All posts filed under: Listicle

My Top Reads of 2017

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5. Dusk or Dark or Dawn or Day by Seanan McGuirre Though I had certain difficulties with suspension of belief at times, this was a thoroughly enjoyable novel. I’ve grown to really enjoy Seanan McGuire; her novel concepts are stellar, though her execution sometimes falls a bit short (as in the case of Every Heart a Doorway). I was excited to pick up her latest novella, a speculative take on ghosts and the concept of the Afterlife. Would recommend for some enjoyable afternoon reading, especially if you’re a fan of original supernatural concepts. vvvv vvvv vvvv vvvv vvvv 4. Northern Lights by Philip Pullman I read the trilogy when I was very young and I never remembered much about it, except that I liked it but not that much. In preparation for the sequel trilogy, I decided it was high time I revisited the series. I definitely found Northern Lights inspiring, original and enjoyable. Lyra is a brilliant protagonist and I’m looking forward to getting into the rest of the series – I have next to no memory …

Top Reads of 2016

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10. The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon The third installment in one of my favourite fantasy series, but not the best so far. I love the characters and the world-building in this series, but I found The Song Rising slightly lacking in substance. The series has focused far too much on the politics of the story in the latest two installments, and we’re left wondering about the greater meaning of the world and its characters. I love this series, but this was a 3-star novel for me. 9. Scythe by Neal Shusterman I have tried a lot of Shusterman’s novels and Scythe was the first I properly enjoyed. In his latest awesome piece of speculative YA fiction, Shusterman shows us a futuristic world in which humans have conquered death, but in order to curb population, select members of society called scythes chose who lives and who dies. I thought the novel was brilliantly thought-out with two enjoyable protagonists showing us the way. Great for the younger spectrum of YA readers. . . . . . . …

Top 10 Reads of 2015

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10. The Girl with Ghost Eyes by M.H. Boroson A diamond in the rough, a brilliantly crafted, folklore-based jaunt around San Francisco’s Chinatown and the spirit world therein. I cannot tell you how much I was inspired by the folklore and magic in this book. I loved the characters and their relationships, I loved the main character’s journey and I appreciated the unpredictable plot. I really think anyone can find inspiration from this novel, I really recommend this one highly.

My Top 10 Most Hated Tropes in YA Fiction (2)

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Just in case you’re not in the know, a trope is a term used to describe a reoccurring literary device, often to the point of being cliché, and they are impossible to avoid in fiction novels. But there are so many tropes out there we don’t always realize we’re in the presence of one. Some just aren’t that common, some we actually love (breaking the Fourth wall can liven up any story), but some are just so overused, so stupid and so painful to see that it’s about time I made a list about the ones that annoy me the most.

Tess’s Top 10 Reads of 2014

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#10 – Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge Genre: Urban Fantasy / Horror Pages: 409 Published: 2014 (Pan MacMillan) ■■■■■■■■■■_Concept ■■■■■■■■■■_World building ■■■■■■■■■■_Plot ■■■■■■■■■■_Writing ■■■■■■■■■■_Protagonist ■■■■■■■■■■_Character development “The plot and fantasy world was just outstanding. Though it definitely had a Gaiman vibe – which I would describe as a very “alternative and dark fairy tale” – it’s the most original mid-fantasy I have read in a long time. Because of that I was continuously blown away by new magical creatures, aspects and ideas. Due to its originality I could never predict where the plot was going to go and what would happen to these characters I had grown really fond of.” #9 – The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton Genre: Urban Fantasy / YA Pages: 301 Published: 2014 (Candlewick Press) ■■■■■■■■■■_Concept ■■■■■■■■■■_World building ■■■■■■■■■■_Plot ■■■■■■■■■■_Writing ■■■■■■■■■■_Protagonist ■■■■■■■■■■_Character development “It is, in essence, a story about a family. A family that just happens to be a little bit magical. The story is intended to explore the different sides and angles of love, precisely by not writing about love; just writing …