Top 5 Wednesday: Favorite SFF Books

Top 5 Wednesday is a group of bloggers, booktubers and bookstagrammers posting on a common topic every (you guessed it) Wednesday. You can find the lists by searching #T5W or Top 5 Wednesday. And you can join the group on Goodreads if you want to participate.

This week's topic, in collaboration with the BooktubeSFF Awards, is All-Time Favorite Science Fiction & Fantasy Books.

You might notice a lack of "classics" on my list of all-time favorites. I didn't grow up reading fantasy. (I had a bad childhood experience with the animated Hobbit.) Most of my reading in the genre has been since 2010 so my list reflects that.

5. Pale Demon by Kim Harrison

Probably my single most reread book. I think it's 8 times maybe? I've lost count.

4. Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells

I loved this book so much I finished reading and immediately started it over again.

3. Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh

This one was a turning point in the series and just blew my mind when I read it.

2. The Kraken King by Meljean Brook

Epic steampunk romance with airships and sea vessels and epicness!

1. Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews

I just love this book beyond all reason. You can read my review here.

My experience seems to be the total opposite of Gretl's. I grew up reading nothing but fantasy. And I haven't really stopped since but I've added more and more sci-fi to my reading. So my list is going to be a mix of old and new titles.

5. A Matter of Magic by Patricia C. Wrede

4. The Mistborn Series by Brandon Sanderson
3. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

2. The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
1. The Shades of Magic Series by V.E. Schwab


Honorable Mentions:
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede
The Martian by Andy Weir
The Gentleman Bastards Series by Scott Lynch
Tales of the Ketty Jay by Chris Wooding
Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo

I had a terrible time narrowing this down to just five. Fantasy and science fiction have been my absolute fave genres for several years now. So, I decided to stick to YA for my list. 

Here's my Top 5 Favorite YA Fantasy and Sci-fi Books:

Review: Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs

Silence Fallen
(Mercy Thompson #10)
Patricia Briggs
Release: March 7, 2017
Goodreads Amazon

In the #1 New York Times bestselling Mercy Thompson novels, the coyote shapeshifter has found her voice in the werewolf pack. But when Mercy's bond with the pack and her mate is broken, she'll learn what it truly means to be alone...

Attacked and abducted in her home territory, Mercy finds herself in the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world, taken as a weapon to use against alpha werewolf Adam and the ruler of the Tri-Cities vampires. In coyote form, Mercy escapes only to find herself without money, without clothing, and alone in the heart of Europe...

Unable to contact Adam and the rest of the pack, Mercy has allies to find and enemies to fight, and she needs to figure out which is which. Ancient powers stir, and Mercy must be her agile best to avoid causing a war between vampires and werewolves, and between werewolves and werewolves. And in the heart of the ancient city of Prague, old ghosts rise...

Review:
Silence Fallen is a different Mercy book than what I've come to expect from this series. It's different in a good way and is reminiscent of the time when Mercy was an army of one. I wasn't a big fan of having Adam and Mercy separated again but it worked. What I did like is that most of this book occurs away from the Tri-Cities area and we get to see more of the world outside of Charles and Anna's eyes in the Alpha & Omega spin-off. Even though the story takes place in Europe, we still get to see many of our favorite characters.

One thing that made Adam and Mercy's separation more bearable is the fact that part of the story is told from Adam's point of view. We've seen a chapter from his perspective here and there in the series but in this book we got several and it was fascinating being in his head. His love for Mercy is absolutely adorable.

The story is told non-linearly and we're told in an author's note at the first to pay attention to Mercy's comments at the first of each chapter. I liked not being sure of how things were lining up since it conveyed Mercy’s confusion a lot better while still giving us a chance to see what Adam was up to. But I also feel like the timeline wasn't complex enough to warrant such a note. I read the comments thinking they'd be more important than they were. I don't think I would have expected as much out of them if it hadn't been for the note.

Like the previous books in the series, the pacing is fast and Mercy gets into trouble and chaos ensues. I will say that I did not see the twist in this book coming and oh! what a twist it was! Bravo, Mrs. Briggs! Bravo!

Silence Fallen is a great addition to a wonderful series and I can't wait to see what happens next. The next book is going to be a Charles and Anna book and I am so here for that!

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

    1/2

  4.5 / 5 Stars

My reviews of other books in this series:
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs 
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs 
Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs 
Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs

River Marked by Patricia Briggs 
Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs
Night Broken by Patricia Briggs

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs

Early Review: Her True Match by Paige Tyler

Her True Match
(X-Ops #6)
Paige Tyler
Release: March 7, 2017
Goodreads Amazon

After a long game of cat-and-mouse

Feline shifter Dreya Clark picks the wrong penthouse to rob and ends up arrested by sexy detective Braden Hayes. But Braden isn’t the only one who’s been watching the cat burglar. Agents from the Department of Covert Operations swoop in to offer her a deal. If she wants to stay out of jail, she’ll have to work with them—and pair up with the hot cop. Great.

Danger throws this unlikely pair together

Braden isn’t thrilled about the DCO meddling in his investigation. He’s been chasing Dreya for years. Thrown together on a dangerous covert mission, fur flies and temperatures flare. But when danger closes in on them, their game of cat and mouse turns deadly-serious, and they’ll have to rely on each other to make it out alive. 

Review:

First of all, I just have to mention the fact that I hate the titles in this series. I've enjoyed the books, but there's only one of them that I can tell which characters it features from its title. They tell me nothing and it bugs me!

Okay, I feel better now. But since I brought up the rest of the series, I will also say that I don't think you need to start from the beginning to pick up Her True Match. (I would, but I'm more series-oriented than most.) The couples from books one and two both play big parts in the story, so you might want to read their books, but I don't think it's necessary to know how they got together to follow this story. You definitely need to read book five, Her Rogue Alpha, though since both story lines are continued from that book.

Detective Braden Hayes has been tracking cat burglar Dreya Clark since she robbed a powerful former senator in the last book. Now he's caught her red-handed only to have her taken from his interrogation room by federal agents. It turns out the DCO has been tracking her since that last job too. Unwilling to lose her, he just follows the feds and winds up in the DCO too. (Totally saw that one coming.)

I felt like Braden and Dreya's story was pretty straightforward, just building their partnership and training, until they got involved in the secondary story, which had Ivy and Landon (from book one) investigating a mental institution they suspected was cover for a hybrid lab. Then things started to get more interesting. I like that Trevor the coyote shifter and counterintelligence expert got involved in the investigation as well. I had been wanting to see more of him. (And he's the star of book seven so yay!)

So while I was enjoying the story, I wasn't really impressed with the first half of this book. But boy did it have a powerful ending! It changes everything! I can't wait to see where the series goes from here!

Recommended for fans of: J.D. Tyler's Alpha pack series, the Edge series by Shannon K. Butcher

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

   1/2 

3.5  stars

Month in Review February 2017

What We Reviewed

We had a light month for reviews, but we LOVED the books we read.

Rose Red gave both A Gathering of Shadows and A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab 5 stars and some exclamation points!

 Gretl gave Driving Rain by Sierra Dean 4.5 stars.

Instagram Challenge

Thanks to everyone who participated in our February Bookstagram Challenge. Even we got a few days behind throughout the month so I'm waiting until Saturday to pick a winner for the giveaway. Go ahead and post those makeup shots, just be sure to use the hashtag #G3WFebChallenge.

What We're Anticipating

March is a big month for book releases. Here are some that we're excited about. Click to add them on Goodreads.

3/7

Etched in Bone (The Others #5) by Anne Bishop

Silence Fallen (Mercy Thompson #10) by Patricia Briggs

Magic For Nothing (InCryptid #6) by Seanan McGuire

Traitor to the Throne (Rebel of the Sands #2) by Alwyn Hamilton

3/14

Hunted by Megan Spooner

3/28

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Blood Rose Rebellion by Roslyn Eves

A Crown of Wishes (Star-Touched Queen #2) by Roshani Choksi

Top 5 Wednesday: Fictional Jobs We'd Like to Have

Top 5 Wednesday is a group of bloggers, booktubers and bookstagrammers posting on a common topic every (you guessed it) Wednesday. You can find the lists by searching #T5W or Top 5 Wednesday. And you can join the group on Goodreads if you want to participate.

This week's topic is Fictional Jobs (from books, movies, or TV) You'd Want to Have

This was fun because I didn't really have to consider whether I'm qualified for the job or not. (But surely having a driver's license qualifies me to fly a space ship!)

5. Cryptozoologist like Verity Price in Seanan McGuire's InCryptid series.

I love animals and Verity's job includes everything from finding new homes for small cryptids to negotiating with dragons.

 

4. Magical Detective/ CSI like Rachel Morgan, Alex Craft, Kate Prospero, or Donata Santori

I love paranormal police procedurals, so of course I want to be in one. Even better if I get to have magical powers that I could use to solve crime. The downside is that magical bad guys tend to try to kill you.

3. Airship Captain like Prudence in Gail Carriger's Custard Protocol series
I've always loved to fly and a dirigible is just about the greatest thing you could fly in.



2. Steampunk Inventor like Holly Evernight in the Darkest London series by Kristen Callihan
I love Steampunk gadgets! They're probably my favorite thing about the genre. Holly creates gadgets for a super-secret supernatural spy organization, which is almost the coolest gig ever.



1. Space Pirate
Doesn't everyone want to be Han Solo? (Well maybe not in TFA, but up until that point it would be awesome.)

What's your (fictional) dream job?

Review: A Conjuring of Light by V. E. Schwab

A Conjuring of Light
(Shades of Magic #3)
V. E. Schwab
Release: February 21, 2017
Goodreads Amazon

The battle between four magical Londons comes to a head in this stunning finale to the New York Times bestselling Shades of Magic trilogy by rising star V. E. Schwab.

Londons fall and kingdoms rise while darkness sweeps the Maresh Empire—and the fraught balance of magic blossoms into dangerous territory while heroes and foes struggle alike. The direct sequel to A Gathering of Shadows, and the final book in the Shades of Magic epic fantasy series, A Conjuring of Light sees Schwab reach a thrilling culmination concerning the fate of beloved protagonists—and old enemies.

Review:
I've always struggled with the question of how do I review the last book in a series? On one hand, I want to discuss everything and on the other, I just want you to go read this book. A Conjuring of Light was easily one of my most anticipated books of this year and I'm devastated that it's now over.

I had ridiculously high expectations going into this book after falling absolutely in love with the first two and I'm happy to report that not only did it live up to them, it surpassed them. In my opinion, this book was the epitome of what the conclusion of a favorite series should be. It was perfect! The only time I could put it down was when I needed to take a break to calm myself down. It was full of action, adventure, a touch of romance, and it didn't pull any punches. This book doesn't shy away from death and there were a few deaths in this book that just gutted me.

A Conjuring of Light is one of those books that will devastate you while managing to keep your hope that everything will turn out okay. There were several moments that made me curse and yell at the book and it made me cry but those moments were balanced out with moments of dry humor that were delightful to read and with some truly beautiful moments that made me so happy I hugged my Kindle. There are more than a few scenes that I've gone back and reread at least ten times since I finished this book. Thank you, Kindle bookmark feature!

One of my favorite things about this book, and one that caused me the most heartache, was learning more about Holland's past. It was astonishing to see who he was before the Danes had gotten a hold on him. I also loved seeing the progress that Kell, Lila, Rhy, and Alucard made in their own character arcs. Each of them has changed significantly from when they were first introduced but they still fundamentally remained the same in some aspects. All I can say to V. E. Schwab is thank you so much for these characters! Especially for the delightful and terrifying scamp that is Miss Delilah Bard. She has easily become one of my favorite female characters ever.

This book is a long one clocking in at 624 pages but it's also one I never wanted to end. I will miss all of these characters so much. It's been a journey to read their stories and I'm so happy with how this series ended even though it was also painful. Let's just say my heart is full of so many emotions when I think of this series.

Everything was wrapped up perfectly by the end but I have the feeling that this world still has stories to tell us. In fact, Schwab herself said in a Goodreads email, "... remember: when it comes to this world, new doors are always being made." So, this isn't truly a farewell to the world. Just to this arc and even then it's not really a goodbye. The Shades of Magic series will always be waiting to be reread over and over again. So instead of goodbye, I'm going to say Anoshe- until we meet again another day. 

    

  5 / 5 Stars!

My reviews of other books in this series:
A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab
A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab

Top 5 Wednesday: Books to Get You Out of a Reading Slump

Top 5 Wednesday is a group of bloggers, booktubers and bookstagrammers posting on a common topic every (you guessed it) Wednesday. You can find the lists by searching #T5W or Top 5 Wednesday. And you can join the group on Goodreads if you want to participate.

This week's topic is Books to Get You Out of a Reading Slump.

Winter is a hard season for a lot of people and many of us are slumpy. Let's talk about some books that are great for getting you out of a slump!

5. Rereads
One way to get out of a slump is to read something you've already read. There's no pressure to review and no worries that you might not like it. I've reread the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews and Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series four times each, but I think the next time I'm in a rut I may go for Nalini Singh and some Psy-Changelings. -Gretl

My go-to method for busting out of a slump is to reread old favorites. I tend to pick up paranormal romances, urban fantasy, childhood favorites. Nalini Singh's books have been my go-to slump busters since I first read the Psy-Changeling series in 2014. I also love rereading Harry Potter, The Blue Sword, and Patricia C. Wrede's books to get out of a slump. -Rose Red

4. Paranormal Romance
Last year I was feeling slumpy when I picked up The Leopard King by Ann Aguire. It combines old school trope-y PNR with a completely new fantasy world that reminds me a bit of The Others series. It was just the thing to get me reading again! -Gretl

3. Urban Fantasy
I love reading urban fantasy to get out slumps whether they are new series or rereads! Urban fantasy's fast-pace and familiar worlds are awesome at kickstarting you back into reading. When I'm in a slump I tend to gravitate towards rereading Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series, Ilona Andrews's Kate Daniels books, and Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson/Alpha & Omega series. -Rose Red

2. Series Binge
I know that sounds wrong - get out of a reading slump by reading a whole series, but it's worked for me a few times. I think maybe it's because it takes off the pressure of having to find your next book for a while. Or maybe it's just that I'm a natural binge reader. It's fun to be able to pick up the next book the minute you finish and stay in that world for like a week.

 Last year I binged Paige Tyler's SWAT series when nothing else sounded good to me. The year before I did J.D. Tyler's Alpha Pack series. They both blend romantic suspense and shifter PNR. Both authors were also new to me at the time. I think the first time I read the Psy-Changeling series, which was about four years ago, it was a slump buster as well. -Gretl

I did this as well last year but with Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed series and Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark books. -Rose Red

1. Contemporary Romance
A lot of times my reading rut is really an I don't want to write a review rut. When that happens my go to is contemp romance. I'll usually pick up a rom com like Emma Chase or Alice Clayton or suspense like Julie Ann Walker. The last time I didn't want to write reviews I read Idol by Kristen Callihan, which I highly recommend. -Gretl

What books do you read to get out of a slump?

and

Release Day Review: Driving Rain by Sierra Dean

Driving Rain
(Rain Chaser #2)
Sierra Dean
Release: February 21, 2017
Goodreads Amazon

Cheating death twice in a week should at least merit a vacation.

Too bad for Tallulah Corentine the rainy season is in full swing and her boss, the storm god Seth, has no intention of letting her rest.

When a little girl bearing the mark of Seth is found dead at a Seattle marina, Tallulah worries it might be the work of her childhood flame Prescott, the right hand man to death herself. However things take on a much more sinister aspect when she learns other would-be clerics have gone missing en route to temples across the country.

As priests and clerics from all over North America make their way to the annual Convention of the Gods in Las Vegas, Tallulah begins to worry that someone might be planning to use the children and clerics to make one hell of a scary statement to a world audience.

With the help of a charming demi-god, a teenage tag-along, and the man she knows will bring her nothing but bad luck, Tallulah must uncover the truth and stop an unthinkable plot before she and everyone she cares about ends up dead. 

Review:

Driving Rain is a very bingeable read-in-one-day kind of book. It's also the kind that will rip your heart out and hand it back to you one piece at a time. I loved it! A few chapters in I felt like I was in my happy place, maybe because it's been a while since I read an urban fantasy.

I enjoyed getting to see Tallulah on her home turf in Seattle at the beginning of the book, though I spent a few chapters wondering where the boys were. But then Leo is sent to join Tallulah on her next job and all was right in my world again. I'm loving the two of them together, though I still can't define their relationship. Maybe they're a bit like siblings? He'd be a great Sam to Tallulah's Dean if they continue to be partners - she keeps mentioning how freakishly tall he is.

There's a lot less Winchester in Tallulah this time around though. Because most of the story takes place at the Cleric convention in Las Vegas, it doesn't really have that Supernatural road trip feel. Tallulah still loves her hair metal and eats just like Dean though.

And then there's Cade who we get to see on his home turf in Las Vegas, looking a little different than he did in Thunder Road. I love their taboo relationship but I don't want to say too much about it for fear of spoilers.

At the convention we also meet several of the other gods' clerics, including Tallulah's sister Sunny, as well as some new gods. I wasn't familiar with Macha, but I loved her. The whole system of religion in this series is just fascinating to me. (I talked about it a little bit in my review of book one.) This time I felt like we got more insight into the bureaucracy and how the ancient religions adapt to the modern age.

And, oh yeah, Tallulah also has to solve a murder mystery during the convention or she'll face the wrath of an angry goddess as well as a killer. This is such a fun book! It's even better than the first one and I can't wait for more.

Recommended for fans of: Immortal Vegas and The Adventures of Owl

ARC provided by the author

    1/2

4 1/2  stars

My reviews of other books in this series:
Thunder Road