Best of 2016

To be honest, it seems I had a pretty bad book year. Rating wise, my average rating is 2.9! Now that is bad. These days I even try to avoid those ok books, but I guess I finished a lot of them this year. Sigh.

I have read 265 books this year, 25 of those were 4 star books....

Taking a quick look at the list and trying to remember ;) I might miss quite a few

I read:

8 audio books

14 novella/short story

1 graphic novel

And now to Best of

Best Historical Romance

I love HR, I read them for the fun of it, but even though I really like them, they seldom get that 4, because I am very cruel. Therefore I was very surprised when this one got a 4 this year. It was just that good.

Best Fantasy

This is book 2 in a series, and well I have suffered from book 2 syndrome a lot. But here, wow. Such a good book. Even better than book 1! I was impressed. That is how a series should evolve.

Runner-up

I usually do not do this, but when looking through GR and checking my reviews...well, I used the word intense a lot. I mean A LOT! Another series that just keeps getting better.

Best YA

I like how she writes, I liked the darkness of it all, and the world created. Great YA.

Runner-up

This one has not been translated, a shame really.

Best UF

This was one of those where it did take me a while to warm up to the series- But this one was excellent and one of those I need to pee, but F IT! I have to finish this book.

Best Steampunk

Ok, so it might be one of two steampunk books I read this year, and it was fantasy too, but it has to be on this list. Also BEST sidekick cat ever!

Best Er  tic romance

I seldom read this since I skim already in contemporary romance, but I read it, and damn, it was good! It was better than the contemporary romance I read this year. It gets both prizes.

Best Historical Fiction/Horror

This one actually gave me the chills. After having finished it I had to look out the window so no one was watching me. Such a claustrophobic feeling.

Best Fiction

How to be a young woman in a country where women are worth nothing. A powerful story.

And last, Best Memoir *coughs*

My cheat genre pick ;)

Because the series is just so fun and everyone should read it.

..........................................

And last a shout out to

 You all keep me motivated. Thank you!! This is the best challenge to have

The Aeronaut's windlass - Jim Butcher

Since time immemorial, the Spires have sheltered humanity, towering for miles over the mist-shrouded surface of the world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses have ruled for generations, developing scientific marvels, fostering trade alliances, and building fleets of airships to keep the peace.

Captain Grimm commands the merchant ship, Predator. Fiercely loyal to Spire Albion, he has taken their side in the cold war with Spire Aurora, disrupting the enemy’s shipping lines by attacking their cargo vessels. But when the Predator is severely damaged in combat, leaving captain and crew grounded, Grimm is offered a proposition from the Spirearch of Albion—to join a team of agents on a vital mission in exchange for fully restoring Predator to its fighting glory.

And even as Grimm undertakes this dangerous task, he will learn that the conflict between the Spires is merely a premonition of things to come. Humanity’s ancient enemy, silent for more than ten thousand years, has begun to stir once more. And death will follow in its wake… 

My thoughts:

Wow, this was awesome! Though I do not know what to call it, it's fantasy steampunk set in the clouds. There they have flying ships powered by crystals. Noble houses and Ethereal stuff. Awesome.

Let's talk about my favorite character first. Rowl! He was so brave, handsome, arrogant and I just wanted to cuddle him. Every girl should have a talking cat like that. Well talking and talking, he speaks Cat, some humans have learned to understand cat and can speak cat back to them. And Rowl is a mighty cat, his sidekick being the human Bridget. Cos yes you can not call Rowl a sidekick, he is too arrogant for that. But he saves the day for sure.

DO I really have to talk about the rest? I mean Rowl is just so amazing...ok fine.

Bridget, his sidekick. Check.

Captain Grimm who is a privateer, who doesn't like a pirate! ;)

Benedict, oh I liked him with his way, cateyes, and what was he?

Gwen, to be honest, she was pretty arrogant, but ya know those nobles.

I am making a shitty work of this. The book was just so cool, I do not want to talk about things. I want to tell you that it was cool, and I can't describe every cool thing cos it was so cool. The world was cool. The hidden things not told about the world were cool too. Ya know, a cool book.

Conclusion:

I hate not doing a good book justice.

Right, cool shit goes down. Fighting, spying, baddies and CATS!

Just read it ok.

Cover

Cool!

Hardcover, 630 pages
Published September 29th 2015 by Roc
The Cinder Spires #1
Fantasy Steampunk
Library