Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week there is a new topic for bloggers to choose and list their top ten.
Originally this week’s theme was Top Ten Favourite Book Blogs/Bookish Websites, but because I’ve talked a lot about fellow bloggers I love (spoiler alert; it’s pretty much everyone I’ve met in this book blogging community) and I’m not really active on other social media platforms I decided to go back to a topic I missed a few weeks ago (because I didn’t realise the week’s topic had changed from a TTT Throwback to something else until too late) and talk about my Top Ten Favourite Books of the Year So Far.
Iron Gold by Pierce Brown
Check out my review here.
Hearing this book was being released made me finally get around to Morning Star, and made me realise again how amazing the Red Rising Saga is. Granted it took me a little while to get into Iron Gold with its three new POVs, and I feel like it’s going to be the next book in the series that really kicks things off, but I thought this was a brilliant addition.
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Check out my review here.
So many people told me to pick up The Bear and the Nightingale, and they were all right. Every amazing thing everyone has said about this book (I don’t think I’ve seen one mixed review) is true, and based on what I’ve heard about the next in the book in the series I’m guaranteed to love The Girl in the Tower just as much.
Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Check out my review here.
This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and the last book to one of my all-time favourite trilogies. I do wish certain things had been better done – I didn’t feel as attached to Asha and Rhys as I did Kady, Ezra, Hanna, Nik and Ella –but I was happy with how Obsidio ended for all the characters, though sad I’m not going to get to read more of their adventures.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Check out my review here.
The main reason I picked up Circe in my local Waterstones was cover love, but the story inside turned out to be even more beautiful than the cover. I read Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles a couple of years back, it broke my heart but after reading Circe I can definitely say she’s one of my favourite authors for Greek retellings.
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Check out my review here.
I really enjoyed Uprooted, which was the first book by Naomi Novik I picked up, but Spinning Silver turned out to be even better. The plot was detailed and intricate, the characters and their relationships were well-developed, and the world building richly described. Honestly I don’t think there was any aspect of this book I didn’t enjoy.
Bright Ruin by Vic James
Check out my review here.
Like Obsidio this was one of my highly anticipated releases for 2018, and like Obsidio it turned out to be a book I loved. The Dark Gifts series really did go from strength to strength, and Bright Ruin was better than I ever hoped it would be. The ending was left open so maybe one day we’ll get more from these characters and this world (I live in hope).
Legendary by Stephanie Garber
Check out my review here.
Originally this was a release I thought I’d start the second I had it in my hands, instead I decided Legendary would be the perfect holiday read and had to wait a month before I could start it. It ended up being well worth the wait. Last year Caraval was one of my favourite reads but Legendary ended up being even better.
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
I’m not sure why I waited so long to get around to this release by Morgan Matson, maybe because I knew it would break my heart. Second Chance Summer is such an emotional book and I actually ended up full-on crying as I read it. It’s now tied with Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour for my favourite book by Morgan Matson.
LifeL1K3 by Jay Kristoff
This seemed to be really hyped up, and as much as I’ve loved the books by Jay Kristoff I’ve read so far I was never really swept away by the hype for LifeL1K3, but that will change in the run-up to the release of the second book because this was an amazing story. There were so many twists I never saw coming, and that ending has left me desperate to know what happens next.
Bright We Burn by Kiersten White
So far 2018 seems to be the year of some of my favourite series coming to an end (it means I need to find new series to fangirl over) and The Conqueror’s Saga is another added to this list. Bright We Burn was incredible, it broke my heart but at the same time it was definitely a fitting end to the series and stayed true to the characters as well.
So what do you think? Did you take part in this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, if so let me know what bookish websites you’d recommend, are there any bloggers/BookTubers out there I need to check out ASAP? Also let me know what your favourite release from this year so far has been, would any of the books I picked make your list?
Obsidio, Lifel1k3, and Legendary are also some of my favorite books this year!! I agree I wasn’t as attached to Rhys and Asha as I was to everyone else, but the book was so incredible and emotional overall that I thought it was a great finale. I also thought Legendary was SO FANTASTIC, my review is basically just me gushing about how much I love Dante and Jacks xD
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Oh they’re amazing aren’t they? 😀 Yeah I mean I loved Obsidio overall but I think they tried to cram too much into just one book right?
Dante is probably my favourite character at the moment, and I hope we learn more about Jacks in the next book, after that ending I am so so excited for Finale! 😀 ❤
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Ahh me too!! I LOVED Jacks so much I can’t wait til we learn more about him!! I’m also super excited that we’re getting both Scarlett and Tella’s povs in Finale!
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Ohh, I hadn’t heard that, but that will be interesting. I kind of want to know more about Scarlett was up to in Legendary.
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Me too! Especially what’s going on with her and Julian😭
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Hello Beth!
Obsidio would be on my list as well! It was an amazing finale for the series 🙂
I still have to read The Bear and the Nightingale and Circe. I want to read Second Chance Summer even more now that you’ve talked about it in this post!
Have a wonderful week ❤
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Hi Sophie. Yeah this list would not be a top ten favourite books of the year so far list without Obsidio! 😀
Both of those are amazing, but you do need to be in the right mood to read them, just an FYI, and oh Second Chance Summer is brilliant. It’s tied with Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour for my favourite Morgan Matson book.
Thanks, you too. 🙂 ❤
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Glad to know! I definitely want to read second chance summer (though I probably won’t get to this before the end of summer this year!) and reread Amy and Rogers Epic Detour 🙂
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I was kind of late picking up Second Chance Summer as well, so I get what you mean there. When you do get around to it through I know you’ll think it was worth the wait! 😀
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This one is on my next month’s TBR so I hope to read it soon 😀
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Yay, I’ll keep my fingers crossed you love it then! 😀
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Omg yes my favorite is also Second Chance Summer! I still have yet to read Gemina let alone Obsidio but I’m hoping to get to it soon along with Legendary! And I’m also really excited to read the And I Darken trilogy as I heard great things!
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Second Chance Summer is amazing. I mean all of Morgan Matson’s books have been but that one is in a league of its own. Both Gemina and Obsidio are brilliant and so is Legendary.
Oh the And I Darken trilogy isn’t a genre I read a lot but I was hooked on it, I hope you love the books as well. 😀
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Yea I read Since You’ve Been Gone which was good but Second Chance Summer is still my favorite! I’m hoping to read her other books soon! Also hoping to get to Legendary and Gemina soon!
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SCS is my joint favourite of hers alongside Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour. I’ve read all her books now and those are my top two. 🙂
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Omg yes my friend is reading Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour and I can’t wait to get into it! I need a copy for myself!
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Definitely, it’s amazing so I’m sure you’ll love it. 😀
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Wonderful post! One question, which did you enjoy more, Son of Achilles or Circe?
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Thanks so much, and oh that’s such a tough decision. I think for the heartbreaking factor alone it’s got to be The Song of Achilles. That book just had a more lasting impact on me you know?
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Ok, good to know. I have only read Son of Achilles.. but I want to read Circe. I haven’t read Legendary yet either… 😊
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Circe is still amazing, and I’m sure if you enjoyed TSoA you’ll love Circe too.
Legendary is another amazing read. It was so much better than Caraval to. 🙂
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Oh yay!! That’s good to know!😁
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This is a lovely list, Beth! There are so many books I have yet to read, especially Obsidio, which I can’t wait to get to, and Legendary, which I’m very curious about 🙂 I read Spinning Silver and unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. That made me a bit sad, but there were some great elements about the book overall, the writing style and the characters were good, I just wasn’t compelled to read on. That’s just me though haha. I’m so happy you enjoyed it so much 😀 AND YAY for that Morgan Matson book, it made me cry a whole lot, but I loved it so much ❤
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Thanks so much Marie. 🙂 Well hopefully you’ll love all these books then, especially Obsidio which is just all around incredible! Oh that is a shame, but I suppose at least there were parts you enjoyed and it wasn’t a complete loss. Yeah, and at least you can say you gave it a go as well. 🙂
Sometimes you need a book that makes you cry right? 🙂 But I can see why so many people were recommending that one. ❤️
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*gasp* The Bear and the Nightingale is on this list? I recently bought it while I was traveling in Hong Kong, and I wasn’t sure if I should read it now or wait later… but if it’s one of the top ten books you’ve read this year, then I definitely should read it soon 😊 And you’ve added so many books to my TBR just from this post! LifeL1K3, Spinning Silver, Legendary… they all sound amazing. Great post, Beth! 😋
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Yeah, it lived up to the hype and considering how insane the hype was that’s saying something! 🙂 It’s a brilliant read for sure.
Oh that’s good to hear (although maybe not so much if your TBR list is anything like mine is). Either way I really hope you love all these books as much as I did.
Thanks! 🙂 ❤️
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I have an ARC of The Bear and the Nightingale sitting on my TBR shelf right now. I’m glad you liked it! I need to read Obsidio soon. I’ve already forgotten everything that happened in the first two books.
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Hopefully you’ll manage to get around to it soon then (honestly it’s such an amazing read!)
Oh definitely, and there’s nothing stopping you from re-reading the first two books, that’s what I did when Obsidio was released. 🙂
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Well, my TBR pile just incresed, hee hee. Definitely going to have to try and find the Jay Kristoff book, I love his writing. I did things a bit backwards and have read The girl in the Tower without reading the first book (I didn’t do my research!) but still really enjoyed it, so I imagine the first book is amazing. Great list!
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Oh I know the feeling, I feel like every time I log into WordPress my TBR pile increases! 😀 Oh if you love his writing you’ll love LifeL1K3 for sure, and see in my opinion that just gives you an excuse to re-read The Girl in the Tower after reading The Bear and the Nightingale! 😀
Thanks so much. 🙂
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Legendary was a fantastic sequel! Great list! 🙂
Check out my TTT and celebrate my blogoversary with a giveaway
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Yeah, and it’s made me so excited for Finale now too! 🙂
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Reblogged this on The Age of Escapades.
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I am always happy to see Iron Gold and Obsidio on any positive list! 😀 And one day I am going to get around to reading Circe as well. All my friends seem to have loved it 😀
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Yes in my opinion a list of my favourite books of this year would not be complete without those two books! 😀
Circe is amazing, but it’s one of those books I think you have to be in the right mood for. Either way I’ll keep my fingers crossed you’ll love it as much as everyone else seems to have! 🙂 ❤️
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Yeah, it’s a mood thing and now also a money thing haha I can’t really go around buying books I won’t even be able to take with me to Berlin.
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Ah, if only books didn’t cost as much money as they do right? Either way yeah definitely make sure you have the right books for Berlin. 😀
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I can’t really take many with me. I actually seriously need luggage space for other stuff haha but maybe one or two will fit in.
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Maybe, that’s the main reason I ended up getting my Kindle, unlimited books when I have limited travel space. 🙂
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I just don’t … like ebooks? I really don’t haha
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I get what you mean. If it comes to a choice I’m always going to choose physical books over ebooks! 🙂
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Great post 😀 Circe and Spinning Silver are also some of my favourite reads of the year so far as they are both amazing 💜
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Thanks so much. 🙂 Yeah and when it comes to Greek mythology and fairytale retelling Madeline Miller and Naomi Novik are two of my go-to favourite authors! 🙂 ❤️
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You’re welcome and they definitely are 🙂
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Yes Obsidio is such a good read!! That’s also one of my faves of the year
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I had such high hopes for Obsidio but Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff more than met them (not that I should have expected anything less!) 😀
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I was so happpyyy when I seen this post!!!! anytime someone makes a list of favorite books I get so excited??? MY TBR IS NOW GREATER!!!!!!! I have no chill when it comes to favorite books from friends c: c: And CIRCE!! I have this weird inhibition with my favorite books, where I’m terrified of reading anything else the author’s done? because my favorite book is so scared??? So because I adore SoA so much, I’m so scared of reading Circe, I need to be a brave person and finally read it XD
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I feel like most of my TTT lists are full of my favourite books, but this one especially is! 😀 I’d 100% recommend all these books so yes add them all to your TBR list. I kind of get what you mean, but I think if you enjoyed The Song of Achilles you should enjoy Circe as well, I really did and now I’d say Madeline Miller is one of my favourite Greek mythology authors, she’s amazing and Circe is just as amazing! 🙂 ❤️
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I’m so happy you include The Bear and the Nightingale and Second Chance Summer, they are one of my all time favorite books! 🙂
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Oh both of them were stand out read for me, and really beautifully told books as well. Actually at the moment Second Chance Summer is probably my favourite contemporary read of the year! 😀
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I bought The Bear and the Nightingale just recently and now I’m even more excited to read it. And I cannot wait to continue with the Illuminae series, I absolutely adored the first one!
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It’s a brilliant read; so many people have said so many amazing things about it but from what I read they’re all true! 🙂
Personally I think the series gets better with Gemina and Obsidio so you still have the best to come! 😀
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Great list! I loved The Bear and the Nightingale – I just picked up The Girl in the Tower from the library so I hope I enjoy it too! Spinning Silver is high on my TBR since I’ve heard so many good things. Happy reading! 🙂
My TTT: https://lavishliterature.com/2018/08/14/top-ten-bookish-websites/
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Thanks so much. 🙂 Oh I have The Girl in the Tower waiting on my Kindle and I can’t wait to get started on it, I’ve heard it’s just as amazing as The Bear and the Nightingale. Also Spinning Silver is equally as amazing so I ope you love that one.
Thanks so much! 😀
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” I do wish certain things had been better done – I didn’t feel as attached to Asha and Rhys as I did Kady, Ezra, Hanna, Nik and Ella –” my sentiments exactly Beth! 💜 & like you I also enjoyed the finish overall. So many great books! Happy reading 💓
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I feel like if everything I wanted to see in this last book had actually been in it it would have been like 800 pages long (or more) and not that I would have complained about that but it was probably never gonna happen. Still overall it was a great ending, and thanks Lilly! 🙂 ❤️
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I own Second Chance Summer. I need to read that one! It sounds so good.
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It’s amazing, along with Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour it’s my favourite read by Morgan Matson. 🙂
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I haven’t read that one yet either! I’ve only read a few of her books. I need to get to her back list.
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Yes definitely. She has some amazing books out, and she’s one of my go-to YA contemporary authors. 🙂
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I really enjoyed Circe, Lifel1k3 and Obsidio! I still have a few of these on my TBR though!
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Circe is one of my favourite Greek mythology retellings of all time I think, and when it came to LifeL1K3 and Obsidio I expected nothing less from the authors! 😀
I hope you enjoy the others you still need to read then! 🙂
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Yeah, so true. I hear they are teaming up for another book! Thank you, I hope so too! 🙂
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Yeah I think I already have that one added to my GR TBR list and pre-ordered as well. I can’t wait! 😀
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Haha! Awesome! You are further ahead than I. 🙂
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There are so many authors who are auto-buy authors for me, and Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman are two of them. I just couldn’t resist! 🙂
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Haha! I don’t blame you one bit!
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Great post! I absolutely loved both Legendary and Second Chance Summer. I agree that Legendary is better than Caraval, which is something I can’t believe I’m saying (sequels are rarely better than the first book for me). But I’m so glad that you enjoyed Second Chance Summer! I ended up crying ugly tears too at the end 🙈 Anways, great post and reviews!
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Thanks so much, and yeah I get what you mean because Caraval was one of my favourite reads of last year so I wasn’t sure how it could possible get any better in Legendary (it really did though right?!)
God it’s such a moving book right, I feel like no matter how many times I read it I’m going to be a sobbing mess by the end.
Thanks so much! 🙂
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You’re welcome! The book had me sobbing too (lol) It was so good, but so sad (why are the best books always like that?) 🙃 But I’m glad you enjoyed both Caraval and Legendary!
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There’s part of me that loves books that bring me to tears (can’t read too many of them at once thought!) 🙂
Yeah, and I have high hopes for Finale now.
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