Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Best Books I’ve Read In 2018 (So Far)


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

You only realise how many rereads you've done in a year when you look through your Goodreads to find a list of new reads for the year... anyway. In no particular order:


1. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black: While I prefer the slightly more muted quality that The Darkest Part of the Forest had, I did really enjoy reading this one. Holly Black is really playing with dubiously likable characters and I really liked the political component. I'm so intrigued by what will be happening in the story.

2. Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore: This is such a strong sophomore novel. It's beautiful and very visual and meaningful.

3. Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse: In terms of grit and action this was pretty much my favourite this year. Maggie is a really fantastic lead character. 

4. Smoke and Iron by Rachel Caine: This has become one of my favourite series. It does an admirable job of creating a vivid cast and compelling plot, and does an admirable job of juggling these things in a really interesting world.

5. The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers: Soft sci-fi!


6. Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Tayor: I'm just going to list this as one because I whipped through these books back-to-back. I listened to the audiobooks and found that was super helpful for me, as someone who had struggled to get through the series before. (I had read Daughter of Smoke and Bone quite a long time ago but, while I found the writing beautiful, the series didn't pull me along like I needed it to. Audiobooks were really helpful on that front because I could listen to them while doing other things as well and I found that worked really well for me. I could appreciate the story without feeling like I was stuck anywhere.)

7. Shades of Milk and Honey series by Mary Robinette Kowal: I did get through the first two books in the series a while ago but I finally sat down and read the rest of the book. It was really interesting how the magic was interwoven with the regency world.

8. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid: This one still kind of sticks with me as a book which... I can't figure out if I exactly liked it, but I definitely admire how it was crafted.

9. Bygone Badass Broads by Mackenzi Lee: This is an excellently illustrated and wonderfully informative book that started off as Mackenzi Lee's tweets.

10. The Goblins of Bellwater by Molly Ringle: Admittedly I wasn't crazy about everything in this book but I did like the concept and also am kind of nostalgic because this was my first review back.

37 comments :

  1. I have Shades of Milk and Honey on my shelf, but so far haven't picked it up. It sure looks and sounds interesting though! :)

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    1. It is interesting! I'm really excited for Marie Robinette Kowal's new book The Calculating Stars too.

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  2. Looks like you've had a fab reading year so far! :-) My TTT

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  3. I love the cover of GOBLINS OF BELLWATER-- it's on my TBR because of that, but good to know you loved it!!

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    1. Confession: the cover was the main reason I picked up the book, initially. I liked the sound of the book too but like. That cover.

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  4. I haven't read any of those books yet, but I would like to read The Cruel Prince (especially since it looks like it is going to be a favorite for quite a few people). I read Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor last month and I really liked it.

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    1. Strange the Dreamer is really lovely! I'm really looking forward to Muse of Nightmares, I really like the world and Laini Taylor has a really beautiful writing style.

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  5. I really want to read Bygone Badass Broads! I read Daughter of Smoke and Bone last year and enjoyed it, I'll be reading the sequel soon. I also desperately need to catch up with The Great Library series, I haven't even read the third book yet!
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/10/top-ten-tuesday-167/

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    1. Ooh you're in for a treat with the next two The Great Library books! I hope you're able to read them soon.

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  6. I'm thinking about picking up Smoke and Iron as I really like Rachel Caine. Great list!

    This is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!

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    1. Well... maybe don't pick that one up until you've picked up the rest of the books in the series! (It starts with Ink and Bone.)

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    2. Ah, good call. Hahaha. I do try and always check Goodreads before buying anything. I'm notorious for picking up book 3. :)

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    3. I've definitely done that a few times myself! Sometimes it works out fine but sometimes it's very confusing (and spoiler-y).

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  7. I loveeed Ink and Bone - I'm so excited to read the rest of the series! *_*

    My TTT post!

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    1. You're in for a treat, the series just gets better as it goes on. I've barely finished the Smoke and Iron, and I'm already eagerly anticipating the final book!

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  8. I really enjoyed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but I never went back and finished the series. I might try your route and listen to the audiobooks instead! <3

    L @ Do You Dog-ear?

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    1. The audiobooks are really good, and they were a pretty great way for me to get into a story that I was struggling with in the paper copies. If you do finish the series, I'd love to hear what you think!

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    2. I'll be sure to let you know!

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  9. Lovely list! I still need to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I feel like I've owned the book for so long and have no idea why I have yet to start it. Adore Wild Beauty and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

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    1. Sometimes you've just got to wait for the right time to pick up a book... Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a really good read (and an even better audiobook experience, I think). Laini Taylor has a beautiful writing style and a tallent for creating strange, magical worlds. If you do wind up reading it, I'd love to hear what you think!

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  10. I’m glad you liked Daughter of Smoke and Bone because that book is sitting on my TBR shelf right now. Cruel Prince seems to be on everybody’s list. I guess I should read that one!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. Wow, so many comments about having Daughter of Smoke and Bone on the TBR list this week... I'm half tempted (okay, full tempted) to do some sort of group-read thing.

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  11. Yes, I'm so happy to see Wild Beauty on your list. I love that one so much. Trial of Lightning sounds fantastic. I just checked to see if my library had it because I'm going to request it soon. Great picks and I hope you have many more amazing reads this year!

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    1. I hope you like Trail of Lightning when you get the chance to read it, I think it's a really good book from an important perspective! (And also has a pretty awesome heroine. Just saying.)

      I'd love to hear what you think when you do read it!

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  12. Oh, I LOVE the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. I really hope to finally read Strange the Dreamer soon. I have Mackenzi Lee's book and want to read it soon - it sounds so fascinating.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. Strange the Dreamer is really lovely! (I especially liked the first 200 pages but the whole book is beautifully written and has such interesting characters.) I'd love to hear your thoughts on Badass Bygone Broads when you get to it!

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  13. Ooh, glad to see The Cruel Prince is on your list! It's sitting on my shelf right now begging to be read, haha

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    1. I hope you enjoy it when you get a chance to read it! It's a really interesting story.

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  14. I'm reading Smoke and Iron right now! This series is one my absolute favorites! :)

    Lauren @ Always Me

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    1. I feel like it grows on me more with every book and I am SERIOUSLY anticipating the finale. (And stressing about because. Talk about high stakes.)

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  15. The Cruel Prince made my list too. I look forward to reading more of her books.

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    1. It was on so many lists! I'd love to reread it but a friend has my copy right now... so I'll just sit here, anticipating The Wicked King. Have you read The Darkest Part of the Forest or Tales of Modern Faerie?

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  16. The Cruel Prince is definitely one of my ALL TIME favourites now too. It's just so exceptionally written?!❤️ And everyone is nearly awful, but also so intriguing and I love all the Slytherin scheming happening ahhh!! I also adore Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Long Way To A Small Angry Planet and Wild Beauty! I didn't read them this year, but they're still total favourites. 😍 Also wasn't Smoke & Iron just perfect?!? Way to rIP oUT MY HEART WITH THAT ENDING THOUGH. I'm still shook.

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    1. The Cruel Prince is a pretty amazing. Just about everyone is just about terrible and I'm going to be a tiny bit disappointed if we don't get an exchange somewhere in the Wicked King where they just sit back and go "wow so we're kind of the worst, huh?" "yep." because I live for humour. I AM CRAZY ABOUT ALL BOOKS INVOLVING FANTASY POLITICS (um. Except A Song of Ice and Fire. I never did manage to get into those...)

      Smoke & Iron is a gem and I am equal parts excited and fearful about the finale. The ending I SHRIEK.

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  17. I really want to read Wild Beauty, I'm so glad you enjoyed it so much! It sounds like a beautiful book <3 I started the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series and enjoyed it, I think I might have to continue on with it then :D
    Lovely list! Happy reading :D

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    1. Wild Beauty is lovely! I hope you get a chance to pick it up soon, because it's a great reading experience.

      So many comments about wanting to finish the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series this week... for some reason I just assumed that everyone but me had read the series already. (It would be a cool book to do a read-along for, although I'm not sure if I know exactly how to coordinate one of those... hmm...)

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