Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the bloggers of The Broke and the Bookish. This week we're listing the books that have made it to the top of our Summer 2013 TBR piles.
Debuts, Standalones, and Anticipated Reads:
Splintered by A.G. Howard — I won Splintered through the Debut Author Challenge back in January and haven't been able to read it yet. I love retellings/reimaginings of all forms and I've heard great things about this book, so I hope I'll be able to get to it soon!Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay — The "Beauty and the Beast" fairy tale and I are super tight. Of course I need to read this! This releases near the end of July, so pretty soon I'm going to start checking my library's catalog daily until I can get on this book's waitlist.
The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler — I'm slowly but surely reading all of the big contemporary YA authors - Sara Zarr, Jessi Kirby, Courtney Summers, Sarah Dessen. I've enjoyed their books a lot more than I thought I would, so I'm eager to try out Ockler's newest work.
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey — Those who are familiar with this first book in Yancey's new series and his Monstrumologist series seem agreed that his first series is better. And that's fine and all, but I was really excited for this book and I've already started it, so it's more of a priority to me.
Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo — Ahh of course this book would be on my list! Actually, I'm a bit surprised that I haven't already devoured this, especially since I have my own personal copy lying there on my bookshelves. Soon, very soon, I'll make time to read this.
The Aeneid by Virgil — The classic that I decided to focus on for the Classics Retold challenge is The Aeneid, but of course I can't read any retellings until I read the original. I'm planning to take this slowly, read a little bit at a time over the course of the summer.
Lumatere Chronicles by Melina Marchetta — I read Finnikin of the Rock over a year ago, but I now own the entire trilogy, so I kind of would like to take a week and a half or so and just immerse myself in this series. It's how I prefer to read my high fantasies.
Dairy Queen series by Catherine Murdock — Wisconsin pride! I've heard wonderful things about this series and since I started this blog I've been trying to be much more open to YA contemporaries, so I can't wait to start reading DJ's story.
Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand — While Unearthly is not among my favorite paranormal books, it was entertaining and a fast read, and since the entire series is now released I figured I might as well try to finish it all.
Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake — I was not the biggest fan of Anna Dressed in Blood, but with the major cliffhanger of book one, I am curious to see how Cas and Anna's story ends, and the fact that this is a duology is pretty tempting.
Please be sure to let me know what books you plan on reading this summer!
So funny. I'm actually reading two of these books right now: Finnikin of the Rock and Dairy Queen.
ReplyDeleteFinnikin so far is really slow, a bit world building heavy, the way first books in high fantasy series often are. It's picking up slowly and steadily though. I hope I love it by book two, which has happened A LOT with fantasy series.
Dairy Queen I'm actually rereading. I hated it the first time, but some trusted reviewers love it, and I want to see if I didn't give it a fair chance, since I read it for a class I hated, which totally can color the experience. Plus, I'm trying the audio this time, since I wasn't a big fan of the writing. So far, so good.
Yeah, I remember having a bit of a struggle getting into Finnikin the first time. Hoping this time is a bit easier!
DeleteAnd reading books for classes I hate totally affects my reading experience. I hope you enjoyed Dairy Queen a bit more this time around! I'm reading it primarily because I feel like I don't read enough contemps/I'm not very familiar with the YA contemp genre. So we'll see how that goes!
Oh Amanda, Siege & Storm is amazing, and such an emotionally satisfying book. I really hope you enjoy it. I loved Splintered (I'm way into retellings and such) - I just wanted to soak up the dark, mysterious feel to it.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
Molli | Once Upon a Prologue
I really hope that I'll enjoy both of them (although I strongly suspect I will). Now to just find some time to read them! Thanks, Molli!
DeleteI liked Splintered a lot and it's not at all my type of thing. I am excited to read the Book of Broken Hearts, I have it at home, there's just a few more books I have to read before I get to it. Great list!
ReplyDeleteThat's good news - if people who don't like retellings/reimaginings are liking something, I hope that means I'll like it even MORE than usual. :) And I'll have to see what you think of The Book of Broken Hearts then. Hope you can start it soon! Thanks, Maggie!
DeleteSo much goodness on this list! Book of Broken Hearts, The 5th Wave and Siege and Storm are all great. The Lumatere Chronicles is one of my FAVORITES EVER. I need to read Splintered too, and I'm going to look up that Beauty and the Beast retelling ASAP. That is fast becoming my favorite fairytale. Very curious about your thoughts on the rest of the Unearthly series.
ReplyDeleteYay! Glad to hear they all have your stamp of approval, Lauren! And Beauty and the Beast is the best fairy tale, hands down. :) Me too! lol I hope I like the next two Unearthly books a bit more.
DeleteSplintered is fun. I didn't like Jeb, but Morpheus & the dark Wonderland make up for it :D
ReplyDeleteOf beauty and beast: I would give a limb for this book, haha. I NEED IT. Beauty and the beast is my favorite fairytale <3
Siege and storm, need it tooooo. Loved Shadow and bone.
5th wave sounds awesome.
Lumatere: I have the first two books on my shelves. I need to get started soon.
Awesome list :)
Mel@thedailyprophecy.
Dark Wonderland definitely has me intrigued! And me too! We should both read Of Beast and Beauty and compare thoughts. :) I know I'll love Siege and Storm and I have high hopes for the Lumatere Chronicles. Just need to get busy reading now. Thanks, Mel!
DeleteI need to read more contemporary fiction writers too! I need to read some Sara Zarr soon. I do love Courtney Summers and would highly recommend A.S. King if you haven't read her already. 5th Wave is on my list too. So much hype, I can't resist! Have a great summer! http://wp.me/pzUn5-1yL
ReplyDeleteI have not. A.S. King will definitely need to be added to my list of YA contemporary authors TBR. Thanks for reminding me! And I liked The 5th Wave. I hope you get to read it soon yourself.
DeleteI so Badly need to read Siege and Storm as well! Leigh Bardugo is doing a signing near me next week, so I cannot wait to get the book and start reading it!
ReplyDeleteI am SO jealous! No author comes anywhere near me. Have fun at that event though and I hope you can start reading Siege and Storm soon!
DeleteS&S, Finnikin, and DQ are GREAT. I also really liked tBoBH and can't for Beast & Beauty. Great list, Amanda! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keertana! And I know you've enjoyed many of them, which makes me think I will too. :)
DeleteThere are so many books on here that I loved and I'm so excited for you to read! The Book of Broken Hearts, The 5th Wave and Dairy Queen! This is a brilliant list Amanda, you have an excellent Summer ahead of you!
ReplyDeleteYay I'm glad to hear you think so, Jasprit! Now if only I can actually stick to these books as I read. :)
DeleteI'm really interested in Of Beast and Beauty too - hmm, I may even have it on pre-order, I should double-check that. Love "Beauty and the Beast" retellings!!
ReplyDeleteI still have to read the first Leigh Bardugo book in that series - oh and I've had Finnikin of the Rock for ages and still haven't read it! In fact, I have several Marchetta books but I haven't read a single book by her yet. Shameful I know!
I have read The Aeneid though, yay! It's quite good, has some slow parts but reads well. I read it last year and got through it quite quickly. I still need to read Homer though.
Who doesn't love Beauty and the Beast retellings? :)
DeleteI hope you're able to read Shadow and Bone and Finnikin of the Rock soon, Shannon. I thought both were great YA fantasies.
And I am relieved to hear you got through The Aeneid quickly. I hope it doesn't take me too long, although it's actually a bit shorter than I thought it would be. I loved The Odyssey but have yet to read The Iliad. I love Greek classics though!
I do want to read The Fifth Wave. I actually bought a copy last week based on all the rave reviews. I'm quite curious. I hear it's a love it or hate type of novel, but it sounds really good.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
I think the people who love/like it do outnumber those who dislike it. If you're not a hardcore scifi fan, I think there's a good chance you'll enjoy it (and apparently it helps if you're not familiar with his past works). All I know is that I quite enjoyed it. I really hope you do as well!
DeleteI plan on reading the Book of Broken Hearts and the 5th Wave this summer, too. Great list! Thanks for stopping by mine!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalie! I'm 1 for 1 right now and I hope I also enjoy reading The Book of Broken Hearts. I hope you enjoy both of them as well!
DeleteI just read The 5th Wave a few weeks ago, and loved it! So intense, really great. I didn't realize that Finnikin of the Rock was part of a trilogy. Yet another one that I've mean meaning to check out! Great list! You're giving me ideas...
ReplyDeleteLisa
Good! I like giving people book ideas. :) My understanding is that Finnikin is kind of a standalone, and that Froi and Quintana share a story arc. But I mean I really enjoyed Finnikin and can't wait to continue the series.
DeleteI wasn't a huge fan of Anna Dressed in Blood either but I will probably read the next book just to see what happens. I loved Splintered and I have 5th Wave and Seige and Storm on my TBR this summer list as well.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's exactly how I feel. It's also a fast read so it's not like I'd have to devote hours upon hours to reading it or anything. I hope you're able to read these books as well!
DeleteOH MY GOODNESS. Your're list ROCKS! Finnikin, Dairy Queen, Book of Broken Hearts, Siege & Storm, THE 5th WAVE (YESSS!), and Splintered are all such fabulous reads. And what a variety too--fantasy, contemporary, science fiction--a little of everything.
ReplyDeleteA friend brought me the paperback of Splintered she got at BEA and the back has a sampler of the sequel Unhinged, which will be out next January! I am SO excited. The character of Morpheus, who graces Unhinged's cover, was my absolute favorite in that book:)
Cannot wait to hear what you think of all these lovely reads!
haha thanks, Heather! I wasn't even thinking about variety, but you're right. I think the summer weather makes me have more variety by reading some non-speculative fiction for a change. And I do remember you mentioning Morpheus. I am so excited to meet him (and just read Splintered in general).
DeleteThis is SUCH a great list! People rave about Diary Queen but I have yet to properly read the series. I really want to though.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elena! And same here. I am hoping to add to their raving very soon. :)
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