Sunday, December 29, 2013

Best of 2013

As 2013 comes to an end, we decided to reminisce on our favorite releases this year. There have been so many great books, whether they were anticipated sequels, series endings, or new series beginnings. To celebrate these loved releases, we've decided to share our best of 2013 picks with you!
Kiersten's Picks

Clockwork Princess
Cassandra Clare
The Infernal Devices, #3

Clockwork Princess was probably my favorite book this year. I absolutely love the Infernal Devices trilogy and I was anxious to see how everything turned out. I felt so much reading this book. SO MUCH. It is a crime that it did not win best young adult fantasy in the Goodreads Choice Awards.

Gennifer Albin
Crewel World, #2

After reading and falling in love with the world of Crewel (review) I was happy to dive right into more of that world with Altered. This was a great sequel, showing even more of the corruption involved in this world. I'm a huge fan of this series and I can't wait for Crewelest.

Palace of Spies
Sarah Zettel
Palace of Spies, #1

If you read my review of Palace of Spies you know how much I loved this book. This was my first Netgalley read and I'm really happy I discovered this title through them. Looking forward to reading more from Sarah Zettel.


The Deepest Night
Shana Abé
The Sweetest Dark, #2

The Sweetest Dark (review) was the first advanced reader's edition I've ever received (won through Goodreads First Reads) and it was one of the first reviews ever posted on here. I also posted a review of The Deepest Night on here as well. If you've yet to read this series, you should get on that.

Fractured
Sarah Fine
Guards of the Shadowlands, #2

I have to say that I regret waiting so long to read Fractured after it's release. Great follow up to Sanctum! Lela is a character that I empathize with more than most other characters I read and it makes me feel all the feels. I'll be posting a review for this sometime in January.


There were so many great 2013 releases I read this year and I just can't help but add a few more Honorable Mentions! There was Branded (Sinners, #1) by Missy Kalicicki and Abi Ketner (review), which was one of the most emotional books I've ever read; Prodigy (Legend, #2) by Marie Lu, which reminds me that I've yet to read Champion for some reason; Impostor (Slide, #2) by Jill Hathaway; and Zoo (Enclosure Chronicles, #1) by Tara Elizabeth (review).
Noor's Picks


As you may or may not know, Neil Gaiman is my favorite author so naturally, I had to purchase and devour this book the very second it was released. This was the very first book I reviewed so if you want to know why exactly it made the list, go check out the review!


Eleanor & Park
Rainbow Rowe

I just read this book recently on my book and am planning to review it next week, and I think it's absolutely wonderful and a very heartwarming tale from an up and coming author.




Allegiant
Veronica Roth
Divergent, #3

I know this book got a lot of mixed reviews and it was either love or hate, but I am one of the people who enjoyed it (review) and I think the response it received just goes to show how influential it was and that's why it makes my list.


Fortunately, the Milk
Neil Gaiman

Oh look, another Neil Gaiman book. Well, I did mention how much I love him and even though this is a children's book, it's so well done I find myself rereading it all the time. Check out my review!



Marlon's Picks

The House of Hades
Rick Riordan
The Heroes of Olympus, #4

This book just shot me in the heart and didn’t care about picking up the pieces it just — ugh. I have a lot of feels. This book resolved countless plotlines from the earlier books and established each of the seven characters’ maturation. Literally the perfect set up for the final book. (live-blogging)

The Fall of Five
Pittacus Lore
Lorien Legacies, #4

Ugh I hate James Frey but his novels are so beautiful.  I’ve officially fallen in love with the I Am Number Four series, there’s just something about aliens fighting aliens for the lives of aliens and humans and oh god the romance and oh god the betrayal and death and horror it’s so perfect. (review)

Fortunately, the Milk
Neil Gaiman

Prepare to have a couple of repeats because I also like Neil Gaiman. Fortunately, the Milk is just such an incredibly woven childrens book (and those as you should know, are my favorite) that speaks to kids in ways that I really don’t even fully understand yet. It’s everything you need to tuck a kid in.



Ugh. Just. Ugh. Seriously. This piece is half memoir, half fantasy, half I don’t understand how there are three halves to this book but Neil Gaiman makes it seem that way, it’s full of everything you want in a sort-of coming of age novel and sort of learning about life through a million eyes at a time book.


Clockwork Princess
Cassandra Clare
The Infernal Devices, #3

Everyone should favorite this. This is how one ends a series of romance/adventure/supernatural novels. This is how. Take note. I’m still not over Will. Or Jem. Magnus Bane everyone, Magnus Fraking Bane. There’s too much to say here. This is one of the best romance novels I’ve ever read.

Amrutha's Picks


This was that one impulsive supermarket buy of the year that turned out to be oh so scrumptiously worth it. This is the only book I’ve reviewed that I’ve given a 5/5 star rating, because it is that perfect. Go check out the review and definitely read the book!


Unbound
Georgia Bell
All Good Things, #1

When I began the ebook for this, I wasn’t expecting much, especially because I am not the usual paranormal fan. This book far surpassed my expectations and is definitely one of the best books of 2013. (review)


Delirium
Susan Kaye Quinn
Debt Collector, #1

This is actually just a short piece, the first in a series of 9. It is honestly beautifully written, and the idea of the story is literally one of the most creative I have read this year. Kiersten and I did a mini-review on it this year, so definitely check it out!

The Storyteller
Jodi Picoult

Just as Noor loves Neil Gaiman, I love Jodi Picoult. I read all her books as they come out, and they never ever disappoint. Get on this book and every other book by her as soon as possible if you have been deprived of her amazing-ness thus far in your life.


What are some of your 2013 favorites?
Let us know in the comments!

1 comment:

  1. I'm glad to see Clockwork Princess make it onto a couple of your lists. I really loved that book too, despite having mixed thoughts about the epilogue. I'm also really curious about Where'd You Go, Bernadette. I've heard great things and I love the cover! Fractured and The Ocean at the End of the Lane were great reads for me too. And I hope to pick up Eleanor and Park sometime in 2014. I loved Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl. :)

    Thanks for sharing! Hope you all have a great new year.

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