Book Chick City: Carolyn & Laura's Top 10 Reads 2011

Carolyn & Laura's Top 10 Reads 2011

Tuesday, December 27, 2011 | Posted by Book Chick City |

We have put together our Top 10 lists of favourite reads for 2011. It was a tough one as between us we read over 140 books! Overall we thought 2011 was an awesome year for books and look forward to what's in store for us in 2012!

If you're wondering where the links direct you, here's the key: UK & US = Amazon, BD = Book Depository, GR = Goodreads.

Carolyn's Top 10 Reads 2011

FATED by S.G. Browne

(UK | US | BD | GR)*

Review

This book is funny, quirky, warm-hearted, hugely entertaining and unique. Definitely the best stand alone book I read this year.

GREEN-EYED DEMON - Jaye Wells

(UK | US | BD | GR)

Review

This series is truly fab. I love this author and this series - a great urban fantasy I would definitely recommend!

AVENGER'S ANGEL - Heather Killough-Walden

(UK | US | BD | GR)

Review

A fantastic addition to the paranormal romance genre, with sexy Archangels and a strong, beautiful heroine. I can't wait to read 'Avenger's Messenger' the next book in the series.

DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE - Laini Taylor
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

This book is a wonderful combination of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. An amazing heroine and unique secondary characters combined with a new and refreshingly original world made this book difficult to put down. Can't wait for book two!

BLOOD BOUND - Patricia Briggs
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

This was a series I'd heard a lot about, and as Laura said this was a fantastic urban fantasy I just had to give it a go. I enjoyed the first book but the second book in the series was even better.

FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT - Darynda Jones
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

I really loved this book. A fresh new voice in the urban fantasy genre and a must read for any urban fantasy fan. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

DEAD UNTIL DARK - Charlaine Harris
(UK | US | BD | GR)

I am up to book five in this series but haven't posted any reviews yet as Laura and I are hosting a "Sookie Stackhouse" Read-a-Long starting January, so our reviews will be posted then. But what I can say is that I'm loving this series and I adore Sookie. Harris's writing style is light and fun and oh so addictive!

ETERNAL RIDER - Larissa Ione
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

'Eternal Rider' is the first book in the 'Lords of Deliverance' series and was the first book I'd read by this author and it definitely won't be my last (I already have 'Immortal Rider' on my shelf ready and waiting). A great story combined with fabulous world building and sizzling characters.

ANGELS' BLOOD - Nalini Singh
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

This is the first book in Nalini Singh's 'Guild Hunter' series and the best in my opinion, or maybe it's special to me because it was the first book that introduced me to Singh's amazingly rich and lush writing style and awesome characters that melted my heart. A mixture of both urban fantasy and paranormal romance - an awesome book.

FIGHTING TO SURVIVE - Rhiannon Frater
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

ALLISON HEWITT IS TRAPPED - Madeleine Roux
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

My number one spot is a tie. These two zombie books blew me away and I loved everything about them, especially the main female characters. Both books are definitely zombie horror but they also have the female touch, there's heart and soul, which makes these books very special and very different from the usual zombie fare.

Laura's Top 10 Reads 2011

DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE - Laini Taylor
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

This was the first book that Carolyn and I chose to do a joint review on, which was fun in itself. It tells the story of blue haired Karou who was raised by Brimstone and the Chimaera, an otherworldly race who trade wishes for teeth, who can only be reached through secret doorways scattered throughout the globe. A rich and fascinating tale that really captured my imagination.

I AM LEGEND - Richard Matheson
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

'I am Legend' is another book that Carolyn has recommended to me. Knowing it was one of her favourite all-time classics, I knew I had to make the effort to read it, and I'm so glad that I did! This is a fantastically dark tale and ultimate horror novel.

DEAD, UNDEAD OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN - J.A.Saare
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

This one one of those books that I had been meaning to read for ages and finally got around to picking it up for our 'All Hallows Eve' event. Rhiannon is an unusual, foul-mouthed heroine, who also happens to be a necromancer. The story combines great mystery and action with a surprisingly tender love story. And then there's the ending...!

THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE - Jeaniene Frost
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

I adore Cat and Bones, they are a couple that never fail to make me laugh and swoon all at the same time. 'This Side of the Grave' sees a slightly more grown up Cat and Bones, but they still have the same humour and chemistry and of course they never fail to invite a few new enemies and kick some serious butt!

CITY OF GHOSTS - Stacia Kane
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

The Downside Ghost series by Stacia Kane is a series that Carolyn read last year and was totally blown away by it, so it's one I've been wanting to pick up for a while. Going on holiday this year, I made sure it was on my kindle. The whole series is superb, but 'City of Ghosts' the third book in the series has to be the best of them all.

EVERYONE LOVES A HERO - Marie Force
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

This is a book that took me by surprise, I picked it up one evening when my husband was away and snuggled down in bed for a quick read. Before I knew it, it was 3am and I'd devoured the book in one sitting. It's a simple and fun romance, but the writing and giddy emotion just swept me away.

BLOOD BOUND - Rachel Vincent
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

After loving Vincent's Shifter series, I couldn't wait to get my hands on 'Blood Bound'. Once again she has delivered a fantastic urban fantasy novel. I really enjoyed the fact that she has created new supernatural beings and a world ruled by the supernatural mafia. But also Liv is a great, complicated heroine.

THE HUNGER GAMES - Suzanne Collins
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

I was a bit late to the table in reading 'The Hunger Games' trilogy, picking it up after the final book in the trilogy was released. It sucked me in almost immediately. Collins has created a compelling dystopian world. Katniss is a tough, but vulnerable heroine who fights for survival in a macabre reality tv show. The book is as much a social commentary, as it is a fantastic story.

HOUNDED - Kevin Hearne
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

'Hounded' was one of those books I had seen on twitter with people raving about how good it was. I was slightly reluctant to pick it up as I quite like female protagonists as a general rule. Luckily I ignored my prejudices, because this is a story full of Celtic myth, stunning sword fights and brilliant dry wit.

SHADOWFEVER - Karen Marie Moning
(UK | US | BD | GR)
Review

I wasn't the only person to eagerly anticipate the final installment in Karen Marie Moning's Fever series. I even had it pre-ordered to download onto my kindle on release date. After the cliffhanger in 'Dreamfever' I was desperate to know who the beast was. This book concludes the series fantastically and in ways I could never have predicted. A phenomenal book! This really is a must-read urban fantasy series.

What have been your favourite books this year?

* UK & US = Amazon BD = Book Depository GR = Goodreads

Labels: BCC's Top Ten's

5 comments:

Blodeuedd said...: Great choices, I have to read some of those :); 27 December 2011 08:34
Bibliotropic said...: I'm really looking forward to reading "Daughter of Smoke and Bone." I finally managed to get a copy, and I've heard such good reviews about it that I'm really excited about it!; 27 December 2011 12:40
Harvee said...: I promised myself to either read or see the movie of The Hunger Games!; 27 December 2011 14:25
Bookish Brunette said...: Fighting to Survive!!! Yay!!!!! I'm sloooowly making my way to Hounded!!!; 27 December 2011 22:27
Susan said...: I'm glad to see Patricia Briggs up here! I love this series. I've been meaning to read Alison Hewitt is Trapped (the premise sounds interesting), and First Grave on the Right and The Hunger Games are ones I'm looking to read this year. Especially The Hunger Games.

Have either of you read Nancy A. Collins' Right Hand Magic? It's a new urban fantasy series I just came across, I bought it for Christmas for myself. Also The Magicians and Mrs Quent looks interesting.

Happy 2012 and reading!; 27 December 2011 23:15