I'm really excited today to participate in the End of Year Survey put together by the fabulous Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner. I always have so much fun reading friends and fellow bloggers' favorite book lists around this time of year, so I thought I would hop aboard this Train of Win and give the survey a try.
It's a shockingly hard survey to fill out. I've read innumerable amazing books this year, so it was crazy difficult to call out only a handful. Also, my memory is more sieve than steel trap, so it may or may not have taken me several hours to go back through my review list and figure out what books would fit into which category. Well done me ;-)
This is a fairly lengthy survey, so I decided to split it into two parts with the second one posting tomorrow along with the list of books that got a 4.5 or 5 from me in 2013. Without further ado, I give you some of my favorite books of the year!
• • • • • • • • • • •
Best Book You Read In 2013? (If you have to cheat — you can break it down by genre if you want or 2013 release vs. backlist)
Contemporary YA: Crash Into You by Katie McGarry
Contemporary NA: True by Erin McCarthy
Dystopian: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon. All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill is a close second. (Both of these books span genres, but I'm tucking them into this one for the purposes of this survey.)
Historical Fiction: The Madman’s Daughter (yes, this is a bit of a stretch for this genre ;)
Paranormal: Iced by Karen Marie Moning
Science Fiction: Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris and These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner.
Fantasy: The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas and Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Romance: Kinked by Thea Harrison
Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?
Taken by Erin Bowman. I’m a sucker for a stunning cover (as so many book lovers are), so I had very high hopes for this one after seeing its gorgeous cover. Unfortunately, it didn’t work quite as well for me as I’d hoped.
Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?
Impostor by Susanne Winnacker and Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most?
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon and Iced by Karen Marie Moning
Best series you discovered in 2013?
The Guards of the Shadowlands by Sarah Fine
Favorite new author you discovered in 2013?
So many! Sarah Fine, Samantha Shannon, Kasie West, Cristin Terrill, Erin McCarthy, A.C. Gaughen, Mindee Arnett, and Cora Carmack.
Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?
The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas. For a while now I’ve told myself that fantasy is not the genre for me, but multiple times this year I’ve proven myself wrong and I couldn’t be happier about it!
Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2013?
Iced by Karen Marie Moning. If I didn’t need my hands to work, I would have Ryodan in a death grip 24/7.
Book You Read In 2013 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon or Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor. Both have sequels that should be releasing in 2014 (hopefully on The Bone Season anyway, I know it's book one of seven), and I will gladly re-read both of these to make sure I remember everything I need to before tackling the newest installment!
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2013?
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke. I also absolutely ADORED this book.
Most memorable character in 2013?
Ryodan from Iced
Warden from The Bone Season
Sturmhond from Siege and Storm
Most beautifully written book read in 2013?
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. This book was just so beautifully atmospheric, it had a dark hypnotic quality that left me completely mesmerized.
Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?
This answer is a bit of a surprise for me, but I’m going to go with Endless by Jessica Shirvington. The Violet Eden Chapters and I got along very poorly in the beginning, but with each book my love for the series has grown, and Endless absolutely ripped my heart out and stomped on it. It makes me a bit of a masochist, but I loved every second of it.
Days of Blood and Starlight and Sanctum/Fractured would be on this list as well.
Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2013 to finally read?
I’m going to change this question a little bit to be “Books I still can’t believe I haven’t read given it’s 2013”
Anything by Gayle Forman (I KNOW!)
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2013?
I fail this question. I never highlight or mark quotes or passages, so I honestly don’t have one.
Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2013?
Shortest (not counting novellas): Neptune’s Tears by Susan Waggoner
(218 pages)
Longest: Lover at Last by J.R. Ward (597 pages)
Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!
Pretty much the entirety of Iced. It’s a conversation starter for sure. Also, the ending of Fractured *falls down dead*
Part two will be up tomorrow!
Hm...might need to take this survey too
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun? It's much harder than I thought it would be though, it took me a long time!
DeleteI still don't like that cover. Shoot me now, I guess. People just rave about it and adore and pet and kiss it, while I'm just.. "mehhh, I guess it's okay-ish.. Idk." WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME, JENNY? *cries uncontrollably* Other than that, "Anything by Gayle Forman (I KNOW!)" -- HAHA. This was in my survey too. I'll post one on Monday. I just, gosh. Why did I wait so long to read If I Stay and Where She Went? Geez. I've yet to read Just One Day, because I'm waiting for the JOY US paperback release. (Me iz anal about this stuff you know.. which sucks. SO MUCH WAITING!!!) I've yet to read Days of B&S, but I'll re-read DoS&B and then read DoB&S AND THEN COMES DREAMS OF GODS AND MONSTERS!!!! Dat cover, right?! I really, really want to see that in person. So happy that my friends have all loved The Bone Season. I saw it in a bookstore yesterday and god, it was so gorgeous. Even under the dust jacket! SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL. I'll definitely get that one, but probably from TBD. They're a bit expensive here in our local shops because the bookshops have to make money somehow, right? Though some of the paperbacks were so cheap, gosh. I had to restrain myself from all the prettiness. I was there with a friend, she needed Champion by Marie Lu bad, she was going nuts over the ending of Prodigy, haha. Sarah Fine is an author that Jasprit put on both of mine and Nick's tbr list. Can't wait to start her books. This survey thing is so fun and I'm so excited to see your part 2 :)
ReplyDeleteHaha it's okay Siiri, artwork is always crazy subjective. I'm obsessed with fonts and typography, so this cover is amazing to me:) SO EXCITED for Dreams of Gods and Monsters, but I definitely need to re-read Days...I've forgotten so much. And I hope you pick up The Bone Season at some point, but I hope even more that you like it since I've raved and raved about it:) Ooo and yes to Sarah Fine, LOVE her books!
DeleteThe Bone Season really was fantastic, wasn't it? It took my a while to get into, but once I did I couldn't put it down. I really loved the relationship between Warden and Paige. :)
ReplyDeleteUnbreakable was so, so good! Even better than the first book, imo. I was sobbing by the end!
It's always a pleasant surprise when you read a book out of your comfort zone and end up enjoying it. The Burning Sky was fantastic!
YES RENU!!! I loved it so, so much. Yes it took just a little while to get going, but once she got taken and was with Warden, I couldn't get off the couch for anything. Food? Who needs it:)
DeleteI loved Unbreakable so much too, I can't wait to get more from Liz:) And I need book 2 in The Burning Sky series asap!
You haven't read The Fault in Our Stars either? I thought it was just me! I keep meaning to since I've heard such good things, but to be totally honest, the subject matter is slightly off-putting for me. I don't especially like reading books about illness.
ReplyDeleteImpostor was one of my favourities this year too - and also one of the biggest surprises for me. I really didn't expect anything too special from it, but I ended up loving it.
You haven't either? YES LEANNA! *high five* The subject matter is a little off putting for me too for the same reason. As beautiful a book as I'm sure it is, I just don't want to pick it up:(
DeleteI adored Impostor! SO GOOD:) Glad you did too.
SO many books I haven't read in this post... Haha it makes for a good book recommendations post ^_^
ReplyDeleteOh yay! I'm glad I could put some awesome books on your radar:)
DeleteI see some of my favorite authors and books on here and some I really really need to read still!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun survey!
So many good books this year Ali!
DeleteI just finished Days of Blood and Starlight, Jenny, and OMG, it was amazing!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, Sturmond *swoon*
WASN'T IT Z?! I need to re-read it. I don't remember all the details, I just know it was as good as the first one:)
DeleteThanks for sharing! There are so many books on your list that I WANT to read but I just have not gotten too. one of those would definitely be Sarah Fine's books (Sanctum and Fractured). Sanctum has been on my wish list for the longest time. A book I read that had a crazy moment I am STILL dying to talk about is Dangerous Girls....thank goodness my sister is reading it now. haha
ReplyDelete-Lauren
I've heard such good things about Dangerous Girls Lauren, that's one I really need to read! *sigh* I know I'll never get to all the books I want to, but a girl can hope that one day she'll be paid to just read books:)
DeleteAwesome list. Bone Season made my top ten YA reads for 2013.
ReplyDeleteI could not have loved that book more Kim!
DeleteI really need to read All Our Yesterdays! I totally agree about having Ryodan in a death-grip! Maybe we can take turns? I'm definitely doing a re-read (re-listen, maybe?) of Iced before Burned. I love the cover of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. I need to read that one as well! I can't wait to read your part two, Jenny! :)
ReplyDeleteYOU DO! I think you'll really enjoy it. And is it time for Ryodan yet? He's still so far away Rachel.... *sobs*
DeleteI still haven't read The Fault in Our Stars. Or anything by John Green, for that matter! I wonder if 2014 will be the year that that changes. ;) Days of Blood and Starlight was AMAZING, and I'm so glad to see The Bone Season, These Broken Stars and Siege and Storm make your favourites. And yay for discovering Sarah Fine this year! I really like her writing. But totally agree with you about the ending of Fractured! ;)
ReplyDeleteICED! Definitely. KINKED! Woo-hoo! THE BONE SEASON AND WARDEN!! So many great books this year. So many more in 2014 (I already have a couple that I ADORE)!!
ReplyDeleteFantastic survey. You have read some great books this year. I completely agree with you regarding Endless--wow!! I can't wait for the next book in the series. I hope you get to read some Gayle Forman and John Green this coming year! I highly recommend Forman's If I Stay. Happy New Year, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteI'm really excited that you finally read Sarah Fine. And you've convinced me, I need to find a way to fit ICED in right freaking NOW! And The Bone Season- everyone is telling me to read it NOW! ARG, so much to read! I love these surveys!
ReplyDeleteI have the Bone season and need to read it.
ReplyDeleteSturmond *swoon* ...man, he really made Siege and Storm for me. We better see him in book 3! Also I know you'll fall heads over heels in love with Prince Greening Grandemalion aka Prince Po from Graceling. I love him to bits. :)
ReplyDeleteBetween the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea kind of passed under my radar! I mean, I was all over it at first with the gorgeous cover reveal and then over the course of months I had forgotten about it. But the writing sounds SO good! Crash Into You and Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen are two that I really want to read and hopefully will at some point this year!
ReplyDelete