I'm combining today's giveaway and best of 2012 post. I'm going to talk about my favorite books so far this year and then I'll give away one of them!
So let's start with the absolutely stunning debut of
Veronica Rossi's Under the Never Sky. Absolutely brilliant - dystopia mixed with fantasy mixed with adventure mixed with Perry, add a strong heroine and squeeze in a few cannibals and some acid rain and you have yourself a fabulous book. It also helps that the writing is flawless.
This has also been an incredible year for contemporaries - four of my favorites are contemps. The first is the lyrical
Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley. The writing is exceptional and the story is so wonderful. It's a great, artistic book. And then of course,
Wanderlove by Kristin Hubbard. Amazing. Makes me want to drop everything and just be a global wanderer. Then there's M. Molly Backes debut,
The Princesses of Iowa. I wasn't expecting a lot from this book and it totally shook my foundation. I've been pushing it on to everyone I can - especially my high school English teacher friends. I haven't reviewed it yet, but
Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols, out in July, is another superb Echols novel. Her books are always quick to be my favorites and
Such a Rush is second only to
Going Too Far in my heart.
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers. Assassin nuns. 'Nuff said.
I've always loved Robin Hood stories, but
Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen is my new favorite. Will Scarlet will never be a man in my mind ever again. And that portrayal of Robin is pretty dang dreamy. \
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (which happens to be hitting shelves today) is high fantasy at its best. This book was so beautiful and so vivid. It's hard to believe that this world doesn't exist somewhere.
Finally, this is a year for the second book. Lots of sequels out - some have lived up to the first book - but these two surpassed the introduction and have earned their place in my favorites. The first is
Timepiece by Myra McEntire. I loved Emerson's voice in
Hourglass so I was worried about the POV switch. But that risk just made this series unique and that much stronger. Finally,
Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver was an exceptional sequel.
Delirium was good, not great.
Pandemonium was superb.
OH and let's not forget
The Selection by Kiera Cass. I may or may not be mildly obsessed with this book...
So there you go. My top books of 2012 so far. Now, I'll be giving away one of these books - if you win, you get to choose. Any listed above are up for grabs. Must be 13 to enter and it's
international as long as Book Depository ships to you. This is going to be a quick contest and it will be closed to entries at 12:01 AM on Sunday, June 10. I'll contact the winner by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours or I wil choose a new winner.
