2016 End of Year Book Survey

It's time for the 2016 End of Year Book Survey hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner!

Number Of Books You Read: 186
Number of Re-Reads: 9 novels (?? manga)
Genre You Read The Most From: YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy

1. Best Book You Read In 2016?

YOUNG ADULT: Starflight by Melissa Landers (review)
MIDDLE GRADE: The Scrivener's Bones [Alcatraz #2] by Brandon Sanderson
[NEW] ADULT: Imprudence by Gail Carriger
NON-FICTION: The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey
MANGA: Horimiya vol. 1 by Hero & Daisuke Hagiwara

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

The Continent by Keira Drake

3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read? 

Bad: Harry Potter & the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling (review)

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson (review)

5. Best series you started in 2016? Best Sequel of 2016? Best Series Ender of 2016?

All three = Alcatraz Series by Brandon Sanderson

6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2016?

Robison Wells: Dark Energy (review)

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand & Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows

8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

A Shadow Bright & Burning by Jessica Cluess

9. Book You Read In 2016 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

The Dark Talent [Alcatraz #5] by Brandon Sanderson (review)

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2016?

Glitter by Aprilynne Pike

11. Most memorable character of 2016?

Bastille from the Alcatraz Series by Brandon Sanderson

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2016?

Railhead by Philip Reeve (review)

13. Most Thought-Provoking/Life-Changing Book of 2016?

The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2016 to finally read? 

The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2016?

"Some people assume that authors write books because we have vivid imaginations and want to share our vision. Other people assume that authors write because we are bursting with stories, and therefore must scribble those stories down in moments of creative propondidty.

Both groups of people are completely wrong. Authors write books for one, and only one, reason: because we like to torture people."

--Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson (review)

16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2016? 

SHORTEST: The End by David LaRochelle & Richard Egielski
LONGEST: Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (re-read)

17. Book That Shocked You The Most (Because of a plot twist, character death, left you hanging with your mouth wide open, etc.)

The Dark Talent [Alcatraz #5] by Brandon Sanderson (review)

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!) (OTP = one true pairing if you aren’t familiar)

Hori & Miyamura from Horimiya by Hero & Daisuke Hagiwara

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Crew of the Spotted Custard from The Custard Protocol series by Gail Carriger

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2016 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Starflight by Melissa Landers (review)

21. Best Book You Read In 2016 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand & Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2016?

Aoi from the So Cute It Hurts!! series by Go Ikeyamada

23. Best 2016 debut you read?

A Shadow Bright & Burning by Jessica Cluess

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Railhead by Philip Reeve (review)

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Adulthood is a Myth: A Sarah's Scribbles Collection by Sarah Andersen

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2016?

Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan (review)

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

Railhead by Philip Reeve (review)

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan (review)

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2016?

Railhead by Philip Reeve (review)

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

The Continent by Keira Drake

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2016 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2017?

The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2017 (non-debut)?

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

3. 2017 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

Traveler by L.E. DeLano

4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2017?

Starfall by Melissa Landers

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2017?

Read more backlog!

6. A 2017 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone:

Shadow Run by AdriAnne Strickland & Michael Miller (review)

*          *          *

And that's it! Did you read any of these? What did you think of them? And if you filled out the survey as well, leave a link to your post in the Comments!

Holiday Hiatus

I've been swamped with the holidays and my reading progress has been really slow, so The #FridayReads Review is going on hiatus until the new year. Look for my 2016 End of Year Survey next week, and I hope to return to reviewing in January. Until then, happy holidays! 🎄

Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree

1. Defy the Stars (Claudia Gray) - (ARC) I swear Claudia wrote this book just for me, it is exactly my kind of story. Dying to get my hands on an ARC for immediate consumption!
2. By Your Side (Kasie West) - (ARC) A Kasie story set in a library? Be still my heart! Already have the paperback pre-ordered, but the sooner I can read it, the better! Also, my Kasie West collection requires an ARC.
3. Lucky in Love (Kasie West) - (ARC) Two books by my favorite writer in one year? 2017 is going to rock. Of course I need this ARC for my collection too, but since this story will be releasing in hardcover (and I only read softcovers) I need it to read as well!
4. Starfall (Melissa Landers) - (???) Starflight, the first book in this duology, was my favorite read this 2016, so of course I've been desperate to get my hands on the sequel! The problem: it will be releasing in hardcover, and there are no ARCs...save one currently up for giveaway. Dear Santa, how about a Christmas miracle, pretty please?
5. Dividing Eden (Joelle Charbonneau) - (ARC) I really enjoyed Joelle's Testing trilogy, so I'm excited to read her foray into fantasy!
6. The Perilous Sea (Sherry Thomas) - (ARC/PBK) I would prefer an ARC to complete my collection, but I really want to binge the series soon so I'll settle for a paperback if I have to, I can't wait much longer!
7. Revenger (Alastair Reynolds) - (ARC/PBK) I'm a sucker for sci-fi and this sounds like an interesting one!
8. Gamescape: Overworld (Emma Trevayne) - (ARC) Another thrilling story released in hardcover that I need the ARC to be able to read it anytime soon. *sigh*
9. Roar (Cora Carmack) - (ARC) Storm magic? Enough said.
10. Penguin Revolution vol. 7 (Kore Yamazaki) - (PBK) This is the final and only volume I don't have of this entertaining series, and of course it's out of print. But a little thing like that wouldn't be a problem for Santa, right? ;)

So what books do you want Santa to leave under your tree, and why? Have you read any of the titles on my list? If so, what did you think of them?

The #FridayReads Review (12/16/16)

Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Prophecy by Ellen Oh (PBK)
I haven't been feeling much like fiction this week, but this caught my eye so yesterday afternoon I just sat down and started it. The writing is a little hard to follow at times and the world a bit much to keep straight, but it's an interesting enough Asian fantasy so far.

The Library: An Illustrated History by Stuart A. P. Murray (HBK)
When my interest in fiction wanes, my interest in non-fiction grows. I love reading about books and libraries, so of course I immediately reached for this. It's rather heavy so it's been slow going (hardcovers, *sigh*), but so far so interesting! What I wouldn't give to have seen the Nineveh library...

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Yona of the Dawn vol. 2 by Mizuho Kusanagi (PBK)
3 Stars. While this volume was a little better than the first because of the action and the basic plot is interesting, Yona is just so bland a character and THE STORY NEEDS MAGIC. Might give the series one more volume if I see it at the library, but Yona had better start growing a personality. Or at least discover some magic.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Noragami vol. 11 by Adachitoka (PBK)
I have 6 volumes of this backed up so it's time for a binge!

So what are you reading this week?

The #FridayReads Review (12/9/16)

Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Countdown by Michelle Rowen (PBK)
Finally picked this up as inspiration for Project P edits, but it turned out to be not quite what I expected. It was pretty interesting and engaging to start, but now halfway through I'm rather tired of the main character's slowly lowering intelligence in the face of her slowly elevating mental powers, which I had not anticipated and feel kind of ruin the thriller story. Currently struggling to maintain interest.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski (ARC)
4 Stars. I wasn't impressed with Winner's Curse so I didn't expect much of this earlier work, but it was surprisingly quite good! Although it began with the extremely overused "girl who appears normal but has a dark secret is drawn to a new mysterious boy at school" opening, after some rather shocking violence and alternate world twists it turned out to be an exciting read with engaging intrigue and action and a really strong female lead. I even rather liked the romance, which is very rare for me. Review to come.

>> DNF <<

Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier (ARC)
DNF at Page 37. Opened with too much normal living (not even a hint of the magic to come) and too many character introductions (I couldn't keep anyone straight) for too long. The writing was a bit dense (which admittedly can happen with translations), the main character read younger than I believe she was supposed to be, I really can't stand selfish parents, and I just couldn't find enough interest in the story to keep going. Might just be my current mood, but I'm going to pass. Other dream fantasy lovers would probably really enjoy it though, if they don't mind a probably 50+ page wait for the fantasy part to begin. 

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Black Butler vol. 22 by Yana Toboso (PBK)
Finally got my hands on this! Hopefully this volume will finally finish up the latest plot arc.

So what are you reading this week?

The #FridayReads Review (12/2/16)

Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski (ARC)
Although it began with the extremely overused "girl who appears normal but has a dark secret is drawn to a new mysterious boy at school" opening, after some rather shocking violence and alternate world twists it has turned out to be a pretty good read with engaging intrigue and a strong female lead. Currently halfway through and quite enjoying it.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (ARC)
2 Stars. Although I did enjoy the world and game reminiscent of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, there was way too much description, Scarlett was too reluctant and overthought everything to the point of frustration, and I never truly felt the sisterly bond. While the mystery of Julian was intriguing, after way too many switchbacks I lost interest before the final conclusion, and while the end was satisfying for the most part it left me feeling disappointed and a little gypped. Review to come.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins (ARC)
I have both books in the duology so I think I'll give it a try!

So what are you reading this week?

Review: Dark Energy (Robison Wells)

Title: Dark Energy
Series: standalone
Author: Robison Wells
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: March 29, 2016
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Science Fiction
Told: First Person, Past Tense
Content Rating: Older Teen (gruesome visuals, violence, violent alien attacks, kissing)
Format Read: ARC (trade)
Find On: Goodreads
Purchase On: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
Summary:

We are not alone.

Five days ago, a massive UFO crashed in the Midwest. Since then, nothing—or no one—has come out.

They have arrived.

If it were up to Alice, she’d be watching all of this on the news from Miami, Florida. Instead, she’s the newest student at a boarding school not far from the crash site—because her dad is the director of special projects for NASA, and if anything is a special project, it’s this.

And there’s no going back. 

A shell-shocked country is waiting, glued to televisions and computer screens, for a sign of what the new future holds. But when the aliens emerge, they’re nothing like what Alice expected. And only one thing is clear: Nothing will ever be the same again.

*          *          *

In a Sentence: A thrilling and chilling contemporary sci-fi with quick wit, engaging characters, and a compelling story, despite a creepy alien element.

Dark Energy was a genre roller coaster that began a light contemporary sci-fi, plunged into horror at the middle, veered into a tense adventure before a thriller climax, and ended on a romantic note. From the first sentence I was instantly engaged by easy, witty writing with great banter, simple yet realistic settings, and a diverse and relatable cast of characters. Except for a few instances of rather vivid and unnerving horror, the story was fast paced and engaging with exciting and surprising twists, including an ancient mystery I found quite unique and interesting. 

Alice was a fun and, in spite of the horror upbeat viewpoint character thanks to her easygoing attitude and adventurous streak, and the posse of fierce friends she collected were smart and snarky and I loved every one of them. (I especially adored her NASA dad and their close yet liberal relationship.) The romance was cute and sweet in the face of the action and adversity, and I appreciated that it took its time to build over the entire book. Given all the tension I felt the ending was plausible, and the story wrapped up nicely.

Conclusion: A thrilling read that always kept me engaged with effortless banter, relatable characters, and chilling twists. Despite a few rather squicky bits, I really enjoyed the quick and exciting read and look forward to trying more by Robison Wells.

Scribble Rating: 

4 of 5 Scribbles

The #FridayReads Review (11/25/16)

Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Caraval by Stephanie Garber (ARC)
I've been hearing such amazing things that I couldn't resist this any longer, but sadly I'm not enjoying it as much as others have. There is so much description, and viewpoint character Scarlett is so indecisive and frustratingly overthinks everything. But the world is imaginative and I'm enjoying the intrigue, so I'll stick with it to the end. 

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Dark Energy by Robison Wells (ARC)
4 Stars. A thrilling and chilling contemporary sci-fi with quick wit, engaging characters, and a compelling story, despite a creepy alien element. Review to come.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson (ARC)
I think it's about time for a light contemporary, so maybe I'll finally give Matson a try.

So what are you reading this week?

The #FridayReads Review (11/18/16)

Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Dark Energy by Robison Wells (ARC)
This has been a thrilling genre rollercoaster! It started as a light contemporary sci-fi, plunged into horror near the middle, and then turned into a tense adventure as we neared the climax. I only have a chapter or two left and I'm itching to find out how it ends!

>> JUST FINISHED <<

My Lady Jane by Hand & Ashton & Meadows (ARC)
3.5 Stars. A humorous historical reimagining that was a bit slow and wordy at times but possessed great characters, fun fantastical twists, and adorable romances.


>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Ruined by Amy Tintera (ARC)
Feeling like a fantasy next so think I'll try Amy's latest! Really enjoyed her Reboot duology.

So what are you reading this week?

{Nerd Blast} THE DIABOLIC (S.J. Kincaid) + INT Giveaway!

Welcome to the Official Nerd Blast for 

The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid!

Red Queen meets The Hunger Games in this epic novel about what happens when the galaxy’s most deadly weapon masquerades as a senator’s daughter and a hostage of the galactic court.

A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for. 

Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.

When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.

As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.

Add to Goodreads

PURCHASE:
Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Book Depository

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

S.J. Kincaid was born in Alabama, grew up in California, and attended high school in New Hampshire, but it was while living beside a haunted graveyard in Scotland that she realized that she wanted to be a writer. Her debut, Insignia, came out July 2012. The second book in the series, Vortex, was released July 2013. The final book in the trilogy, Catalyst, released October 2014. Her standalone novel, The Diabolic, releases November 2016.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK

GIVEAWAY

5 winners will receive a copy of THE DIABOLIC + swag by S.J. Kincaid!
Giveaway is International | Must be 13+ to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway