So far I’ve read 119 books this year.
This is because a) I’m a ferociously avid reader, and b) I have no life whatsoever, and c) occasionally I have my dog read aloud to me to help me speed through the gargantuan TBR. He’s not very good at this, of course, just like he’s hopeless at making me sandwiches. GOOD HELP IS HARD TO FIND SHEESH. That all aside, I’ve read a fair few 2016 releases that I’m quite fond of. Naturally I’ll smack you in the face with them.
Isn’t this going to be fun?!
Although I have to confess that I have a “best-of-2016” shelf on Goodreads…AND IT ONLY HAS 9 BOOKS ON IT. Am I getting pickier in my anciently old age? Yes, yes I am. #tragedy I also feel like 2016 hasn’t been particularly impressive? 50% of the books I’ve read have been 2016-releases…AND YET HERE I AM. SQUINTING SHIFTILY AND ASKING 2016 TO DO BETTER.
Today’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is “Top Ten Favourite 2016 Releases So Far This Year“ and I’m going to be GOOD for once (small miracle; you may applaud) and only do 10. Unlike last week. #NotEvenSorry
1. THE RAVEN KING
SO UM OF COURSE THE RAVEN KING IS ON HERE. I AM THE MOST WILD OF MAGGIE STIEFVATER FANS TO EVER STUMBLE BLINDLY AFTER BEING STABBED WITH FEELS UPON THIS EARTH. In fact, #hipstermoment, I was a rabid Stiefvaterfan before half the internet was. This makes my bond special. I cannot live without Stiefvater-books or I will combust.
Anyway. The Raven King is the fourth and finale book in the cycle and I LOVED IT. (Obviously. Let’s just establish that I love everything she writes.) It wasn’t what I expected??? But it still was everything to me and ‘scuse me I NEED A MOMENT TO SHRIEK.
Also if you have not read a Raven book yet — PLEASE RE-EVALUATE YOUR LIFE CHOICES. Your queen decrees it.
2. HALF LOST
I say this occasionally (aka, every second post) that Half Lost (the final Half Bad book) has a controversial ending. I also occasionally say: I FREAKING LOVED THAT BOOK. I like books that absolutely mess with my feels, give me bookhangovers, have me weeping in the streets, and reduce me to a dribbling puddle in the corner. I am Vulcan okay, peoples?! IF SOMETHING MAKES ME FEEL, I SAY IT’S BRILLIANT.
3. THE WINNER’S KISS
It took Arin and Kestrel basically three books and 900 combined pages over the trilogy to GET THEIR BRAINS FUNCTIONING. Yet they are one of my most favourite ships. I particularly loved the finale for this series because of so so many reasons, and I shall list them for you:
- Kestrel nearly died
- Arin nearly died
- Everyone nearly died dangit except for those who did actually die but I SPILL NO SPOILERS
- Roshar named his tiger Arin and proceeded to tell everyone tiger-Arin was better than human-Arin
- I like Roshar
- I like tiger-Arin
- There was so much stabby stabbings
- Good times for everyone, to be honest
- (EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO DIED; I THINK THEY WERE A BIT PUT OUT)
4. A GATHERING OF SHADOWS
Ugh, VE Schwab. Ugh.
Why am I saying “ugh” in the same sentence as one of my new favourite authors? BECAUSE I RATE ALL HER BOOKS 5-STARS AND THEY KILL ME EACH TIME. All these emotions — it’s unhealthy. I think I’m coming down with an acute case of humanity and we can’t have that. I must maliciously eat a planet to cure myself.
That aside, AGOS was amazing (although book 1 was better, but just by a smidge) and I officially love Kell and his moodiness and slightly violent but polite tendencies. I mean, I loved him from page 1 in the first book. But I’m confirming it here.
Also the cliffhanger WAS SO CRUEL. I AM IN ALL THE PAIN.
10/10 would suffer like this again.
5. THE IMPOSTOR QUEEN
2016 has been very slack with producing wonderful Epic Fantasies. (Or else I’m just fussy because I’ve read some dashingly good adult ones and YA needs to raise its standards.) BUT ANYWAY. The Impostor Queen was flawlessly amazing. It’s like a violently vicious version of Disney’s Frozen. THAT SOUNDS AWESOME, AND YOU KNOW IT.
Also! I’m particularly pleased with this because I read Of Metal and Wishes by Sarah Fine last year and thought it was decidedly BLEH. (I’m very eloquent. I know I know.) Yet The Impostor Queen is 5-stars??? And all the love???? Definite proof authors need second chances.
6. RUINED
Oh oh another Epic Fantasy that managed to please me! Why? HIGH LEVELS OF SARCASM + CHEESE BUNS + HATE-TO-LOVE ROMANCE + STABBY STABBINGS = THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING. Read it for the sarcasm! Embrace the sarcasm!
And also there are people who have magical powers and can pull your spine out through your nose so #GoodTimes
7. THIS SAVAGE SONG
See what I mean? UGH V.E. SCHWAB. MY FEEEEEELS.
This is a book about monsters. I love monsters. I adore monsters. Particularly cute polite monsters who suffer from sensory overload, play the violin, and also eat your soul. So delightful!
8. THE LOST AND FOUND
This is such a precious book about internet friendships and anxiety. IT’S SO STINKIN’ CUTE AND RELATABLE. I definitely recommend it for people (aka all of us) who value internet friendships. I mean, sure the person behind the screen could be a manic psychopath who keeps pet axes and bathes in the blood of virgins. BUT MORE OFTEN = internet people are super nice.
I am super nice, for instance. You obviously just have to trust me on this because a) you never see my face, and b) I often claim to be an evil overlord. BUT TRUST IS GOOD, HAVE TRUST.
Anyway. It is also an A+ representation of anxiety. Also. The author tweeted that my review made her bad day much better — SEE HOW NICE AND WONDERFUL I AM???? Muchly so.
9. THE SMELL OF OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES
I loved this book a lot, despite the title being total lies. No one goes around sniffing houses. I honestly envisioned a group of teenagers dashing across Alaska, busting through doors, and SNIFFING all the things. They did not.
But the writing is so beautiful and sensory (which is where the sniffing truly comes in: you can totally smell and taste the world because the writing is that fabulous) I WANTED TO DEVOUR IT AT DAWN. And I assure you that I did sniff it. Because obviously.
10. LADY MIDNIGHT
Do I love Cassandra Clare? JUST A LITTLE BIT. I only own a mild conglomeration of her books and they are all beautiful and I love everything. Plus Lady Midnight absolutely astounded me by mixing ALL OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS…aka murder, tragic boys, and intense sass. Such a good combination. All books should be this way.
Now I don’t mean to tell you how to live (#lies, I totally do) but THESE ARE EXCELLENT BOOKS AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM.
I did notice that A) none of these are debuts, and B) many of them are series finales. But these are the books that have stabbed my feels and totally owned me. I just want to extend the feels stabbing kindness to you. And let’s hope the rest of 2016 ups its game and BRINGS FORTH EXCELLENT PAPERY TORTURES FOR US TO CRY OVER AND LOVE.
I agree one hundred percent that Winner’s Kiss was one of the best books this year. It only punched me a billion times in the feels, and the series is now one of my all time favourites. And yes books are AMAZING when they make you suffer! Not sure why, but maybe it’s because I love ranting about how much pain ithey put me in… 😀
So many of these are on my TBR! Now I just need to wait for them to come to my local bookstores very quickly (international shipping takes forevvveeerrrr). Thanks for all the great recomandations! XD
AHHH IT IS ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVOURITE SERIES TOO. *ships Arin and Kestrel aggressively* They are adorable and delude and omg I cannot get enough of that gorgeous world-building or the amazingness of the story. <33 Ahem. NEEDLESS TO SAY: yes I love books that make me suffer.😂
THE SMELL OF OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES IS MY FAVORITE BOOK SO FAR THIS YEAR! The Serpent King is a close second, but I haven’t read A Gathering Of Shadows, or the last three Raven Cycle books yet. Come on summer vacation! 😀
I’m so so glad it was that epic! AHHHHHHH. I can’t love it and it’s gorgeous writing enough. <3 And YAY for summer! I hope you get through all the Raven books and then can flail with me. *FLAILS WILDLY WHILE WaITS*
BUT WHERE ARE ALL THE CONTEMPORARIES, CAIT? HUH?
On the plus side these are excellent books. Totally agree with Lady Midnight. Also I so need to get around to reading AGOS. It’s just staring me down from my TBR…
EXCUSE YOU, EMILY. The Smell of Other People’s Houses is a contemporary!! But omg I have a sad lack of them, don’t I?😂 It’s not very very obvious that I have a fantasy obsession I don’t think….ahem.
AGOS WILL RIP YOUR HEART OUT. Definitely read it ASAP.
Haha, we share some of the same favourites, but like come on Runied, Lady Midnight and The Winner’s Kiss were pretty much amazing – enough said.
Thanks for the post lovely.
WE HAVE EPIC TASTE CLEARLY.
It turns out that I read only a handful of 2016-releases up to now. o_O I don’t even know how that could happen…#shameonme That means I don’t have a top 10- but a top 5-list of 2016-releases. ^-^’
1) A Court of Mist and Fury because omg, this one was AMAZING! Way, way better than ACoTaR and with a mean cliffhanger at the end. I want to read the next book NOW and not in May 2017….and, at the same time, I don’t want to because it will be the final one. Why has this series to be only a triology?! I want mooore. (You might have noticed that I’m quite the rabid fangirl when it comes to Feyre & Co.)
2) I Hate Fairyland Vol. 1. This was just…crazy. And hilarious. And cute and savage at the same time. Since I love trashy horror films this one was right up my alley.^-^
3) The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman. I just love everything that woman writes -no matter if it’s about dragons or if it’s set at the beginning of the 19th century in England -a topic I normally loathe (thanks to my history lessons. After two years, most topics get a bit boring.)
4) Adulthood Is a Myth. Because Sarah Andersen is a goddess.
5) The Score by Elle Kennedy. (Most of) her books always leave me laughing until someone in my family asks if I could be a bit quiter? It’s 3 am. Thank you very much. And since you’re still awake -why are you still awake?! *waves with book* …Aha, since you’re still awake please look after the cat.
I also have to admit that I didn’t read any books on your list. #shameonme (again) EVEN THOUGH AGoS is waiting idly on my shelf to be read. My priorities seem to be a bit out of order…
Since I’m a mood-reader I have to be in the mood (duh) for feels-crushing books. But when I am I love them! It can only be hard if you’re not in the mood (right now I want to read mostly fluff) and if you don’t expect your feels to be crushed and get blindsided. But otherwise: yes please! ;P
I actually thought I hadn’t read a lot of 2016 releases either…but then I checked my stats on my spreadsheet and OMG LIKE 53% OF MY BOOKS HAVE BEEN 2016 RELEASES GO ME.😂 I’m still a bit underwhelmed though and want mooooore better ones. hehe.
I loved Adulthood is a Myth too! IT WAS SO FREAKISHLY RELATABLE. I was basically cracking up over ever comic and nodding enthusiastically.😂
YOU MUST READ AGOS. IT WILL BREAK YOUR HEART AND THEN WE CAN CRY TOGETHER. (Although I do totally understand about needing to be in the mood for the feels crushers *nods* ME TOO. Sometimes I procrastinate books I know will stab me because I’m not emotionally prepared.😂)
I have the feeling that the good ones are yet to come. I’m really excited for Saga Vol.6, And I Darken *insert internal creaming*, Monstress Vol. 1, The Midnight Star, Heartless, Spindle… So hopefully the second half of the year (omg, 2016 is already 50% over o_O) will be AWESOME for all of us! 😉
I could quote one of Sarah Andersen’s comic strips every day because they are so painfully accurate. ^-^’
Moreover, it’s important to procrastinate reading a book until you have at least some ice cream or cake at home. XD
And now I want to start AGoS immediately! Although I’m currently reading a ton of other books…and should be writing my application, like, yesterday. I need to invent something so I don’t need to ever sleep again. Or they should add 20 hours to a day (Please, that would be very helpful and appreciated!)
AH HALF LOST I STILL HAVEN’T RECOVERED FROM THAT ENDING. MY HEART. I’M GOING TO START CRYING AGAIN.
ALSO, I really want to read Ruined and The Lost & Found (which I’ve never heard of before?? HOW??) WHICH SOUND ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
YEP NEVER GONNA RECOVER EITHER. BUT SO HAPPY TO HAVE MY HEART MURDERED BY SALLY GREEN. <3 Ahem. And omg yes YES I feel like The Lost & Found is going to be entirely underrated but everyone needs to read it. IMMEDIATELY.
Ok, so I am going to casually take a step back from you to tell you that I haven’t read any of these books … None *ducks head* I have yet to lose my Clare, Schwab and Raven V card… I know. I am severely lacking in life! I also need to finish the series and read The Winners Kiss!! *sigh*
AH I will FORGIVE YOU GRANDLY, LAUREN. *nods* But omg you must must try a Schwab book someday. :’) And The Winner’s Kiss is a perfect conclusion! I’M SO HAPPY WITH IT.
Hopefully I will get one soon!! And I have to get to the winners kiss – I need to know!
Reading this.. I realize how many books I still have to read. I’VE ONLY READ LADY MIDNIGHT *hides in shame* *starts adding all those books to my tbr*
I’ll be done reading all of them when I’m 80.
That is me reading everyone else’s lists hahah DON’T WORRY. omg I feel perpetually behind on all the books.😂 I’ll catch up on them all…never.
I take a quick break from preparing stuff for school and WHAT DO I GET? A NEW BLOG POST FROM CAIT. My timing is wonderful 😂
This year has been sooo bad for me. I read like… 7 books? I started around 15 but only ended up finishing 7. Right now I’m reading Les Miserables after getting a copy for 10% off because it was worn, and I’m ENJOYING IT?!? I know!!! I tried reading To Kill a Mockingbird last year and failed so I thought I’d never read a classic again, but I’m reading Les Mis and I LOVE it! <3
Ah so maybe by the end of this year I'll read around 10 books *weeps* but I guess that's an achievement if the Les Miserables tome is added to the pile. 😝
AND I'M CHEERING YOU ON I WON'T EVEN BLINK IF YOU READ 200 BOOKS THIS YEAR BECAUSE YOU ARE CAIT.
YOU’RE WELCOME, ANDREA. THIS POST IS JUST FOR YOU TO FORCE MORE BOOKS ON YOUR HEAD. #sokind
Omg Les Miserables is like HUGE. That should be counted as like 5 books, right?!?😂 TKAM is amazing. <3 I want to re-read it someday soon (and then read the feared sequel...prequel? WHATEVER IT IS. I'm scared of it but I want to try it!)
I PLAN TO READ 200 BOOKS THIS YEAR ACTUALLY. hehe.
Hi Cait,
I can agree on most of your books (though I haven’t read the Raven King yet, I am in the possession of the book since long but I somehow believe that if I don’t read it the series will never end ;-))). However, I have to disagree on the Winners Kiss. It was sooooo sappy – romantic, shaped by the childish behaviors of Arin and Kestrel…. I could not finish it, It’s simply so far-fetched and not creative … sorry but I really did not like it at all. Choosing from your selection my favorite ones would be AGOS and Lady Midnight!
Cheers from Germany
Kati
AHH I HOPE YOU READ THE RAVEN KING SOON!! *shrieks and flails happily* It is beyond beautiful. IT STEALS MY HEART. <33 Aw, I'm sad you didn't like The Winner's Kiss. 🙁 I thought it was perfect.
Songkeeper and Defy have been my two favorite books published this year. Well, quite frankly they’ve been the two main books I’ve looked forward to. But I loved them, especially Songkeeper. And, this fall, A Time To Rise comes out! Eagerly looking forward to that. 😉
Ooh, I’m glad you’ve read some epic ones! Is that Defy by Sarah Larson? I read that one a few years back! 😀
No, it is by Tricia Mingerink, the third book in The Blades of Acktar series. They are Christian fantasy…not my absolute favorite books, but I did enjoy them quite a bit, especially the last one.
First: 119?!?!?!?! WOW!!! I’ve only read 64! That is amazing! But hopefully this summer I’ll read more and be able to get to over 100 by the end of the year. #raremisguidedoptimism lol.
ALSO I AM COMING TO AUSTRALIA RIGHT NOW! I can read aloud to you are make you cake and sandwiches while you write your book and plan world domination and in return I’ll get to read all your beautiful books that are arranged by color and also eat some of the cake because books without cake are not the same!
Thanks for the recommendations; I HAVE to read all of these! Also, what do you think of the Anna and the French Kiss series and the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series?
Have a great daaaaay!!! <3 🙂
YOU CAN DO IT, ENGI!! *sprinkles cake crumbs of encouragement in your hair* And you’re offering to be my house slave? HOW VERY KIND. :’) SOUNDS DELIGHTFUL. Especially since my dog is SO SLACK in the food preparation department omg.
I have read the Anna and the French Kiss series! I LOVED the first two books and didn’t like the last.😂 #mybad And I haven’t read To All The Boys yet…but it’s on my TBR. ;D
I have yet to get to The Winner’s Kiss, ADSOM, and Half Bad trilogy! I am so bad at catching up on series!
P.S.: Btw, I love your post! Brilliant photography! Do you have an instagram account too?
YESSSS YOU MUST READ THESE GLORIOUS ONES! But don’t worry; I’m pretty awful at finish series mostly too.😂
And yes! I’m on instagram at @paperfury. ;D
I’ve only read 2 2016 releases this year because I’m trying to read the books I already own instead of getting new ones, but I want to read some of the books on your list so bad. I’m especially excited about A Gathering of Shadows. I need that book in my life.
Reading books you own instead of new ones?! GENIUS. I need to do that.😂 Although to be fair, half the time my TBR grows completely without permission and IT’S NOT MY FaULT. *drowns in books* 😂
None of the 2016 releases have called my name so far. I’ve been mostly in classics and Brandon Sanderson reading moods this year. That reminds me, Bands of Mourning came out this year and I loved it. Ok, so I do have one hahah 😀 I read The Raven Boys last month. Please don’t be mad but I didn’t really like it. Her writing style is putting me off though I might still try the second book in the series if you insist (i know you will haha 😀 ) Happy reading Cait!
Ahhh I need to read more Brandon Sanderson!! Firefight has been my most FAVOURITE book of this year, but I couldn’t put it on this list because 2015 release. *Cries*
Actually I totally don’t recommend continuing with the Raven Cycle if you didn’t like the first book. That’s really her style, so if it doesn’t work for you, then it’s better to read something you’ll like, right?
Hmmm, I guess you’re right then. I’ll read some more Sanderson instead 😀
Ahhh I haven’t read ANY of these books yet. I feel like I haven’t been reading as many new releases as I did last year. I’ve only read 11 so far in 2016 😮
I think I caculated that half of my reads of this year have been 2016 releases?! WHICH IS PRETTY INTENSE FOR ME.😂 Usually I’m a thousand years behind, heheeh. But yeah, they haven’t wowed me much, which is sadness.
I recently bought Ruined based on your recommendation! I hope I love it as much as you did!
ZOMG THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY. *flails* I do hope you like it! If you need someone to flail with…I AM HERE. :’)
YAY for including The Smell of Other People’s Houses here – that cover (the UK cover?) is beautiful too, but I prefer the US one because IT IS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL!
Also, A+ for using that Arrested Development gif (I just have a lot of Arrested Development feels ALL THE TIME, so I get excited about anything related to it….)
I prefer the US cover for The Smell of Other People’s Houses too😂 (Shhhh don’t tell my country!!) This one’s cute? But the US one is GORGEOUS. AHEM BUT ANYWAY. IT IS SUCH A GOOD BOOK. AHHHHH.
Ummm… I may not have read any Maggie Stiefvater books “ducks* but intend to from all your glorious praises and reviews. Thumbs up, a bit? Anyway, moving on from that reveal, I love some sarcasm in my books so adding ruined to my TBR (also I am in dire need of so epic fantasies). YESSS I loved Lady Midnight – one of my most anticipating reads this year 😀 I came into the book saying to myself, this time I’m going to figure everything out before it gets revealed, I mean I’ve read so much Cassandra Clare, I know how she writes. Was pleasantly wrong – I fell for everything… once again “sighs*. Another beautiful list Cait!!
ZOMG I HOPE YOU TRY A STIEFVATER BOOK SOMEDAY THEN. *nods* And Ruined will be 100% glorious to you if you love sarcasm. I haven’t read an epic fantasy with this much levels of sarcasm in forever.😂 It’s so gooooooood. LADY MIDNIGHT MIGHT BE MY FAVOURITE SHADOWHUNTER BOOK!! *shrieks* I mean, I can’t really pick, I love too many. Buuut, Mark. <3
Can I borrow your dog? I think it’d be very nice to have your dog read to me so that I can increase the number of books I can read in a day. And my cats just look at me and blink when I ask them to read to me. 😉 I, too, am a hugely fanatical fan of Stiefvater. Just thought you’d like to know that. You’ve added a few books to my tbr with this post. I thought you might like to know that as well. 😀
NO MY DOG. Actually currently I’m freezing my fingers off because it’s winter and he is an EXCELLENT hot water bottle. So even though he fails in bringing me delicious sandwiches, at least he is a heating device. <3 Cats are very fickle. DOGS ARE BETTER. *SHRIEKS* Ahem.
ahhhhh I'm so so so glad you like Stiefvater too! *sprinkles cupcakes in your hair*
Hm… Why am I not surprised to see The Raven King on this list? 😉 I need to get around to that series, especially as I currently live in Wales – in fact there’s a pub called the Owain Glyndŵr just down the road from where I work. I have to be honest, though, it kind of annoys me that he’s known as Owen Glendower. 😐 I get that it’s a little easier to say but it’s not his name, you know?
I haven’t read any of these, but I’m glad to hear you enjoyed them and well done on managing to read so much! 2016 has been a pretty rubbish reading year for me so far, so I can relate: I haven’t been wowed by much either. I do think the second half of 2016 looks like it’s going to be much more interesting though!
OMG DANGIT. I THOUGHT I WAS BEING SUBTLE WITH MY STIEFVATER OBSESSION.😂 Well, I mean, I think it makes sense to write the name in the simplified version. I don’t think she was being disrespectful, I think she was just making it more approachable. I find Welsh names really terrifying. (Sorry!)
Ugh, yes, let us hope the rest of 2016 showers us with ALL THE WONDERFUL BOOKS OF EVER BECAUSE WE NEED THEM.
I haven’t read any of there books, because I just realize that I don’t read many 2016 release up until this point xD But I do agree, those new release just lacking in something, barely any of them meet my expectations. I just wish the 2nd half release would be better though!
YES. Let’s hope the 2nd half of 2016 pulls its socks up and gets cracking on feels stabbing and epicness *nods* I think 2017 will be amazing. :’) I have a feeeeeling.
*FLAILS* I must read allllllll of these books. *whispers* I don’t think I’ve read any 2016 releases yet this year. I’ve been catching up on all the awesome from years past that is Percy Jackson and The Raven Cycle. WHY AM I SO LATE TO ALL OF THE AWESOME BOOK PARTAYS?! Okay, but for reals, I’m always like three years behind the rest of the world. It must be because everything I read during my childhood was like fifty years old. At least. Also, school takes up half of my life, but shhh we don’t want to talk about that during vacation… YES!!! If a book makes me suffer intensely, it immediately gets all the stars. Unless it makes me die of boredom, and then I’m very angry. Speaking of suffering, your wattpad book made me suffer intensely, therefore it gets ALL THE STARS!!!
*FLAILS* YES YOU MUST. But omg I hear ya with being late to series. 0_0 Most of my reads this year have been 2016 ones, but like the rest have been…2013?!?? I’m still trying to catch up from back then.😂 AND SAME. My childhood was like classics and I didn’t start reading YA until like 4 years ago? I am so behind. SO BEHIND. *tries to stuff all the books in mouth immediately*
Awwwwwww. *blushes* THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY. THANK YOU FOR READING MY STORY!!
I have to admit I never considered reading The Winner’s Curse trilogy but you may have put me over the edge with tigers and stabbing. Of course, not stabbing tigers – totally uncool and anyone who considers it should be, well…stabbed! I have heard good things about it in the past but not enough details to put it on my radar until now. Great pics and as always, wonderful commentary.
Stabbing tigers would be VERY uncool, but stabbing people is totally okay. *nods* I CONCUR HERE. (And it’s got tons of political intrigue and plot twists and manipulating and mind games. <3333 IT's SO SO GOOD.)
MAGGIE STIEFVATER IS QUEEEEEN!
*ahem ahem*
Yes, so umm… I’ve not read any of them… (Cries in the corner cause I’m still waiting for my parents to lift mybook ban because then I can finally own the whole series instead of just borrowing it and reading it).
DO I LOVE BOOKS THAT DRAIN MY EMOTIONS!?!? HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHA YES.
Sadly however I’ve not read any fantabulous books so far. Why?! I don’t know!! Maybe cause I’ve only read 35 books so far! *initiate crying session 9.8*
Just before I leave… I wuv yu…
YES SHE IS. ABSOLUTELY AND ENTIRELY. OMG AND I SHALL READ EVERYTHING SHE EVER WRITES AND PROBABLY SCREAM. Because reasons. *nods*
And books that drain emotions are GLORIOUS but TIRING. Still no downside to them though. :’) 35 books is still awesome! C’MON. Statistics say the average person reads less than 6. 😉
I haven’t read enough of these at all! I really need to start the Winner’s Curse soon I think. I do completely agree about a Gathering of Shadows – I am dying to see where book 3 goes!
A Conjuring of Light is basically the #1 book I want right now. I mean, I have an enormous TBR but noooo I WANT THE BOOK THAT DOESN’T COME OUT FOR LIKE ANOTHER SIX MONTHS. *cries*
I was very let down by Lady Midnight in the end. I was really expected to love it, and I genuinely shocked when I didn’t. ALSO I STILL HAVEN’T READ THE RAVEN KING? (I don’t know. I met Maggie in March, and she promised me lots of Ronan in the fourth book. Ever since I’ve just had an insane fear that he’ll die, so I haven’t read it.) I KNOW IT’S HORRIBLE. And I will def have to check out The Imposter Queen! It sounds so interesting, and I haven’t heard much about it!
-Monica @ Tomes Project
ZOMG I REALLY HOPE YOU LIKE THE RAVEN KING!! GO REEEEAD IT MONICA, IT CALLS TO YOU. And it’s painful but not in a bad way, in a good way! 😉 THE IMPOSTOR QUEEN IS ENTIRELY UNDERRATED!!! It needs aaaall the love omg.
oooooh, I really really wanna read Ruined by Amy Tintera!! I’ve heard nothing but good things about it, but since you had to choose 10 out of 119 books and RUINED made the top ten of this year, I deffo gotta read it now! awesome list – Lady Midnight and The Raven King made mine 🙂
YOU MUST TRY IT, LILLIE!! It is most fantastic. :’) And yesss…it was the sarcasm that completely got me AHHH I LOVE SARCASM and epic fantasy needs more of it. And omg we have epic taste in The Raven King and Lady Midnight clearly *hi fives*
I finally got my own copy of Lady Midnight, and I promptly reread it. Boy, did it tug at my heartstrings—but it also made me laugh so much? Those kinds of books are my favorite, but they also confuse me. I suppose it makes them similar to real life then. I can’t wait to read the other books you talked about. They all sound fantastic, especially The Raven King. You know, you actually got me into the Raven Cycle. I’m so glad you did. Maggie Stiefvater has magical writing skills.
YES! I totally agree!! I was laughing my head off for Lady Midnight (witty banter = THE BEST) but it also had such feels-punching moments. Especially that ending omg. MY HEART IS BROKEN. STUPID EMMA AND JULIAN AND MARK. (But I do love them. <333) AHHHHHH I GOT YOU INTO THE RAVEN CYCLE?!? OMG MY DAY HAS BEEN MADE. MY WORK HERE IS DONE. *flails forever*
I feel like 2016 has been a great year…probably because I am the most un-picky reader to grace the face of the planet. Sometimes I get really worried that I hand out 5-stars to much. Every other book I read gets a 5 stars. DOES THIS MEAN I HAVE NO STANDARDS? OR THAT I’M TO EASILY PLEASED?? ARGHH.
Anyways, I think my favorites were Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard, Truthwitch by Susan Dennard, The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You by Lily Anderson, Salt To The Sea by Ruta Sepetys, The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater, The Trials of Apollo bk 1 by Rick Riordan, The Crown by Kiera Cass, Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare, The Only Pirate At The Party by Lindsey Stirling, And Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong(which I haven’t finished yet, but it’s soooo amazing and yeah)
Books are definitely better when they make you suffer, becase then you have more of an emotional connection to the story, and you remember it, even when you forgot all those others books that didn’t make you suffer.
Oh oh don’t worry about giving out tons of 5-stars! It’s MUCH better to be a lover than a hater, amirite?!😂 omg I need to read Trials of Apollo. BUT I NEEDED TO READ IT LIKE YESTERDAY. *wails at size of mammoth TBR* Wait is that the Lindsey Stirling who plays music?!? I didn’t know she wrote books hehe.
And yes yes to the suffering. I think those kind of books definitely stick with you for longer too, which is super nice. MURDERED BY BOOKS AND NOT EVEN SAD.
I’m ashamed to say that I’ve yet to read the Raven Cycle. But fear not, I’m already planning to rectify this mistake. Rest assured that I shall be reading it next month.
119! OMG how do you do that? That’s like… 1.45 days for each book. I’ve read about 16 books for the last two months, which puts me at around 3.75. That’s a HUGE gap. Holy hell. No I wonder I see your review on every other book I look up on goodreads haha.
Yayyyy JAMIE!! *flails* This makes me very very happy. You have your life decisions in good order. *nods* (My goal is to read 20 books a month😂…but yes, omg I’m a little bit everywhere on goodreads, right?! I would try to slow down buuuut LIFE IS SHORT. i must read EVERYTHING OR BE IMMORTAL.)
I just added The Smell of Other People’s Houses to my TBR!! It sounds like a REALLY good one! 😀
Great TOP TEN!
IT IS SUPER GOOD. I hope you enjoy it!
I love your post! I love your pictures! Your bookshelves look so good!
I do not know why but this just made me want to stay at home for the rest of my life, never ever go out, surrounded by books and never stop reading!
That being said , I haven’t read any of these. I haven’t read any 2016 release at all.I bought some but they are still in my bookshelves.
My TTT.
Eeep, thankyou! I had such fun with this paricular photo shoot. AND YES THAT SOUNDS LIKE A NICE WAY TO LIVE LIFE. The bookworm hermitage. #goals
OMG Cait! Are you reading one book a day? I am super proud of you. I am so glad you like Schwab. I do too!! I am more of a LIla fan. Cant wait for The Savage song. You read it already!! Makes me even more enthusiatic.
HAHHA OMG NO! I’m only read 20 books a month.😂 I was reading 1 book a day last year and I kind of died a little, so cutting back this year believe it or not. hehe.
OBVIOUSLY, The Raven King made my list too this week. In fact, it was also in the top spot 😀 AGoS made my list too, man that was a lot of awesome! I still need to read Winner’s Curse (which I own), Half Bad (which I own), The Savage Song and Imposter Queen BUT I WILL. I swear ir! Awesome list as usual^^ xxxx
AFJDLAKSD TO SCHWAB AND STIEFVATER. Clearly authors of the S last names are just the best. <3 They mangle feels and write beautiful and I NEED ALL THEIR BOOKS OF EVER.
I mean, there are literally zero surprises here. xD I NEVER EXPECTED THE RAVEN KING TO BE ON THE LIST. SIRIUSLY. Ahem.
And I totally get the UGH V.E. SCHWAB UGH. I mean. UGH. Loving books is so exhausting, honestly.
HAHHHAHAH YES SURPRISE. 😂 I was worried this post was going to be super predictable and then I was like “eh. Life is too short not to flail continuously over my favourite books” so HERE I AM. and omg loving books IS exhausting.
The cliffhanger of A Gathering of Shadows was THE WOOOORST! But I did giggle when I read her Acknowledgements and she was patting herself on the back for it being the first cliffhanger she has ever written, haha! This will be the year I go on a Victoria Schwab binge because now I want to read all of her books. Vicious already came in the mail today.
Also got Ruined on my shelves and want to dive into the Winners Curse series this year as well! And The Lost and Found sounds nice! Adding it to my TBR! That were so many exclamation marks!
AHHAAH Omg VE Schwab knows no kindness really. -_- And I think there was a SORT of cliffhanger for ADSOM anyway?! And there is one in This Savage Song kinda too!! So maybe it was her first massively cruel cliffhanger but OMG IT WAS SUCH A WICKED ONE. #dead I’ve read 3 of Schwab’s books this year and I’m going to read The Archived series next. EEEEEP.
Sooo… I just ordered Half Bad on Amazon! Basically based on your review! 😀 And I’m impatiently waiting for the The Imposter Queen, This Savage Song and The Winner’s Kiss! Well… I could have the last one but the price is a bit too high so I’m waiting for a bit and I hope I get to have it soon enough! Great post Cait!
ZOMGGGGGG. I AM HAPPY. THIS IS A GLORIOUS DAY.!!!! I HOPe YOU lOVE IT. I shall be here to flail wit you when your heart is absolutely smashed. Good times. :’)
Of course books are better if they make you suffer – Goodreads should have a ‘rate your suffering’ section in the review box.
Half Lost was AMAZING. I loved the ending. I mean, it wasn’t the ending that I wanted, obviously, and I’d seen the big spoiler beforehand (by accident!!) and didn’t (couldn’t?) believe it, but WOW. That took guts.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about The Raven King. My opinion will not stop changing. A reread may be in order.
YES. Goodreads needs a lot of improvements tbh because SUFFERING = GOOD TIMES CLEARLY. AJFDSLAdjfkda Half Lost reduced me to a puddle of tears but in such a good way. I think what Sally Green did with the characters was super realistic. It would’ve been unrealistic if everything turned into a happy hunky dory ending anyway.
I don’t think suffering necessarily causes books to be great, but more the moment when you know that there is no coming back from the book and you are forever changed.
True true! I think the ones that make us suffer often stay with us longer too? Which makes them more special. :’)
“Also if you have not read a Raven book yet — PLEASE RE-EVALUATE YOUR LIFE CHOICES. ” -Truer words were never written! And The Impostor Queen sounds amazing! I have to check it out!
Yessss, do try The Impostor Queen! IT IS SO PRETTY AND ALSO ICY AND SCARY. <3
adding several of these to my TBR list solely because you recommended them! 😀
My TTT
does that mean i get extra cake? 🙂
YUP. You definitely get extra cake. 😂
OMG Cait all the gifs in this are amazing (; I’m currently reading The Raven King and GANSEY <3 (Also BLUESEY <3 <3).
MY favourite reads of 2016 so far are Lady Midnight, Winter, and Illuminae, but I suspect TRK and AGOS will join them too once I finish them!(:
AHHHH I’M REALLY GLAD YOU LIKE THEM.😂 I usually try to be reserved with my gifs but I put on a few extra this week because HEY LIFE IS SHORT. Also afjdksalfdj I hope you adore The Raven King. I WANT TO HUG IT FOREVER. Illuminae was amazing too!! I read it last year but ajfkdals I cannot wait for Gemina!
This Savage Song also made my list because I LOVED it so much! I’ve read a fair amount of the books on this list too, like Lady Midnight and The Winner’s Kiss, though I have not read a single book of the Raven Cycle. I plan to binge those this summer though!
Duuuude, YOU MUST TRY A RAVEN CYCLE BOOK ASAP. I swear they are the best things in the existence of ever. *shrieks*
SO MANY good books I still need to read! I have already read The Winner’s Kiss and Lady Midnight though and I LOVED them both so much (Also, yes, tiger Arin was one of the highlights of The Winner’s Kiss!) First up on my TBR list though is the rest of The Raven Boys series (I finally read The Raven Boys, so now on to the other three) and Ruined, because that one just sounds so awesome!
And yes, books are better when they make you suffer! Because it means you are invested and you feel all the emotions and I am all for emotions. If a book has me unfeeling, chances are I don’t like it 🙂
TIGER ARIN WAS AMAZING.😂 And Roshar. Omg they made me laugh so so much. AND AHHHH YOU’RE READING THE RAVEN BOYS I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW. ALL THE CAKE AND SPRINKLES FOR YOU. It will make you suffer. But in the best possible way. :’)
Yup, not surprised to see The Raven King at the top. XD And you’re not the only one who hasn’t been finding amazing books to read this year… I mean, I’ve been enjoying most of the stuff I read, I just haven’t found many BRILLIANT ALL TIME FAVE books. This is slightly unsettling. *shifty eyes*
The Raven Boys just needs to be AT MY LIBRARY sometime when I have time to read… (I’m beginning to be suspicious if there are a lot of Cait followers in my area simply because it’s always out. 😛 …Okay, fiiiine, it’s just a popular series. Still.)
I’m slowwwwly weakening on the Winner’s Curse series… I may have to try them sometime.
I WANT TO READ THE GATHERING OF SHADOWS BOOKSES. “Kell and his moodiness and slightly violent but polite tendencies”? I need to meet this person! o.o He sounds fabulous! (Also I’m very amused by that pic, because it looks like the person on the cover is threatening you with their knives, going “HOLD ME UP IN THE PIC CAIT” and you’re like cowering on the floor and obeying. …Which is of course nonsense because you’re the queen and THEY should be cowering. Still. XD)
*intrigued by Imposter Queen since you keep shrieking about it*
I WANT TO READ RUINED SO BAD!! Okay, so did I tell you I dreamed about this? I dreamed I was INSIDE the story, even though I haven’t read it yet (and so it actually felt more like Six of Crows or like I imagine Game of Crowns might, with like chandeliers and shadows and things), and I kept running into two of my other online friends (Christine and Tracey) and they were a dog and a cat and they kept asking me what I thought of the book but I said I didn’t know because I hadn’t read it yet… even though I was inside it?? ANYWAYS I HAD THIS REALLY WEIRD DREAM AND HAD TO TELL YOU. Your book recommendations make it into my dreamworld, gosh, this is really effective… XD
Um… I’ve only READ 10 books that came out this year… Literally, exactly 10. XD Which is hilarious… So I won’t be doing a whole post, buuut I think I can narrow it down to my three favorites so far. 😀 Paper Crowns by Mirri of course, and then The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson (because Beauty and the Beast/Princess and the Pea retelling) and Blood Ties by Hazel B. West (because modern-day Ireland with alternate history mixing medieval times with modern technology, and with dangerous faes and goblins and stuff AND EPIC MODERN WARRIORS IN LEATHER WITH SWORDS AND FAST CARS A;LKJDLJFK <3).
Awesome post as usual and you keep making me want to read aaaalll the things when you flail about books! HURRAY FOR AWESOME READS!
OF COURSE THE RAVEN KING IS AT THE TOP. I AM SUCH A RABID STIEFVATER FAN IT’S BASICALLY JUST WORLD WIDE KNOWN BY THIS POINT. *nods* Ahem. But omg same same. Like I’ve read tons of GOOD books. But only 9 are on my “best of the year” shelf!?!?? And only 7 of those are released this year. SHAME ON YOU, 2016, DO BETTER FOR ME PLEASE.
Can’t you reserve books at your library? hehe. That’s what I do!😂
HAHAH I never thought about it that way with the AGOS cover.😂 But omg you need Ruined. IT CALLS TO YOU. I’m quite sure it’d be a book you would really like. :’) But omg you dreamed about a book you haven’t read?!? THAT IS INTENSE. I barely ever dream. Or at least I don’t remember them…OH. Except last night I watched the trailer for this book to movie adaption called The Girl With All the Gifts and it’s AMAZING and I loved the book last year…but it’s about zombies. And the trailer is TERRIFYING. So guess who was running from zombies all night? Hmm. (Note to self: don’t watch zombies before bed.😂)
Ooh Blood Ties is intriguing me right now!! I NEED TO FIND THAT ONE CLEARLY. SWORDS AND FAST CARS AHHHHHH.
I can’t believe I haven’t read any of these! But half of them are on my must-read-ASAP list, so I’m pretty much just waiting for them to be at the library. I ended up skipping Top Ten Tuesday this week because almost all of the amazing books I read were published LAST year, and I definitely haven’t read ten amazing 2016 releases yet. My favorites so far are The Unexpected Everything, A Court of Mist and Fury, The Rose & the Dagger, and The Steep & Thorny Way.
A lot of books I wanted to list this week too where published last year.😂 AHH THE TRAGEDY. Oh oh I need to read The Rose and the Dagger yet! I mean, it’s like SUPER high on my TBR I just haven’t had a chance to devour it yet. :’)
The Winner’s Kiss was so flipping good, oh my word. It caused so much pain, which made it even better. I definitely liked Ruined and The Raven King, although they didn’t make my favorites list. And I definitely can’t wait to read The Lost & Found; I hope I enjoy it as much as you did!
AHHH I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE A FAN TOO!! *flails* So many people have told me it was disappointing and I’m like “NOOO IT WAS GLORIOUS”. 😂 I hope you enjoy The Lost and Found too! IT’S SO SWEET.
SO. MUCH. YES. TO. ALL. OF. THESE.
I APPROVE OF YOUR LIFE CHOICES.
(I mean, granted, I haven’t gotten to The Impostor Queen or Ruined yet, but let’s just say… they’re on their way.) BUT, UHM, THE RAVEN KING MURDERED MY HEART AND SOUL FOR THE SHEER FACT THAT MY FAVORITE SERIES WOULD BE OVER, AND I MIGHT HAVE SPENT THE NEXT WEEK LYING ON THE FLOOR, STARING OFF INTO OTHER UNIVERSES WHERE IT HAD NOT YET ENDED, BECAUSE OH MY GOD.
And then after The Stiefvater, The Schwab is my second biggest deity, so SO MUCH YES TO AGOS AND THIS SAVAGE SONG, TOO! I just can’t with her anymore, HOW can she write and publish such differently magical morsels of fabulousness and muuuurder? (All my favorite things, I tell you! ALL OF THEM!)
2016 has been good to me, really. I feeeeeared it, because either it would END my favorite series, or 2015 already had and my poor comfort blanket was gone and I’d have to jump into Scary New Things(tm). But IT TURNS OUT NOVELTY APPROVES OF ME, AND VICE VERSA. It’s been really nice. (But, uhm, TRK for president as far as the best releases.)
THANKYOU. I’M GLAD YOU APPROVE OF MY LIFE CHOICES. THEY ARE GOOD CHOICES, I KNOW, BECAUSE I’M MAJESTICALLY FLAWLESS. *flips hair* Ohhhhhh I am SO WITH YOU ON THE FLOOR IN A PUDDLE OF EMOTION about The Raven King. <333 My precious Raven boys and my precious Blue and my precious camaro basically. <333 I don't even like cars but I now officially want a camaro. SEE I AM DAMAGED. (I also hate birds but I want a Chainsaw?!?! SO THERE'S THAT TOO.) Ahem. Schwab is just so quickly climbing up to the Best Author Ever level for me. :') I mean, not that she'll surpass Stiefvater BECAUSE I HAVE STIEFVATER HISTORY. But afjdkaslfdj I can't stop thinking about ADSOM BASICALLY.
Ohhh Lady Midnight I keep meaning to dabble in. I had a slight falling out with Cassie Clare books after being annoyed that The Mortal Instruments was not 3 books, but 5. But ever since the Shadowhunters TV show came out I’ve been on the road to giving her another chance and this one has intrigued me for sure. And now I know that there’s like a 99.9% chance that it’s amazing.
*whispers* The Mortal Instruments is actually 6 books.😂 I’m such a rabid fan so I’m like “OH LOOK CASSANDRA CLARE IS WRITING A BILLION BOOKS — I WANT THEM”. Hehe. I think it’s awesome when authors get opportunities to write more and make a living from something they love. :’)
I STILL NEED TO WATCH THE SHOW THOUGH OMG.
oh geez >___< I feel like the last time I looked there were 5. The number feels like it increases every time! I'm honestly just impressed that shes been able to write in the shadowhunter universe this whole time. I don't have even have the attention span for a trilogy so it's so impressive. Like how many authors can write 10+ books in a world they created with their brain!
WATCH IT! The acting is cheesy in the beginning but you get used to it after awhile and then it's just entertaining. Also the actor that plays Alec is my favvvvvv
HAHAHA OMG ME TOO!! I don’t even have the attention span to write a duology.😂 I have two planned and everytime I think of the sequel I go… “Eh no let’s write something new”.😂
I haven’t read any of these… but, like you said, quite a few are series finales and I haven’t read any of those series (except for the first two books in The Raven Cycle). I’m not sure if 2016 has been a good or bad year for books; I haven’t done much reading.
As for books making me suffer… well, it depends on the kind of suffering. Bad plot + bad writing + bad grammar = suffering. That’s the bad kind of suffering. Awesome characters + amazing plot + cliffhanger(s) = suffering. But that’s the good kind… and I’m fine with that.
OH oh YES bad writing suffering is NOT good suffering.😂 Feels suffering = yes please. Hehe. But ugh to actual painful suffering because a book is about as pleasant as being petted in the face with a brick. No time for that. Bleh. ANYWAY. YES. I felt a bit bad about all the series in this post.😂 Usually I try to balance things out a bit more, but honestly most other books I’ve liked but not loved? 2016 DO BETTER.
I HAVE STARTED THE SMELL OF OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES. (and got such a thrill from reading a book that was ALSO in a blog post)
(even though a blog post is why I decided to read it in the first place.)
(buuuut I digress)
The beauty of all of your covers and the sheer volume of the books that you own makes me so, so happy. And when there are like 4+ beautiful covers in ONE gorgeous picture, I die. I diiieeeeee.
AH AHHHHH. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!! *flails* It’s so delicious and sniffable. :’) It doesn’t come out in Australia until July though, gah, so I haven’t reviewed it here yet but SOON you will be flailed at ginormously on my blog too.😂
AFJDLSAKD THANK YOU, OLIVIA. I really enjoy taking photos.😂 And omg books though. They’re too pretty. If they weren’t so pretty I probably wouldn’t need to own so many. #logic
Literally still waiting for the Raven King. Why don’t I just buy it all ready? I know I’m going to love it because of obvious reasons, but I JUST LIKE READING THINGS BEFORE BUYING THEM. But the wait is killing me. Goodbye internet. My funeral will be on Friday.
I DO GET THAT. Except for Maggie Stiefvater that is…😂 She is an author I will 100% buy unread. But for most other books I hesitate before buying. BOOKS ARE JUST SO EXPENSIVE OMG.
Even though I haven’t read any on your list and most I haven’t heard of… the way you present them is so entertaining. Thank you for the laugh and making me want to add more books to my ever growing TBR.
http://wp.me/p4uAPW-2FZ
AW THANKYOU, AMY! *flails* that is honestly super nice to hear. :’)
I absolutely love your photography! I might have to take a leaf out of your book (excuse the pun) and try give it a go, I haven’t even considered reading some of these books before but I think I will be looking into them now 🙂
Thank you, Happy Reading!
HHAHAH VERY PUNNY. *gives you cake* 😂
I’ve been hearing from several people that 2016 isn’t very impressive and kind of disappointing for new releases, :/ *wah wah waaaahh* I looked back at my list and ALL of them are books in series!
SAAAME. I’m kind of sad that this list has like ONE debut author on it! (The Smell of Other People’s Houses…I think it’s a debut?) and otherwise all series for me too…eeek.
I’m ashamed but I must say that the only book I’ve read from your list is The Impostor Queen and indeed it was amazing and I enjoyed it very much. 😀
The rest… well most of it is on my 2016 TBR list so I still have time to catch up and after your thoughts – though I might skipped some because I am incredibly scared of potential spoilers – I asked myself why haven’t I read them already. 😀
Some I didn’t know of so my TBR grew… again… but I don’t care, because these might be my new favourites. 😀
So far, 2016 was quite good year for books, I’m looking forward to the next half and of course I LOVE when book makes me suffer. It makes me feel emotions and that means the book is awesome. 🙂
Ahhh I’m glad you are a fellow Impostor Queen fan! *HI FIVES* It’s totally underrated though, right?!? I JUST WANT TO HUG IT FOREVER AND GET BOOK 2 IMMEDIATELY. *dies while waiting*
And that’s fair about potential spoilers! 😂 I did make the list spoiler free (all my lists are!) but sometimes it’s better going into a book knowing zlich, right?!
Oh Cait the more I see all of these wonderful blog posts the more I want to get my book blog going to join in with you guys! But I need a name for it! HELP?!
But *ahem* anyways, HOW DO YOU EVEN READ 119 BOOKS SO FAR THIS YEAR?! I’m at like, 25!!! HOW CAIT, HOW. I want to be like you. I’ll have to try harder. And cut out other things to have more time.
Aside from this sad number books I don’t really read all that many new books, so the only one I’ve read off of your list is The Raven King which don’t even get me started because we will never leave. My real problem though? None of my friends in ‘real’ life have even started reading the first book so I HAVE NO ONE TO FLAIL WITH. This is distressing. This is also why I need a book blog.
And to answer your big question: yes, books are always better when they make you suffer.
OH OH YOU’RE STARTING A BOOK BLOG? YAYYYYYY. (And naming is super hard.😂 Don’t look at me tho, omg, I took a year to come up with Paper Fury, heheh. And it’s not THAT original anyway. Ahem.)
I JUST READ A LOT. *nods* #obsessed 😂
Yes yes this is exactly why I like the internet because I know exactly zero readers IRL too!! My sister used to be a reader but she refuses FOR NO REASON AT ALL to read Maggie Stiefvater books?!? I like??!? WUT??!!?? *cries* Anyway. Yes yes we all love the suffering books. They are glory.
I LOVED The Winner’s Kiss! Roshar is pretty much perfect, especially with tiger-Arin and saying that it’s better than human-Arin. I’m hoping to read The Imposter Queen, Ruined, and This Savage Song sometime soon! I’ve heard great things about AGOS, but I still need to read ADSOM, which I plan to start it this week. As usual, your bookstagram pictures are GORGEOUS!
AHHAHAH ROSHAR MADE THAT BOOK FOR ME OMG. He was perfect. <3 I would read an entire series about Roshar basically *nods* Aww, thank you about my pictures! I had fun with them.😂
YEP, TRK is my #1 today too — The Smell of Other People’s Houses made my list as well
my TTT
YAYYY WE ARE TWINNING. *hi fives for our epic taste*
2016 has been a pretty meh year for books (at least on the new-releases front) for me as well . . . but on the other hand, we got three new Sanderson books, so I really can’t complain that much.
I am sad to say that I’ve only read one of the books on this list. I’m thinking of giving VE Schwab a try, though, if I ever have time.
Awk *flaps wildly with adoration for the Sanderson* Although I’ve read like 3 of his books os far WHICH IS REALLY QUITE PATHETIC but as soon as I whittle my enormous TBR down a bit…I’m gonna devour them all. <3 Yessss do give Schwab a try! YOU WON'T REGRET IT I PROMISE.
So many wonderful books here Cait! I haven’t read a lot of them but I did with Winner’s Kiss and the amnesia really put me off that one. I was also lukewarm at The Smell of Other People’s Houses even though everyone loved it. I can’t wait to pick up the Orphan Queen though!
I feel like The Smell of Other People’s Houses is being one people REALLY like or just don’t get.😂 From what I’ve noticed in reviews, hehe. THE ORPHAN QUEEN IS VERY GOOD. 😀
I loved Half Lost and Lady Midnight. I am also currently reading A Court of Mist and Fury and that is on my list. I haven’t read any of the V.E. Schwab books you mentioned (but I NEED to). The only V.E. Schwab book I’ve read is Vicious, and I loved it and need the second book. I also have only read The Winner’s Curse, I own the second book but haven’t read it yet (foreshame). Books are definitely better when they make you suffer, that’s what makes the awesome.
YES YES PLEASE READ A SCHWAB BOOK. Vicious is glorious. <3 It was the first one I read and doomed me to being a Schwab fan forever. <3
Of these I have only read The Raven King (you’ve read 119 books so far this year, man, that’s impressive!) but I absolutely adored it!
Hahah THANKYOU.😂 I’m a little obsessed with reading (shh it’s hard to tell) THE RAVEN KING IS EVERYTHING.
Soooo many books 😀
The Raven King was my favorite, I died!
AHHH ME TOO. *lives forever now as an addicted to Stiefvater books ghost*
Because I am a very slow reader, I have not read anything released in 2016. I’m still on 2013 I think. *Cries and laughs at the same time* However, these books all sound fabulous and I will get around to them because that needs to happen. Thank you.
I think books do need to make their readers suffer. It’s a very boring book that doesn’t. However, I also believe that there needs to be adequate incentive to keep reading, and I do enjoy a happy ending. So, I like things like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. I know I’ve read some more obscure things I could make references too, but they’re skipping my mind right now.
Ah, Tennis Shoes Among The Nephites. That series was one of my first bookish loves, and I think it also did a good job of tearing at the heart but not so much that I hated the book.
Keep blogging!
Omg, I HEAR YA WITH THAT PAIN. *pats shoulder* I’m really proud that about 53% of my reads this year have been 2016 releases. But SO many have been 2013 actually.😂 FOREVER BEHIND. Ahem.
Ahhh yes. A little suffering and a little happiness go a long way. :’) I mean, I do like purely happy books sometimes too! But I think the suffering-ones stick with me longer.
OhMyGoodness, Cait, you’ve read 119 books this year!? Go you! That’s awesome.
I’m a total turtle reader. 😉
I cannot wait to read Marie’s lovely series and have seen the final novel of the trilogy on lots of Top Ten Tuesday posts this week, so that makes me all the more excited to read it. At least now, I can binge-read them! Love your post and layout; so pretty. 🙂
Thank you so much for visiting Finding Wonderland this week! I really appreciate it.
Aw, thank you, Rissi!! It’s been a good reading year so far. 😉 But hey, pace doesn’t matter, right?! Just so long as we’re enjoying ourselves! 😀
Truer words were never spoken: so long as we’re enjoying ourselves, who cares about pace!? 🙂
YES TO ALL OF THESE. The Winner’s Kiss was such a satisfying and wonderful conclusion to the series. A lot of series conclusions have been rough, but this one met my expectations and then some. (*cries because I want more Kestrel*)
And I had a feeling you’d like Ruined a lot! 😉 SO good, right? It had the perfect blend of action, romance, and characterization.
And AHHH I need to read VE Schawb, don’t I?!? I read Vicious and absolutely adored it, but for some reason I haven’t picked up any of her other books? But seeing two of her books on this list definitely gives me the motivation I need to get them from the library ASAP.
Thanks for sharing Cait and, as always, fabulous choices! <3
*CRIES BECAUSE THE WINNER’S KISS WAS WONDERFUL* So much stabby stabbing and shifty cunning moves. :’) I AM EVER SO PLEASED. But also sad that it’s over, true. *sighs* AND ZOMG RUINED WAS EVERYTHING AHHHHHH. I want more books like that that are super sassy amongst all the angst and sword fights. :’)
Omg Zoe you would LOVE VE Schwab. I basically 10000% guarantee it. (Okay this will be really awkward if you hate her books ahhhaha😂)
I’ll be honest… I have read exactly NONE of these. But I plan to read The Imposter Queen!
My main question about this is where is the Rose and the Dagger? Is it still on your TBR? And have you read The Forbidden Wish? Really good 2016 fantasy. And The Young Elites! You would just devour that! It is so stabby with lots of backstabbing and the finale is coming out this fall!! And the Crown’s Game! I read based on your review and it was amazing! Where are all these books?
I’m also surprised you put a contemporary on here.
OMG I AM IN SHAME, ELLIe. *cries* I haven’t read The Rose and the Dagger yet. *send self to the corner of evil* BUT I WILL I WIIIIIILL. And I haven’t read The Forbidden Wish yet. I’m hoping my library buys it.😂 Eeep, but, um, #awkwardmoment I have read The Young Elites and I didn’t like it. (Plus it came out last year!) And I did enjoy The Crown’s Game but it was only 4-stars for me.
I’m going to reading This Savage Song soon, so hopefully it lives up to what everyone has been saying about it! Which I’m pretty sure it will because it’s Victoria Schwab why would it not. ALSO I loved Smelly Houses! Errr, I mean The Smell of Other People’s Houses. I loved how everything came together in the end, and I managed to keep track of all four POVs.
Smelly Houses is SUCH a better way to talk about it tbh. Saves time too because that title is ridiculously long.😂 I APPROVE. And omg, yes it was brilliant that the 4 POVs actually worked!?! I usually hate that many but ahhhh much love this time. :’)
My favourites so far are Stars Above and The Hidden Oracle – they are also the only books I read that came out this year haha. BUT STILL. I love them to pieces. And one day I shall read every book on this list *nods*
Ohhh and I haven’t read EITHER but they’re both on my TBR!😂 I NEEDED TO GET TO THEM YESTERDAY BASICALLY AHHHH.
Fffs. I super want to read Ruined LIKE YESTERDAY but I don’t think I’m going to get around to it before I fly to the UK – NOW WHAT, CAIT?! Damn holidays getting in the way. And omg The Imposter Queen keeps coming up left right and centre so now I’ll just have to buy it *faceplants into bed* life is so hard, man.
And I really haven’t heard much about the Half-Lost (whatever it is) series, I have to say. I do own the first book but I guess if you recommend it I’ll just have to pick it up soon!
Just put Ruined under your pillow and absorb it *nods* That should work. And life is terribly hard for we bookworms. There is no catching up, there is no having enough books, THERE IS JUST TRAGEDY. *collapses dramatically*
Yesss the Half Bad series is SO GOOD and really torturous. :’)
A Gathering of Shadows DESTROYED ME!! I literally cannot deal with that series. And I really need to go get a copy of This Savage Song because it looks incredible and V E Schwab’s books are always perfect.
And The Raven King was also an incredible read. Definitely one of my favourite books this year!!
AHHH IT DESTROYED ME TOO. *weeps* But in the best possible way. And I have a terrible feeling that A Conjuring of Light is giong to be EVEN MORE CRUEL TO OUR POOR FEELS.
This is a great post. I definitely need to read The Imposter Queen and I need to read The Raven Cycle… I know shame on me for not reading it sooner but I have all of the books. Same with The Winner’s Trilogy xD
I definitely feel that 2016 has been a great year of books, so far! Especially with Crooked Kingdom, The Midnight Star, and Gemina all coming out this year. But there has been several amazing debuts, such as The Crown’s Game, The Star-Touched Queen, Dreamology, The Girl From Everywhere, and so many more!
Thanks for sharing!
~Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
OMGGG BRITT. YOU HAVEN’T READ THE RAVEN CYCLE?!?! *piles the books on your head* Although I imagine they’d be pretty daunting now to start with the hype being so crazy.😂
Omg I can’t wait for the upcoming books like Crooked Kingdom and Gemina! AHHHHHHHH. And I haven’t read The Star Touched Queen but I NEED TO. And also of course the Crown’s Game was fantastic. <3
I definitely need to catch up with you top three choices, I’m pretty behind in those series.
Eeeep, I hope you enjoy them when you get to them! *flails*
I NEED A BAJILLION YEARS TO READ!! This year I have been crazy busy and haven’t been able to read a lot of 2016 newbies, but The Romantics by Leah Konen is for sure a 5 star read! (Not out yet though.) Also, where do you get all your amazing gifs??
I NEED A GAZILLION YEARS TOO. WHERE CAN WE PETITION THE UNIVERSE TO GIVE US MORE TIME????
PS. (I forgot to answer about the gifs.😂) I just find them on google! I type in “gif tumblr surprised” or whatever I’m looking for. 😉
Thank you! That’s what I’ve been doing. I’ll get right on that petition for ya!
Please excuse me as I go share your brilliance, as my TBR weeps.
YOUR TBR IS WELCOME. *pats shoulder* I hope you survive. :’)
I STILL NEED TO READ A WINNER’S KISS. But I keep, like, getting a chance to read it and the not reading it and I have no idea why? Maybe it’s because of how they broke the “The Winner’s C-” thing. Which bugs me for some weird reason. WHO KNOWS. And Lady Midnight was quite fantastic, as well, although I’m sad it didn’t get the cool spine art like the other books. Maybe for the paperback?
OMG I TOTALLY AGREE. I’m still mad that it’s Kiss. I mean Ciss wouldn’t have worked so well, but what about The Winner’s Cliff or something? The Winner’s Crush? The Winner’s Cabbage?! LIKE SERIOUSLY THEY NEEDED TO STICK WTIH THE “C” IT WAS JUST WRONG TO CHANGE IT. *stamps foot*
I’m kind of annoyed with my copy of Lady Midnight because it’s like 1cm taller than my other TMI books. GaH. Publishers. You’re killing me.
Well if my queen says so I guess I’ll start The Raven Boys next month. I do have all the books on my shelf of the Raven Cycle. That counts, right? I didn’t love This Savage Song but I loved August. He’s so cute. <3
YES YES THE QUEEN DECREES. *twirls majestically*
August was the MOST ADORABLE OF EVER. But fair enough for not loving it.😂 Not every book is for everyone, right?!
The Winner’s Kiss. YES. I feel like I’ve missed a TON of 2016 releases… I need to fix that. *adding to tbr mountain*
*piles more books on your head*
*hopes they don’t collapse* 😂
My favorite 2016 read is probably ACOMAF. That book was gold, seriously, so amazing. Honestly, 2016 has been such an amazing year for books, there are so many I can’t keep up! I’ve read a couple on your list, I have an ARC of TSS and need to read it ASAP. I’ve also been holding off TRK because I can’t bear that ending!!! Books that make me hurt are way better, it means they were seriously that good! Great post and your blog is BEAUTIFUL.
I totally understand holding off The Raven King.😂 I WAS SO NERVOUS ABOUT IT AHHHHH. But it was perfect. <3 AND THIS SAVAGE SONG IS AMAZING I HOPE YOU LIKE IT.
The title of the blog post is priceless. x’D
Well, let’s see. I don’t read nearly as many books as you do, and because I read old books and classics, I’ve only actually read… one 2016 release this year, so far. O.o Conveniently it was also YA. Conveniently it was also AMAZING.
I’m talking of course about MORNING STAR. Agh, I think that series is my favorite right now! Bye bye, Celaena. You are not half as epic or lovable as Darrow. ^_^ ^_^ I’m also getting more into science fiction nowadays so the timing to read that trilogy was perfect for me!! 🙂
I haven’t really posted anything for TTT this week. 🙁 I’m don’t really read books according to release dates, I usually end up being the last jumper in the bandwagon, when all the hype has moved to another. LOL.
I did recently get The Raven King tho, just last weekend. 🙂 I’m so excited to power through it in the next coming month(s). I can’t believe you read 119 books already and it’s not even August yet! OMG. I wish I have the amount of reading time that you do too. 🙁 I miss lounging around the house doing nothing except read (and eat). HAHAHA!
That’s fair!! I try to read a mixture because backlist books need some love….buuuut, I mostly read the recently released ones because of ARCS and things.😂
Often it’s not having extra reading time, it’s just prioritising reading and not sleeping.😂 I definitely don’t just get to sit around and read all day.
Wow, you just piled onto my TBR. haha. Totally agree with A Gathering of shadows and The Winner’s Kiss. I have been reading more older books, but definitely there are 2016 books that stands out like The Serpent King, Morning Star (Left me a mess), Walk the Edge, Starflight, Salt to the Sea, Underwater, and The Wrong Side of Right. Hmmmm…I think you have inspired me to write a blog post too. Thanks! haha
YOUR TBR IS WELCOME. *flails happily* Omgggg I loved Morning Star! It nearly got on this list too but I ran out of room hehe. And Starflight surprised me SO MUCH with how awesome and hilarious it was.😂 I actually wish it was a series?!?! I laughed so much omg.
Yes! I belted out laughing especially the part where she put on the necklace. 😂😂😂 AND IT IS A SERIES!!! Goodreads says Starflight #1 so I assume there is a following #!!!!!!!!
OMGGGG SERIOUSLY?!?!??!?! I DIDN’T KNOW THIS AHHHHH MY DAY IS MADE AHHHH!!!! *flings confetti into the air*
So I’ll just say up front that I’m probably not going to read half of these because some aren’t my thing and others are not enough my thing given how many OTHER books I want to read… but I do plan to read the Raven Boys cycle at some point and ADSOM sooner than later, and maybe the Winner’s Circle books and possibly the Cassandra Clare books.
And I also want to say that your blog is freakin’ gorgeous and I seriously envy your picture-taking skills.
THat’s fair! 😀 And I hope you like The Raven Cycle and ADSOM! (I toooootally procrastinated ADSOM until recently and afjdksald it’s just glorious and definitely wroth the pain…erm, I mean, HAPPINESS.
#lies It is pain.)Because of you I read The Raven Cycle. The first two books were a bit of a chore but then BLLB and TRK was like whooosh woah!! Da Hell?? I see what you mean, Stiefvater is a wordsmith and we’re all kindergartners playing with play doh 😀
Also, if I meet a boy like Gansey irl, you’re invited to our epically shotgun wedding 🙂
STIEFVATER IS EVERYTHING AND I’M GONNA PRETEND YOU DIDN’T JUST SAY THE FIRST BOOKS WERE A CHORE.😭 Just kidding hehe.😂 But The Dream Thieves is like my favourite so. <333
I’m not a huge YA fan, but I’m now following you on Instagram after seeing this gorgeous post! 🙂 I did just add “The Smell of Other People’s Houses” to my to-read list because I discovered it’s set in Alaska, so I’m glad you loved it!
Awww, thankyou for the follow! I APPRECIATE IT YOU NICE BEAN. And I hope you like the House Sniffing book. It is entirely gorgeously written. :’)
I haven’t read any of these books, but you’ve made me want to read them all! Also, your photos are beautiful!
Awww, thankyou! THAT IS SO NICE TO HEAR. :’)
There has been so many series finales (or second books) released this year! I need to catch up WITH ALL OF THEM.
YES YES THERE HAS BEEN. The worry is that 2016 hasn’t given me enough new series to obsess over and all my favourites have ended. *cries* 😂
Ahh, so many fabulous sounding books. I am ashamed to say I haven’t read the Raven King Series “Please don’t hurt me, I’ve read all of Maggie Stiefvaters other books I swear…” but it is on my list. Otherwise I also keep meaning to read the winners curse series along with Melissa Meyers Lunar chronicles…. I just seem to always be busy reading other things. It doesn’t help when sequels and trilogies take sooooo long to come out that I forget about them either. You understand my pain right? lol
*quietly stows axe* Of course I wouldn’t hurt you. I AM SO NICE. *nods sagely*
KIDDING KIDDING.😂 But I also totally get it! There are so many things to read, omg. I have dozens of books I’ve been meaning to read FOR FOREVER and still haven’t gotten to yet. Where do we find a time machine?? Because we need one. 0_0
I haven’t actually read any of them! I am in the middle of The Raven King, so I can kind of count that one. To be honest, I’ve only read a few 2016 books this year. I’ve been trying to work my way through owned books and books in a series I’ve started already.
That is actually a really good idea to work through books you own.😂 I ADMIRE YOU. I’ll probably be pretending to do that in 2017. Ahem. My TBR is absolutely ridiculous at the moment omg.
Arrrrgh, you’ve read so many books that I want to read! I have yet to read A Gathering of Shadows, The Impostor Queen or Ruined, but I have them in my possession! Why am I waiting? They sound so amazing! I actually just picked up Ruined yesterday as a birthday gift to myself! 🙂
~Sara
AHHHH I HOPE YOU DO GET TO THEM SOON!! And omg Ruined is amazing and entirely under-appreciated so I can’t wait to see what you think! *excited flails*
So… don’t hurt me… but I haven’t read any of the books on your list. But they all look fabulous! I shall go out and buy them one day…
This year I have loved Kiera Cass’ The Siren, and Will Kostakis’ The Sidekicks.
Also, this year has been pretty meh for book releases me thinks. But, there is still half a year to go, so maybe it will get better.
*slowly stows axe under the bed* HURT YOU? MEEEE??? OF COURSE NOT I AM ENDLESSLY NICE. Ahem. But oh oh I really want to read The Siren! I actually really want to finish The Selection series too😂 I’m a bit slack there omg. But I’m glad I’m not alone in thinking 2016 could’ve done better. BUT YES. There are a ton of epic books coming out for the second half of the year so SQUEEEEE.
Perfect! I haven’t read any releases from 2016!
I hope you enjoy these ones if you get a chance to try them, then. 😉
YOUR BOOKS, AHHHH! I need to step up my book hoarding game. Half Lost was that good?! I hated Half Bad so I just gave up… But Lady Midnight… YAS! I loved it!
Loved this post!
P.S: Yes, books smell amazing and yes I smell every single one. XD
SMELLING BOOKS IS SUCH A GOOD PASTTIME OMG. *smells and pets all the books* 😂
Okay, I’m going to be honest. I skimmed this list just to make sure I didn’t accidentally spoil myself for any of the books because I haven’t actually read any 2016 releases yet (I know, I’m horrible) and I’ve already managed to spoil myself a little for The Raven King. Thanks, tumblr.
But. As always. Great list. Thanks, Cait!
I didn’t put spoilers in the post!! I wouldn’t do that.😂 But fair enough. (Tumblr is pretty unkind to people who aren’t 100% caught up on things though right?! Omg so annoying.)
Hey Cait!!! Your blog reviews are absolutely phenomenal! SO much love for you! I stumbled across your blog and it’s the best thing since tie dye cupcakes and brownie cheesecake! Hahaha 🙂 You have inspired me to read the Imposter Queen and The Smell of Other People’s Houses (feel like there should be a ACOTAR acronym or something! GEEZ that’s a mouthful)! Hope you’re excited for new book releases (I’m particularly excited to read The Rose and the Dagger and The Unexpected Everything)! I hope you’re staying warm down under. While it’s summer here in Boston where I live, I completely know how you feel. I spent seven months at Uni Melb and it was freezing when I arrived in July! I AM secretly and Aussie girl though (so much love for tim tams, pavlova, and avo toast 🙂 WISH I could go back! I just started my new job at MIT, so I’m hoping to get lots of reading done on the train! Hope you’re having a great June! Any books you’re excited to read in JULY?!!! (CURSE YOU GIANT TBR)! Lots of love!!!
Meg
OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH MEG!! *flails* This absolutely makes my day. AND NOW I NEED CHEESECAKE SO THANKS FOR THAT.😂 hehe. I hoooope You like The Impostor Queen and The Smell of Other People’s Houses!! (TSOOPH!?! 😂 Omg, the acronym looks so weird!)
Oh yay for secret Aussie-ness! *hi fives* 😂 It’s not as cold as I am like it is in Melbourne though, thankgoodness. I’m like in the middle of the East coast. But I’m still a huge wimp and under 90 blankets right now. But at least it’s nice to curl up with a good book in this kind of weather! Hot drinks and books = gloriousness. :’)
OmG YES YOUR BECOMING PICKIER IN YOUR OLD AGE XD Hahaha But real talk, I feel like I will have 5 times as many books on my best of 2016 shelf!! But I do agree that most of the books you’ve recommended above are SO GOOD! I’m actually reading The Winner’s Kiss right now! I’m almost done but I appreciate the non-spoilers and KESTREL AND ARIN ARE MY FAVORITE SHIPS TOO!!! *starts fangirling loudly* And yes yes yes to more VE Schwab books. I confess I may have DNFd The Imposter Queen (I tried it because I saw one of your book reviews but I think it’s not for me?). I’m *also* reading This Savage Song right now and I mean, maybe I should just save it for a rainy day??? Like that book is way too perfect. And err…Once again, I DNF’d Lady Midnight too lol. I mean I love Cassandra Clare’s TMI and TID series but Lady Midnight….was not for me… I think… I don’t know, I just felt so disappointed?? Ah well.
(Ah this is embarrassing but I think I linked to some random site in my previous comment. Do you mind deleting that?)
*FANGIRLS LOUDLY WITH YOU OVER ARIN/KESTREL* all the love for that series omg aaaaall the love. I JUST…i JUST NEED TO HUG IT FOREVER BASICALLY. I’m so happy with the ending and I hope you like it too!!
Ah, sadness about not liking Lady Midnight and Impostor Queen. *sheds a tear* But we’re all different right?! Books are so subjective!😂
Oh my dear Cait, you and I do not have a ton in common this year, I am afraid. So, good news first: A LOT of the books I am excited to read are on your list! Like The Raven King! And Ruined, and AGOS, and The Lost and Found, and The Impostor Queen! True story, I have all but one of these (Ruined, come to me!) so I hope to read them sooooon.
Of the ones I HAVE read (this means we are onto the bad news)… none of them made my list. I know. Let’s mourn for a moment, shall we? So okay, I LIKED The Winner’s Kiss! I did! It just wouldn’t make Top Ten. Ditto Smelly Houses and This Savage Song. Both solid, both not quite TT for me. Half Lost, on the other hand… that was my biggest disappointment of the year, so oopsie? I guess it’s okay to disagree sometimes.
My list, Idk. I was lazy and didn’t do one, but I might do one for Instagram and then post it at the end of the month? Because I own all but one of my favorites- maybe 2? Idk. Anyway, that’d be a fun picture at least!
And books are obviously better when they make you suffer. Hence my latest favorite, The Memory Book. 😀
*gasps* DISAGREEING WITH ME, SHANNON??? HOW COULD YOU. WE ALL KNOW THERE IS ONLY 1 RIGHT OPINION AND IT IS MINE.
(ahahhahaha I’m kidding.😂 Maybe…mwahhaah)
ahem. But yes books are good when one suffers. And oh oh you liked The Memory Book?! GOOD. Because I really want to read that one.😂
A Court of Mist and Fury is my favourite release this year. It gave me all the feels!!! The ending was to die for and the character development from the first book is INSANE
Yayy I’m glad you enjoyed that one so much! 😀
CAIT I’M BACK I’M BACK I’M BACK. MY EXAMS ARE OVER. I AM FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE (until September when I’m back to studying but let’s forget about that).
ANYWAY, onto your magnificent post. Here’s a confession. I HAVE NOT YET READ A BOOK IN 2016 (unless you count the play I had to study for my English exam which I read six times…)
I FEEL DEPRIVED. And now even though I’m free I’m not reading any books because it is Ramadan and also I am going on holiday to Scotland in July and it will take 8 hours in the car SO I AM SAVING MY BOOKS (my second favourite place to read is in the car). But now I have more books to add to my TBR and somehow get my hands on before I go..aka. VICTORIA SCHWAB. I have heard ALL THE GOOD THINGS about her but have yet to get my hands on any of her books (although I have read The Archived). Also The Imposter Queen I am dying to read and The Smell of Other People’s Houses sounds VERY INTRIGUING.
Yes yes yes also the Winner’s trilogy WAS SO FREAKING FANTASTIC.
HAWWA!!! HELLO YOU STRANGER!! I’M SO GLAD EXAMS DIDN’T EAT YOU ALIVE!! *gives you welcome cake* But omg nooooo books at all?! HOW ARE YOU ALIVE??!?! *weeps for you* But I suppose priorities must happen *nods* You’re very responsible. 😉 But yes yes please read some Schwab SOON because omgggg I’ve given everything 5-stars.😂 I haven’t read The Archived yet but I WILL THIS MONTH I’M SURE. If my TBR doesn’t decree I read other things, which let’s face it: it’s a bossy beast.😂
RAVEN KING. I’m still hungover and it’s not okay. Totally agree with Winner’s Curse too, obviously, because Marie Rutkowski is a magical genius and Roshar and Tiger-Arin are my friend-soulmates. I’ve had a really good 2016 so far actually, but I haven’t read a lot of these yet, so it’s going to get even better?
C.J.
EVERYTHING IS WONDERFUL WHEN MARIE RUTKOSKI WRITES IT OMG. *hugs that trilogy* It was a funny one for me, too, because I didn’t love it that much the first time I read it? Then I re-read in preparation for the sequel and fajsdklafdj now I’M SUCH A WILD FAN I CANNOT EVEN AHHHHH. I’m glad you’re having good luck with 2016 books though!😂
Holy shit! How are you reading THAT many books? Clearly you’re not sleeping, or eating, or possibly taking care of your hygiene. Pocket reading machine!
Lady Midnight was one of the surprise reads for me so far this year too. it was incredible! I went into it with pretty low expectations to be honest, because I found most of her other Shadowhunter books a bit bland and repetitive, but WOW! I loved it. Especially Mark. Have you read The Trials of Apollo yet? If you loved Lady Midnight I think you’ll love Apollo. He’s so narcissistic, it’s brilliant.
This year I’ve loved Summer Skin, Frankie, Apollo, Lady Midnight, The War That Saved My Life and most recently, When Friendship Followed Me Home.
Definitely a reading machine. I don’t need sleep, pffft, who does?? Not dragon queens clearly.
MARK IS ADORABLE. I WANT A MARK. Ahem. I hope book 2 has more Mark because quite frankly he’s my favourite tragic bean. <3 And I haven't read Trials of Apollo yet but it's literally eyeballing me form my TBR so I SHALL GET TO IT SOON I PROMISE.😂
Ohhh I need to read Summer Skin! The weather kind of changed before I got to it though and I'm not so motivated. 😂 #fail I NEED SUMMER AGAIN.
SO MANY BOOKS I HAVEN’T HAD TIME TO READ YET! Uni stole my motivation, but I feel it coming back with this list. After ACOTAR & ACOMAF I’m jumping into The Raven King, The Winner’s Kiss, and Ruined.
Oooh, I’m glad your motivation is coming back! Are you on uni break? If you are, HAVE A GOOD UNI BREAK. If not…well…cake? Ahem. Anyway The Raven King. <3333 I hope you like it!
These lists = my reason for being, honestly. They’re why I started blogging in the first place because I just love seeing Best Of lists and going off on a book buying spree (except I have also sorta banned myself from buying books? I am conflicted).
I am so glad to hear The Raven King delivered for you because I have every plan to devour this series within the next month! I have also heard such amazing things about The Smell Of Other People’s Houses (most wonderful title of 2016? I like to think so) and Impostor Queen so I hope to get onto reading them soon!
I completely concur. What would life be without lists??? VERY SAD. VERY VERY SAD. Pfft, you have banned yourself from buying books?? I SEE YOU ON TWITTER. I KNOW THE LIE.😂
When I saw you liked Gathering of Shadows I was going to recommend you This Savage Song but hey, you already read it! This Savage Song is awesome and I loooooove it and I read it in like three or four hours and I couldn’t even put it down to take a bathroom break so at the end of it I was squirming like crazy but it was SO worth it
I can’t even believe we have to wait for a whole year for the next book!
Also, Half Lost broke me so hard. My mom would not let me read so I had to lie and pretend I have a social life (which, duh, books are my version of social life, I don’t do the whole ‘going out with people’ thing) and went to the library to hide in the childs’ corner and when I finished it I just started crying in the middle of all the books for 2-5 years old and it was so embarrassing! Sally Green is awesome, I hope we’ll get another book by her!!
Lady Midnight and Raven King are awesome too! And they have beautiful covers, so shiny and soft and awww <3
I basically am addicted to ALL the Schwab books now.😂 Well, I haven’t read The Archived BUT I’M GOING TO ASAP! But yesss, the wait between books is so so hard sometimes. I JUST WANT TO KNOW ALL THE THINGS.
I reeeally hope Sally Green writes more because fdjkalsfd FAVOURITE AUTHOR EVER. I COULDN’T EVEN WITH HALF LOST. *looks at broken feels* *tries to duct tape them* *fails*
SoooOOOooo many series that I’m desperate to read! Because, *ahemehemehem* the only book I’ve read on here is (the obvious) TRK. But you say Clare! Rutotski! Schwab! And I say YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU. I just need like time and money and stuff. #ugh
More time and money and stuff would be good. SIGN ME UP FOR THOSE TOO. *howls* 😂
Fab post! I am so glad V E Schwab gets a lot of love, I have a 9 hours plane journey in September and have saved A gathering & Darker Shade for my flight, it would suck if they were awful but I think I’ll like them!!
My fave book of the year and it isn’t YA but I love it has to be The Fireman by Joe Hill, it is epic!
Ooh, I’m glad you love VE Schwab too! *flails* HER BOOKS ARE AWESOME. Aaaall the ADSOM love. <33 I've heard of the Fireman vaguely but not read it! I'm glad you enjoyed that one, Heather! 🙂
Cait, you take the most beautiful photos! I envy your photography skills.
I agree with The Raven King and AGoS! Incredible! Favourite 2016 reads for me? The Bands of Mourning by B. Sanderson and Morning Star by Pierce Brown. Also LOVED Firefight by Sanderson which OK, yes, was published last year but I wanted to mention it because I loved it so much! 😀
Awww, thanks, Chantelle! <3 That's super nice of you to say. AHHHHH. AND OMG VE Schwab and Maggie Stiefvater are just the QUEENS of books atm for me. And I loved Morning Star. <333 Although it stressed me out so much.😂 AND FIREFIGHT YESSSS. I read it this year too and I SO wanted to put it on my list, but dangit, 2016 only. *cries* It was the BEST.
The Raven Kiiiiinnnnggggg!!!! So amazing! I still can’t believe we actually got to read it. Oh my gosh that is the best description of The Impostor Queen!! I loved that book a lot. And I can’t wait to finish the Winner’s trilogy, I need to reread book 1 so I can move on! So far I’ve loved My Lady Jane, Starflight, The Score, And I Darken, and The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You (besides the two we agree on!). But yeah overall, 2016 has felt a bit more meh than I was hoping for.
THE RAVEN KING JUST STOLE MY HEART AJDFASKDLJ I CANNOT LOVE IT ENOUGH. *pets it forever* And yesssss The Impostor Queen is glorious right?!? FREAKY FROZEN VIBES FTW. Although I am really devastated about Sig. Like, seriously book, omg, that cliffhanger hurts.
Oh oh I loved Starflight this year too!! SO FUNNY.😂
So, I have read none of these books but I have all of them on my TBR!! Some higher than others! I can’t read Lady Midnight until I have read the other series’ first!! Can’t believe I have never read Clare! But, the rest of these are all waiting patiently on my TBR list!!
Omg never read any Clare?!? You have a lot to catch up on then. 😂 hahaha. Ahem. You can read Lady Midnight without the others buuuut I think it’d be better knowing the backstory. *nods*
That awkward moment when I didn’t read ANY of these *hides in shame*. I’m now also very intrigued about This Savage Song!
It’s sooooo good!! I PROMISE IT’S AMAZING!
Okay, actual thing. I was gonna email you this, but hey, you mentioned The Winner’s Curse trilogy in this post so yay.
Last night I dreamed I was in a bookstore and I saw The Winner’s Crime and I grabbed it off the shelf and yelled “I HATE YOU” at it.
Yeeeep. That’s what happened.
YOU DREAM THE WEIRDEST STUFF OMG, LISA.😂
I DO. I LOVE IT. IT’S THE BEST XD I wasn’t even fully awake when I thought “omo i need to tell Cait about this dream” XD
OMG CAIT YOU’VE READ 119 BOOKS THIS YEAR PLUS YOU JUST FINISHED WRITING A BOOK IN 4 DAYS OMG CAN I BE YOUUUUUUUU? But seriously MY GOODNESS GIRL YOU’RE GOALS! (I knew you were goals previously, but this just reaffirmed my belief).
Just by scanning all of these titles I’m afraid you’re going to disown me. *hides* I’ve read up to BLLB but I haven’t read The Raven King yet. My favorite of Stiefvater’s books has to be The Scorpio Races sooooooo. 😛 I FINALLY traded for a copy of Half Bad so hopefully I can get around to reading that trilogy soon. I haven’t read The Winner’s Curse either!!! (See I told you that you were going to be disappointed!!!) I also just traded for A Darker Shade of Magic. I finally read a Schwab book (This Savage Song was awesome) and am super excited to read the rest of her books! Does that count for something? Anything?
Ahhhhh I keep hearing everyone rave about The Impostor Queen and it’s also on my Physical TBR shelf! See! I have the books; now I just have to read them! I’m working on it!!! Oh hey *phew* I finally read one of the books on your list but…I didn’t love Ruined. :(((( YAY I ALREADY MENTIONED THAT I READ THIS SAVAGE SONG AND LIKED IT! Foreshadowing FTW! 😀 Ohhhh I have The Lost and Found sitting on my bookshelf somewhere but I didn’t hear much about it so I wasn’t planning on reading it. Maybe I will now!!! ACK NOOOOOOO NOT ANOTHER ONE. I DNF’ed The Smell of Other People’s Houses. I just couldn’t get into it. *cries* And I haven’t read Lady Midnight either because I’m not a huge fan of Cassandra Clare…*slumps*
On another note- do I get a prize for writing such a long comment??? 😛 Maybe my prize can be not getting disowned???
THIS IS THE NICEST NORI, THANK YOU. *flails around books and words* We might say that I’m a liiiiitttle bit obsessive with my reading and writing but PFFT, ALL THE BEST PEOPLE ARE MAD, WE KNOW THAT.
The Scorpio Races is AMAZING. <3 I just finished re-reading it actually and ajfdkalsd the audiobook is magnificent if you like audios. THE ACCENTS. THE MUSIC. THE EVERYTHING. *shrieks* And I'm not too disappointed don't worry. There's time. *eyeballs you until you get reading* 😂
THIS SAVAGE SONG WAS GLORIOUS AND MONSTERY AND THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY. But actually I've heard most people didn't like The Smell of other People's Houses soooo you're not alone. I am the weird one for that one. hahaha. Ahem. BUT OMG NOT A CASSANDRA CLARE FAN?!?! NORI. *dies a little*
But yes totally cake for you for such an epic comment. ALL THE CAKE. AND I SHALL NOT DISOWN YoU OF COURSE NOT.
119 books?!?! You win! You totally win!! lol Great list and will check some of these out 🙂
Hehe, thanks, Jenn.😂 Clearly someone (spoiler: it’s me) is a bit obsessed with books these days….😂
I can’t wait to read Ruined! I’m also eager to finish reading through Cassandra Clare’s series so that I can get to Lady Midnight! I keep hearing how awesome it is, and cannot wait!
LADY MIDNIGHT IS BASICALLY AMAZINGNESS. <3 And Ruined ahhhhhh. It's so underrated too!! I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!
Oooh, I haven’t read any of these novels yet and they all sound amazing! Will definitely be bulking up my TBR pile with these.
Yayyy!!! Good luck with your TBR! I hope it doesn’t squash you.😂
Ummm, hi! So Amy and I have kind of been stalking your blog/Twitter all day, and… I don’t know how to say this, but I think I’m in love with you! Not in a creepy way, but we should TOTALLY be friends!!!! You’re great, I’m decent, Amy’s great…. this is all the start of a wonderful relationship. Much love!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and a million exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
HI NIKKI. *waves wildly and gives you welcome cake* I do accept accusations of being great. *flips hair majestically* BUT SERIOUSLY I’M LAUGHING SO MUCH THIS COMMENT MADE MY DAY😂
April from Aprilus Maximus on YouTube mentioned you in a video and thus sent me here. She said you were witty so I came on over out of intrigue and my god was she right. You are my new queen, I will humbly serve you unless I am too busy fussing over a book. Just thought I’d let you know. Also I KNOW I need to read the Raven Cycle and I own books 1-3, but I’m scared to pick it up because what if i don’t like it (which probably won’t happen) and also I don’t want it to end BUT I HAVEN’T EVEN STARTED IT DO YOU SEE MY DILEMMA!!!
OMGGGGG I AM FLAILING WILDLY RIGHT NOW, TONI, THANKYOU FOR THIS MARVELOUS COMMENT.😂 *shares cake with you* But omg you must try The Raven Cycle someday. I shall absolutely beg you, I will. And like totally no pressure to like it. *casually scoots axe under bed* I will not be threatening at all.😇
(AHAHAHA I’M JUST KIDDING.😂)
Thank you for puttning The Raven King and Half Lost as 1 and 2, they are the best!!!!
I haven’t read anything from this list yet (since I have been pretty good about waiting until they are all out before starting new series lately), but I did just read The Raven Boys and really liked it.
I haven’t read ANY of these. And I am ashamed. Why haven’t I read AGOS. I have it. I have pre-ordered it. And I still haven’t read it. I am a failure. I couldn’t have Sevro read to me though. He can’t be around the books because he has incredible hulk paws and must smash everything he touches.
I really need to train my dogs (or cats?) to read to me. Maybe then I would have gotten through The Raven King faster because it took me a MONTH to read it. I kept becoming overwhelmed by the fact that it was ending and putting it down… CAN YOU BELIEVE IT IS OVER?! In other news, I just got A Gathering of Shadows at the library AND I AM SO EXCITED. Now I just have to get my hands on This Savage Song… ❤
I confess I haven’t read that many 2016 releases yet this year, partly because most of the ones I want to read don’t come out until this second half of the year. I was actually a bit disappointed with The Winner’s Kiss but it was good (and they kept the beautiful cover!). My favorite 2016 release so far has been BLACKHEARTS by Nicole Castroman. SO GOOD.
I’m really looking forward to The Beauty of Darkness, Empire of Storms, more Morgan Rhodes, Marissa Meyer, AND JOHN FLANAGAN. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT JOHN FLANAGAN HAS ANOTHER BOOK COMING OUT THIS NOVEMBER. NOVEMBER WILL BE FANTASTIC.
Okay, I just read The Winner’s Curse and I LOVED IT!! Why on earth did it take me so long?? The good thing about waiting this long to join the party is that I don’t have the agony of waiting for the sequels. Yay! I also just read my first Victoria Schwab book (Vicious) and I am in love. I need to read her other books ASAP!
2016 has been definitely a meh year for me when it comes to new releases for me. Same as you, I did enjoy Raven King a lot. Also, I loved Morning Star by Pierce Brown, Truthwitch by Susan Dennard and Some Kind of Perfect by Ritchie twins. Otherwise, no 5 stars reads for me…
Hey Cait,
I have been following your blog for some time but didn’t comment because I’m a shy bookworm. I read Ruined because of your list and really enjoyed it. Em and Cas were adorable, is it wrong to say I’m worried and excited about Olivia…I will be reading The Raven King and Lady Midnight soon 🙂
Gives you cheesecake shaped as a dragon 😉
Oh oh hello there!! *waves wildly and offers you welcome cake* And omg I’m so so glad you liked Ruined! EM AND CAS ARE EVERYTHING and I entirely agree that Olivia is going to be a scary force in the next book. I CAN’T WAIT.😂
Seriously, The Schwab needs to stop EXCELLENTING. AGOS came out in February and I got the ARC for This Savage Song in March, and she either had the most delicious soul in the world, so she got a really good Faustian deal for it when she traded it in for such writing talent, OR she’s an alien.
The choice is hers, really. But, um, the whole human-author-just-casually-writing-editing-revising-and-publishing-2-3-mindblowing-books-per-year (while GETTING HER MASTER’S AT A SUPER PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY, which was last year)… nuh-uh. Don’t buy it. WE’RE ONTO YOU, SCHWAB!
And, uhm, my THE RAVEN KING WAS JUST THE BEST AND IT COMPLETED MY LIFE thing is rather unnecessary, y’know, given my aggressive Stiefvaterism, but… HERE IT IS ANYWAY. TRK WAS THE BEST AND IT COMPLETED MY LIFE. So, yush, I approve of this list.
(The Impostor Queen and Ruined are on their way over to me, too, and that’s basically all your fault. )
AHHHHH VE SCHWAB IS A GRANDLY GLORIOUS ALIEN. Have you seen this tumblr article though?!? This just makes me admire her more to be honest.💕
ZOMG I LOVE MAGGIE STIEFVATER THE MOST THOUGH. SHE IS STILL MY ULTIMATE FAVOURITE AUTHOR I CANNOT HELP THIS. <3
And I'm very glad my recommendations are sneaking into your life. :') NO REGRETS. I so hope you like them!! AHHHHHH.
No need to panic! I read my first Raven Boy book last month. AND YES IT WAS AMAZING, I AM CONVERTED. I cannot wait for the second book (OVerdrive line-up) I had my doubts about Ruined but it is now on the TBR along with The Lost And Found because I have a feeling your recs are right up my alley. (its a dark and twisty alley but it has good books)
ZOMG THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY, JESSICA. HUZZAH. I hope you get the other ones super soon. AHHHHHHHHHH. (And omg I’m glad you like my recommendations. We must be bookish twins here. *hi fives*)😜