2012 Must Reads - UF/Fantasy

So, I've been going over my TBR list and thinking about my Must Reads that are releasing this year. I already posted some YA books I'm eagerly awaiting. Now it's time for my adult UF/Fantasy Must Reads. I included release dates and covers when available, but we all know sometimes things change. Let me know what is on your Must-Read list.

2012 Must Reads - YA

Hope the new year is treating you right. Seems about time to focus on some of the books coming out this year that I must get my hands on. It's a big list (and you know this is only a small part of it), and I wanted to include covers when possible, so I am splitting it between YA and Fantasy/UF reads. I included release dates, but we all know sometimes things change. Let me know what is on your Must-Read list.

2011 Favorites

A little hard to believe that it's New Year's Eve already - wasn't Christmas yesterday? Like everyone else, I have my own little list of favorite books from 2011. A lot of my favorites come from series I already enjoy, but there are some new authors/series added to the mix. I also discovered a few series that came out a few years ago, but that I've added to my TBR list, like Rob Thurman's Cal Leandros series, Ann Aguirre's Sirantha Jax, and Kalayna Price's Grave Witch.

Favorite Kid's Book

You know I love YA and Middle School books. Have read quite a few very good ones, like Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Lost & Found by Shaun Tan, Beauty Queens by Libba Bray, Game of Triumphs by Laura Powell, Ship Breaker by Paolo Baciagalupi and many more, but one book just really stood out for me.

The Boneshaker by Kate Milford

It's a middle school read, but I think that there is something for readers of any age, male and female. This one had a Something Wicked This Way Comes vibe. A small town set at the crossroads, an ominous traveling medicine show, a family legacy, deals with the Devil, and children having to face the fact that sometimes adults don't have all the answers. I'm saving this one for my kids to read when they are a little older. Fantastic book.

Favorite New Series

Started quite a few new series this year, ones where I am counting the days until book 2 comes out. I really enjoyed Enclave by Ann Aguirre, the Iron Druid series by Kevin Hearne, Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison, Phoenix Rising by Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris, First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones, Dark Descendant by Jenna Black, to name a few, but my favorite remains

Dead Iron by Devon Monk

A Western-Steampunk-Fantasy that was different from what I've been reading lately. You've got a man cursed by an Indian god, Strange beings that stalk humans, witches, a zombie, and a girl who is more than she seems. It's in 3rd person following a handful of characters (both heroes and villains). I've read some books where this effect leads to too many threads and an inability to connect to the characters, but this book did not have that problem. The different POVs propelled the action along, gave me a greater sense of the scope of the world and the magic system, and let me get to know several characters better than I would have in a 1st person narrative. It was a tight story that still leaves a lot of room for more adventures. The worldbuilding was fantastic and I know we've barely scratched the surface.

Favorite Continuing Series

Most of my favorites came through continuing series. I do love seeing characters progress from the actions in previous books. Since a few of my favorites ended, I've broken this category into Favorite Continuing and Favorite Endings. Notable continuing series reads this year, Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews, Ganymede by Cherie Priest, Under Witch Aura by Maria Schneider, Heartless by Gail Carriger, and others, but the favorite of the year has to be

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

This is the fifth book in the Kate Daniels series, a series that still for me is at the top of the list for worldbuilding, action, character progression, relationship evolution, and still makes me laugh out loud. A lot of writers can bring the action and the drama, few are able to also bring the funny. There are dark times in this series, but it is also balanced with hope and determination. This is a series I've re-read more than a few times and I still love it. It makes me happy, takes me away from the real world for awhile, and is just plain fun.

Favorite Endings

All good things must come to an end sometime. I've finished quite a few trilogies this year, and am happy to say that most ended on a strong note, like Head Rush by Carolyn Crane and Goliath by Scott Westerfeld, but my favorite has to be

The Kingdom of Gods by N.K. Jemisin

I have loved every book in Jemisin's Inheritance trilogy. This is not your traditional fantasy saga where a disparate group gathers together and journeys to defeat a big bad. Each novel tells a unique story with a different main character, but the underlying issues that began before book 1 continue to progress throughout the trilogy. Gods, godlings, demons, mortals, all living together in a world out of balance. This book centers on Sieh, the eldest godling, the god of childhood, who finally has to grow up. This is one of those books where I don't feel in any way my words can do it justice. I fell in love with the breathtaking world, have been intrigued by the characters (even if I would never want to meet them), and held my breath wondering what would happen next.


What were some of your favorites?

Hope you all stay safe out there tonight, and looking forward to sharing more awesome reads with you in 2012!

Running Away to the Circus

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I received an Advance Readers Copy of this book to review for Amazon Vine [link goes to Vine Review]. (Actually, I read it back in June, but since the official release date is September 13, I held onto it for awhile before putting it on the blog.)

The bulk of this book focuses on a mysterious circus, Le Cirque des Reves, that appears suddenly, without fanfare, is open only at night, and is filled with all things thought impossible. It instantly brought to mind my first visit to Cirque du Soleil - before they were a Vegas fixture. Seemingly overnight, a tent appeared in the mall parking lot. Curious, my parents and I walked up to the booth, and bought tickets (they were not yet so well known that tickets had to be purchased in advance). We had no expectations, no idea what awaited us.

It was magic - the music, the language, the costumes, the performers - seeing people use their bodies to create artistic tableaus, daring feats, it was as though these artists had created their own world under the big top. It was the first time I'd ever dreamed of running away to join the circus. That sense of wonder came back to me time and again as I read The Night Circus.

Fun Stuff & Recent Reads

Alpha Showdown

I so wish I had thought of this, but that honor goes to Vampire Book Club. So far there has been a Bones vs Wrath battle (Bones for the win), Cat vs Fayth (Cat wins), and Anita vs Eugenie (Anita squeaked by). Dmitri vs Jace and Zsadist vs Curran are going on now. Curran needs votes, people.  Barrons is up tomorrow, and Kate will be up soon. Head on over, vote, check out the awesome bracket. Fun stuff.

Recent Reads

Dark Descendant by Jenna Black

My plan had been to start this one after I'd finished a couple more on my TBR list, but I decided to peruse the first couple of pages, got sucked in, and couldn't put it down (or read anything else) until I finished. Dealing with the descendants of gods living in modern times, battles between factions, and a descendant of Artemis who is thrust into all of this, putting her loved ones and her own life in jeopardy. I loved the heroine from the start, likeable, funny, but not bitter or too tough to be believable. Really interesting world, and being the sucker for all things myth-based, I ate it up. Check it out. [link goes to Goodreads.]
  

Is it May 31 Yet?

Of course it isn't. If it was May 31, I would not be on the computer - I would be snuggled in my chair, devouring every word of Ilona Andrews latest Kate Daniels book, Magic Slays.

I love this series. Nope, that's not good enough. I am addicted to this series. I am proud of the fact that I have gotten other people addicted to this series. I have re-read the books, I have stalked the author's web site looking for snippets. I found this series when life had punched me in the face a few times, and the books gave me the escape I needed.

Why do I crave it? First off, the characters are amazing. They feel real - a great feat in a magical setting, but also necessary. I can suspend all kinds of disbelief if I have a character I can empathize with on some level. Also, the characters grow over time, both personally and in their relationships. They are changed by what happens to them. There is romance, but it is the slow-building kind, and that adds another level of realism.