I’ve been on quite a streak for 2010 – only five of the 38 books read from Jan 1 to June 30 scored five or less, and 13 scored nine or more.
The first half of the year was all about Sookie Stackhouse and it seems the second half of 2010 will be all about Joanna Archer from Vicki Pettersson’s Zodiac series.
Discounting Sookie (which I’ve spoken about before), here are some of my fave reads so far.
A Tour Guide in Utopia by Lucy Sussex – I loved the really interesting concepts that were dealt with in such an accessible and easy to read style. Sussex had a fabulous grasp of language and a conviction she doesn’t need to show that off, so the right word is chosen every time and if that’s a simple word, she doesn’t run from it. Fabulous.
Scary Kisses, edited by Liz Grzyb – as I said earlier, this is one of the most balanced and complete anthologies I’ve ever read, with some absolutely cracker stories.
Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin – this was a Christmas present from the in-laws and a wonderful read. Inspiring in terms of the commitment to his art and his determination to dance his way.
Power and Majesty by Tansy Rayner Roberts – the more I think about this book, the more I love it. It’s just so bloody clever, the characterisations wonderful and the ending has me hooked. Mad I have to wait until January for more.
Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane – the first book in a new trilogy. Chess Putnam isn’t your usual heroic protagonist and that’s a good thing. What Chess is going through is very real, and there’s nothing like a bit of internal conflict to deal with along with the world going to pot around you. Next book in trilogy is already out – must get my hands on it.
Scent of Shadows by Vicki Pettersson – this is the first book of the Zodiac series (at the moment, there’s five of them). The whole premise of this is fantastic – using the zodiac to make up superheroes, having their shadow counterparts, and having the whole thing recorded in comics that anyone can read. There’s some really clever stuff here, great characters and it made me break my self-imposed ‘no books until the cons’ rule to get the rest of them.
This is also proving to be the year for urban fantasy and paranormal romance, which I’m loving, although I’m trying to interlay that with other sorts of books. At the moment, thought, my brain is wired to love me some modern fantasy with mystery, intrigue, danger and romance.
Perhaps cause that’s what I’m writing. :)