My Top Ten Books of 2014.

  

So, I'd like to start off this post by saying happy new year! I would also like to appologise for my recent lack of posting - I haven't been lazy, I promise, I've just been in a major reading (and writing) slump, that I have only just recently come out of.

I promise that I will begin posting again soon as I have just started up a new fashion and beauty blog called Mangled Beauty with my best friend in which a schedule was forced upon me and effectively gave me a kick up the bum, so I hope to put the skills I have learnt to good use on here.

[ just a side note, if you would like to see our new blog the link is here:

www.mangledbeautyy.blogspot.co.uk ]

Anyway, what better to get my blog reactive than a new year! Hope this ones a good one and here below is a list (in no particular order) of my top ten books of 2014 along with reasons why they are awesome. Enjoy.

1. The Programme.

This book has made its way into one of my favourites. Fast paced with a dystopian world which is surprisingly, and scarily plausible, its mixture of action and suspense makes for a truly awesome read. I am proud to be a fan of this book and can't wait to buy the sequel when I next find myself with money.

[ link to my review of this book: http://dontberuderead.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/the-program-by-suzanne-young.html ]

2. The Maze Runner.

I steered away from this book for too long, taking it from stereotypical face value and thinking that it would be a book for young boys that I myself wouldn't enjoy. Boy was I wrong. I'm so glad I decided to have a peak at the trailer for the movie (which showed me how incredibly awesome it was) because that was what drove me to run to the shops to buy the book. Such an interesting concept and I loved the character development also.

[ link to my review of this book: http://dontberuderead.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/the-maze-runner-by-james-dashner.html ]

3. Breathe.

This was a recent read for me (meaning I finished it last night) and this is the book that brought me from my reading slump. Hallelujah. I honestly sped through this book, readng it in a day and a half. If I had to describe my first thoughts of the beggining of the book it would be major love triangle! Actually maybe square would be a better term. Anyway, that wasn't all there was to this book, this held complexity on so many levels and I loved the way how everything was intricately and cleverly put together. An outstanding book that you should all read.

4. Gone.

Another book I stupidly avoided so long and ended up kicking myself when I realised what I had been missing. This book kept me hooked from start to finish and had me questioning why? at every corner. I just had to know what was going on, anbd as you can imagine, this landed me with more than a few sleepless nights (woopsie). I can't wait to read the rest of this series in 2015.

5. The Moment Collector.

I'm not usually one for mystery books, or sad books for that matter and although this one held both, I still found myself falling in love. This book is what I like to call 'imperfectly perfect'. The characters aren't perfect, you don't find yourself always agreeing with them, or always loving them the whole way through, even if they aren't villians. But, even so, this book still finds a way to riggle into your heart, even if you have to give a few days...weeks...months, to get over. Nope, I'm still not over it.

[ link to my review of this book: http://dontberuderead.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/the-moment-collector-by-jodi-lynn_25.html ]

6. Slated.

This book kept popping up in all of my feeds with high reccomendations everywhere, and when I saw the gorgeous cover (I have a thing about eyes) I just knew that I had to buy it. I still remember reading this vividly because I had to stay at my aunties for a few days as my parents went away (and took my dog with them...believe me, it was torture) and Slated was my book of choice. I sped through this book in 2-3 days (trust me, when you have college, a few days IS speeding through a book) and I loved every second of it. I was totally hooked on this one and I'm sure you'll be too!

7. Don't Let Go.

Another romance, I know! What was with me this year! Anyway, this is a real heart warmer and I was just in the mood for a really contemporary romance that wasn't for teens. I absolutely loved this book and although I was worried that perhaps I was too young an audience for this book, I was very quickly proven wrong. A truly lovely romance that coulkd most definitely make a grown man cry.

[link to my review of this book: http://dontberuderead.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/don-let-go-by-sharla-lovelace.html ]

8. The Revealed.

I absolutely loved this book. Again a completely different concept (it never ceases to amaze me how so many stories are out there, all different from one another) that is so cleverly put together to keep you on you're toes. This book actually proved to be very different from my initial thoughts and manages to change course drastically part way through which was a thrill. This one is definitely one to put on your wishlist.

[ link to my review of this book: http://dontberuderead.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-revealed-by-jessica-hickam.html ]

9. The Fault In Our Stars.

Yes, I have to admit, at first I did avoid this book due to the massive hype surrounding it. I was also pretty touchy about the subject of cancer so, for too long a time, I acted like it was the plague turned paperback. But, finally, I gave in and decided to give it a read after I got so many reccomendations from too many people. I love it. It's an absolutely beautiful book and although it made me cry I will cherish it forever. This is one to stay in your heart.

10. Divergent.

Divergent was another that took me a while to give in to. Sometimes I just have too much pride for my own good. But, I'm glad that I did, these books, though evil, have such a great plot line that I can almost forgive what Veronica Roth did. Almost, but no cigar. And no, I don't care that some people think that dystopians are 'getting old'. A dystopian is like Peter Pan, it NEVER grows old. I will always love dystopians and what you say about that is irrelevent because I am divergent and I cannot be controlled.

I hope you all enjoyed hearing about my top ten books of 2014 and I'm sure you all have a fantastic year ahead of you!

*Salutes four fingers into the air*

May the odds ever be in your favour.

Fallen Souls (Realm Of The Claimed Prequel) by Linda Foster.

Summary:

Ash never thought going to a party could be dangerous. He certainly never thought it would change his life. But when a man with red eyes begins following him – and his sister – he realizes he was wrong. Soon they’re running, leading the man on a desperate chase over icy roads.

When Ash crashes his car, nearly killing his sister, the red-eyed man offers Ash a choice – save his sister, but pay the highest price possible. Bring Grace back to life, at the cost of his own soul.

Suddenly, Ash is facing a choice he never sought. But will he use that choice to save his sister? And if he does … what will it mean for Ash himself?

***


Someone has started a revolution in Heaven, his betrayal and lies tearing the fabric of the angels apart. Things are coming quickly to a head, and before long the angels will find themselves at war … with each other. Friends and allies will turn against each other, each choosing their own side of right and wrong.

If that happens, the world as they know it will end.

It's up to Kali, protector of angels and humans, to stop the treachery before war breaks out and peace is shattered forever. But how far is she willing to go to save the lives of the angels? Will she turn against her own dearest friend to save her world?
And if she does … will anything be left for her to come home to?

This novella contains two short story as a foundation, building up to the first book in the series, Soul Bound.

The first section of the novella, Condemned really caught my attention; strange men with red eyes? Something wasn't right. It really set up a tense atmosphere although, I'd like to say, this story was completely unpredictable and really managed to shock me.

It really made me want to know more, see what happens next and set off questions and thoughts that I'm sure will be satisfied in the first book. This whole novella has very much got the feel of 'background story' and this was a very positive effect on the book.

The second section, Fallen, although quite different from the first story, still carried across some of the characters first mentioned in Condemned, such as Seraphine, giving some extra knowledge that works as a kind of consecration of the first story.

In fallen, I especially really liked the use of stories told in religion as a foundation, and I know, some of you will be thinking 'time to steer clear of this book', but for some of you who aren't a big fan of religious books, like me, don't panic! It plays on the story of how lucifer fell from heaven and adds some awesome twists that I could never have dreamed of. The whole premise of the ideas Foster creates is honestly brilliant, I love it.

Overall I loved this book and feel it's a great set up for a great series.

As soon as I can I shall be buying Soul Bound.

**** 4.5/5 stars ****

Anathema by Megg Jenson.

Summary:

Reychel is a slave girl surrounded by magic, lies, and manipulation. Her best friend disappears in the middle of the night leaving Reychel to face her fifteenth birthday, the day her master burns his brand into the back of her bald head, alone. 

Sheltered from the outside world and without any hope for escape, can Reychel learn to believe in herself?

                                        'FORGET PROPHECY, MAKE YOUR OWN DESTINY'

  This book intrigued me; A hella rad cover? Talk of Prophets? Young adult? Yes please! But, I was actually kind of dissapointed in this book, although I could still see the attraction to it for others - perhaps pre-teens could enjoy it? Which was a shame because usually I thoroughly enjoy books of all genres for all ages.

  But, saying that, I DID enjoy this book to some extent, just not quite as much as others I've read.

  The plot-line was intriguing, although could be predictable, yet I still found myself wanting answers and wondering about things which added to the reasons why it wasn't a bust of a book for me - you know the ones? Where you just cannot read anymore and eventually have to slam it shut in frustration.

   It's quite quick paced and doesn't have many, if at all, sections that are just not needed that cause drag in the story (bookish buffering), which is a real skill this author shows as too many books I read have that issue far too often but, I still felt that the writing was a little bit wooden and felt a bit choppy in sections - but, with that in mind, perhaps a different, younger age group would see that in a completely different light? Who knows? But for me, it dragged the story down a grade.

  Again, this is just my personal opinion, maybe it was the quick to love theme that put me off enjoying this book too much, but I remember that I used to like that sort of thing when I was younger so maybe I've grown up too much (god damnit).

  That being said, it was still a good book - I know there are quite a few critisms in this review but that doesn't mean this is a 'bad book', it's quite the contrary actually! It was an enjoyable, light read and I think I may actually look out for the next installment - see where this goes. 

  *** 3/5 stars***

The Moment Collector by Jodi Lynn Anderson.

Summary:

"The yard of this house is a graveyard of moments and everything left behind is a clue. And I am here to dig."

There's a ghost haunting 208 Water Street. She doesn't know who she was, or why she's still here. She does know that she is drawn to Maggie, the new girl in town, and her friends - beautiful, carefree Pauline and Liam, the boy who loves her.

But the ghost isn't all that's lurking in Gill Creek... Someone is killing young girls all across the county. Can the ghost keep these three friends safe? Or does she have another purpose?

                                                     'IT'S DANGEROUS TO BE YOUNG.'

This.

Book.

Broke. 

Me.

  If you know me, you'll be aware that I'm rarely an emotional person, but oh my goodness, this book stuck a dagger in my heart and twisted. You have to prepare yourself for this one. It's a biter, I tell you.

  I've got to say though that there are a few mistakes here and there, but I also know from personal experience that they are clearly just typos and actually didn't affect my reading of the novel at all. Also, the beggining was a bit slow for me, but by the end I realised that it helped build the tension and, again, wasn't a major issue at all.

  The story line, although frustrating at times and makes me want to bash my head against the wall repeatedly in anger and despair, is actually brilliant and clever and I loved the unique point of view changes we get - switching from the protagonist, Maggie, to the mysterious ghost.

  I absolutely loved this book even though it made me cry. A lot. And I never cry. But yeah, just trying not to think about it. Deep breaths. 

  Jeez, this is gonna be a hard one to get over.

  Tragically beautiful.

 

***** 5/5 stars *****

  

5 Books I Love That No One Seems To Know About.

So, recently in my entrance to the world of books online - blogs, bookstagram, booktube, so on - I've begun to notice that a lot of the books that I love, even though best sellers, are unknown to the book-loving community, that I find not only strange, but kind of sad. 

  It's time.

      To stop.

           The madness.

...I really don't know guys, I'm just trying to be dramatic here...it's late okay, sleep deprivation is who I blame, if it were a person, which it is not...carrying on...

So I wanted to introduce you guys to a few of my favourite books that are pretty much invisible to all you online bookaholics out there.

1.

    The Demon Trappers by Jana Oliver.

  This series is honestly my all time favourite series. I'll spare you the dreary sob stories behind why this personally speaks to me, but I feel that I can really relate to the protagonist, Riley. 

  I fell in love with this book from the first page and haven't forgotten it since. Now if you know me, you'll be aware that I am NOT a re-reader - I don't understand how people have the time to re-read old books when there are so many new books out there dying to be opened! It's a mystery to me. But out of all of my books this series would be the first I would crack open to re-experience it all over again.

  Yet, it baffles me that, although it IS in fact a best seller, and, of course, holds that title for an extremely valid reason, nobody seems to know about it! Where is the TDT fandom? Can somebody please tell me because as a super fan of this series (possibly even the biggest fan, might I add), I need other people to fangirl about it with! It's not good for the soul to have to keep the feels all cooped up.

  Seriously, if you haven't got this series get it now.

  Like now.

  Are you going?

  Can I see that bum skooting to the bookshop?

  Good. You've just made your life ten gazillion times better.

2.

    The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine.

(I'm aware I'm missing fourteen in paperback, I have it on kindle I'm going to try and get the paperback version this weekend) 

  Again, this is another series which, although is a best seller, doesn't seem to have a presence in the online bookish world. Which is a shame because Myrnin's bunny slippers should be admired by the world.

  Although, this series seems to be on its way up with the new online series being released soon which actually looks super duper cool - I know that I'll definitely be watching it. I've wanted a film/TV program  to be made of this series for a long long long time now!

  [link to trailer : http://youtu.be/o0sf67L1wOk

  Episode one : http://youtu.be/fcoe2nCFYuQ ]

  This book is a vampire series in which the whole town is run by vampires, which in itself is pretty awesome (although kind of scary), it's again another dark romance (my guilty pleasure) and just oh my, just read it.

  Out of all the books in this post this one is a bit more well known than the others but I still feel there should be way more love for these books.

3. 

    The Weather Warden series by Rachel Caine.

 

              (I appologise for the mismatched covers!)

 This series is again, like The Morganville Vampires, by Rachel Caine, although this is a more mature book aimed for an older audience.

  These books always make me feel really intelligent afterwards because you learn quite a bit of technical information about the weather! Okay, okay, I know; ew, learning, right? Calm down guys! It's not educational, just interesting with of course it's fair share of steamy romance, epic fights and action that we all love.

  It's a really fast paced series and I fell in love from the first page. It has a unique idea expanded on expertly and I definitely moped more than a bit when it unfortunately had to end.

  Rachel Caine is brilliant at creating super long series - Morganville being 15 books long, and the Weather Wardens 9. Every single one of them is amazing.

  Get yourself these books and look out for Rachel Caine! She really is an excellent author.

4.

    The Dark Heart series by Lee Monroe.

  

  A long time ago (probably only 2 years but feels like 2 million) I fell in love. With the cover of this book! How absolutely beautiful is it!? Very much so...very much so...

  Anyway, moving on; love at first sight, blah de blee, blah de blaa. I've had an addiction for dark romances since very early teens so before I was birthed into fandoms and bookstagram, blogs and booktube, it was literally the only genre I would buy, so seeing a new one clad in a goddamn gorgeous cover (cannot and will not get over it), with the promise of WEREWOLVES, it got a mmmmhmm girl, I gotta buy that shnazzle from me.

  This is an absolutely outstanding series and the reason I still know that, years after reading it is because I remember it, even if bits and pieces are muddled and such like (I have a terrible memory, honestly, I'd put Dory to shame).

  If you have read this series you shall notice I am missing the final installment, yes, I have yet to buy it along with the frequently growing list of 'buy me's' calling to me in the back of my brain but currently I'm just trying to power through my to-be-read list because dear me, it's long.

  ALSO I APPOLOGISE FOR THE BROKEN SPINE...My mum borrows my books and defiles them.

  A moment of silence please.

  Any who, this is a great series, can't wait to get the last one and yeah, you should totally get them.

5.

   The Program by Suzanne Young.

  This is actually a very recent read for me (well, compared to the rest of the books mentioned in this post anyway), but it quickly shot itself up to number two on my fave series list. This book literally makes me squeel. Like, it makes me tingle...and a book that makes me tingle - well damn, the poo is about to get real!

  Again, this is a series and currently the first and second book is out, yet, alike to the dark heart series, I haven't had chance to buy it yet, but it is called The Treatment and I'm oogling the pretty cover that matches with this one and if I don't get the matching one...well, somebody's gonna die, that's all I'm saying...

  I love the concept - the main plot is based around how suicide has become an epidemic and it's kind of showing the reaction to that - the steps put in place to try and prevent it and the struggle that teens face in this, well I guess it is, dystopian world.

  I'm going to put a quick little note in about triggering - for me this book didnt actually trigger me and I really don't want to say 'trigger warning, don't read if you're sensitive to the topics' because I think this was a fabulously good book and I don't want any of you to miss out, but I also want you all to stay safe, stay clean and stay happy, but, this book doesn't really focus so much on the depression side of things, it's kind of the foundation to the story; but yeah, just throwing that out there!

  I loved this book from start to finish so...yeah, get your butts reading!

Darkness by Erin Eveland.

Summary:

One Girl. One Boy. And the Masters of Darkness. See the Shadow Creatures. They are everywhere. But you can't run from the shadows or the Masters who control them.

Catherine has been born with a supernatural power called Darkness. The Masters of Darkness have found her and it's just a matter of time before someone claims her.

An Interactive Novel
A QR Code starts the beginning of each chapter connecting the reader to specific art or music that ties into the mood and setting of the novel. Using the quick response code in print and eBook formatting, Darkness incorporates visual and sound to heighten the reading experience.

  The first thing I'm going to do is point out the obvious - this book, as the title infers, is indeed dark, and when I say dark, I mean DARK.

  Every possible hurrendous thing you can think of that can happen to a girl in her teens has happened to Catherine, and to top it all off, she's dragged into matters to do with a dark, possible perceived as evil, force called 'Darkness', something she never asked for, nor wanted.

  This book is brilliantly written and is actually quite frightening in places. It's a very dreary novel, but not in a bad way - it has an atmosphere running from start to finish that feels quite murky; not sadness or anger but more a mood of hopelessness.

  I also quite like the idea of the interactive side of this book, although I didn't really participate in that side of it that often myself, but I could see what it was trying to achieve and thought it was a new and innovative idea.

  And can I just make a quick mention that I sincerely hope there is going to be a sequel to this book...you can't just leave it like that! It's not good for the soul.

  Great read!

**** 4/5 stars ****

The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

Summary:

When the lift cranks open, the only think Thomas remembers is his first name. But he's not alone - an army of boys welcomes him to the Glade, an encampment at the centre of a terrible maze. The Gladers have no idea why they're there, or what's happened to the world outside. And following the arrival of a girl with a message, they must find a way out - or die.

                                                   'DAY ONE GREENIE. RISE AND SHINE.'

  From the very first page I was hooked. And when I say hooked, I mean HOOKED. Many nights I shed a tear from sleep deprivation just for that one more chapter; one more page; one more sentence. This book turned me into a readaholic, and I loved every minute of it.

  I can officially say this screwed with my head more than once and I found myself trying to solve it all along with the characters. I wanted to know more; no, scratch that I NEEDED to know more. With beautiful torture this book withheld all the answers I was dying to know and though it made me rather frustrated, it also made me love it all the more.

  This is the definition of a clever book.

  The idea was amazing and followed through perfectly. It was written well and not once did I find myself bored or having to re-read paragraphs over again. The Maze Runner has climbed it's way up to my top 3 (within series) and I'm literally twitching because I've yet to buy the rest of the series.

  This has left me with a whopper of a bookhangover, I can tell you that.

  I think it's pretty obvious as to what the ratings going to be.

  ***** 5/5 stars *****