Well, guys, it's that time of year. You all know what the end of December brings... lots of year-end lists! And, y'know, doubly expected because last week I told you guys it was coming. So here we are with a look back over what I'd consider to be the best books of 2012. (And by the best of 2012, I mean they're the best books I read and reviewed this year, not the best that were published this year.)
For added convenience, each link goes to the the review for that book.
Vixen by Jillian Larkin
"It's not often that I read a book that feels like a luxury, but this is definitely one of them. I had a hard time putting it down, and I'm still kind of blinking my eyes, trying to get used to the light as I emerge from the seedy underworld depicted in Vixen."
Finders Keepers by Linnea Sinclair
"The love story had plenty enough conflict to keep it afloat without feeling like it was being drawn out unnecessarily, but I have to admit, I was much more interested in the sci-fi aspects. See, the worldbuilding was really interesting. Politics! Spaceships! Fighting factions and futuristic technology and languages and aliens and yes. There were some really interesting side characters I wanted to hear more about, but towards the end of the book they all sort of fade into the background so Trilby and Rhis could wrap up their romance story arc... Really, though, if my biggest complaint is that I wanted more, it's pretty safe to say I'll be picking up more of Sinclair's novels in the future. I have some catching up to do."
Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale
"Lessons in French is basically the regency version of "high school sweethearts reunite after many years." It's a really well done variation, sweet and fun and funny. Callie and Trev are flawed and likeable characters, and the relationship between them is wonderful. This isn't a relationship that relies on straight lust; they're friends first, and always have been. They connect on a number of different levels, and the romance between them feels like a natural extension of the solid friendship they've already built."
Grave Mercy by RL LaFevers
"I really, thoroughly enjoyed this book. This was a "it's two hours past my bedtime but just have to get through one more chapter" kind of book... If you like strong romantic themes in your fantasy novels, if you like characters prone to thinking before they act, if you like political intrigue and assassins, this is a book you'll want to pick up. It is, of course, a no-brainer as to whether or not I'll be picking up the second in the series. There are more lady assassins to be had! I am so in!"
Penelope's Daughter by Laurel Corona
"I enjoyed [this book] very much. Enough so, actually, that after I finished it and had started on the next book, I was still in "excited to read this" mode and found myself vaguely disappointed every time I had the opportunity to read a few pages more because I remembered that oh yeah, I'd already finished Penelope's Daughter. It's such a bittersweet thing when you read a book that you enjoy enough it actually influences your reading experience for the next book."
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
"This is... you guys. This book. THIS BOOK. I'm sitting here, totally unsure how I'm going to review it because I want you all to understand just how good it is, but I don't want to give away anything that will take away from the reading experience, and frankly, I'm not sure I can do both. Wein is an incredible writer, and even if you're like me and rarely step outside of genre fiction, this book is worth the detour. Look, it's seriously not often that I gush about books. I have a number of them that I love deeply, but I will be the first to admit their flaws. Don't care, love them anyway. But... THIS BOOK."
Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
"The book runs at a good clip, and is one part buddy cop movie, one part urban fantasy, with generous dollops of steampunk stirred in. There's snarky banter and detective work and Victorian manners and clockwork gadgets and a hint of potential romance and really big guns. There's a lot going on here, and while some might find it a little crowded, it's just a big collection of fun. I really enjoyed both Books and Braun, who grew into increasingly complex characters as the story rolled on and certain revelations about hidden personality traits and their histories were revealed, both to the reader and each other."
Hounded by Kevin Hearne
"First? This book was hilarious. I listened to it as an audiobook, and I'm sure there were several people passing by me on the street who eyed me warily, wondering why that crazy lady was snickering to herself. It's never farcical or sitcom-ish; the humour is in the voice and the characters. Atticus O'Sullivan has a wry sense of humour, and I fell in love with his dog Oberon, despite not being a dog person."
Ghosts of Memories by Barb Hendee
"Final verdict? Satisfying and enjoyable ending to a series I've been delighted to return to with each installment. I'd be hard pressed to find another series to compare The Vampire Memories to, and in the overcrowded urban fantasy market, something with that kind of originality is a gift."
Deadline by Mira Grant
"After a slow start, which serves more to establish Shaun's state of mind than anything else, the story begins to pick up, and once again we enter a world in which any character could possibly die. I spent most of the book terribly afraid my favourite characters would be killed, and if Grant saw my nervous reading, she'd probably laugh most maniacally, evil genius that she is. I can't say this is a book I couldn't put down, because I did put it down several times. You know how sometimes you'll be reading something and you have to pause a moment to absorb what you've just read because it was just too big to keep running merrily along? Deadline is full of those moments. There are a ton of little surprise moments in there."
As you can see, it's been a great year for discovering fantastic new books. And the very best book of 2012? Well, considering it's the only five-star review I've handed out all year, there's no question that Code Name Verity is the one that absolutely blew me away. I'm still kind of rocked by that one, six months after having finished it, and I'm led to believe that several of you felt the same way about it, too.
That's one list down, four more to go, since this week we're doing all best of 2012 lists, all the time!
For added convenience, each link goes to the the review for that book.
Vixen by Jillian Larkin
"It's not often that I read a book that feels like a luxury, but this is definitely one of them. I had a hard time putting it down, and I'm still kind of blinking my eyes, trying to get used to the light as I emerge from the seedy underworld depicted in Vixen."
Finders Keepers by Linnea Sinclair
"The love story had plenty enough conflict to keep it afloat without feeling like it was being drawn out unnecessarily, but I have to admit, I was much more interested in the sci-fi aspects. See, the worldbuilding was really interesting. Politics! Spaceships! Fighting factions and futuristic technology and languages and aliens and yes. There were some really interesting side characters I wanted to hear more about, but towards the end of the book they all sort of fade into the background so Trilby and Rhis could wrap up their romance story arc... Really, though, if my biggest complaint is that I wanted more, it's pretty safe to say I'll be picking up more of Sinclair's novels in the future. I have some catching up to do."
Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale
"Lessons in French is basically the regency version of "high school sweethearts reunite after many years." It's a really well done variation, sweet and fun and funny. Callie and Trev are flawed and likeable characters, and the relationship between them is wonderful. This isn't a relationship that relies on straight lust; they're friends first, and always have been. They connect on a number of different levels, and the romance between them feels like a natural extension of the solid friendship they've already built."
Grave Mercy by RL LaFevers
"I really, thoroughly enjoyed this book. This was a "it's two hours past my bedtime but just have to get through one more chapter" kind of book... If you like strong romantic themes in your fantasy novels, if you like characters prone to thinking before they act, if you like political intrigue and assassins, this is a book you'll want to pick up. It is, of course, a no-brainer as to whether or not I'll be picking up the second in the series. There are more lady assassins to be had! I am so in!"
Penelope's Daughter by Laurel Corona
"I enjoyed [this book] very much. Enough so, actually, that after I finished it and had started on the next book, I was still in "excited to read this" mode and found myself vaguely disappointed every time I had the opportunity to read a few pages more because I remembered that oh yeah, I'd already finished Penelope's Daughter. It's such a bittersweet thing when you read a book that you enjoy enough it actually influences your reading experience for the next book."
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
"This is... you guys. This book. THIS BOOK. I'm sitting here, totally unsure how I'm going to review it because I want you all to understand just how good it is, but I don't want to give away anything that will take away from the reading experience, and frankly, I'm not sure I can do both. Wein is an incredible writer, and even if you're like me and rarely step outside of genre fiction, this book is worth the detour. Look, it's seriously not often that I gush about books. I have a number of them that I love deeply, but I will be the first to admit their flaws. Don't care, love them anyway. But... THIS BOOK."
Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
"The book runs at a good clip, and is one part buddy cop movie, one part urban fantasy, with generous dollops of steampunk stirred in. There's snarky banter and detective work and Victorian manners and clockwork gadgets and a hint of potential romance and really big guns. There's a lot going on here, and while some might find it a little crowded, it's just a big collection of fun. I really enjoyed both Books and Braun, who grew into increasingly complex characters as the story rolled on and certain revelations about hidden personality traits and their histories were revealed, both to the reader and each other."
Hounded by Kevin Hearne
"First? This book was hilarious. I listened to it as an audiobook, and I'm sure there were several people passing by me on the street who eyed me warily, wondering why that crazy lady was snickering to herself. It's never farcical or sitcom-ish; the humour is in the voice and the characters. Atticus O'Sullivan has a wry sense of humour, and I fell in love with his dog Oberon, despite not being a dog person."
Ghosts of Memories by Barb Hendee
"Final verdict? Satisfying and enjoyable ending to a series I've been delighted to return to with each installment. I'd be hard pressed to find another series to compare The Vampire Memories to, and in the overcrowded urban fantasy market, something with that kind of originality is a gift."
Deadline by Mira Grant
"After a slow start, which serves more to establish Shaun's state of mind than anything else, the story begins to pick up, and once again we enter a world in which any character could possibly die. I spent most of the book terribly afraid my favourite characters would be killed, and if Grant saw my nervous reading, she'd probably laugh most maniacally, evil genius that she is. I can't say this is a book I couldn't put down, because I did put it down several times. You know how sometimes you'll be reading something and you have to pause a moment to absorb what you've just read because it was just too big to keep running merrily along? Deadline is full of those moments. There are a ton of little surprise moments in there."
As you can see, it's been a great year for discovering fantastic new books. And the very best book of 2012? Well, considering it's the only five-star review I've handed out all year, there's no question that Code Name Verity is the one that absolutely blew me away. I'm still kind of rocked by that one, six months after having finished it, and I'm led to believe that several of you felt the same way about it, too.
That's one list down, four more to go, since this week we're doing all best of 2012 lists, all the time!
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