Twelve Days of Books - 2015

Twelve Books of Christmas 

On the first day of Christmas, my media specialist recommended to me:  

 This is the second installment of the twelve books of Christmas.  I have had some help this year gathering some recommendations for this year's list.  I am blessed to have children and a niece who love to read, and this year's list is full of their recommendations.  Some books on this list have already been mentioned in previous posts, but since they are in a series, they deserved mention again.  Enjoy these books, and recommend a few of your favorites.  And now to the countdown!

1. Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson.    A fantasy with great characters, this trilogy was recommended by my son.  A new and interesting magic system is introduced, allomancy, which is a magic of the metals.  There is romance, unexpected turns and twists, and is action packed.  

    2.  Forever War - Joe Haldeman - Here is another recommendation by my son.  This is a science fiction book that features Private William Mandella who is willing to fight in a war that has been going on for over a thousand years.  He wants to be able to go home, but he must realize that while he is away fighting, he ages in months while the Earth is aging in centuries.  This book was first published in 1976, and soon after being published, it won some impressive awards: 

Hugo Award for Best Novel (1976), Nebula Award for Best Novel (1975), Locus Award for Best Novel (1976), Ditmar Award for Best International Long Fiction (1976).  (Goodreads)

3.  The Lunar Chronicles  by Marissa Meyer.  Fairy tale twists (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel) are the main characters in these science fiction/fantasy books.  Cyborg, intergalactic struggles, an evil queen, and strong female characters that will help save the world makes these books page turners.  These books were recommended by my daughter and my niece.  

4.   Queen of the Tearling  by Erica Johansen

This is a trilogy that was heartily recommended by my daughter.  I have to admit that I was leery about reading this book.  I usually am NOT into fantasy. Fantasy was not my first choice when I looked in the book sections of my favorite bookstore.  However, I was drawn into this book, and I cannot wait until the third book comes out in June.  There are so many elements about this book that ring true for us today - pollution and lack of stewardship in our world, religious zealots who make the rules regardless of what the true teachings were, and the downside of our technology.  A group is led back? in time to another place, another time.  There a new society is started, and where our character, Kelsea Raleigh emerges.  Intrigued?  You'd better have time to sit and read before starting this trilogy.

5. Blessed are the Crazy: Breaking the Silence about Mental Illness, Family, and Church by Sarah Griffith Lund

Let's face it. Mental illness is not something that we talk about within our families much.  To be sure, we don't often talk about it enough in society.  Why not?  There is a stigma about mental illness, and we as humans don't like to think that maybe within our families and with those we love, something is not quite right.  This is the author's memoir about her early life, her father's mental illness, and her brother's illness as well.  How do we as a family help those we love?  What can the church do to help our family members and ourselves deal with the implications that a mental illness can bring to a family? This book made me think - a lot - about our society and what we need to do better in helping those who suffer from mental illness.

6.  The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

This book was recommended by my son.  He loves fantasy, and this book is one of his favorites.  Toted as a coming of age story, this book chronicles the life of Kvothe, who becomes a wondrous wizard.  As a huge Harry Potter fan, I think I am adding this book to my personal reading list.  

7.    Throne of Glass by Sarah Maas (Throne of Glass series)

Celaena Sardothian has spent the last year doing hard labor in the Salt Mines. These are the same Salt Mines where most people who are sent there only last for a month or less.  She is offered her freedom by Prince Dorian on one condition.  She must serve as the King's champion and fight battles to survive.  She was once the country's most well known assassin until someone betrayed her.  If she accepts the king's bargain, then maybe she can find out who betrayed her. Celaena is a very strong female character as well.  I loved this series, and am anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series.  

8.  A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas

I had to include another series by Sarah Maas. This series is a brand new one, and like the Throne of Glass series, I liked this books very much.  Feyre has to hunt to keep her family from starving.  One day she is out looking for food and she spots a small doe in the woods.  Just as she starts to hit her target, she notices a very large wolf who has also spotted the doe.  Because of the size of the wolf, Feyre wonders briefly whether the wolf might be Fae, but she also knows her family needs to survive the winter and the pelt of the wolf could be sold for quite a lot of money in the market.  She makes the kill only to find out a few days later that she has killed a member of the Spring Court and the wolf was indeed a shapeshifter Fae. Her punishment must be her own death, or to spend the rest of her days in the Spring Court as a prisoner.  What does she choose?  What will her family do if she is gone?    

9.  Red Rising by Pierce Brown (Red Rising trilogy

This is a recommendation from my daughter, who is a huge fan of Dystopian novels.  She was also a huge fan of Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and the Divergent series. According to my daughter, this book is a little difficult to get into at first, but the plot twists will pick up and once you are immersed in the world, you never want to leave.  The scene is a colony on Mars, and Darrow is a Red, which is the lowest of the low.  This book has lots of twists and turns, and speaks about social injustice.

10.  Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This book is sitting next to my chair waiting in line to be read.  I love the cover, and I  have heard that this book is quite good.  Since it is next on my reading list, I am going to recommend this book as one of the twelve.  This book was inspired by the lives of those people who lived in Ancient Rome. Laia is a slave, Elias is a soldier.  Both are ruled by the Empire.  Neither are free.  Nevertheless, their destinies are intertwined.  

11.  Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

I chose this book because I was able to meet the author, and liked what she had to say in her short discussion during the recent conference I attended.  The main character has an allergy that will not allow her to leave the house for any reason.  Her life consists of seeing her mom and her nurse.  Until...a new neighbor moves in.  Hopefully her life is about to change...for the better.

12. Made You Up - Francesca Zappia

Alex is a high school senior who has trouble distinguishing between reality and fantasy.  She has recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia and is learning how to deal with it.  This book is a must read for anyone who who knows someone who struggles with a mental illness- which is probably all of us.  Francesca is a UIndy graduate, and that makes her an Indiana author as well.  This is her first book, so give it a try.  We have a signed copy in the IMC.  

Happy New Year!  Happy Reading!

Thanks to my three helpers!

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge

Rachelle doesn't always believe the warnings that her Aunt Leonie is constantly drilling into her mind.  She knows she shouldn't walk in the forest alone because there are dangers, and those dangers could cost her life, or other's lives as well.  The forestborn and woodspawn are dangerous to any human, and the few humans that survive suffer horrendous consequences.  

Rachelle makes some terrible mistakes, and in order to recompense her sins, she tries to protect her town from the dreaded woodspawn.  She draws the attention of the king who orders Rachelle to be a bodyguard to his son.  

Rachelle knows that the Devourer will be returning soon.  She knows that the Darkness will soon take over, and there will be no more light.  Her Aunt Leonie warned her that this would happen, but she didn't take the old woman seriously. Now her aunt is dead, and it is Rachelle's fault.  She has a duty to stop the Devourer, and she doesn't have time to be a bodyguard to the King's spoiled son.  The future of the world depends on her.  

She knows the forestborn who "owns" her will be returning soon to help the Devourer return to power and eat the sun.  She must find the sword that will end the Devourer's life.  Can she trust Armand, the king's son, to keep his mouth shut?  As a matter of fact, who can she trust?  

Boy Nobody by Allen Zadoff

He's the new kid in school, and there is something about him that makes people want to trust him.  Ben, however, works for The Program, and the Program takes care of suspected threats to our government.

Ben is a sixteen year old assassin.  He has been taught to go in, prepare, finish the task assigned, and leave without a trace.  But now there are complications.  Now there is a "rush" job.  Now there is a target that Ben likes. Now there is a daughter could easily date.

I couldn't put the book down.  I was sucked in and couldn't wait to read about what the next move would be.  There is a sequel.  I usually don't do sequels, but this one will go on my reading list.

The Invasion of the Tearling by Erica Johansen

Kelsea is trying to be a good ruler, but a lot of things are stacked against her.  The dreaded Mort army is approaching, and not only outnumbers the Tear army, but they have more firepower.  She has angered the head of the church, and she has unknown enemies.  Who are Rowland Finn and the Fetch?  What secrets does the Red Queen have that she protects at all cost?

Kelsea has been having more and more blackouts.  These blackouts take her back to Pre-Crossing times.  A woman named Lily is prominent in Kelsea's dreams, so much so that Kelsea is beginning to look like Lily.  What happened in Pre-Crossing America?  What was life like for the people living there- especially women?  Why is Lily so important?

While the Mort army is getting closer and closer to the Keep, Lazarus and the Queen's Guard do all they can to keep Kelsea safe while she deals with her blackouts and tries to understand the darkness inside her.  It is a time of great sacrifice for all Tearlings- and as much as they love their new queen, neither they nor she understand what it takes to be the ruler the country needs during the time of crisis.

The Red Queen will do anything, ANYTHING, to get the sapphires that Kelsea wears and have Kelsea killed.  She has sold her soul already, so she has nothing to lose.

Can Kelsea get her blackouts under control and protect her people?  Who can she trust?  Can she give her heart to someone without him breaking it?  And who is Lily?  Why is her history so important to the Tearlings?

I loved this book, and honestly, I cannot wait to read the next installment.  Let's talk about it!

Top Secret Twenty-One by Janet Evanovich

Who has worse luck than Stephanie Plum?  Well, no one really.  She has ruined numerous cars, had apartment fires, been attacked by crazed convicts, and cannot decide between the two men in her life.  

Ranger, who was in special forces, has a past that Stephanie doesn't fully understand.  She does understand that a one-eyed Russian agent from the past is trying to kill him.  She also knows that her life is in danger as well because of her association with Ranger. 

Stephanie also needs to bring in Jimmy Poletti, who is a drug runner and sex trafficker.  He's a scumbag; she needs to get him off the streets, and get the much needed body receipt money for a vehicle - since her loaner from Ranger was destroyed by a rocket propelled grenade.

Add Grandma Mazur, Lula, ten crazed chihuahuas, Atlantic City, a three foot magnet for trouble and you have the makings for Top Secret Twenty-One.  If you haven't read the series before, you're missing out!  

Takedown Twenty by Janet Evanovich

This is the time of year when things get really hectic, and we just need a book that will give us some belly laughs.  If you haven't met Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter, you have been missing out on someone's life that is much crazier than mine will ever be.

 Stephanie is in her early thirties and just not ready to settle down.  It doesn't help that she has Joe Morelli and Ranger interested in her romantically - or otherwise.  She also has her Grandmother Mazur, her friend, Lula, an ex "ho." and her hamster, Rex.

Someone is killing elderly ladies and putting them in dumpsters.  Stephanie is quite upset, and wants to find the killer because she is worried about her grandmother's safety.   There is also a giraffe on the loose.  Is Morelli's godfather involved?  Will Morelli's Grandma Bella put the evil eye on Stephanie if she won't leave Sunny, Morelli's godfather alone? Will Stephanie have to give up bounty hunting as work in a butcher shop to help pay the bills?  Is grass fed beef all it is cracked up to be?

If you have a couple of hours, dive into these books.  They are laugh out loud funny.  If you don't have time to sit down and read them, download the audio version from your public library.  I guarantee you will laugh all the way to your destination.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

I have been reading a lot of dystopian novels with the most recent read being The Queen of the Tearling.  In the same vein (no pun intended), Red Queen is set is a time after a nuclear war has wiped out much of the earth.  A war has been continuing for centuries with the loss of many lives, and the world's resources are at stake.

.  Blood is two different colors, silver and red.  The Silvers rule and many have super human powers.  The Reds are the commoner and servants.  Their place in society is determined by the color of their blood.  

Mare Barrow is a thief.  She steals to help keep her family alive, and her blood is red.  She pickpockets the prince of the Silvers, and from that moment, her life changes.  Mare finds that she is different from the other Reds, and she also finds feelings that she didn't realize she had.  

Can she use her powers to help her people?  Can she trust those around her?  Will greed, corruption, and intrigue cloud her decision-making? Will the prejudice and servitude ever end? I am ready for book II, so book I is all ready for you!