Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
The rules are simple:
- Each Tuesday, Jana assigns a new topic. Create your own Top Ten list that fits that topic – putting your unique spin on it if you want.
- Everyone is welcome to join but please link back to The Artsy Reader Girl in your own Top Ten Tuesday post.
- Add your name to the Linky widget on that day’s post so that everyone can check out other bloggers’ lists.
- Or if you don’t have a blog, just post your answers as a comment.
Top Ten Books of 2018 (So Far!)
This week’s topic is best books we’ve read so far in 2018. We’ve fangirled about these books a lot this year, but they are so great we will do so again! Note: these books are not in any particular order because we simply cannot put ourselves through that torture.
Bring Me Their Hearts – Sara Wolf
We love brutal books – especially books that don’t have a happy ending just to make readers happy. Plus, characters like Zera with endless amounts of snark and wit give us life.
To Kill a Kingdom – Alexandra Christo
Yo ho yo ho, it’s a pirate’s life for us. We love Elian and his motley crew of pirate friends. And Lira is another brutal character that we cannot gush enough about. This book was beautiful and gets bonus points for being a rare YA fantasy standalone!
Furyborn – Claire Legrand
This book was a pleasant surprise for us! We didn’t really trust the hype and expected another run of the mill YA fantasy experience… Instead, we got a complex world full of complicated characters and a story where romance took the backseat. We loved how the book was split between two time periods telling the story two strong female characters!
Strange the Dreamer – Laini Taylor
We could go on and on and on about how much we admire Laini Taylor. Strange the Dreamer was simply brilliant and our words cannot do it justice. This book will give you all the feels especially *that* ending – and if Lazlo isn’t in the running for your book boyfriend of the year we’d be shocked.
Shadow and Bone – Leigh Bardugo
We’ve officially joined the Leigh Bardugo coven. Bardugo is a master witch of words, worldbuilding, and plot twists you won’t see coming. We ❤ the Darkling and the Grishaverse. We will buy anything Bardugo publishes from now on.
The Scribe – Elizabeth Hunter
Another surprise book favorite for us this year. We normally like paranormal romance but this one set in Turkey stole our hearts. We ship Ava and Malachi SO HARD and really we want our own Irin warriors to love us too! *That ending thoooooough.
Dirty Exes – Rachel Van Dyken
This romance novel was HILARIOUS. We’ve never laughed so hard and adored a man with a man-bun more. Plus, the characters in this book fully appreciate and understand that wine is the best beverage in the world. If you haven’t read this book, do it now!
Rhapsodic – Laura Thalassa
Laura Thalassa gives us the anti-hero that stole our hearts right from our chests and we are 100% okay with it. And Callie is the kind of Siren we want to be best friends with. This book is beautiful and brutal and a must read!
Under Different Stars – Amy Bartol
This. Book. KILLED. If you like strong female characters and a male love interest that will kidnap your heart… then read Under Different Stars! We loved the unique world building and complex politics between the characters. Andddd this book understands how important the fight against the patriarchy is!
Cruel Prince – Holly Black
Saved one of the best books of 2018 for last! Holly Black, we don’t deserve you. Cruel Prince was everything we wanted and needed it to be and if we don’t get our hands on Wicked King soon we will die. Though, from what we’ve heard Wicked King might just kill us anyways. But, what a way to go am I right?!?
Cruel Prince is just everywhere! And now I’m totally feeling guilty that I can’t get to it yet. Great list, gals! 😀
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It’ll be worth it when you do!! Thank you!!
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There are so many amazing books that I still need to read!! Wish me luck omg.
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We believe in you! Totally worth it!!
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Thank you!!
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STD is one of my fav too. I have yet to read TCP but I’m really lookig forward to! Awesome picks!!
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Thank you!! We really enjoyed TCP and hope you enjoy it too!
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Wonderful list… Leigh Bardugo is Queen 👸 Cruel Prince is sooo good too !!!
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Thank you!! Leigh bardugo forever!!!
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so many awesome books on this list!
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Thank you!!
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Awesome list!! Really loved To Kill A Kingdom // Elian’s crew is so wonderful PIRATE FAMS!!
Reminder that I really need to read Laini Taylor and Leigh Bardugo !!!! *Cartwheels into some bushes*
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Omg yes you do need to read Shadow and Bone! And Strange the Dreamer!!! They need to jump to the top of your TBR pronto!!!
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The Cruel Prince does sound like an interesting read.
This is our Top Ten Tuesday.
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Cruel Prince is definitely worth the read! Highly recommend. Loved your TTT post!
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Great list! To Kill a Kingdom and Cruel Prince are my top faves for sure!
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They are so good! I can’t wait for Wicked King!
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SAME. So much right now since all I’m seeing on IG is this book. 😭
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I know my jealously has never been so high
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I haven’t read any of the books featured in your post. But the covers look cool!!
I selected the freebie topic and chose the top ten book festivals I’d love to attend here in the USA. Here’s a link to my TTT post for this week: https://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2018/07/top-ten-tueday-ttt-throwback-freebie.html?showComment=1531236356028#c2173527157270187754
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Thank you! All your book festival choices are on point. I want to go to them all! Great list!
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Great list! I love Shadow & Bone. Leigh Bardugo is one of my (newish) favorite authors.
I was also glad to see Furyborn on here. I just started reading this. It’s pretty intriguing so far!
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Thank you! Leigh Bardugo should be on everyone’s favorite author lists!!
I’m excited to see what you think about Furyborn!!
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Furyborn is on my TBR so I’m excited to see it on your list!
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Ah! Can’t wait for you to read it and to hear what you think about it!!
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I also had To Kill a Kingdom and The Cruel Prince on my list!! Great covers and great stories! Also, I’ve had Under Different Stars on my TBR for ages, but never really heard anyone talk about it. Much more interested after reading your blurb! If you’d like to check out my dual lists feel free to do so here: http://nerdnarrationblog.wordpress.com/2018/07/10/top-ten-tuesday-best-reads-of-2018-so-far-tbr/
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I’d definitely give Under Different Stars a try – I love the main character Kricket!!! Thanks for sending your list, I’ll check it out!!
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Thanks for the rec! Like I said I’ve had it on the list for ages but it’s (as far as I’ve seen) never discussed.
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Love your list! I’ve been wanting to get to Shadow & Bone for SOOOOOOO long! Ahh
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You need to do it! It’s WORTH it!!!
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I can’t wait to finish Strange the Dreamer! I need to check out Dirty Exes now 😙
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Yes yes yes to both!!!
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There are so many awesome books on this list! I’m crazy excited for The Wicked King, I need that book right now!! Also I’m really glad to hear that you loved To Kill A Kingdom, it’s my next read! ❤️
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I hope you like To Kill a Kingdom!!!
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I had to add The Scribe and Under Different Stars to my TBR after reading this because they sound so good! I’m so excited to read To Kill a Kingdom too. And I didn’t realize it was a standalone, which is extra awesome! Great list guys!! 😄
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Thank you!!
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Strange the Dreamer is a great one! I can’t wait for Muse of Nightmares later this year!
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It’s going to be amazing and probably hurt us!
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I keep seeing Bring Me Their Hearts around–I hope to try it soon. I love Strange the Dreamer so much too!
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Definitely give Bring Me Their Hearts!!!
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I’ve had Under Different Stars on my list for so long, I’m glad to see you guys loved it! I also want to read Amy A. Bartol’s Second Born series, her books sound so interesting I don’t know how more people don’t know about them??
Great list guys! There have honestly been so many great reads so far in 2018, I bet it’s going to get better 😀
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You definitely should give Under Different Stars a try its so good!!! And I agree, Bartol doesn’t get enough appreciation!
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I almost put Furyborn on my list too! It was so hard to narrow down. I still have to read Strange the Dreamer and The Cruel Prince. Both are staring at me from my bookshelf right now 🙂
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It is really hard to narrow these kind of lists down – I’m not looking forward to having to do this at the end of the year!! You should pick up Strange the Dreamer immediately – its beautiful!!
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I know!!!!!! ❤ I'm really excited because I only have a few commitments for July/August so it is going to happen. And I NEED to read it before Muse comes out! (see? I already know I'm going to love it that I'm excited for the sequel ❤ )
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Muse may kill me though! But at the same time, I can’t wait at all.
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I’m so excited to read Bring Me Their Hearts and To Kill a Kingdom, they both sound brutal and amazing. Furyborn’s one of my favorite 2018 reads too, anti-heroines are everything 💕
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Yes! Anti-heroines are life!! Ahh you need to read To Kill a Kingdom and BMTH they are amazingggg!!
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Cruel Prince seems to be literally everyone favorite book this year but somehow I didn’t exactly connect with it 😦 Maybe I wasn’t in the mood? I might have to re-read this one!
I definitely need to read Fury Born and To Kill a Kingdom though! (I’m soooooo behind on my TBR because I decided that I finally had to finish the House of Night). I’m also super excited for Spinning Silver (I tried to buy a copy yesterday but my bookshop was sold out 😦 😦 😦 ) and Kingdom of Ash.
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Kingdom of Ash is going to kill us, I know it. So excited, but so nervous for that one!
I loved Furyborn and To Kill a Kingdom so definitely have those on your list! And Cruel Prince may be a timing thing. That one is a little rough so I can easily see how you wouldn’t connect depending on mood.
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Cruel Prince seems to be on everybody’s list. I need to read that one and Strange the Dreamer.
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Strange the Dreamer is my LOVE! But give yourself time to digest and set it down because it is heavier than most YA.
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I love Shadow and Bone! 😀 I am dying to read To Kill a Kingdom and Furyborn and those covers are so amazing.
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They are beautiful!
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Yes read all the Leigh Bardugo books. It only gets better from now on. 😉
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Can’t wait! Leigh Bardugo is amazing!!!
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[…] ★ Libby ★ Jacquie ★ Loretta ★ Siobhan ★ Jess & Teagan ★ […]
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Thanks for tagging us!!! Your work environment would be a hilarious TV show!!
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I’m reading Furyborn now and so far I’m impressed with the complexity of the world and how everything is being set up (I’m only 50 pages in but so far it’s promising!). And Strange the Dreamer is just complete and utter perfection.
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Glad you think so!! Those are two of our favorites!
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[…] TTT: Best Books of 2018 (So Far) […]
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