The Not-So Austen Bookclub discussion

The time has come! The year is slowly drawing to a close with Christmas & New Years Eve and all the festivities and holiday spirit.

Therefore, the time has also come to look back upon our year of reading. This thread is not only a place to discuss your Top 13 Books of 2013, but also to reflect on the following:

Reflect on the awesome books you read
The bad books you read
The disappointing novels
The new authors you discovered
The 2013 Releases
The book trends and hype of 2013
Series enders of 2013.
New series of 2013.
Debut Novels

Hope to see heaps of discussion and participation! :)
Let's reflect on 2013! I honestly think it has been a brilliant year for bookworms, booklions and booklovers alike. An awesome year for the enormous book community which continues to grow, and never stops.

We are infinite!

I shall firstly begin by listing my top 13 books of 2013, which are as follows…

{Note: 1 = best book of 2013, 13 = bottom of list}

13.Project Darcy by Jane Odiwe

12.Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey cates

11.The girl in the steel corset by Kady Cross

10. Another little piece by Kate Quinn

9.The Mortal Instruments by Cassie Clare

8.Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

7.The Exiled Queen by Cinda W Chima

6.After Eden by Helen Douglas

5.Angelfall by Susan Ee

4.Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

3.The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

2.World After by Susan Ee

1.Teardrop by Lauren Kate


*NOTE: My No 1. book should actually be ‘The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon’ with Lauren Kate’s Teardrop as No 2.*

13. Project Darcy was a novel that I have only recently finished reading and reviewing. {Note: review for this book is posted on Goodreads and Amazon websites}.
Having read another of this author’s Jane Austen inspired novels {“Searching for Captain Wentworth”}, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to delve into another delicious delight that captured the essence of a great classic. We all know Pride & Prejudice and Lizzie Bennett’s story, but what if the characters were reworked within a modern-day setting with a twist?! This is an exciting book that exceeded all my expectations, hence I just had to give it a five star rated review and recommend it to everyone who loves Austen.

12. Brownies and Broomsticks was a wonderful, magical mystery filled with delicious cakes and enchanting spells…I would recommend it to all who love Agatha Christie type mysteries, fantasy and light fiction!

9. And 3. Are 2 books that I just had to read considering both have films out at the cinema!

Angelfall and World After by Susan Ee are my top books of this year, as I simply loved the world building and the engaging storylines. If you enjoy reading YA fiction then I would urge you to seek out this sensational author, whose books I have also reviewed on Goodreads and Amazon websites. {4 & 5 star ratings}

Lauren Kate’s Teardrop is my no. 1 as I love this author! I really enjoyed her Fallen series and the betrayal of Natalie Hargrove, hence I knew that when Teardrop was available that it would be a real treat.

Bad and disappointing – I am not sure I want to reflect too much on these, as I recall only giving one 2 star rating this year. It was a first-read book and so I do feel quite bad about it, yet I just didn’t get the author’s writing style at all. The majority of what I have read and discovered this year has been on the whole very good!

Debut novels - there is one book that stands out in my mind and which I should really have put as no. 1 on my list {but oh well!}. It is a debut novel that is as impressive as JK Rowling’s 1st Harry Potter book…just as exceptional, impacting and spectacular. This is an author who has literally blown me away and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series when it is released.

My top book: The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon!!! This is an incredible achievement and one that far excels anything else I have read in 2013.

So it took me forever to choose 13 books that I LOVED! So I've cheated a bit ... but that's okay. :)

Going from bottom to top!

Reserve: Prodigy/ Champion by Marie Lu

13. Dizzy by Nyrae Dawn

12. Golden Lily/ Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

11. Seven Minutes in Heaven by Sara Shepard

10. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

9. Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover

8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

7. Knife of Never Letting Go & A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

6. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

5. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

4. Blood Promise/ Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

3. With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

2. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

1. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

I haven't read a lot of books that came out in 2013, but these are my top 13 books I've read in 2013.

13. The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

12. Sweet Venom/Sweet Shadows by Tera Lynn Childs

11. Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

10. Angelfall by Susan Ee

9. Shadow and Bone/Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

8. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

7. Under the Never Sky/Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

6. Just One Day by Gayle Forman

5. The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

4. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

3. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

2. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

1. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare


Debut Novel/Author:
Altered by Jennifer Rush


Disappointing Novel:
Defiance by C.J. Redwine

My Top 13 of 2013: (not including ARCs for 2014)

13.) Acid by Emma Pass


12.) Unremembered by Jessica Brody


11.) The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross


10.) The Highwayman of Tanglewood by Marcia Lynn McClure


9.) The Falconer by Elizabeth May


8.) Salvation by Skyla Madi


7.) Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend by Louise Rozett


6.) Geek Girl by Holly Smale


5.) Pivot Point by Kasie West


4.) Sentinel by Jennifer L Armentrout


3.) Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes


2.) Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas


1.) Whirl by Emma Raveling