2018 Recap! – Endings
The Curse Worker Series by Holly Black
I really enjoyed this trilogy. It wasn’t my first Holly Black but I think it is one of my favorites. The twisty loyalties and betrayals the characters have to navigate kept me reading late into the night. Black’s writing really shines as well. The dark tone of the book as well as the menacing setting and imminent danger really brings the character’s magic to the forefront. I love love love how it turned out from beginning to end.Red Rising series by Pierce Brown (DNF)
Sigh.
I had high hopes but sadly I did not finish this series. It’s gotten such rave reviews and I was so excited, I was sure I would like it! But instead I found myself bored. Bored with the main character’s quest for revenge. Bored with the perfect pure girl who died. Bored bored bored. Did not finish and don’t feel bad about it.
Half Bad by Sally Green (DNF)
I was not having any luck. The overall violence in the first book was sad and made me uncomfortable. (seemed like too much?) But mostly, the plot was so slow. I didn’t feel anything for any of the characters and I would put the book down and not want to pick it back up. Oh well.
Graceling Realm series by Kristen Cashore
I’ve been waiting to read this trilogy, don’t ask me why. I don’t know why I waited so long! It’s GORGEOUS. I love the setting which was as real to me as stepping out into my backyard. I loved the characters, their vulnerabilities an their strengths. I loved how they interacted with each other and the romance was organic and well developed. I ate these books. ate them. ATE THEM. Devoured them so fast.
So finally, yes I have read Graceling realm series. And I will be re-reading them again soon.
Shades of London series by V.E. Schwab
I’m not going to lie. I’m STILL thinking about these books, months later. I love Kell especially but really, everything about the Shades of London series is delicious. From the setting to the magic to the plot. It’s fast and gorgeous and I was thoughroughly engrossed from beginning to end. Oh Kell, London will never be the same to me!
Paranormalcy series by Kiersten White
This is one of the first books I read in the YA genre and Kiersten White is still the queen. She’s an autobuy for me. This trilogy will always hold a special place in my heart because Evie was so much like Buffy. The plot is very fast and reading the entire series could be done in a weekend. It’s that good.
Heirs of Watson Island by Martina Boone (DNF)
Sigh.
I had hopes for this one too. Southern gothic mystery? Sign me up! But instead I was mostly annoyed with the main character and felt like someone was banging their insta-love over my head. No thanks
The Opal Mask duology by Jenny Lundquist
I don’t know how to rate this one. It’s super interesting and fast moving. I like the twists and turns. The character development was just okay and the writing was ok too. But I wasn’t hungry for it. I think a lot of younger audiences will like it more. The covers are gorgeous and who doens’t love stories about identity switches?
The Monsters of Verity by V.E. Schwab
August and Kate. Kate and August.
The setting is really what did it for me. I love the city split in two, perfect for these two opposites to maneuver in. V.E. Schwab is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Her stories are original and well thought out. The villians don’t wear dark coats and thick mustaches. The princess isn’t a damsel in distress. The monsters look like humans. And the humans look like monsters. Like real life.
Wow. I can’t even. I could talk about the book, how everything came together. The good, the bad. But I’m still, weeks later, trying to wrap my head around it.
Honestly, it’s so epic, I think I’m going to re-read the entire series next year. My heart still hurts.
I tried to read this trilogy but I just couldn’t get into it. I think maybe if I had come across it at another time in my life, maybe I would have really enjoyed it. But for me, this was a DNF.N
Kimberly majored in Songwriting and currently works full time in the music industry. When she's not listening to music, knitting or writing, you can find her outside reading her favorite genres: Young Adult, Adult Fiction, Mystery, and Romance.
You finished so many series. I am kind of jealous. On my list to read/finish this year are Paranormalcy and the Graceling series. I’d like to get through more but let’s just start there.
That’s a good goal. I tried really hard to finish ones but I am crazy. I love the Graveling series so much. I am going to try to finish one a month again for 2019 but not sure if I will be able to. I have lots of series to read but haven’t read so many of the books in them. last year, maybe I had read like two in the series and only had to read one more. We’ll see.
What else are you reading?