Jedi by Knight

I read approximately 50 “new” books (including a few graphic novels) this year.  Here are some that stood out:

Sci-Fi:

Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey

This book, the first in The Expanse series, is summer blockbuster sci-fi at its finest.  Here’s my original mention.  I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series (which is being adapted for TV) in the upcoming year.

I recently played Eclipse Phase, a tabletop RPG, which reminded me greatly of Leviathan Wakes.  The setting has some similar elements, and the Ego Hunter one-shot we played really had some of the same concepts and themes.  Definitely recommend it if you are a fan.

YA series:

The Thief by MW Turner, The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, Legend by Marie Lu

This year was for me the year of YA series.  I had a lot to catch up on (and still do) because there’s been an explosion of YA fantasy and dystopian series in the past few years.  These were 3 that really stood out to me as adding something to the genre.

The Queen’s Thief (now a 4-book series) is definitely the most intelligent of the lot. Some of the best YA writing I’ve read recently, and you must be a careful reader.  The characters feel like dear friends at this point.  Here’s my original review.

I was ready to write off The Girl of Fire and Thorns as being slightly above average when I gave the second book, The Crown of Embers, a chance and was blown away.  If you like YA fantasy romance, look no further.  Here’s my original review.

While I had some issues with the stupid science writing in Champion, it did not detract from my appreciation for the exciting Legend series.  There were some really nice sci-fi elements that elevated it from other dystopias, and the two main characters, June and Day, have really stayed with me.  Here’s my original review.  I recently read Marie Lu’s The Young Elites and I look forward to more books from her.

Latest installment:

Skin Game (The Dresden Files) by Jim Butcher

I can’t believe these books are still this amazing at number 15 in the series.  Here’s my review.

“Literature”:

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

A very very long book, but there’s a reason it’s a classic.  I began reading this one when I went to Europe way back in 2012, but finally got it finished over a long weekend early in 2014.  If all you know is the 2002 Jim Caviezel movie (which I admit is good), then I highly recommend you pick up an abridged copy.  Hint: the book ending is different.

Fellow bloggers:

Not surprisingly, many of my fellow bloggers are authors.  Two standouts this year:

• Benevolence Archives by Luther M. Siler, a humorous series of short stories in kind of a Star Wars/D&D mashup world (my review)–it’s FREE at Smashwords
• Kiss of the Fey by Charlotte Cyprus, a quick fantasy romance (my review)

Graphic novel:

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Just got volume 4 and I’m still in love.  Here’s my original review.