Bloody Bookaholic's Top/Worst YA Books Reads of 2012 + 2013.

Well, it seems the year ends today. I have been in such a vacation rush that I don't even notice what day it is anymore, and yesterday was my brother's birthday (oops!).

I decided to make it a two in one kind of deal then. Here I am going to post which were the very best books of 2012, la creme de la creme, but I am also going to post the ones that I couldn't stomach. Enjoy, and if you have a list as well by all means post it here! I love looking at these and how we may differ or have similar taste.

TOP Reads of 2012:

  

These three books, Pandemonium, Insurgent, and Days of Blood & Starlight, must be the best sophomore books written in the history of YA. All three kept me at the edge of my seat, there was absolutely no boring lull, and they set up the third book of the series to be absolutely epic. Thank you zombie Jesus for these great books and the authors behind the words!

  

 Sweet Evil was unexpectedly good. Gave a whole new spin to the war between good and evil, angels and demons. And dare I say it was a much needed spin. Before I Wake was absolutely amazing, but then again anything that Rachel Vincent does is amazing so no surprise there. I can't wait for the next book in the Soul Screamers series, out this upcoming year. Pushing the Limits was also unexpectedly good! A contemporary YA read, which is not usually my cup of tea but this book, thanks to Katie McGarry, made it work and got me interested in the contemporary genre as a whole.

  

Vessel... so enchanting. Though the ending left me wanting more, it felt like it was missing something, it still is one of the best reads of this year. It was beautifully crafted, the world is fascinating and the characters are so alive. Would totally read a sequel, but Vessel, sadly, is a stand alone. Ever since I saw this cover long ago, and read the summary I was eagerly awaiting for the book and was so glad I wasn't disappointed. On the other hand Everneath was an impulse buy. I saw the cover, read a chapter or two while buying groceries at Wal Mart and I was hooked so I got it. So worth my money! Everneath's dark world has a lot yet to offer.

And of course, The Immortal Rules. For this one I was frankly not surprised at all that it was a smash hit. Ever since The Iron King Julie Kagawa has my full support for absolutely anything she writes. She is a story teller, creates beautifully complex worlds and even more interesting characters. It's a 10.

And finally...

Insignia rocked my world. If I had to pick an absolute 2012 favorite it would be Insignia, hands down. I loved all the books I have listed here, I really have, but Insignia was extraordinary. It's so fresh and exciting and involving and and and... LOVED IT! It was just everything I needed. I honest to god couldn't put the book down not even for a second.

Wasn't For Me Reads of 2012:

/

  

Harbinger was a mess. The Secret Year was unexciting. Juliet Immortal I really wanted to like (I mean have you looked at that cover?) but sadly was sorely disappointed. A Beautiful Dark/A Fractured Light was a lot more of the same YA supernatural formula we see these days so it was boring to me. And The Hunger Pains was quite simply put a pain to get through.

TOP Upcoming Reads of 2013:

  

 Guys, I've read these ones and all I have to say, for now, is to ADD THEM TO YOUR WISHLISTS. Altered is a refreshing YA title that is incredibly action packed. Prodigy, sequel to Legend by Marie Lu, is also a great sophomore read that will not let you down one bit. In this title our heroes are tested in every single possible way that counts, both inside and outside of their relationship. It leaves the prospect for the future of the series in an interesting spot. Let the Sky Fall quite honestly blew me away. If I were to put my finger in the one thing that 2013 books will need to make it that thing would be originality, and various authors are already starting to think well outside the ordinary YA formula and coming up with great reads.

That is my best and worst, so which are yours?

So I started reading 'Till the World Ends: Dawn of Eden by Julie Kagawa

Goodreads

Paperback, 368 pages

Expected publication: January 29th 2013

by Harlequin Luna

"Come on," he whispered, leading me down the hall. "My truck is out front. Let's find Jenna and get out of..."                                                                                                                                                     He stopped. I looked down the hall, and everything inside me went cold.
                                                                                                       Ms. Sawyer's gaunt, wasted body stood silhouetted in the doorway to the sick ward, still in the hospital gown she had died in. Blood stained her face and hands, smeared around her mouth and the fangs that protruded from her jaw. She carried something in her hands, something round and dripping, the size of a basketball.                    
Lighting flashed again, and I saw that it was Jenna's head."

 Dawn of Eden is a bit different from what I was expecting. First things off, it's not a YA story. The story is about two adults confronting the harsh realities of their world. One is the main character, Kylie, is a doctor working at a clinic trying to help her patients suffering of Red Lung survive. Then comes in this guy named Ben Archer, who is of course a hottie, with a friend who is also sick. Kylie starts to take care of him but soon wishes he had never entered her small clinic at the edge of the world, which might as well be the only one left standing.

It was a wake-up call for everyone, to realize how much we relied on things like electricity, running water and easy communication, and how crippling it was to go without.

 Dawn of Eden is a very edge-of-your-seat story. There aren't only rabids, and vampires, that these two human characters have to face in their journey, but also fellow rotten humans who are drunk on the chaotic situation around them. Mob mentality and all.

There is also a little bit of one of our favorite guys, Kanin:

I will remember your words about the past and making things right. You will never likely see me again, but you've helped me more than you know. For that, you have my gratitude.                                                 -K

I like that this isn't a YA novella because The Immortal Rules series is YA. So this just goes to show a whole new facet of the world of The Immortal Rules, and I'm loving it 'till now.

My dream cast of The Immortal Rules.

Movie Alert/News: The Official Vampire Academy Movie: It's totally happening!

So we've been hearing for a while (since 2010 to be exact) that the Vampire Academy movie is happening. We all got excited, made kick ass cast choices and sat down to wait for this hopefully fantastic movie to be made. Well, 2 years went by and still nothing. No casting, no screen play, nada.

The Vampire Academy movie idea faded to the back of our heads, being no more than a distant dream. Until now. Because it seems that some people finally got off their asses and started writing a screen play. Not only that, but they finished it.

Producer Don Murphy (Splice, Transformers) delivered a one-two punch revealing Dan Waters has completed a script.  Waters, if you recall, gave us Heathers.  "Dan has written a brilliant screenplay for Vampire Academy. Smart and funny, clever and really a great read - it is going to make a terrific film," says Murphy.

A few days later, news of a director broke...

 Apparently, Mark Waters - Dan's brother, also the director of Mean Girls - will take the helm and casting is about to start very soon.

-Source

 

And I'm about to faint from EXCITEMENT. Sure, the movie won't ever be as good as what we've all imagined in our heads. Dimitri may not be played by Ben Barnes (fucking sucks), and Rose will surely, sadly, not by played by fantastic Sophia Bush (which we all know she is ROSE, and PERFECT, even though she ain't as young as Rose is supposed to be -17).... Ah, who am I kidding, this movie is going to suck. It's doomed for me. You guys go on enjoying it without me!

 

I will still deliver on all the news and casting choices, even though they will never be the ones I had in mind *sad beyond belief*.

You may be interested in seeing my full dream Vampire Academy Cast. Read and comment with what your choices would be!

 

OVER 15 YA E-books for Real Cheap!!!! $2.99, $1.99... And how to download the Kindle App to your NOOK.

Now that I have an e-reader you are going to be seeing more of these "deal" posts. Just because if it were me I would like someone to keep me alerted to the latest deals in YA ebooks! So here goes:

          -Hopeless-                -Ten Tiny Breaths-       -Catching Jordan-

    Goodreads                      Goodreads                   Goodreads

    Amazon                            Amazon                      Amazon

     $3.99                                $0.99                          $1.99       

  

-The Body Finder-         -Angelfire-                  -Unearthly-                           

                   Goodreads                Goodreads                  Goodreads                  

Amazon                      Amazon                     Amazon                         

  $2.99                          $2.99                          $2.99         

  

-The Gathering-        -Carnival of Souls-       -Graveminder-                       

                                  Goodreads               Goodreads                 Goodreads                                  Amazon                   Amazon                     Amazon                                    

  $2.99                       $1.99                          $1.99                                        

  

                              -Don't Turn Around-             -eve-                     -Forbidden-                                     

                                Goodreads               Goodreads                 Goodreads                                

Amazon                   Amazon                      Amazon                                                                        

  $1.99                        $2.99                           $2.99   
                                                                                

  

         -Beastly-            -Magic Under Glass- -The Bad Beginning-   

        Goodreads                 Goodreads               Goodreads                                                                      

          Amazon                       Amazon                      Amazon                                                                        

           $1.99                          $1.99                          $1.99                                          

   

Goodreads

+

Goodreads

THESE 4 BOOKS by JENNIFER LYNN BARNES FOR:

$7.99!

  

Amazon

Well, what are you all waiting for really? All these can be found through their amazon links.

But wait, these are not for Nooks so why should I bother?

Well ladies and gentleman there is a way for you to download the Kindle App for your Nook. It only requires a small amount of time really, for so much reward.

To root your Nook you have to watch this Youtube video. Once you do it you will be able to download the Kindle App to your Nook and take advantage of those great amazon e-book deals! I did it yesterday, followed the video instructions to a T and BOOM I have a Nook that can download countless of apps (with the android market)  AND I can read books from amazon intended for the Kindle. Life is good!

 

Is "New Adult" the new "YA"?

The answer? Yes it is.

I feel as if book trends are growing up along side me. Before it was all about YA. Kids set up in a high school battling teenage angst, and getting into supernatural trouble. And I am all for this type of book still but sometimes you just want something more. Jumping all the way from YA to Adult is an option, but there seems to be a gap there ain't it?


Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

That's where "New Adult" comes in.

I've heard this term being thrown around quite a bit these days, "New Adult". What is this exactly? I think Jeaniene Frost has a pretty good definition:

YA’s that skewed older and featured protagonists outside of a high school setting

Here's another definition I found in this article by the New York Times:

 Publishers and authors say they are seeing a spurt in sales of books that fit into the young-adult genre in their length and emotional intensity, but feature slightly older characters and significantly more sex, explicitly detailed.

 This definition accounts for one of the more significant differences between YA and New Adult, sex. In YA most sex scenes fade to black, happening behind curtains and leaving our hungry imaginations to fill in the empty space. But don't fret lovelies, New Adult is here now to save the day.

But it's more than just sex. It's experiences, and subjects that may be a little too rough for a high school setting (if this is even possible). It's about what happens after you graduate high school? What happens in the "real world"? That new experience and terror of living on your own and taking care of yourself. Maybe breaking up with your high school sweetheart, finding new love. It's about all these things and more. Kind of reminds me of the brand new MTV show titled Underemployed (which I watch faithfully).



A show about 5 friends/high school graduates
who are just trying to figure out how to deal with their new lives.

I think I'm ready for something new. Maybe this "New Adult" is just what I need! New Adult is for college kids, high school kids who feel like they needed a little more juice in their novels, adults who love YA but sometimes feel like they wanted something a bit more adult thrown in the mix.

I think this new genre is going to catch on fire. I already love it, and authors are already gearing towards writing more novels targeting this new exciting market. Like for example, Jeaniene Frost. You might know her form her hugely popular series The Night Huntress, Cat & Bones make my life better. Well now she is writing a brand new series and guess what this series is all about? New Adult.

Her Realmalker novels (title subject to change) have been in the works for a while, but before they were rejected for being a little "older than most YA’s, plus the world is darker and more complex than what’s currently popular.”

A world which is darker and more complex than your average YA wasn't on the cards a few years ago, but it's definitely on now! Jeaniene just got the green light and her New Adult story is going to be published! Haleluya! (publishing year not set in stone yet but she thinks 2014).

To read the full story of Jeaniene's new novels click here.

But this just goes to show, the world is changing, we are changing, and the publishing industry is changing right along with us.

And now I leave you with one more example of a New Adult Novel:

Add it to your Goodreads

Kacey Cleary’s whole life imploded four years ago in a drunk-driving accident. Now she’s working hard to bury the pieces left behind—all but one. Her little sister, Livie. Kacey can swallow the constant disapproval from her born-again aunt Darla over her self-destructive lifestyle; she can stop herself from going kick-boxer crazy on Uncle Raymond when he loses the girls’ college funds at a blackjack table. She just needs to keep it together until Livie is no longer a minor, and then they can get the hell out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

But when Uncle Raymond slides into bed next to Livie one night, Kacey decides it’s time to run. Armed with two bus tickets and dreams of living near the coast, Kacey and Livie start their new lives in a Miami apartment complex, complete with a grumpy landlord, a pervert upstairs, and a neighbor with a stage name perfectly matched to her chosen “profession.” But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle all of them. What she can’t handle is Trent Emerson in apartment 1D.

Kacey doesn’t want to feel. She doesn’t. It’s safer that way. For everyone. But sexy Trent finds a way into her numb heart, reigniting her ability to love again. She starts to believe that maybe she can leave the past where it belongs and start over. Maybe she’s not beyond repair.

But Kacey isn’t the only one who’s broken. Seemingly perfect Trent has an unforgiveable past of his own; one that, when discovered, will shatter Kacey’s newly constructed life and send her back into suffocating darkness.

**Warning - This is a Mature YA/New Adult book. Contains sex and violence**

Soon enough the *Warning* won't be needed.