[Wrap-Up] 2015 in Books: a Summary

Hello, friends!

I haven't really been posting - I'm a terrible person, there's nothing more I can really add.

So 2015 ended up being an okay reading year. It wasn't overwhelmingly good, but it wasn't bad either. I read a lot of books - well, at least to me it was a lot -, but there were a lot of books I read that I did not enjoy. I will soon be posting my favourite and least favourite books of 2015 and also my reading/bookish challenges and goals for 2016.

As for what I read in 2015, here are some numbers:

85 books read.

                          25602 pages read.

                                                             Average book length: 305 pages.

40 new-to-me authors.

                                       32 of which were females.

24 new series started.

                                     5 series finished.

I'm pretty happy with my reading year overall. It was really surprising to see that I tend to reach for female authors. I'd never noticed that before.

Anyway, keep an eye out for my 2016 reading goals - it'll be posted soon.

[Review] Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2) - Marissa Meyer

Author: Marissa Meyer

Original Title: Scarlet
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: February 5th, 2013
Finished Date: August 15th, 2015
Pages: 452
Read in: English

Synopsis

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. 

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Source: GoodReads

Rating

For starters, the one thing that really surprised me in this book is that we continue following Cinder's adventures, as well as Scarlet's. I thought that each book would be centred on a different character, meaning that this one would revolve around Scarlet, and that maybe we'd only hear about Cinder through other characters' POVs.
I was very glad that was not the case. Even though I felt that this book was overall weaker than the previous one - especially because of the part the romance played in it, but I'll explain that in detail in the spoilery section -, it was still a wonderful story full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

I ended up liking Scarlet as a character very much - maybe even more than I like Cinder. And of course there's the awesome addition of Carswell Thorne. I mean, Captain Carswell Thorne. With many of the characters from Cinder out of the picture, I was afraid this book would end up being dry or that I just wouldn't have enough time to get attached to another set of characters. But I did.
I honestly don't really know what to expect from the next two volumes. I thought I knew where this one was going and I really had no clue, so I think I'll just wait to be blown away.
If you haven't yet read the first book in the series, Cinder, go check that out. You won't regret it.

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)
Glitches (The Lunar Chronicles, #0,5)

The following extended review contains spoilers

If you have not yet read the book and/or do not wish to be spoiled, please do not read any further.

[Review] Glitches (The Lunar Chronicles, #0,5) - Marissa Meyer

Author: Marissa Meyer

Original Title: Glitches
Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: January 18th, 2012
Finished Date: August 1st, 2015
Pages: 32
Read in: English


Synopsis

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. In Glitches, a short prequel story to Cinder, we see the results of that illness play out, and the emotional toll that takes on Cinder. Something that may, or may not, be a glitch…

Source: GoodReads

Rating

There won't be any spoilery bits to this review as it is such a short novella.

This was very bittersweet. In a way I loved it, because even though it made me very sad it gave insight into Cinder's childhood as well as her friendship with both Iko and Peony. But at the same time, it was so short. And it made me so mad at Adri. I can't even, you guys. This series is taking over my life.

I always feel very strongly for characters when they're children, especially if there's any kind of abuse involved. Reading this and seeing first hand how Adri psychologically abused Cinder was awful. The part where she decides to be useful and puts Iko back together was so sad. And then that ending with Garan where Iko and Cinder have that first friendship moment left me a bit hollow inside.

This is really very short, and if you have read Cinder, I suggest you read it - it won't take long, and it'll provide some background on Cinder's character.

Click here to see my review of Cinder:

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1) - Marissa Meyer : ★★★★.5

Have you read this? What did you think? Let me know! :)

[Top Ten Tuesday] - Scary Books I Want To Read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created at The Broke and the Bookish, through which we share our top ten list on the weekly topic.

This week, the original topic was a Halloween themed freebie. I have not read many scary or Halloween-ish books - definitely not enough to fill in a top ten list -, so I decided to instead list all the scary books (at least they look and sound scary to me) that I have in my TBR.

Scary books I want to read

1 - Dracula, Bram Stoker
This is one of those classics that I've been meaning to read for such a long time it's ridiculous I never got around to it.

2 - Frankenstein, Mary Shelley
Another one of those classics I've seen a ton of interpretations of, but never actually read the real thing.

3 - Coraline, Neil Gaiman
I remember thinking that if this book was at least half as creepy as the Tim Burton film, there was no way this could be a children's book.

4 - The graveyard book, Neil Gaiman
This is the book I always have recommended to me when I say I never read Neil Gaiman, so I'm hoping it'll be good. If the title is any indication, this'll be creepy as hell.

5 - The woman in black, Susan Hill
I must admit that I committed the biggest sin a book lover can commit. I watched the film first. I'm sorry, I didn't know about the book! I am curious to read it though and see what the film left out.

6 - The shining, Stephen King
I've actually already started this book, but ended up putting it down. I was enjoying it, but as I was going through a reading slump, I couldn't find the energy or commitment to finish this huge book.

7 - The unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Michelle Hodkin
Everyone says wonders about this book, and I can't wait to find out what is up with it. It sounds very mysterious. 

8 - Interview with the vampire, Anne Rice
I believe this to be something of a modern classic. And I have yet to pick it up. At least I never watched this film.

9 - The diviners, Libba Bray
Ugh, I can't believe I haven't read this yet. I've had it for a while, and I also have an ARC of Lair of Dreams waiting to be read, so I'll have to read this one soon.

10 - Anna dressed in blood, Kendare Blake
This book sounds creepily awesome. I don't think I've ever read about ghosts before, and I can't wait to dive into this one.

 What are the top scary books on your TBR? Let me know! :)