Nic's 2016 reading challenge

[Nicole]

I really need to be more on the ball with updating my challenge thread this year. Last year I kept forgetting to add my read books and got way behind and forgot books. I'm going to try to post books read as well as a few lines on my thoughts on each book.

My challenge is to read 50 this year. I'm also thinking of doing some other yearly or monthly challenges but haven't completely decided yet.

[Nicole]

1) - 3/5.

This was ok. There were some plot twists though that seemed to come out of nowhere and were at times ridiculous.

2) - 3.5/5.

This book was chosen for me as part of an "I pick, you pick" challenge. Overall it was entertaining. There were parts that seemed to lull though. I would have liked more world building and more of an explaination of some of the things brought up in the book.

[Nicole]

3) - 3.5/5.

Enjoyable psychological thriller. It had character development and the characters were complex and interesting.

4) - 4/5.

I enjoyed this one more than the first book in the series.

5) - 4/5.

This was a pleasant surprise. I only downloaded The Bone Season from my library because I had a long drive and needed an audio book to listen to and the blurb sounded ok. It kept me entertained for the whole trip. I found myself wanting to drive for longer so I could keep listening to it.

6) - 3/5.

Slow start, but builds up towards the end.

[Nicole]

7) - 5/5.

I don't know why I waited so long to start this series. I've had the trilogy sitting on my bookshelf for over a year. I'm so glad I finally did though. I loved this! After I finished I couldn't wait to read the next two.

8) - 4/5.

This book was chosen for me as part of an "I pick, you pick" challenge. Overall it was a really fun read. I enjoyed it despite not knowing anything about American football or that culture. It didn't seem to have any of the typical clichés found in a lot of romance novels.

9) - 5/5.

This series just keeps getting better.

10) - 5/5.

I loved this whole series! More so than The Mortal Instruments. Definitely one of my favourites.

[Nicole]

11) - 3/5.

This book was chosen for me as part of an "I pick, you pick" challenge. Had a bit of a Dorian Gray feel.

12) - 3/5.

Also known as "The Naming". Was very slow to start off with, but does build up towards the end. Most of the book centres around the two main characters going on a journey. Too much description was given to the landscape and the travelling.

13) - 4/5.

Darker retelling of Oz. I loved the authors twist on the original tale.

14) - 4/5.

Ashley Bell reminded me of how much I used to love Dean Koontz's novels.

15) - 4/5.

I knew nothing about this book going into it. I just got it from the library at random. So I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed it.

[Nicole]

16) - 4/5.

I loved it. There were some small issues but overall it was a really enjoyable read. I struggled to put it down and ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting.

17) - 4/5.

Another unexpectedly good read.

[Nicole]

18) - 4/5.

19) - 3/5.

I liked it, but I didn't really love it. I kept waiting for something to happen but most of the book seemed to focus on the romance and Mare dealing with "mean girl" type characters.
I didn't really connect with the characters or the love triangle either. Neither of the Mare's love interests seemed to have any chemistry with her and it felt like insta-love. Mare was also really naïve (and easily distracted by boys), especially for someone with her background. She trusted Cal and Maven too quickly and easily.

20) - 4/5.

I loved this. It was so sad. I was crying by the end. A realistic look at mental health issues.

21) - 4/5.

A book with three short stories. Breakdown of my rating:

Goblin Fruit - 3/5. Goblin Fruit lost a star because of the ending. Laini you can't just end it there! I really wanted to know what happened next.

Spicy Little Curses - 5/5. My favourite story in the book. I loved this. I don't know how Ana did it. I can't imagine going my whole life and never being able to speak. Especially considering she doesn't know for certain if the curse is real.

Hatchling - 4.5/5. I really enjoyed this one, but I liked Spicy Little Curses a bit more.

[Nicole]

22) - 3/5.

This one was a little young for me.

23) - 5/5.
24) - 5/5.
25) - 5/5.

I can't express how amazing this epic steampunk fantasy series is. I loved that it has a lot of really strong and diverse female characters that support each other too. The "side characters" are written just as strongly as the main characters so I found myself getting just as invested in what was happening for them as I did for Yukiko and Buruu. Jay Kristoff is an amazing writer and I can't wait to read more of his series. I just fell in love with the characters especially Buruu.

[Nicole]

26) - 5/5.

I love Cassandra Clare's series and this one is no exception. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

27) - 3/5.

I enjoyed it. But I didn't love it. I didn't really connect with the characters. I found the ending predictable.

28) - 4/5.

I had not expectations before starting Darkest Minds. But it was amazing. A very enjoyable surprise read.

29) - 4/5.

I had some issues with it. But overall a great ending to a great series.

30) - 4/5.

Again I had some issues with ACOMAF. Mainly with how some of the characters were portrayed. But overall it was a really enjoyable read.

[Nicole]

31) - 5/5.

Great ending to a great series. A zombie series done right.

32) - 5/5.

Unexpectedly beautiful contemporary story. This book was chosen for me for a challenge in another Goodreads group. I had no expectations when I started it (I didn't even know what the story was about). But it blew me away. One of my favourites of the year so far.

33) - 5/5.

An Australian contemporary novel. I received this for free at the Sydney writer's festival. Again I went into it with no expectations, and loved it. This was another beautifully written story. Another one of my favourites of the year so far.

34) - 5/5.

Another 5/5 read. This is the final novel in the Winner's Trilogy series. I loved this series. I think I rated all of the books 5/5.

[Nicole]

35) - 5/5.

Another beautifully written Australian contemporary novel. I've been on a roll with these lately. I also got this one for free at the Sydney writers festival.

36) - 3/5.

The second novel in a fantasy series by Alison Croggen. Whilst there were some interesting parts in it. A lot of it was quite boring and I struggled to get through it.