Top Ten Tuesday (8)
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. They’d love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!
This weeks Top Ten topic is:
Top Ten FIVE Books Written In The Past 10 Years That I Hope People Are Still Reading In 30 Years
Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong
Okay. . . so this is a bit of a cheat, but I really love this series. Seriously, I do – you just need to look at my challenge entries to tell that. This has so many wonderful characters, and I love the world that honestly I would be a little heart-broken if people forgot it.
The Curse Workers trilogy by Holly Black
This too is a bit of cheat, but if you read one book of this trilogy you’ll find yourself reading them all. I’m hoping that this will still be around in 30 years because Holly Black has created such a wonderful world. The characters are brilliant. And the humour in the narrative just makes me smile.
The Demon’s Lexicon trilogy by Sarah Rees Brennan
Anyone starting to sense a theme?
But seriously, this is an awesome trilogy. It made me LOL – seriously! If you’ve not tried this trilogy then you should. Each book is narrated from a different POV, but that’s part of what makes it so awesome. Also I think everyone should meet Nick, well not meet him meet him but you know get to know him through the pages – I think meeting him in real life might be a little scary.
Abandon trilogy by Meg Cabot
I’m going to make a confession here – I’ve only read the first book, but I’m sure the next two will be just as awesome if Meg Cabot’s other series are anything to go by. I REALLY enjoyed this book and its take on the Persephone myth. It would be really cool to see it in 30 years time and to read some of the critical thinking on it – okay so I’m an English Lit nerd 
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein and Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
I’ve linked these two together because they are both about war, in particular WWII. I’m a HUGE proponent of George Santayana’s two most famous sayings:
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
- Reason in Common Sense (1905), volume 1 of The Life of Reason
[O]nly the dead have seen the end of war.
- Soliloquies in England and Later Soliloquies (1922), number 25
I would like these books – or at least other books about this subject – to exist in 30 years time. I think they need to exist in 30 years time because if we can destroy the world now what on Earth will we be able to do 30 years in the future?!
Apart from this, I think these books deserve to be remembered in 30 years time because they are heartbreakingly beautiful.
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I know this is supposed to be a Top Ten list, but I can only think of 5. I hope you enjoyed it, and I’d love to hear which books you think will still be around in 30 years.
Review: This Must Be Love by Tui Sutherland
This Must Be Love by Tui Sutherland
Title: This Must Be Love (Or how I made my midsummer dreams come true . . .)
Author: Tui Sutherland
Genre: Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books (9th September 2011)
Blurb:
I know most good books explain a bit about the story on the back. And they often begin mid-conversation, but I think that for my story it is important to know that cast first, or else you’ll be like, “Who?” Or, even worse, you’ll get them all confused and think Dmitri and Alexander are the same person, which is SO clearly not the case, because Alex is the light of my life (even if he doesn’t know it yet).
Also, I wouldn’t want anyone calling Helena “Hermia” bt accident, or thinking I’m her, because I am the ONLY Hermia, and that’s all there is to it.
OK. Is everybody clear now? Good.
Hello? Why are you still reading this? Star the book!
Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Review:
This Must Be Love (Or how I made my midsummer dreams come true…) is Tui Sutherland’s debut novel, and is a brilliant re-telling of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream which is one of my favourite plays (as it has some of my favourite characters).
Review: Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
Title: Witch Eyes (Witch Eyes #1)
Author: Scott Tracey
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Flux (19th October 2011)
Blurb:
A boy who can see the world’s secrets and unravel spells with just a glance.
Braden’s witch eyes give him an enormous power. A mere look causes a kaleidoscopic explosion of emotions, memories, darkness, and magic. But this rare gift is also his biggest curse.
Compelled to learn about this shadowed past and the family he never knew, Braden is drawn to the city of Belle Dam, where he is soon caught between two feuding witch dynasties. Sworn rivals Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe will use anything – lies, manipulation, illusion, and even murder – to seize control of Braden’s powers. To stop an ancient evil from destroying the town, Braden must master his gift, even through the shocking discovery that Jason is his father. While his feelings for an enigmatic boy named Trey grow deeper, Braden realizes a terrible truth: Trey is Catherine Lansing’s son and Braden may be destined to kill him.
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:
Witch Eyes is the first book in Scott Tracey’s Witch Eyes series, and I believe is Tracey’s debut novel. The second book in the series Demon Eyes is coming out later this year .
Waiting on Wednesday (12)
First, sorry there was no post yesterday. I had to take my dog to the Emergency Vet at 4am on Monday and I only got him back Tuesday evening and he’s got LOTS of meds to take. Also I came down with a 24 hour bug on the Monday. So not a fun couple of days for me 
“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.
As always, the summary provided is from Goodreads.com This week there is just one book I am eagerly “Waiting On”…
Darkness Before Dawn
by J. A. London
Published: 29th May 2012
This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.
Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters….
Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series.
I’m “Waiting On” this because I think the blurb sounds really awesome. I also love the cover – it’s really moody. I like the fact that it’s only made up of black, white, and grey – so very different from the colourful colours of most YA books.
What are you “Waiting On” this week?
Review: Switched by Amanda Hocking
Switched by Amanda Hocking, UK edition cover.
Title: Switched (Trylle Trilogy #1)
Author: Amanda Hocking
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: TOR (5th January 2012)
Blurb:
Wendy Everly knew she was different the day her mother tried to kill her and accused her of having been switched at birth. Although she’s not the monster her mother claims she is – she does feel that she doesn’t quite fit in . . .
She’s bored and frustrated by her small town life – and then there’s the secret that she can’t tell anyone. Her mysterious ability – she can influence other people’s decisions, without knowing how, or why . . .
When the intense and darkly handsome newcomer Finn suddenly turns up at her bedroom window one night – her world is turned upside down. He holds the key to her past, the answers to her strange powers, and is the doorway to a place she never imagined could exist: Förening, the home fo the Trylle.
Finally everything makes sense. Among the Trylle, Wendy is not just different, but special. But what marks her out as chosen for greatness in this world also places her in grave danger. With everything around her changing, Finn is the only person she can trust. But dark forces are conspiring – not only to separate them, but to see the downfall of everything that Wendy cares about.
The fate of the Förening rests in Wendy’s hands, and the decisions she and Finn make could change all their lives forever . . .
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:
Switched is the first book in Amanda Hocking’s Trylle Trilogy. It is a multimillion copy international bestseller.
In My Mailbox (11)
In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, it is a weekly meme where people record what books they received that week. As I don’t receive books every week, I do the meme as and when I can.
This week I want to say a HUGE thank you to Mum who got me all 3 books – I’d also like to wish her a very happy birthday!
Angel (Angel #1) by L. A. Weatherly[Goodreads]
The Immortal Rules (A Blood of Eden Novel, #1) by Julie Kagawa [Goodreads]
Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins [Goodreads]
So that was what’s in my mailbox this week, what was in yours?
Review: Intangible by J. Meyers
Intangible by J. Meyers
Title: Intangible (Intangible #1)
Author: J. Meyers
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: J. Meyers (31st January 2012)
Source: From the author
Format: E-book
Blurb:
Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.
Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.
- from Goodreads.com
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Review:
Sera and Luke Raine are just like any other teenagers, except that they have a secret: they both have strange powers. Sera can heal with a touch, and Luke can see the future.
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