Every December, I look at my to-read list and realize there are a bunch of great books I didn't get to.
But, hey, 2016 isn't over yet, and I haven't (yet) made my Goodreads goal, so it's possible that I may get to some of these.
The Serpent King
by Jeff Zentner
Published on March 8, 2016
by Crown/Random House BFYR
Dill has had to wrestle with vipers his whole life at home, as the only son of a Pentecostal minister who urges him to handle poisonous rattlesnakes, and at school, where he faces down bullies who target him for his father's extreme faith and very public fall from grace. The only antidote to all this venom is his friendship with fellow outcasts Travis and Lydia. But as they are starting their senior year, Dill feels the coils of his future tightening around him. Dill's only escapes are his music and his secret feelings for Lydia neither of which he is brave enough to share. Graduation feels more like an ending to Dill than a beginning. But even before then, he must cope with another ending one that will rock his life to the core.
Outrun the Moon
by Stacey Lee
Published on May 24, 2016
by Putnam
San Francisco, 1906: Fifteen-year-old Mercy Wong is determined to break from the poverty in Chinatown, and an education at St. Clare’s School for Girls is her best hope. Although St. Clare’s is off-limits to all but the wealthiest white girls, Mercy gains admittance through a mix of cunning and a little bribery, only to discover that getting in was the easiest part. Not to be undone by a bunch of spoiled heiresses, Mercy stands strong—until disaster strikes. On April 18, a historic earthquake rocks San Francisco, destroying Mercy’s home and school. With martial law in effect, she is forced to wait with her classmates for their families in a temporary park encampment. Though fires might rage, and the city may be in shambles, Mercy can’t sit by while they wait for the army to bring help—she still has the “bossy” cheeks that mark her as someone who gets things done. But what can one teenage girl do to heal so many suffering in her broken city?
Crooked Kingdom (and Six of Crows, actually)
by Leigh Bardugo
Published by Henry Holt
On September 20, 2016
Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.
Blood for Blood
by Ryan Graudin
Published by Little, Brown
on November 1, 2016
For the resistance in the Third Reich, the war may be over, but the fight has just begun. Death camp survivor Yael, who has the power to skinshift, is on the run: the world has just seen her shoot and kill Hitler. But the truth of what happened is far more complicated, and its consequences are deadly. Yael and her unlikely comrades dive into enemy territory to try to turn the tide against Hitler’s army, and there is no alternative but to see their mission through to the end, whatever the cost. But in the midst of the chaos, Yael’s past and future collide when she comes face to face with a ghost from her past, and a spark with a fellow rider begins to grow into something more. Dark secrets reveal dark truths and one question hangs over them all—how far can you go for the ones you love?
Tell me in comments about books you wish you'd read in 2016!
The Serpent King is one I wish I read as well. The Sun is Also a Star is one I wage dot fit in but didn't. Hope you get to those soon!!
ReplyDeleteLiked Sun is Not a Star. Let me know when you read Serpent King!
DeleteI never do manage to get to all the books I want to read - there are too many!!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a particular book I hope to get to next year, I just want a better reading year than this year!
Happy New Year!
At first I was feeling guilty, but I've actually enjoyed reading fewer books this year - I've been more particular and enjoyed the books I read more.
DeleteI'm about 1/2 way through Crooked Kingdom and I just can't get into it. *sobs*
ReplyDeleteIt was my most anticipated book of 2016 too.
Karen @For What It's Worth
Uh-oh. I couldn't get into Six of Crows back in fall of 2015 which is why I'm in this situation. But I'm going to give it one more try.
ReplyDeleteThe Serpent King was one of my favourites this year! I hope you'll get to read it soon. I need to read my copies of two other books on your list.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading, Jen. I hope you had a great Christmas!
I also meant to read The Serpent King this year. Even checked it out of the library once and never got to it. Another is All the Ugly and Wonderful Things. I have it on hold at the library but it might be a while before it's available. Better luck in the new year! :)
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ReplyDeleteSix of Crows and Wolf by Wolf are ones I wish I got to as well.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you get to the Six of Crows duology and Blood for Blood soon. They're great reads, imo. :D
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing so many good things about The Serpent King, it's also on my list haha. I definitely recommend the Six of Crows duology!
ReplyDeleteOhhhh Crooked Kingdom, The Serpent King and Outrun the Moon ARE ALL ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC. But particularly CK. <3 And like I don't even generally flail over contemporaries but TSK absolutely stole my entire soul, bless its gloriousness.😂 But I'm with you on Blood for Blood...omg. There is literally no reason for me to not read that (it's like glaring at me from my TBR) but I never seem to pick it up?!?! I swear I'll get to it in 2017 though!! I also am annoyed at myself for nothing having read the Shadow Queen or Weight of Feathers or The Invisible Library in 2016. Gah. I read hundreds of books and yet still feel behind. #TheBookwormsCurse 😂😂
ReplyDeleteCrooked Kingdom and Serpent King are stuck on my TBR too. But I did read Outrun the Moon and can say it's absolutely worth it! It easily made my best of lists this year.
ReplyDeleteI have the Serpent King on my tbr. And seeing Crooked Kingdom on almost all of end of the year lists really made me want to pick up Six of Crows ('cause serious, why haven't I read that?)
ReplyDeleteI have a fair amount that I didn't get to in 2016 either. Outrun the Moon looks very good, and I'm hoping to read the Crooked Kingdom/ Six of Crows this new year too.
ReplyDeleteMy list would be super long if I compiled a list from just what I wish I had read. To be fair, most of the books I read this year came from my TBR pile and I still have so much left to read.
ReplyDelete- Krys
I haven't read any of these books yet, but Crooked Kingdom sounds interesting :) Thanks for sharing! x Benish @ Beenazai
ReplyDeleteI definitely need to pick up The Serpent King as well, as I've heard nothing by great things. Eek, I just purchased Six of Crows + Crooked Kingdom. Definitely looking forward to picking them up in early Jan!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had read so so many! Kiss of Deception, The Young Elites, Iron Cast, Half Wild and soooooo many more! I hope you love SoC and CK when you get to them!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I just read Six of Crows last month, and I'm still not over it, hands down my favourite book of the year! And so far, I've gotten three other friends to read it too so yay! :) I wish I was able to read the ToG of series this year though, also Truthwitch and Passenger.
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