When one reads a gargantuan amount of books (aka me reading 300 last year) it’s VERY likely that I’m going to love and adore a book — and then promptly NEVER TALK ABOUT IT EVER AGAIN. It’s the trial of having a horrendous memory*.
I also forget to frenetically shriek about some books because I don’t review them on the blog. (90% of my reviews just fester in loneliness on Goodreads.) Which occasionally has me staring at my bookshelves** and thinking, “Wow, that book totally stomped on my feels, mushed my delicate soul, and had me freaking for 8 hours about extraordinary feeeeelings…HOW DID I FORGET IT EXISTED?” It’s agony, truly.
So that all changes today since I’m linking it up with Top Ten Tuesday‘s weekly prompt “Books I Really Love But Feel Like I Haven’t Talked About Enough“. You will a) get to hear me shriek about books I love but you probably didn’t KNOW I loved, and b) you will then have to go out and read them immediately. My recommendations are the best. YOU KNOW IT.
* Another trial of having a horrendous memory is forgetting how to spell my own name. Honest. I have done this. I also can’t remember my nieces/nephew’s name so I just collectively call them Frank. Sometimes I even forget I have not yet conquered the entire world (I’ve got most of it down? But, ya know, still a work in progress) and therefore get confused when random peasants don’t jump to my command. #trials
** Tell me I’m not the only one who sits around staring at my bookshelves. THEY’RE PRETTY. I’M PROUD OF THEM. BOOOOOKS.
- THE GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH: Have I even ever discussed this book with you?! Because it is AMAZING. It’s the only book in the history of ever that can ever slightly be compared to The Book Thief. WWII. Unlikely romance. Death personified. Love is personified too, and Love and Death literally have a shipping game. Love ships people. Death breaks it up. AND IS IT OKAY FOR ME TO SHIP LOVE/DEATH THEMSELVES? BECAUSE I DO.
- THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST: You know what I adore? Creepy faery stories. You know who writes the best ones? HOLLY CREEPY BLACK. (Okay, that sounded mean…but it is really the highest of high praises because oh my pickled pineapple fronds she is so very good at it.) I love this one particularly because there is a boy with horns in a glass coffin. Why is that so pleasing??? AM I DERANGED OR IS THIS NORMAL???? Do not answer that.
- GIRL SAVES BOY // ALL THIS COULD END: Yes this is the only contemporary author I will mention today. Shush. I have my loves and mostly they involve dragons and people’s hair on fire. BUT! I have forever admired Steph Bowe because a) she published at SIXTEEN YEARS OLD, b) she’s Australia so somehow infinitely cooler than everyone else and c) I HAVE ACTUALLY TALKED TO HER. (Insert intense fangirl moment.) Yes, it was one blog comment. But STILL! Anyway. Her books are quirky and endearing and really weird. In Girl Saves Boy, they steal garden gnomes. In All This Could End, it’s a family of part time bank robbers. How precious.
- HALF BAD // HALF WILD: I do actually talk about this series BUT NEVER ENOUGH. BECAUSE IT HAS STOLEN MY HEART. It has unique formatting and is 1000% an antihero book. Seriously this is about a tortured, abused, magical, terrifying little witchy boy — who nobody loves (except me obviously) and everybody is trying to kill (except me obviously) and who will probably end up doing horrific things in the last book because REASONS. Also I just ordered Half Lost. I AM NOW OFFICIALLY HALF MAD WAITING. (Get it?? Get it?!)
- LAMENT // BALLAD: Did you honestly think I wouldn’t squeeze a Maggie Stiefvater in here? HAHA YOU ADORABLE MITES. Ahem. So least to say yes; I talk about Maggie Stiefvater so much you probably want to duct tape me to Jupiter and leave me there and never look back. BUT! I do not ever mention her faery series. Did you even know this one existed??? HAVE YOU READ IT?!??!? I love them (obviously). They’re her first books, so not as good as The Raven Cycle. But they have music and creepy faeries and the most FUNNY character in the world; aka James. Also it’s a trilogy. But the 3rd book has been seven years in coming. Did you hear me? S.E.V.E.N YEARS. Slay me.
- A GATHERING OF SHADOWS: If you follow me on Goodreads (which you should by the way, I am fun) you’ll have seen me
screamingtalking calmly but enthusiastically about VE Schwab all month. But on my blog? NADA. So, here is a startling fact: I LOVE LOVE LOVE HER BOOKS. They make me weep with their pure perfection. Sassy and bloody and magic and dark and brotherly and stabby. SO MUCH STABBY. (Why do I have intense love for stabby things? Who can know.)
- FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK: I have actually read this book twice already. TWICE. And I’m not even much of a re-reader! But for some unfathomable reason, I never continue with the series?? So I’m about to read it for the third time and then finish this freakishly fantastic series. It is fantasy at its most glorious, peoples. ALSO STILL MUCH STABBY THINGS.
I have a problem.
- MORE THAN THIS: Patrick Ness’ books are, altogether, perfect. (Except for Manchee. No one look at me because I refuse to talk about Manchee. I AM STILL FOREVER SCARRED.) This one was particularly….weird? I still don’t even know half of what happened, and yet I ADORE IT. The writing is so raw and beautiful and different. You know how all books sound the same after a while? NOT A NESS BOOK. (Although I kind of think of the Loch Ness Monster when I talk about him??? Sorry not sorry.)
- TALON // ROGUE: This is one of those books mostly everyone goes “omg they’re so bad” and I go “OMG DRAGGGGGONS” and everything else is irrelevant because dragons. Sure they’re a little bit more paranormal-romance-ish than I like. But they’re sassy and the covers are shiny (DRAGON SOUL TALKING HERE) and dragons and I happily devour each one as it is released.
- BONE GAP: If you take nothing else from this post, hear ye this: THIS BOOK IS THE MOST AMAZING MAGICAL REALISM CREATURE OF THE UNIVERSE AND I SOB I LOVE IT SO MUCH AND YOU MUST READ IT. It just sneaked into my very soul and took up residence there as “so ridiculously well written I will howl and cuddle it”. It has: honey and midnight rides and kidnappings and corn and strange happenings and vaguely sad lonely boy and bitter snarky mean honeybee keeper girl. It’s beautiful. I WANT TO EAT IT BECAUSE BEAUTIFUL. #logicalreaction
I’m guilty of only talking about some books too. I don’t know why I do this because I LOVE SO MANY BOOKS but it always happens to me. *sigh*
Also, I tend to get lost within a hype WHICH IS TERRIBLE I KNOW but sometimes people rave about a book and if I love it too I jump on the wagon shriek about it and NEVER STOP. (It’s a problem, I know.)
THE GAME OF LOVE ND DEATH?! I DIDN’T KNOW YOU’D EVEN READ THIS. It’s amazing, truly.
And Holly Black too. She’s wonderful and I love her books but I HARDLY EVER talk about them!
Ahhh, this post is making me think about all the books I love but ‘ignore’. I’m probably going to sit in front of my shelves for the next few hours just thinking about which books I do this with…
Lovely post, Cait. 👌
IT IS A GRAND QUANDARY RIGHT?!? I guess it’s easy to get into ruts?! I mean, but no regrets that I spend 90% of my life talking about the Raven Cycle. *happy sigh* BUT I NEED TO REMEMBER I LOVE THESE BEASTLY BEAUTIES TOO.
Zomg, isn’t The Game of Love and Death just about EVERYTHING tho?!? *hugs book* I shippy ship so many shippable things in there. And Holly Black is the BEST. I’m so excited for her new series next year. *shrieks*
I think I don’t talk about Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer enough. I read it when it was released last year and it was hilarious and I absolutely loved it. Such a great book, and I literally never talk about it, though I cannot WAIT for the second novel to come out.
Another series I feel like I don’t talk about enough is The Raven Cycle. I love these books and I love the characters (especially Gansey). I can’t wait for the last book to come out, though I haven’t read Blue Lily Lily Blue yet, the books somehow take me so long to get through.
Loved the blogpost as always!
Xx Amber, http://thenamelessbookblog.blogspot.nl/
YESSS THAT BOOK IS WONDERFUL AND PERFECT. *hugs it* I can’t WAIT for the next one. EEEEEP. And zomg you can ALWAYS find someone to listen to Raven Cycle ramblings here. <33 I CANNOT TALK ABOUT THAT SERIES ENOUGH. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK LIKE I NEED AIR ERMAGERD.
Ooh, that’s a toughie! I have to go with Stephen King’s 11/22/63 and Bill Bryson’s The Short History of Nearly Everything. One’s a thriller based on the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and the other, a non-fiction 🙂
Ooh, that is awesome that you like non-fiction!! 😀 I read a non-fic this week, but honestly I basically read one a year. Shame on me! 😂
Nothing motivates you to read your course books like finding out that Half Lost will be released in seven days! XD I have a great memory for anything that doesn’t really matter in the real world – i.e. book plots and characters – but that doesn’t mean I don’t forget to scream my favourites from the rooftops sometimes. 😉 +Anima definitely deserves a mention, also Heart Shaped Bruise, Magnus Chase, the 13 Secrets trilogy, the Half Bad trilogy (no one screams about that on enough) and…have I mentioned Embassy Row here before? I don’t think I have. 😉
AFJKDALSD I KNOW RIGHT?!? I just pre-ordered it and afjdkalsdjad that is all I can basically say. Ahem. I’m going to do some writing soon, so hopefully that’ll arrive when I’m done and be my REWARD. *shrieks*
Oh oh you NEVER talk about Embassy Row, neeever. 😉
Yes I am definitely another human (possibly) who sits around staring at my bookshelves, that is what they are for right, because there are to many new books to read old books so you just stare lovingly at those old ones. I can’t actually think of any books I have forgotten but of course if I do remember I wont have forgotten anymore. Though maybe I should rant about the ‘Little Bush Maid series by Mary G Bruce” Even if they were written so many years ago they are so Australian and I love those books, those characters.
OF COURSE that’s what bookshelves are for. I mean, why else would we collect books if not to stare at them?!?! Plus mine are all rainbow organised and just….ahhhh. 😍 Ahem. okay. I best calm down before I run away and elope with my bookshelves.
OMG I LOVE THOSE BOOKS!! My mum used to read and re-read them to us as kids! I honestly want to reread and make sure I still love them. :’)
I haven’t read any of these – I need to get on it asap.
DEFINITELY YES. *flings books across the universe*
More than This is in my TBR!!! Yaaay! Now I am more than excited to read it!
HUZZUAH AND HURRAH!! I hope you like it. 😂 It’s so…weird. But perfect. Perfectly weird?! Let’s go with that. *nods*
I love Lament and Ballad, so so good!!! Haven’t read any of the others though, will need to add them to my TBR (so many books, so little time!). Wonderful post! xx
YESSS. YOU SO SO DO! And omg you are like of the very few people I’ve met who have actually read Ballad/Lament *hi fives* Isn’t James everything though?! <3
OMG YES HALF BAD! I love the series so much and I’m sad that it’s nearly over! Do you think Nathan should choose Gabriel? I do! He should get over Annalise – especially since she betrayed him in Half Wild. And AGOF! LOVE LOVE LOVE that series too! What did you think of the ending?
YES YESSSS. OMG YES GABRIEL 10000% OF THE WAY. I did actually like Annalise, but I think she doesn’t have enough backbone for Nathan? And I think he is WAY too damaged and she’ll never be able to understand it. I need to read the finale so bad. *shrieks*
I’M READING HALF LOST RIGHT NOW COS I GOT AN EARLY COPY AT YASQUAD AND OMG THE WOUNDS IN MY FEELINGS FROM HALF WILD HAVE BEEN RIPPED OPEN AGAIN!
AFJDAKSLD I AM GETTING FEELINGS JUST READING THAT YOU ARE GETTING FEELINGS. OMG NATHAN AND GABRIEL MY BABIES. *aggressively ships them*
Love your beautiful organization of this post!
And I must add More Than This to my wish list. Thank you!
Here’s my Great Books I Almost Forgot to Share With You!
YAY!! I hope you get a chance to read it someday. 😀
I literally just added half these books to my TBR just now. This is bad. There are to many books. 0_o
*rushes to support my leaning-tower-of-pizza-TBR*
Books I love that I never scream about? Well..hm. I tend to scream about books all the time, but one series that I never talk enough about is the Raven King trilogy by Stephen R. Lawhead. IT’S AMAZING AND IT’S A RETELLING OF ROBIN HOOD AND IT’S FANTASTIC AND ROBIN IS SO SWOON WORTHY ARGH. There should be a law commanding everybody to read it.
I’M SORRY. #lies But seriously your TBR will thank me one day because, well, MY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THE GOLDNESS OF GOLDENS. (That makes sense, I swear it somehow does. Ahem)
DUUUUDE. I know that Raven King trilogy is not by Maggie Stiefavter BUT THE NAME ALONE MAKES ME WANT TO LOOK IT UP. Plus Robin Hood. omg consider me convinced. :’)
Memory = horrible (I forget books that I read VERY EASILY)
I haven’t read most of the books in that list except for Half Bad. GAH! THAT BOOK IS SCREWING WITH MY FEELINGS. I LOVE IT TO DEATH. I HATE THE BOOK ALSO. #decisions
The Game of Love and Death looks fabulous! Along with the others, of course, though I baffled about Bone Gap. I don’t understand what it is about!
I’ve only read The Ask and The Answer but honestly Patrick Ness is one of the best authors I’ve seen so far. I have to read his other books though. That day will come.
And I have to read Half Wild and A Gathering of Shadows! *gets buried under a massive pile of TBR books*
WE ARE THE SAME IN THIS, ALEX. Memories…meh. Who needs them anyway. WHO NEEDS TO REMEMBER HOW TO SPELL THEIR OWN NAME? Not important. Books, however, are important. *hugs books* OMGGG I’M GLAD YOU LIKE HALF BAD!! I find it doens’t have a lot of rabid fans?! But I could seriously hug it for a CENTURY OR TWO.
Bone Gap is about…EVERYTHING. It’s just…it’s the kind of book you just have to read. It’s magical realism, though, so only read it if you like that sort of thing. 😂
I get the feeling there’s a lot going on in your head – and that it is at least partially fuelled by coffee. Maybe this is why the bad memory, yes? Too much other stuff going on – no room for things like names and spelling 😉 Fab post – made me smile a lot 🙂
DUDE YES. Except I don’t drink coffee. So imagine me ON coffee…*shrieks* Ahem, but yes, I think there’s far too much things going on in my brain for little pathetic things like NAMES. Especially my own. 😂
Great list. I started reading The Darkest Part of forest one time but Idk why I left it. Lament and Ballad were my first Fantasy books so they are really special to me. Love them 🙂
YAYY I’m so glad you are a Ballad/Lament lover too. *happy dance*
I need to read some of these. Like The Darkest Part of the Forest. It’s right there on my TBR. Right there.
Note: I actually read it. On Tuesday. You may take some credit!
OMGG GO ME. Ahem. I mean go you. For trusting my awesome recommendations. :’)
(Did you like it?!)
BONE GAP is my favourite book of 2015 and so I feel you on the beautiful and wanting to eat whole and loving it. Gaaaah that book. I guess from your list I need to read A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC??? Everybody raves about it but I’m not a huge fantasy fan but I’ll have to try it! I loved her YA (the Archived series). Great list, Cait.
OMG REALLY!? OH HUZZAH FOR YOU, RACHEL. You clearly have excellent taste in books and omg what is it with Bone Gap being so so underrated?! It is beyond perfection. :’)
DUDE HECK YES TO A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC. Trust me. It’s glorious. It is everything. It’ll probably stab you in the feels. And, like, I was worried because it’s adult fantasy and I basically am a 98% YA reader? But it reads like YA and the characters are like 19 and 20, I think, so good thing for me. XD
Half Bad and Half Wild are amazing! I just don’t know how much longer I can wait until the the release of Half Lost! And, I’m mildly concerned for the characters well-being… Also The Darkest Part of the Forest was pretty good too – like you said Holly Black can really write creepy fairy tales. So many others on your list I still need to read – the most important being A Gathering of Shadows! I need more V.E. Schwab in my life! I also need more Maggie Stiefvater – I actually picked up copies of these two pretty recently, but I’m kind of waiting to start them until after The Raven King. I also have a copy of Finnikin of the Rock which I’m going to have to begin soon, as well!
Great picks!
AFJDASKLD I AM EXACTLY OF THE SAME OPINION REGARDING HOW DO WE SURVIVE FOR HALF LOST. *shrieks* I’ve got it ordered but I needed it, like, yesterday. And I don’t blame you for waiting to start The Raven Boys until The Raven King is out! BUT SOON! It’s nearly upon us! OH GLORIOUS DAY. :’)
Great list, Cait, I love the photos accompanying this list 🙂 I honestly haven’t read any of the books on your list but I am familiar with most of these titles and I do have one of V.E. Schwab’s books currently sitting on my TBR pile; I’ll get to it soon enough 😉
Omg thank you, Lianne!! 😀 And yes yes get thee onto VE Schwab’s books ASAP! YOU WILL NEVER REGRET IT. (Except for, you know, when the feels are attacking. 😂)
I often stare dreamily at book shelves as well. Its a habit I picked up from my mom, who btw has an entire room of book shelves in her house. We call it the library and its my favorite place in the world! She has read basically all of the books in there and will do a review when I pull one out. (The only ones she hasn’t read are the small collection of James Fenimore Cooper belonging to my dad.)
My favorite books that I frequently forget to talk about are the fairy tales by K.M. Shea. They are on kindle unlimited and they ROCK. Strong female leads, a little romance and a ton of humor. Basically, they’re my kind of book, but I forget to recommend them ALL the time. Why is that? What am I doing with my life?
Did you just say…an entire room of bookshelves? *SCREAMS* OKAY YOUR MOTHER IS AWESOME AND #GOALS aND CLEARLY YOUR HOUSE IS THE BEST. AHHHHH. Ahem. I honestly want to be like that though…like have a house of books I have read and be able to remember them all. :’)
Ahhh strong female leads and tons of humour sound DIVINE. My kinda book. :’)
I’ve had The Game of Love and Death sitting on my TBR shelf for almost a year. I know that I’ll love it, so I don’t know why I’ve been putting off reading it.
AHHH you must get onto that then!! *flails* I didn’t even expect to love it as much as I did when I read it?! BUT IT WAS BEYOND PERFECT. *shrieks*
I am actually *crying* of laughter over this post…. I, too, have a love for all things stabby. I do not think it makes us lesser, I think that it makes us *better.* I haven’t read most of these, but I would talk calmly and enthusiastically along with you about V.E. Schwab because that woman is the GODDESS of all things stabby, dark, and beautifully deadly. Love this post 🙂
here’s my TTT!
OMG THAT IS GOOD NEWS. 😂 Ahem. But stabby things are just…the best. All books should be stabby. *nods* AND ISN’T VE SCHWAB INSANELY WONDERFUL?!!? SHE STABS ALL THE THINGS AND IT’S BEAUTIFUL.
This was a post made of awesome, Cait. I just finished the Game of Love and Death on Sunday and it broke my feels machine AND I ADORED IT TO PIECES. I need to read Maggie Steifvater’s other books stat! I love the Raven cycle, and The Scorpio Races, but I still haven’t read Forever and Lament et al (# Shame). Half Bad/Wild are also really good books. But horrible. I once started Finnikin of the Rock and never finished, so I must do that at some point, because Melina Marchetta’s contemporary is awesome. Also, I have to read more than this. thanks for reminding me of me mountain sized TBR! (*sarcasm intended). Goodreads is my memory. I hardly ever talk about Mortal Fire (set in an alternate New Zealand magical realism with a half islander protagonist and magically realistic), and The Girl Who Could Fly (Alternate America heartbreaking MG about magical children and creatures which is fabulous). Thanks for the post!
I also like to stare at my bookshelf. It is opposite my bed, so I can think of all my books as I go to sleep.
YESSSS. YOU NEED TO READ ALL THE STIEFVATER. Have you read the Shiver series too?! They are beyond beautiful. :’) Omg, so basically if it’s a Stiefvater book we can assume I’ve rated it 5-stars and am about to fangirl wildly over it. #notEvenSorry
And I actually need to read more Marchetta. MUCH MORE. 😂 I shame my Australian name but only having read 2 of her books. HEH.
(Goodreads is my memory too. Let’s just take a moment to thank the world that goodreads exists because omg. I would be dead without it. And probably re-reading all the same books because I could never remember what I read.)
Okay, if you are comparing The Game of Love and Death to The Book Thief, I MUST READ IT!! The Book Thief is one of my favorite books ever! And I have never read VE Schwab, but I think I need to, like, yesterday. Great list!
YES YES YoU mUST. I mean, it’s not the SAME samey sameness. Just be warned of that. 😂 But it’s the only book I’ve ever felt could even possibly be compared to The Book Thief and not at all be rippy-offy. :’)
And yes DUDE. Don’t procrastinate VE Schwab! I DID AND IT WAS A MISTAKE. HER BOOKS ARE LIFE.
Totally agree about More Than This! Still have no idea what I read BUT I LOVED IT. Also, Talon is on my forever long tbr pile. One day I will get to it (I mean—DRAGONS—obviously. I have to read them because of the dragons). Have you read the Dragon Slippers trilogy by Jessica Day George? I loved those books.
Omg that is literally ME. And I can’t even remember all the details now (I have such a horrid memory) but I just LOVED it and it was perfect. Yet weird. And omg I’m glad you’re going to read Talon! I honestly need all the dragon books of ever. They are my favourite creatures and yet I’ve only read a handful of dragony books?! WHY ARE THEY NOT POPULAR?! hmph. Anyway I haven’t read Dragon Slippers! BUT I WILL LOOK IT UP. THANK YOU.
Omigooodness the fact that you just linked The Game of Love and Death to The Book Thief has me reaching for the latter (because I’m a terrible person and I haven’t read it yet). I lOVED Love and Death and just AH *dies of feels*. SO. GOOD. So clever, like really, *applause*.
Okay, so 1) staring at my bookshelves is my favourite pastime. I like to look at them and think, dayum, I’ve got good taste and just look at those spines.
And, 2) I forget about amazing books ALL. THE. TIME. Argh. And it’s usually in my moments of staring at my shelves that my eye catches on a forgotten book and I make a screeching turtle sound and run to Twitter.
Also. YOUR PICTURES ARE SO BEAUTIFUL MY EYES HURT.
AHHHHHH I’M SO GLAD YOU LOVE THE GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH TOO! *shrieks* Seriously it’s so underrated, right?! And omgggg, yes yes go read The Book Thief. And watch the movie too because, for once, the movie is just BEAUTIFULLY done and I would honestly rate it the same as the book. 😂 (I’m not bossy, no not at all, why do you ask. 😂) AHEHHHHM.
That is literally my thinking as I stare at my shelves. We are FINE human beans with excellent collecting abilities.
OMG THANK YOU FOR THE SACRIFICE OF YOUR HURTING EYES ADORING MY PICTURES. #daymade
The Game of Love and Death is such an interesting concept and has been staring at me every time I go to the bookstore! Lament/Ballad *sigh* I read those books so many years ago I have now forgotten almost everything about them, I remember really enjoying them and waiting and waiting and waiting for the final book which never came. I have now even thrown away *horror of horrors – I know* my copy of them, resigning myself to fact we may never get a ending!
Omg you must stop staring and MUST DEVOUR AT DAWN. MAHHHWW. Ahem. okay. You can just stare if you want to.😂 But it is soooo good, I promise. Ahem. And omg I need to reread Lament/Ballad?! But I keep going “I’ll re-read them before the 3rd book” and it never arrives and I’m still here crying.
Girl Saves Boy is going on the TBR. I was just commenting on another TTT post about Erin Brockovich , and I realized after I typed it that I have met her and talked to her. She came to my university as part of our speaker series. This makes us kinda famous, right? 🙂
OMG. YES. You are definitely famous right now and you should own that. *nods* (Also I hope you like Girl Saves Boy if you ever get a chance to read it!)
I’VE BEEN WANTING TO READ A GATHERING OF SHADOWS FOREVER BUT I CAN’T FIND A COPY OF IT IN STORES ANYWHERE??? {although that’s not really saying much because i’m short, can barely see the top of the shelves, and refuse to ask an employee for help b/c i’m stubborn like that but y’know}
Stiefvater’s faery books are so good. Although I didn’t really enjoy the second one as much, I still thought they were both pretty magnificent. And the music focus made me extremely happy. ^-^ Is she actually going to write/publish the third one?????? I feel like it’s been so long now that she might not. Which would be horrible because the world always needs more Stiefvater.
I SWEAR I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO ALWAYS THOUGHT OF THE LOCH NESS MONSTER WHEN SEEING PATRICK NESS’ NAME.
I guess I would say I have a ‘selective good memory,’ as in, yes I’ll totally remember that new book is coming out today, but no, I won’t remember that thing I was supposed to do until it’s nearly the time that I have to be done with it. >_<
Lovely post as always!! <3
DUDE I AM SO SHORT TOO. LET US JUST FLAIL IN MUTUAL SHORTNESS RIGHT NOW. Ahem. But back to AGOS…online bookstore?! I buy everything online because my town doesn’t even have a good bookstore.😂 And it’s WAY cheaper to buy online too, omg. Ahem.
Music books are WONDERFUL and honestly there aren’t enough?! Like that focus on traditional or classical music. There are a zillion about rock bands.😂 I DON’T EVEN KNOW IF THE 3RD WILL EVER COME OUT. I feel like the publishers must’ve said they didn’t want it??? But…I don’t want to be left hanging like this. *shrieks*
OKAY GOOD. I’M GLAD I’M NOT ALONE WITH LOCH NESS PATRICK THINKINGS.
Shanti just finished The Game of Love and Death and she LOVED it. So I’m definitely going to have to read it. Same for the half bad series (I think we own Half Wild?) and More Than This sounds wonderful and why haven’t I got it yet I NEED it. I read Girl Saves Boy a few years ago, and I thought it was pretty good (it’s the one with the depressed boy with issues and this girl who helps him but also has some sort of issues? I don’t remember it that well). I really should try Steph Bowe’s other books. I also need to read VE schwa’s books, but I’m less into fantasy so I don’t think I’ll try the other ones. Good flailing, Cait *pats head as if Cait is dog*
AHHH SHANTI HAS GOOD TASTE CLEARLY. Definitely steal it off her. *nods* And YES that’s sort of the plot of Girl Saves Boys.😂 Plus he has cancer..I think. Omg, it has to be like 4 or so years since I read it. I AM WAY NEEDING A RE-READ. Like it and the 938 other books I’ve read and forgotten. omg. Life is so hard.
*accepts head patting*
*even gives you cake because is so nice*
Wow you have so many, I can’t even think of one. Maybe Sherlock I love that series so much!
Yesss, I like Sherlock too! Although I’ve only read one of the original ones. ONE. Shame on me. I must read the rest.😂
I am always in irrecuperable loss and woe when the title comes up in my presence and I realized I had forgotten it – Is this the feeling parents get when they forget about a child, lost them, and or forgot to pick them up from school? Guilt. Utter guilt.
SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi is a precious, dear book to me that seems to have been carved out specifically for a special place in my heart – truly, I fell in love with all it’s aspects! Especially, the new writing style/prose she wove in the book with her character. Alas, the Never Ending Forgetting Cycle of a Bookwyrm has not been broken for me nor cured. Do you think they’ll ever be a cure?
Sincerely, a pondering (and much forgetful) bookwyrm fan.
I HEAR YOU WITH THE GUILT. *feels shamed* Books are so glorious and yet it seems impossible to remember them all at once?! AND OMG I SHALL FLAIL OVER SHATTER ME WITH YOU!! But mostly Kenji. OKAY MOSTLY WARNER. *shrieks*
Great list, Cait! I’ve never read anything by Steph Bowe before. Those covers though! These seem like books that I need to check out.
If you like contemporary that’s quirky with a side of tragic — YOU MUST TRY STEPH BOWE!!!
OH MY GRAPE I just read Bone Gap recently and I freaking LOVED IT. It’s like nothing I’ve ever read before and the writing is incredible and gave me so many feels! I adore the characters and the setting and BASICALLY EVERYTHING ABOUT THE WHOLE BOOK. Definitely one of my favorite reads so far this year!
I can very easily forget about a book that I’ve just read and then I have to think really hard in order to remember it. Like I just reread City of Lost Souls maybe last week and couldn’t recall that I’d read it. It was the book I read before Bone Gap and I was wondering “now what was that book I read right before that epic one with the cornfields??”
I think Lament and Ballad were the first books by Maggie Stiefvater that I read and I was so impressed and captivated by them that I just had to read EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HER OTHER BOOKS EVER. And I love them all. <33 My favorites are The Raven Cycle and The Scorpio Races.
Now I really want to read those books by Steph Bowe because I'm sixteen and dream of being a published author in the near future. . . .
AFJDALKSFD YOU DID?!?! OMGGGG. DANCE WITH ME AUTUMN. DANCE THE DANCE OF BONE GAP LOVE. *flails* Isn’t it ridiculously underrated though?! I think everyone needs this book in their life. OR WAIT. Maybe I shall just selfishly hug it to myself because it is just that goooood. Finn. <3 PETEY. <3 *ships so hard* Ahem.
HEH. I totally understand.😂 I honestly forget everything. I couldn't even remember what books I'd read this week. I couldn't even remember what books I just BOUGHT and needed to read. *facepalm* MY LIFE IS A GREAT BIG HOLE OF FORGOTTEN THINGS.
Omg and I'm so glad you love Lament/Ballad. SERIOUSLY YOUR READING TASTE IS PERFECT, OKAY!?? OKAY.
I tend to forget about A Curse Dark as Gold and The Body Finder, both books I absolutely loved when I read them a few years ago. So Good!!
OH oh I’ve heard of A Curse Dark As Gold! And this makes me want to look it up again. ;D
There are definitely some books that stick out to me because they’re just so incredible. And there are also books that I forget about (usually kindle books of mine).
I will always have a deep affection for The Hunger Games trilogy and The Scorpio Races. The writing and the premises just OVERTLY STAND OUT to me, and yeah, I know they’re r.e.a.l.l.y. popular, but for good reason.
Also, The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Those are three books that I adore so much.
Also, I have some indie books that I love, particularly Resistance by Jaye L. Knight (Jaye is like, the queen of indie publishing and books, seriously). And Water Princess, Fire Prince by Kendra E. Ardnek. I have a personal connection to that story more than anything else. Oh, and Counted Worthy by Leah E. Good, because that was the first indie book I ever read, the first YA that I ever read, the first book I ever fangirled over, and the Leah was the first author I ever emailed shyly to tell how much I loved their book, and now she’s practically my sister.
My memory keeps all the things I don’t want to remember (like mortifying moments when I wanted to shrivel up and activate invisibility) and forgets important stuff. GAH. I need a system upgrade.
Oh oh I agree about kindle books being forgettable! It’s a problem when a book isn’t in front of my nose, honestly. 😂 OMGGG I’M SO GLAD YOU MENTIONED THE HUNGER GAMES AND THE SCOPRIO RACES. I could cry because I love them so much. And actually they are both the reason I even started reading YA, ergo started blogging, ergo found the one true love of my life. :’) And The Help! OMG. I LOVE THAT BOOK. And also the movie…and dare I say I love the movie equally to the book?! 😂
And that’s awesome that you read indie books too! WOOT. 😀
I need a better memory too. *wails* WHERE CAN WE GET REFUNDS FOR OUR DODGY BRAINS?! (actually I like my brain, I just need more memory space. 😂)
V.E. SCHWAB IS MY NEW OBSESSION! I finally got the chance to read A Darker Shade of Magic a few weeks ago and was blown away! IT WAS SO AMAZING THAT MY COMMENT IS ABOUT TO BE ALL CAPS BECAUSE I CAN’T CONTAIN MYSELF! I’ve been itching to get my hands on A Gathering of Shadows ever since. CAN’T WAIT! 🙂
YESSS ME TOOOOO. I’ve read 3 of her books so far this year and AM UTTERLY IN LOVE WITH THEM. Plus I read Vicious last year and will cry with adoration. <3 AFJDSAKLDJ Ahem. And all caps is BASICALLY MY LANGUAGE. LET US SHRIEK SCHWAB LOVE TOGETHER! HUZZAH!
Oh my gosh, can I firstly say just how gorgeous your blog is? *stares at all the pretty for ages and ages* Then, I have been meaning to read almost all of the books on your list for a good while now, but as you well know, sooooo many books, so very little time (although I sure as hell am making it my life’s mission to change that). I’m a huge fan of Holly Black, so really need to get my butt into gear and finally get around to reading Darkest Part of the Forest. Also, BONE GAP. I feel like I’m the only person who has yet to read this book. I need that one in my life.
OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU KIND THING. <3 That honestly is so nice to hear. 😂
Agh, yes the "so little time" thing is a CURSE. *cries* But omg you are definitely not the only person to have not read Bone Gap! I think only ONE person so far in my comments has said they've read it. 😂 CLEARLY YOU ALL NEED TO FIX THIS, THOUGH, BECAUSE OMG IT'S SO SO PERFECT.
Ooh! A Game of Love and Death sounds delicious and is now on my ‘eventually read’ list. I DON’T THINK I’VE EVER MENTIONED ANY OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS ON MY BLOG. SCREECHING ENVELOPES MY SOUL AS I REALIZE THIS. ***opening blogger***
***looks at previous comments***
***notices that some of them are polite and include no screeching***
***nervously laugh and get back to my precious The Scarlet Pimpernel***
LET ME SCREECH WITH YOU ILSE. COME NOW. SCREECHING IS THE FANGIRL LANGUAGE AND YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND SOMEONE TO SCREECH WITH HERE. *screams*
LOTS of these are already on my tbr – AGoS obviously shall be one of my very next reads! Then there’s Half Bad, Talon, Darkest Part of the Forest and Finnikin of the Rock. I WILL read them all though – especially since I own most of them XD Great picks my friend! xx
YES YES I HOPE YOU LOVE AGOS. I don’t know if it’s better than ADSOM?! Or just that I was so in love with the characters already that it just felt flawless. *happy sigh*
Books I ADORE?! I also really love the Half Bad series. OH MY GOSH! Sally Green should totally write more books in that world. I feel like I never bring up Andrew Smith books enough either. His books always have a deep meaning but make me laugh so much. I love them. Ooh, and Marie Lu books, she writes awesome books, and draws beautifully. Have you ever seen her art? I wish she would publish her sketchbook or something. I always talk about Sarah J. Mass, but this is just another reason. I love her books, she is my favorite author (and will be FOREVER)! She writes thick books and is always writing something. She is what fuels my inner pineapple.
Sally Green can please write immediately EVERYTHING OF EVER SO I CAN READ IT AND BE IN LOVE WITH IT. *shrieks* And oh oh I haven’t seen Marie Lu’s art?! So she’s one of those sickeningly talented in MORE THAN ONE AREA sort of people? UNFAIR. hehe Just kidding! Omg that’s awesome!
I’m sure I forget to talk about books I loved. I’ve read so many over the years, and my memory isn’t that great, so… Yeah. There are probably a few!
Agh, I am with you on the bad-memory aspect. IT IS THE CURSE OF THE BOOKWORM LIFE. *sobs*
I was really worried for you until I saw that you said you’re going to finish the Lumatere Chronicles. Because Finnikin. and Isaboe. And oh my goodness the pain. It’s real. but OMG so worth it. I will look forward to seeign you shriek about Froi and Quintana.
ISABOE. <3 FINNIKIN. <3 FROI. BASICALLY ALL THE CHARACTERS. *shrieks* And I will finish it, I absolutely promise! In fact I just ordered Froi so I have it to read after I finish my re-read of Finnikin. 😀
I HAVE THE MOST HORRIBLE MEMORY EVER (I think that this part of the reason I don’t have many friends). BUT YEAH. I need to read those books, ASAP. And, honestly, if I didn’t have a crappy, unorganized bookshelf and instead I had a nice, hopefully color-cordinated one, I WOULD STARE AT ITS BEAUTY ALL DAY AND NIGHT.
AND THAT GIF USAGE YES YES YES YES YES.
And also, YES YOU HAVE BEEN PRAISING V.E. SCHWAB VERY HEAVILY YES I KNOW. I NEED TO READ ALL HER BOOKS I HATE SCHOOL AND HOMEWORK WHY (and also, I particularly remember a very humorous back-and-forth in the comments of your A Gathering Of Shadows review on GR, where Bee and Miriam admitted to ship Kell and Rhy and you were just utterly confused BECAUSE THEY’RE BROTHERS and now I’m slightly terrified I’m going to ship them too but I’m starting to ship Kell and Lila just from reading your reviews so, well……Let’s see).
Omg, you make me LAUGH. Probably the reason I lose all my friends very quickly too…I seem to misplace them? Eh. These things happen. AHEM. But it’s veeery easy to have a nicely organised bookshelf…I AM JUST SAYING. *pets bookshelf* Sometimes I don’t get much done because I just stare at it. Between it and patting my puppy — MY LIFE IS DOOMED. #notevensad
Well Kell and Rhy are like adopted brothers. But I am still VERY anti-shipping them and won’t even be ashamed to stand by that. *stamps foot* Shipping brothers is just ew. KELL AND LILA ARE AMAZING THO.
Nice picks for this week! I haven’t read any of the books on your list… I’ll have to expand my reading horizons!!
Here’s a link to my TTT for this week:
http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2016/03/ten-books-i-really-love-but-feel-like-i.html
I’m glad you liked my list anyway! 😀
I STILL HAVEN’T READ A GATHERING OF SHADOWS WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE. NOTHING GOOD, CLEARLY. But YES The Darkest Part of the Forest impressed me a whole lot, and everyone else it seemed to…and now no one seems to bring it up. I MEAN I DIDN’T MAKE THE BOOK UP, EVERYONE ELSE READ IT, TOO. And I know I say this ON EVERY POST but WHY ARE YOUR BOOK PHOTOS SO GREAT LATELY? Who did you sell your soul to?
CLEARLY NOTHING GOOD, OMG, ERIN, HOW COULD YOU LET US DOWN LIKE THIS? *sobs* *throws ADSOM at you* I don’t even know why The Darkest Part of the Forest isn’t talked about much?! I was literally screeching as I read it because it was such a CAIT book. *flails*
WELL IT’S THE DRAGON SECRETARIES SEE? I fired the clones and got myself some decent dragon help….best decision of ever. I highly recommend it.
i loved illuminae and an ember in the ashes but they never come up when someone asks about my favorite books! i read both in 2015 but they were both great and i don’t know why i never talk about them!
Ahh I love Illumiane SO MUCH too! But agreed…I never even mention it. Which is ridiculousness. You and I both need to fix this and screech about the gloriousness of Illuminae more. 😂
THE GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH SOUNDS SO GOOD OMG. *immediately adds to TBR pile* And I’ve not even read the book and I ship Love and Death already.
Books I don’t shriek about nearly enough include The Clockwork Three (HANNAH AND FERDINAND SITTING IN A TREE), E.L. Konigsburg’s books, and the Discworld series (which I think you would really like – comedy fantasy with incompetent wizards, sarcastic Watchmen, and lots of explosions and adventure. Also, a badass Grim Reaper).
Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality
YES YES IT IS FANTASTIC. I mean, when do I ever recommend less than fantastic books? *flips hair fantastically* AHEM. Shipping Love and Death is just like the LOGICAL thing to do, right?!
Oh oh I LOVE EL Konigsburg! I read her books as a kid…the Mixed up Files of Mrs Basile E Frankish-something? I LOVED THAT BOOK. I wanted to run away to a museum immediately. AHem.
LOL I love your post title 🙂
My TTT
Why thank you. 😂
UGH. UGHUGHUGH! I have been dying to read The Game of Love and Death for what feels like aaaaaages, and have yet to make it happen. I need to work on this. I need to work on this SOON.
Great collection of titles! I SO agree with you on Talon/Rogue — those booooooooks! I can’t wait for Soldier to be published; I need my collection to be complete!
Here’s my TTT.
DUDE YOU MUST JUST DROP EVERYTHING AND READ IT. #ExcellentAdviceFromCait And omg I need Solider immediately. 😂 I’m so glad it’s nearly out because I NEED ANSWERS AND CLOSURE. And I need my ship to sail. (Fly? #TeamGarrett)
Oh my lord there are so many books I don’t talk enough about. Like basically all of them. Although this year hasn’t been as good 🙁 only a single 5-star read in three months. I confess myself disappointed.
Yes. ME TOOO. All of them. *shrieks* Why are there so many amazing books out there?! I mean, I’m happy to talk about Stiefvater 99% of the time, BUT! I do have other favourites. Strange though that fact may be.
(Omg, that’s sucky about this year’s reading. 🙁 I’ve had a HORRIBLE reading March. Only seven books got 4 or 5 stars, and about 12 have gotten reeeally low. WHAT IS THIS SAD LIFE.)
BONE GAP BONE GAP BONE GAP. *screeches* I love that book far too much and now you’re making me want to read it again.
AHHH YOU DO?!? OMG, AIMEE, YOU INCREDIBLE CREATURE. Not enough people realise how gorgeously wonderful that book is.
Love your picks! I’ve heard mixed reviews about Half Bad and Darkest Part of the Forest, but will give them a try (and follow you on goodreads!)
Here’s My Top 10
IGNORE THE BAD REVIEWS ON HALF BAD! ONLY MY OPINION MATTERS HUZZAH! (Hehe, I’m just kidding. 😂 I CAN’T HELP MY WEIRD HUMOUR. Ahem.)
OMG you win for most comments on a TTT! Yowza!
Never apologize for weird humour. The internet was built on weird humour. Weird = awesome. I will follow your weirdness!!
I always find myself staring at my bookshelves – and I basically can’t remember anything important. So there. ;P
I have read exactly zero of these books (though A Darker Shade of Magic is sitting on my read-next pile, and I really liked Vicious). However, I intend to fix that, as they all sound delightful. (And a boy with horns in a glass coffin sounds extremely interesting). Bone Gap has been on my radar for awhile now, I just haven’t gotten round to it 🙂
So thanks for the recommendations!
I found that much of my list consisted of humorous fantasy novels that I read as a teenager, such as Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia Wrede. At least four titles involved dragons. They were all completely random. I don’t talk about them nearly enough, and I sometimes forget they exist. But I always remember when I see them!
I’m glad I’m not alone in the terrible bookish memory thing. 😂 WE CAN SUFFER TOGETHER. HEH. Ahem. Omg you MUST get onto ADSOM so so fast. I adored Vicious and then, for no reason at all, procrastinated ADSOM for like a whole year. *facepalm* And now it’s one of my top favourite books of EVVVVVER. *shrieks* And Bone Gap is GORGEOUS. <3 I shall recommend it forever. hehe.
Omg did you say dragons?! *goes to google these books*
Okay, but, HOW PERFECT IS THIS TOPIC after you went “READ BONE GAP” and I went “WUT, BONE GAP” and you went “AAARGH MUST MENTION BONE GAP MORE!”
BEHOLD THE CHANCE! (Brought to you by The Broke and the Bookish.)
A SERIOUSLY needed topic, though. (AND ARGH, LAMENT! I MADE UP FOR MY LACK OF STIEFVATERNESS BY LIKENING ALL THE OTHER BOOKS ON OUR LIST TO A STIEFVATER BOOK! I COULD HAVE JUST CHOSEN LAMEEEEENT! *laments*) Though, idk, man, we both mention Maggie A LOT. O.o
Also – YAAAAS, A GATHERING OF SHADOWS! YAAAAAS, THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST! YAAAAS,
And also – More Than This is judging me from my shelf and I’m like “SHUSH, YOU SCARE ME!”. The reviews are so WEIRD! But apparently – I MUST TAKE THE PLUNGE INTO THE SCARY!
YES YES. I DID THINK OF ME YELLING ABOUT BONE GAP TO YOU WHEN I WAS WRITING THIS. It was like the TTT people realised I needed an excuse to talk about Bone Gap, and they answered my silent cry. <3 But careful...now that I've started talking about Bone Gap I PROBABLY WON'T SHUT UP UNTIL EVERYONE HAS READ IT. *shrieks*
You. need. Lament/Ballad. immediately. Both of them. Read one with each eyeball. Experience the wonder that is James.
Just ignore the reviews on More Than This. 😂 I KNOW THAT SOUNDS MEAN BUT...it's the kind of book you just have to read and experience for yourself, because it IS bizarre, but in a good way. (I think and pfft, am I ever wrong? Of course not.)
I’ve heard people shriek about The Game of Love and Death for ages now but I’ve still never picked it up. The shame. It shall happen eventually tho!!
I loved The Darkest Part of the Forest! And no it’s not weird to like boys with horns in glass coffins! It just makes us unique!
I haven’t actually heard of Steph Bowe but I do need some new Australia authors to have rave about she she’s being added to the TBR as well!!
Lamet was actually my first ever Maggie Stiefvater read way back a million years ago and I LOVED IT! Faeries and violins! (Right??? As I said a million years ago haha)
Unfortunately I haven’t read any of your second lot of books yet (sigh) but literally all 6 mentioned are on my to-read shelf!! I just don’t have a super power to read 300 books in a year like yourself but #goals
I swear my mind has a capacity to hold like 2 months worth of books and then I forget them forever and ever! Unless they where like UGEIYEOWUQNYGAHSSVGDJJ inducing and then they will be brought up every chance I get!
Omg yes yes you should EXCELLENT life decision, my friend. And I’m glad we can use the title “Unique” instead of “dubiously deranged”. Unique is so much quicker to say. :’) Steph Bowe is an AMAZING specimen of Australian writerly creatures…and omg Marchetta too. I’m actually proud of myself for getting 2 Aussie authors into this mix. 😂 Usually I’m terrible and only talk about American authors. HEHE. AHHHEM.
OMGGGG I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED LAMENT. Not violins though…harps and bagpipes. 😂
Dude, even I don’t have the power to read 300 books this year. 😂 I’m struggling to keep on goals as is! I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHY. My life isn’t exceptionally busier?? Just my blog is. *nods* I’ll blame the blog. EXCELLENT idea. Ahem.
I’ve heard a lot of great things about Bone Gap, but the cover and blurb don’t look interesting to me. Maybe I’ll just have to give it a go anyway?
IT IS THE BOOK OF GLORIOUS LIFE AND GORGEOUS MAGICALNESS AND ADORABLY SAD CHARACTERS. <3 So yes. My opinion is affirmative to your question.
I guess this reaffirms my need to read The Game of Love and Death. I love the book thief, so you instantly attracted me when you said it was like the book thief. Oh, and the love pairing people and death screwing it up SOUNDS SO COOL. I’ve also always been a bit skeptical of Half Bad, but now that you have recommended it, I guess I’ll give them a go.
I always hesitate to compare books to ones that are so famous (lik The Book Thief) but HONESTLY this is the closest comparison I’ve had! They’re still different — but the whole Death personified thing is there. AND OMG THE LOVE AND DEATH BEING ACTUAL PEOPLE-ISH-THINGS IS THE BEST. <3
Yesss read Half Bad. Adore Half Bad. Sob over Half Bad. You might even say it's more than HALF GOOD. *dies laughing at own lameness*
So many books on your list that I’ve been really want to read! The Game of Love and Death, The Darkest Part of the Forest, Half Bad triology, A Darker Shade of Magic (since I haven’t started the series yet), More Than This, the Talon series, and Bone Gap! So pretty much all of them. I hope I love them as much as you do! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
The A Darker Shade of Magic series is PERFECTION. HONESTLY. <3 I procrastinated it for ages, which was absolutely silly of me because it is sooo beyond perfect. *shrieks*
Yes to Finnkin of the Rock!! Might have to check out the other 9 you’ve listed hehe. Thanks for the recommendations!!
Finnikin is AMAZINGNESS and I’m actually really excited to re-read it again. 😂
I heard so much good things about Bone Gap and I want to get my copy now! I love all your photos and true, you are fun!
Omg, thank you Kate! *blushes* YOU ARE KIND. And yes, omg yesss, get Bone Gap in your life. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.
Okay I need to make a confession. I have NEVER heard most of these before. Sorry. But then this post gave me new books to add on my TBR! So thanks Cait! 😀
Honestly, I don’t think there were books that I love but barely EVER mention because I talk about books ALL the time. My classmates have even unofficially considered me the “Expert On All Things Bookish”, which I find to be pretty funny but uncomfortable at times (Don’t I ever talk about anything else besides books? Bye social life.) Anyway, if I were to choose a book that I rarely profess my love for, it would probably the Shatter Me Series mostly because not many non-bookish people know about it and if I happen to mention that topic said people would just look at me blankly and awkward silence immediately ensues. #awkward I only have one (bookish) friend who shares my love for Shatter Me so it gets pretty lonely. BUT I LOVED THAT SERIES! IT WAS SO POETIC, DESCRIPTIVE, SEXY, ADDICTING, FULL OF WARNER-GOODNESS, JULIETTE, KENJI, DID I SAY WARNER? WARNER, WARNER, WARNER! 😀
YOUR TBR IS MOST WELCOME, IANA. *flails wildly* ahem. But that is awesome you are the Expert on All Things Bookish. I actually laugh when my sister mentions a “have you heard of this book” and I’m always like “YES. 5 YEARS AGO”. 😂 It’s kind of fun being the resident expert, right?! ahem. (Also what else IS there to talk about but books?! *gasps*)
SHATTER ME IS AMAZING. I WILL JOIN YOU IN FLAILING OVER IT!!! KENJI THOUGH. WASN’T HE HYSTERICAL? AND WARNER FOREVER. OMGGGG.
Hahaha. Totally! That’s also the case when someone incredulously tells me that a certain movie was adapted from a book. And I just roll my eyes thinking “Where have you been your whole life?” Or when someone tells me that a movie was so good and I tell them it’s originally from a book then they laugh and say the movie’s probably a LOT better and I just sigh exasperatedly. Sigh. This is a bookworm’s life.
YASSS. Shatter Me is bae! Kenji is ADORKABLY FUNNY. And WARNER is DELICIOUSLY SEXY. 🙂 (Yikes I probably shouldn’t say that. I sound like a maniac. XP )
BUT ALL BOOKWORMS ARE PROBABLY MANIACS. 😂 (Or at least we fangirls definitely are right?! #noshame) I really need a best friend like Kenji yes please and thank you. AHHHEM.
and omg, when they say “the movie’s probably betteR”…GAHHHH. WHAT DO WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH WITH THESE NON-BOOKWORMS, IANA?! *collapses dramatically*
Hahaha! YES #noshame to fangirling like maniacs! 😀
Sigh. GRUDGINGLY put up with them I guess? There’s nothing we can do about it anyway. It’s part of the struggles of being a bookworm. They’ll never understand our love for books. *collapses with you*
OH MY GOSH MANCHEE – THAT BROKE MY HEART!! I read that part in the dentist’s waiting room and I started sobbing and I think everyone thought I was crazy but OH MY GOSH THAT WAS AWFUL.
And YAS, I LOVED Talon! It was my first read of 2016 and everyone was like “Oh, it’s sooo bad” and then when I read it I was screeching about my love for the book. We clearly have excellent taste.
OOH! And some books I haven’t talked about in awhile that I LOVE are What Happened to Goodbye and Lock & Key (both by Sarah Dessen), Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne, Lola & the Boy Next Door, The Heroes of Olympus series and quite a few more. I need to screech about. Yes, definitely.
STILL NOT RECOVERED FROM MANCHEE AND IT’S BEEN OVER A YEAR. *shrieks* Plus i haven’t read the rest of the books yet because MANCHEE. #traumatisedbookworm
Omg, you loved Talon too?! COME STAND WITH ME, KYRA. We Talon fans seem to be few and far between?! Idek why! IT WAS SO FUN. Also dragons. Shinnnnny dragons. AHHH I LOVE LOLA! That’s my favourite of the Perkins books. :’) And I never talk about Percy Jackson enough either! Which is ironic because it’s so so famous, ehheh.
Oooh I do have a few books I don’t talk about enough. Yes, I do love other books besides Simon VS. Duhh. The stand out for me is One Man Guy by Michael Barakiva. It’s sooooo adorable and cute and all the food descriptions in it made me insanely hungry. You should check it out sometime Cait!
*gasps* YOU DO?!? I THOUGHT SIMON VS WAS THE ONLY BOOK IN YOUR LIFE. 😂 Ahem. BUt omg I’ve never even heard of One Man Guy..but if it has food I definitely need it. 😂
Yessss it does! Seriously made me hungry that book.
And I do, but ssshhh don’t tell Simon!
I freaking LOVE Lament and Ballard, especially Ballard! And I think they are much better than any of Maggie Stiefvater’s other books. Yes I’m going with that! 🙂 Ballard blew her other books right out of the water.
The Games of Love and Death sounds very good and plus I love WWII books so this is one I will get to soon.
Great list.
Really?!?!? The Raven Boys has to be my ULTIMATe favourite. 😂 And the Scorpio RAces. <33 But then I rate everything Stiefvater 5-stars soo...hehhe. JAMES THO. ISN'T HE AN ADORABLE SWEETIE.
There’s this series called Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. It’s not that I don’t talk about it a lot, I want to talk about it, but it’s so underrated I never find anyone who actually read it! It’s hard to talk about books with someone who haven’t read the book. Also the Night Circus. I always wanted a re-read because how magical the feels it gives me, but other books always get in the way. I still love it though. I know all the books in your list, but again, never read it There are just so many books to read omg!
Omg yes it IS enormously hard to discuss books when no one has read it. It’s like being in a fandom with cobwebs and nothing else. 😂 SADNESS. Hence I must force people to read underrated books and join me. :’) THERE ARE SO MANY BOOKS TO READ. AGH. WE NEED 9 EXTRA EYEBALLS.
The Game of Love and Death and Bone Gap are two books people have been quietly yelling about. I keep hearing such wonderful things about these books, and I’m especially drawn to them because of their unique concepts. Ugh if only my TBR would actually GO DOWN instead of seemingly multiplying…. Great list, Cait!
Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books
Quietly yelling is a very good description of how people talk about them. *nods* They are sooo good and entirely underrated I think. And YES to unique! I read a lot so I just absolutely want to devour anything that is unique. <3 *shrieks*
HAHAH TBR GO DOWN?! WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE YOU SPEAK OF. 😂
So many books here that I have not yet read. However, The Game of Love and Death!!! I’m so glad you read it, and I’m so glad you loved it! Have you ever read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern? There’s a similarity in that two magicians compete every however many years (lots of years, because they are magicians and have lived a loooong time), but they are so powerful, they can’t compete against each other, or they would end up destroying each other. So, they each pick someone to train up and do their magical battles for them – to the death. BUT then there’s this rich guy who puts together a circus, but not a circus as we know it, this is a circus with exhibits like you wouldn’t even imagine. Anyway, the two chess pieces (because I can’t think how else to descirbe them) end up part of the circus, and try to out do each other with their magical prowess, creating magical exhibits. There is so much more to this story than what I have described, but it’s completely magical and beautiful! It’s part historical and takes places over a number of years. The circus even gets it’s own fandom, with people who wear red in their clothes in someway to recognise each other. And there’s a clocktower. And oh my god, it’s brilliant. AND FEASTS, CAIT! There is a huuuuge feast with so much description of food, and for that alone I Think you should pick this book up now. And yes, this book is probably one I don’t rave about often enough, but it’s one of my favourites. (I’d just add that the summaries and descriptions and the blurb on this book are terrible, and tell you hardly ANYTHING. So ignore crappy descriptions, pick it up, and read. Please? I’ll even be helpful, and give you a link to it on Goodreads.)
Moving on. Although everyone raves about her, I’ve yet to read anything by V.E. Schwab. I have fear of being let down because it’s adult fantasy. And although my reading roots are in adult fantasy, I have a fear of new-to-me books being bad and ruining something I love so much. That makes no sense, but it’s something I worry about. But I will read her books at some point!
I have The Darkest Part of the Forest, but I’ve not yet read it. Around the time I got into YA, I read a lot of fae novels, and I got completed fae-ed out, and I’ve not yet recovered. So even though it’s been about seven years, I’m very much, “Fae… meh.” But I will read it!
You have sold me on Bone Gap by saying the words “magic realism”! But I do not like that title. It bothers me. It makes me feel uncomfortable. I can’t explain it, but those two words together just make me shudder for some unknown reason. But I will give this book a go! 🙂
Also, just because it might be something you find interesting, Patrick Ness is a regular visitor to my book shop. And by regular I mean maybe 5-6 a year. Or at least 5-6 times a year on the days I’m working (part-timer), it is possible he comes in more often when I’m not working. And he’s signed lots of books and I’ve got to talk to him and stuff. He’s a nice guy, very generous with his time to sign – especially as his books are SO popular and we have SO many. I think the last time he signed a load of books was when The Rest of Us Just Live Here came out over here. He signed a lot.
Back on topic, I forget a lot of books I love simply because I can’t see them. Double shelved, and there are some shelves with books on for the charity shops, so all my books are shelved with the bottoms showing. Until those other books are gone, I don’t have room to see the spines of my books. Siiiigh. Too many books! Haha!
DUDE. I have wanted to read Night Circus for a long time but I had no idea what it was about and I LOVED HOW YOU SUMMED IT UP. 😂 Definitely another confirmation that I neeeeeed to get onto it. I wanted to try the audiobook but my friend said it was confusing? Do you reckon a physical version would be a better way to go?
And honestly VE Schwab’s books read like YA. That’s the only reason I survive them! 😂 I would be running for the hills if they were like average adult-fantasy. But in ADSOM the characters are 19 and 21, I believe, so it’s like BARELY adult. ;D
Really?! I think the Bone Gap title is like 90% of the reason I even picked it up. 😂 BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS ABOUT WHEN I READ IT BECAUSE OMG VAGUE BLURB. And I gave a very vague summary too, didn’t I?! *facepalm* IT’s just really hard to sum up but so so beautiful and perfect.
AHHH YOU’VE MET PATRICK NESS! *shrieks* So so lucky. And that’s so awesome that he just comes in and signs! That would be the best thing in the world to have a signed author book hehe. ;D
Ballad and Lament would make my list, Cait! I adore those books. Maggie keeps teasing me about another book coming in that series but I’ve not seen it. :/ Another book that immediately comes to mind is Stolen by Lucy Christopher. I loved that book – and had a co-worker read it just so I could discuss it with someone!! (I read it before I blogged)
I WILL READ ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER. MY LOVE OF HER BOOKS IS INTENSE OMG. <3 Ahem. But I wish the new series would be officially announced!! Because I need something to focus my future flailing on for when The Raven King is out. XD 😂
Oh oh I've read Stolen!! THAT WAS AN INTENSE BOOK.
Wow, The Game of Love and Death sounds incredible! Looks like I have another new book to add to my TBR.
Yessss. DO ADD IT!! It is one of my favourite historical fictions of eVER. :’)
I actually had no idea about Maggie Stiefvater’s faery series. Thanks so much for putting it on my radar, I adore her writing. Steph Bowe is a new to me author, but I love contemporary, so of course I added these books. I love Melina Marchetta’s contemporary novels, but for some reason I haven’t read her Lumatere Chronicles series, I need to fix it soon. Magical realism is not actually my genre, but after you exited comment I’m sold. The audiobook narrated by my favorite narrator Dan Bittner, so I’ll probably go for the audiobook.
Great post, Cait! Thanks to you, my huge tbr-list is even bigger.
OMG YOU DIDN’T?! Well you are welcome for this life-saving information. :’) And for some reason I haven’t read Marchetta’s contemporary novels. 😂 For an Aussie, I am shamefully behind on my Aussie literature. AwK. Although if you don’t like magical realism, you probably wouldn’t do well with Bone Gap. 😛 BUT IF YOU GIVE IT A GO, STILL GOOD LUCK! (And your TBR is most welcome for this torturous amount of additions. 😂)
There are a few on this list that I really, really want to read! I recently discovered the Half Bad series, so I’m want to get my hands on it! If you reread Finnick of the Rock then that definitely means I need to read it!
~Sara
OH OH YAY! Prepare yourself for intense feels and pain. :’) And yesss…Finnikin definitely is one of my first-loves for fantasy. I’m going to re-read the whole series this year FOR SURE. NO BODY LET ME BACK OUT OF THIS. 😂
RELATABILITY times 100000000!
There are always those books that are stacked in the very back of my mind that I love, but also forget to mention… which also leads to me forgetting about them entirely. *facepalm* I just went through a whole Sherlock-ing escapade where I was rigorously searching Google for a book I read a few years ago with only the key words “cancer” and “children’s hospital” to no avail. I wish I could have a mind palace… *sighs* It would help me so much during exams.
And I think the two books that i rarely mention and utterly love (and have miraculously not forgotten) are Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg and A Little Something Different. They’re both YA contemporaries with a huge focus of romance… which I think explains why I don’t mention them much. XD I’m more of a Sci-Fi girl.
ISN’T IT A PROBELM THOUGH RIGHT?!?! Gah. I want to recommend ALL THE BOOKS and instead I just forget. 😂 But duuuude, I actually read up on how to create a mind palace. But. It would take so much work to maintain and I’m also memory-less and lazy. 😂 SO I SKIPPED HEH. Ahem. I really admire people who do it though!!
*hi fives for loving spec fic* And omg I have A Little Something Different on my tBR! 😀
AHHHH MORE THAN THIS ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED ME. That one was on my list as well. I’m kinda ashamed to admit that that’s the only book on this list I’ve read. Which would make sense, because about 98% of everything I read and it seems like you’re more of a fantasy person. I WILL GET TO THESE, though. I’m especially looking forward to Bone Gap.
And NO, you are definitely not the only one who only talks about a handful of favorite books! This is especially tricky when we’re doing a TTT post and I have absolutely no idea which books to write about without being too repetitive.
Lovely post, as always!
YESSS TO MORE THAN THIS. *sobs happily* < --- That is a logical reaction, I'm sure of it. Ahem. BUT OMG YES DO READ BONE GAP. And yes, I am a big fantasy reader. 😂
I review a book once I’m finished reading it so I can relish what I felt while reading the book– so I also don’t have to forget them! I agree with you! I also have books that I absolutely love but rarely talk about it. I mean, they deserve my love too! *cries in the corner and apologizes to my books*. Lovely post! 🙂
YESSSS ME TOO! I always review books straight away…or else I’d be so hopeless and just forget everything.😂 My brain = USELESS.
I’ve read some of these. And they are fantastic! Especially AGOS. AGOS is love. AGOS is life.
And slyly adding Maggie Stiefvater, I see. Haha.
Awesome list! I’ll look into some of these.
IT’S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TO ADD IN SOME STIEFVATER. C’MON NOW. 😂
How have I not heard about The Game of Love and Death until now. I mean The Book Thief is one of my all time favourite books so of course I’m bound to love this one as well. I mean a shipping game between love and death, what’s not to love.
Confession, I’ve not actually read The Wolves of Mercy Falls series. I don’t know why but I’m just not drawn to the books even though I am a HUGE Stiefvater fan.
A Gathering of Shadows and Finnikin of the Rock are two books I don’t shut up about. Everything about those books is just pure emotion. However, I also have yet to read the second book in the Lumatere series. I love everything about Finnikin, he is my book husband but Froi and I had some serious issues and I’ve yet to give him a chance. Plus the books are kind of intense and I’ve not been in the mood to read it as of yet. I will get round to it eventually. I am 100% determined to finish the series.
Oh oh I hope you like The Game of Love And Death then!! *flails* And I hope I haven’t over-pitched it…I know comparative titles are sometimes terrifying.😂 Hehe. But it’s soooo nicely written too. <3
AGH. I CRY. SHIVER IS GORGEOUS AND I LOVE IT. It's so snowy and wolfy and dusky and just ajfkdslafjd (okay okay😂 I'll stop rambling! I totally understand if it's not your thing!)
Omg you and me both for the second Lumatere books then. *hi fives* I just bought Froi though, so when it arrives I am going to re-read and then FINISH THIS SERIES HUZZAH. (Okay, I'll probably get distracted by something else but it's the thought that counts.😂) Ahem. But there is that one scene in Finnikin where Froi tries to rape Evanjalin? Not. happy. at. all. And also not forgiving. *Growls*
I’m really looking forward to reading the HALF BAD trilogy, and a lot of other books that you mentioned! I tend to only talk about like, 4 books whenever I’m talking about books I absolutely adore, which are WE ARE THE ANTS, I’LL GIVE YOU THE SUN, and the SHATTER ME series. I rarely remember any other books that I love, but I tend to only talk about books that really stick in my mind and are memorable in some way or another. Lovely post; I’m definitely going to check out the rest of the books you mentioned!
HAHA I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. 😂 Me too. I just seem to screech about Maggie Stiefvater and Cassandra Clare…and I LOVE them, but omg there are so many books that need to be flailed over. (like I’ll Give You The Sun. <3 OMg is that book not PERFECTION!?!?)
I want to read The Darkest Part of the Forest and I’m now even MORE curious about The Game of Love and Death.
Fun topic; there are many books I absolutely ADORE that I feel like I don’t talk about much. I need to change this.
-Lauren
I’m kind of glad I’m not alone in my unfair-not-talking-about-all-good-books-equally.😂 WHY ARE SOME BOOKS GREAT BUT FORGETTABLE?! GAH.
YESSS! Actually, a lot of my earlier books that I love don’t get much raves because I have loved them and left them. But I really should rave about them more often! I absolutely LOVED More Than This, it was completely brilliant and kept me thinking. I have Darkest Part of the Forest and can’t wait to read it! And Steph Bowe was amazing, I was on a panel with her once in 2014 and she was so inspirational!
YAYAYAY!! I’m glad you liked More Than This too!! I seem to find mostly people disliking it..but, omg, it’s SO AMAZING and kind of sad too. I should reread. I SHOULD REREAD ALL THE THINGS.
Omg Steph Bowe is so amazing and inspiring. :’)
I still need to read Bone Gap. I look at it periodically on Amazon to see if the ebook is on special, but it NEVER is. I look for it on Book Outlet, too, every time I make an order. I have looked for it at the library and then realized after my last trip it would be in the Adult Fiction section! I have been looking in the YA section and thinking it was out. Ha ha. So, unless it is really out, I will be getting it next time. 🙂
Adult fiction?! But it’s YA! Ahem. But I kind of understand if your library mis-shelves things because MINE DOES TOO OMG. And I have to pay to reserve adult books so I’m constantly in arguments with them on which books are YA and which aren’t.😂 BUT YES YES READ BONE GAP IT’S JUST SO GOOD AND SWEET AND UNDERRATED.
THE GAME OF LOVE & DEATH. YESSSS. That book was so beautiful and amazing. <3 (Although I think I shipped Love & Death even more than I shipped Flora & Henry, but #noregrets).
And YES for VE Schwab. I read Vicious and absolutely adored it. I have her other books on hold at the library, so now I just have to wait for them to be returned. *taps foot impatiently*
Thanks for sharing Cait and, as always, fabulous choices! <3
I shipped them equally?!? Like I LOVED FLora/Henry (despite honestly having forgot what Henry’s name was until you mentioned it😂 #mybad) BUT OMG LOVE AND DEATH. *ships aggressively*
Oh oh!! I hope you like ADSOM! I mean, pfft, of course you will. 😉 #bookishTwinPrediction
I JUST finished The Game of Love and Death this week! It was so good, and it made me cry twice. (Which is a good sign.) I didn’t really ship Love and Death, though. I liked their relationship, just not romantically.
As for my forgotten books: I sometimes forget how much I liked Looking for Alaska, probably because I read it a while ago. I don’t really have that excuse for forgetting how much I loved All the Light We Cannot See, though.
AHHHH I’M SO GLAD YOU’VE READ IT TOO! Honestly not enough people have read that book and it deserves all the love. *flails wildly*
Omg I basically never talk about John Green. :O Despite utterly adoring ALL his books…what is even wrong with my swiss cheese brain?!
Thanks so much for this post, Cait! I’m always out on the hunt for new books to add to my TBR list. And I absolutely love Melina Marchetta books so I’m totally going to pick up a copy of Finnikin of the Rock. 🙂
I so so need to read more Marchetta books! 😂 I’m kind of ashamed I’ve only read TWO. She is an insanely good writer and I need make my Australianness proud and read everything else by her. 😛
These are good choices! I always forget that I loved The Darkest Part of the Forest too! Strange. I didn’t do this post either (I seriously have been failing at the Tuesday-ing lately), but I feel like there are a lot of books that sometimes escape my “must mention!” radar. Usually older releases, or series that have ended and don’t have any new books coming- because I guess they aren’t in the forefront of my mind?
Also I do NOT have a good memory. Just trying to answer your post, I had to look at my Goodreads shelf AND my actual physical bookshelf to remember what books I liked. Or didn’t like. The worst are books I do not own in physical format I think, they tend to be forgotten quicker, and that is SADNESS.
Oh oh I do understand that *nods* Because like with all the NEW books we have flung in our faces all the time, remembering the older ones can be hard, right?! Except for me + Stiefvater books. I still seem to be yelling about Shiver all the time and that series is OLLLLLD. I have an obsession, Shannon. I’m not even sorry about it. Ahem.
I think if I OWNED more of the books I always forget about, I’d do better? But I only started collecting books a year or so ago, so everything before then is NEVER ON MY MIND BECAUSE I DON’T SEE IT.
Oh yeeees, A Gathering of Shadows!!
I need to read More Than This soon, it’s just sitting on my shelf, just waiting.
Sometimes I think what happens (at least for me) is because I just love the book soooo much that the feelings get internalize and I don’t even know how to express my love for it, so it just doesn’t really go on the blog, haha.
Great list, Cait!
Oh oh I do understand that!! I actually often (okay basically always) only review ARCs…so books that I love an enormous amount just go on Goodreads and then I forget I haven’t forced everyone to read them. 😂 I SHOULD PROBABLY WORK ON THAT OMG. But also not knowing how to sum up their gloriousness is really really hard.
Great list! So glad to see someone else who adores The Game of Love and Death as much as I do – and yes, its perfectly okay to ship love and death because I may also… Half Bad was also on my list, but I have yet to read Half Wild so I hopings its just as good as the first because the first was amazing! And I didn’t know that Lament/ Ballad was meant to be a trilogy, so thanks for letting me know as now I have another book to get excited for, even if I have to wait a while for it!
My TTT
Omg, we are TWINS in our TGOLAD shippy-ness. I mean, how can we not ship them?! They had so many emotions and Death probably just NEEDED A HUG. EEEEP.
Omg Half Wild is DEFINITELY amazing! Don’t worry! Although I prefer Half Bad just a smidge more…but the ending of Half Wild is this torturous cliffhanger, so at least you’ll have the next book to read straight away since it’s basically out. 😉
I read The Game of Love and Death last year and loved it!!! I definitely shipped Death and Love too(; I don’t feel like I talk about how much I loved The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman enough – it has demons and almost but not quite relationships and is set in Regency times – what’s not to love? (‘:
AHHHH We obviously are wise and excellent shippers. THAT IS CLEARLY THE TRUTH OF THIS MATTER. ;D Omg I actually own The Dark Days Club (I won it!) but never read it. :O So clearly I’m missing out, right?!?
omg AGOS <3333 All the feels. I'm half in tears just now, thinking about it! And I'm super excited about More Than This and Half Bad. I'll make sure to buy those ASAP. And basically, I'm now going to add all these books on goodreads. *dumps more books onto endless TBR* THANKS A LOT CAIT!
OMG I AM ALWAYS IN TEARS THINKING ABOUT IT. How is it so perrrrfect. *cries because tortured baby characters*
Okay, I swear I don’t stalk you (much) but you’re just so DOGGONE FUNNY so I had to go check out your reviews and such because I have an addiction to books. This means that when I see a list of books I absolutely MUST immediately go look at them all on Goodreads even though I have way too many (NOT ENOUGH) books on my TBR… so yeah NOT STALKING YOU JUST LOVING THE BOOKS.
WELL THIS IS GLORIOUS NEWS AND I MUCH APPRECIATE THE
STALKERINGREADING OF MY POSTS. 😂 And omg I’m the same with goodreads and lists of books. It’s like a compulsion. I see a book — I JUST NEED TO READ IT.HAHAHA!!!! I’m so glad you’re not running away right now. Okay, that sounded even creepier.
YAY I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!!! It’s a serious problem. We should probably both be checked out and quarantined.
You added books to my TBR. Thank you. I already had Bone Gap on my TBR (THIS SEEMS WONDERFUL, I really liked The Accident Season and want to get into magical realism more, and I’m SO intrigued and I want to know what happens in this one, and, I really like the cover? Basically I already like everything before I started?) and, The Darkest Part of The Forest (this one sounds kind of weird/creepy/i don’t know what I’m reading?, but I am EXCITED for it. Knowing that you love those makes me even more impatient!
OH GOOD. You are like very much on the road to being an avid Bone Gap Supporter. ERGO I SHALL GIVE YOU BONE GAP CAKE AND FLAIL WITH YOU. *shrieks* I love that book sooooo much I just want to hug it FOREVER. Ahem. And The Darkest Part of the Forest is creep perfection. I don’t even know how that works, BUT IT DOES.
I really have to get round to reading Bone Gap and a Gathering of Shadows. BUT THE BONE GAP BOOK HAS A BEE ON THE COVER YEHRK
YES YES YOU DO FOR BOTH OF THEM BECAUSE HOLY GUACAMOLE THEY’RE SO GOOD I COULD CRY. Fun fact: I’m allergic to bees? But I still love Bone Gap? IDEK what is my life.
So I was wondering when someone would bring up the Great Books of Faerie Conspiracy! I own Lament and Ballad (but seven years, heck, I thought it was a duology!) but I’ve not read them yet, but NO ONE EVER TALKS ABOUT THEM?! Everybody loves Wolves and Scorpio, and as for TRC, ha, well, we’re better off not even mentioning that one or else I’ll get off track about ducks and Congress and Henrietta accents and Mitsubishis and smudgy faces and– Oh, and I’m gone!
~reels self back in~
But no one talks about Lament etc. I look forward to reading them, at long last! Also I’ve heard Finnikin’s Rock is v v good.
I WANT TO KNOW WHY NO ONE EVER TALKS ABOUT THEM. GAHHHH. Even Maggie Stiefvater doesn’t talk about them?!?! I wonder if they’re the firstborns she’s trying to forget. 😂 I mean, her writing has improved SO MUCH but I still thought they were excellent!! but but but I AM VERY HAPPY TO GET OFF TRACK ABOUT DUCKS AND CONGRESS AND HENRIETTA ACCENTS AND POSSIBLY TUNA FISH SANDWICHES AND CURSED CAVES AND RAGING FEMINISTS. Yes please and thank you.
I most certainly do not have a great memory, so I do find myself repeatedly talking about the same books over and over again. I guess that I am going to have to scour my Goodreads shelves to remind myself of all of the wonderful books I have loved. Fortunately, I do remember The Darkest Part of the Forest because I adored it! Holly Black has been one of my favorite authors ever since I read the Spiderwick Chronicles such a long time ago. She writes the most interesting (and subsequently, the creepiest) faeries ever!
Speaking of faeries, HOW DID I NOT KNOW THAT MAGGIE STIEFVATER WROTE ABOUT FAERIES? I love faeries, and I love all of Maggie’s books. I am going to have to roam in my library until I can find that series.
One of my favorite series that I almost never talk about is The Naturals series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. It is like teenage Criminal Minds, and I cannot think of anything better.
*hi fives for awful memories* 😂 But YES. Goodreads is an absolute lifesaver for reminding me of my favourites. I actually have a 5-star shelf so I can find my favourite books really fast. hehe. AHEM. AHHHH HOLLY BLACK IS JUST SO ENDLESSLY WONDERFUL. *shrieks* But duuuude, YOU MUST READ STIEFVATER’S FAERIES. They are basically as creepy. <3
Oh oh I love The Naturals too! AND I NEVER TALK ABOUT IT. Gah. What is this. 😂
I bought The Darkest Part of the Forest recently and really want to read it!!! Ditto with Maggie’s other books (I haven’t read the Shiver trilogy either). Just read Finnikin for the first time a couple months ago! It took me a while to emotionally connect even though I loved the world building but I ended up loving the book! Hmmm books I don’t shout a lot about… if you like creepy fairy tale-ish stories The Glass Casket is so excellent. And Entwined is one of my favorite retellings that I don’t think gets enough credit. Ditto The Treachery of Beautiful Things, which seems like a Cait book now that I think about it. Forests and faeries and Shakespeare retellings, it’s so lovely. I also love the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde, about a literary detective in an alternate Britain. It’s wonderfully absurd. YAY BOOKS!
OHhh, I shall look up this Glass Casket immediately then! THANKS FOR THE REC! 😀 And I need to read Entwined…omg. So many books. Will it matter tha I haven’t ever read Shakespeare for The Treachery of Beautiful Things? (Shh, I know that’s rather sacrilege for a bookworm but tbh I have no regrets 😂)
I haven’t read any of these but I definitely want to! Especially The Game of Love and Death sounds really intriguing! I do feel like I only talk about a certain few books and forget others that I love, but my memory is so terrible that I can’t think of them now either lol