Len spends most of her time ruminating on her writings that never made it to paper; keeps sane by reading books and listening to music. She reviews most of them out of love and the joy of it.
The last of five posts where I'm listing my Top 10 Reads for 2010. ^_^
Everything is listed here!
Everything is listed here!
"I had to remind myself from time to time to breathe while reading this book. From start to finish there is no time to put your guard down. Like in Katniss case where she needs to be always on the move to keep sane, while reading you feel that you are always on the move as well. Heart-stopping revelations, turn of events, and realities to live by while fighting, Mockingjay is one book that is so hard to pin a review on." ~maidenveil
This is probably one of the books (if not the top) that made a tremendous wave in the bookshelves this year. And until now, many are still debating whether the ending was fit and arguments still linger between Team Peeta and Team Gale in different corners of the web. If you haven't picked-up The Hunger Games trilogy then better start reading now before the movie materializes.
"The plot is like a clockwork itself: complex and intricate connections of function, motives, and emotions. But unlike the definition of clockwork which is repetitive and predictable, there is nothing predictable in the story. I mean, with Cassandra Clare, you'll only be sure half of the time you try to guess, and even half of it you barely guessed yourself. The only repeating thing in the story is its awesomeness and the story's ability to drive its characters to revealing truths that often hurt, but is necessary in order to move on." ~maidenveil
This much anticipated prequel to bestselling The Moral Instruments series is the first in the stand-alone trilogy addition to the shadowhunter world stories by Cassandra Clare. She takes us back to Victorian-era London, where demons are deadly but love can be deadlier.
"It's like reading Labyrinth meets Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream but darker, sexier, and kick-ass." ~maidenveil
Indulge me on this one. This is one of the best book series I have read this year. Fell in-love with the first book, total madness on the second, and epic love on the last book. For those who haven't started on The Iron Fey series then you still have time to read just in time for The Iron Queen's release next year February. Then you'll know why we went frantic when we heard there's a fourth book.
"I personally fell in-love with this book. It was definitely a big book to chomp on but I devoured it like I was one of the pack. It wasn't hard to fall for Shay's charm and also feel for Ren on the other hand. Every chapter will have you holding your breath wishing wicked creatures out of the way, or the boys are just so freakishly hot they will make you skip a heartbeat." ~maidenveil
It might be a given that werewolves are warm-bodied creatures. But man! The wolves of Andrea Cremer in Nightshade are HOT! But I'm Team Shay. Want to know why? Then read the book. If you think otherwise, let's talk *wink-wink*. It's more than just werewolves and love triangles - mystery and supernatural myths collide wonderfully here.
"I was so irritable every time I get distracted from reading The Demon's Covenant. My mom thinks I was suffering from PMS whereas my sister thinks I'm just withdrawing from caffeine. Well, it's hard to explain to them that I just don't like being away from Nick for so long I might conjure up my own lightning storm (which was not at all related to the recent rainfall in our place)." ~maidenveil
You want sexy? You want some conflicted characters? You want unpredictable madness? Well, it just so happens that SRB have all of these and more! You think that The Demon's Lexicon was good, but this was is better. Nerdy guys do try harder (but Alan, you need not try that hard for me). And I will never look at monsoon rain the same again.
6. Guardian of the Gate (Prophecy of the Sisters #2) by Michelle Zink
"In the second book, we get to see old characters and meet new ones that surely take this mystery deeper as we get closer to finding out the real score about the prophecy. We'll see another world where the sisterhood and brotherhood resides, new conflicts arise, mystery unfolding, and darkness have never been this closer." ~maidenveil
Dark, sexy, and moving. The second book of the Prophecy of the Sisters proves to be a subtle reminder of the looming battle between good and evil. I love, love how Lia grown in this book, and Alice is still having me think that she is in the running for Voldemort's right hand.
"Crescendo will turn your world upside-down. Becca truly has outdone herself this time as her writing will leave you breathless and hanging on for dear life. Just like a rollercoaster ride in Delphic, with heart-pounding twists and drops that makes you want to scream, and an ending that is a beginning of another ride itself." ~maidenveilI think part of my birthday wish back in the summer was for Crescendo to be released earlier. Lo and behold it was released a month earlier! I think I'm going to put that again next year. Crescendo marks the development of Patch and Nora's relationship. Though expectations are not met with reality (characters I want to kill and turnabout shock), it still got my vote.
8. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken"Reading the book is like what it said in the cover jacket: "..journey that sans a country, magic and hard-won romance.." And I liken the reading to weaving as well. At first might need a little patience, especially when you're not that much in fantasy read like this. But it picks up later on and you'll discover the story that has been unfolding." ~maidenveil
This one is one of the surprise reads I have for this year. The story is just as lovely as its cover. If you are into fantasy genre then this one is a recommended book. I struggled in the beginning but I was hugging the book by the end of my reading. I'm still praying for a second book....(paging Alexandra....:D)
9. Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr
"The fourth and second-to-the-last book in the Wicked Lovely series, Melissa Marr delivered another riveting and darkly romantic story that explores how choices affect fate and sometimes our own emotions are the strongest traits will have to make the best choices." ~maidenveilFaery politics, love, and secrets are starting to build up in this fourth book of the Wicked Lovely series. I love it when the Dark Court is in the spotlight, more Niall please. Some liked Fragile Eternity better than this one, but this totally perked me up for the last book.
"delved into symbolism, of angels and humans, and the emotions that seem to cut across divinity and humanity: love." ~maidenveilThis is one of my favorite angel love stories out there. Fast-paced, mysterious, and heart-wrenching. The book just made the cut in my top 10 best reads this year!
