Hello! As we are approaching the end of June, and the second half of the year, I have decided to do a mid-year wrap up of my favourite books so far!
Now this is books I have read this year, not that came out this year, I am not as up to date as many bloggers seem to be and some of them were…old.
- The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
This one goes without saying! If you’ve been a follower of mine for a while, you might know this was one of the first books I ever reviewed on my blog. It had everything I love in a book: diverse, complex characters, a fully fleshed-out world including multiple cultures each distinct from one another. It was exciting and emotional and hilarious and I just fell in love with it!
See My Review at:
- State of Sorrow by Melinda Salisbury
This book was intense, it physically stressed me out and while I like to think of myself as being quite good when it comes to seeing where a plot is going (I’m probably useless, but I like to think I’m good at it) this one threw me a few times and I loved it! It is beautifully written, and you really see Sorrow grow and change as a person over the course of the novel. Highly recommend it!
See my review at:
https://sapphistication.wordpress.com/2018/05/28/reviewing-state-of-sorrow-by-melinda-salisbury/
- The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
I love fairy tales, the darker the better, and this book had them in abundance. I wanted to read Tales from the Hinterland, I could see Twice-Killed Katherine stalking the city streets at night, cage in hand. It was magical, and mysterious, and I absolutely loved it. A brilliant story of darkness, magic, obsession and the fact that you can never really run from who you are.
See my review at:
https://sapphistication.wordpress.com/2018/03/12/reviewing-the-hazel-wood-by-melissa-albert/
- To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
You might spot a theme here, I like fantasy novels with dark elements to them, and what’s darker than sirens literally ripping out human hearts using their irresistible voices as snares to the unwitting sailors? A retelling of The Little Mermaid at heart, this book was stunningly written and I wanted more of it. Each nation had its own unique traits and beliefs, and the characters were wonderfully written.
See my review at:
https://sapphistication.wordpress.com/2018/04/23/reviewing-to-kill-a-kingdom-by-alexandra-christo/
- Blackout by Kit Mallory (Review yet to come!)
So originally this was going to be The Shining, but then I read Blackout. I’m actually swapping my next few reviews about a bit just so I can tell you about this book (because putting it here and then not posting the review for two weeks feels a little harsh to me). Blackout is a dystopian fiction set in England, which contains a tremendously diverse cast, a frank look at mental illness and one of my favourite same-sex couples in any book ever. It’s realistic, thrilling and wonderfully written and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel!
And that’s my top five of the year so far!
BONUS ENTRY:
Welcome To Night Vale, A Novel by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
Okay, so let me explain this – this was a re-read, and technically I didn’t read it for the first time this year, so I thought it wasn’t right to put it in my top 5 of 2018. Welcome To Night Vale is one of my favourite podcasts, I’ve been to see it live three times and this book just makes me so happy as a fan of the novel. It’s strange and scary and funny and I loved it just as much the second time I read it as I did the first! I’d recommend a listen to the podcast first, but the book is wonderful either way!
See my review at: https://sapphistication.wordpress.com/2018/04/30/reviewing-welcome-to-night-vale-a-novel-by-joseph-fink-and-jeffrey-cranor/
This year I have also:
- Gotten engaged!
- Got a dog
- Been on my first grown-up couples holiday abroad
- Discovered the joy that is greek coffee
- Started this blog
- Finished the blanket I have been crocheting since I was 18
What are your favourite books this year so far? Any achievements or milestones you’re proud of? Do drop a comment below, I love talking with you all!
Charlotte 🙂
I really like the cover on “The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet”! and I am going to check your review for sure, it calls my attention!
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It is such a beautiful book and I can’t express enough how much I love it, I’m glad it’s captured your attention and I hope you enjoy the review too!
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I just added to the Goodreads TBR and I saw you there! haha I really like the cover, usually if the cover call’s me I will pay attention to the reviews and your did made me wonder :3 thank you for sharing!
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I was very confused with Night Vale early on, I’m going to try again one day..
The hazel wood is one I’ve had my eye on for a while now, maybe it’s time!
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It’s definitely a weird one! I love the mix of the normal, the creepy and the downright bizarre in the podcast and the novel just took my favourite elements and ran with it! The Hazel Wood is incredible, and I’d be interested to know if you had a favourite half (there’s been some debate amongst my friends over preference of the first or second half but I shall say no more!)
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Interesting! I’ll definitely let you know 😊
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[…] earlier in the year I did my June Wrap up of my top 5 books in the first 6 months of the year. So it only makes sense to finish 2018 off […]
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