Hi everyone! I hope you’ve all had a great week since I last did one of these, I’ve had a pretty quite week really, but my parents were away over the weekend, so I made the most of it by watching all my favourite musicals plus all the Harry Potter movies! Best weekend ever! Anyway, I’m back with another Top Ten Tuesday, courtesy of the lovely ladies over at the Broke and the Bookish. This week is Best Books We’ve Read So Far in 2017. I’ve had a pretty good 2017 when it comes to books, but most of the books I’ve read have been in the 3-4 star range, with only one book standing out above the rest as a 5 star. I’ve only read 18 books so far this year, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to pick a full 10 out of that, but we’ll see! Here are my current 2017 favourites (for once in order of preference!):
- A Conjuring of Light-VE Schwab-5 stars
My only five star read of 2017 so far! I swear this book is the reason I’m having trouble finding any more five star books, because nothing I have read since has lived up to this. It was the most perfect series finale I could have hoped for and probably one of my most favourite books ever, not just of 2017.
2. Caraval-Stephanie Garber-4 stars
I was worried about this one, because I’d heard a lot of comparisons to The Night Circus which I struggled with when I read it last year but I fell in love with the beautiful writing and the magical setting and the growth of the main character was so wonderful.
3. A Court of Mist and Fury-Sarah J Maas-4 stars
Everyone and their cat seemed to love this book and I was worried that I’d be the black sheep who didn’t, luckily that was the case! This book was so much better than the first one, Feyre grew so much as a character and actually became someone I liked rather than merely tolerated. I also loved the new cast of characters in Rhys’ court and can’t wait to see where they all go in the final book.
4. The Dark Prophecy-Rick Riordan-3.5 stars
I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the first one, but it still had a great cast of characters, was extremely witty and a fast paced fun adventure. Plus my favourite Leo was back in this book, so that made it even better! The best thing about Rick Riordan books is that they never fail to put a smile on your face, they remind me of one of the things I love most about reading, the simple joy that immersing yourself in a new world can bring.
5. Daughter of The Pirate King-Tricia Levenseller-3 stars
Some of the books lower on this list actually have a higher rating from me, because the writing style in this one was little simplistic and the pacing was a little off, but it was such a fun, piratey adventure and I just really enjoyed reading it, so I thought it deserved to have a high place on my list, even if I did only give it a 3 star rating.
6. Traitor To The Throne-Alwyn Hamilton-3.5 stars
This book did suffer a little from middle book syndrome, but I still really enjoyed it, the stakes were higher, the plot was more complex, Amani’s development was brilliant, we got to meet some great new characters and there were a lot of great twists, it was just a shame about some of the pacing issues in the middle of the book, otherwise it would have got a much higher rating from me.
7. The Crown’s Game-Evelyn Skye-3.5 stars
There were some pacing issues in this, but I did overall love it, the magic was great, the setting was wonderful, there was so much gorgeous FOOD, the writing was vivid & there was a masquerade which is basically catnip to me!
8. Under Rose Tainted Skies-Louise Gornall-4 stars
I know this has a higher rating than some of the other books that are placed higher on here, it was a really great book, just extremely intense due to the nature of the subject matter discussed, so I’m not sure “enjoy” is really the right word for how I felt about this book, it was enlightening more than anything else.
9. Paper and Fire-Rachel Caine-3.5 stars
This book also suffered a lot from middle book syndrome (it’s not technically the middle book of this series, but I think the syndrome still applies), however it was still a really solid read, I love Caine’s characters and world, I’m just not always thrilled with her writing or pacing. Still, the great character dynamics, diverse cast and brilliant settings in Caine’s book definitely overcame my lack of love for her writing and pacing.
10. Salt To The Sea-Ruta Sepetys-3.5 stars
I didn’t love this one as much as I loved the other Sepetys book I’ve read Between Shades of Grey, but it was still an interesting book about a historical event that I knew nothing about and as a History student, I always love getting to learn about new things that I didn’t know about before!
I’m going to stick to just ten this week since I only have 18 books to choose from anyway! What have been your favourite books of the year so far? Have you read any of these? Did you like them? Let me know in the comments!
Top Ten Tuesday is going on hiatus until August, the girls deserve a break after all! Don’t worry though, I’ll be going through the archives and seeing if there are any old topics that I can do until they’re back. In the meantime, I’m hoping to keep regular posting going throughout the summer, so there should be no shortage of new stuff for you guys!
I really need to get Daughter of The Pirate King, it sounds fantastic.
Great list 🙂
It’s definitely a lot of fun! Thanks 🙂
I loved DotPK so much! Great list.
Me too! Thanks!
I loved Caraval! Glad you enjoyed! A Court of Mist and Fury is on my tbr list for this year so hopefully I’ll get around to reading it! My TTT http://www.amysbookishlife.co.uk/2017/06/top-ten-tuesday-best-books-ive-read-so.html#more
Yes it was great! Oh cool, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did 🙂
Nearly all of these are still on my TBR! I really need to get caught up on this years books. XD
Ha ha I know the feeling! I’m still trying to catch up on 2016 books!
Your list contains some books I have on my TBR. Definitely an extra motivation to read them! [Caraval, ACOTAR – still have to start that series even- and Daughter of the Pirate King]
Cool, I hope you enjoy them!
I still have Salt to the Sea and all of Sarah Maas’s books on my TBR list. I plan on reading Throne of Glass this summer, so I’m happy to see you enjoyed these books. Thanks for stopping by my blog and sharing!!
I hope you enjoy them! No problem, thanks for returning the favour 🙂
Heard so much about Under Rose Tainted Skies and tbh, most of the books on your list ahah. Hope you have more 5 star reads by the end of the year 😀
Ha ha yeah, I’m not exactly going with the hidden gems this week! Thanks, I hope so too!
I struggled with The Night Circus too, so I’m glad to see that you still enjoyed Caraval. Great list!
Thanks! Yeah I was worried, but honestly they didn’t seem that similar to me, other than they both have a performance style aspect.
Ooooh, great list! I’m currently reading ADSOM and can’t wait to read the rest of the series, too.
Thanks! I hope you enjoy the rest of the series 🙂
Great list! I feel exactly the same about Daughter of the Pirate King! I hope the sequel is a bit better, though!
Oooh, which are your favourite musicals? Mine is The Phantom of the Opera, I could watch that one every day! 🙂
Thanks! Yes I hope so too. Stage wise I love Wicked, in terms of movie musicals (which is what I was watching) Moulin Rouge is my favourite.
Great list! I’ve been meaning to read The Shades of Magic series. It’s great to hear you liked A Conjuring of Light so much! (I always get a little nervous when I start a series that the later volumes will go downhill.)
Which is part of why I’m so torn over whether or not to read Traitor to the Throne. I already thought the first book struggled with pacing
do you recommend overall?
Thanks! Oh that is definitely not true with the Shades of Magic books, all the books are of a very high standard! I think Traitor To The Throne has a lot of good aspects that make up for the poor pacing, so yes, I would still recommend.
I want to read Schwab – I think I’ve bought a couple of her books but not had a chance yet – I must go and check if your book is on my list.
Lynn 😀
Well I hope you enjoy her books when you do read them 🙂
I enjoyed Under Rose Tainted Skies and Salt to the Sea. I want to read the VE Schwab series at some point. Great list!
Good to hear! Oh you definitely should. Thanks 🙂
Gosh. I keep telling myself that I am going to read The Crown’s Game, but for some reason it never comes to mind when I’m looking for my next book. I hadn’t realized until you mentioned it that there was a lot about food…I do love books with yummy food in them! Great list!
I have that all the time, I get excited about a book and keep telling myself to get it when I’m out looking and I just forget! Yes there is a lot of food in it. Thanks 🙂
Great list, I’ve yet to read Caraval but it sounds really good.
Thanks! Yeah it is 🙂
I really want to read Salt to the Sea. Historical Fiction is my favourite genre!
Well I hope you enjoy it when you do 🙂
I LOVED A Court of Mist and Fury. It was probably my favorite book of last year.
I can see why!
Everyone has Caraval on their list! That must mean it’s good. I need to read it. That and Salt to the Sea. I’ve wanted to read that forever. Nice list!
Yes it is! Salt To The Sea is also good. Thanks 🙂
A Conjuring of Light! Yes! That book ruined me as well. I normally read fantasy, but I had to read a couple contemporary books to get over the book-hanger ACOL left.
I’ve read some of the others on your list, but they weren’t as high for me. Glad you liked them, though!
I’m still not over it! 3 months later and nothing has quite measured up since. Still I have had some good reads, if not incredible. Fair enough, we don’t all rate things the same way. Thanks 🙂
Great list! I love historical fiction but I still haven’t read any Ruta Sepetys despite hearing nothing but good things about her work, I’ll have to rectify that soon. =)
Thanks! Oh yes you definitely should. Start with Between Shades of Gray, that book is beautiful!
Awesome list! There’s two on here I’ve not yet read, but they’re on my TBR pile to read.
Thanks! I hope you enjoy them 🙂
Need to check out more VE Schwab reads~! So glad to hear A Conjuring of Light is worth the read!
You definitely should, her books are amazing!
Interesting that you loved Between Shades of Grey but not Salt to the Sea – for me it was the other way round!
Oh really? I did like Salt To The Sea, just preferred Between Shades of Grey. Funny how these things work!
VE Schwab is an author I really want to try. It sounds like such an awesome series. Caraval is one I have been curious about. I am glad to see you like it so much! Thank you for sharing!
It is an awesome series, I hope you enjoy it! Yes Caraval was great, I hope you enjoy it too. No problem 🙂
I just added Under Rose-Tainted Skies to my TBR as I’ve heard lots of fantastic things about it.
It was really great, I hope you enjoy it 🙂
I’ve seen Caraval on a number of lists today. Perhaps I ought to check it out. Happy reading!
eli @ the (book) supplier
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Oh you definitely should! Thanks 🙂
Aww I feel really sad for you only having one 5-star read, BUT AT LEAST IT WAS ACOL WHICH WE CAN AGREE IS THE PERFECTEST BOOK OF ALL PERFECT. *flails happily* 😍 I’m absolutely in love with all Schwab’s worlds. And I really enjoyed The Crown’s Game/Fate books hehe, the food is delicious and the magic!! I also love Rick Riordan so much. Apollo cracks me up.😂
It’s okay, there’s still another six months of the year to find more 5 star reads! And yes, if I have to have only one then ACOL is definitely the best one to have! She does write such wonderful and unique worlds, I love that no two books of hers feel the same. Yes the Crown’s Game made me feel so hungry, I’m sure the Crown’s Fate will do the same! And the magic is awesome. Me too, he’s one of my favourite authors. Well how could he not? Apollo is hilarious 🙂
A Conjuring of Light was really amazing. I can’t wait to get my special edition of the first book this fall, so I’ll have the complete set and can re-read all of them. It was a perfect series finale…and I think I’ll enjoy it a lot more when I’m prepared for the story (e.g. not afraid every 5 seconds that something awful is going to happen to a character I love, but rather able to anticipate). A few of these are on my TBR, so I’m glad to see you liked them. (also, I think going back and doing older topics for Top Ten Tuesday is a great idea…and I may do the same!). Thanks for sharing!
Yes it was! Oh me either, I don’t usually get special editions/multiple editions of books I already own but I couldn’t resist with the ADSOM special edition. It was brilliant, but yes, will probably be even more enjoyable when you’re not fearing for the lives of all your favourites! Oh that’s good, I hope you enjoy them too! Yeah, I was originally just going to leave it, but then I was like, a month is a long time to go without TTT! No problem 🙂
Under Rose- Tainted Skies is one I’ve heard some good things about, and I do want to read it. Nice to hear that Caraval was good too, that’s another one I’ve been thinking of.
I hope you enjoy both of them 🙂
I haven’t read any of these yet, but the Sarah J. Maas is on my list to get to!
I hope you enjoy her books!
Caraval has been on my TBR pretty much since the first time I saw it mentioned on Twitter but I haven’t gotten to it yet! It’s paperback has only recently released in my country, but since I’m broke I couldn’t buy it 😂 waiting to save up and then read it.
Oh I didn’t know that The Broke and The Bookish are going on a hiatus! Thanks for mentioning that! I was waiting for the topics 😅 (I’m new to TTT)
Well I hope you enjoy it when you get it! No problem, yeah, they’ll be back August 15th. Welcome to TTT 🙂
I’ve got a bunch of these books on my to read list! I neeeed to get to Caraval.
I hope you enjoy it 🙂
I read A Darker Shade of Magic and really need to carry on with the rest of those, so glad you enjoyed book 3.
I keep wondering whether I should try A Court of Thorns and Roses too, so seeing one of those books made your list makes me think I probably should 🙂
Well I hope you enjoy the rest of the series! ACOTAR is definitely worth a shot, though the second book is much better than the first.
Omg, I would be crying if I only had 3 books with a 4-start rating or higher. It’s a good thing ACOL was there to save the day! I love that book so much.
It’s okay, all the books on my list were actually pretty good, just not enough for a 4 or 5 star. Yes ACOL was amazing! Me too 🙂
I haven’t gotten to read any of these yet, but almost all of these are currently on my TBR list! lol! So many great books and not enough time!!
Well I hope you enjoy them all when you read them. Ha ha yeah, I know the feeling!
1000000000x yes to ACOL. I am dying for a reread of that series.
Great list!
Yes it was brilliant! Me too! Thanks 🙂
Uhg, I’ve heard nothing but great things about Daughter of The Pirate King and I need to read it ASAP! Loved the list! ACOMAF was SOOOOO GOOD!
I hope you enjoy it when you do! Thanks. Yes it was 🙂
Great list! Quite a few of the ones on your list I really need to read. Like Caraval being number one!
Thanks! I hope you manage to get to them and enjoy them 🙂
I haven’t started the Schwab books yet but hope to at least start this year. Same for Caraval but I just picked up the audiobook so how to fly through it. ACOMAF was a huge fav of mine and made my list. So did Daughter of the Pirate King. I read Crown’s Game last year and want to check out the sequel soon, yes lots of food lol!
Well I hope you enjoy them when you do! Me too, so much food!
There’s so many books here on my TBR like the Daughter of the Pirate King!
I hope you enjoy them when you read them!
I’m glad A Conjuring of Light got such high marks!! I can’t wait to read it VERY SOON. Also intrigued by The Daughter of the Pirate King, because pirates.
IT’S SO GOOD! I hope you love it! Ha ha yes, Daughter of the Pirate King is great, because pirates!
Personally, I wasn`t a big fan of Caraval. I wish they`d focused more on the plot and less on the romance. With that being said though, I hope that the conclusion will be better.
http://www.carmensreadingcorner.co.uk
Fair enough, I had the same issue, I just found enough other stuff in there that I liked that it didn’t bother me so much. I hope so too, I feel like the ending was setting up for an exciting conclusion.
I’ve only read like one or two of these, and they were amazing! Everything else is on my TBR and waiting to be read 😀
Great post!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy the rest of these 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
I’m sorry you didn’t like Paper and Fire so much. I agree that the writing and pacing of the books isn’t brilliant, but the world and characters are truly awesome. I hope you have better luck if you chose to continue the series!
I did enjoy it, just not as much as the first book. Yes, they are so I will definitely be continuing, I’ll just have to bear in mind that the writing and pacing is something that I don’t love.
So many of these are on my TBR so I’m glad to see how much you enjoyed them. ACOL was brilliant, probably my favorite read so far this year.
Oh cool, I hope you enjoy them when you read them! Same here, it was so good!
I didn’t enjoy The Dark Prophecy as much as the first one either, and I’ve heard this from many others as well. I hope the next book will be better again.
Well I’m glad I’m not alone there then! I hope so too 🙂
Yay for A Conjuring of Light! Definitely worthy of the five star rating 🙂
Yes it definitely was!
I can’t believe how overlooked the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff is. The scope of that tragedy id one of the largest in maritime history and no one speaks of it. I’m a history graduate too and I never heard a word about the Gustloff.
Me either! It’s a bigger disaster than Titanic or the Lusitania and yet you hear squat about it. Definitely glad I read this book, if I only so I could be more informed about this terrible tragedy.
Sorry! I’m super duper behind on blogging and only managing to get back around to TTT’s NOW! Yikes. Massive apologies.
I love your list. It’s full of awesome books!
I’m desperate to read a Schwab book – any book!
Caraval I really enjoyed also.
ACOMAF – my favourite book in that series. 🙂
Rick Riordan is always a good read for me.
All the rest are on my TBR!
No problem, don’y worry about it! Aww thanks 🙂 You definitely should, Schwab’s books are amazing. Yes Caraval was great. I haven’t finished the series yet, but ACOMAF is definitely my favourite so far. Rick Riordan is always a guaranteed fun read. I hope you enjoy the rest of them when you get to them!