Tag: reading wrap-up

2022: A Year in Books

January 23rd, 2023
Each year that passes can be defined in a number of ways, not the least of which is by the books we’ve read. It could’ve been a good, bad, or unexpected sort of year, based solely on our reading choices. No matter the outcome, though, I always enjoy looking back at the stories that made up my year, and feel a sense of accomplishment when I see my completed list. Even if I didn’t get to as many books as I had hoped to; a few books is better than no books at all, right? The very first post I ever wrote on this blog was a year-end reading wrap-up way back in 2017, and this post will mark the fifth consecutive year of sharing my reading track-record. Let’s see how 2022 stacks up to the previous years, shall we?

Rating: 1-5 stars – favorites in bold

Classics
1. A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens – 4 stars
2. Jude the Obscure, by Thomas Hardy – 4 stars
Non-Fiction
1. The God of the Garden, by Andrew Peterson – 5 stars
2. Letters to a Young Poet, by Rainer Maria Rilke – 4 stars
3. 5 Secrets of Story Structure, by K. M. Weiland – 5 stars
4. Productivity for Authors, by Joanna Penn – 5 stars
5. Hoopa Project, by David Paulides – 5 stars
6. Creating Character Arcs, by K. M. Weiland – 4 stars
7. Dear Me Before BTS, I Feel Sorry For You, by W. R. Kim – 4 stars
Fiction
1. Spin The Dawn, by Elizabeth Lim – 4 stars
2. Unravel the Dusk, by Elizabeth Lim – 4 stars
3. Calculated, by Nova McBee – 5 stars
4. Simulated, by Nova McBee – 5 stars
5. 100 Days of Sunlight, by Abbie Emmons – 4 stars
6. What Lives in the Woods, by Lindsay Currie – 3 stars
7. Every Bright and Broken Thing, by Brian McBride – 3 stars
8. Mammoth, by Brian McBride – 5 stars
9. The Will and the Wilds, by Charlie N. Holmberg -3 stars
10. Northwind, by Gary Paulsen – 4 stars
11. The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart – 4 stars
12. The Summer We Forgot, by Caroline George – 5 stars
13. The Maid, by Nita Prose – 3 stars
14. The Guinevere Deception, by Kiersten White – 4 stars
15. The Tale of Hilltop Farm, by Susan Wittig Albert – 4 stars
16. Boneshaker, by Cheri Priest – 5 stars
17. Cress, by Marissa Meyer (re-read) – 5 stars
18. Shady Hollow, by Juneau Black – 4 stars
19. Once Upon a River, by Diane Setterfield – 4 stars
20. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Axie Oh – 2 stars
21. Secrets in the Mist, by Morgan L. Busse – 4 stars
22. Wishtress, by Nadine Brandes – 3 stars
23. Red Winter, by Annette Marie – 4 stars
24. Pumpkin Everything, by Beth Labonte – 4 stars
25. Soul as Cold as Frost, by Jennifer Kropf – 4 stars
Total: 34

Reading Q & A:

Question: How was your reading year in 2022?

Answer: 2022 was was just an “okay” reading year for me. I DNF’d (did not finish) more books than I would have liked, which left me a bit unmotivated. Over the years, I’ve become somewhat of a picky reader, much like a picky eater. I’ve gained a sharper sense of what I do and do not like in fiction, and many of the books I picked up last year ended up in the “dislike” category.

Question: What was the first book you read in 2022?

Answer: I kicked off 2022 with Spin the Dawn, by Elizabeth Lim, an Asian-inspired fantasy about a magical seamstress, and a powerful enchanter. It reminded me a little of the story of Mulan. (That is, if Mulan was tasked with designing beautiful dresses for an empress, instead of fighting a war.) It was a great read, and helped start the year on a high note.

Question: What was the last book you read in 2022?

Answer: After the craziness of Christmas, I wanted a gripping, and fast-paced story to sweep me away, so I decided to pick up Mammoth, by Brian Mcbride, and may have found a new favorite. It was a pleasant surprise, since I had read another of Mcbride’s books that I didn’t enjoy. I loved the elements of found-family, friendship, and Indiana Jones-esque adventure. There were also some heavier topics discussed, like domestic abuse, and difficult family relationships, so you should keep that in mind before picking up this book.

Question: What was your favorite reading-related memory in 2022?

Answer: In August, I went on a trip to California, and was able to check off “read on the beach” from my summer bucket list. I took the book, Once Upon a River, by Diane Setterfield. It might not have been the ideal beach read, as it was a bit unsettling, and eerie, but it was definitely a memorable story, and even more so to have taken it on vacation with me. Disclaimer: due to some of the more adult content in this book, it is not suitable for younger readers.

Question: What was the most disappointing book you read in 2022?

Answer: I read quite a few disappointing books in 2022, but I think it’s a tie between two of them. The first, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, by Axie Oh. I really wanted to love this story, and thought the cover was beautiful, but unfortunately, my hopes were dashed to the bottom of the ocean, (pun intended), simply because I couldn’t get passed the writing style. It fell prey to the telling, instead of showing, pitfall, and for me, ruined what could have been a great story.

Secondly, I was also disappointed in Wishtress, by Nadine Brandes. I tried so hard to like this book, and nearly gave up on it twice before officially declaring it a DNF. Again, I thought the story line was interesting, but I simply couldn’t connect with the characters. Normally, I appreciate the use of flawed characters in stories, but the main character in Wishtress came across as extremely unlikable, and I felt no sympathy towards her. After reading about 3/4 of the story, I decided to call it quits.

Question: What was a book you loved in 2022?

Answer: Calculated, by Nova McBee, was one of the few books that swept me away in 2022. A fast paced, action/adventure story, mixed in with a retelling of the Biblical account of Joseph, left my mind blown. It was fascinating to read about a young math prodigy living in the modern metropolis of Shanghai, while fighting against the untold atrocities that operate behind the scenes of society. I really admire the author for tackling such a huge, and important topic with this book, and handling it well. (I won’t tell you what it is to avoid spoilers.) I also read the second book, Simulated, which was also great, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series with the third installment, Activated.

Question: What book would you recommend to a friend?

Answer: I would like to challenge a friend to read Boneshaker, by Cheri Priest. Lately, I’ve been trying to explore some lesser known sub-genres like steampunk, so Boneshaker felt like a win to me. If you don’t mind reading about creepy zombies roaming around an abandoned city, then you might enjoy Boneshaker. (But zombies aren’t all this story is about.) What left the greatest impact, was reading about the relationship between a mother and son, and their journey to finding each other when all odds were stacked against them.

There you have it, my reading roundup, and recap of the year 2022. I hope you enjoyed this post, and maybe found a book or two to add to your own TBR for 2023. Now I want to hear about your reading year. Did you read any books that you absolutely loved, or maybe there was a book you hated? Tell me all about it.

Thanks for reading,

Lady S
2021 – A Year in Books

December 30th, 2021
Hey friends! We have arrived again at the end of another reading year, where we look back at all the of the wonderful worlds, and words, that crossed our paths in 2021. This was a much better reading year for me, than the past couple of years have been. It felt so good to get back to the joy of reading and immerse myself in so many amazing story worlds. So without further ado, it’s time to share my completed reading list for 2021. Let’s see how I did.

Rating: 1-5 stars (Favorites in bold.)

Classics:
1. The Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux – 5
2. Dracula, by Bram Stoker – 5
3. The Epic of Gilgamesh – 4
4. The Blue Castle, by L.M. Montgomery – 5
5. Far From the Madding Crowd, by Thomas Hardy – 4
6. Old Herbaceous, by Reginald Arkell – 4
7. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson – 4
Non-Fiction:
1. Bach Flower Therapies, by Mechthild Scheffer – 5
2. A Different Shade of Green, by Gordon Wilson – 4
3. The Right to Write, by Julia Cameron – 5
4. The Hidden Life of Trees, by Peter Wohlleben – 4
5. The Successful Author Mindset, by Joanna Penn – 5
6. Successful Self-Publishing, by Joanna Penn – 5
7. As Far As You Can Go Without a Passport, by Tom Bodett – 5
8. The Unseen Realm, by Michael S. Heiser – 5
Fiction:
1. Dust, by Kara Swanson – 4
2. Before the Coffee Gets Cold, by Toshikazu Kawaguchi – 4
3. Dearest Josephine, by Caroline George – 5
4. Hood, Stephen R. Lawhead – 5
5. Greenglass House, by Kate Milford – 3
6. The Forest of Wool and Steal, by Natsu Miyashita – 5
7. Storming, by K.M. Weiland – 5
8. Cinder, by Marissa Meyer (reread) – 5
9. Scarlet, by Marissa Meyer (reread) – 5
10. The Dream Thieves, by Maggie Stiefvater – 4
11. Blue Lily, Lily Blue, by Maggie Stiefvater – 4
12. The Raven King, by Maggie Stiefvater – 4
13. Dark Souls, by Paula Morris – 3
14. The Rise of Kyoshi, by F. C. Yee & Michael Dante DiMartino – 3
15. The Songkiller’s Symphony, by Daeus Lamb – 4
16. At Night I Become a Monster, by Yoru Sumino – 5
17. The Alchemyst, by Michael Scott – 3
18. Six Crimson Cranes, by Elizabeth Lim – 5
19. An Enchantment of Ravens, by Margaret Rogerson – 4
20. Liar, Liar, You Are Hired, by Devin Joubert – 4
21. Ignite, by Jenna Terese – 4
22. Knight from the Ashes, by Shari L. Tapscott, and Jake Andrews – 5
Total: 37

Q & A Time.

Q: What was the biggest book you read in 2021?

A: The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater, coming in at 480 pages. This year I didn’t tackle anything over 500 pages. It wasn’t intentional, and I didn’t even realize until now.

Q: What was the shortest book you read in 2021?

A: Liar, Liar, You are Hired, by Devin Joubert. Sitting at 90 pages, this is actually the first part in an ongoing serial novel.

Q: What was the most surprising book you read in 2021?

A: I Would have to say, Hood, by Stephen R. Lawhead. This book surprised me in a number of ways. I thought it was a fantasy novel, so I was anticipating some form of magic, but as I reached the end of the book, there wasn’t an ounce of magic among any of the pages. It turned out to be more of a historical fiction, and I actually learned a lot about a time in history I knew very little about.

Q: What was the most disappointing book of 2021?

A: There were a few books I found rather disappointing this year, but if I had to choose one, it would be, Greenglass House, by Kate Milford. This book is quite popular in the book-community, so I felt let down when I finally read it. For a middle-grade book, I thought it was a little boring, and felt like it was written for an older audience despite being labelled for kids. It could have been a good story, but by the end of the book, it just felt dull to me.

Q: What book left the biggest impact on you?

A: Definitely, The Right to Write, by Julia Cameron. I read this collection of essays slowly throughout the year. Each time I read it, I found a new little nugget of truth, or inspiration to take away. Her writing felt like a hug and encouragement to a struggling writer. At times the author put me off by some vulgar references, and I considered giving up on it, but I’m so glad that I pushed through. I think this is a book I will return to again.

Q: What was your favorite book from 2021?

A: I would have said my favorite book from 2021 was The Blue Castle, but since I already raved about that book in another blog post, I’ll choose a different one. And since I also ranted about how much I loved The Forest of Wool and Steal, in the same post, I won’t choose that one either. I read a lot of books that I loved this year, but for the sake of this post, I’ll choose just one, and that is, Dearest Josephine by Caroline George.

I’m not quite sure how to label this book. Contemporary? Historical Fiction? I suppose the genre doesn’t matter, when it’s a book you really love. Dearest Josephine is told through letters, emails, and a shifting time-line that alternates between Josie De Clare, a girl from 2021, and Elias Roch, a boy from the year 1821. Dearest Josephine is about two broken-hearted souls that become strangely connected to one another, though separated by a span of 200 years. It’s a rare thing when a story can make you feel something so bittersweet, and heartfelt. I came away from this story with so many emotions, and warm feelings. It’s one of those books that after you’ve finished reading it, you just have to sit still for a moment, and appreciate all the little details that made you adore it so much.

Aside from that, my honorable mentions would have to be, At Night I Become a Monster, by Yoru Sumino. A fascinating story about a boy who becomes a monster when night falls, and a classroom overshadowed by bullying.

I was also completely blown away by Dracula, a classic that had been on my list for quite some time. I was not prepared for such a deep, and impactful story. This is another book I want to read again, just to make sure I didn’t miss anything the first time around. The memory of this story still haunts me.

In conclusion, I read a lot of great books, and found some that have become my forever favorites. I realized this year, that reading is a give and take activity. In years past, I wasn’t giving it enough time or attention, and so my attitude towards reading reflected that. This year, I made an effort to make more time for reading, and be very intentional about it, and in the end, I enjoyed it all the more.

I hope you read lots of great books this year, and I hope you read even more next year. What was your favorite book from 2021? Tell me a little about your year in books, I’d love to chat with you.

Happy reading,

Lady S
Reading Wrap-up: 2020 Edition

January 14th, 2021
Hey there! Welcome to a brand new year, and my very first post of 2021. I can’t believe it’s already mid January, time really does fly. Today, I’ll be sharing my completed reading list for 2020. It wasn’t the best of reading years for me, but it wasn’t the worst either. When I compiled my list I realized I’d actually read more than I thought, and even surpassed the previous year’s record, (by the skin of my teeth). I tried to include a wider variety of genres, but of course, fantasy and sci-fi won out for the most reads. I had pretty good luck with the non-fiction reads I chose, but as for fiction, most of the books I read weren’t great. With the exception of a few, it seemed like most of the novels I picked up last year were just average, and didn’t capture my attention. Which led me to feel very uninspired about my TBR. But looking back, it turned out to be a rather decent reading year, despite my lack of enthusiasm.

Now let’s get to the list:

Ratings: 1-5

Favorites in bold

Non-Fiction
1. The Universe Next Door, by James W. Sire – 4
2. Beyond Brilliance, by Lucas Miller – 4
3. Writing Your Story’s Theme, by K.M. Weiland – 5
4. Reversing Hermon, by Dr. Michael S. Heiser – 5
5. True Legends, by Steven Quayle – 5
6. Herbal Home Healthcare, by John R. Christopher – 5
Sci-fi/Fantasy
1. Fireborn, by Rosaria Munda – 4
2. Beyond the Deep Woods: The Edge Chronicles 1, by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell – 5
3. The Christ Virus, by Dave Slade – 3
4. Starsight, by Brandon Sanderson – 4
5. Into the Fire, by Kim Vandel (re-read) – 5
6. Among the Flames, by Kim Vandel (re-read) – 5
7. A Time to Die, by Nadine Brandes – 3
8. The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Stiefvater – 5
9. The Malamander, by Thomas Taylor – 2
10. On The Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, the Wingfeather Saga book 1, by Andrew Peterson – 4
11. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, by Christopher Paolini – 3
12. The Dark Hills Divide, The Land of Elyon book 1, by Patrick Carman – 4
13. The Lost Colony, Artemis Fowl book 5, by Eoin Colfer – 4
14. Paranormia, by Paul Regnier – 5
Classics
1. The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins – 4
2. The Eagle of the Ninth, by Rosemary Sutcliff – 4
3. The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Orczy – 5
Contemporary/Historical
1. The Heart of a Samurai, by Margi Pruess – 5
2. The Scent of Water, by Elizabeth Goudge – 5
3. Rose Cottage, by A.K. Madison – 4
4. The Penderwicks book 1, by Jeanne Birdsall – 5
5. A Monster Calls, by Patrick Ness – 4
Total : 28

Top 4 Mini-Reviews:

Beyond The Deep Woods, by Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell

In this story, we follow a misfit boy who was raised by an adoptive family in the Deep Woods; a dark and dangerous place filled with all sorts of strange, and ferocious beasts. He sets out all alone on a journey through the wilds, and has many curious encounters with some very odd characters. This is a Middle-Grade book, but it can be read and enjoyed by anyone looking for an adventure. The storyline was very original, and I was surprised to find out that it was not a modern publication, but was published over twenty years ago.

The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Steifvater

Taking place on the small, windswept, isle of Thisby, we follow Puck Connolly, and Sean Kendrick as they prepare for The Scorpio Races. A yearly event where racers compete for a grand prize—and sometimes to the death—atop the violent, and wild, water horses called, capaill uisce. This book had me staying up late into the night, and reading for hours to reach the end. I actually found this book at a thrift store a few years ago, and left it sitting untouched on my bookshelf for so long! I’m happy that I finally got around to reading it. I loved everything about this book, and I think it’s my favorite book of the entire year.

Paranormia, by Paul Regnier

Chris Loury is young, broke, and kind of a nerd. Struggling to find his way in life, and hoping to land a contract for his original comic, he ends up in a strange accident. After that fateful night, he is swept into a series of wild encounters, and has several run-ins with a lunatic who claims to be an angel. But as events unfold, and Chris finds himself digging deeper into trouble, he starts to believe the lunatic is actually who–or rather what he says he is. I appreciated the way the supernatural elements were handled in this story, and I thought Chris was a very relatable character, especially to all of my fellow twenty-something’s out there, who are trying to make their own way in the world. Overall, a solid read.

The Scent of Water, by Elizabeth Goudge

The perfect, cozy British tale to curl up with under a blanket, and a cup of tea. This story centers around Mary, a woman who retires to a small English village, and becomes acquainted with the inhabitants there. Learning to love the quiet of the countryside, Mary also finds herself becoming involved in the many joys, and heartaches with her new neighbors. This was one of the few books I was actually sad to finish. I’ll likely be reading more books, by Miss Goudge in the future.

Most Disappointing:

Unpopular opinion here: I was actually very disappointed in, A Time to Die, by Nadine Brandes. I’d read so many great reviews of this book, (and I enjoyed her other books,) but after reading, A Time to Die I don’t really get the hype. For starters, it felt sort of like two books squashed into one, with so much going on. I never connected with the main character, Parvin, and I thought it a little unrealistic how much trauma she went through, and still survived. (Though that was kind of the point of the story.) In general, there were many aspects of the story that I found very unrealistic, and slightly annoying. I wanted to like this book, but I just couldn’t, and as of right now I don’t think I’ll continue with the series.

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars, by Christopher Paolini

Firstly, I loved the cover, and this title is exactly what I like to see from sci-fi novels. I was a big fan of the Inheritance Cycle, by Paolini, but unfortunately I didn’t love this book. This is not a YA book, nor does it pretend to be, but I felt like I went into it a little blind. Especially for younger Paolini fans, I’d warn them about the amount of profanity, and adult themes throughout. It was an interesting story, and read like any space epic, but, I didn’t find it out of this world fantastic. Die-hard sci-fi fans would probably enjoy this book, but I’m not adding it to my favorites list. Also, it’s nearly 900 hundred pages, so beware.

Thus concludes my list, and a few reviews, for all the books I cracked open during the year 2020. I may have forgotten a few, since I didn’t keep track very well. There were also a few DNF’s (Did Not Finish), throughout the year which I didn’t list here, but that’s for the best. This year I’m hoping to read more, since I feel like I’m finally in a good reading mood, but then again I say that every year, and things don’t always pan out. I would like to continue to expand genres, and read more non-fiction. And in general, just read outside of my comfort zone, because I feel a bit like I’ve read those genres dry, and I know I’ll find some new, unexpected favorites, if I’d only look to new avenues.

What about you? How many books did you read in 2020? What was your favorite read of the year? Leave me a comment, and let me know!

Thanks for reading,

Lady S
The Books I Read In 2017

January 8th, 2018

Here we are at the close of yet another year.
Time literally feels like it’s flying by in a high-speeding rocket, and I can barely hold on to the days! That may sound a bit dramatic, but I’m sure we all feel the same, don’t we?

Anyway, reading-wise, this (past) year went fairly well. Though I only read four more books than I did in 2016, I’m still pretty happy that I managed to pull that off!
I feel like I branched out a bit, and read genres that were a bit unusual for me, which I’m pretty proud of. I also crossed off six books from the nine I had on my TBR. That too, was an accomplishment. (I may have unconsciously, avoided the more intimidating ones, *wink, wink.)
In addition, I read a lot of really good books that I very much enjoyed. Even a few that I absolutely LOVED! I’ll share those with you at another time, so keep an eye out for a future post about them.
Without further ado…here is my complete list of books read in 2017:

Ratings 1/5 stars

CLASSICS
1. The Inheritance, by Louisa May Alcott – 4
2. The Wind in The Willows, by Kenneth Grahame – 4
3. Villette, by Charlotte Bronte – 4
4. Michale O’Halloran, by Gene Stratton-Porter – 4
5. Journey to the Centre of the Earth, by Jules Verne – 5
6. Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury – 5
7. The Shepherd of Bethlehem, by A.L.O.E. – 4
8. Animal Farm, by George Orwell – 5
9. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee – 5

NON-FICTION
1. Food Forensics, by Mike Adams – 5
2. A Buzz in the Meadow, by Dave Goulson – 4
3. Endurance, by Alfred Lansing – 5
4. Ghosts in the Fog, by Samantha Seiple – 3

PARANORMAL/MYSTERY/HORROR/THRILLER
1. House of Furies, by Madeilne Roux – 2
2. The Betrayal, by R.L. Stine – 3
3. The Secret, by R.L. Stine – 3
4. The Burning, by R.L. Stine – 3
5. And Then She was Gone, by Christopher Greyson – 4
6. Thornhill, by Pam Smy – 4
7. Dream House, by Marzia Bisognin – 2

HISTORICAL FICTION
1. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith – 4
2. Maud, by Melanie J. Fishbane – 4

FANTASY
1. Heartless, by Marissa Meyer – 4
2. Mortal Song, by Megan Crewe – 3
3. The Mermaid’s Sister, by Carrie Anne Noble – 4
4. The Reader, by Traci Chee – 4
5. Green Ember, by S.D. Smith – 3
6. Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo – 4
7. Crooked Kingdom, by Leigh Bardugo – 4
8. Seeds of Discovery, by Breeana Puttroff – 3
9. Roots of Insight, by Breeana Puttroff – 3
10. Falling Kingdoms, by Morgan Rhodes – 2
11. Rose of the Oath, by Hope Ann – 4
12. A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K. LeGuin – 3
13. Mistborn, by Brandon Sanderson – 5
14. Among the Flames, by Kim Vandel – 5
15. Seeker, by Arwen Elys Dayton – 3
16. Blood Race, by K.A. Emmons – 5
17. Dark Lord of Derkholm, by Diana Wynne Jones – 5
18. Caraval, by Stephanie Garber – 4
19. Book of a Thousand Days, by Shannon Hale – 5

TOTAL: 41

There it is, folks!
Again, wouldn’t call it a “grand” total, but rather a decent one, I suppose.
I usually try not to end on an odd number, (my OCD is showing…) but it couldn’t be helped this time. I’m hoping this year will be better, as I’m aiming for fifty books, but don’t quote me on that. My personal best was seventy books in a year, and maybe some day I’ll be able to top that, but I don’t think that will happen very soon.
As far as goals go, I want to read more non-fiction, you know, educational books. *shudder*
I realized that there are some really great non-fiction books out there, I just have to find the right ones. And along with that, I’m going to continue on as I did last year, and try to read a wider range of genres/styles.

So tell me, did you meet your reading goals last year?
What are your goals for this year?
Did we read any of the same books in 2017?
Please share your comments below.
2016 Reading Wrap Up

May 25th, 2017
2016 wasn’t the best reading year for me, but it definitely wasn’t the worst either.

For about three years running, I’ve been in a terrible reading slump; unable to read as much as I really hoped to. None-the-less, below is a list of the few books I did manage read!

So tell me…did we read any of the same titles in 2016?

(My ratings are to the right of the titles. 1-5 stars.)

CLASSICS
1. The Keeper of The Bees, by Gene Stratton-Porter – 5
2. At The Foot of The Rainbow, by Gene Stratton-Porter – 4
3. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelly – 4
4. The Two Towers, by J. R. R. Tolkien – 5
5. The Princess and The Goblin, by George MacDonald – 4
NON-FICTION
1. Co. Aytch, by Sam Watkins – 5
2. Tea By The Nursery Fire, by Noel Streatfeild – 4
FANTASY
1. Neverseen, by Shannon Messenger – 4
2. Lodestar, by Shannon Messenger – 4
3. One Realm Beyond, by Donita K. Paul – 3
4. Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale – 4
5. Palace of Stone, by Shannon Hale – 4
6. The Trials of Apollo, by Rick Riordan – 3
7. An Ember in The Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir – 4
8. Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer – 4
9. The Arctic Incident, by Eoin Colfer – 4
10. Reckless, by Cornelia Funke – 4
11. Fearless, by Cornelia Funke – 4
12. The Golden Yarn, by Cornelia Funke – 4
13. Shadows, by Robin McKinley – 2
14. Fablehaven, by Brandon Mull – 3
15. Snow Like Ashes, by Sara Raasch – 4
16. The Supernaturalist, by Eoin Colfer – 3
17. Princess Sonora and The Long Sleep, by Gail Carson Levine – 4
18. The Princess Test, by Gail Carson Levine – 4
19. Stars Above, by Marissa Meyer – 4
THRILLER/MYSTERY/SUPERNATURAL
1. Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline – 3
2. Party Games, by R. L. Stine – 4
3. Don’t Stay up Late, by R. L. Stine – 4
4. The Distant Hours, by Kate Morton – 4
5. A Crabby Killer, by Leighann Dobbs – 3
6. The House of The Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer – 4
7. The Murder Complex, by Lindsay Cummings – 4
8. Curse, by Steven James – 3
9. Into The Fire, by Kim Vandal – 5
10. Monster, by Frank Peretti – 4
11. The Darkest Minds, by Alexandra Bracken – 4
TOTAL: 37
There you have it, my not-so-grand, grand total for 2016.

Wish me luck in 2017!