Goldilox and the Ten Lists: My Favorite Paranormal Young Adults of 2014!

Welcome to Goldilox and the Ten Lists, our year end countdown of our favorite books by category. We'll have a new subject every weekday between now and the end of the year.

Today is my Favorite Paranormal YA's of 2014- according to me, Goldilox!

What were some of your favorite YAs of the past year?



The Forever Song
Author: Julie Kagawa
Goodreads
       
This young adult trilogy became one of my favorite young adult series from the past couple of years and The Forever Song concluded the short series this year with a fabulous and fitting ending. I adored the main character Allison. She was really what kept me enthralled by the series, as sometimes truly likable YA heroines can be hard for me to find. The Forever Song was an awesome book, full of sword fighting - yes, sword fighting - and romance and all kinds of vampirey goodness. Loved Allie, loved Zeke, loved Kanin, and even loved Jackal.

Ignite Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Goodreads

I've made my love of this series and this book pretty damn clear, but in case you have been hiding under a rock and haven't checked out Tahereh Mafi, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR!? This one features humans with supernatural powers, not really typical fantasy/paranormal elements, but I'm counting it on my list anyway. This was by far my favorite in the series, with what can only be described as the strangest and most intense romance in any young adult book I've read. This trilogy had me flip my team halfway through the second book and root for the bad guy for heavens sake! Fantastic ending that will leave you very satisfied but still wishing there was more.

Silver Shadows
Author: Richelle Mead
Goodreads

Silver Shadows was that book in a series that changes everything. The one where the hero and heroine are separated, secrets are revealed, etc. Even if this was the worst book in the Bloodlines series it would still be on my favorites of 2014 list because I just love Sydney and Adrian THAT much. But, in fact, it definitely wasn't the worst in the series. Even with Sydney locked away in crazy town and Adrian slipping back into his Spirit darkness Mead still managed to give us some of my favorite scenes between the two of them from the entire series so far. AND THAT ENDING.

Killer Frost
Author: Jennifer Estep
Goodreads

The Mythos Academy series was one that snuck up on me over time. When I read the first book or two I enjoyed them but I wasn't fully invested in the series. They were just fun, light reads at that point. But after those first couple of books I really found myself locked into the world at Mythos and by the time I reached Killer Frost this had become one of my favorite YAs. I actually didn't realize this book was the series ender until halfway through it, which was not a pleasant surprise. But even with that sadness, I thoroughly loved this book and I think this was an awesome conclusion to a great YA series. All the characters were there: Daphne and Carson, Logan freaking Quinn, Grandma Frost, Nicamedes, Professor Metis, even the griffins!

White Hot Kiss
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Goodreads

I've already gushed about this book in another favorites list, but if you're wondering again why I chose this book over the more recent installment in the series, Stone Cold Touch, I'll say again that both books were released in 2014 and this one prominently featured my main squeeze, Roth, more so than the second book so White Hot Kiss makes my list. Roth and Layla ooze sexual tension in this book and Roth is SUCH a yummy YA bad boy I just can't even stand it. This was a ridiculously good start to a young adult series, although I don't know why I'm surprised since I typically adore anything JLA writes.

On Monday Goldilox and the Ten Lists returns with some more of my favorites of 2014!

                                 

                                                                      

                                                         

Goldilox and the Ten Lists: Top Ten Series Beginnings and Endings

Welcome to Goldilox and the Ten Lists, our year end countdown of our favorite books by category. We'll have a new subject every weekday between now and the end of the year.

 

I'm an obsessive series reader. I almost always binge read if all the books are out and I often re-read when the latest book makes me wonder about things that happened before. (I've read Kate Daniels all the way through four times.) When I was making my list of my favorite books of 2014, I realized that I started a lot of new series this year. And once I started listing my favorite new series, I realized that almost as many of my favorites had ended this year so it was only fair to give them equal time.

 

Tell me your favorite beginnings and endings in the comments.

Five Fave Firsts

 

Dirty Magic (Prospero's War #1)
by Jaye Wells
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it: This might be favorite book of the year. It completely blew me away! I actually re-read it over the summer to break out of a rut. I love paranormal police procedurals in general, but imagine if on your favorite cop show the drug dealers were actually selling magic. (Then imagine you're watching it on HBO because the f-bombs start about three lines in.) It's kind of like that.
Read Goldilox's audio review here.


House of the Rising Sun (Crescent City #1)

by Kristen Painter
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it: I absolutely loved this book! It's a spin-off from Painter's House of Comarre series set in New Orleans. The main characters are Fae, but there are also witches and vampires and even a gator shifter. I love all the different powers the characters have and how rich the world is.

Burn For Me (Hidden Legacy #1)
by Ilona Andrews
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it: This book was so good, I hardly know where to start. The magic is HUGE, both in its dominance of the story and the scope of what the characters can do with it, but it's otherwise pretty recognizable as our world. My absolute favorite thing is the supporting cast. Nevada's family is so much fun! And it's not like Ilona Andrews ever gives us a bad book.
Read my review here.



Bitter Spirits (Roaring Twenties #1)
by Jenn Bennett
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it: This is one of those genre-benders that I absolutely love. I'm not really a fan of historical romance, but what impressed me most about Bitter Spirits were the historical details. I loved the attention Bennett paid to Ava's clothing particularly. And I loved the city of San Francisco. On top of all that, it's a ghost story. I loved both books in this series so far.

The Grendel Affair (SPI Files #1)
by Lisa Shearin
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it: I might have mentioned that I love paranormal police procedurals. This one is similar to Dirty Magic in some ways, though it's more lighthearted. It's also recognizable as our world. It just has these creatures in it that most people don't know about. My favorite thing about this book is the TV and movie references. (Yes, I have weird favorites sometimes.) They're really well done and create some great images.

Five Fave Finishes

 

Banishing the Dark (Arcadia Bell #4)

by Jenn Bennett
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it: I was not happy when I found out this was going to be the last book in the series, but it was a great way to end it. Scene stealer Jupe gets to be the star for a little while. And Cady gets to fall in love with Lon all over again. I really hope that Bennett gets to return to this world some day.
Read Goldilox's review here.





The Sharpest Blade (Shadow Reader #3)
by Sandy Williams
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it: Ok, technically this one released in 2013. But it was on December 31 and seriously, how many people would have read it on New Year's Eve? Plus, all the Best Of lists were already made by then so I say it counts. I loved this series with its unique take on the Fae. It's nothing like the Fever series, regardless of what anyone else tells you.
Read Goldilox's review here.

Wicked After Midnight (Blud #3)
by Delilah S. Dawson
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it: This is the most ambitious book in the series. It deals with some real life issues in a completely different world. The setting is original, vivid and entertaining. It has a wonderful subtle and seductive villain. And it has great gadgets, which I require in all steampunk. I love the sendoff Dawson gave her characters at the end.





Up From the Grave (Night Huntress #7)
by Jeaniene Frost
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it: We all have that favorite movie that we know is never going to win an Oscar, but we love it beyond reason anyway. That's kind of how I felt about this book. I didn't try to analyze it. I didn't even write a review. I just enjoyed it, knowing it was the last I'd see from Cat and Bones, at least for a while.
Read Goldilox's review here.

The Witch With No Name (The Hollows #13)
by Kim Harrison
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it: I'm pretty sure they'd take away my membership card if I left this one off the list. The Hollows is one of the defining series of the Urban Fantasy genre. The demons have been warning us about the worlds colliding for a while now and the vampires have been threatening drastic measures if Rachel doesn't save their souls. Now everything finally comes to a head. I was pretty happy with the way it all ended, but if Harrison wants to return to this world, I certainly won't complain. I would love Lucy and Ray to get their own series some day!


We're taking a few days off to nurse our egg nog hangovers, but we'll be back on Friday with our Top Ten YA Paranormals of the year.

Goldilox and the Ten Lists: Top Ten Fantasy Books

I've had a great year when it comes to the fantasy books that I've read this year! There were so many amazing ones ranging from urban fantasy to steampunk to portal fantasy to paranormal romance. So many great books! This made it hard to choose just ten. So after a lot of thought and a brutal culling of the list, here are my ten favorite fantasy books I read this year. They are arranged in no particular order, because I can't decide on a ranking for these books if I tried. Let me know what your favorite debut books were down in the comments.

Nice Dragons Finish Last (Heartstrikers #1)
by Rachel Aaron
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it:
I'm a bit of a Rachel Aaron fan so when she puts out a book, I will be one of the first ones buying it! So when I heard she was self-publishing an urban fantasy book with dragons, I was ecstatic! And I wasn't disappointed! I adored this book! So much so that I wrote a RTFB post on it. 

Between the amazing, post-apocalyptic magical Detroit and the characters, this book was fan-freaking-tastic! I loved Julius and Marci as well as Julius' brothers, Bob and Justin! This book was humorous, action-packed, and features an army of cats! I'm dead serious. There's an army of cats in this book!

I seriously can't wait for the next book to come out! Because between dragons, commercialized magic, and soul-sucking ghost cats, what more could you want? 

The Clockwork Dagger (Clockwork Dagger #1)
by Beth Cato
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it:
Yes. This book is going to be on all of my favorites lists this year! It is absolutely fantastic! The Clockwork Dagger combined a steampunk airship adventure with nature and saint based spirituality, ugly/adorable flying gremlins, competing political conspiracies, a missing princess, various forms of magic, and the beginning stages of romance. It thoroughly charmed and entertained me. Octavia Leander, orphaned in the war, has healing powers sought by all sides, so though she just wants to practice her craft in a quiet rural setting she's drawn into a dangerous power struggle.

Fortunately she’s quick thinking and has the support of the Lady, a healing goddess who may have begun life as a human but now is embodied as the spirit of a magnificent magical tree. The characters are wonderful--besides Octavia there is Leaf, the little green gremlin, Viola Stout, an unconventional older woman with a surprising secret, Alonzo Garret, the handsome airship steward who's always around when there's trouble, and assorted eccentrics who make up the airship's passengers and crew. The story's landscape includes smoky cities, marshy swamps, and country towns. Although it’s set in a fantasy kingdom and not England like most steampunk, the book's atmosphere reminded me of Gail Carriger's Etiquette and Espionage series. I loved this so much and I can't recommend it enough!

Burn For Me (Hidden Legacy #1)
by Ilona Andrews
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it:
OH MY GOODNESS! I loved this book! It was fun, action-packed, and snarky! Definitely a trademark Ilona Andrews book! I laughed so much and I'm in love with the Baylor family! Do you think they'd adopt me? Seriously. They are one of the most interesting families ever and full of strong female role models! The Grandma freaking works on tanks and it's the best thing ever!

Burn For Me is the Andrews writing team at their best. The world is complex and original, the witty banter is outstanding as always, and the sexual chemistry is on point. I loved the magic system and how these magic users are idolized as celebrities. 

This book is the first in a new paranormal romance series that is light on the romance and heavy on the urban fantasy awesomeness. I'm intrigued to say the least. I want to know more about the Houses and the magic system as well as Rogan and Nevada. I'm interested in seeing where their chemistry goes. I can't wait to get my hands on book two in 2015!

Bitter Spirits (Roaring Twenties #1)
by Jenn Bennett
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it:
I loved everything about this book! The era, the setting, the clothing, the language, the ghosts, the hints of magic! It all layered together to make an amazing paranormal world unlike anything I've read before. I loved the 1920's setting and all of the details Jenn Bennett included! That lady did her research and it made the book so fantastic!

The setting is expertly rendered and it is easy to become immersed in the atmosphere of San Francisco and Chinatown in the 1920s prohibition era. This is a relatively unknown time period for me and it was fun looking up the events and terminology mentioned in the book. Thank you Google for all your help. 

I seriously loved the characters! The hero and heroine are so adorable - super sexy. Winter is a big massive guy and Aida is little and freckled. There is such great flirting and courtship. AND ZOMG! Their first kiss! Guys. That may be the best first kiss I've ever read. 
I loved Aida! She was wonderful and snarky! I loved the banter between her and Winter! I really liked that both Winter and Aida were their own person. Their individual struggles with the traumas of their pasts ultimately strengthens their emotional connection and make them a truly captivating couple.

The suspense plot is original with some intense action scenes and a seriously disturbed villain. The paranormal elements are cleverly interwoven into the story and add an extra layer to the eerie tone. Overall, this is was fantastic as was the sequel, Grim Shadows, that also released this year. I highly recommend both of them. I can't wait to get my hands on the third book, Grave Phantoms, next year!

Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels #7)
by Ilona Andrews
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it:
The Kate Daniels series is one of my favorite series of all time! The action scenes are amazing and the humor is spot on. And the latest book in this series did not disappoint! It's amazing how much I love so many characters in these books aside from Kate and Curran.

I had some preconceived notions about what was going to happen based on bits and pieces I had heard through the internet. Thank heavens I wasn't spoiled, because this book completely exceeded my expectations and did not go as I had predicted. Holy Hell! The plot twist was not what I expected and I have no idea where this story is going to go from here. I have so many questions and some worries for some of the characters.

After I finished this book, I just wanted to reread the whole series over from the beginning. We all need to give Ilona Andrews a slow clap for the awesomeness of this series. This series is one of the best things to happen to urban fantasy!


Shattered (The Iron Druid Chronicles #7)
by Kevin Hearne
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it:
Like the Kate Daniels series, Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles is one of the best ongoing series in urban fantasy and it is one of my all-time favorites. You all know how much I love this series. The wait in between each book is just getting harder and harder, but completely worth it at the same time! Since this book is the seventh book in this series, I won't say anything spoilery. Let's just say that things are getting crazy in these books! I'm legit worried for Atticus, Granuaile, and Oberon.
 
This book was full of new characters and mythology and it was perfect! Shattered is a fantastic addition to the series, and the perfect blend of action, contemplation, and humor. Hearne is a genius and everything came together wonderfully. As much as I love Atticus, this book is Granuaile's book. She absolutely shines! I didn't think it was possible to love her even more, than I did but I do. Mr. Hearne is another author who deserves a slow clap for excellence!


Child of a Hidden Sea (Hidden Sea Tales #1)
by A. M. Dellamonica
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it:
This book was an insane amount of fun to read! It's lighthearted in a way that is sadly missing from much of adult fantasy. It has the added benefit of being a portal fantasy and that makes me happy. There has been too few of them in the last few years. I found myself quite surprised when reading this book, as it was nothing like my expectations.

One of the things I loved besides the world building in this book was Sophie’s scientific curiosity. She looks at the world through the eyes of a biologist, and her journey to Stormwrack is incredibly exciting to her from a scientific standpoint. As a scientist myself, I found this scientific examination of a different world to be one of the things that I enjoyed the most about this novel. Dellamonica took Sophie seriously as a character and it certainly shows.

Sophie’s attempts to understand Stormwrack and to uncover its secrets lead her on a series of adventures, eventually including her brilliant adopted brother, Bram; her impetuous half-sister; and the entirely too gorgeous for his own good Captain Parrish, the first mate, Tonio, and the rest of the crew of his ship. This team works together to solve a murder that they all witness, and in trying to solve this crime Sophie is drawn into the sometimes-backwards seeming world of Stormwrack politics.

Another surprising element of this novel was the diverse cast of characters. There's several different peoples and cultures as well as a good number of gay and bisexual characters that just get to be themselves. The best example of this Bram. He was gay without it being the point of the novel. So often when we find gay characters — particularly in fantasy — they are on some sort of self-identification quest or right in the middle of some terrible coming-out story. That was not the case here — Bram was just gay, and it was not really a big deal at all, which I thought was perfect.

I loved this world and I can't wait for the next book in this series so I can return to Stormwrack!

Valour and Vanity (Glamourist Histories #4)
by Mary Robinette Kowal
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it:
This book has been described by the author as "if Jane Austen wrote Ocean's Eleven." Stop. Read no further. That is all you need to know about this book. If you have not read the first three Glamourist Histories books, go read them now just so you can read this book.

If you haven't heard of this series, go check out my RTFB post on it! I love it! The romance is sweet and delightful to read! They are some of my favorite Regency romances ever! And there are freaking Doctor Who cameos in each of the books. Let's give a slow clap to Kowal for some of the best Easter eggs ever! The books have gotten more action-packed as the series has progressed.

What I love the most is Kowal's top-notch research! She has managed to capture the style of Jane Austen’s novels and yet have it still be original. The book feels authentic to the time period it recreates. Except for, you know, the magic.

I can't recommend these books enough. Also, if you're an audiobook fan, I would highly recommend listening to this series!

Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3)
by Marissa Meyer
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I chose it:
Each book in this series just keeps getting better and better! When I finished Scarlet last year, all I could think about was that a year was a long time to wait for Cress. I can now officially say that the year long wait was totally worth it! This book was mindbogglingly awesome! I loved it! Bravo, Marissa Meyer. Bravo.

The characters are amazing, both new and old. Why hello again, Captain Thorne! I love you even more in this book than I did in Scarlet. The character development in this book was awesome! I really liked Cress and she adds an interesting dynamic to our group of ragtag revolutionaries. I absolutely love that she is a genius computer hacker but still very feminine. As much as I love all of the characters, Iko is my absolute favorite!

The plot of this is fairly fast paced. I could have easily read the whole thing in one sitting if I didn't have work early the next day. I found my self reading it every available moment I had which got me several weird looks at the grocery store while I was waiting in the checkout line.

Oh and the ending to this book! So good! I want to talk about it, but in the interest of keeping this spoiler free, I'm just going to say that I adored it! I'm sure my neighbors were wondering what was up with me both yelling and squealing at the book as I was finishing it.
 
I am so excited for Winter and I'm still a bit upset that it was pushed back to next fall. Even though we're getting the book about Queen Levana, I want Winter now!

Forged By Desire (London Steampunk #4)

by Bec McMaster

Links: Goodreads Amazon

Why I chose it:

I binge read all the books and novellas in this series back in November over the course of a weekend! I loved it! Out of all the books that are out, this was my favorite one in the series! I can say without a doubt that Bec McMaster has crafted one of my most favorite steampunk worlds ever! The paranormal mixed with the steampunk as well as the mystery and political intrigue had me hooked. McMaster's writing in combination with the world is like crack. I couldn't put the book down once I picked it up. And if I did manage to put it down, I couldn't quit thinking about the story.

I absolutely adored Perry and Garrett and the romance! I love, love, LOVE Perry! She definitely has earned a spot on my list of BAMF female characters. As much as I love her, I will admit that I totally got blindsided by Perry's past. Out of everything I was expecting, that wasn't it at all. I have to give Bec McMaster a slow clap. This book totally made me cry which is something I was not expecting to do while reading a steampunk romance novel.

Also, I'm loving how all the story lines from the other books are finally starting to come together and I can't wait to see where everything is going! How am I going to wait until March for the next book?

 

Goldilox and the Ten Lists: Top Ten Books I Wish I Had Read This Year

I've had a great reading year, but no matter how many hours I read I can't get to all of the books I want to. So I'm going to do something a bit different for this list. I want to highlight the books that I had every intention of reading but I just didn't have enough time to do so. I seriously need a timeturner. That's the only way I could ever read all of the books I want to. Since this list is different, I haven't formed opinions on each of these books so I'll just post the synopsis for each book. They are arranged in no particular order. Let me know what book(s) you wanted to get to but weren't able to down in the comments.

 
Dreamer's Pool (Blackthorn and Grim #1)
by Juliet Marillier
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Synopsis:
Award-winning author Juliet Marillier “weaves magic, mythology, and folklore into every sentence on the page” (The Book Smugglers). Now she begins an all-new and enchanting series that will transport readers to a magical vision of ancient Ireland...
In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside her bid for vengeance against the man who destroyed all that she once held dear. Followed by a former prison mate, a silent hulk of a man named Grim, she travels north to Dalriada. There she'll live on the fringe of a mysterious forest, duty bound for seven years to assist anyone who asks for her help.

Oran, crown prince of Dalriada, has waited anxiously for the arrival of his future bride, Lady Flidais. He knows her only from a portrait and sweetly poetic correspondence that have convinced him Flidais is his destined true love. But Oran discovers letters can lie. For although his intended exactly resembles her portrait, her brutality upon arrival proves she is nothing like the sensitive woman of the letters.

With the strategic marriage imminent, Oran sees no way out of his dilemma. Word has spread that Blackthorn possesses a remarkable gift for solving knotty problems, so the prince asks her for help. To save Oran from his treacherous nuptials, Blackthorn and Grim will need all their resources: courage, ingenuity, leaps of deduction, and more than a little magic.

Clariel (Abhorsen #4)
by Garth Nix
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Clariel is not adjusting well to her new life in the city of Belisaere, the capital of the Old Kingdom. She misses roaming freely within the forests of Estwael, and she feels trapped within the stone city walls. And in Belisaere she is forced to follow the plans, plots and demands of everyone, from her parents to her maid, to the sinister Guildmaster Kilp. Clariel can see her freedom slipping away. It seems too that the city itself is descending into chaos, as the ancient rules binding Abhorsen, King and Clayr appear to be disintegrating.

With the discovery of a dangerous Free Magic creature loose in the city, Clariel is given the chance both to prove her worth and make her escape. But events spin rapidly out of control. Clariel finds herself more trapped than ever, until help comes from an unlikely source. But the help comes at a terrible cost. Clariel must question the motivations and secret hearts of everyone around her - and it is herself she must question most of all.

Alias Hook
by Lisa Jensen
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Synopsis:
"Every child knows how the story ends. The wicked pirate captain is flung overboard, caught in the jaws of the monster crocodile who drags him down to a watery grave. But it was not yet my time to die. It's my fate to be trapped here forever, in a nightmare of childhood fancy, with that infernal, eternal boy."

Meet Captain James Benjamin Hook, a witty, educated Restoration-era privateer cursed to play villain to a pack of malicious little boys in a pointless war that never ends. But everything changes when Stella Parrish, a forbidden grown woman, dreams her way to the Neverland in defiance of Pan’s rules. From the glamour of the Fairy Revels, to the secret ceremonies of the First Tribes, to the mysterious underwater temple beneath the Mermaid Lagoon, the magical forces of the Neverland open up for Stella as they never have for Hook. And in the pirate captain himself, she begins to see someone far more complex than the storybook villain.

With Stella’s knowledge of folk and fairy tales, she might be Hook’s last chance for redemption and release if they can break his curse before Pan and his warrior boys hunt her down and drag Hook back to their neverending game. Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen is a beautifully and romantically written adult fairy tale.

House Immortal (House Immortal #1)
by Devon Monk
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Synopsis:
One hundred years ago, eleven powerful ruling Houses consolidated all of the world’s resources and authority into their own grasping hands. Only one power wasn’t placed under the command of a single House: the control over the immortal galvanized....

Matilda Case isn’t like most folk. In fact, she’s unique in the world, the crowning achievement of her father’s experiments, a girl pieced together from bits. Or so she believes, until Abraham Seventh shows up at her door, stitched with life thread just like her and insisting that enemies are coming to kill them all.

Tilly is one of thirteen incredible creations known as the galvanized, stitched together beings immortal and unfathomably strong. For a century, each House has fought for control over the galvanized. Now the Houses are also tangled in a deadly struggle for dominion over death—and Tilly and her kind hold the key to unlocking eternity

The secrets that Tilly must fight to protect are hidden within the very seams of her being. And to get the secrets, her enemies are willing to tear her apart piece by piece.…

 
The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1)
by Mary E. Pearson
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Synopsis:
A princess must find her place in a reborn world.

She flees on her wedding day.

She steals ancient documents from the Chancellor's secret collection.She is pursued by bounty hunters sent by her own father.

She is Princess Lia, seventeen, First Daughter of the House of Morrighan.

The Kingdom of Morrighan is steeped in tradition and the stories of a bygone world, but some traditions Lia can't abide. Like having to marry someone she's never met to secure a political alliance.

Fed up and ready for a new life, Lia flees to a distant village on the morning of her wedding. She settles in among the common folk, intrigued when two mysterious and handsome strangers arrive—and unaware that one is the jilted prince and the other an assassin sent to kill her. Deceptions swirl and Lia finds herself on the brink of unlocking perilous secrets—secrets that may unravel her world—even as she feels herself falling in love.

Evernight (Darkest London #5)
by Kristen Callihan
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Synopsis:
Once the night comes . . .

Will Thorne is living a nightmare, his sanity slowly being drained away by a force he can't control. His talents have made him the perfect assassin for hire. But as he loses his grip on reality, there is no calming him—until he finds his next target: the mysterious Holly Evernight.

Love must cast aside the shadows . . .

Holly cannot fathom who would put a contract on her life, yet the moment she touches Will, the connection between them is elemental, undeniable—and she's the only one who can tame his bouts of madness. But other assassins are coming for Holly. Will must transform from killer to protector and find the man who wants Holly dead . . . or his only chance for redemption will be lost.
 
Illusions of Fate
by Kiersten White
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Synopsis:
Downton Abbey meets Cassandra Clare in this lush, romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.

“I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.”Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

Kiersten White captured readers’ hearts with her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy and its effortless mix of magic and real-world teenage humor. She returns to that winning combination of wit, charm, and enchantment in Illusions of Fate, a sparkling and romantic new novel perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, The Madman’s Daughter, and Libba Bray.


Mortal Heart (His Fair Assassin #3)by Robin LaFevers
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Synopsis:
Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.

She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has...


The Kraken King (Iron Seas #4)
by Meljean Brook
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Synopsis:
A former smuggler and thief, Ariq—better known as the Kraken King—doesn’t know what to make of the clever, mysterious woman he rescues from an airship besieged by marauders. Unsure if she’s a spy or a pawn in someone else’s game, Ariq isn’t about to let her out of his sight until he finds out…
After escaping her fourth kidnapping attempt in a year, Zenobia Fox has learned to vigilantly guard her identity. While her brother Archimedes is notorious for his exploits, Zenobia has had no adventures to call her own—besides the stories she writes.

But when she jumps at the chance to escape to the wilds of Australia and acquire research for her next story, Zenobia quickly discovers that the voyage will be far more adventurous than any fiction she could put to paper…

The Emperor's Blades (Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne #1)

by Brian Staveley

Links: Goodreads Amazon

Synopsis:
Book one in an epic fantasy of intrigue and empire, for fans of George R. R. Martin and Douglas Hulick.

The circle is closing. The stakes are high. And old truths will live again . . .

The Emperor has been murdered, leaving the Annurian Empire in turmoil. Now his progeny must bury their grief and prepare to unmask a conspiracy.

His son Valyn, training for the empire’s deadliest fighting force, hears the news an ocean away. He expected a challenge, but after several ‘accidents’ and a dying soldier’s warning, he realizes his life is also in danger. Yet before Valyn can take action, he must survive the mercenaries’ brutal final initiation.

Meanwhile, the Emperor’s daughter, Minister Adare, hunts her father’s murderer in the capital itself. Court politics can be fatal, but she needs justice. And Kaden, heir to an empire, studies in a remote monastery. Here, the Blank God’s disciples teach their harsh ways – which Kaden must master to unlock their ancient powers. When an imperial delegation arrives, he’s learnt enough to perceive evil intent. But will this keep him alive, as long-hidden powers make their move?

 

Goldilox and the Ten Lists: Five Fave Steampunk Novels of 2014

Welcome to Goldilox and the Ten Lists, our year end countdown of our favorite books by category. We'll have a new subject every weekday between now and the end of the year.

I read a lot of Steampunk this year, but obviously I couldn't read them all. Here are some of my favorites, in no particular order. Let me know your faves in the comments.

The Kraken King (Iron Seas #4)
by Meljean Brook
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I love it: This book is EPIC! Zenobia Fox has been repeatedly kidnapped and held for ransom, so she's learned to keep her identity a secret. So when Ariq tries to get to know her, she's immediately suspicious despite their instant chemistry. And of course her reluctance to open up makes him think she has ulterior motives. But The Kraken King is so much more than a romance. It has political intrigue, massive action scenes and incredible gadgets.

Evernight (Darkest London #5)
by Kristen Callihan
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I love it: Each book in this series has been bigger and better than the last. The romance is steamier, the gadgets are more prominent and a new kind of supe is added to the world. Evernight introduces the Fae and brings in some family history from previous books. I loved finally getting to see Holly's workshop and some of her inventions.

Engraved (St. Croix Chronicles #5)
by Karina Cooper
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I love it: This is the second-to-last book in the series and it answers a lot of questions and wraps up part of Cherry's story. The last half is action-packed and fraught with tension, especially the scenes between Cherry and Hawke. Engraved builds to a surprising and heart wrenching climax and still leaves me wanting some answers. I'm glad I won't have to wait long to see what happens next. The finale, Transmuted is out in January.



The Clockwork Dagger
by Beth Cato
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I love it: This one's a little more fantasy than my other Steampunk selections, but it's got some great clockwork pieces and a dirigible, which you may have noticed is one of my favorite things. The heroine is a healer and her faith-based magic adds an original element to the story.
Read Rose Red's review here.

Wicked After Midnight (Blud #3)
by Delilah S. Dawson
Links: Goodreads Amazon
Why I love it: The last book in the Blud series is darker and more complex than any of the others, dealing with real world issues like human trafficking. It's set in a wonderfully decadent demon cabaret. It has a super creepy villain, and a great love story. And you know how I love my Steampunk gadgets. This book has one of my all time favorites - a giant mechanical elephant stampeding through Paris.

 

 

 

Goldilox and the Ten Lists: Top 5 Audiobooks of 2014!

Welcome to Goldilox and the Ten Lists, our year end countdown of our favorite books by category. We'll have a new subject every weekday between now and the end of the year. Today is all about the Best Audiobooks of 2014 - according to me, Goldilox!

Let me know your favorite audios of the past year in the comments!



Ignite Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Narrator: Kate Simses
Audible
         
When I started this audio I wasn't sold at first. Kate Simses' Juliet has a very small and fragile sounding voice, which is totally appropriate, just not what I'm used to in a narrator. But her voice grew on me and grew on me until I couldn't imagine Juliette sounding any differently. The narrator's voice also built slightly as the story went on and Juliette's power and confidence grew, which I loved a lot. Kate's voices for Adam and Warner were really great, but she really takes the cake with her version of my beloved Kenji.

Cress

Author: Marissa Meyer

Narrator: Rebecca Soler
Audible

I adored this audiobook. Rececca Soler just killed Cress' voice (in the best way possible), but it was her versions of Captain Thorne, Iko, and Cinder that put this in my Top 5. How do you bring so much life and sadness to the voice of a robot!? I would imagine a book like this is a challenge and a half for a narrator because of all the different points of view and Soler nailed each one perfectly.

Seventh Grave and No Body
Author: Darynda Jones
Narrator: Lorelei King
Audible

If you read anything paranormal and listen to audiobooks at all then you're familiar with the great Lorelei King. She rocks this series on audio. I made the switch from print to audio a couple books ago and haven't looked back. She delivers all of Charley's ridiculous, hilarious, one-liners with perfection and good god if you didn't think Reyes could be any sexier just try listening to him on audio while trying to drive your car. If you love this series and haven't tried the audiobooks, GO...GO FORTH AND DOWNLOAD.

White Hot Kiss
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
Audible

What puts this in my Top 5 is one thing: Roth. Saskia delivers a ridiculous portrayal of my hot little demon man to such a point that I often forget this isn't dually narrated. The sarcasm, the sexy come-ons, the brief moments of vulnerability - DEAD. ON. She does everyone else's voices very well too, including the narrator, Layla, but she just made me fall so in love with Roth that that's what stuck with me. Since this book has much more Roth than the follow up, Stone Cold Touch, which was also released in 2014, this one is the one that gets on my list.

Silver Shadows
Author: Richelle Mead
Narrator: Emily Shaffer and Alden Ford
Audible

This is the only book on this list that has two narrators, and this series didn't add Alden Ford as the voice of Adrian until just recently. At first, I missed Emily Shaffer's interesting and surprisingly sexy version of Adrian's voice, but as Alden continued I fell in love with having him be the new voice for my love, Adrian. Adding the dual points of view rocketed this series into audio gold for me. Emily has always done a fantastic version of Sydney, with her intelligent yet wry personality, but Alden and Emily together are perfection.

Join us tomorrow, as Goldilox and the Ten Lists continues with our Favorite Steampunk Books of the year!