Top Ten Best Heroines of 2012

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Today is day three of the Top 10 Books of 2012. It was 'free topic' today, so I chose to do it like last year and present my top 10 heroines. I've done my best to find pics that show how I imagine them!

Cintia Dicker

 1. Avry of Kazan 
From Scent of Magic 

She’s come a long way from leading a life in hiding, and now Avry steps ups to take arms against the corruption of the land. True to her vocation as a healer, she’s selfless and caring of everyone.

Avril Lavigne

 2. Kenzie 
From The Lost Prince 

This girl is truly a force of nature. When she puts her mind to do something, there is nothing that can stop her. And she’s totally fearless in the face of the unknown.

Emma Watson

3. Lady Claire Trevelyan 
From Magnificent Devices 

This lady rebels against the conventions of her time. She’s sharp and daring, and mighty resourceful.

Jun Ji-hyun

 

4. Yukiko 
From Stormdancer 

She’s someone who isn’t afraid of speaking her mind, even when it gets her into mortal danger. Thanks to her ability of communicating with animals, this sixteen-year-old tames a thunder tiger all on her own.

Jodelle Ferland

5. Xanthe Jane Greene 
From Fang Girl 

Witty and fun, she deals with her newly undead state in the most hilarious manner possible.

6. Gretchen, Grace, and Greer 
From Sweet Shadows

Alexis Bledel

The most awesome triplets ever! These girls are quite unique in their personalities and powers. One is violent but caring, the other super smart but extremely selfless, and the last one is an ice-queen but for her sisters she'll do anything. Together they rock your socks off and save the world while they’re at it.

Juno Temple

7. Celaena Sardothien 
From Throne of Glass 

She’s the feared Adarlan’s Assassin and can prove it in the blink of an eye if you test her. Armed with a sick sense of humor and sharp tongue, she’s takes on the always-serious Captain Westfall and the rebellious Prince Dorian...and wins.

Sarah Bolger

8. Scarlet 
From Scarlet

      She has the street-smarts and bravery needed to run with Robin’s gang. She’s snappy, a master knife fighter, and the best thief of them all. She’s also caring of the people, sometimes giving food to other and staying hungry for days.

Jun Ji-hyun (in Blood: The Last Vampire)

9. Allie Sekemoto

From The Immortal Rules

          All she wants is to survive. Even when she’s turned into the thing she most despises…a vampire. Giving into temptation is no longer an option, unless she plans to kill the charming blue-eyed boy. 

Marion Cotillard

 10. Ismae 
From Grave Mercy

        She’s tough, witty, and has a deadly intent. Thrown into situations out of her depth, she bravely tackles the task head-on.

Top Ten Best Book Covers of 2012

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Day two and the fun continues with the Top 10 Books of 2012. Today is all about the covers that caught my eye this year. You can check out last year’s picks in Top 10 Covers of 2011. If you click the ♥ [hearts] after each explanation, it will take you to my review of the book. 

              

1. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

When you suddenly find yourself with the cover of a book as wallpaper on your ipod, ipad, cellphone, desktop pc, laptop, and even forwarding it to friends so they too have it...you know it's love...or obsession. Either way. It rocks. ♥♥♥♥♥

2. City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Four books later and we finally get our valiant heroes on the cover! Love it! Also love that it's not a kiss but a staring-soulfully-into-eachothers-eyes moment ♥♥♥♥♥

3. Before I Wake by Rachel Vincent

Love the dress in this--as my sister likes to call it--shocking-pink color. ♥♥♥♥

4. Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Love the hair, the pose, and Oh! What is that? Is that a castle in the folds of her cloack? Yes, it freaking is! ♥♥♥♥♥

5. Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Smoke and lovely dresses. And it's a RED dress, which is always win in my book. ♥♥♥

6. Dearly, Beloved (UK Ed.) by Lia Habel

Have you ever seen a sexier undead? I haven't. ♥♥♥♥♥

7. Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood

I love the old-times feel of the cover and the flowers in her hair. I'm sad to report they've since change the covers T__T ♥♥♥♥

8. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Curvy lines, three colors, and a badass title. ♥♥♥♥

9. The Assassin’s Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Arabesque details and font FTW. It goes so well with the story. ♥♥♥

10. Velveteen by Daniel Marks

I love the composition. It's almost B&W, then the pink letters to pop that title. ♥♥♥

Special Adult Mention

Tempest’s Fury by Nicole Peeler

I love this series' covers. This one has Jane and Anyan battling, so I love it even more! ♥♥♥♥

Top 10 Best Books I’ve Read in 2012

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I hope everyone is having wonderful Christmas holiday time. I’m still on hiatus, but I couldn’t let this Top Ten Meme pass by. It’s way too much fun! I’ll also be leaving the links to last year’s answers so you all can have fun comparing and contrasting...lol. Top Ten Books I Read in 2011.

 1. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Ready Player One is by far the best book I’ve read this year. It’s funny, has pop culture references up the wazoo, and makes my gamer freak flag fly like no other. The story kept my eyes glued to the pages for hours on end and just when I thought nothing else could surprise me, I turned a page and there I was again laughing at some new ingenious thing and picking up my jaw at another clever twist in the story. But Ernest Cline’s story is not all fun and games. There are dark undertones throughout the narrative, mostly where it concerns humans and their addiction to virtual reality. More...

2. Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

In this riveting sequel to the Healer Series, Maria V. Snyder brings on the action, the humor, and the romance to whole new levels. With both Avry and Kerrick’s POV in the mix, this book is seriously unputdownable. More...

3. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Laini Taylor’s Days of Blood and Starlight has without a doubt been the best sequel I’ve ever read. Ever. I gave Daughter of Smoke and Bone a rating of five. I want to give a 10 to this one! This is not improvement, it is evolution into something made of undiluted awesomesauce. If you loved Karou and the chimera, we get more. If you loved Akiva and the seraphim, we get more. If you loved the funny humans Zuzana and Mik, we get more! More, more, more! More...

4. Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Onyx is shocking revelation after shocking situations that keep your eyes glued to the pages. And let’s not forget, a whole lot of sexy alien for our reading pleasure! I can’t believe I’m saying this but Daemon Black made me tear up! Serious alien deliciousness in Onyx! More...

   

5. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

          Throne of Glass is YA High Fantasy of the finest brew; Sarah J. Maas work is right up there with my all time high fantasy idols Tamora Pierce, Maria V. Snyder, and Cinda Williams Chima. I am hooked with this world and these characters Sarah J. Maas has created. More...

6. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

To say that I loved this story is the biggest understatement of the year. Every page I turned took me deeper and deeper into the story and into the characters lives, until I was so absorbed I forgot that these weren’t real people and I didn’t need to cry so hard. But, oh, cry I did. With a commanding prose, that doesn’t pull any punches, McGarry digs deep into themes of drugs, alcohol, sex, family issues, love, and loss. And it’s not only the way she deals with these themes that it’s masterful; it’s the way the characters deal with it. More...

7. The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

I don't know how she does it, but Richelle Mead keeps outdoing herself with each new book. The Golden Lily was everything I hoped for and more! More...

 

8. Awry by Chelsea Fine

Be prepared because Chelsea Fine's Awry will give your heart a serious workout in this second installment of The Archers of Avalon. Love, betrayal, curses, heartache! The curse is seriously messed up, but people…this is how I like love triangles. Cursed and deadly. More...

9. Fang Girl by Helen Keeble

Fun, witty, and completely hilarious, Fang Girl had me laughing at every turn of Jane's new vampiric life. This is not just a simple satire on popular vampire conventions, but an original and fun take on old vampire lore. More...

 

10. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

There are really so many great things in this book. It's like it is The Night Circus and every chapter is a new tent with incredible secrets to discover as we read. As fan of series I thought I would be angry or sad or disappointed at the ending, since it’s a standalone novel. But as I read those final chapters I could only smile. Smile at the memory of all that had happened since I read the words "The circus arrives without warning." Smile because I know that I'll keep coming back again and again to read it. More... 

Special Mention: Series I ♥ in 2012

The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

 I don't have a review for these books, except an essay I did for the first book, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms: Human-like Gods and God-like Humans, for my online class. Seriously epic trilogy. I can't wait to read it again in a few years.

Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews

I can't believe it took me so long to find and read this series. Even when it was recommended to me, I sort of ignored it. And OMG when I finally read it. I sort of went MIA until I finished all five books, plus all the novellas, and Gunmetal Magic!