Best Books of 2016: We Pick Our Faves

Exit, Pursued By a Bear by EK Johnston — A wonderful example of how adaptive literature can stay true to the spirit of a text while changing almost every plot element, this retelling of Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale blew me away with its maturity, vulnerability, and beautifully drawn characters.

Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine — One of the most innovative, vivid fantasy worlds I’ve read recently, this reimagining of the world under the power of the Library of Alexandria is breath-takingly well done. Captivating and perfectly paced, I flew through this book and its sequel and am anxiously awaiting the final piece of the trilogy.

Gemina by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff — LOVED this entry in the the Illuminae series. I waited forever, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint.

All in Pieces by Suzanne Young — She’s one of my all time favorite YA authors, and I love a good standalone. I feel like they are all too rare, but oh so good.

Dreamology by Lucy Keating — Weird little sci-fi that gave me all the feels. Again another standalone, but with an original story, and fully developed characters. You can’t lose.

Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry — She’s always my favorite. Never disappoints. I’m not surprised I loved this one.

My Lady Jane, Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows — It was with unequal parts excitement and trepidation that I started MY LADY JANE. There were so many ways the authors could mess it up. They could butcher the language, the social mores, the history itself—and boy did they ever! To uproarious effect. The fun they had writing this story bled onto the page. I read all 500+ pages in two sittings, smiling through the entire thing except when I was laughing. The characters were drawn so well, their feelings were so relatable and their history so exactly how it should have been that history nerds and novices alike will heart MY LADY JANE. Because funny.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo — the conclusion to her Six of Crows duology.  Already a seasoned writer of the wonderful Grisha Trilogy, Bardugo’s craft as a writer blossomed in her work for Six of Crows. Told from numerous viewpoints, these fast paced height novels set in the Grishaverse satisfied every hunger I get in looking for the perfect read.

I eagerly awaited Crooked Kingdom and like savoring a favorite treat, I doled the book out to myself slowly chapter by chapter.  I could have easily sat down and plowed through the book in one hasty sitting, but I allowed myself the time to enjoy and savor these characters one last time. Bardugo kept the characters true to themselves through to the end and I can easily say that it was one of the best reading experiences of my year.

If you have not yet experienced Bardugo’s Grishaverse make the coming year you time to get acquainted. The Grisha Trilogy is the perfect starting point to familiarize you with the world and they encompass fantastic storytelling in their own right.  By the time you get to Six of Crows you’ll be ready to really see Bardugo’s craft grow and soar and the stories and characters will draw you in.

Sandie’s Picks (Quoting earlier reviews):

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater — This magical finale is so good readers will laugh; cry; scream, “Finally!”; and want to reread the entire four books again. Even skeptical young adult readers should take a chance on Maggie Stiefvater’s four-part masterwork, the culmination of more than 10 years of dreaming and writing that resulted in a series that gets better and better with each installment. This final volume is even more firmly rooted in the magic, the dreams, the relationships that Stiefvater has cultivated.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys — This powerful, gorgeously written exploration of a little-known WWII tragedy proves why with only three books, Ruta Sepetys has emerged as a preeminent historical novelist in young adult literature. Salt to the Sea, which includes meticulously detailed author’s notes, maps, and research and sources, is an ideal blend of historical facts, riveting drama, compelling characters, and suspense. Similar to when you watch Titanic for the first time, you know the ship is doomed but not exactly how the fictional characters will fare within that tragedy.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon — This touching love story about two teens who fall for each other during 12 intense hours together in New York City is a beautifully written, unforgettable romance. The Sun Is Also a Star is wholly fictional, but the dynamic between logical science and math geek Natasha and sweetly sincere and poetic Daniel is inspired by Jamaican-American author Nicola Yoon’s own romantic history with her Korean-American husband, David.

What were your favorite books of 2016? What are you looking forward to reading in 2017?