My Favorite Books of 2013

Oh, 2013...a fond farewell.  You really gave us some great additions to the YA bookshelves.
It's kind of a funny thing, when I was looking through all of my reviews for last year and compiling this list, I found that a book rated 5 cupcakes didn't always correspond with what I look back on and think, "Wow, that is really one of my new favorite books."  These books aren't always titles that I gave my top rating to, but the ones that really stayed with me, ones that even now make me want to dive back in and experience them again (even though I very rarely reread anything!).

Also, these are books I read in 2013, not necessarily books that got published in 2013. :)
The blurbs are quoted from my own reviews.

Born of Illusion was undoubtedly one of my most anticipated reads of 2013.  The 1920s era setting, the promise of both stage magic and real magic, a volatile mother/daughter relationship, and a mystery involving the great Houdini himself ---the entire concept had me seriously pining for this!  Happily, I report that I was not disappointed.  Born of Illusion is a new favorite of mine.  
(see full review)

So much love for this book!  It's a fun and fast read, gorgeous world-building of two very different kingdoms, all with the feel of a grand fairy tale adventure. There is more to come from this series, and I can't wait to see where Elara and Wilha's lives will lead them! (see full review)

The world that Meyer creates has expanded it's reach from Japan into France and it also grows in all it's detailed, imaginative, futuristic glory, and definitely in it's darkness and danger.  A new vicious threat is introduced, Queen Levana's evil grip gets more powerful, and time continues to run thin as Kai makes a desperate decision and this story hurtles forward. 
(see full review)

The Holders was so much more than I expected!  From the cover, I think I expected more of a serious high fantasy---what I got was a fantastic story with some great Harry-Potter type fantasy elements, and a great plot surrounding a fierce heroine with a wicked temper, especially when it comes to protecting her little brother from, well, ...everyone!
(see full review)

BREATHTAKING.
Stacey Jay's latest book completely blew me away.  With it's gorgeous flow of words and undeniably creative restructuring of this classic tale, Of Beast and Beauty is truly one of the best fairytale retellings I have ever read.  These comfortably familiar characters inhabit a futuristic world of myth and dark magic, where one group of people have adapted to survive the world, and one group hides away and fears it.
(see full review)

The scope of These Broken Stars just feels so grand, and romance builds so genuinely that it doesn’t overpower the story. It's just the perfect blend of so many things that really make this story shine. Beautifully crafted storytelling, a tale that I found myself swallowed up into from the beginning and hypnotized by until the end. (see full review)

I always tend to be drawn to stories that make me look at basic human nature as something to be thankful for---being able to cry and laugh and even feel loss and pain. This one did a little of that, too. The ending is gutsy and exciting, as danger creeps in all around them and some interesting things get revealed. It definitely leaves you craving more!
(see full review)

Simply put, there is nothing quite like Some Quiet Place. How does one even begin to write a character that is so completely devoid of all emotion?  How does one begin to imagine what Fear would look like if you could literally face him?  What first drew me to this book was the incredibly unique concept and exactly how author Kelsey Sutton would pull such a thing off.  Well, pull it off she did, and beautifully. (see full review)

What I love about the ending is that it doesn’t tie up in a happily-ever-after, tidy little package.  At 14, Sophie has a ways to go---she grows a ton in this book, learns a great many things about herself and her dad, but she acknowledges that she’s not done yet.  I loved that.
The Theory of Everything is a story chock full of musical nostalgia (for me, at least LOL), wildly enchanting characters, science that is not an exact science,  a healthy dose of imagination, and a lesson in the importance of love of all kinds.
(see full review)

The amount of research put in by the author to make this horrifying era come to life just blows my mind. Plus the imagination to create such a horror story full of creepy birds, eerie ghosts, the feeling of being surrounded by death,…and love. (see full review)

 I almost didn't finish this one. I raced enthusiastically through the first 100 pages, and then somehow it lost me. I actually put it aside for awhile. Then, by chance, I ended up alone with this book and decided to pick it up again. I couldn't be happier that I did.  This story and characters dug into my brain and from then on I was completely enthralled by it through the fantastic, climactic end.
(see full review)

So those were my reading highlights of the year 2013! On to a new year and new fantastic reads!! If I can narrow it down to a decent amount, I'll be posting soon about most anticipated reads of 2014!