For the past two years, I’ve made reading goals, and I still
haven’t quite reached my goal. Last year, I was close. I wanted to read 45
books in the year 2016, and I read 34 published books, and 4 nonpublished.
(Beta reads for other writers). Many of them were really fun reads, and I
thought I’d let you know the top in my list!
Also, this is in no particular order.
Shades of Milk and Honey – Mary Robinette Kowal
I hadn’t heard of Mary Robinette Kowal. I knew of Writing
Excuses, but I didn’t really listen to their podcast. Last year, I went to a
writing conference with a friend, where Mary was on multiple panels. I thought
she was hilarious, and I really wanted to read her book, especially since my
friend highly recommended it. I loved the Austen feel with magic, and I’m
pretty sure I read the whole thing in less than a day.
Ian Quicksilver – Alyson Peterson
Alyson was another writer I met at the writers’ conference.
She hadn’t published Ian Quicksilver yet, but after meeting her, I was dying to
read something she’d written. Let me just say, Alyson knows how to write
teenage boys. Ian was a character who jumped off the page and kept me laughing
through the entire book.
Healer’s Apprentice – Melanie Dickerson
I discovered Melanie Dickerson last year when one of my
sisters recommended her books. Apparently, I was in the mood for a lot of
historical type books last year. I actually read a lot of her books, but this
was the first one that I read, and I loved her style of writing. I’m also a
sucker for fairy tale retellings, so it was just the perfect balance for me.
Passenger – Alexandra Bracken
I love Alexandra Bracken. I devoured her Darkest Minds
series, and when I found out that she had a new book, I just had to read it.
This book was completely different, but I still loved it. She addresses so many
issues in a way that made me want to keep reading. She addresses gender and
race as her characters time travel to different times and different areas of
the world.
The Originals – Cat Patrick
I have no idea how I discovered this book. I got a notice
from the library that my reserved book was ready, and I couldn’t remember
reserving it. It was definitely a happy accident though. Cat Patrick writes
light science fiction, and I think she’s the reason why I tried writing science
fiction last November. I read several of her books, and I loved that there was
a slight mystery to everything. She’s the one who turned me on to contemporary
science fiction.
Winner’s Kiss – Marie Rutkoski
This is the final book in the Winner’s Trilogy, and after
several disappointing final books to series, I picked this one up with not very
high expectations. But I shouldn’t have worried. Marie Rutkoski knows her
characters, and she made me love them even more. It’s one of the best final
books that I’ve read in a really long time.
Grave Mercy – Robin LaFevers
I had randomly downloaded this book before going on a
writers’ retreat. I had spent the day writing – probably close to ten hours,
and I wanted to relax before going to bed. This book wasn’t really what I would
call relaxing, mostly because I had to find out what happens next! It’s such a
unique idea, and I loved the execution. Plus, the romance was slow burning and
just awesome.
