Although I read over 50 books in 2015, but putting together a top ten list was rather difficult. On the whole, I had a decent reading year, but few crossed that “Best of” threshold.

But after a lot of thought, I was able to come up with 8 really great novels/graphic novels, and 2 all-time favourites. Here’s what I picked!

All Fall Down by Ally Carter

Although this certainly wasn’t my all-time-favourite Carter book, it is an amazing start to an engaging series. It fills the shoes left by the Gallagher Girls, while also setting its own path. Though if there is no crossover, I may go nuts!! Read full review here.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

No surprise here – I adore Novik, and that hasn’t changed. But Uprooted was a supremely unique novel, set in a universe I can guarantee you’ve never been to. If you’re suffering from genre fatigue, Uprooted will leave you uplifted. Read full review here.

Legends of the Ferengi by Ira Steven Behr

A book with a cover this ugly should NOT be on a top ten favourites list… and yet. I listened to the audio rendition of this Star Trek novel and was floored by how much I adored it. The Ferengi are one of my favourite Star Trek species (for comedy alone) and this book got their culture just right. SO much fun.

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

This is a weird fav, because there were a lot of things about this book I wasn’t a fan of (the mahoot story, in particular, made me want to stop reading). But the vast majority of this book was incredibly atmospheric, rich in history and actually took a very progressive view on the rights of animals. Add to that the fact I read the book while in India, and it is certainly an unforgettable read of 2015.

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Ms Marvel by G. Willow Wilson

Vol. 2 Generation Why
Vol. 3 Crushed

This series continues to get better and better with each book! This was the one-and-only series I read issue-to-issue, and I really, really looked forward to them each month. Alas, I am not completely caught up with the series now (as I took a comic break while waiting for Secret Wars to come to Marvel Unlimited) but – now that it has – it means I can finally read the last few issues of this first series, and then catch up with the new Ms Marvel book that is out! The new series has me psyched – it will be really interesting to see how Kamala handles the Big Leagues.

Captain Marvel by Kelly Sue DeConnick

Vol. 1: Higher, Further, Faster, More
Vol. 2: Stay Fly

I read the first volume of DeConnick’s Captain Marvel last year and, while I liked it, I wasn’t in love. But WOW. The 2014-2015 series, collected in 3 volumes, is just so friggin’ amazing. Unlike the previous series, Carol is dealing with all new villains in all new settings (i.e. planets), and she is super awesome while doing it. These books made me a card-carrying Carol Corps member – go pick them up!

 

The Top Two

Drumroll please! Here are my two favourite books of 2015!

Winter by Marissa Meyer

I really, really need to review this book – because my feelings about it are way too long and complex to put into a few sentences. Let’s just say this: Amazing. Addictive. Lived up to the hype.

This Shattered World by Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman

Gah, this book. I can’t… it was just so amazing. In my review I described it as: “pure science fiction with a well- incorporated romantic plot, that just happens to be aimed at young adults.” I highly recommend it. Read full review here.

Let me know your favourite reads of 2015!

The post Top 10 Books of 2015 first appeared on Darling Books.

Did you see the massive IMAGE COMICS sale? Because I sure did! And… I made have gone a little cray-cray.

But whatever – it is hard NOT to buy comics from IMAGE, for many reasons. Here, I made a list:

1. They are creator owned. In other words, the money flow is more direct and the rights stay with the creators.
2. You get a DRM-free file!! Image even puts a “save to dropbox” button right by your comic book after you’ve bought it! Just, wow… I wish every publisher did that!
3. If you buy straight from their website, you can avoid comixology (aka Amazon!). Huzzah!!

Anyhow, here’s what I got:

• Paper Girls #2 and #3
• Kaptara #1
• Trees #1
• Saints #1
• Descender, Vol. 1: Tin Stars
• ODY-C, Vol. 1: Off to far Ithicca
• Rat Queens, Vol. 1: Sass and Sorcery

No idea how much I’m going to enjoy these, though they all have great reviews and great creators. Oh, but I have read the first issue of PAPER GIRLS and OMG. It is SO GOOD you guuuuuuuys! DON’T WAIT FOR THE TRADE – GET IT NOW!

Anyhow: great books, Image Comics!

The post Image comic-book-buying madness first appeared on Darling Books.

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels knows how waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shape shifters, she quickly realizes much more is at stake. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug of war between two gods hoping for rebirth, and if Kate can't stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive.

Thoughts: The Kate Daniels series has so many fans, it’s ridiculous. It’s one of the top-selling, most anticipated Urban Fantasy series out there. But, after reading Magic Burns, all I can think is: the books must get a hell of a lot better than this if they’re still so popular.

Don’t get me wrong, Magic Burns is a good book. It’s solidly written, with interesting world building and high-stakes action. There were some elements here that, even as a relatively seasoned UF fan, really stood out: namely, I loved the idea of the central city park over growing to become a hub of witchcraft, complete with a giant turtle into whose belly you crawled. I have such a clear mental image of it – and it’s really stuck with me.

I also really enjoyed a number of the secondary characters: I’d read a series starring Kate’s were-shadow, Derek. He’s a sweetie in that silent-but-observant-and-may-also-kill-you sort of way. I also thought it was pretty awesome how quickly Kate latched onto Julie – the orphan introduced in this book. I was expecting her to be written out by the end of the novel, but colour me surprised.

That being said, there was a lot in this book that just made me roll my eyes: Kate is a special flower, but no one can know – except, of course, until she really needs to use that power. What even. Then there was the senseless dog death – how does having the main character kill a dog help endear her to me? Oh, and Curran? I’m sorry, but he was really creepy in this book. Some of his “famed” “seductive” lines just came off very assault-y. If Adam (from the Mercy books) had said this crap, Mercy would have had his butt kicked. And I would have helped.

Bottom line? Technically a good book, but there were things in it I just found abhorrent. I’ll be reading on, as it can only go up from here… right?

The post Review: Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews first appeared on Darling Books.

Twice a year, the English Library has a massive, huge, gigantic book sale. It’s the talk of the town for at least a week, as very very little happens in Switzerland.

This year, I managed not only to: 1) align the stars in order to be in town for the sale, 2) remembered the sale early enough to invite people to join me! We held our ground and fought the crowds – and we all came back with bags of books.

I tried not to go too crazy, though, and only picked up books I knew I was going to read:

• Living with Books by Alan Powers – This coffee table book is so friggin perfect. It is basically just pages and pages of photographs of book shelves. Very meta.
• Blood Red Road by Moira Young – I’ve had this on my wishlist since before it came out… but I think the series is over now? Whatever. I hope it is great!
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson – I’ll be honest: I don’t really want to read this book. I know it is extremely important and essential, but… I don’t know if I will be able to handle it. I do, however, want to try. Some day.
• The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien – I love this super retro edition. Wait, maybe I shouldn’t call it retro, as it is a first printing from the 70s.
• Run by Ann Patchett – I love, love this book and didn’t have it in hardcover. I am especially happy to find this particular cover, as the UK cover is horribly white-washed.

Anyhow, there you have it. A quick peak at the books that have recently joined my shelves. Any recommendations about where to start?

The post Did someone say Library book sale? first appeared on Darling Books.

An impressive debut, equal parts commercial appeal and literary prowess.

Princess Aurelia is next in line to rule the kingdom of Tyralt, but she would rather be one of the common folk, free to learn and roam and . . . not marry the next tyrannical prince that comes courting. Naturally, the king wants Aurelia to marry for political power. Aurelia wants to marry for love. And someone in the kingdom wants her . . . dead. Assigned to investigate and protect Aurelia is Robert, the son of the king's former royal spy and one of Aurelia's oldest friends. As Aurelia and Robert slowly uncover clues as to who is threatening her, their friendship turns to romance. With everything possible on the line, her life, her kingdom, her heart, Aurelia is forced to take matters into her own hands, no matter the cost.

Thoughts: I adored Academy 7 by Anne Osterlund when I read it back in… many years ago. She immediately went onto my list of “why-must-they-be-so-perfect” authors and I hoped my next foray into Osterlund-land would be just as impressive. Years later and – at last! – I finally got the chance to read her debut novel, Aurelia. And it was good. Very good, even. But it’s no Academy 7.

Let’s start out with the good: the characters. Aurelia features a POC heroine who is doing her best to cope with a very complicated life. Boys and her hair are not her priority – but she isn’t oblivious to those things, nor is she dismissive of girls who do make that the centre of their world. Meanwhile, Robert, he book’s male protagonist, is a genuinely good human being. He may be trying to protect Aurelia, but certainly doesn’t believe he has a “right” to her. All in all: big thumbs up.

The bad: Aurelia is far, far too short. Sure, there was drama and intrigue and whatnot – but it didn’t build long enough for me to truly care about its resolution. And the ending? Rushed and unsatisfying. Of course, I know there is a sequel, and many of the outstanding issues should be resolved in the next book, but… I want some kind of real conclusion. Not just a big “TO BE CONTINUED…”. Not cute. But, then again:

1. this is Osterlund’s first book,
2. I’m sure it was heavily edited to fit the publishing world’s many-sequel model, and
3. despite #1 and #2 it is still very entertaining.

Bottom line? In spite of the not-so-great aspects, Aurelia is worth a read – especially if you are into good historical YA novels. But, for God’s sake, go read Academy 7 already!

The post Review: Aurelia by Anne Osterlund first appeared on Darling Books.

I’ve been thinking about some of the Urban Fantasy books on my wishlist and shelves. A lot of these are books that I added to my to-read list when I was still discovering the Urban Fantasy genre. I wanted to know what was the best, what people always recommended and then, more often than not, I went out bought them all. Now, of course, many of them I did read. Patricia Briggs, Laurell K. Hamilton, Kelley Armstrong, Chloe Neill, etc. etc!

But many I just never got to and… that makes me both a wee bit sad and a wee bit glad. The latter because it means I still have fantastic new literary-universes to explore!

Anyhow, here’s a look at some of the books I’ve “really, honestly, I promise” been meaning to get to. I can’t recommend them myself, but they are considered “classics”* for a reason!

As you can see, I have a lot of good books still on my list! The Kitty series, for instance, is supposed to be a must-read for fans of Kelley Armstrong and – hello! – features a radio host! And hell, the Dresden Files I kinda just want to read in order to get into the fandom.

C.E. Murphy is one of those authors I constantly see featured at Forbidden Planet and always kick myself for not having gotten to. And then there’s the Fever series – which everyone and their mother raves about but is still on my list… how did that happen? Or what about Rob Thurman? I remember including her in a post of male authors (oops) almost 6 years ago now… and yet.

SO! I am taking it upon myself to kick off a personal challenge: read some Urban Fantasy “classics” and find some new favourites.

This is not a deadline challenge, but rather a perpetual reminder to self. I plan to get to some of these books this year (I’m looking at you, Carrie Vaughn) and will let you know how I get on!

* Just in case some of you are feeling extra pedantic, I remind you that I am using the word “classic” very lightly. Not to mention the fact that “urban fantasy” is still a relatively new genre (25 odd-years old, though there are older works that could probably fit the under the title as well). So, yes, these novels are millennials – but they are still “classics” in my book!

The post Reading Urban Fantasy “Classics” first appeared on Darling Books.

Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life. Her people rely on the cold, ambitious wizard, known only as the Dragon, to keep the wood's powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman must be handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as being lost to the wood.

The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows - everyone knows - that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia - all the things Agnieszka isn't - and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her. But no one can predict how or why the Dragon chooses a girl. And when he comes, it is not Kasia he will take with him. From the author of the Temeraire series comes this hugely imaginative, engrossing and vivid fantasy novel, inspired by folk and fairy tales. It is perfect reading for fans of Robin Hobb and Trudi Canavan.

Thoughts: I was ecstatic to find Uprooted in my mailbox. I am a massive, massive fan of Novik’s Temeraire (read my glowing review here) and was very excited to see what she would produce outside of that universe.

Which is appropriate, considering what dominated Uprooted was the universe Novik created. It was dark, twisted and disconcerting in a way I’ve yet to experience. Instead of a single villain, Agnieszka and the Dragon faced off against a… feeling. The Wood was the literal representation of decay and infection, while still appearing as a lush, beautiful life-form. It was a bit difficult for me to wrap my brain around, because it was so foreign… and in a way, that’s what also made it so scary.

The Wood drove this story, more so than the principal characters. And because of that, Uprooted refused to be one “type” of story. It wasn’t just a semi-Stockholm Syndrome romance, or a girl-discovers-her-powers YA novel, or a high fantasy fight-against-evil… it was all of those things distorted by the overbearing threat of the Wood. So expect twists and turns, and don’t ever, ever get too comfortable.

Character-wise, while I can’t say I was overly emotionally invested in Agnieszka, Kasia or the Dragon, I really appreciated how they were handled. The Dragon was an angry, mean man – but one who was trying to do the right thing. Kasia and Agnieszka, meanwhile, had one of the most genuine female friendships I’ve ever read. They loved each other, but they also had their own problems. When jealously and hurt reared their heads, instead of breaking apart, they acknowledged the issues and didn’t let them get in the way. It was masterfully done.

Bottom line? Uprooted is a supremely unique novel, set in a universe I can guarantee you’ve never been to. If you’re suffering from genre fatigue, Uprooted will leave you uplifted.

The post Review: Uprooted by Naomi Novik first appeared on Darling Books.

Well, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’ve been extremely busy these past few months – busy in a way I really have never been before. So, of course, my reading pace has taken a nose-dive and, with it, my book-purchasing rate. So much so that Book Depository sent me a 10% off code to say “come baaaaaaaack!”.

Geez okay okay. I get the point. Take my money.

The Queen of Bright and Shiny Things by Ann Aguirre (goodreads)
I’m not sure how many times I’ve said this, but I’ll say it again: Ann Aguirre is one of my auto-buy authors. She’s amazing, fantastic, brilliant and other superlatives. I couldn’t care less what the synopsis is, it goes into the basket.

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee (goodreads)
Obviously.

Eon by Alison Goodman (goodreads)
I bought Eona yeaaaaars ago (it was on sale) and obviously was never able to read it as I was missing a key element. Now I can (at last) find out what all the hype is about!

End of Days by Susan Ee (goodreads)
I can’t believe this series is coming to an end. I remember when this was a self-published phenomena that I never imagined seeing on the shelves – and, of course, when I had the chance to meet Susan back when the second book came out (she is amazing, y’all). In short: a lot of memories and a lot of mixed feelings about the end.

Deadly Class Volume 2 by Rick Remender (goodreads)
I read and enjoyed Volume 1 last year – gorgeous art and super, super dark. Excited to see where this goes…

The Fade Out Volume 1 by Ed Brubaker (goodreads)
I bought the first issue of this comic last year and immediately thought “this needs to be read in a trade paperback”. I bought no further issues and have been NOT PATIENTLY waiting for this release.

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (goodreads)
Oh come on. Of course I got this. It is all the 21st century girls-being-awesome that I love about the internet – only with swords.

That’s all folks! Let me know if you have a recommendation out of this haul – need to know what to start with!

The post Summer Book Haul (at last!) first appeared on Darling Books.

Rah Rah Readathon! Once again, Dewey’s readathon is here! The event is starting in about 15 minutes, so you still have time to join for kickoff!

Opening Meme

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?

La France – where it is overcast and not too hot (my perfect reading weather).

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?

Probably Joss Whedon’s Fray – I’ve been looking forward to that forever!

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?

Nutella (obviously).

4) Tell us a little something about yourself!

I’m Kay and I’ve been blogging about books since 2009 and – in that time – I’ve done a lot of readathons (and loved each and every one). My reading companion on today’s readathon is my massive hound, Odin.

5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today?

For this year’s Readathon… I am doing 1000% comic books! I love graphic novels and the readathon is a perfect opportunity to binge read them. They make you feel great too, as you manage to get a LOT of them done in the 24 hours!

What’cha reading?

On my list so far:

• Kill my Mother by Jules Feiffer
• V for Vendetta by Alan Moore
• Batman: the Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
• Fray by Joss Whedon
• Iron Man Noir by Scott Snyder
• Y: the Last Man by Brian K Vaughn
• Velvet by Ed Brubaker

Since my post yesterday, I’ve received a lot of suggestions on twitter for other graphic novels to check out – so I may be adding to this list, with the help of Marvel Unlimited and Comixology!

Updates

Hour 1: I’m starting with Velvet by Ed Brubaker! I’ve read the first issue already, so I know I am going to love it

Hour 4: I finished and loved Velvet – it was all the James Bond/Black Widow/spy-assassin awesomeness that I expected. Only now I am desperate

Hour 7: So, I took some time off to make cookies (because WHY NOT) and have only gotten a few chapters through Fray. I really like it so far – it’s Buffy… but with flying cars. Oh, and the intro by Jeph Loeb. Wow – that was amazing.

Hour 12: I’ve made it through Fray but don’t think I will manage more today!

Books completed

1. Velvet by Ed Brubake
2. Fray by Joss Wheson

Challenges

Hour 2: Classics words of wisdom (A Literary Odyssey)

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde was one of those books that… transformed me as a teenager. It was witty and dark and subversive – it made me run out and find out everything I could about Oscar Wilde. He was a man unfortunately born in the wrong era, yet he managed so much in spite of that. This quote from Dorian Gray makes me think about the author, his life, my own life – and how little we know about the people we know. Secrets, my friends.

Hour 3: Four seasons (Bart’s Bookshelf)

My 4 seasons of #readathon! (Fire seemed like the most apt description of summer ) #minichallenge4s A photo posted by Kay (@darlinbooksnpins) on Apr 25, 2015 at 7:38am PDT

Hour 7: Treasure Hunt

From left to right: a whole bunch of trees, a scary ax and snow!

The post Kapow! Comic Book Readathon time! first appeared on Darling Books.

That’s right – once again, Dewey’s Readathon is coming up! In fact, it starts tomorrow – so sign up and clear your schedule quick, as there is still time to participate!

Anyhow, since this is my fifth (or sixth?) Readathon, I wanted to do something a little bit different. Which, given my new obsession with graphic novels, obviously meant… doing a Comic Book Readathon! The above are but a small selection of the books I have, but I thought they’d be a good place to start.

On my list so far:

• Kill my Mother by Jules Feiffer
• V for Vendetta by Alan Moore
• Batman: the Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller
• Fray by Joss Wheson
• Iron Man Noir by Scott Snyder
• Y: the Last Man by Brian K Vaughn
• Velvet by Ed Brubaker

And, since I am a Marvel Unlimited subscriber, I think I may delve into some more of the Daredevil run by Brian Michael Bendis. I am about 6 graphic novels through the run and it is getting really dark (totally loving it, of course!).

Anyhow, I am really looking forward to doing something different for this readathon. Everyone says you should try to include some graphic novels in the mix… so why not let them take up the whole thing! It’s going to be epic, people.

The post Getting ready for the Readathon… the Comic Book edition! first appeared on Darling Books.