2012 seems to have marked a return to reading for me. After a year filled with turmoil, life seems to have settled down and as a result I’m picking up a book more often. Yay! This month I managed to finish 6 books, and I was lucky enough to really enjoy each of them.

1. The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan
(Jan. 8 )

I mentioned briefly how much I loved the first book in this spin-off series last summer, and each book just keeps getting better and better!  I’m just sad I have to wait until fall for the next installment.

2. Firelight (Firelight #1) by Sophie Jordan (Jan. 9)

This was a good story… right up until the end. Because the book just STOPS. Basically right in the middle of a scene! There was no ‘ending’, and I was LIVID. If it hadn’t been an eBook I might have thrown the book.  Thankfully the version I read included the beginning of Vanish (the next book in the series), and the first chapter of Vanish makes for an excellent ending to Firelight.

3. The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff (Jan. 14) – Full review here

4. Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth (Jan. 18 )

Loved this one! Definitely in the realm of The Huger Games, but it didn’t have quite the impact of Katniss’ story.  I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.

5. Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles #1) by Suzanne Collins (Jan. 22)

Since I’ve yet to find anything I’ve loved as much as The Hunger Games since I read them, I thought I’d give Suzanne Collins earlier work a try. Gregor the Overlander is the first in a 5 book series that Suzanne wrote prior to The Hunger Games books. While it’s a good story with lots of action and likeable characters, I found it skewed a little younger than I like and I doubt I’ll continue on with the series.

6. The Future of Us by Jay Asher (Jan. 24) – Full Review here

The Future of Us

Summary
In 1996 few people had a computer in their home, the internet was a strange new place and Facebook hadn’t even been invented yet. So when Emma Nelson logs onto her AOL account for the first time, she’s understandably confused when a window for Facebook pops up on her screen. As she explores this perplexing website, Emma is shocked to discover that somehow this page seems to be all about HER but 15 years in the future. Unable to deal with this bizarre discovery on her own, Emma confides in her next door neighbour (and once best friend) Josh. Josh is convinced it’s a prank until he gets a look at HIS future self, and really likes what he sees. But the pair soon discovers that even the tiniest action in the present can have a huge effect on the future. Will Emma and Josh be able to manipulate their future to ensure happiness or will they end up destroying everything before they even get there?

Review
With a truly unique and innovative concept, The Future of Us captures the reader quickly and keeps them hooked with a perpetual desire to find out what will happen next.  Emma and Josh are likeable, although slightly selfish characters, which makes them believable teenagers. A collaboration between two authors, each chapter in The Future of Us alternates between the two main characters point of view. While this tactic can often be confusing – especially in this case when the characters have a very similar voice – it was an excellent way to show how different Josh and Emma’s views of the future were. While some potential for greatness was wasted with unexplored plot-lines, The Future of Us is a thoroughly enjoyable, feel-good story that moves well, even if it doesn’t overwhelm. The 90’s references were perfect, and the questions raised by the possibility of seeing your future kept me thinking for days after I had finished reading.

Verdict
The Future of Us is a quick, easy read that’s hard to put down. With an original concept and thought-provoking message, Josh and Emma’s story will appeal to readers both young and old.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

The Space Between

Summary
Daphne, the daughter of Lucifer and Lilith has spent her life in a city made of steel. Unwilling to indulge in the common behaviour of her sisters, she has forgone the pleasures of earth for an eternity of nothingness in Pandemonium. But when Obie – the one person who breaks up the monotony of her existence – goes missing, Daphne sets aside her fears and ventures out into the world to find him. The only clue she has is Truman, the human boy she met when Obie saved him from eternal damnation in Pandemonium. With Truman’s help, she struggles to rescue the one person that matters most before it’s too late. In the process, Daphne discovers her true power and learns that life is full of the unexpected and people can be saved in more ways than one.

Review
The Space Between is a dark and haunting tale, written in wonderfully descriptive prose so that even the bleakest scenery appears vivid and harshly beautiful.  The story is broken up into three parts: Hell, Earth and Heaven. As is to be expected, Pandemonium (hell) is very bleak and as a result the story doesn’t fully come to life until Daphne ventures to earth. Yovanoff has an interesting take on good and evil, breaking out of the norm to allow angels to be harsh and demons to show kindness. Consequently, the characters in The Space Between are unique and original. And it was very refreshing to read a YA fantasy novel with NO love triangle!  The light romance that was in the story was subtle and believable. My one issue with The Space between was the shift between 1^st person and 3^rd person narrative in an attempt to show both Truman and Daphne’s points of view. It was too subtle to be effective and was often confusing. The final battle was somewhat anti-climatic, but the story continues after the final showdown, and I very much enjoyed the unexpected ending.

Verdict
A beautifully written and fresh take on the standard YA fantasy fare, The Space Between is both eerie and yet heart-warming at the same time.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

Inheritance (Inheritance Cycle #4)

Summary
After the siege of Feinster, Eragon and Saphira continue to travel across Alagaësia with the Varden in an attempt to take control of the land and thwart Galbatorix’s supporters. The further they venture, the more they fear their enemy is too powerful to be defeated.  Eragon trains as hard as he can in hopes of becoming a strong enough fighter to defeat the all powerful Galbatorix, but nothing he does seems to be enough. When unexpected allies join their side, the Varden’s hopes rise, but will it be enough to bring down the most powerful magician in the land? Or will Eragon and the Varden be forced to admit defeat and live under Galbatorix’ rule?

Review
If you’ve come this far in the series then you’re probably already a fan of Paolini’s remarkable characters in the Inheritance series. I love each of the characters and would have a hard time picking my favourite (it’s Saphira). Each of the characters are complex individuals with both strengths and flaws, and their unwavering convictions make it hard to dislike even the most evil players. Rich background stories are woven throughout the four books and Inheritance is no exception, as we finally learn more about the Dragons history and the fall of the Riders.

While the books are sometimes criticized for being too long and drawn out, I for one don’t have a problem with how the story has progressed or its conclusion. While I must admit that Inheritance did drag a bit in the middle, I still enjoyed all the side adventures that brought Eragon and his friends to where they are today.

***SPOLIER IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH***

For those of you expecting a big love scene, you may be disappointed… Eragon’s story has never been a romance, but a tale of growth, strength and overcoming obstacles against all odds. I think Paolini handled the Eragon/Arya situation perfectly in keeping with the true spirit of the novel.

Verdict
It was a long time coming, but Inheritance makes for a satisfactory conclusion to Eragon and Saphira’s story, while still leaving the door open for possible future Rider adventures. This fan is satisfied.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.

Books are listed in the order they were read. An *e at the end of the title indicates that it was an e-book, books listed in bold were my favourites this year. Links are to reviews and discussions here on WAGB.

If there are any books on this list that you’d like to see reviewed or that you’d like to discuss, please leave  a note in the comments. We’re always happy to hear your thoughts and suggestions, and we always like to talk about books!

Reading List 2011

1.     He’s Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrnardt & Liz Tucco (Jan. 13)

2.     Electric Blue (Jane Kelly #2) by Nancy Bush (Jan. 16)

3.     Sucker Bet (Vegas Vampires #4) by Erin McCarthy (Jan. 21)

4.     The Duff by Kody Keplinger

5.     Sweet Spot (Bakery Sisters #2) by Susan Mallery (Jan. 27) *e

6.     The Death of Joan of Arc (Nicholas Flamel #4.5) by Michael Scott (Jan. 28) *e

7.     Up In Smoke (Silver Dragons, #2) by Katie MacAlister (Feb. 11) *e

8.     Gone (Gone #1) by Michael Grant (Feb. 22) *e

9.     Spinning by Michael Baron (Feb. 27)

10.  The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles #1) by Rick Riordan (Mar. 8 )

11.  Divine By Mistake (Partholon, #1) by P.C. Cast (Apr. 5) *e

12.  Subject Seven by James A. Moore (Apr. 22)

13.  Keys to the Demon Prison (Fablehaven #5) by Brandon Mull (May 11)

14.  Eona (Eon #2) by Alison Goodman (June 29)

15.  The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus, #1) by Rick Riordan (July 15)

16.  Wolfsbane (Nighstade #2) by Andrea Cremer (July 28)

17.  Sisterhood Everlasting (SHotTP #5) by Ann Brashares (Aug 2)

18.  Smokin’ Seventeen (Plum #17) by Janet Evanovich (Aug 7)

19.  The Final Warning (Maximum Ride, #4) by James Patterson (Aug 10)

20.  Calling for Angels by Alex Smith (Aug 16) *e

21.  Marked (House of Night #1) by PC Cast (Aug 20) *e

22.  Betrayed (House of Night #2) by PC Cast (Aug 22) *e

23.  Death’s Excellent Vacation by Charlaine Harris & Various (Sept. 1) *e, library book

24.  If I Stay by Gayle Forman (Sept. 3) *e

25.  Where She Went by Gayle Forman (Sept. 4)

26.  Matched by Ally Condie (Sept.11)

27.  The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell (Sept. 18) *e

28.  The Summer of Permanent Wants by Jamieson Findlay (Oct. 11)

29.  The Dark City (Relic Master #1) by Catherine Fisher (Oct. 19)

30.  Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (Oct. 24) *e, library book

31.  The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Nov. 7) *e, library book

32.  Crossed by Ally Condie (Nov. 15)

33.  Explosive Eighteen (Plum #18) by Janet Evanovich (Nov. 20)

34.  The Warlock (Nicholas Flamel #5) by Michael Scott (Dec. 7) *e

35.  Inheritance (Inheritance Cycle #4) by Christopher Paolini (Dec. 30)

I had so much fun with the 2010 YA Reading Challenge, that I couldn’t wait to sign up for it again in 2011. This year, the 2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge was hosted by Jamie at For the Love of YA.

There are four levels to choose from in the YA Challenge:

1. The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
2. The “Fun Size” YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.
3. The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.
4. The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.

Here are my 20 books:

1. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
2. Gone by Michael Grant
3. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
4. Subject Seven by James A. Moore
5. Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull
6. Eona by Alison Goodman
7. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
8. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer
9. The Final Warning by James Patterson
10. Marked by PC Cast
11. Betrayed by PC Cast
12. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
13. Where She Went by Gayle Forman
14. Matched by Ally Condie
15. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell 
16. The Dark City by Catherine Fisher
17. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
18. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
19. Crossed by Ally Condie  
20. The Warlock by Michael Scott

I didn’t fail miserably at this one, but I still didn’t meet my goal. I did manage to read more books than the level below the one I choose required, so I don’t think I did too badly. Although, I would like to be reading at least half of my books electronically, so I will try this challenge again next year.

There are seven levels to the challenge:

1. Curious – Read 3 e-books
2. Fascinated – Read 6 e-books
3. Addicted – Read 12 e-books
4. Obsessed – Read 20 e-books
5. Possessed – Read 50 e-books
6. Fanatical – Read 75 e-books
7. Monomaniacal – Read 100 e-books

I’m going for level four – Obsessed – Read 20 e-books.

I’ll be listing my 20 e-books here as I go:

1. Sweet Spot by Susan Mallery
2. The Death of Joan of Arc by Michael Scott
3. Up In Smoke by Katie MacAlister
4. Gone by Michael Grant
5. Divine By Mistake by P.C. Cast
6. Calling for Angels by Alex Smith
7. Marked by P.C. Cast
8. Betrayed by P.C. Cast
9. Death’s Excellent Vacation by Charlaine Harris & Various
10. If I Stay by Gayle Forman
11. The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
12. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
13. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
14. The Warlock by Michael Scott
15. Book Title by Author
16. Book Title by Author
17. Book Title by Author
18. Book Title by Author
19. Book Title by Author
20. Book Title by Author

The rules for the reading challenge were:

• Read books that were made into movies or T.V. shows
• Books must be read between January 1-December 31, 2011
• Rereads count!
• Books that are currently being made into movies also count as long as the movie will be released sometime in 2011
• You can also watch the movies/T.V. shows as part of the challenge but it is not a requirement

I’m decided to try Level One – Read 5 books that were made into movies/T.V. shows.

While I did read a few books that that belong to series which have movies out, I only read one book that is the basis of an already released movie/show.

1. He’s Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo (Review posted)

I did  also read The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell which is currently being adapted for a 2012 TV show, but that doesn’t really count since the show didn’t come out this year. Either way, I still failed miserably at this challenge!

I’m now 2 for 2.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks to see just how badly I did on my challenges this year!

The 2011 1st in a Series Challenge hosted by Katy at A Few More Pages seemed like an easy one to me.  I am a series lover. I really enjoy getting to know characters and following their stories for a long time.

There are four levels for this challenge:

• Series Novice: Read 3 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Lover: Read 6 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Expert: Read 12 books that are the first in any series.
• Series Fanatic: Read 20 books that are the first in any series.

I didn’t fail too miserably at this one, since I did start 9 new series out of the 12 I was aiming for. I will definitely try this one again next year!

Here are the 9 new series I started this year:

1. Gone by Michael Grant (Gone #1)
2. The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (Kane Chronicles #1)
3. Divine By Mistake by P.C. Cast (Partholon, #1)
4. Subject Seven by James A. Moore (Subject Seven #1)
5. The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (Heroes of Olympus #1)
6. Marked by PC Cast (House of Night #1)
7. Matched by Ally Condie (Matched #1)
8. The Dark City by Catherine Fisher (Relic Master #1)
9. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (Chaos Walking #1)
10. Book Title by Author (Series)
11. Book Title by Author (Series)
12. Book Title by Author (Series)

Unfortunately out of those 9 series I did start, only 3 of them were enjoyable enough to keep me reading the next books in the series. So here’s where I ask my fellow book lovers for helpful suggestions… what new series did you start – and really enjoy – this year? I’ll be needing some new series to follow in 2012.

Crossed  (Matched #2)

*This review contains spoilers for Matched, book 1 in the series.

Summary
After they came and took Ky away, Cassia wasn’t sure what the future held, but she knew she had to find him. Now she’s been working in the outer Provinces for months in hopes of somehow finding a way to connect with him. Fearful that she’s running out of time before she must return to her work assignment in the Society, Cassia sneaks onto an airship transporting workers to a village in the border provinces. Once there, she hears word that someone who fits Ky’s description has recently been in the area. Along with Indie, her one friend from the work camps, Cassia plans an escape and embarks on a journey to find Ky and with any luck, others who want to rebel against the Society as well. While she searches for Ky and the Rising, Cassia must stay alive, avoid capture or discovery and decide where an with whom her future lies.

Review
Now that Cassia has ventured away from her comfortable life in the Society, the sterile and pristine world we were introduced to in Matched has been replaced by rugged wilderness and harsh terrain giving Crossed a very different feel than the first book in the series. Along with the Society, Cassia’s family, and to an extent Xander have also disappeared from this second installment. I found myself missing the characters from the first novel, but did enjoy the new characters that were introduced in book 2.

Each chapter in Crossed switches back in forth between Cassia and Ky’s points of view. While I enjoyed getting to better know Ky in this manner, I found the flip-flopping confusing at times and often had to check back to see who was speaking.  While the story isn’t quite as gripping as Matched, Crossed does set up the next book in the series wonderfully. I’m eager to see how things work out in book 3!

Verdict
An enjoyable read, Crossed felt a little more like a bridge between the fist and third books in the series rather than a complete novel on its own. Fans of Matched will want to read this one, but don’t expect the same book you read in the first installment in the trilogy.

*I received this book for review from the Publisher.