Top Ten Tuesday | New to me authors 2012

Top Ten New To Me Authors I Read In 2012

 -- Originally created by The Broke and Bookish

Cassandra Clare

Compelling. Gripping. Love love love the characters in her books (especially the infernal devices series) 

Marissa Meyer

One of the most imaginative authors I have read all year, am so excited (if you hadn't gathered) for more books by her.

Michael Grant

His work with characters was amazing. Such a full cast of characters and you knew so much about them all - not everyone can do that. The gone series is ridiculously gripping so far, brilliant concepts.

Stieg Larsson

I'm not normally into crime fiction but his work is to die for and is everything you would want in a novel of that description.

George R. R. Martin

Epic. Do I need to say any more?

I would put Veronica Roth and Suzanne Collins on the list for Divergent and The Hunger Games respectively but I thought their sequels lacked so much of the first books that I didn't think they deserved a top mention for me. 

A lot of other authors have really impressed me but they haven't blown me away like the ones I have listed above!

Top Ten Tuesday | Christmas List

Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Bringing Me

 -- Originally created by The Broke and Bookish

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

I really want to read this before the movie comes out - I've heard so many good things about this book and just want to see if it's all it's hyped up to be.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Across the Universe, the first book in this series was an alright book, but the premise of it was very promising. I want to see how this series progresses to see whether I'm actually going to change my mind on what I thought of the negative aspects of the first book.

Legend by Marie Lu

This has been on my to be read pile for a little while so if I could get around to getting and reading this book it would be absolutely fantastic. Again, I have heard this book is really good so want to jump on the band wagon as you might say.

His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman

I first read 'The Northern Lights' or as you Americans like to call it, 'The Golden Compass' ages ago and then I remember starting the second book, but I don't remember finishing it. Due to the fact that this was ages ago, a little while ago I re-read the first book in preparation for the second book and I relived how amazing the first book was so I am thoroughly excited to read the rest of the series. At home we have the 3 book in 1 book but I don't like that kind of format and refuse to carry such a massive massive book around with me to work that I really want them as separate books.

Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan

I have read the first book and enjoyed it immensely. I thought, because it's kind of a children's book, that it would be in fact childish but the premise of the book is so interesting, and in all the fantasy elements you also learn a bit of history in with it. It's also an all rounder book as well which is a plus filled with action and adventure to boot. I originally got the first book out of the library but I would like to own the collection myself.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Again, like 'Legend' this has been on my to be read list for a very long time now so I think it's due a buy and a read.

Eon by Alison Goodman

Ditto again.

Gone Series by Michael Grant

I have got and read the first two books, and I am in love with this series - and the second book didn't fall to what I like to call, 'Second Book Syndrome' so I'm mega stoked to read the rest of these. I also love the dark covers that are available with the brightly coloured front font and page edges - they do look awesome on my book shelf might I add.

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

A lot of my book tend to be from books I've read the first in the series, and this is yet another one - so excited to read this. It better not go into the 'Second Book Syndrome' category that Insurgent did, or I'm going to be ridiculously angry.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

An ARC of Scarlet would be amazing. Out of all the books to be released in 2013 this is one I would pay to have before it's released - ergh, February is too far away!

"Cinder" by Marissa Meyer

 When I first heard that Cinder was going to be a fairytale retelling, I immediately thought that it would be predictable and boring to read. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella, how can you possibly make it unique. Well I'll be the first to admit I totally and utterly judged the book before it had even begun and I can't even begin to tell you how undeniably original this novel was.

We set the scene in New Beijing after World War IV, the deadly plague of letumosis is spreading across the commonwealth, and with the Emperor sick with this life threatening disease, New Beijing is in a state of panic. Cinder is a cyborg mechanic living with her two step sisters and her stepmother, who will stop at nothing to make her life a living hell because of the resentment that lies below the surface. It isn't until the infamous Prince Kai turns up at Cinder's market stall that her life is turned upside down and she finds her self stuck in the middle of an intergalactic struggle for peace.

Right from the first page in this book, you take a plunge into the deep end of New Beijing and you're instantly surrounded by the fantastical futuristic world that Meyer has developed. A world where pretty much everything is computer based; from ID chips to hovercrafts and androids - the imagery is close to perfect, and I found myself caught in the book from the off. The pacing was spot on for me, it had enough tension but didn't keep you waiting for too long until another twist came or something unexpected happened. No one part lingered on a little longer than needed, and most importantly at no point did I get bored of reading this book.

Now on to the most amazing thing about this book; the plot. Personally, I have never read a retelling before, but if this is anything to go by then it has set the standards way up there. The story of Cinderella was still lurking there beneath all the uniqueness, you got hints of it every now and then to remind you that this was a retelling when you got too comfortable in its originality. The history of the world that was told through this book added another dimension to the novel - the ongoing war and struggle for peace with the Lunars on the moon was believable and the way the characters described them and had their own opinions on them created a view of the way they were seen from the off which they succeeded in presenting. There was one thing in the plot which was a bit of a downfall, and that was the ending and the fact that it was quite predictable. That however, is the only negative thing I have to say about this book.

The characters were unbelievably relatable and believable, and I felt as though I connected with each and every one of them in the way that is expected with regards to the original Cinderella story. I didn't like the step sisters, (well I did and I didn't, but I can't explain that without spoilers), and I absolutely despised the stepmother beyond any other hatred I've ever had for a character in a book - she wasn't 'evil' but she was just so sly and subtly dark. Prince Kai was so, normal, well for a Prince anyways. He had a modesty about himself wherein he didn't take his fame and fortune for granted, he didn't really see himself as anything special despite the thoughts of the swooning girls throughout the city. He was naturally charming and mischievous without even knowing and he was a wonderfully likeable character. Lastly Cinder, she was most definitely a strong minded character, but she had a tendency to doubt and belittle herself just due to the fact that she is a cyborg. Even when put through some hardships she always tried to keep her head held high even if it only looked as though her pride was being kept in place. She was a wonderful protagonist and I felt as though I really got to know her throughout the entirety of the novel.

I could not put Cinder down, and even when I had to, I was still thinking about how amazing a book it was - I kept on telling everybody I knew how much of a brilliant novel this was. I am super excited with the sequel to come out and I'm just angry I need to wait till February 2013 to read it. I'm a little worried however, with what I've heard of the sequel, that it won't be as good as it doesn't necessarily carry on with Cinder but with 'little red riding hood' instead. But I'm open to give this book a chance. Anyways, I highly recommend Cinder to anyone and everyone and give it the biggest 5 stars of the year so far.

★★★★★