It is already December, which means that 2018 is almost over. I had again set my reading goal at 50 books, but I already know I am not making that number this year, which is why I am already wrapping up my year!
A lot of great books came out this year, and although I got most of those the second they came out, I have not yet read them for some reason… oops. Either way, the first three quarters of the year were great for reading! I had a long summer where I had absolutely nothing to do but read, so that helped with my reading goals. Unfortunately, my schedule took a turn for the worse when I had to juggle being a full time student with an internship. It took me an entire month to read one book, and it was honestly depressing. BUT GOOD NEWS… Next semester I only have three classes, so I might actually have free time!
Anyway, read below what my favorite books of the year were!
Nevernight & Godsgrave
I’m going to start off this list with the first book I finished in 2018, which was Nevernight. It had been on my radar for a long time thanks to the Bookstagram community, and when I finally got around to reading it, I could see why I saw it around so often. I absolutely loved this book! Kristoff does not hold back in terms of language and gore, and I think I needed to read a book like that for a change. The same goes for its sequel, Godsgrave. I enjoyed this book even more than Nevernight, and it’s completely full of plot twists that I did not see coming. The plot goes deeper and deeper, and I can’t wait to see what will happen in Darkdawn.
The Cruel Prince
I can’t make a list of my 2018 favorites without adding the Cruel Prince. This book was so different from others I have read that involved the Fae, it was like a breath of fresh air. I love that Jude is not your typical YA main character, and that she genuinely is her own person. I can’t wait for the Wicked King to come out, which is in a month already!
Winter
I remember exactly when I started reading Winter. It was in early March when the power in our house went out for three days and I had literally nothing else to do but read by candlelight. If this sounds cute to you, remember that candles are not amazing reading lights and I could not shower at my own house. Either way, I picked up Cinder back when it was not yet super popular, so it was really fun to see how the series became more well-known. I really enjoyed Cinder way back then, and my love for this series has only grown. When I picked up Winter my first thought was “Wow, this book is huge,” but it is also completely full of plot, adventure, and happenings. I’m really happy with how the series ended actually, so this was a good final book for me.
Children of Blood and Bone
I honestly cannot believe that this is the first book I have ever read that was all about African culture. Nigerian, to be specific. I absolutely loved getting to dive into this world. I really love the magic system, and the fact that the book tackles tough questions of ethics that we see every day in the real world. The best part is that the next book, Children of Virtue and Vengeance is only three months away!
Muse of Nightmares
Excuse me while I cry. I think this is actually my absolute favorite of all of 2018. I read Strange the Dreamer relatively soon after it came out, in Summer 2017. I remember absolutely loving how whimsical Laini Taylor managed to write this story. I normally have difficulty with imagining worlds and characters, but this was absolutely not the case with this book. Everything she described just popped into my head in all its beauty. The same goes for Muse of Nightmares. It picks up two seconds after the events in Strange the Dreamer, and the plot is amazing. We learn way more about the world, the magic, and the Mesarthim, which I thought was a little lacking in Strange the Dreamer. The best part is that she ended the book with an implication that there will be more to this story. Laini, please?
These are all my favorites from 2018! Obviously I read a lot more than just these books. In total I hope to have read 42 books by the end of December, which puts me only eight books short of my goal.
Keep an eye out for my list of books to look out for in 2019!
