18
Jul132010
One Year Blogiversary: My Top 10 Favourite Reads
by Carolyn • Posted in One Year Blogiversary
My Top 10 Favourite Reads
As it’s my One Year Blogiversary *yay!* I thought I would take a look back at all the books I have read in the past year and narrow them down to my favourite ten. It was pretty difficult as ten books really isn’t that many when you’ve read a hundred, but here they are…of course, I couldn’t put them in any sort of order so these are my Top 10 Favourite Reads in no particular order:
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1. Unholy Ghosts & Unholy Magic by Stacia Kane
Okay, I’m going to cheat a bit here and add two books because this series is just *AMAZING* – It really is my favourite Urban Fantasy series right now, and come to think of it – ever! The characters are just wonderful and complex and the plot is always exciting – I just cannot wait for book three, City of Ghosts!
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2. I Am Not A Serial Killer & Mr Monster by Dan Wells
I’m cheating again! I had to add both books as they are equally brilliant. This is a YA series, and in my opinion, one of the best. Wells has created a young progtagonist on the cusp of becoming a serial killer and it’s just excellent! The third book, I Don’t Want To Kill You, will be out in Jan 2011 and I can’t wait!
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3. Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman
I was sent the entire series to review last year and I read them all pretty much back to back. Although all the books in the series are fantastic, the first book, Noughts & Crosses, truly blew me away. It’s incredibly poignant and beautifully written, flipping the white/black racism issue giving a fresh and interesting perspective. If you haven’t read this series I urge that you do.
4. My Wicked Marquess by Gaelen Foley
This was a bit of a tie between Lord of Scoundrels, but I felt that I enjoyed this one just that little bit more, but there really wasn’t that much in it. After reading Lord of Scoundrels, my first historical romance, I am now a big fan. Actually, I’m loving the romance genre as a whole at the minute and I’m glad I gave this genre a go. My Wicked Marquess is a fun, passionate book that I just couldn’t put down!
5. The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
This is the first book in a series following a private investigator Isobel Spellman. It’s the only one I’ve read in the series so far, but I will definitely read the rest. It’s really funny and the characters are so endearing, if a little bit nuts!
6. Hell’s Bells by Paul Magrs
This is the fourth book in the Brenda & Effie paranormal mystery series and I just loved it. I’ve read book three too which was equally as good and I can’t wait for the fifth instalment which is due this October. I am now working my way through the first and second book to complete the series. It’s a lovely series following two retired ladies who are also the guardians of the hell mouth in a small village called Whitby. The two main characters Brenda and Effie are the Bride of Frankenstein and a powerful witch respectively. It’s a witty, fun and deliciously British series, which has become one of my favourites.
7. Storm Born & Thorn Queen by Richelle Mead
I know, another double, but I can’t help it when I love books equally that come from the same series. These are the only books I’ve read by Richelle Mead, although I knew her originally from her young adult series Vampire Academy, which I am in the process of reading. Both these books were really good reads in the Dark Swan urban fantasy series and I liked the protagonist Eugene Markham. I’m looking forward to the third book which is out 2011.
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8. The Radleys by Matt Haig
This book took me by surprise – I was expecting a family like The Adams Family, but what I got was quite a dark tale with a smattering of black humour. A great read and a great set of characters.
9. Already Dead by Charlie Huston
This is a great read. An Urban Fantasy with a noir style, very gritty and dark. I like my urban fantasies dark so this was a great fit for me. It is different as well with the male view point, as most of my UF have female protags, but I liked Joe Pitt and enjoyed this book a lot and look forward to reading more in the series.
10. Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
I really enjoyed this book, it was fun and exciting and I’m looking forward to reading the next instalment, Crescendo.
Tell me your favourite reads…
18 Comments
Sounds like some good books. I haven't read any of these yet. Ah, if there were more time in a day. One of my favorite reads from this year has been Watermark by Vanitha Sankaran
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I have The Spellman Files on my shelf waiting for me. Good to know you liked it, I'm looking forward to reading it even more now.
BTW, Happy Blogiversary!
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Alll books I have not read, I have much before me
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Great picks and happy blogiversary! I loved Storm Born/Thorn Queen too and I need to read Stacia Kane's books! I loved Nalini Singh's Angel's Blood and Archangel's Kiss though I have so many favorites I don't know if I could just pick ten! Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews would probably be another fav from this year too!
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Serena – I know what you mean, I have so many books to read but not enough time to read them – very frustrating
Hilde – Oh you must start The Spellman Files – SO good!
Blodeuedd – LOL That's what lists do to me too! My wishlist is growing and growing!
Heather – It was *really* difficult to choose just ten. These are not my only favourites just ten across the year. If I listed all my favourites this post would have gone on and on LOL You MUST read Downside Ghosts series – absolutely fantastic!
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happy blogiversary! i love Richelle Mead's VA series, the first book didn't work as well for me, but the rest of the series are all A+'s!
ok, i really like Galen Foley but thought My Wicker Marquess was one of her worst books, so if you loved that one you should def give Lord of Fire and Her Every Pleasure a try as they're MUCH better!
and after seeing David Well's YA books on your list and seeing the awesome Booksmugglers review i think i'll have to give them a try!
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Every single one of those books I added to my list except Hush Hush it was already there!
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I loved Hush Hush! I cant wait for CRESCENDO the follow up to Hush Hush!
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I'm reading Unholy Magic right now!
Happy Blogoversary!!!
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#2 and #8 just got added to my wish list. Those sound AWESOME.
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Great list! I want to read now all of them, except Hush Hush which is the only one I've already read!
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How is it that you found so many great books that I've never heard of? Am updating my wishlist ASAP! Think I'll start with the Stacia Kane books, as I keep hearing great things about her. I love finding new-to-me authors!
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Aww congratulations my dear. 1 yr believe it or not it's a big accomplishment. That is awesome
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NOOOOO! The Brenda and Effie series isn't on Amazon US and it sounds SO fun =(
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Lusty Reader – Thanks for the Gaelen Foley recs – I'm such a newbie to this genre that everything I read at the moment I think is pretty good, but I'm sure over time I will start to recognise the good from the not so good
Fredamans – I'm glad I could add to your wishlsit!
Cari – I really enjoyed Hush Hush too!:)
Mandi – Thanks! So, as you're reading Unholy Magic, I'm assuming you enjoyed Unholy Ghosts? I am so in love with this series, It's one of the best urban fantasies I've read!!
LilyofDarkness – Yay – I love adding to people's wishists
Aleksandra – Did you enjoy Hush Hush?
Alexia561 – Definitely start with the Downside Ghosts series – absolutely brilliant, especially if you enjoy character driven books
Cleverly Inked – Aw thank you!
Vampire and Tofu – Try Book Depository, they deliver worldwide for free and I know the books are on there 'cos I've seen them! They are much fun!
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Wicked fabulous picks…. Some I've not read and really would love to now!=)
Thx for sharing!
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Great list, I will be adding a few, especially the 1st series, Unholy….
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Thanks for the list. I will check some of them. I Am Not A Serial Killer & Mr Monster by Dan Wells sounds cool.
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