"The Rules of Magic (Practical Magic Prequel)" by Alice Hoffman

Disclaimer: I was given a free advance ecopy of this book via NetGalley from the publisher, Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review. My opinion remains as forthright as ever.

Well, it's time to think back to all the things I loved about The Rules of Magic, because letting it sit without a review irks my perfectionism to no end, especially when the book was as powerful as this one is. It follows three siblings through their adolescence and into adulthood- choosing their own paths, while still trying to avoid the family curse.

I have read many of Alice Hoffman's books. This one, for me, was the best of the bunch- the only two that come close are Turtle Moon and The Dovekeepers. I think the reason this one is 5 stars while the others I mentioned only garnered 4.5 stars is because I read this one precisely when I needed it. My grandmother passed away last year on October 3rd, and I'd only begun to read this book a few weeks prior (and slowly, as I was trying to savor it). This book has themes of death, grief, and injustice that resonated with me as I side-stepped through my own familial dramas.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):

'Find your magic

'For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man.

'Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk.

'From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse.

'The Owens children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the revered, and sometimes feared, aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy.'

What the future would be was yet to be discovered. As for the past, they already knew it too well.

            ~The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman, 73% Kindle edition

Whether you love, hate, or feel some sort of apathy toward your family members, they shape the way you grow up, and The Rules of Magic explores that avenue. I developed an immediate like for Franny and Jet, and a disgust for Vincent, who does typical teen boy stuff (or at least, what some of the typical teen boys I knew did). All of them are a bit lost in the world, and they cope with it in different ways, but in the end I found myself relating more to Vincent than any of the female characters (which I consider quite the miracle due to my initial dislike of him). 

Another of my favorite parts of this book is the fact that all of the Owenses have their own distinct plotline- and yet I never got bored or disinterested, even when most of their behavior was predictable. There was something delightfully operatic about this book that kept me reading even though some of the themes felt a bit too painful for me to touch at the time. Ms. Hoffman brought tears to my eyes and made me smile, even when I didn't want to.

The Rules of Magic is the sort of book you need when you don't know what to do. It is not, by any means, a self-help book, but it helped me nonetheless. Sometimes fiction is a much easier medicine than nonfiction to share ideas and stories, and I feel that is the case with The Rules of Magic. I recommend this book to everyone, whether you want to read it or not. Too bad, it's now my favorite, and therefore will be ruthlessly mailed as a gift to acquaintances and friends near and far for all occasions. 

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars for an extraordinary novel that helped me navigate 2017!

Age Advisory: Ages 16+ for sexual content, drug use, violence, swearing, and themes of grief.

Page Count: 369 pages

"The Hobbit, or There and Back Again" by J.R.R. Tolkien

I subscribed to Kindle Unlimited for the first time this month because they were running a special (the first two months for $0.99) which I couldn't pass on, given Elizabeth Hunter's Irin Chronicles books are available on it. But then, I noticed The Hobbit was also available on it (a book I've always wanted to read) so I chose to read this one first.

I was a bit ambivalent about reading this book because though I love Tolkien, it was also my father's favorite (and he and I are not friends). Luckily, though, it seems the charm of Tolkien's writing and the audiobook narration (which was free with Kindle Unlimited) really helped overcome my negative feelings about this book. It's fairly hard for me to dislike any book, regardless of reason, if it's well written, and I will say the same of this one. The Hobbit is phenomenally composed and sweepingly atmospheric.

To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself outside, without a hat, a walking-stick or any money, or anything that he usually took when he went out; leaving his second breakfast half-finished and quite unwashed-up, pushing his keys into Gandalf's hands, and running as fast as his furry feet could carry him down the lane, past the great Mill, across The Water, and then on for a mile or more.

              ~The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, page 21 of the Kindle edition

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):

'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

'Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when it was first published in 1937. Now recognized as a timeless classic, this introduction to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, the wizard Gandalf, Gollum, and the spectacular world of Middle-earth recounts of the adventures of a reluctant hero, a powerful and dangerous ring, and the cruel dragon Smaug the Magnificent.'

I always thought I was most like Eowyn or Galadriel in Tolkien's books, and while I may have some similarities in personality to those feisty women, I am also very like Beorn and Smaug. Beorn is a Skin-changer who can take the form of a black bear, has control over animals, and is surprisingly a vegetarian! I'm not a vegetarian, but I do have fairly good control over my trio of beasts, and I'm also less than enthused with guests like Beorn.

Smaug, on the other hand, is technically the villain of this book. To be honest, though, Tolkien paints him rather neutrally- Smaug is just being a dragon, and dragons kill people and animals and collect shiny things. I may not kill people, but I certainly keep to myself and I notice when my shiny things are touched and dislike it immensely. It was just a joy to read and hear the conversations between Smaug and Bilbo!

The Hobbit is an epic journey in one small, unassuming book. It's often hard to judge a book by its page count, but this one seems like it's longer than it is even though it's a short read (in a good way). If you've ever wanted to follow a wacky heist with a bevy of strange characters, this book may be for you.

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars for a book that made me feel like a dragon again!

Age Advisory: Ages 12+ for violence, general reading comprehension, and tricksy hobbitses.

Page Count: 366 pages

"Royal Assassin (Farseer Trilogy #2)" by Robin Hobb

This review is of a book that is the 2nd in the Farseer Trilogy. There may be spoilers for those of you who haven't read Assassin's Apprentice. My review for the first book in the series, Assassin's Apprentice, is here.

With sequels I tend to brace myself for a let-down. I've had so many sequels fail me in the past that when I read one like Words of Radiance I celebrate by reading it in a week (despite its lengthiness). Although one always hopes for the best, I had this feeling Royal Assassin would let me down. As a human with limited prediction capabilities, naturally I was wrong.

During most of Assassin's Apprentice, Fitz spends his time doing what other people want him to do. With this book, Fitz goes a bit rogue- he's more of his own person, even though he does things mostly for people (again) he does it in his own way. By anticipating needs and strategies, he does get himself into trouble, which is part of what makes this book so good- Fitz makes his own choices, with his own consequences. Normally in a book, that wouldn't be a cause for cheer, but with Fitz having his unusual upbringing and unseemly doses of loyalty running through his veins... it was about time.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Fitz has survived his first hazardous mission as king’s assassin, but is left little more than a cripple. Battered and bitter, he vows to abandon his oath to King Shrewd, remaining in the distant mountains. But love and events of terrible urgency draw him back to the court at Buckkeep, and into the deadly intrigues of the royal family.
'Renewing their vicious attacks on the coast, the Red-Ship Raiders leave burned-out villages and demented victims in their wake. The kingdom is also under assault from within, as treachery threatens the throne of the ailing king. In this time of great danger, the fate of the kingdom may rest in Fitz’s hands—and his role in its salvation may require the ultimate sacrifice.'

Beyond Fitz being his own person in this book, Fitz also endures more struggles than before when he was an apprentice. The events of the past book have left their mark on him, causing seizures and moments of weakness that make him less of a fearsome assassin. I didn't find Fitz very relatable in the first book, but the illness he endures in this one mimics some of what I have to contend with daily. Sure, I've never had a seizure (that I know of) but I do have days where I hide in my house for fear of fainting in public (on that vein, I'd like to applaud authors who have the dreaded "fainting heroines" because dammit, that's my life some days). Fitz also adopts a wolf puppy (not a Wolf puppy, an actual wolf puppy) to save him from the trapper who kept him in a cage. Cub, who is later known as Nighteyes, becomes a key part of the book- and naturally, I loved him.

Another feature this book won me over with was the more prominent presence of female characters. There's Patience, queen-in-waiting Kettricken, and Molly (who is undoubtedly the smartest). Kettricken comes into her own in this book as well- at first, it seems like an ill-fated match between her and Verity, but as the book progresses, it becomes clear she was destined to be queen. Molly is as cautious as ever, though with Patience's help, she also grows stronger.

A favorite of mine from the first book, the Fool, is also a prominent character in this book. Something about him just speaks to the obscenely pale side of me that wishes I were a court jester/prophet as well. Although he is a wise one, he is without the profound knowledge of Burrich, as evidenced below:

"Many people have to live with worse. Most of the time you're fine. You're not blind. You're not paralyzed. You've your wits, still. Stop defining yourself by what you can't do. Why don't you consider what you didn't lose?"

              ~Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb, page 10

Royal Assassin was much, much better than I had anticipated. Although I had a slight ambivalence toward Fitz during the first book, I loved how he progressed as a character during the course of this one- he's still single-minded and serves others before himself, but he gains an independent streak. With Nighteyes at his side, he endures despite terrible odds, making this book a "white-knuckle" read. If you've read Assassin's Apprentice, this book is really a must read- I hadn't anticipated the series improving, and yet here I am, rating a sequel five stars.

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars for an extraordinary epic fantasy sequel that kept me reading until morning light!

Content: Ages 18+ for torturous scenes, gore, and unusual courage.

Page Count: 675 pages in my mass market paperback edition

"The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux

It's difficult to even begin to review this book because I loved it so much, I'm afraid I'll do it more harm than good by reviewing it. If a book is anything but five stars, it's simple for me to parse it piece by piece, because I don't have that troublesome love emotion clouding my judgement. I loved this book- that's simple. Explaining that love will take some doing.

In the beginning, I was relatively unimpressed. It started like many other classics I've read, so why would it be different from any other? I loved the writing style, elegant words strung together in such a fashion that I read efficiently, and I found none of those cumbersome, hard to decipher sentences that seem to plague me with other works. The story, in the beginning, mind you, could've used a little boost: it was definitely on the slower end of things. For me "riveting" isn't how I'd describe it until halfway through, when we finally get toward the action side of things.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'First published in French as a serial in 1909, "The Phantom of the Opera" is a riveting story that revolves around the young, Swedish Christine Daaé. Her father, a famous musician, dies, and she is raised in the Paris Opera House with his dying promise of a protective angel of music to guide her. After a time at the opera house, she begins hearing a voice, who eventually teaches her how to sing beautifully. All goes well until Christine's childhood friend Raoul comes to visit his parents, who are patrons of the opera, and he sees Christine when she begins successfully singing on the stage. The voice, who is the deformed, murderous 'ghost' of the opera house named Erik, however, grows violent in his terrible jealousy, until Christine suddenly disappears. The phantom is in love, but it can only spell disaster. Leroux's work, with characters ranging from the spoiled prima donna Carlotta to the mysterious Persian from Erik's past, has been immortalized by memorable adaptations. Despite this, it remains a remarkable piece of Gothic horror literature in and of itself, deeper and darker than any version that follows.'

It's kind of funny, because usually I really gravitate towards heroines, but with this book the heroine was definitely not who I was intrigued by. Yes, Christine does play her part in the story, but the character who grabbed my attention was the mysterious phantom. Not only is he masked, he can also blackmail with the best of them. He's a sort of eccentric super spy who hides out in an opera house: you never know if he's there or not.

This style of classic is a bit of a melodrama- but I feel like it definitely works for it. Modern works of fiction tend to stray too far into soap opera territory, but there's something about Gothic style classics that invariably appeal to me, even when they go a little far. Sometimes, one needs a book with a lot of emotional flair, even when one purports oneself to be dispassionate.

One of my favorite quotes:

None will ever be a true Parisian who has not learned to wear a mask of gaiety over his sorrows and one of sadness, boredom, or indifference over his inward joy.

             ~The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, page 15 Kindle edition

The Phantom of the Opera is a love story, a horror story, and an antihero tale wrapped into one. Personally, the antihero tale is what kept me engrossed in this particular book- I've long been a fan of characters who are less than perfect. Add in a writing style that make the pages flick by with the greatest of ease, while evoking beautiful ideas and imagery, and I was head over heels for this book. I recommend The Phantom of the Opera for those who love heroes who may be villains as well.

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars for a classic that took me completely by surprise!

Content: Ages 16+ for scary bits (with violence).

Page Count: 225 pages

"My Man Jeeves (Jeeves #1)" by P.G. Wodehouse

I wouldn't say I'm particularly enchanted by short stories, so in general, I avoid them. But in the case of Jeeves, I decided to try it anyhow- I had become familiarized with Jeeves during my childhood thanks to the website that had been AskJeeves.com (once they retired Jeeves, I never used their site again- who wants to use Ask.com? No one!). Although Jeeves isn't the main character of this novel- the story is told through Bertie Wooster's eyes- he is the reason you keep reading.

For your information, I love British humor. The more outrageous it is, the more I tend to love it. The reason why I disclose that is I think you need a love of that sort of humor to properly enjoy this book (and likely, this series). This is also a play on manners comedy, situational comedy- really every type of comedy, but it most certainly has a British slant to it.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'Who can forget our beloved gentleman's personal gentleman, Jeeves, who ever comes to the rescue when the hapless Bertie Wooster falls into trouble. My Man Jeeves is sure to please anyone with a taste for pithy buffoonery, idiotic misunderstandings, gaffes, and aristocratic slapstick.'

Another thing this book has in spades is slang- some of which I can't even decipher myself. It makes for fun and quirky reading. For example instead of b.s. or straight out bulls**t, it's b.-and-s. There are a thousand more examples, but the fun of it is in the discovery- just make sure you have internet access on hand when you read this.

But what really makes this book are the characters- Wooster and Jeeves are the central bromance, but every other sort of character you could imagine (or even beyond that) comes into contact with them. Without the strength of the characters, the comedy in this book would fall completely flat. Even with the wonderful wordplay, it would simply not be a five star read for me without them.

A favorite quote beginning to one of the funniest (for me) stories in the book, "Absent Treatment":

I want to tell you about dear old Bobbie Cardew. It's a most interesting story. I can't put in any literary style and all that; but I don't have to, don't you know, because it goes on its Moral Lesson. If you're a man you mustn't miss it because it'll be a warning to you; and if you're a woman you won't want to, because it's all about how a girl made a man feel pretty well fed up with things.

            ~My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse, 41% Kindle edition


My Man Jeeves is one of those books that best represents the human condition- in a wickedly humorous manner. With a cast of characters I simply adore, cutting dialogue that is right on target, and situational humor in the vein of too strange to be fiction, it isn't any wonder why I didn't hesitate to rate this five stars. I recommend My Man Jeeves for those who love British humor, un-monotonous writing, and life in general.

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars for an extraordinary collection of misadventures!

Content: Ages 14+ for satire that sometimes goes a little too far.

Page Count: 256 pages
FYI: You can get this online for free as a digital version, here.

Early Critique: "The Custodian of Marvels (Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire #3)" by Rod Duncan

Disclaimer: I was given a free advance ecopy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My opinion remains as forthright as ever.

To Be Released: February 2nd

If you haven't read the first book in The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire series, there may be spoilers in this review for you. My review of The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter is here.

You know the weird sense of satisfaction that comes with putting the final piece in a puzzle? Or when you finally polish off a crossword, without once resorting to frantic Googling? That's the only way to describe the feeling I had when I finished this book- way too early, as it happens, but I was unable to put it down. Everything came into focus- not the way I had predicted, but in a flawless manner nonetheless.

I'm one of those people who only grudgingly give a book five stars. It's difficult for me to rate something so highly, likely due to my perfectionistic tendencies. But when I was finished with this book, I knew there was simply no other rating for it- The Custodian of Marvels was simply the perfect book for me. Between a heroine I've admired from the first book and daring exploits that may involve some former characters I thought had been left behind, this book had my recipe for bookish success.

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'You’d have to be mad to steal from the feared International Patent Office. But that’s what Elizabeth Barnabus is about to try. A one-time enemy from the circus has persuaded her to attempt a heist that will be the ultimate conjuring trick.
'Hidden in the vaults of the Patent Court in London lie secrets that could shake the very pillars of the Gas-Lit Empire. All that stands in Elizabeth’s way are the agents of the Patent Office, a Duke’s private army and the mysterious Custodian of Marvels.
'Rod Duncan returns with the climactic volume of the Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire, the breathtaking alternate history series that began with the Philip K Dick Award-nominated The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter.'

Elizabeth Barnabus has managed to evade or escape any sticky situations she's fallen into before- but this will prove to be her most audacious yet. She may be eminently resourceful, but she will need help to pull off the scheme. Tinker, her young friend, comes to her aid again in this story, helping to set her on the right path. I never truly thought having a younger boy as a sidekick would work out as well as it did, but he fits perfectly into the storyline.

I had thought on the role of the International Patent Office, but dismissed them as a quirk of nature in the first book of this series. As a fan of excessive worldbuilding, I assumed they had to do with the plot, but not in a paramount manner. Suffice it to say, the organization has a lot to do with the storyline in this book, bringing about the return of yet another key character.

The Custodian of Marvels surpassed my expectations, and not in a minor way. Whereas I had anticipated an exceptional book, I instead was gifted a rather extraordinary one, filled with action, suspense, and returning characters that left me cheering. If you find yourself in dire need of a steampunk or alternate history series, I sincerely endorse the Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire series for your next reads!

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars for an absolutely marvelous steampunk heist!

Content: Ages 16+ for violence, theft, and banned books.

Page Count: 368 pages

My Best Reads of 2015

This year I was lucky enough not to have read any one star reads, thus negating my need for the best and worst reads. So for 2015- it's simply the best of what I've read.

The 5 Star Reads:

*= links to Goodreads (the unmarked links link to my review on this blog)

Billy by Albert French

Genre: Historical Fiction (but based on a true story)

I unwittingly picked this up from my pile prior to Black History Month (which became an impromptu diverse books month for me) expecting... nothing, really. I expected this to be an interesting historical fiction. Instead it became the book that haunted me throughout the year as topics of race relations and racial injustice came up. I highly *HIGHLY* recommend it.

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux*

Genre: Classic/Gothic Horror

I can't remember which friends of mine were obsessed with The Phantom of the Opera, and if it was just the film they were obsessed with. However, I deemed it a 'girly' thing, and therefore not on my list of things to experience. During my feast of classics this December, I decided to give it a try, and eventually, I ended up loving it.

My Man Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse*

Genre: Classic Short Stories
This is one of those 'joy of being human' books combined with 'comedy of errors', and it's perfect in every way (even though it's a series of short stories and not a full-out book).

Fantasy

 The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Speaking of 'joy of being human' books- I can't believe I put this one off for so long. I love you, Inigo Montoya!

The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard #1) by Scott Lynch
Rating: 4 Stars
I've had trouble with reading this one before, but since there was a readalong for it, I powered through- and ended up enjoying it greatly. Despite some lulls in the plot, I hope to continue the series soon.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Rating: 4 Stars
This is the only Neil Gaiman novel I've ever really *really* liked. For some reason, his urban fantasies irk me while some of his short stories (and of course, this book) have delighted me. If he ever does more fairy-tale-ish fantasy like this, I'll be in line to read it.

Urban Fantasy

Vicious by V.E. Schwab
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I'd had this on my wishlist forever and then finally the price became more decent for me and I snagged it. I expected to enjoy it, and I most certainly did- antiheroes are often my thing, and this read like a summer blockbuster, especially considering it involved superheroes.

Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels #8) by Ilona Andrews
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I had hoped to love this one just a bit more, but I didn't find it quite as compelling as Magic Breaks. However, it's still a worthy addition to the series.

Written in Red (The Others #1) by Anne Bishop
Rating: 4.5 Stars
As I said, I would've picked this one up a fair bit earlier if it had had a cute harnessed Wolf puppy on the cover. However, due to its grim cover, it certainly exceeded my initial expectations of it. It features truly excellent world and character building, with an unlikely heroine.

Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1) by Ilona Andrews
Also, Sweep in Peace (Innkeeper Chronicles #2) by Ilona Andrews*
Ratings: 4 Stars
This urban fantasy also features an unlikely heroine, but not quite as unlikely as the one in Written in Red (Meg). I really liked that this one has an extra sci-fi element to it that I haven't seen in other urban fantasy. It was also simply adorable- a delightful shorter urban fantasy read, along with its sequel.

Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy #1) by Ilona Andrews
Rating: 4 Stars
I'm a bit put out about this series as it has been delayed (and won't likely have a new addition this year). But, this is still one of the best urban fantasy adventures I read this year (along with every other book that Ilona Andrews has written). I don't recommend reading it as quickly, though, due to the delay- read it whenever White Hot (the next book) arrives.

Paranormal Romance

The Secret (Irin Chronicles #3) by Elizabeth Hunter
Rating: 4.5 Stars
The last book with Ava and Malachi (although there is a short story out featuring them), but not the last book in the series (thank goodness). I would expound more, but much of this book has spoilers for the other books, so it's rather dangerous to be wordy here.

Magical Realism

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This was a book everyone was talking about- except me. I felt left out, so I picked it up, expecting another one of those popular books that everyone loves and I simply like. It didn't turn out that way- this came within an inch of five stars. A truly magical gem for anyone who enjoys its genre.

Turtle Moon by Alice Hoffman
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This one I expected to enjoy- I've always enjoyed tales by Alice Hoffman, but this became one of my favorites of hers. It features dogs, who, quite naturally, have a special place in my heart- just like this book.

Local Girls by Alice Hoffman
Rating: 4 Stars
One of those rare books that I've read in one sitting, Local Girls was another book of Alice Hoffman's I enjoyed this year. Although it lacked the polish of Turtle Moon, it still had its moments and is therefore still fully recommendable (especially if you're a rabid Hoffman fan like me).

Fantasy Romance

Song of Blood and Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles #1) by L. Penelope
Rating: 4 Stars
I wasn't sure what I'd get by requesting this on NetGalley, but it turned out to be one of my diverse favorites for the year.

Radiance (Wraith Kings #1) by Grace Draven*
Rating: 4 Stars
A friends-to-lovers fantasy romance by one of my favorite authors? Of course it has to be on this list. Although I didn't like it as much as some of her other work, I'm excited to see what the next book in the series will bring.

Science Fiction

Kesrith (The Faded Sun #1) by C.J. Cherryh
Shon'jir (The Faded Sun #2) by C.J. Cherryh
Kutath (The Faded Sun #3) by C.J. Cherryh
Ratings: 4 Stars
I bought the chunky omnibus of this trilogy for a steal of a price, and it was well worth the time I spent with it. It isn't one of those action-packed sci-fis in space, but it is an intelligent, moderately paced, political-maneuvering piece of science fiction.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1) by Douglas Adams
Rating: 4 Stars
The first of of this didn't really impress me, but the second half did, and that's what counts as far as my ratings go.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Rating: 4 Stars
What impressed me most with this one was the technology the author had imagined up, and how close it is to what we have now. The message was also a great one, even though the characters were little more than pawns to create it for the author.

Anthem by Ayn Rand
Rating: 4 Stars
Despite an awful heroine, this novella has some serious punch (and doesn't take much time at all to read).

Steampunk

Unseemly Science (The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire #2) by Rod Duncan

Rating: 4.5 Stars

With the second book in any series, my expectations rise- and this book met the challenge. I recommend starting with The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter first, of course, otherwise you'll be lost.

The Shadow Revolution (Crown & Key #1) by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

The Undying Legion (Crown & Key #2) by Clay Griffith and Susan Griffith

The Conquering Dark (Crown & Key #3) by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith

Ratings: 4 Stars

These were all review copies I read and greatly enjoyed- what make these is the core group of characters who evolve with each book. There is plenty of action, humor, and a dash of light romance (which helps lighten some of the darker moments).

Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1) by Gail Carriger

Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2) by Gail Carriger

Blameless (Parasol Protectorate #3) by Gail Carriger

Heartless (Parasol Protectorate #4) by Gail Carriger

Timeless (Parasol Protectorate #5) by Gail Carriger

Ratings: 4 Stars

This is a very core-steampunk series- it's been around a while, but I hadn't read any of it until January of this year. In a way, this would be best for those who love both historical romance and urban fantasy, as the books give you that feel, with an adventurous twist.

Historical Fiction

Intriguingly, all the covers of the books I liked most in this category are partly or mostly red. Hmm...

The Third Son by Julie Wu
Rating: 4 Stars
I knew little to nothing about Taiwan when I began this novel and learned a lot, while being entertained with an unusual story of coming to America.

Peony in Love by Lisa See
Rating: 4 Stars
This is really a combination of historical fiction and magical realism, and it probably isn't for everyone. However, it became my new favorite book by Lisa See.

Rebel Queen by Michelle Moran
Rating: 4 Stars
Another story I knew nothing about, this follows the guard of a 'rebel queen' and shadows much of the queen's life. It was a roundabout way to tell the story, but one I enjoyed nonetheless.

The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro
Rating: 4 Stars
Entertaining and well-written, however, it is also heartbreakingly predictable. I recommend this to those who like the journey as opposed to the destination.

Historical Romance

A Good Debutante's Guide to Ruin (The Debutante Files #1) by Sophie Jordan
Rating: 4 Stars
I got this as a Kindle freebie and hadn't expected much, despite its mainstream publisher. Nonetheless, this was an excellent historical romance diversion, even if it was largely unrealistic.

The Heiress Effect (Brothers Sinister #2) by Courtney Milan
Rating: 4 Stars
A romance where the secondary couple stole my heart more than the 'main' couple.

Memoir/Autobiography/Biography

Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Simply the best memoir I read this year.

Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre
Rating: 4 Stars
What made this biography was its central subject: Eddie Chapman. While there were many parts where I skimmed due to excess detail, the ending really made it a four star read.

The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal by Vicki Constantine Croke
Rating: 4 Stars
If I end up half as interesting as Ruth Harkness, I will consider my life well lived. Also an interesting look at the beginnings of zoos (hint: they weren't so shiny).

The Pianist by Władysław Szpilman
Rating: 4 Stars
An unusual Holocaust memoir that made me feel I knew Władysław's family. Simply one of those must-read-for-yourself books.

Ghost Boy: The Miraculous Escape of a Misdiagnosed Boy Trapped Inside His Own Body by Martin Pistorius*
Rating: 4 Stars
I expected to like this as much as Autobiography of a Face, but despite Martin's incredible story, I just didn't get as much from his book as I did Lucy's. Still well worth a read, just not as interesting as I'd hoped.

Graphic Novel

The Hedge Knight: The Graphic Novel (The Hedge Knight Graphic Novels I) by George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery, and Mike S. Miller
The Sworn Sword: The Graphic Novel (The Hedge Knight Graphic Novels II) by George R.R. Martin, Ben Avery, and Mike S. Miller
Ratings: 4 Stars
Very interesting for those of us who are still waiting on Winds of Winter (and will wait forevermore, it seems...). These were my first forays into graphic novels, and I'd say it was a successful jaunt.

How to Tell If Your Cat Is Plotting to Kill You by Matthew Inman, The Oatmeal*
Rating: 4 Stars
This is very useful, especially if your rescue cat is a natural born killer like mine. But really- I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. This was well worth the Kindle Daily Deal price.

Way in the Outfield/Surprise Genre Category

Dietland by Sarai Walker*
Rating: 4ish Stars (Unsure of exact rating as of yet)
I rarely and/or never read contemporary fiction. It simply isn't my thing, unless there is some element of paranormal. However, this book is widely considered contemporary, but I really enjoyed it. I'm not sure why the ratings are so low on Goodreads (other than the cover shouldn't look so "Miss Nice Girl"). Anyway, if you are curious, go check out other people's reviews on Goodreads, because I haven't quite digested my thoughts on this yet.

Are any of your favorites on my list?