Top 3 Books I Read in 2016 (Laurie)

I initially drafted this post in early January, preparing to help fill in for a fellow blogger. But it wasn't needed, so I scheduled it for my next turn in Top 3s a few weeks later. We ended up having the amazing Amy Brock McNew stop by for a guest post instead as part of her blog tour celebrating the release of Reconciliation. So even though the end of February might be a little late to reflect back on 2016, please indulge me just this once :)

I used to be a voracious reader, sometimes unable to find enough books I was interested in to keep up with how fast I was reading. Now writing books of my own has cut significantly into my reading time (and now that I know lots of authors, my TBR pile is miles high!), but I still had the opportunity to read many amazing books this past year.

It was hard to choose my favorites, but at least as of the moment of writing this post, here are my top 3 books I read in 2016:

3. Sentinel by Jamie Foley

This book was fast-paced with fabulous characters, just the right amount of humor, and fascinating world-building. I love books like this where I get to learn about a fantasy world right along with the main character, which makes me feel like I'm entering the world and becoming a part of it, too, instead of just being dropped head-first into a confusing foreign land. Check out my full review of this book, along with its prequel, Viper, here, and our interview with Jamie Foley here. I can't wait to see where Foley takes this series in the next book!





2. The Enslaved series by Katie Clark

I know it's kind of cheating to pick a whole series, but in a true series where the action continues from one book to the next I feel like it's really hard to separate out the books from each other. So it counts, right? :) This series drew me in so completely I read all three books in a matter of days. Hana is the type of main character I love - someone who I can relate to but also admire. The love triangle was extremely well-done, and although the world contained many typical dystopian elements, it was also full of surprises. You can read my full review of this series here. I have recommended these books to so many people, and I'm certain they'll stay with me long beyond 2016.



1. The Beast's Enchantress by Elizabeth Jane Kitchens

I'm not sure how to describe it, except to say that this was SO my kind of book! A setting that feels historical but includes light fantasy elements and fairy tale references, a likeable character who learns and grows from her experiences, and one of the sweetest romances I've ever read. All written in rich language that flowed naturally and created beautiful visuals. If anything I write can put a smile on someone's face that's half as big as my grin at the end of this book, I would be perfectly satisfied :) My full review of this book can be found here, and our interview with Elizabeth Jane Kitchens is here. I can't wait to re-read this book when I get a chance someday!




Honorable mentions go to Rebirth by Amy Brock McNew, for its intensity and fierce romantic tension, and Black Tiger by Sara Baysinger, for another amazing love triangle and cool dystopian world-building.


Have you read any of these books? What were your favorite reads of 2016?


Thanks for reading!
Laurie


P.S. Sorry for the little self-plug here, but I'm launching my author newsletter and have a few giveaways going through the end of the month. Check out the graphic or my website for more details!