Crewel by Gennifer Albin
I read this one early for the author's pre-BEA buzz tour and can I just say that I LOVED it? Because I did! I can't wait for October so I can read it once more, write the official review, and buy a finished copy!
Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
This is one of the best historical fantasies I have ever read. The premise (assassin nuns!) is so fresh and intriguing that I didn't want to put this behemoth down. This is one of the cases where the length of the book is a definite plus!
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
I loved the Russian flavor that Leigh Bardugo injected into this fantasy novel. The world building was spectacular and the characters left me positively giddy in the end!
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite American authors from the previous century, so when I heard about and subsequently read Bethany Griffin's take on one of his famous short stories, I was smitten.
Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
There are some great debuts this year, and this is one of them. Kathleen Peacock's approach to werewolves is refreshing and kept me up all night reading the book from cover-to-cover.
The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
I adored Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. When I found out she was making the foray into vampires, I was a bit nervous due to vampire burn-out. I shouldn't have been. Julie didn't let me down with her approach to vampire lore and brutal postapocalyptic setting.
Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
This fresh take on the tale of Robin Hood gave me hours of reading enjoyment and left me with a new way of looking at other classic stories.
The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges
This tale of Russian royalty, magic, danger, and betrayal was just what I needed. It had such a fantastic setting and a wonderful premise. I can't wait to read more.
I loved The Immortal Rules & have recently finished Hemlock :) I am looking forward to reading Masque of the Red Death, it sounds amazing!
ReplyDeleteMy post - http://obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/armchair-bea-day-2-my-favourite-reads.html
I've read, and loved, The Immortal Rules. All of the other books are on my list to read :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of these but I have The Masque of Red Death ordered... Shadow and Bone and Crewel look interesting as well.
ReplyDeleteThe Masque of the Red Death and Hemlock are in my list! Cool, I love your picks!
ReplyDeleteHappy Day Two of Armchair BEA! Check out my Top 5 Best of 2012
Oh, I'm so fascinated by Crewel! It just sounds so fantastic. And while Masque of the Red Death didn't blow me away, I thoroguhly enjoyed it as well. Hemlock and The Immortal Rules however, are up there on my list as well. ;) Just awesome!
ReplyDeleteI'm sharing a giveaway today myself, for the 2012 release of your choice! :)
I haven't read any of them but they look good. The covers are so beautiful these days, it's hard to resist.
ReplyDeleteOk, you had me at "assassin nuns." Definitely going on the TBR list.
ReplyDeleteI loved
ReplyDeleteThe Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa as well. I need to get my hands on Hemlock and Masque of the Red Death. Great choices!!
I loved Hemlock and The Immortal Rules. I am starting Grave Mercy soon!
ReplyDeleteKate @ Ex Libris
I wanna read Crewel too. Hope we both get it :)
ReplyDeleteCheck out my Day 2 post if you haven’t alreadyhttp://blkosiner.blogspot.com/2012/06/armchair-bea-day-2-best-of-2012.html
I really look forward to reading Grave Mercy, Hemlock, and Scarlet. They sound amazing!!
ReplyDeleteMy Armchair Best of 2012
I loved Immortal Rules, I haven't read the Iron Fey series yet, but I really need to :/
ReplyDeleteHave fun with aBEA!
http://cover2coverblog.blogspot.com/
I'm in book cover heaven here! Gah, I'm such a sucker for pretty covers. Great list, most of the ones you've listed are on my (constantly-getting-bigger) TBR list. So many great books, so little time. *heavy sigh*
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great BEA-filled week!~Christina (and the other Book Hookup Litbrarians)The Book Hookup's Best of 2012
Grave Mercy is on my list as well - I thought it was hands down amazing. :D
ReplyDeleteHere are my favs!
these books look really interesting! thanks for sharing your favorites!
ReplyDeleteI really want to read Hemlock, Shadow and Bone, and Scarlet. I'm glad to hear that they stood out among the 50 books you read. :)
ReplyDeleteGrave Mercy is on my list to read!!! Nice choices.
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating!
Here's my crem della crem list
Valerie
StuckInBooks
I really enjoyed Scarlet as well! I love all kinds of Robin Hood mythology, so Scarlet was a great read for me! I'm reading Shadow and Bone right now and REALLY liking it so far too! I love the whole atmosphere of the book!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of Armchair BEA! :)
I may have to try Shadow and Bone!
ReplyDeleteSandy
I have Grave Mercy in my TBR pile. I hope that It is amazing!
ReplyDeleteLisa
Reading the BEA posts reminds me of all the books that are still sitting on my wishlist. *sigh* I haven't read any of these titles yet... how frustrating!
ReplyDeleteI agree with SO many! Especially Grave Mercy! WOW! Such a great one!
ReplyDeleteLoved Immortal Rules, and nearly all your others are at the top of my TBR (especially Crewel, which is at the tippety top...mostly because I LOVE the cover).
ReplyDeleteAlso, anyone else think the cover model for Scarlet looks like Nicole Kidman? I think that every time I see that cover.
Great list! Here's my Best of 2012!
I LOVED Masque of the Red Death. The rest of these are on my TBR and I can't wait to read them!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I do believe you're right. She DOES look a bit like Nicole Kidman!
ReplyDeleteThey're all fabulous books! I hope you get to read them soon. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, it is, especially if you enjoy historical fiction and fantasy! :-)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely try it! It's got some great details and an awesome setting. :-)
ReplyDeleteI know just what you mean by "atmosphere." It's so easy to get lost in there. LOL
ReplyDeleteIt was so hard to whittle the list down to what I have, but those definitely did make an impact.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm still in awe over that book. LOL
ReplyDeleteIt's an on-going dilemma for us all. :-D
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
I loved the whole series. It's definitely a must-read in my book! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, yes, and yes! All 3 have such great twists to them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by today! :-)
I've already read it, actually, and I can definitely say that it was FANTASTIC! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
Ooh, hope you have fun! I almost wish I could go back and read it for the first time all over again. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I can only imagine that the list is going to grow exponentially. :-D
ReplyDeleteLOL! That usually catches people's attention. :-D
ReplyDeleteThey definitely have cover design down to a fine art. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
"Fantastic" is the perfect word to describe Crewel, plus the author herself is awesome! :-)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it just!? I was so blown away by that one. :-)
ReplyDelete*eyes own wish list* I think I know what you mean. *sighs*
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to read it soon! It was so, SO good!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Thanks for stopping by, as well. :-)
ReplyDeleteAll 3 definitely have homes on my shelf (obviously, I don't have Crewel yet, but I will!). Thanks for stopping by. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're in for a treat, then! These books make it impossible for me to pick only 5. LOL!
ReplyDeleteIt is! I really loved the direction she went in with the story. So imaginative!
ReplyDeleteOooh we've got a few of the same choices - Grave Mercy, Shadow & Bone, Crewler. I also really liked The Immortal Rules, but it doesn't stand out as much as I thought it would when I compare it to some of my other favourite reads so far!
ReplyDeleteKellyMy Best of 2012