Here we are at the end of another year, and in the course of my reflections, I am trying to not be disappointed in myself. Admittedly, over the course of the year, I have been very busy (what year isn't busy for me?!), and until October, my goal to read 50 new books seemed reasonable. I was ahead of the game before Halloween, and it seemed easy to keep up the momentum. Sadly, through a series of unfortunate events, I fell four books short of my goal. Oddly enough, it was not for lack of reading material; if anything, I had difficulty choosing between all the books I had pre-ordered that arrived between October and November (not to mention the ones I got in December). Indecision (and admittedly, a lack of time) kept me from finishing my Goodreads challenge.
In a fit of creative genius, I have decided to ask you to help me to choose the order of my book list for the new year. In this Book Battle Royale, I will list the books that are awaiting my attention. You will vote for the order they should go in, one through nine. Read through the descriptions (courtesy of Goodreads) below, and at the bottom of the page, respond to the polls. On New Year's Day, I will post the results. Please help me!! Don't leave me wringing my hands in another fit of indecision!!
In no particular order, here is my list of to-read books:
1) Trapped, by Kevin Hearne, Iron Druid series, book 5
After twelve years of
secret training, Atticus O’Sullivan is finally ready to bind his
apprentice, Granuaile, to the earth and double the number of Druids in
the world. But on the eve of the ritual, the world that thought he was
dead abruptly discovers that he’s still alive, and they would much
rather he return to the grave.
Having no other choice,
Atticus, his trusted Irish wolfhound, Oberon, and Granuaile travel to
the base of Mount Olympus, where the Roman god Bacchus is anxious to
take his sworn revenge—but he’ll have to get in line behind an ancient
vampire, a band of dark elves, and an old god of mischief, who all seem
to have KILL THE DRUID at the top of their to-do lists.
2) Ashes of Honor, by Seanan McGuire, October Daye series, book 6
It’s been almost a year
since October “Toby” Daye averted a war, gave up a county, and suffered
personal losses that have left her wishing for a good day’s sleep.
She’s tried to focus on her responsibilities—training Quentin, upholding
her position as Sylvester’s knight, and paying the bills—but she can’t
help feeling like her world is crumbling around her, and her
increasingly reckless behavior is beginning to worry even her staunchest
supporters.
To make matters worse, Toby’s just been asked to
find another missing child…only this time it’s the changeling daughter
of her fellow knight, Etienne, who didn’t even know he was a father
until the girl went missing. Her name is Chelsea. She’s a teleporter,
like her father. She’s also the kind of changeling the old stories warn
about, the ones with all the strength and none of the control. She’s
opening doors that were never meant to be opened, releasing dangers that
were sealed away centuries before—and there’s a good chance she could
destroy Faerie if she isn’t stopped.
Now Toby must find Chelsea
before time runs out, racing against an unknown deadline and through
unknown worlds as she and her allies try to avert disaster. But danger
is also stirring in the Court of Cats, and Tybalt may need Toby’s help
with the biggest challenge he’s ever faced.
Toby thought the last year was bad. She has no idea.
3) Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson
Elantris was the capital
of Arelon: gigantic, beautiful, literally radiant, filled with
benevolent beings who used their powerful magical abilities for the
benefit of all. Yet each of these demigods was once an ordinary person
until touched by the mysterious transforming power of the Shaod. Ten
years ago, without warning, the magic failed. Elantrians became wizened,
leper-like, powerless creatures, and Elantris itself dark, filthy, and
crumbling.
Arelon's new capital, Kae, crouches in the shadow of
Elantris. Princess Sarene of Teod arrives for a marriage of state with
Crown Prince Raoden, hoping -- based on their correspondence -- to also
find love. She finds instead that Raoden has died and she is considered
his widow. Both Teod and Arelon are under threat as the last remaining
holdouts against the imperial ambitions of the ruthless religious
fanatics of Fjordell. So Sarene decides to use her new status to counter
the machinations of Hrathen, a Fjordell high priest who has come to Kae
to convert Arelon and claim it for his emperor and his god.
But
neither Sarene nor Hrathen suspect the truth about Prince Raoden.
Stricken by the same curse that ruined Elantris, Raoden was secretly
exiled by his father to the dark city. His struggle to help the wretches
trapped there begins a series of events that will bring hope to Arelon,
and perhaps reveal the secret of Elantris itself.
4) Alloy of Law, by Brandon Sanderson, Mistborn series, book 4
Three hundred years
after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge
of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting
in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed
skyscrapers racing for the clouds.
Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed,
Spook, and the rest are now part of history—or religion. Yet even as
science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of
Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world.
Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools
for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice.
One
such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn, who can Push on metals with
his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will.
After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy
to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away
his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a
noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the
mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more
dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.
5) The Serpent's Shadow, by Rick Riordan, The Kane Chronicles, book 3
He's b-a-a-ack! Despite
their best efforts, Carter and Sadie Kane can't seem to keep Apophis,
the chaos snake, down. Now Apophis is threatening to plunge the world
into eternal darkness, and the Kanes are faced with the impossible task
of having to destroy him once and for all. Unfortunately, the magicians
of the House of Life are on the brink of civil war, the gods are
divided, and the young initiates of Brooklyn House stand almost alone
against the forces of chaos. The Kanes' only hope is an ancient spell
that might turn the serpent's own shadow into a weapon, but the magic
has been lost for a millennia. To find the answer they need, the Kanes
must rely on the murderous ghost of a powerful magician who might be
able to lead them to the serpent's shadow . . . or might lead them to
their deaths in the depths of the underworld. Nothing less than the
mortal world is at stake when the Kane family fulfills its destiny in
this thrilling conclusion to the Kane Chronicles.
6) The Mark of Athena, by Rick Riordan, Heroes of Olympus series, book 3
Annabeth is terrified.
Just when she's about to be reunited with Percy—after six months of
being apart, thanks to Hera—it looks like Camp Jupiter is preparing for
war. As Annabeth and her friends Jason, Piper, and Leo fly in on the Argo II,
she can’t blame the Roman demigods for thinking the ship is a Greek
weapon. With its steaming bronze dragon masthead, Leo's fantastical
creation doesn't appear friendly. Annabeth hopes that the sight of their
praetor Jason on deck will reassure the Romans that the visitors from
Camp Half-Blood are coming in peace.
And that's only one of her worries. In her pocket Annabeth carries a gift from her mother that came with an unnerving demand: Follow the Mark of Athena. Avenge me.
Annabeth already feels weighed down by the prophecy that will send
seven demigods on a quest to find—and close—the Doors of Death. What
more does Athena want from her?
Annabeth's biggest fear, though,
is that Percy might have changed. What if he's now attached to Roman
ways? Does he still need his old friends? As the daughter of the goddess
of war and wisdom, Annabeth knows she was born to be a leader, but
never again does she want to be without Seaweed Brain by her side.
7) Iced, by Karen Marie Moning, Dani O'Malley, book 1; Fever series, book 6
The year is 1 AWC—After
the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It’s a war zone out
there, and no two days are alike. I’m Dani O’Malley, the chaos-filled
streets of Dublin are my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be.
Dani
“Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by
Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing
rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than
equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can
defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium,
her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.
Dani’s
ex–best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie
princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of
the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it.
What’s more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the
city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux.
When
Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani
finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless, immortal
owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what’s
freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks—and Ryodan will do
anything to ensure her compliance.
Dodging bullets, fangs, and
fists, Dani must strike treacherous bargains and make desperate
alliances to save her beloved Dublin—before everything and everyone in
it gets iced.
8) Shadow of Night, by Deborah Harkness, All Souls series, book 2
Deborah Harkness exploded onto the literary scene with her debut novel, A Discovery of Witches, Book One of the magical All Souls Trilogy
and an international publishing phenomenon. The novel introduced Diana
Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist
and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the
center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as
Ashmole 782.
Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending, Shadow of Night
plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies,
subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious
School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh.
Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced
to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of
Ashmole 782 deepens.
Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping
journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical
discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the
season.
9) Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, book 1
Around the world,
black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged
strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be
real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks
many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually
grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that
haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the
strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in
an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets
unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent
past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?