Top 5: 2014

Looking through my list of 70 reads from 2014, I have compiled the five-most favourite and stick-with-me books.


1. The Shadow of the Wind ~ Carlos Ruiz Zafon

This is what love reads like. 

I fell in love with the characters, the style, and the world.

Because of that, I gifted this book to my soul mate. 

Exquisite.

2. The Story of Owen: Dragonslayer of Trondheim ~ E K Johnston

Was this book written for me?

Marketed as Young Adult, that is far from the truth. 

Passages detailing the Dragons in an alternate history fill out the incredible world.

Memorable characters, impeccable writing, coolest story.

Dragons in Canada. Need I say more?

3. Crown of Midnight ~ Sarah J Maas

Having read and loved Throne of Glass last year, 

I continued the story and was not disappointed.

The series is now one of my top fantasy favourites, hence why both books are tied for third.

World expanding, characters deepening, plot twisting.

Heir of Fire ~ Sarah J Maas 

Ended 2014 with this incredible intallment.

Simultaneous storylines that kept me reading, never once hating any of the voices.

New characters. New favourite characters. 

Same old characters, reminding me why I love this series.

Brava Maas! Consider A-Game brought.

4. Shadows Cast By Stars ~ Catherine Knutsson

First to support a fellow Canadian,
second drawn in by the premise, and

third because it encorporated elements of the mythos of west coast First Nations.

Reality blurs between a dystopian world, barren and lost, 

and the spirit world, in need of healing.

The story was a journey, one I'd like to take again and again.

5. Green Rider ~ Kristen Britain

Found by happenstance. My year's goals changed because of this series.

Fantasy became a bigger part of my reading life.

Karigan (main character) is happily one of my most favourite characters ever. 

The High King's Tomb ~ Kristen Britain

Blown away by the complexity of the story.

I've never read a book like this.

I could hear the whispers of autumn clearly in my mind.

Pastoral and smooth writing helped me finish this 670 page tome in a week.

I want to write like Britain.

These are low on the list because the other books in the series did not receive as high a rating. 

Still good. Still excellent. 

These two are the stand outs in this series,

of which I devoured all published books this year - all 3,202 pages of it.

Cheers to another good year of reading!