A Few Classics

As well as reading some brilliant YA and adult fiction over the summer, I also read a few classic novels. 

I spent a week in the French Alps in August and decided to read some French classics while I was there. Candide by Voltaire was definitely not for me - I've decided to avoid satire from now on as I always hated it at uni as well. Madam Bovary, on the other hand, was superb. I loved it from start to finish. 

It would be a contender for my favourite classic of the year, but I followed it by reading A Room with a View, which I enjoyed even more. This is the second Forster novel I have read and I'm making plans to read A Passage to India soon. His novels remind me a little of Jane Austen's (without the guaranteed happily ever after, and a lot more social commentary). 

What I'm Writing

At the moment, I'n busy getting Fearful ready to be queried. It's almost there: the pitch is done, the synopsis is written, I'm just making a couple of tweaks to one of the chapters before I start sending out emails. 

I'm also working on my full-length version of Mirrored Snow. There have been a few false starts on this one, but I now have a firm outline that I'm happy with and I'm certain I have enough material to work with. 

I'm a few chapters in to Out of Water - my Little Mermaid retelling being posted weekly on Wattpad, which you can read here. 

I have a couple more ideas taking shape at the back of my mind, and I would really like to have another go at New London is Burning - the dystopian novel I queried last year - at some point too. Hopefully I'll have a complete draft of Mirrored Snow by Christmas, then I can start the new year with some new projects. 

A Reading Update

Why do I always let my reviews backlog like this? Why?

I've read some brilliant books over the past few months, but I'm struggling to write any reviews of them now because too much time has passed! I'm going to stay up to date from here on in, but here's a quick round of up what I've been reading lately: 

• Out of the Blue
• Circe
• Friendship Fails of Emma Nash
• Slay
• City of Brass

Out of the Blue was a beautiful novel that made me desperately want to visit Scotland (and feel a bit ashamed for not having done so already). 

I'm going to leave Circe for now as I'm going to a talk at the South Bank Centre featuring Madeline Miller very soon, so I'll blog about how amazing (so, so, so amazing) this novel is then. 

Friendship Fails of Emma Nash will probably be my book of the year. It brought on tears of laughter and left me feeling happier than I'd been when I started it. Chloe Seager is a comedy genius and she's going on my auto-buy list.

Slay was a really fun read that I think I'd have enjoyed more if I'd read it when I was a teenager. Ten-fifteen years ago, I know I would have been obsessed with this novel. I would recommend it to teenage music fans everywhere!

City of Brass: I can't believe I let this sit unread on my kindle for so long! I've already preordered the second book so that I can read it the moment it comes out. The world building in this novel is amazing. 

I've almost finished The Rose and The Dagger, so hopefully I'll post a full review of that next week. The writing is so beautiful I'm struggling to put it down. 

Love, Hate & Other Filters

Why is this novel not being raved about everywhere? It's amazing - not only beautifully written, but powerful too, and important. Everyone should read this novel, writer or not.

But if you are a writer, here are some brilliant things you can pick up from Ahmed's writing:

• Film isn't just a throw-away hobby to make Maya a more rounded character, it completely shapes her voice and the narrative tone of the story. It's so clever how Ahmed sets scenes as though Maya were preparing to film them and uses different film genres to explore where the story might go next. 
• Ahmed successfully weaves two different narratives into her novel, with snippets of someone else's story ending most of the chapters. These really amp up the tension in the novel and keep you guessing as to what might happen. 

Write200 week five

I can’t remember how I got into my current frame, how I became the girl in the mirror. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t born here. Pretty sure I’m real, not manufactured or conjured from nothing. The queen’s never been specific, but I get the impression I was collateral - kidnapped in revenge for some perceived slight. Probably someone said she wasn’t the most beautiful woman in the world. The queen is petty like that. Vindictive. Vain. 

My earliest memories are all from within the four gilt borders of my frame. Of my life before, I remember nothing. Well, almost nothing: snippets of lullaby come to me sometimes in a language I no longer understand and haven’t heard on the shores of this kingdom; the smell of jasmine makes me want to cry, but I don’t understand why. And yes, I can smell. It’s odd, what I can and can’t do. I can move frame, but I can’t leave the frame all together. I can smell, but I can’t taste, see but can’t touch. My senses feel stunted. Undeveloped. I hear everything and everyone, but only one person can hear my responses. 

And most of the time she acts as though I’m not even there.

Tower of Dawn

Chaol Westfall has always defined himself by his unwavering loyalty, his strength, and his position as the Captain of the Guard. But all of that has changed since the glass castle shattered, since his men were slaughtered, since the King of Adarlan spared him from a killing blow, but left his body broken.

His only shot at recovery lies with the legendary healers of the Torre Cesme in Antica—the stronghold of the southern continent's mighty empire. And with war looming over Dorian and Aelin back home, their survival might lie with Chaol and Nesryn convincing its rulers to ally with them.

But what they discover in Antica will change them both—and be more vital to saving Erilea than they could have imagined.

You should read Tower of Dawn if you are a writer because:

• Maas is an expert at writing from multiple perspectives. All of her viewpoints are convincing and she's really good at maintaining the pace of the novel even when swapping between characters in very different places. She also keeps readers waiting to discover if her characters will get themselves out of jeopardy. 
• The world building over the course of this series has been so intricate, complex and enthralling. There are so many layers to her world, and centuries of history for multiple nations, continents and races. 
• Maas side-characters are just as developed as her main ones. You can imagine many of her supporting cast starring in their own novels. 

Write200 week four

Gwen could still remember the day she broke the bronze-wood table. 

She’d been seven. Freya only two, all chubby limbs and rosey cheeks. Gwen couldn’t picture her without smiling. She used to run in and out of the table legs; still small enough to go under the table without ducking. To a two-year old - unaware of her lower body on show beneath it - it was the perfect hiding place. But Gwen was a model big sister and dutifully looked at every other potential space in the dining room before ‘giving up’ and sitting on a chair at the table’s edge, waving her legs beneath it. 

“Ow!” A giggle. 

“Hmm,” Gwen replied, swinging her legs again - light enough to brush her sister’s shoulder, but not so much that she’d heard her. 

There was another giggle. 

“That’s strange,” Gwen said to the room. “I can’t find Freya anywhere, but the table is definitely making strange noises.”

A third giggle, stifled by a chubby hand over a mouth. 

“I hope there isn’t a ghost in here.”

“Whoooo!”

Gwen jumped up, so that she was standing on the chair. 

“Whoooo!” 

She stepped from the chair to the tabletop. 

A small voice at the back of her mind told her that she shouldn’t be on there. That Mama would have a fit if she came in and saw her. 

But she was too focused on Freya’s joy to pay it any notice. 

This one isn't finished, so I might extend it at some point. Hopefully you can see where it's going from this brief snapshot. 

Clean

I can feel it swimming through my veins like glitter ... it's liquid gold.

When socialite Lexi Volkov almost overdoses, she thinks she's hit rock bottom.

She's wrong. Rock bottom is when she's forced into an exclusive rehab facility.

From there, the only way is up for Lexi and her fellow inmates, including the mysterious Brady.

As she faces her demons, Lexi realises love is the most powerful drug of all ... 

It's a dirty business getting clean ...

Reasons you should read Clean if you're a writer: 

• Voice. Clean flows beautifully. Lexi's voice was utterly believable, from the language to the tone she used. 
• Clean is a novel about addiction - and it's utterly addictive to read. The short chapters made it very hard to stop reading, and I was always thinking about this novel when I was away from it.
• Clean is also a great example of how you don't have to agree with all the decisions a character makes - or even like them all that much - to still root for them and enjoy following their narrative journey. 

Write200 Week three

The bird’s keen eyes watched her. Blue-grey as a storm-shook sky. An awareness far beyond its years. It was as if he looked not at her, but through her, right down into the depths of her soul. She was stripped bare before that gaze, but it didn’t frighten her. Instead, it strengthened. Here, finally, was someone in this kingdom who could see her. Who beheld who she was and didn’t shrink from it, just silently considered. There was no judgement in those eyes, only peace. 

“Hello, clever one,” she said, her voice little more than a breath on the evening tide. 

The bird inclined its head - a permission. 

The feathers her hand brushed against were even softer than she’d expected; not the gentle smooth down of city pigeons, but fluffy, as if it were covered in feathers of fur, more mammal than ave. They were deeper than she expected too. Her whole hand was swallowed by the impossible white softness and still she couldn’t feel the warm flesh beneath. She was reminded of the alpaca blankets her father had traded last winter. These feathers were just as soft. As deep. Her eyes stung at the memory. 

“Why are you here?” she whispered. Why aren’t you devouring me was what she really wanted to know. The bird, as if in answer to her unspoken question, nipped at her shoulder. Do you want me to eat you? She seemed to ask as she drew back, observing again. 

Gwen shook her head. Of course not. 

A Court of Frost and Starlight

Feyre, Rhys, and their close-knit circle of friends are still busy rebuilding the Night Court and the vastly-changed world beyond. But Winter Solstice is finally near, and with it, a hard-earned reprieve. 

Yet even the festive atmosphere can't keep the shadows of the past from looming. As Feyre navigates her first Winter Solstice as High Lady, she finds that those dearest to her have more wounds than she anticipated--scars that will have far-reaching impact on the future of their Court. {goodreads}

Why you should read ACoFaS as a writer: 

• The relationship between Feyre and Rhys is intense, enthralling and creates the sort of fan-base enthusiasm that many writers dream of. 
• The world building is really detailed. We are four books in now, so I suppose that's unsurprising - Maas has had a lot of pages to give readers a detailed insight into her world, but I still think it's worth reading Frost and Starlight for the mythology and world building. 
• Frost and Starlight shows how you can continue to add to a series and world without it becoming tired or dull. Another writer who does this superbly is Leigh Bardugo. 

Write200: week two

It's been tricky to chose my write200 sample this week. Despite my best intentions, most of my pieces have centred around the same story, but I'm quite enjoying dipping in and out of the world, working out some of its quirks and getting to know the characters without any pressure. I got a copy of John Yorke's Into the Woods for my birthday and I'm going to read that before I fall down the planning rabbit-hole. I think this is my favourite part of writing - the very early stages when an idea is rough and anything is possible. 

Snowflakes brushed against the glass like fingertips; a gentle, barely-audible beat that filled the otherwise silent room. 

Home was never this quiet. Home was always a hive of activity: Papa preparing clothes and fabrics for the market; Mama busy mending, fixing, tinkering with the house - our lives; Freya was a whirlwind of energy, never too tired to play, never too exhausted to make noise. I missed the life that flowed through our house; the happiness contained in those everyday noises. I’d never appreciated them until now. 

Now, the quiet of the palace was suffocating. Small noises roared like klaxons. Not just the snowflakes made a racket: silk slippers across marble floors; the soft breaths of the guards on the door. The palace was loud and silent all at once; full of far more people than had ever stepped foot in our townhouse at one time, but so much emptier. Lonelier. 

Tears splashed onto my newly-bejewelled fingers before I even realised I was crying. 

Great. Now I’d have to arrive at the breakfast feast with puffy eyes and ruined makeup: the princess who wanted to go home. 

I took a deep, shuddering breath and turned away from the window. I ran my fingers under my eyes to wipe away the tears but dipped my head down to avoid the mirror by the door; I had no interest in surveying the damage I’d done. A clay mug wouldn’t fit into a porcelain tea-set just because it was polished. It would be better to appear exactly as I was. No point establishing standards I’d only fail to keep. 

It's rough around the edges, and probably doesn't make sense without all the accompanying backstory contained in my head, but I think the imagery at the end has potential. 

Children of Blood and Bone

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy. {goodreads}

Reasons you should read Children of Blood and Bone as a writer:

• The world building is superb. The mythology is so well thought out and actively engages the reader, as you'll find yourself wondering which clan you belong to (which you can discover here - my sister and I were amazed to be put into the exact clans we thought we'd best fit into after reading their descriptions!)
• Diversity: this is a YA fantasy like no other, which is incredibly refreshing. It's also a clever way of addressing real-world problems like racism. Despite being set in an enthralling fantasy world, the strongest parts of CoBaB were the moments that felt most human - the emotional intensity will stay with you for as long as the magic.
• CoBaB is written from multiple perspectives. Each character's voice is distinctive and engaging, and the novel's plot weaves between them well. There isn't a prescriptive pattern, which has made me rethink elements of my WIP. 

Writing Update and Write200

I've recently finished another round of edits on two quite long projects (both fantasy YA) and I've been reluctant to throw myself into the middle of another big writing project straight away. I have made a start over the last few weeks on turning my Snow White retelling Mirrored Snow into a full length novel, but it's something I'm dipping in and out of at the moment, rather than devoting myself to entirely. 

Instead, I'm focusing more on free writing, and have challenged myself to write at least 200 words a day on something unrelated to a current project. I'm using it as a sand box, of sorts, to work on description and world building, and also to try out new ideas. A lot of it is quite rough around the edges, but in a bid to keep myself on track, I'm going to share my favourite piece on my blog each Sunday. Here is the first. 

The pounding at the front door was loud enough to rattle the breakfast things on the tray I’d placed on the table. Fine porcelain cups, a tea pot twice as old as I was and the small jug of milk shook precariously. I was thankful of the tray when a slurp of tea fell from the spout; Mama would have scolded me if the silver-wood table had been damaged. 

As it was, she was already fuming from the interruption: “Whoever could that be at this hour? The dawn lizards aren’t even out yet. No one can have such urgent business at this time of day.” 

Concern curdled in my stomach like spoilt milk; no one called at this hour unless it was an emergency - especially not with a knock like that. My pulse raced when I thought of Papa, who was away on a business trip. Had he taken sick? Been attacked by khaziani riders? Caught in a snow storm? At least we hadn’t had a chance to eat breakfast yet; the churning of my empty stomach was bad enough.

Mama - ever practical and unafraid - reflected none of my fear. She reflected little else of me, either. Her eyes were a pale green to my warm brown; her hair ash blonde to my chestnut; her features soft and friendly while I was made of harsh angles and high cheekbones. My little sister, Freya, and Mama were like two sides of the same coin - practical, yet soft and loving - while I seemed to belong in a different coin pouch all together. 

I got a bit carried away with this piece and ended up with over 600 words (and possibly a new story, but I'm trying not to let it take over my free writing time slot!) The two write200 pieces that have come after it have also been quite long and set in the same world. 

Warcross

Warcross by Marie Lu

When a game called Warcross takes the world by storm, one girl hacks her way into its dangerous depths. For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn't just a game - it's a way of life. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who bet on the game illegally. When Emika hacks into the game illegally, she's convinced she'll be arrested, and is shocked when she gets a call from the game's creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year's tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. {goodreads}

Reasons you should read Warcross if you're a writer:

• The world building! My last WIP included google-glass-like technology, but Warcross took the idea to a level I would never even have considered. I was ready to move into this world. Until the plot twist...
• And wow, the Plot twists in Warcross are amazing. I'm obviously not going to say anymore, but it's worth reading for the twists alone. Lu is brilliant at subverting readers' expectations.
• Lu's romances are swoonworthy - I loved the way she wrote relationships in Legend, but Warcross is even better. 

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

So I'm going to try a new style for reviewing. Up until now, I've given you a general overview of the novel - what I liked etc. (I never tell you what I didn't like anyway, as I can't bring myself to be negative - if I hate a book, I just don't review it!) But this year, I've been really focussing on reading like a writer (I mentioned it in my review of The Belles) and I think it would be really interesting to blog about the things I pick up from the books I read, and where their strengths lie from a writing perspective. I'm going to start with The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue, which I finished today and gave me the idea when I wanted to write down everything I loved about it from a writing perspective while I was half-way through. 

So here is why I think Gentleman's Guide is a writer's must-read:

• It's a brilliant example of how to create a convincing character arc. I was fully invested in Monty and his growth throughout the novel. 
• It shows you that characters can be irritating, but still win the reader over. There were times in this book I could have screamed at Monty, but they didn't make me love him any less. 
• Diversity is a big part of this book. I don't think I've ever read such a diverse historical fiction novel. 
• Voice is another strong point, but I think this ties in to the strength of Monty's characterisation.
• The way Lee writes about love and relationships had me highlighting so many passages on my kindle.  

So that's it. I'll probably make these longer as I go, but I'm hoping this way of blogging will encourage me to update more frequently, as it's something I'm already thinking about as I read. 

Have you read Gentleman's Guide? If so, what did you think?

The Belles

Wow! It's been a while! I've been very busy editing two novels and haven't had much time for anything else. But I'm giving myself a few days off from writing to catch up on other things, like blogging and reading. I've read some superb fantasy novels over the past few months which I'm excited to finally get reviews down for. 

I'm starting with The Belles, by Dhonielle Clayton.

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orléans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orléans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful. {goodreads}

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld has been one of my favourite books for a long time, but The Belles took everything I loved about Uglies and made it even better. I adored this novel. It explores society's obsession with beauty and appearance, and has amazing characterisation, friendships and superb world building. 

I'm obsessed with all the tiny details that made the world so realistic. The post balloons were my favourite; I would love to see them interpreted in a film version. 

This year, I've been reading more like a writer and one of the things which really struck me about The Belles was how tight the plot was: it hit all the right places with its highs and lows and it is a superb example of exactly how you should write a book - but that's not to say it's in anyway formulaic or unoriginal - far from it. 

The Belles was innovative, surprising and utterly captivating. While I don't think it's a world I want to move to, it's definitely one I want to read more about.

The Cruel Prince

I owe @JennieLy huge thanks for sending me a signed copy of this book, which I devoured in a few days. If I could have done nothing but read for twenty-four hours I would have finished this in one go. 

“If I cannot be better than them, I will become so much worse.” 

Jude and her sisters were abducted as young children and taken to the High Court of Faerie. Instead of hating her new home, Jude wants nothing more than to belong. With politics, danger, action and complex relationships, The Cruel Prince is a novel not to be missed. 

"You may win in the end, you may ensorcell me and hurt me and humiliate me, but I will make sure you lose everything I can take from you on the way down."

The world building in this novel was superb; it made me yearn for childhood fairytales. It was dark, cruel and believable despite its fantastical elements. Jude was a brilliant main character - she was flawed and difficult. Everyone in this novel is morally grey, so you never knew who you could trust. 

“I stand in front of my window and imagine myself a fearless knight, imagine myself a witch who hid her heart in her finger and then chopped her finger off.”  

There were elements of Jude and Cardan's relationship (if you can call it that) which reminded me of Pride and Prejudice, although this was far from being a fantasy YA retelling. 

"Like taking a dare to run over knives, like an adrenaline strike of lightning, like the moment when you've swum too far out in the sea and there is no going back, only cold black water closing over your head."

I can't believe I have to wait a whole year to know what happens next. I can see this being one of my top reads of 2018.  

2018: part three

For the past two weeks, I've posted about the books I'm most looking forward to reading this year. Here are the final three, two of which are by the amazing Louise O'Neil. 

Almost Love

When Sarah falls for Matthew, she falls hard.

So it doesn't matter that he's twenty years older. That he sees her only in secret. That, slowly but surely, she's sacrificing everything else in her life to be with him.

Sarah's friends are worried. Her father can't understand how she could allow herself to be used like this. And she's on the verge of losing her job.

But Sarah can't help it. She is addicted to being desired by Matthew.

And love is supposed to hurt.

Isn't it?

The Surface Breaks

I can't find a cover or synopsis yet for this on Goodreads, unfortunately, but the sampler they gave out at YALC was gorgeous (we spent ages looking for it). I love fairy-tale retellings and I love O'Neil's work, so this is one I can't wait to start!

Floored

Told from the perspective of each character and a mysterious narrator, Floored is about all the ups and downs of life.

After they go through a traumatic experience together, the lives of six strangers become intertwined, and they decide to meet once a year to commemorate the day they met and the person they lost.

Another YALC sampler I can't stop thinking about is Floored, which is a collaboration between some amazing UKYA authors. It's told form multiple perspectives (each character voiced by a different author) and I really can't wait to find out what happens next in it!

Which books are you most looking forward to reading in 2018? Let me know in the comments. 

PopSugar 2018 Challenge

After realising I'd done so well on PopSugar's 2017 reading challenge last week, I'm feeling inspired to have a go at 2018's. Here's this year's list and the novels I think I'll be using to complete it.


A book made into a movie you’ve already seen
True crime
The next book in a series you started {Tower of Dawn}
A book involving a heist
Nordic noir
A novel based on a real person
A book set in a country that fascinates you {The Belles}
A book with a time of day in the title
A book about a villain or anti-hero
A book about death or grief {Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index}
A book with a female author who uses a male pseudonym
A book with an LGBTQ+ protagonist {Out of the Blue}
A book that is also a stage play or musical
A book by an author of a different ethnicity than you {Warcross}
A book about feminism
A book about mental health
A book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift {The Book of Dust}
A book by two authors
A book about or involving a sport
A book by a local author
A book with your favorite colour in the title
A book with alliteration in the title
A book about time travel
A book with a weather element in the title
A book set at sea {The Surface Breaks}
A book with an animal in the title {Catwoman: Soulstealer}
A book set on a different planet
A book with song lyrics in the title
A book about or set on Halloween
A book with characters who are twins {One}
A book mentioned in another book
A book from a celebrity book club
A childhood classic you’ve never read {I capture the castle}
A book that’s published in 2018 {Batman: Nightwalker}
A past Goodreads Choice Awards winner
A book set in the decade you were born
A book you meant to read in 2017 but didn’t get to {Always and Forever, Lara Jean}
A book with an ugly cover
A book that involves a book store or library
Your favourite prompt from the 2015, 2016, or 2017 POPSUGAR Reading Challenges

Are you taking part this year? If so, which books are you planning to read for the different categories? I really struggled to come up with titles for this, so it would be great to hear your ideas!

2018: part two

Last week, I posted about two of my most-anticipated books for this year. Here are the next two:

 

Children of Blood and Bone

Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zelie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls. 

But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were targeted and killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.

Now, Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good. 

Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers—and her growing feelings for the enemy.

I've been looking forward to this since I first heard about it. Orïsha sounds fascinating and I can't wait to read more about it. 

State of Sorrow

A people cowed by grief and darkness.

A cut-throat race for power and victory.

A girl with everything and nothing to lose…

Sorrow all but rules the Court of Tears, in a land gripped by perpetual grief, forever mourning her brother who died just days before Sorrow was born. By day she governs in place of her father, by night she seeks secret solace in the arms of the boy she's loved since childhood. But when her brother is seemingly found alive, and intent on taking control, Sorrow has to choose whether to step aside for a stranger who might not be who he claims to be, or embark on a power struggle for a position she never really wanted.

I loved the world Salisbury created in the Sin Eater's Daughter and, after reading the sampler of this given out at YALC, I'm sure I'm going to enjoy State of Sorrow just as much. 

PopSugar 2017 Challenge

So I didn't complete this year's challenge, but I didn't do too badly either. Here's what I managed to complete:

A book recommended by a librarian

A book that's been on your TBR list forever {Snow Like Ashes}

A book of letters

An audiobook

A book by a person of colour {We Should All be Feminists}

A book with one of the four seasons in the title

A book that is a story within a story {The Next Together}

A book with multiple authors

An espionage thriller

A book with a cat on the cover

A book by an author who uses a pseudonym {Jane Eyre}

A bestseller from a genre you don't usually read {American Gods}

A book by or about a person who has a disability {Crooked Kingdom}

A book involving travel {A Gathering of Shadows}

A book with a subtitle

A book that's published in 2017 {Carve the Mark}

A book involving a mythical creature {Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them}

A book you've read before that never fails to make you smile {Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}

A book about food {The Weekend Baker}

A book with career advice {Structuring Your Novel}

A book from a nonhuman perspective {Strange the Dreamer - sort of? Maybe stretching this one a bit... My other option is A Court of Wings and Ruin, since that's about fae...}

A steampunk novel

A book with a red spine {The Power}

A book set in the wilderness {Loneliest Girl in the Universe? Space is a wilderness of sorts...}

A book you loved as a child 

A book by an author from a country you've never visited {Way Down Dark}

A book with a title that's a character's name {Anna and the French Kiss}

A novel set during wartime 

A book with an unreliable narrator {One of Us is Lying}

A book with pictures {one of the many, many picture books I read this year...}

A book where the main character is a different ethnicity than you {The Hate U Give}

A book about an interesting woman {The Essex Serpent}

A book set in two different time periods {The Next Together - cheating slightly by using this one twice!}

A book with a month or day of the week in the title

A book set in a hotel {Unconventional}

A book written by someone you admire {The Cursed Child}

A book that's becoming a movie in 2017 {American Gods - cheating again here as it was a TV show, not a film}

A book set around a holiday other than Christmas 

The first book in a series you haven't read before {This Raging Light}

A book you bought on a trip {Alex and Eliza}

So I had to use one novel twice, but this is much better than 2016's effort. Plus there are lots of books I read this year that didn't fit into any of the categories. 

2018: New year, new books

There are some brilliant books coming out this year. Some of these titles I found out about at YALC, others I've seen a lot of buzz about on twitter. All of them sound amazing. I've narrowed it down to a top six, and I'm going to post about two each week. 

 

The Belles 

Camellia Beauregard is a Belle. In the opulent world of Orléans, Belles are revered, for they control Beauty, and Beauty is a commodity coveted above all else. In Orléans, the people are born gray, they are born damned, and only with the help of a Belle and her talents can they transform and be made beautiful.

But it’s not enough for Camellia to be just a Belle. She wants to be the favorite—the Belle chosen by the Queen of Orléans to live in the royal palace, to tend to the royal family and their court, to be recognized as the most talented Belle in the land. But once Camellia and her Belle sisters arrive at court, it becomes clear that being the favorite is not everything she always dreamed it would be. Behind the gilded palace walls live dark secrets, and Camellia soon learns that the very essence of her existence is a lie—that her powers are far greater, and could be more dangerous, than she ever imagined. And when the queen asks Camellia to risk her own life and help the ailing princess by using Belle powers in unintended ways, Camellia now faces an impossible decision. 

With the future of Orléans and its people at stake, Camellia must decide—save herself and her sisters and the way of the Belles—or resuscitate the princess, risk her own life, and change the ways of her world forever.

Would you look at that cover? So pretty. I read an excerpt of this on EW a few months ago and I can't wait to read the rest. The Belles easily tops my list of most-anticipated novels of 2018. 

Everless

In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.

No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.

But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.

Another beautiful cover and a really exciting concept. It reminds me a bit of the film In Time, and I'm hoping Everless will be just as exciting.