Top Ten Tuesday: Top 2017 Reads (so far)

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature/meme run by The Broke and the Bookish every week - I've taken part a few times previously but not in a while. And this weeks theme, as you can tell by the title, is a midway favorite books check in. I've read some great books so far this year and so am super looking forward to doing this list.

These are in any particular order - besides kinda being in the order I read them. (Also no rereads will be on this list) (and this is as of Monday June 26th, and I'm currently reading one I think could be on this list but not done quite yet)

• The Secret Lives of Rockstars by Suzanne Lazear

 I don't know what it was about this book that just made it click so much with me but I freaking loved this book. It was a little weird and I was just so into it. Our main character, Bitsy, is part of like a steampunk / punk band - there are costumes - and they're currently on tour. Also there's a whole underworld of fantasy creatures and shenanigans ensure (of course). And, for some reason, I just loved it? (goodreads)

• Binti + Binti: Home by Nnedi Okorafor

You've probably heard people waxing poetry about Binti by now and it is nowhere near not deserved. This series, so far, has blown me away. It's gone in directions I didn't expect it to go, and just thoroughly amazed me. I am dying to read the third one and, also, to read something else by this author. I'm pretty sure she's officially an autobuy for me. After two novella's. (series goodreads)

• Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

This came out - I had no idea it was coming out - and so many people were freaking out about it that I just ended up picking it up because I knew: bi girl, conventions/YTers. And I go to, and love, conventions. And this didn't let me down? It was adorable and incredible. One of the characters is bisexual and Asian, another has anxiety and is on the autism spectrum. And I just - loved this? It was so cute at points I think I got cavities. (goodreads)

• Even This Page is White by Vivek Shraya

Whew. This was... a read. It was incredible - obviously, or it wouldn't be on this list - but it really reminded me to check myself. I'm constantly trying to better myself (I guess is the way to put it) and unlearn things society has tried to force on me. Generally, just be a person with empathy and I think I'm to that, but this poetry collection reminded me of how much I can't know because I'm white. Definitely recommend this one for all (goodreads)

• Radio Silence by Alice Oseman

This book. It's a YA contemporary and, for some reason, I never expect those to hit me in the gut but some of them do. This one, especially, for some reason. I think, probably, because there was no romance between our two main characters - one is bi, the other is demi. And it's said, on the page. He's still figuring it out but by the end: demisexual. I think I ascended to a higher plain of being? The friendships in this book, the characters, the WTNV references. Highly, highly recommend

(Trigger warnings: parental abuse (not to our POV character), dog death) (goodreads)

• Words of Radiance + Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson

The Stormlight Archive series. Somehow, I' just never got around to the second one - I think I was mostly just terrified it couldn't live up to the first for me but also I get anxiety about books if I think about it too hard and never read them. The same with Bands of Mourning - Mistborn / Wax and Wayne #6. Neither disappointed, though, both were incredible. If you haven't checked out Sanderson yet: start with the original Mistborn trilogy, I promise it isn't as scary as it seems. Ignore the whole cosmere thing - just jump into that world first, you won't regret it. (stormlight) (mistborn)

• Injection, Volumes 1 + 2 by Warren Ellis, 

This series is fucking weird. And I love it. Technically I've read volume 1 previously but it felt weird to add volume 2 without 1, especially considering I can't really talk about volume 2. I don't even think I can explain the plot of this one. It's Warren Ellis and it has weird, fucked up elements. And I'm really, really hoping there's more? (series goodreads)

• Lumberjanes, Volumes 5 + 6 by Noelle Stevenson, 

This comic series is so good. It's just... so happy? It makes me feel like everything isn't going horribly wrong? They're battling problems but they can figure them out together and they're all adorable. There are bigger things lurking around the edges but, honestly, I'm fine with continuing with their camp adventures forever (literally forever. please never stop, Boom!) (series goodreads)

• 27 Hours by Tristina Wright

One of, if not my number one, most anticipated books of the year. It comes out in October and you've all have got to keep your eyes out for it. This book features five characters - 4/5 are PoC, 5/5 are queer (ones pan, ones gay, one ace, ones bi, one is trans and also not straight). And the plot isn't lacking in anyway, but the characters definitely kept me reading. They're just so... I love them? I want them to all be happy, together, and I just love them all together? For the actual plot - it's SciFi - goodreads.

(Honestly, I've read a lot of good books so far this read. Really good books. And I'm pretty sure this is my favorite of the whole year so far. And I'm sorry I'm shouting about it months before it comes out but I have a lot of feelings about it - October 3rd!!)

• Tash Hearts Tolstoy by Kathryn Ormsbee

I just was trying to decide between this one and others so I'm going to put honorable mentions down below. Anyway - this one. An asexual main character - the labels used. And there's a great flashback of her like basically googling and finding forums and just generally trying to learn about herself. (If memory serves both demisexual and greysexual are mentioned). And I just... this book was so fucking cute. And it made me so happy at the end even though it was predictable. (It also gave me severe Lizzie Bennet Diary vibes because of the webseries thing). (goodreads)

Honorable Mentions: Not Your Sidekick by C.B.Lee, Timekeeper by Tara Sim, Going Through the Motions (Stake Sauce #2) by RoAnna Sylver, Forest of Memory by Mary Robinette Kowal, So Sweet by Rebekah Weatherspoon, Defying Convention by Cecil Wilde, Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai, Sex Object by Jessica Valenti

My Favorite Reads of 2016 + My Year in Reading

I went into writing this list, thinking it'd be on the shorter side, since I wasn't really counting rereads and such, but - damn, I did read some good as hell books and comics and graphic novels this year. And all of the ones mentioned as my favorites/the best I gave five stars, all the honorable mentions I'm going to tack on at the bottom (because I can't control myself and it's my blog) I gave four stars.

If you've read any of these, let's talk in the comments, and if you're going to pick any of them up now that you've seen me mention them - let me know!

Comics

Lumberjanes, Volumes 1 - 4 by Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Shannon Watters, Brooke A Allen +
I just love this comic series so damn much. It's magical and amazing, and the girl friendships. Also the girl romances. And some stuff is just ridiculous but it's amazing. Literally all I can say about this series because I have no other damn words for it, it's just so good. I do really want to damn know what's going on the woods, but I haven't read volume 5 yet and maybe we get answers then. Maybe we don't, I don't care, I love this series. (I love the art so much)

Dimension W, Volume 1 by Yuji Iwahara
I watched the anime first because it was available through.... Crunchyroll? Funimation? I don't remember, one of those, and I loved it. Fell head over heels, loved it to death. However, the manga wasn't out yet or, obviously, I would of read that first. It's slowly being published now, one every few months, and so far I've only read the one. But I'm so excited to read more!

Monstress #1-3 Marjorie Lie, Sana Takeda
I only got to the first three issues of this series - I think the whole second half of the year I just didn't read many comics, definitely going to have to change that in 2017, I love comics. Anyway - this one is incredible, and I was hesitant to put in on here because I've read so little of it but fuck it. And I am super into art deco, I love it a lot, and this art is gorgeous. I loved the three issues I did read - will be reading the whole first volume, and hopefully the next, at some point during 2017.

Coffin Hill, Volmues 1-3  by Caitlin Kitteridge, Inaki Miranda (complete series)
I really enjoyed these comics. They're pretty dark and weird, but they didn't scare me at any point, though I'm hard to scare. And, living in New England myself, I'm a sucker for New England based creepy things, especially with anything supernatural (here it was witches). A ton of fun, and the art is really good.

Paper Girls, Volume 1 by Brian K Vaughan, Cliff Chiang
I read these basically as they were coming out, the single issues I mean that make up this volume, and man they were freaking amazing. I really want to go back and reread before moving onto the issues for volume two, which is all out now. It's such a weird story and it gave me It vibes, and anything that gives me that just hits me right in the nostalgia/love (It is one of my all time favorites). And, of course, Vaughan is amazing, but also Chiang's art is incredible. Check out this series for sure.

Fruits Basket: Collectors Edition, Volume 1 by Natsuki Takaya
I read more then one volume this year but I really just want to talk about this series really fast. It's one of my favorite manga series of all time, the first one I read and then got super into. And these collectors edition are, first, two of the normal volumes in one and, two, new translations. And the new translations are amazing. Highly, highly recommend the new translation over the old.

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
I loves this so much why did no one make me read it sooner? I honestly don't want to say anything about this book, I kept hearing about it but nothing about the plot, and it really surprised me in an amazing way going in like that. I read this after enjoying the early Lumberjane comics so much. Check it out!

"Book" Books (just everything that's fiction - fantasy, romance, horror, everything)

The Queen (White Years #4, Original Sinners #8) by Tiffany Reisz
The Scent of Winter by Tiffany Reisz
Poinsetta by Tiffany Reisz
The Confessions by Tiffany Reisz
The Queen is the final book in her whole Original Sinners series, eight books, so I can't exactly talk about that one. And, to be fair, I can't exactly talk about either of the short stories/novellas/whatever I read either. I can tell you that both of them were Christmas stories - she releases a free Christmas story every year featuring her Original Sinners characters - and I loved them both and this whole series so much. It is dark BDSM erotica, so if you're not into that then this series isn't for you. If you're willing to give it a try, just be aware there are trigger warnings for everything throughout the series.
(Also her Men at Work series that's each based around a holiday - Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are amazing. I've only read 2/3, but those were both awesome. Cheesier then Original Sinners, and nothing could be as good honestly, but still good romances. And the first two weren't really dark at all).

Five Nights at Freddy's: The Silver Eyes by Scott Cawthon, Kira Breed-Wrisley
I don't scare easily, I really don't, but this book freaked me out. I love the games - well, watching people play the games, particularly Markiplier. I suck at any kind of game that stresses you out, but I love the lore and stuff in them. And also just the fun of the fact they're horror games. So I went into this book with that and... there's one scene in an arcade room with one of the animatronics that I still think about. And it still kind of scares me just to think about it. If his co-author, assuming that's who she is, ever rights anything else. I will read the shit out of it.

The Type by Sarah Kay
I did a whole post on spoken word, and a lot of Sarah Kay was there, so go there is you want to learn more about her and listen to her poetry. Basically: she's fucking amazing. Just type her name into youtube and be amazed.

This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz
I loved this book and even now, months later, I can't put my finger on exactly why. I think it was just because it was different. I haven't been trying very hard lately to diversity my reading but I want to push myself - more on that when my 2017 goals post goes up - but this was just so different. I don't mind an unlikable character, and pasts of this were just so.... messy, in a way real life is, that it just felt kind of... comforting? I don't know if that makes sense. And, of course, his writing is... beautiful I guess is the word, different and really good.

Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock #1) by Faith Hunter
First off, I don't know if the author herself is Native American but the character is (basically I don't know if this book is #ownvoices or not). Also, she's a Skinwalker who hunts vampires. So this series is awesome, I've started the second book but I ended up putting it aside because... I don't remember, I should pick it back up. Anyway - Native American MC, with a witch BFF, who ride a motorcycle, and no real love interest (at least not yet, I'm sure that'll come). And also a mystery in her past. I'm not saying I'm in love but I'm not saying I'm not either?

All for the Game series (#1-3) by Nora Sakavic
I love this series a lot. There are probably issues with it but, overall - they're troubled teenagers, sometimes they're not going to make the smartest choices, or be the best person. And, by the end, I feel like we could have like four more books to just show them healing because these characters are broken and then they go through hell. Also, even if there are, this book has one of my favorite element that isn't a thing until the third book but I'm mentioning it, if you've seen this book anywhere on the internet you know there's a romance, it doesn't happen until the third book but still minor spoilers - spoilers if you don't want to know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The consent. The way that Neil respects Andrews boundaries and that it goes both ways. I really think more books, especially YA though I wouldn't classify these as YA even though I think they are online, need to have explicit consent be a thing. That would be incredible.

Love Beyond Body, Space, and Time, a LGBT Indigenous SciFi Anthology
A few of the stories got 4/5 stars, but I don't think anything got lower then that. It's just so incredible. I'm not sure I can describe my feelings for this book as a white cis women reading this book (or if I should), but it just broke my damn heart a places and made me feel warm inside with just love at others. The stories range from heartwarming to heartbreaking to confusing to kinda weird but I'm into it tell me more. I highly, highly recommend this series. I'm going to be trying to read more books my indigenous authors in 2017 and, if you are too this isn't a bad place to start (US and then will branch out at some point).

(I read some reviews by indigenous reviewers before buying but now I can't find them - arghh! - if I do, I'll drop them here)

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
I honestly had bought this book because I wanted to read it eventually, and then there was audio deal and I was like sure - it's not a very long book - and holy shit it's amazing. No, seriously, I adored this book. It's weird and bounces between all kinds of things and it's done so damn well. And I'm definitely going to be reading more Vonnegut in the future. Definitely a contender for what my favorite thing I read this year was, though obviously I am far from able to pick just one.

Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate
I found this through looking through peoples TBRs for the #diversathon, at least I think (or maybe to fulfill a challenge?) All I remember is learning that it had seven points of view and a ton of diversity - neurodiversity and multiple #LGBTQIA+ characters. And it was... so damn good. Nothing was just simple and straight in this book, kind of pun intended, most everyone's did something I didn't expect. I've got to say, this one was an amazing one.

Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking #3) by Patrick Ness
Holy jesus christ, this series. I need to reread this series back to back, but this one just... the feels, the tears, it was so good. And I really love this audiobook narrator, I don't listen to a ton of audiobooks, but not a few either, and what can convince me to keep listening is a narrator I like (it is definitely a personal taste thing, though, but for me this one gets a thumbs up). Obviously this is the last in a trilogy, and a very well known trilogy. Hell, it's Patrick Ness, what else do you need to know honestly?

Honorable Mentions:The Dark Wife by S.E. Diemer, Asking for It by Lilah Pace, The Dispatcher by John Scalzi, Giant Days, Volumes 1-3, A Gentleman in the Streets by Alisha Rai, Star Wars: Before the Awakening by Greg Rucka, Rick and Morty, VOlume 1 by Zac Gorman, Mirror #1 by Emma Rios, Brand New Ancients by Kate Tempest, The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater, The Machine Stops by E.M Forester, Grinder by Samantha Whiskey, Soppy: A Love Story by Philippa Rice, 100 Essays I Don't Have Time to Write by Sarah Ruhl, Mostly Voice, Partially Stars, Volume 1 by Joseph Fink and Jeffery Cranor, Citizen by Claudia Rankin, The Captive Prince trilogy by C.S. Pacat, Lady Midnight by Cassie Clare

Whew, alright. I had to not write longer things about a few of the ones I wanted to, but I'm alright with that as it's normally all flailing. Most of the honorable mentions are four starts, but there are a good handful of five stars in there.

Overall, I'm happy with what I read this year. I wish it'd been more diverse, in many ways, but it was also... not the best year of my life. I'd hesitate to call it my worst, just because October was one of the best times of my life hands down, but so far? I think worst year overall might be real. So much stress and pain, physically mostly. Health problems, more stress. Politics, we don't have to get into that.

However, I love New Years because I love new beginnings. I love clearing the slate clean and going back to zero books reads, zero books bought. And being hopeful and writing out goals I know I can achieve if I just god damn focus on them. It's one of my favorite things, and it has been for as long as I remember.

I normally do stats for the reading here, but I'm only going to give you there and then sign off, I'll have a full post on 2017 very soon.

Books Read: 108 books
Pages (of books) read: 35,516
Graphic Novels/Trades: 30 graphic novels (5,246 pages)
Single Issues:17 single issues (524 pages)

My Best Books of 2013

I have such a hard time with these, I didn't even end up doing one last year. Well, I started it but I didn't finish it. And I don't really think most of these books will be in any amount of order so let's see what happens here because I have a small list of books and no plan, let's go.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline - I'm so glad that I read this, so very glad. It's just perfect and - so very good. I also listened to the audiobook after and have listened to it at random times, it's just one of those books that you keep thinking about. And I honestly want to live in this world, at least one with the OASIS. Highly recommended to everyone, even if you're not a gamer or whatever, just read it, the characters are amazing and the world will take your breath away.

Ubik by Philip K. Dick - I'm still confused about this book and I read it in January. I want to read it again and I've yet to read any more of his books, but this one was fantastic, so very good. And I did actually like the ending, the complete open endedness of it and the whole story. Definitely recommended, it's like Inception times about a hundred. So well written, so intricate.

The Violinist's Thumb by Sam Kean - this is a non-fiction book about DNA and it is completely amazing to read. Full of information and facts but not dry at all, Sam Kean has a fantastic voice for stuff like this. And I have never talked about a book so much in my life, or wanted to get my DNA tested so much, either. Highly recommended, if you like non-fiction, of course.

The Emperor's Soul by Brandon Sanderson - This was my first Sanderson book! Ah, such a good choice, I didn't even know really who he was until I picked up this (had heard the name of course, but didn't have much interest). This is a novella and it's perfect that way, though I was left wanting more of this world, it's so fleshed out and incredible, definitely recommended, I want to reread it myself.

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson - Seems like a good idea to bring up this book, considering it's Sanderson again. I knew I'd like it as soon as I found out about it, it just took me a little while to pick up a read it, but I was so glad when I did, it sucked me in right away with the world and the characters, and I'd recommend to anyone, it's apparently a YA / middle grade hybrid, but I'd go more towards YA, I thought it was adult for the longest time but apparently not, either way, it's still fantastic.

Vicious by V.E. Schwab (Victoria Schwab) - I read her first book when it first came out, The Near Witch, literally the day it came out. I'd pre-ordered it, it arrived, I opened the box, and sat down and read it, and that is extremely rare for me. And Vicious was just - fantastic, exactly what I wanted as soon as I heard it was about two villains. I got an advanced copy at BEA and met her (and her editor) randomly. And I still find myself randomly thinking about this book, these characters, I couldn't put it down and I want to know more. I guess it's a given that this is highly recommended. (Although definitely for a slightly older audience, as it's not YA or MG).

The Mark of Athena and the House of Hades (Heroes of Olympus #3+4) by Rick Riordan - I didn't end of reading Mark of Athena when it first came out because i was spoiled that very day for like the last thing in the book and it made me not want to read it, just purely not want to pick it up, I already knew the big twist so I might as well wait. And I did until HoH came out and I'm kind of glad I did, but these books are fantastic. I loved the Percy Jackson series and this is just as good and I think the fifth and final book is my most anticipated book of 2014.

Dark Currents by Jacqueline Carey - I've only read one of her other books, but I've read it twice and it isn't a small book. This is a urban fantasy but there's just something different about it that I really liked, I've got the second book ready to go when I've got the time, hopefully very soon.

Kingdom Keepers series #1-6 by Ridley Pearson - I think this series was suppose to end at 6 or whatever, but it isn't over yet, the 7th book should be coming out in 2014, and I can't wait. This is a middle grade series about this group of kids who aren't even really friends at the beginning, but end up thrown into this mistery together. And it's so, so good and it's completely Disney surrounded. It's not perfect, but - I didn't really expect it to be and it was way better then I expected first going in, you basically watch the characters grow up, and that with everything that's happening around them is just incredible. I'd recommend this to kind of everyone. Disney, daring fights with villains, boys and girls thinking maybe  girls and boys aren't so gross after all. And, yes, this might kind of be cheating but I didn't want to just put book 1 up either, because that is really just the start and not the strongest of the series.

The Regulators by Stephen King - I have such a hard time describing this book to people, it's just - it's insane and amazing. And - the weirdest thing linger with me. Like the fact if I ever see spageti-o's again it'll be way too soon, King got a little too descriptive at that part, whew. And I don't even know what to say about this book, except that I read this a while ago now and I can still vividly remember a lot of the scenes, like I'd watched a movie instead of read a book. And it was really, really good. It is definitely not for the faint of heart, obviously being a Stephen King books. And lovers of spegetti-os'.

White Cat by Holly Black - I don't think this was really a favorite, but it was very, very good and - it was kind of the first YA I'd read in over a year, at the time. Actually it just was the first young adult novel I'd read in just over a year. I'd only read two more and it wasn't really a conscious thing, I don't think, but this book kind of broke it, I guess, and I do really want to continue this series. I have only read two YA books since this, so says a brief glance at my goodreads page. I'm probably the last person in the world to start this series, but that's okay, it's still just as good. Con artists, I seem to have a soft spot for them. (Also if you liked this series, maybe check out Leverage, it's over now but there's five season of amazingness).

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick - I loved this book, it was just freaking fantastic. I'd read Huge when the whole thing with the movie and ended up picking up this one, too, but never got around to it. And it's amazing, I seriously recommend this to just everyone, it's middle grade but middle grade is for everyone and this has an astounding and touching and amazing story.

In Death series #1-12 by J.D. Robb - I started this series this year and got to book 12, it's way more then I thought it was, and so very, very good. And I am way too attached to these characters. It is kind of a break, these books, they're not stressful to read, sometimes there are all the feelings at points but in a really good way. I'd check out this series, if I was you, if you're a character person and like murder mysteries because the main character is a detective.

Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series #2-9 by Laurell K. Hamilton - I read the first book last year and it didn't really grab me, but I ended up picking up more this year, I owned them anyway. I really like this series, and I know people say it gets a little weird and iffy after Obsidian Butterfly, book 9, but whatever. The ones I read this year were fantastic and I'm going to continue the series, because I do really like these characters and I need to know what happens to them.

Honorable Mentions:
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - Haley demanded I read this book as it's one of her all time favorites and I did love it and it's adorable and completely heartbreaking. And apparently better in French, or something.
The Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi - This series isn't done, it better not be done at least there's so much more that could happen, but I loved what I did read. So good and the art is just fantastic and some of those wide shots I want framed on my wall, they're stunning.
Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman - some of the stories in this book just stayed with me, especially the poem 'The Faery Reel.'

Series I started and finished:
Weirdest category ever. I almost started and finished the Kingdom Keepers series and possibly the Amulet series. However, these two I know I started and finished.
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony Tony DiTerlizzi - I actually read this whole series in a day during a read-a-thon in May, it was a crazy day and this series is really, really good, I'm glad I finally got around to it.
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - None of these were a reread, I'd never read any of Narnia before. Why? I have no idea, but I really enjoyed. Some of them I liked less then others or had parts I wasn't sure about, but over all I loved the series and am so glad I finally gave in and read it. I read it in chronological order of the events, not in publishing order, and I'm kind of glad, made everything more linear, less confusing.

I hope all of you had a fantastic reading year and just year in general. I was doing a "year in review" kind of thing but this kind of covers, well, everything, so I'm just going to stop doing it for 2013, because it's a new year now.