Most Memorable Books of 2016

There are great books.
There are amazing books.
There are interesting books.
There are so-so books. 
There are "I didn't like it" books.
There are weird books.
And then there are the memorable books.

And those are my most memorable books of 2016. The ones I'll immediately think of whenever I look back, smiling and nodding and thinking "yes, this one was truly amazing."

The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan

This book...

*shaking my head wordlessly*
I shouldn't be surprised I loved it as much as I did. This is a Rick Riordan's book, after all. But before reading it, I was terrified of reading this book. 

Long story short, I had some major issues with the first book in the Magnus Chase trilogy. 

I still ended up enjoying it, but the shock of not absolutely loving it was just too hard for me to handle. 

So when it came to anticipating The Hammer of Thor, I was cautiously excited. I readied myself for the possibility I wouldn't love it. 

And then...

OH GOD, I LOVED THIS BOOK! 

It was incredible and beautifully done.

Rick Riordan... you're amazing!

If you, like me, had your issues with The Sword of Summer, worry not! For this book will take them all away.  

In this book you may (or may not) find: 

• A gender fluid shapeshifter who is also a love interest. 

• A goat killer assassin. 

• A talking sword that loves to sing. 

• A wedding. 

• A psychotic god trying to escape 

• Overall craziness

• Some fun times.

• Some hard times

• Some sad times

• Some awesome times.

• Some times in general.

For the rest of the review...

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

*Looking up from the pages of the notebook, I rub my bloodshot and blurry eyes*
O, hello there, gentelfriends. I almost did not see you there.
*Picking up the pages lying all around, I'm trying to make, somehow, order in the chaos*
Forgive me for the mess. It has been a very long time now since I last reviewed a book. Especially a book as... other as Nevernight.
*Clearing my throat*
I think I got this now. Or almost got it. Whatever the case, I am ready to begin.

But before we start, a fair warning to you lot: for those of you who have yet to be immersed into Nevernight's dark pages, I shall recommend not to proceed beyond the 'full review (with spoilers)' sign.
Apart from that, do not fear to read ahead.
After all...

Never flinch.

Never fear. 

And never... ever forget. 

For the rest of the review...

The Call by Peadar O' Guilin

If I had to describe The Call in a few words, I would say this book is somewhat of a cross between the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning and Nevernight by Jay Kristoff.
It has that same fast-paced and addictive feeling as Fever (and the gruesome faeries. Don't forget the gruesome faeries) and the darkness of Nevernight (if you read Nevernight - or even heard of Nevernight - you know what I mean).

Darn, if I didn't love this book. 

It was all the way in for me from the very first line, and I couldn't let it go until the very last one.
But just like I did with Nevernight, I have to warn you this book is dark. And I do mean dark-dark. At times, I found it to be even more twisted than Nevernight (but that's a matter of taste now). Despite the fact this book follows a very YA protagonist (she's only 14), this world Peadar O' Guilin has created is not a world where children are allowed to be children any longer. 
This book is brutal. Don't expect otherwise. Fully expect to see teenagers - kids, really - die gruesome deaths from their own POVs.
And yet... as dark as this book was, it was also beautiful and hopeful and strong. It delivered strong feelings, strong message and a strong protagonist. Everything about this book was memorable. 

For the rest of the review...

Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I didn't review Gemina simply because I was too mind blown to do so. 

Personally, I loved Illuminae (the first book in the Illuminae Files trilogy) more. But Gemina was no less badass, twisty, scary, funny and mind-blowing. 

For anyone who has yet to get on to this trilogy... I can't stress this enough but: GO READ IT! please.

I don't even have the right words to describe it.  

The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Maybe I've gone too long without reading (three months, people! Three excruciating months), but this book had me captivated from start to finish.
I don't think it's the case, though; my heart was pounding so hard in my chest and my mind is still whirling, trying to form coherent thoughts. To say The Long Game left me speechless would be an underestimate.
I feel like I ran a marathon. An emotional one. A treacherous one, filled with twists and turns. In the dark.
Yes, I think that describes The Long Game best. 

If you don't know who Jennifer Lynn Barnes is, she's a YA mystery-thriller author who knows how to combine romance, humor and action-mystery in the best of ways.
You should check out The Naturals - the first book in The Naturals series. Or you can start with The Fixer - the first book in The Fixer series. 

For the rest of the review...

Willful Machines by Tim Floreen

Taking place in a future where humans created an artificial intelligence so real it can impersonate a human being, the story follows Lee - the son of the president of the united states, and Nico - a mysterious boy who literally seemed to pop out of nowhere.

Willful Machines has action, mystery, romance (the LGBT kind), a rogue artificial intelligence that puts terror in everyone and... oh, did I mention there is some very cool Shakespeare mush in the mix?

I can feel you wanting to read this book. Well, you should, because it's great and hardly anyone knows about it.

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

Lady Midnight was the very first book I reviewed on my blog. 

So it's twice as memorable to me as any other book in this post.
Do you remember your very first review as well?
Good times, good times. 

Needless to say, I loved this book.
It was SO GOOD. And if you're still not on board the Cassandra Clare train then... please read this post I wrote just for you.

For my Lady Midnight book review...

Riders by Veronica Rossi

An amazing take on the four horsemen of the apocalypse. 

Veronica Rossi (as you may know as the author of Under the Never Sky) does a fantastic job in this fantasy paranormal mythology YA book (that I believe is part one in a Doulogy). 

I didn't even expect much out of it going into it, and look at us now - it's one of my most memorable books of the year. 

From the writing style to the characters to the plot and world building, I loved it all.
It's especially more fascinating as it is told from present and past POVs as you try to figure out how everything turned out the way they did.

The Lunar Chronicles by Merissa Meyer

And last but not least is the Lunar Chronicles by Merissa Meyer. 

Took be a while to get on that train but onne I did... blown away I was. 

A Cinderella\Little Red Riding Hood\Rapunzel\Snow White retelling saga. 
Each book is both a continuation of the previous book and a new story.
Four girls, one evil queen, swoony romances, hilarious moments and it all takes place in... the future. And space. 
A sci-fi retelling - now this is a new one.
There is also a spaceship involved, heartwarming teamwork, a kickass android and Captain Thorne (*wink-wink*).

One of the very best in the retellings world. 

And those are my memorable books of 2016.
A truly amazing bunch of them, huh?
By the way, this post is about the books I read in 2016,
and not the ones that came out in 2016 (although most of them did).
Just saying ;)

I hope you enjoyed this little road down book lane of mine.
Now I definitely want to hear your most memorable books of the year.
So tell me all about it.

Also, apologies for my absence this month.
I wasn't feeling all that well, but I'm a bit better now (:

See you soon everyone!
Until then...

The Script - Superheroes

"It may comfort your to know that your death, while astonishly violent, will likely be mercifully swift."  

-- Gemina, Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman

Oh, AIDAN.
Our psychotic artificial intelligent.
We wouldn't want you any other way.