Tuesday 5 June 2012

Best of 2012 (so far!)



Hi everyone! *waves* Whether you're here from Armchair BEA or are just doing some blogosphere wandering, it's nice to meet/see you.

Today I'm going to be talking up some of my absolute favourite reads of the year.

First off...
 
Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1)Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, the ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
This was actually the first book I read in 2012 but it left enough of an impression on me to still be counted amongst my favourites of the year.

In 3 words: Inventive, unique and entrancing.

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Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
Article 5 (Article 5, #1)
New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.
I loved this book! The dystopian genre certainly didn't end in 2011 and I found this new start to the series so promising.

In 3 words: Emotional, compelling and hopeful.

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Black Heart (Curse Workers, #3)Black Heart by Holly Black
Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.

Ahh, the finale to the Curse Workers series. It was an amazing journey and I'm sad to see it end... but I was blown away by the third book just as I was with the previous ones.

In 3 words: Twisty, intriguing and masterful.
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Insurgent (Divergent, #2)Insurgent by Veronica Roth

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
Was I worried that this book wouldn't match up to its predecessor? How ridiculous of me. Personally, I loved this one!

In 3 words: Action-packed, honest and electrifying. 
 
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Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy, #1)Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.
This is probably my favourite debut of the year... I am dying for the next book already! And HEY! It's out today! *nudges you in direction of nearest bookstore*

In 3 words: Thrilling, captivating and mysterious.

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Have you read any of these? Which books of 2012 made your favourites list?

12 comments:

  1. I have heard amazing things about Shadow and Bone I am excited to read it. I also really enjoyed Cinder, more then I expected.

    Here's to another six months of great reads.

    Sara @ Just Another Story

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  2. ... And I've read none of these, sadly. HOWEVER, my new pact to go to the library once a week is (kind of) working out well, so now I have things to look at and/or put on hold when I go tomorrow or Thursday. Especially The Curse Workers series and Shadow and Bone - I think those will be my favourite out of the list.

    - May :)

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  3. :) I read and loved Insurgent! I hope to read Insurgent and Shadow and Bone soon!

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  4. CAN I JUST SAY YES TO EVERY BOOKS ON YOUR LIST?!!! Well, I haven't read Black Heart and Shadow and Bone BUT I WILL READ THEM because I've been hearing great things about them. SO EXCITED TO READ BOTH BOOKS!!!!!!!! There are many awesome books yet to come out! 2012 is going to be an AWESOME year! <3

    PS: Sorry I haven't been commenting on your blog lately, Sonia!

    Hope you have an AMAZING day!

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  5. I agree with you on all of them!!! Except I haven't read Article 5 yet... I have it and I will read it soon! :) I hear it's amazing so I expect to love it <3

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  6. I've only read Insurgent from that list, but I'm dying to read the rest, especially Article 5! It sounds soooo awesome. Still need to read Red Glove before starting Black Heart...:P. Fab post! :)

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  7. Can you believe that I've read NONE of these yet? Though I own 3- Insurgent, Article 5 and Cinder. I NEED to read these books especially if they made it to your top 6 so far!!! Judging by recent reviews, Shadow and Bone also sounds appealing! Great list, Sonia. I must read these soon :)

    And about the Anne series, I'll have to get back to you on if it's still exciting and as charming and great to read now compared to when we were kids. I was pretty young while reading Anne of Green Gables so I'll know for sure once I'm done with Anne of Avonlea which I should be done with soon cuz I bought it pretty recently. I will let you know once I'm done with it :D I can't wait to meet Anne and Gilbert after such a long gap, so personally I hope as a 19 year old, I still find it as magical :)

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  8. Dear Sonia, you SURE know how to write such AMAZING list! These books are practically mouthwatering! I can't believe that I haven't read most of them, so I solemnly vow that I would read these books sometimes this year! OMG, Shadow and Bone!! I'm so excited to read this book! Everyone seems to love it so much, so I'm very curious to read it! I've preordered it, so my copy should come to me soon! <3 I'm going to read Insurgent soon! I'm a bit afraid that the second book doesn't match the awesomeness of the first book, but I'm glad to hear that I don't need to worry! x)

    Absolutely fantastic post, Sonia! <3

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  9. Cinder, Article 5 and Shadow & Bone are my favourite reads of the year so far too! <3 You my friend, have good taste. ;)

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  10. OMG hi! *jumps up and down, waving and giggling* Okay, I LOVE your list! One, because Cinder, Article 5 and Insurgent made it on there AND I FREAKING LOVE THOSE BOOKS TOO. And two) You have me DYING to read Shadow and Bone and also check out the Curse Workers series. When Sonia tells you something is good, IT'S GOOD. And you must GO READ IT ASAP. So, I go read ASAP. Well, Shadow and Bone not until next month, since it's released in July here and under a different name :D

    Cinder, Insurgent and Article 5 obviously make my 2012 favourite list... also Storm, Spark, Insignia, Under the Never Sky, The Fault In Our Stars, Catastrophic History.... probably a dozen more, but I'll stop there!

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  11. I really want to read Shadow and Bone and Insurgent! I've heard lots of great things! New follower :)

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  12. i only read article 5
    but i loved it
    cool list

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