Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing This Year

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

 

This week I'm talking about my top ten books I wouldn't mind Santa bringing me this year!

 

1. The Sorcerer Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

 

 

This book came out 2 months ago, and I have yet to get my hands on it.

 

2. Gathering Darkness by Morgan Rhodes

 

 

I WANT THIS BOOK SO BAD! Why must I be broke?

 

3. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

 

 

I read and loved this book over the summer, and I desperately need a copy of it.

 

4. The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

 

I read and loved this book too, but again, I have yet to get a copy of it.

 

5. Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee

 

Yes, I want this book based purely on the cover. I have no shame admitting that.

 

6. This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner

 

 

THESE BROKEN STARS was absolutely fantastic; I can't wait to read this one!

 

7. Fairest by Marissa Meyer

 

Yeah, this book isn't out until January, but if it could just magically appear under the tree, I wouldn't be disappointed.

 

8. Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch

 

Yes, this is another one of those that I want because the cover is gorgeous. 

 

9. The Perilous Sea by Sherry Thomas

 

See the caption for SNOW LIKE ASHES

 

10. The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

 

Again, I know this book isn't out yet, but I would LOVE if this book would just happen to be under the tree on December 25th. :)

 

What is your top ten?



In the Afterlight (The Darkest Minds #3) by Alexandra Bracken: Review

RATING: 5/5

Author: Alexandra Bracken

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Source: Bought

Release date: October 28, 2014

Find it on Goodreads here!

 

SUMMARY (from Goodreads):

 

Ruby can't look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government's attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds.

They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IAAN, the disease that has killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the "rehabilitation camps" housing thousands of other Psi kids.

Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire.

 

REVIEW:

 

Let me start out by saying that THE DARKEST MINDS is one of my most favorite books of all time. NEVER FADE was even better, and IN THE AFTERLIGHT was one of my most anticipated books of 2014.

 

While I still loved this book, I didn't think that it was quite as good as the first two. There were so many times when all of the characters were doing was sitting around and talking, and it was so frustrating. There were so many times when I was so frustrated with Ruby and Cole and Liam, that I had to put the book down and walk away. But once the book finally picked up, it was absolutely AMAZING!! It brought on so many emotions, and I was in tears by the end.

 

In short, this is a fantastic trilogy. If you have not read this series, I highly suggest you do so!

 

CONTENT: Kissing, and implied sex scene, heavy swearing, and moderate violence.

The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1) by Marie Lu: Review

 

RATING: 4/5 stars!

 

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Source: Bought

Release date: October 7, 2014

Find it on Goodreads here!

 

SUMMARY(from Goodreads):

 

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

 

REVIEW:

 



When I first head his book was coming out, I was ecstatic. I loved Marie Lu's Legend series, and I was so pumped for this book to come out.

Did it live up to my expectations? Not exactly.

I'm really sorry to say that this book was definitely not as good as Legend. The main problem for me was the main character, Adelina. She annoyed me SO MUCH! She wouldn't tell anyone anything, and all she did was second guess herself almost the whole time. Girl, get it together! Find some resolve, and then kick some ass!

Other than that, I thought the book was great. The supporting characters were awesome, and the world building, while a little lacking, was still pretty good. So if you want to give the book a try, you should totally go for it!

CONTENT: Heavy on the sexual content. There is no actual sex described, but a few of the characters are "consorts" and have different partners every night. There is also heavy making out, moderate language, and a decent amount of violence, some of it graphic.