This top ten is actually perfect for me because I am a tad bit behind on my reviews for one, and two, I sometimes have a hard time writing a review for some books. I don’t know what it is, it could be a book I just thought was meh, ok and don’t have much to say about OR it could be a book I LOVED and just can’t find those perfect words to express my feelings.
So on that note…here are the ones I LOVED but maybe didn’t get the blog love they deserve.
(IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.)
Please let me know if you would like more indepth reviews to these books!
1. Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Yes, I have read the series and I LOVE IT! I have reread all of the books, some several times over, all except Book #7. I have seen all the movies and I recently went to Harry Potter WORLD, which was AWESOME! I keep meaning to post my pics from there, but haven’t gotten around to it for some reason! I have the HP scrapbook paper, the list goes on and on! I love the world building in these books, the descriptions of the castle alone make me want to pack up and find platform 9 3/4.
2. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.
I read this one back in January and loved it. Even for those like me who aren’t sci-fi freaks will love Amy and Elder. Elder has lived on the spaceship Godspeed his entire life, with planet earth a mere fleeting thought. When he discovers his uncle has not been completely honest with him about the future of the ship and the people that serve him, Elder must act quickly. Will he save Amy before it’s too late and who is setting out to destroy these innocent lives? There is a lot of world building and set up, which is to be expected in the first book of a new series and I am already anticipating book #2 – A Million Suns coming out early next year.
3. The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
Welcome to Walls of Water, North Carolina, where the secrets are thicker than the fog from the town’s famous waterfalls, and the stuff of superstition is just as real as you want it to be.
I am a HUGE fan of SAA! Rarely am I ever caught up on a series or all of any author’s list of books, but I have read and loved all of Sarah’s. I love the mix of southern charm, a little romance, history, and a bit of magic thrown in.
SAA’s Other Books: Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen, The Girl Who Chased the Moon
4. Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck
Passion. Fate. Loyalty. Would you risk it all to change your destiny?
Again, another first in a YA series. If you love adventure and romance, you are sure to love Tiger’s Curse. Kelsey has just graduated high school and is eager to find a job so that her adoptive family won’t have to support her anymore. Unsure about her future, Kelsey finds a temp job working the local circus that has just come to town. Among the acts is a beautiful white tiger that Kelsey often goes to spend her down time. Little does she know that this caged tiger is Ren, a young Indian prince who was cursed to the life of a tiger 300 years ago. Before she knows it, Kelsey is whisked away to India to help Ren break the curse. I loved the setting of this book – the jungles, the castles, the caves, the waterfalls – it is so lush! I already have book #2 – Tiger’s Quest and book #3 is slated to come out this fall.
5. Iron Fey Books 1, 1.5, 2 by Julie Kagawa
These books include: The Iron King, Winter’s Passage, and The Iron Daughter
Overall, I am really enjoying this series and CANNOT wait to get to book #4, The Iron Prince, which is told from Ash’s point of view. He is definitely one of my favorite characters so far in this series. Of course, I also love the cat saith, because there has to be one and Grimalkin is awesome. There is still a lot of beautiful world building going on and I really do like the descriptiveness of it, however I do find myself often bogged down in the prose.
6. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder – much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons.
So I listened to this one (14.5 hours unabridged) and overall really enjoyed it. I did not enjoy the narrator, so perhaps I will try actually reading book #2. Clary, like Meghann in the Iron Fey series, can be just a tad annoying at times (teenagers!), but I was hooked once she was hooked up with Jace and the other Shadowhunters. I am really interested in reading the Infernal Devices series because I think I will really enjoy the historical aspect of it.
7. Graceling by Kristin Cashore
In a world where people born with an extreme skill – called a Grace – are feared and exploited, Katsa carries the burden of a skill even she despises: the Grace of killing.
Katsa has a special skill, or Grace, and has allowed herself to be used by her uncle, the King, all her life. But lately, she has secretly defied him by going on missions to help the innocent or get rid of those hungry with power. She had never met anyone capable of matching her Grace, until she met Po. If you enjoy high fantasy and adventure, I think you will love this one. Katsa and Po soon find themselves on an adventure of a lifetime. I am eager to read the companion book, Fire, and WHEN is BITTERBLUE going to be RELEASED??
8. Eldest and Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
Darkness falls…Swords clash…Evil reigns.
Oaths sworn . . . loyalties tested . . . forces collide.
HUGE fan of this series and have already pre-ordered my copy of Inheritance. I also listened to the audio versions of these books, and have read Eragon twice now. The narrator, Gerard Doyle, really does an excellent job with all the voices…except Saphira, IMHO, she sounds like Yoda or Grover, which I found a bit distracting (and funny) at times. In Eldest, Eragon has been staying at the Beor Mountains (with the dwarves), but must now spend his alotted time at Ellesmera (with the elves) to learn more about the dragon riders and enhancing his fighting and dragon skills. I loved the lushness of the elven lands and was sad to see him have to leave. In Brisingr, Eragon uses more magic, reunites with his cousin Roran, joins the Varden and starts to fight Galbatorix and his SPOILER ALERT!! half-brother Murtagh. Favorite characters are still Solembum and Angela.
9. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It’s gotten her into a few scrapes.
This was a cute, quick read that includes a lot of paranormal beings. There’s witches, vamps, ghosts, faeries, shape shifters, warlocks, etc etc. ANOTHER first in a series, but I loved Sophie’s personality. She’s not your typical whiny teenaged girl, she’s got sass and spunk! There is a great mystery aspect to this book and Rachel really keeps you guessing until the very end. Can’t wait for book #2 – Demonglass.
10. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who wanted to be left alone in quiet comfort. But the wizard Gandalf came along with a band of homeless dwarves. Soon Bilbo was drawn into their quest, facing evil orcs, savage wolves, giant spiders, and worse unknown dangers. Finally, it was Bilbo-alone and unaided-who had to confront the great dragon Smaug, the terror of an entire countryside . . .
A classic that I had never read and I finally read it in early 2010. My favorite main character is Bilbo, of course! He’s quite humorous. I love adventure books WITH MAPS!! I just can’t get enough! I often flip back to see where we are on the journey and Bilbo makes quite the journey for a hobbit. I should really read TLOTR trilogy…
WOW, I feel relieved, like a burden has been lifted! 10 very much loved books…10 reviews…DONE! This makes me happy!
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Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish. We’d love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
