Books of 2017 and Books in 2018

First of all, Merry Christmas Eve!! I had planned to blog more last week but then I came down with the flu and was out for a few days. I'm just now starting to feel better so I thought I'd better start on my yearly wrap up. Tomorrow is Christmas and I hope you all have a fun, relaxing day with family or friends or both.

This year, reading started out kind of slow. I was in a reading rut at the beginning of the year and it took a while to get back into a good book. Some people can just read, read, read whereas I'm crazy picky about the books I read which means I love books. I'm a writer and I do read, but I don't read as often as most writers/readers because I'm super picky about what books I can get into. I have a very specific taste in books (TV shows too) so when I get into a reading rut the only way for me to get out of it is if a book from my favorite author is coming out. Which only happens like once a year... so there's that.

But anyways, here are all the books I've read this year (let me know if you read any of them and what you thought!):

• Rook by Sharon Cameron: This book started off my year. To be honest, I read it because the cover was beautiful. It was enjoyable... it took me a while to get into it and I have to push through to the end cuz I didn't really want to finish it but felt like I had to. Overall though, it was very intriguing and different from most books I've read.
• The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause: I love this book! It's a vampire book (of course), but not like any you've ever read. Annette Klause has such a beautiful, simple writing style that makes me so happy and the ending was unexpected and bittersweet, but definitely a must read. If you aren't a fan of the vampire craze, this book isn't like any other vampire book I've read. It's not cliché at all!
• RoseBlood by A.G. Howard: If you've followed this blog for a while then you know I love A.G. Howard and I especially love her Splintered series. I was so excited for this book seeing how it's a Phantom of the Opera retelling of sorts. It took me by surprise in a good way and was just as dark and magical as I assumed it would be.  
• Starfall by Melissa Landers: Starflight (the first book to this sequel) is one of my all time favorite books. I've read it like three times already and I think Melissa Landers is a great writer and a genius. I loved this book too. Just the scifi world she created is so unique and Firefly-ish. In other words, if you love Firefly, you'll most likely like this duology.
• Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton: Uph, I love Alwyn Hamilton! She's amazing! This series is amazing and I'm so glad I discovered it and this book is by far my favorite so far.  
• The Key to Extraordinary by Natalie Lloyd: Natalie Lloyd has become one of my top favorite authors after reading A Snicker of Magic. I fell in love with her quirky young characters, and the very unique, beautiful and magical vibe that she infuses in her stories. This was a beautiful middle school book with a sprinkle of magic, friendship, a first crush and Boneyard brew. She managed to make a ghost story magical, child friendly and whimsical in a way.
• A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas: This was a pretty good book. Not my favorite in the least, but still good. I have a few problems with this series in general, but overall it was good and I really do love the characters despite the fact that I had a hard time finishing it.  
• Caraval by Stephanie Garber: Another book I read because of the cover, only with this book I fell in love with the story as much as the cover. The twist at the end and just how vibrant and chaotic and dark yet magical and beautiful the world she created is, was just so fun to read. I love it from beginning to end and couldn't put it down!
• Our Dark Duet by Victoria Schwab: I say I love these other books, but I seriously love this duology. This Savage Song and Our Dark Duet are both masterpieces. They're beautifully dark and chaotic while also speaking about such deep and meaningful themes that.  
• Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller: I'd heard so many great things about this book and finally decided to read it after a few months of it coming out. I really liked it, the writing wasn't my favorite and sometimes I had a hard time sticking with it, but I am definitely excited for the sequel!
• The Torment of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell: This was novella in the Renegade X series and it was so good! I wanted more and was glad the actual book came out a month later!
• The Phobia of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell: I love the Renegade X series! There are a few things about the series that I don't like or disagree with, but overall its so good! The characters, especially Damian, are so animated and fun.
• Undertow by Michael Buckley: When I was in middle school I read his Sisters Grimm series and its still one of my favorites to this day. I reread the series usually once a year at some point and so I was so, so excited when I found his YA trilogy. I devoured this whole series. It was amazing and I highly recommend both this series and the Sisters Grimm series.  
• Raging Seat by Michael Buckley
• Heart of the Storm by Michael Buckley
• These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman: This one was really good. I had a fun time reading it. It's not my favorite and I feel like it isn't the strongest, best book I've ever read, but it was definitely fun and a good science fiction book. I'm glad I discovered it and gave it a try.
• Beastkeeper by Cat Hellisen: For some reason, after reading These Broken Stars I was craving a small, light hearted, magical book and by chance I came across Beastkeeper. It's short, it's sweet with a memorable world and characters you root for. It reminded me a lot of Winterling which I think is why I liked it so much.
• Renegades by Marissa Meyer: Then there's, of course, Renegades. I bought this book because Marissa Meyer. It was a great superhero book. Followed all the tropes and cliché-y things that I love to have in a superhero book while also being original. The main character Nightmare, is so unapologetic about her agenda as a villain. It was kind of refreshing to have a character dubbed a villain who never truly wavered from her "evil" plans and one who didn't feel sorry as the book went on that she tried to kill one of the heroes. Don't get me wrong, I love a good antihero and villains that find redemption and become heroes, but with so many of them out there it's refreshing to find a villain who is stuck in her ways for better or for worse
• Nightfall by Shannon Messenger: *sigh* Nightfall. I adore Shannon Messenger and her books. She's an amazing writer and I could gush about her books for the days. This was a fantastic, awesome, amazing book and I am dying for the next one!! I've loved watching Sophie and the gang grow up over the years. I started reading this series when I was fourteen and by the time the next book comes out I'll be twenty and still in love with the series. Shannon Messenger has created a lifelong fan.

So, I mean, not as some people and not as many as I would have liked, but again, super picky here. It's the quality that counts, not the quantity anyways. Plus, I've been looking around desperately for more good YA science fiction books! I adore Melissa Landers' two science fiction series and I really enjoyed These Broken Stars, but I'm having a really hard time finding more like them so if you have any suggestions let me know!

That was my 2017 in books and now here are the books I am so excited to read in 2018:

• The Half King by Melissa Landers: Tentatively titled The Half King, a failed oracle must leave her temple sanctuary to serve an enigmatic young ruler who turns to shadow at sunset. In doing so, she discovers a disturbing truth about herself that shatters the fragile peace within the realm. The first in a YA fantasy duology.
• Renegades 2 by Marissa Meyer: Cover and synopsis coming soon.
• Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller:
  
  Alosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father's justice.
  
  When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.
• Hero at the Fall by Alwyn Hamilton:
  
  When gunslinging Amani Al'Hiza escaped her dead-end town, she never imagined she'd join a revolution, let alone lead one. But after the bloodthirsty Sultan of Miraji imprisoned the Rebel Prince Ahmed in the mythical city of Eremot, she doesn't have a choice. Armed with only her revolver, her wits, and her untameable Demdji powers, Amani must rally her skeleton crew of rebels for a rescue mission through the unforgiving desert to a place that, according to maps, doesn't exist. As she watches those she loves most lay their lives on the line against ghouls and enemy soldiers, Amani questions whether she can be the leader they need or if she is leading them all to their deaths.  
• Legendary by Stephanie Garber:
  
  Stephanie Garber’s limitless imagination takes flight once more in the colorful, mesmerizing, and immersive sequel to the bestselling and breakout debut Caraval, following Scarlett’s younger sister, Tella, on a journey to the empire’s capital to fulfill a mysterious bargain.
• The Cruel Prince by Holly Black:
  
  Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
  
  And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
  
  Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
  
  To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.
  
  In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.  
• Vengeful by Victoria Schwab: (No cover yet)Sydney once had Serena―beloved sister, betrayed enemy, powerful ally. But now she is alone, except for her thrice-dead dog, Dol, and then there's Victor, who thinks Sydney doesn't know about his most recent act of vengeance.
  Victor himself is under the radar these days―being buried and re-animated can strike concern even if one has superhuman powers. But despite his own worries, his anger remains. And Eli Ever still has yet to pay for the evil he has done.
• Keeper of the Lost Cities #7 by Shannon Messenger: (Cover and Synopsis coming soon)
• The Problem Children by Natalie Lloyd:
  
  When the Problim children’s ramshackle bungalow in the Swampy Woods goes kaboom, the seven siblings and their pet pig have no choice but to move into their Grandpa’s abandoned old mansion in Lost Cove. No problem! For the Problim children, every problem is a gift.
  
  Wendell and Thea—twins born two minutes apart on a Wednesday and a Thursday—see the move as a chance to make new friends in time for their birthday cake smash. But the neighbors find the Problims’ return problematic—what with Sal’s foggy garden full of Wrangling Ivy, toddler Toot’s 365 stanktastic fart varieties, and Mona’s human catapult.
  
  Truth be told, rumors are flying about the Problims! Rumors of a bitter feud, a treasure, and a certain kind of magic lingering in the halls of #7 Main Street. And the neighbors will do anything to get their hands on those secrets—including sending the Problim children to seven different homes on seven different continents!

And there you go! Those are the nine books that I'm looking forward to in 2017. I'm hoping to get more than just 20 books read next year, but who knows how busy I'll be with other stuff. I'm looking forward to a whole new year of new books and lots of new reading time! Have a Merry Christmas everyone!