Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Covers of 2012

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Since I've already posted my Top 12 Picks of 2012, I thought I'd tweak this week's topic just a bit and post about my favorite covers from 2012. I haven't read all of these books, or even necessarily loved the ones I've read, but these covers really stood out to me.  And looking over it now, I obviously have a tendency to love red or blue covers...

What covers (or books) have blown you away this year?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: November 2012
Pages: 528
Source: Purchased
For: Fun!
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Book 2

*Will likely contain spoilers for the first book, Daughter of Smoke and Bone*

Karou is still trying to understand who and what she is - though her memories have returned. She knows that Akiva betrayed her and stole everything from her and that knowledge spurs her to take great measures in redeeming herself with her people. But how far will she go to make amends and can she ever truly be accepted again? 

Things I Liked:
I continue to be amazed at the stuff Laini comes up with.  She has such a vivid imagination and an amazing way to bring those images and ideas to life with her unique writing style.  I love how strange and yet natural the descriptions she uses throughout the book paint a picture of this intriguing world.  Karou continues to fascinate me, especially with the many feelings she experiences.  She has hard choices and despite making mistakes, tries her best to overcome those.  She really grows over this book and the growth felt subtle, natural, and intriguing.  Chimera, angels, Eretz, teeth, resurrection, all of this adds up to a twisted, strange, and yet un-put-downable story that I was completely surprised by.  The direction it went left me guessing all the way to the conclusion.  I'm happy to report that this second installment did not suffer from second-book-itis for me.  Can't wait for the next one.

Things I Didn't Like:
I was a bit disturbed by some of the things that happened.  But, that's just me.  It was a brutal and honest book and despite my being uncomfortable on a number of occasions, I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Read-alikes:  
Start with Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor
Demon's Lexicon series by Sarah Rees Brennan

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some, though not a lot

mrg-factor: XX
a few incidents, quite a bit of innuendo

v-factor: ->->->
to the point of disturbing at times

Overall rating: *****

Are you a fan of this series?  What draws you in?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

The 12 Picks of '12 on 12-12-12

I've saved this post just for this special date!  And I also somehow managed to squeak out twelve of my favorite reads of the year.  I had to eliminate a few that were top contenders, but these are the books that stood out to me, that I still remember reading and loving, and that might not be in the spotlight as much.  These are books I read this year, not necessarily books published this year.

Top 12 of 2012 

(listed in the order in which when I read them, since I can't really put them in order of favorite-ness)

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George
This book, a Cybils read, wins the most loveable castle award.  Seriously, I challenge any of you to read this and not end up wanting such a changeable castle of your own.


The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright
Another delightful Cybils read (and winner in my category) that easily takes the prize for most loveable animal characters.  I'm not usually a critter-story kind of person, but this one won me over easily.


Variant by Robison Wells
And this one handily wins the most jaw-dropping, didn't-see-that-coming twists of any 2012 book.  Seriously, I dare you to predict what happens.


Cinder by Marissa Meyer
I know most everyone is raving about this one, but put me on that bandwagon, because this was the most fabulous and unique fairy-tale retelling of the year.


Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
I'm not quite as big a fan of Robin Hood stories as Angie or Suey, but this retelling with knife-wielding Will Scarlet as a girl in disguise had me from the first page.


Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer  
A not-so-new book but a fantastic discovery for me this year, Jacky has got to be the spunkiest, liveliest, most incorrigible girl the British navy never wanted!  And best of all, the audiobooks are narrated by the most excellent Katherine Kellgren.  What more could you want?


The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
Another absolutely fantastic audiobook with Bronson Pinchot narrating, this story stole my heart and my breath as I laughed beyond control.  Hand this one to the most stony-hearted soul you know and see if they don't crack a smile for this band of misfit Princes Charming.


For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund  
Predisposed to love this retelling of my favorite Jane Austen, Persuasion, I was blown away by the beautiful way the story changed and the fantastic future world created for my favorite characters.  A must for Austen-lovers or fans of classic retellings.


The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins  
My first and definitely not last Wilkie Collins book had me so absorbed in the story I almost got lost on my commute home!  A rich, detailed, and surprising mystery that easily earns its place as a classic. 


Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Another book that many have raved about and which I wholeheartedly throw my support behind.  This one had me in tears and in knots, worrying about and loving the friendship between Maddie and Queenie.


Insignia by S.J. Kincaid  
This book not only pulled me out of a giant reading slump, it reminded me just how much I love a good sci-fi/dystopian-ish story.  And its constant action and twists left me begging for more, despite its 400+ pages.


Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
I just finished this book last night and I felt so happy afterward that I knew it had to make this list.  Despite its flaws, I fell hard for this book.  It reminded me why I love Regency romance, Jane Austen, and good old-fashioned love stories.

And there you have it!  Let's hope I don't read any more last minute great books this year (wait, why would I hope that).

What are your favorite picks from 2012?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: Dust Girl Sarah Zettel

Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel
Publisher: Random House
Publication date: June 2012
Pages: 304
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Review
Series: American Fairy Trilogy, Book 1

Callie and her mom are living right in the middle of the Dust Bowl, trying to make a living off nothing. Callie tries not to think about her daddy that left and promised to return, but never has. But, when her mother is lost during a dust storm, she must set off to find her and confront her unusual heritage. With several different fairies all at war with one another and all hoping to use her, she is beset on all sides by threats she knows nothing about. Will she find her mother or fall prey to unusual fairy influences?

Things I Liked:
I think my favorite part about this book was just how unique it was.  Not only was the setting vivid (Dust Bowl, 1930s), but the fantasy elements were unusual.  The fairy lore that Zettel created was different from the typical fare - I especially loved how Jazz and Blues music played such a big part.  The book has a perfect marriage of historical and fantasy details.  The story itself was pretty interesting too, though I have to admit I was hoping for more resolution at the end than I got.  Still, this story swept me up, threw me back in time, and took me to a fairy world unlike any I've read.  Unique, fresh, well-written, and interesting, I think this book is worth a read.

Things I Didn't Like:
As I mentioned, I wanted more of a resolution at the end, but since I enjoyed the world so much, I am more than willing to read more set in this historical fantasy past.  There were a few times I wondered about how the magic actually worked and thought it wasn't really well defined.  But, I easily looked past those things because I was caught up in the unique and well-researched historical setting.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me a bit of The Inquisitor's Apprentice by Chris Moriarty
Also, for the historical element, Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
maybe one or two

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
a bit, though mostly not described

Overall rating: ****

What's the most recent unique read you've picked up?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Classic Double Challenge, 2013: Sign Up!

I'm so excited to bring back the Classic Double Challenge for another year!  I love the idea of new retellings bringing love to those old classics.

By "classics" you know I'm being very loose in my definition, as this challenge lets you read fairy tales, mythologies, classics, any kind of original story to compare with the retelling. Also "retelling" is pretty loose too - the original and the newer book have to relate in some way that you can define; it doesn't have to be a straight-forward retelling.  Hopefully these definitions allow you the wiggle room needed to find something to fit your fancy.

Here are a few examples:
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.  
The first is kind of a "classic" and in the second, the main character loves A Wrinkle in Time and it plays a part in the plot, but this is not a retelling. 
 
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 
The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein series by Kenneth Oppel.
The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein is a prequel series to Frankenstein. 
 
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane by April Lindner.
Jane is a retelling of Jane Eyre, set in a modern day.

So, you can see there are lots of options for you.  If you need some inspiration for retellings, I've compiled a rather extensive list of retellings.  I have another list for fairy tale retellings.  Also, during the Retell Me a Story celebration next month I will be highlighting some newer retellings that have been released or are coming out soon. 

And, of course, there are levels of participation, so you can choose how much or how little you'd like to commit to:

Small: You read 2 related books.

Medium: You read 4 books (2 sets of related books).

Large: You read 6 books (3 sets of related books).

Super Size: You read 8 books (4 sets of related books).

Once you decide on your level of participation, post your pledge on your blog/tumblr/goodreads/in the comments and maybe give us some possibilities of what you want to read (obviously, these aren't set in stone).  When you complete a pair, feel free to write reviews/reactions/comparisons/whathaveyou about the books and I'll have a monthly link up here to share our progress.

I'll probably not be able to do monthly giveaways this time, but I will have giveaways periodically for challenge participants.  And, of course, you definitely want to join in my Retell Me a Story celebration going on in January.  That will have lots of fun stuff including author and blogger interviews/guest posts and giveaways.

And, now that I've talked your ears off about the challenge, you can link up to your post below and welcome to the challenge!

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Weepers: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

The Weepers: The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker
Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
Publication date: May 2012
Pages: 256
Source: e-book from NetGalley
For: Review
Series: The Weepers, Book 1

Sherry has spent the last three years holed up in an underground bunker with her family. No privacy, no sunshine, nothing but each other. But, when their food begins to run out, Sherry and her dad make the decision to leave and find some. They find an abandoned world, overrun with Weepers, humans infected by the rabies virus and barely human anymore. When they are attacked, Sherry is saved by a hunter, but her father is taken. In order to save him, she must team up with this hunter and the few humans left with him. Will it be enough?

Things I Liked:
I was really intrigued by this story at first.  I love the confined and claustrophobic feeling at the start of the story - her family has been stuck in their underground bunker for 1,139 days and counting.  Then when they decide to leave the bunker, lots of exciting things happen one after another and the action is heart-pounding.  I wished we'd gotten to see more of the side characters and their back stories, as they seemed the most interesting.  Alas, overall this story did not work well for me.

Things I Didn't Like:
I really struggled to want to keep reading.  I thought that despite the action and interesting beginning, the story became very predictable, very much typical of zombie apocalypse stories.  I was sorely disappointed in the instant attraction between girl and boy and how suddenly they were in love and depended on each other.  Perhaps extreme conditions encourage that, but I was unconvinced.  Also, most of the conspiracy details and information about the weepers and what actually happened was lightly passed over or not explained at all.  I was confused and quite simply bored.  I wanted to like it, but dull characters and poorly explained plot left me wanting.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
Benny Imura series by Jonathan Maberry

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !@
some here and there

mrg-factor:X
mostly implied stuff, nothing on page

v-factor:->->->
rather gory at times, though not unexpected considering it's a zombie book

Overall rating: **

What's your favorite zombie apocalypse book?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Listless Monday: Mythology

Listless Monday was inspired by both Amanda at A Bookshelf Monstrosity's feature Books by Theme and Court at Once Upon a Bookshelf's Listed feature. Be sure to check out their lists!

So I suppose we have Rick Riordan to thank for this trend, but I've noticed a lot more mythology from Greek, Roman, Norse and other countries popping up in books. Especially the premise that the main character is the son/daughter of a god/goddess. I've enjoyed a number of these books and so here's a smattering of some that I've heard of:

Mythological Retellings

Abandon by Meg Cabot (Persephone)
All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry (Orpheus & Eurydice)
Antigoddess by Kendare Blake (Greek)
The Chaos of Stars by Kirsten White (Egyptian)
Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton (Medusa)
Doomed by Tracy Deebs (Pandora)
Everneath by Brodi Ashton (Persephone)
Furious by Jill Wolfson (Greek)
Fury by Elizabeth Miles (Greek)
The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter (Persephone)
Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline B. Cooney (Greek)
Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan (Roman/Greek)
Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby (Norse)
The Jaguar Stones series by J & P Voelkel (Mayan)
Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan (Egyptian)
Loki's Wolves by K.L. Armstrong and M.A. Marr (Norse)
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman (Norse)
Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan (Greek)
Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer (Norse)
Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman
Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini (Greek)
Starling by Lesley Livingston (Norse)
Sweet Venom by Tera Lyn Childs (Greek)
Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson (Norse)

Any additions?

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Classic Double Challenge: December

It's December, which means it's your last chance to read book pairs for the Classic Double Challenge this year.  I'm probably only going to squeak in one final pairing, so I won't be completing my goal of four pairs. :(  But, don't fret!  I'm bringing the challenge back next year, so don't stress over it!.   Watch for the sign up and information on the 2013 challenge this coming week.  And I'm so excited that January will kick off my very first Retell Me a Story event, celebrating retellings.  Do check out my Retell Me a Story post if you missed out on that announcement, but I'll be talking about it more as the time gets closer. 

I'm so glad I started this challenge, and I'm especially thankful for those of you who signed up, even if you never did manage to complete your goal.  What matters to me is your willingness to even join in the fun and spread the word, not to mention bringing light to shine on old classics as well as new books.  

Hopefully many of you will be back for more next year and you'll be as excited to read as I am.  I'm still revamping and updating my giant list of possible retelling pairs and always wanting to know about ones I've missed.

So, for the final month this year, what do you love most about this challenge and what do you think I could do to make it even better?  Or you can just tell me what retellings you are excited about or hoping to read next year.  Really, any kind of comment will make my day :)

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage