Top 14 YA Books of 2013

This part of the year is always so hard because each of us sisters read so many great YA books.  We always find ourselves debating which ones should end up in the top spots!  Our goal was to narrow it down to 13, but, of course, we weren't able.  So, we have the Top 14 of 2013.  So instead of actually ranking them 1-14 (which would never be possible...if you have sisters, or blogger friends, or book buddies--you understand), we are going to list the 14 (in no particular order) that we just couldn't have lived without this year!

 

I read this one very early in the year (yay for arcs), and it absolutely blew me away.  Pun intended.  I love how Shannon took something so simple (wind) and turned it into something unique and amazing. 

 

Oh Tahereh Mafi, you will always be one of my favorite authors.  This series really does break me down because the characters are so vivid--even the bad guys.  This is one of those books that I will definitely be reading again.

 

I was never a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland until A.G. Howard opened my eyes to such amazing possibilities.  This book was--Wow!!!!  Just WOW!!!  It's eerie and macabre, but at the same time, it carries a beautiful love story.  I highly recommend this debut novel (and the sequel, Unhinged, that comes out next month!)

 

This year my favorite sub-genre was YA Gothic.  I just love the eerie settings and macabre characters, and this book was by far the best of all the gothic ya out there.  The language was poetic and beautiful, and April made me fall straight into this world.  I cannot wait for the sequel.

 

This one was a complete and utter surprise to me because I had not read any Bourne-like ya books--in fact, I don't know of another one similar to this one--which makes it even better.  I loved the action and suspense that Jennifer created, and the boys---oh the boys!

 

While this one didn't get great reviews from most people, I, personally, loved it.  The idea of a New York that is almost completely under water was fascinating.  I've always been mesmerized by the depths of the ocean, and this book allowed me to see beneath the ripples into a world that was one mighty and strong.  I loved all the twists and turns, and I hope that more people will read this one.

 

 

Of course we had to put Sweet Peril in our list because, let's face it, who wouldn't?  This is such an amazing read, and I love that Wendy Higgins plays with the boundaries of YA.  This love story is heart-breaking and hot, and this is definitely one of my all-time favorite series.

 

I am not usually a high fantasy fan, but this series has completely captured my imagination.  I love the world of the Grisha, and this sequel was even better than the debut.  So many twists and turns, and The Darkling....the hottest villain out there.

 

We 3 sisters (and our mom) agree--this is one of the best series!!!  It's one of the only series where I would be okay with the girl choosing either guy!  Jessica Shirvington's writing is beautiful, and this installment will take you on a roller coaster ride full of feels!

 

If you have followed my tweets or some of my posts this year, you will know that Kresley Cole has become one of my favorite authors.  I loved Poison Princess and Endless Knight so much that I decided to check out her adult series, Immortals After Dark.  Read all 13 in less than a month.  She is an amazing writer, and her first 2 books in the ya genre are perfect!  Absolutely perfect.

 

I'm still Team Cole--even after everything that has happened.  But let me tell you, this sequel--left me speechless.  I did not see that ending coming at all, and I love that Brodi can surprise me!

 

I just started this series this year, and I adore it.  I love how Marissa has twisted the fairy tales into something new and fantastic. While I liked Cinder, I absolutely loved Scarlet.  It was full of wondrous detail and breath-taking characters.  I have Cress right now, and I can't wait to become addicted to it!

 

One of the best endings to a series yet!  I can't name one thing in which I was disappointed.  Steamy romance, crazy gods wreaking havoc, and a god killer all join together in this action packed, blow your socks off finale!

 

This is the best Lux book so far!  Prepare yourself for twist after twist in this roller coaster ride of a book.  BTW--Daemon brings all the tummy butterflies and warm fuzzies in this one.  Love that boy!

 

 

And there you have them!!!!  Let us know what some of your favorites were, and Leave us a link to your Top Books of 2013!

Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer and Giveaway (Scarlet Audiobook)

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

ARC received from Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan)

Release Date: 2-5-2013

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Shocking, Salacious, and Seriously Awesome!

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

So, I read Cinder and Scarlet in the last few weeks, and while Cinder was good, it didn’t blow me away.  BUT Scarlet did!  It more than blew me away—It smacked me in the face with its awesomeness!!!  From Chapter 1, I was reeled into this futuristic world, and for the entire 450 pages, I didn’t want to be anywhere else.  Scarlet is mesmerizing—be prepared to enter a world dripping with malice, encounter characters laced with deceit, and discover love breaking its bonds.

Like I said in my Cinder review, I really like the world that Marissa has created.  It’s futuristic, yet it retains many similarities to our own world, so it’s easy to relate.  But the technology is what sets us apart—and this future is intricate and captivating.  I love seeing the different advances that have taken place and how they have affect society as a whole.  The androids and cyborgs create a different dimension that separates Marissa’s world from other dystopian novels.  I look forward to the next two books in the series, as they take place in separate parts of this new world.

I really liked that this book focused on Scarlet.  At first, I was kind of wary because she was completely new character, and I didn’t know how it was going to fit in with Cinder’s story, but the two plot lines merged fantastically.  The story is told in alternating perspectives, so we get to see Scarlet as she travels down her road in search for her grandmother, and on the other end, we also get to watch as Cinder travels down her own road of self-discovery.  I will admit, I enjoyed Scarlet’s story much better.  Scarlet was strong-willed and determined, but still all too human.  She falls prey to human vulnerabilities, and I liked seeing how others had to come to her aid.  She was strong, but needed help at times, and that made her open herself up to new relationships.

I absolutely loved Wolf because he’s my YA type!  Troubled and broken, broody with secrets.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—that’s the best YA guy in my opinion.  I love knowing there are secrets behind their actions because I love mystery in a guy, and there is definitely mystery surrounding Wolf.  He’s strong and over-protective, domineering and a jerk-face at times, but that just adds to the tension that he creates with Scarlet. 

In Cinder, I though the plot twists were extremely obvious, and while I still saw most of the twists in Scarlet coming, they weren’t laid out as openly.  You kind of had to stretch to see them.  Still, I’m hoping for a little less predictability in the future.

If you’re a fan of Kai (which I’m not a huge fan of), then you might be disappointed in this book.  He only shows up a handful of times, and those times are really not very lengthy.  I was perfectly fine with this because he is a bit too goody-goody, nice guy for me. 

Lastly, I will say that the blurb isn’t written the best.  It makes it sound like Scarlet and Wolf are meeting up with Cinder and that most of the book will follow them together.  This wasn’t even close to the case.  They run into each other very late in the book—the rest of the time they are on their own. 

Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I would highly recommend it to fans of dystopian worlds. 

Scarlet + Wolf = Jaw-dropping, edge of your seat fun!

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Teaser Tuesday: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

(make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

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Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Release Date: 2-5-2013

Published by: Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan)

 

 

"Table legs screeched against tile and then the fighter had one hand wrapped around Roland's neck, lifting him clear off the floor."  ARC, pg. 19

 

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So, I finally read Cinder because I had an ARC of Scarlet and I wanted to see what all the hoopla was about.  While I'll admit it was good and I can't wait to get further in to Scarlet, I'm not sure I'd classify it as drop down amazing.  Still, I'm glad I read it, and now with Scarlet...this Wolf guy--yum.  Mysterious.  Rebel.  Can pick up a man clear off the floor.  Ohhh, I like him already.