Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week's theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!
This week's theme is 'Top Ten 2014 Releases I Meant To Read But Didn't Get To'. This is the perfect list for me because I'm rubbish at reading books the year they come out, and there were certainly plenty of releases in 2014 I wanted to check out and just... didn't.
So, on with my top ten!
Half Bad by Sally Green: I really should have read this book by now because I've owned my copy for around six months, then again there are books on my shelves that have been waiting to be read for much longer... In 2014 I achieved my MA in Creative Writing while working on a historical novel about witchcraft, which meant I ended up reading an awful lot of witchy books. For whatever reason I just didn't get around to this one!
Red Rising by Pierce Brown: I kept seeing Red Rising popping up all over the blogosphere throughout 2014 but it just didn't catch my eye. I'm not a big fan of the cover; to me it didn't look any different to a bunch of other YA covers I'd seen over the past few years so it didn't really inspire me to pay attention to what the story was about. I know you're not supposed to judge books by their covers but, hey, I do! After reading some of the reviews and actually reading the blurb I realised that the story actually sounds pretty cool, so I'm aiming to read it this year instead.
Alienated by Melissa Landers: This book just looks really fun. 2014 is the year I began to realise that sci-fi doesn't have to be this scary, intimidating genre; in fact 2014 is the year I realised I quite like sci-fi, meaning 2015 is going to be the year I read a lot of it. I'd like to add this book, and possibly the sequel Invaded, to that list because I have something of a weakness for fluffy sci-fi!
The Jewel by Amy Ewing: I didn't really start seeing this book around until very near the end of 2014, so I'd love to read it this year. People have been telling me to read The Handmaid's Tale for years (and really it's quite shocking that I haven't!) so as The Jewel has similar themes I may read the two of them back to back!
The Bees by Laline Paull: I've heard really mixed things about The Bees, which might well be the reason why I just never got around to it in 2014, but I still want to read it for myself. The paperback has been released fairly recently but if I'm going to get it I want that pretty hardback...
Thief's Magic by Trudi Canavan: I don't think I read any high fantasy in 2014. Shocking, I know. I've also never read any Trudi Canavan. Strike two. I love the sound of Thief's Magic, but the gorgeous hardback is still £20 and, as I mentioned before, I can't afford to spend that much on one book!
Mortal Heart by Robin LaFevers: As a massive fan of the His Fair Assassin trilogy I had ever intention of reading Mortal Heart last year, especially after receiving a copy for Christmas! But as soon as Christmas was over life was absolutely hectic all the way through to New Year and I just didn't get to it. I'll be reading it soon, though!
Viper Wine by Hermione Eyre: This book sounds right up my alley, but I just didn't get around to buying a copy of it, never mind reading it! Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on it soon, but the hardback edition I love is still fairly pricey.
Lamentation by C. J. Sansom: I love the Matthew Shardlake series, and the only reason I haven't read the latest installment is because it's not out in paperback yet. As gorgeous as the hardback is all of my other Shardlake books are in paperback and I want them to match.
The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton: Every time I went into Waterstone's I saw this gorgeous book, but I was a student for the majority of last year and I couldn't afford to buy full price hardbacks whenever I felt like it - they're so expensive these days! But a couple of weeks ago WHSmith were selling off hardback editions of The Miniaturist for just £5 (they were cheaper than the paperbacks!) so I snapped one up and now I can cross it off my TBR this year.
Which books made your top ten?
Thief's Magic is so so good. Almost as good as her first books.
ReplyDeleteI've had my copy of Half Bad since it was released and I still haven't got round to it! Shame on me :(
Cora @ Tea Party Princess
I'll definitely have to try and get my hands on a copy of it soon, then. :)
DeleteDon't worry, you're certainly not the only one!
If only there were enough time to read all the books we want too, it would be great wouldn’t it? Nice list of books this week. kelley—the road goes ever ever on
ReplyDeleteWe just need more hours in the day! =)
DeleteGreat List! I also loved how you put your list this week.
ReplyDeleteMy Top Ten Tuesday!
Thanks! =)
DeleteI just heard of Red Rising last night and added it to my TBR list and today I've seen it around everywhere! I hope you enjoy reading all of these when you get to them!
ReplyDeleteHere are my Top Ten!
Haha, it really is everywhere!
DeleteThis is a great list! The Bees, and Viper Wine really intrigue me! The Miniaturist is a gorgeous book, and sounds great too. I've heard mixed things about The Jewel, but I still want to read it and see how those themes are handled in YA. And yes, you MUST read The Handmaid's Tale.
ReplyDeleteThanks! =D I promise I'll read The Handmaid's Tale ASAP.
DeleteI meant to read The Jewel as well! I hope you get to read these books soon Jess! Thanks for stopping by my blog. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks! ^__^
DeleteThe Miniaturist looks intriguing to me as well. It's wonderful when you can snap up a book for a song! I found the first two books in Lev Grossman's The Magicians series on a discount table at Barnes and Noble. They look really nice on my shelves. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Miniaturist, Red Rising and Mortal Heart are on my TBR as well. There are a few you mention that I've never heard of but look lovely so I'll have to go look up more about them! So many book. One day we'll get all the books we want to read read right?
ReplyDeleteI really want to read Red Rising, the plot sounds great (and the author is hot....). I also want to read The Jewel even though I've heard mixed things about it. I have The Miniaturist on my shelf but haven't gotten round to picking it up yet either.
ReplyDeleteMy TTT - http://www.ablondelibrarian.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/top-ten-2014-releases-that-i-just-didnt.html
I'd been wanting to check out The Bees as well! I thought Alienated was pretty good, and I'm looking forward to the sequel. Looks like you have some really fun reading ahead of you!
ReplyDeleteAlienated also made an appearance on my list! I hope I get the chance to read Half Bad and Red Rising this year as well. Great Picks and Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by earlier,
Erica @ Read It. Note It.
Red Rising and Half Bad were on my list as well! Especially since I hear that Golden Son is even better than Red Rising! I REALLY liked The Jewel, though I do know some people weren't as fond of it as I was. It does have some issues, but the entertainment factor kept me completely interested. Hope you get to read these soon!
ReplyDeleteShannon @ It Starts At Midnight
Ah! The Jewel! I had it then i gave it away on the premise that if i owned it that long I wouldnt read it and now i kick myself.
ReplyDelete<3 Britt 2 please feed the bookworm