It was very disheartening to have Goodreads taunt me with the fact that I didn’t read very much this last year. I mean, I was reading, but it was boring law stuff about oil rights in Texas. I guess that didn’t count toward my Goodreads goal. Which was a measly thirty books. I thought for sure I would at least do better than last year’s count of 32, but noooo. Apparently planning a wedding and taking the bar consumed a huge chunk of my time.
My Favorite Read: Ever After by Kim Harrison.
I didn’t do a review of the book because it is the 11th in her The Hallows series, and it is seriously hard to review a book that far into the series without some minor if not major spoilers. But it was by far the best written book I read last year.
While the series starts out light and humorous, as the main character Rachel finds herself in the middle of different escapades with werewolves, elves, demons, witches, pixies, and more, the series takes a darker and darker turn. Rachel must grow up, or suffer some very real consequences, and in some cases, even when she tries her hardest to do the right thing, there are still some very real consequences for the ones that she loves. However, she never gives up, she never stops growing as a person, and she is an incredible character. In Ever After, Rachel really comes into her own and she stops being the whiny Rachel of previous books and uses her head and heart to do whatever it takes to mount a rescue. It was a great book, about a great character, and the knowledge that the author is going to wrap up the series soon, breaks my heart more than a little.
Most Surprising Find on AmazonKindle: Witch Hunt by S.M. Reine
I liked this book so much that when I was finished with it, I bought the second ebook in the series and started reading it immediately. Reine’s writing is good and she knows how to keep pace while giving enough exposition to engage the reader in the universe. If you like the Dresden Files series and urban fantasy in general check out this paranormal mystery. You can read my full review here.
Best Continuing Series: The Raven Boys Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater.
I continued to read the Raven Boys series with in The Dream Thieves and Blue Lily, Lily Blue. I’m enamored with this series and couldn’t pick my favorite of the two. This is one of my favorite series because I just love the interweaving of magic, mythology, and small southern town living. Each book is just as strong as the next in terms of plot, character development, and brilliancy. Stiefvater is a wonderful writer and I’ve enjoyed all of her books, but this series is has that special je ne sais quoi that caught at my mind and soul and captured them both. You can read my review of The Dream Thieves here and Blue Lily, Lily Blue here.
Absurdly Nerdly 