Am I really posting my 2018 review in the middle of January? Yes, yes I am.
I obviously have not been around at all lately. I think I probably posted a total of 12 posts in 2018. A part of the reason was definitely the much dreaded blogger burn-out that many bloggers have faced but most of it was due to school. I recently transferred universities and a new school + a demanding workload = the worst semester I’ve ever had. I was emotionally exhausted every day and had very little time to read and no time to blog.
School just started again so I’m afraid the same thing will happen again where I am only posting once a month or maybe not at all for two or three months. Hopefully I’ve learned a thing or two from last semester and will manage my time better.
Reading Updates:
Like I said before, I have not had much time to read last year. I’ve been trying to make up for that by reading more Manga since they take less time and are still enjoyable.
**Note These are just the books that I have read in 2018 and not necessarily books that were published last year.
“Queen of Air and Darkness” by Cassandra Clare
“This Savage Song” by Victoria Schwab
“Our Dark Duet” by Victoria Schwab
“Renegades” by Marissa Meyer
“The Darkest Legacy” by Alexandra Bracken
“An Absolutely Remarkable Thing” by Hank Green
“Leah on the Offbeat” by Becky Albertalli
“From Twinkle with Love” by Sandhya Menon
“Dear Martin” by Nic Stone
“Let’s Talk About Love” by Claire Kunn
Yona of the Dawn by Mizuho Kusanagi, Vol. 1 – Vol. 26
My Hero Academia by Kohei Horikoshi, Vol. 1 – Vol. 10
Have you read any of these? What was one of your absolute favorites of 2018? How’s 2019 going?
So my life right now is basically me waiting endlessly for sequels to come out. WHY DO THEY TAKE SOOO LONG (Rational part of my brain: because books have to be drafted, edited, revised, edited, revised and edited again and revised again). YEAH BUT WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LOOOONG
My friend over at Empire of Starlight did a “Books My Soul Needs” post which inspired me to do my own. So here is a list of my most anticipating books that will come out later this year.
I am SO SO EXCITED for another book in The Darkest Minds world. TDM is one of my absolute favorite trilogies so when I heard Bracken was publishing a stand alone in Zu’s POV, I was overjoyed. I’ve been wanting her to revisit this world for so long and it’s finally coming true! And I’m sure we’ll get to see Ruby and the rest of the gang show up and it’ll be nice to see how they’re doing five years after In the Afterlight.
(Also, the TDM movie is releasing later this year and I haven’t been this excited for a book to movie adaptation since Harry Potter. If this movie isn’t good, I’m going to cry for days in despair).
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT UNTIL FREAKING DECEMBER!! HOOOOOWWWW!! This series is killing me! It’s so good! Cassandra Clare outdid herself with the The Dark Artifices, it’s definitely her best series to date. The characters are amazing, the plot gets better and better, and she keeps developing the Shadowhunter world in a way that doesn’t feel forced.
The third book to the Conqueror’s Saga trilogy. And I Darken is my favorite YA historical fiction: these books are adventurous, action packed and full of complicated characters. And after the ending of Now I Rise, the stakes are higher than ever and I NEED to know what will happen.
The third book to the Ember in the Ashes quartet. I’m so excited for this book! I love the Ember world and there is still so much left to explore. The characters are all complex and well developed, there are some surprising plot twists, and the action scenes are awesome.
Honorary Mentions
“On the Come Up” by Angie Thomas
“From Twinkle with Love” by Sandhya Menon
“Vengeful” by V.E Schwab
“What If It’s Us” by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
“Archenemies” by Marissa Meyer
“Leah on the Offbeat” by Becky Albertalli
Do you guys agree with any of mine? What are some books you’ve been dying to read?
Oh wow, how is 2017 already over? I feel like I say this after every year. It’ll be nice to go back to a nice, even year though.
I read more books than I expected myself to last year because of how difficult this last semester was for me. Most of the ones I’ve read were really good, I’ve liked or loved almost all of them. So my favorites list basically consists of most of the books I’ve read in 2017.
**Note that some of these books haven’t necessarily been published in 2017, I’ve just read them in 2017.
Favorite Contemporaries
Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins
History is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley
We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
They Both Die At the End by Adam Silvera
Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed
City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson
Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
Favorite Science Fiction
Replica by Lauren Oliver
Vicious by V.E Scwab
Warcross by Marie Lu
Favorite Fantasies
The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan
Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare
The City of Brass by S.A Chakraborty
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan
A Conjuring of Light by V.E Schwab
Favorite Historical Fiction
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
The Valiant by Lesley Livinston
Now I Rise by Kiersten White
Superheroes
Wonder Woman Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo
Ms. Marvel, Vol 1: No Normal
Surprisingly, I’ve read more contemporaries this year than any other genre, this has never happened before. It has a lot to do with so many diverse contemporaries coming out now and I hope that continues.
I also haven’t been blogging much lately, especially the last couple of months so thank you SO MUCH to everyone who has stuck around. I love you guys! I hope this new year brings you lots of joy, love and books.
What are some books that became your favorites in 2017?