark patches as well, and it's not a light and easy read. There is a subtle undercurrent of menace all the way through- with the pirates scheming and the murderous mermaids, not to mention Tiger Lily's pending arranged marriage with a nasty brute of a man. I liked the magic and the sense of suspense as we are led through this doomed forbidden romance, and the beautifully and richly described land of Neverland. 

Reading about Captain Hook, the mermaids and Tiger lily, and all these half- remembered characters from my childhood has made me want to re-visit J.M Barrie's original story (or at least watch the Disney film again), as it felt so new and vaguely familiar all at the same time. 

Tiger Lily herself is a feisty and strong young woman- which is not a quality which is admired in her tribe. She gets a reputation for being cursed, and being bad luck (which she plays up by wearing crows feathers in her hair), and although she is independent and brave, she is also very lonely. Normally it takes a lot for her to open her heart up to anybody except her adoptive father, so it takes a while for Peter to break down her barriers. 

Although Peter Pan himself doesn't came out as a very great character in this version of the story, I liked the telling of it, and that the emphasis was on alternative characters. One of my favourite characters has to be Tiger Lily's cross-dressing adoptive father -the shaman of the village Tik Tok. He always made me smile, and I also loved her sweet best friend Pine Sap. His devotion to Tiger Lily is so endearing. I really loved to hate the mean-spirited character of Aunt Fire who seems determined to make Tiger Lily suffer.

All in all, the book is a clever, mesmerising read, and I would describe it as a fantasy story but with the feel of a contemporary. It's moving and sad in places, heart-warming and magical in others, but it has definitely left a stamp on me. It's a bleaker story than I was expecting to read but just beautifully lyrical in the telling, and heart-breakingly tender.

Sunday Post 17th November 2013

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba at The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ to recap the past week on the blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

I got a load of new books this week-

Bought:

• Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard
• World After by Susan Ee (Penryn, book 2)

From the Library:

• Antigoddess by Kendare Blake
• Deception by C.J Redwine (Defiance, book 2)
• Elites by Natasha Ngan
• Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano

I posted two book reviews-

More Than This by Patrick Ness

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

I have also set up an Always Lost in Stories Facebook page where I post updates on blog posts/ books I'm enjoying/ reading goals. If you are interested in following the blog via Facebook here is the link to "like" the page-

Look out for reviews of The Darkest Minds, Tiger Lily, and The Originals!

• Zoe Marriott explains in her inimitable comedic style why fans hate the new poster for the upcoming Divergent movie. "Hey Summit! I Fixed Your Divergent Poster For You!"

Thanks for stopping by my blog today- What new books did you get?

Happy reading!