Jackie's Top 10 of 2013

::Post by Jackie Lindert::

I read a lot of great books this year, especially YA. I also read a lot of books that were just so-so. Here is a list of my favorites! 

1. Just One Day by Gayle Forman

2. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

3. The Program by Suzanne Young

4. Arcadia Burns  by Kai Meyer

5. Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

6. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

7.The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey  

8. Sever by Lauren DeStefano

These final two are NA, but I just had to include them in my favorites of 2013:

9. Light in the Shadows by A. Meredith Walters

10. Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

If you haven't read them, you should! There was no competition; these were indisputably my top ten. I'd love to hear whether you agree/disagree or have recommendations for me! 

Happy New year, and happy reading!

Rebel Spring - Morgan Rhodes

::Post by Jackie Lindert::

Synopsis: Love, power, and magic collide with war in the second book of the Falling Kingdoms series.
Auranos has fallen and the three kingdoms—Auranos, Limeros, and Paelsia—are now united as one country called Mytica. But still, magic beckons, and with it the chance to rule not just Mytica, but the world...
When the evil King Gaius announces that a road is to be built into the Forbidden Mountains, formally linking all of Mytica together, he sets off a chain of events that will forever change the face of this land, forcing Cleo the dethroned princess, Magnus the reluctant heir, Lucia the haunted sorceress, and Jonas the desperate rebel to take steps they never could have imagined.

I'm so excited to report that Rebel Spring definitely lived up to my expectations. Following up from Falling Kingdoms, the second book truly puts everything in a whole new world: Mytica. The three main characters of this series drive me CRAZY! I love them and I hate them. They make me so mad, but I wouldn't change a thing about any of them. I love reading about their lives and the struggles of being heirs, or not, in Jonas' case. 

Cleo rises to the occasion in this book, and I'm freaking out over her situation. My feelings about Magnus and Jonas are so mixed, and I honestly don't know how I want things to turn out. I'm absolutely terrified of Lucia--she might be the only character I've become disenchanted with. Except Magnus' father. I perma-hate him, obviously. It's so nerve-racking that the fate of Paelsia is resting where it does, and in the hands it does (it's so hard to stay spoiler free!).  

Besides the characters themselves, the world that's left/is being created, is so different, and the political unrest is amazingly portrayed. Once again, the world-building is outstanding. I want to visit this world, despite the fact it's in utter dismay...how does that even happen? Morgan Rhodes has truly built up every piece of this plot up to a point that I have no idea what is going to happen. Nothing goes according to plan, magic is growing, people are dying, and fear is all-consuming. She leaves just enough open to drive you mad at the end--I cannot deal with not knowing when the 3rd installment is due out. 

Again, this has been the perfect book to bring me back to my love of the fantasy genre. I just love revisiting this world. If you haven't been introduced yet, get your hands on this series. You won't regret it.

July Top 5

August is tomorrow! Which makes me really happy since it's my favorite month. I have some good things coming up - which includes a Mets game, another Yankees game, one of my really good friends visiting from Spain, a couple potential trips to Florida and/or Montana, and, of course, my birthday! July was insanely busy for me and quite stressful (and the blog definitely suffered this month...my post numbers are depressing) so I'm very much looking forward to leaving July behind. But first - my top five reads (or my top 4 and Jackie's favorite book this month). 

1. All the Truth That's in Me by Julie Berry

I haven't wanted to push a book on everyone I know so much since I read Princesses of Iowa (which I bought at least 6 copies of to make sure there were no excuses not to read it). This book has refreshing narrative style and the emotions it inspired surprised me. I NEED to talk about it, so if you've read it, let's discuss some things! 

2. Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

I just love everything Echols writes. She's incredible. Bailey is totally relatable and it becomes so easy to live vicariously through her. I really loved the country music aspect in this one - I think a trip to Nashville might be in order soon! You can check out my full review here.  

3. Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

This book is stunning. It amazes me how much meaning Trish can pack into every single word she writes. I don't know that I can point out another contemporary author who has said so little and so much at the same time. She's a fantastic writer. 

4. Infinityglass by Myra McEntire

Finally, we get to find out what happens to the Hourglass gang. Myra totally switched things up when she wrote Timepiece and I think she keeps that going in Infinityglass. It's tough to say goodbye to these characters, but this was a great end to a fabulous series. My review is here. 

5. Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes

Jackie says: I'm really loving where Morgan Rhodes is taking the Falling Kingdom story. The new characters are interesting and complex, as are the lot of them in this series, and some of the original charaters are changing my mind about what I want to happen and with whom ;) There was no holding back in this book from any angle, and the story is getting even more intense. I love it!

What were your top reads this month?