Tales from the Bargain Bin

My goal this year was to read 100 "new to me" books, which I achieved earlier this month. So, just for fun, I think I'm going to do a year-end round up.

Next year's goal: 150 "new to me" books to try and clear some of my giant book backlog. I didn't start this year's challenge until March, so I'm hoping that I'll be able to achieve it.

Favorite books: 

Keeper of the Lost Cities and its sequel Keeper of the Lost Cities: Exile by Shannon Messenger. I could write on and on about my love for this series but I did review it, so read it instead.

Honorary mentions go to: The two Ash Mistry books by Sarwat Chadda, Above World by Jennifer Reese, Throne of Glass by Sarah J Mass, Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and The Cloak Society by Jeramey Kraatz.

Least favorite books: Pulse by Patrick Carman (so dreadful I actually reviewed it) and The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova (which would have been better if the main character wasn't so utterly despicable).

Biggest Disappointment: Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends by Shannon Hale. I've rethought my review a few times and my opinion is generally the same. My initial review was colored by disappointment that it didn't have the depth that Hale's work usually does. I should admit that if a parent is looking for something easy for a young girl to read, this is probably an okay choice (even though I loathe the blatant marketing sexism involved). However, as an adult who reads mostly MG and YA, this isn't a book I would recommend to my fellow adults.

Best Bargain Bin Surprise: I buy a lot of my books from bargain bins. The thing about books from there is that you never know quite what you're going to get. Most of them are pretty average (or dreadful) but every now and them I come across one or two that I fall in love with.

This year's winner: Keeper of the Lost City by Shannon Messenger. Love almost everything about it. But again, see the review. I even bought a copy for my niece and a copy for my kindle, so even though it was a bargain bin find, I definitely supported the author.

Honorable Mention: The Cloak Society by Jeramey Kraatz. Really fun book set in a world where superheros and supervillains are real. Third generation villain Alex must try and decide just how far he's willing to go to defeat the Rangers of Justice . . . Given its subject matter and the current popularity of superhero movies, I'm very, very surprised I hadn't heard about it before I stumbled upon it in the bargain bin. I bought the sequel and can't wait for book three to come out.

March

1. Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner

2. Beyonders #1: A World Without Heros by Brandon Mull

3. Beyonders #2: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull

4. Beyonders #3: Chasing the Prophesy by Brandon Mull

5. The Drowned Vault (Ashtown Buriels #2) by N.D. Wilson

6. Far World #1: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage

7. And Then She Fell by Stephanie Laurens

April

8. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

9. Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

10. The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn

11. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass

12. Pulse by Patrick Carman

13. The Paladin Prophesy by Mark Frost

May

14. Summerkin by Sarah Prineas

15. Enclave by Ann Aguirre

16. Gods and Warriors by Michelle Paver

17. Wednesdays in the Tower by Jessica Day George

18. The Colossus Rises (Seven Wonders #1) by Peter Lerangis

19. Land Keep (Far World #2) by J. Scott Savage

20. Air Keep (Farworld #3) by J. Scott Savage

21. Snuff by Terry Pratchett

June

22. The Mystery (Troubletwisters #3) by Garth Nix and Sean Williams

23. The Reluctant Assassin: W.A.R.P. #1 by Eoin Colfer

24. The Cabinet of Earths by Anne Nesbet

25. The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott

26. The Flame of Olympus (Pegasus #1) by Kate O'Hearn

27. Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu

28. The Taming of Ryder Cavanaugh by Stephanie Laurens

29. Knightly Academy by Violet Haberdasher

July

30. The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling

31. The Billionaire's Curse by Richard Newsome

32. The Emerald Casket (Billionaire #2) by Richard Newsome

33. The Secret Prince (Knightly Academy #2) by Violet Haberdasher

34. Olympus at War (Pegasus #2) by Kate O'Hearn

35. The Mask of Destiny (Billionaire #3) by Richard Newsome

36. Savvy by Ingrid Law

37. The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healey

38. Above World by Jenn Reese

39. Mirage (Above World #2) by Jenn Reese

40. Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson

41. The Extraordinary Education of Nicolas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stuart

42. The Man in the Queue by Josephine Tey

43. The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

44. The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

August

45. The Six Crowns: Sargasso Skies by Allan Frenwin Jones

46. Bone Quill (Hollow Earth #2) by Carole E. Barrowman and John Barrowman

47. The Dragon Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

48. Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood

49. Storybound by Melissa Burt

50. Story's End by Melissa Burt

51. Cloudy Jewel by Grace Livingston Hill

52. The Cloak Society by Jeremy Kraatz

53. 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson

54. Curse of the Broomstaff (Janitors #3) by Tyler Whitesides

September

55. One Piece volume 68 by Eiichiro Oda

56. Duskin by Grace Livingston Hill

57. Redshirts by John Scalzi

58. Wild Born (Spirit Animals #1) by Brandon Mull

59. The Apothecary by Maile Meloy

60. Dandelion Fire (100 Cupboards #2) by N.D. Wilson

61. Dodger by Terry Pratchett

October

62. Battle Magic by Tamora Pierce

63. The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith

64. Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier.

65. Deadweather and Sunrise (Chronicles of Egg #1) by Geoff Rodkey

66. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

67. Birds of a Feather (Maisie Dobbs #2) by Jacqueline Winspear

68. An Incomplete Revenge (Maisie Dobbs #5) by Jacqueline Winspear

69. A Dash of Magic (Bliss Bakery #2) by Kathryn Littlewood

70. Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends by Shannon Hale

71. Enchanted by Alethea Kontis

72. A Man Lay Dead by Ngaio Marsh

73. Crewel by Gennifer Albin

74. Pardonable Lies (Masie Dobbs #3) by Jacqueline Winspear

75. Messenger of Truth (Masie Dobbs #4) by Jacqueline Winspear

76. Among the Mad (Masie Dobbs #6) by Jacqueline Winspear

77. Allegient by Veronica Roth

78. The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein

79. Secrets of the Crown (Familiars #2) by Adam Jay Epstein

80. Circle of Heroes (Familiars #3) by Adam Jay Epstein

81. The Sum of all Kisses by Julia Quinn

82. Empire of Bones (Ashtown Burials #3) by N.D. Wilson

November

83. The Sands of Nezza (Adventurers Wanted #4) by M.L. Foreman

84. Hero by Alethea Kontis

85. New Lands (Chronicles of Egg #2) by Geoff Rodkey

86. The Wicked Wallflower by Maya Rodale

87. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

88. Seducing Mr. Knightly by Maya Rodale

89. The Tattooed Duke by Maya Rodale

90. Keeper of the Lost Cities: Exile by Shannon Messenger

91. A Groom of Ones Own by Maya Rodale

92. A Tale of Two Lovers by Maya Rodale

93. The Apprentices by Maile Meloy

94. The Planet Thieves by Dan Krokos

95. The Ring of Five by Eoin McNamee

96. The Unknown Spy (Ring of Five #2) by Eoin McNamee

97. The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

December

98. The Ghost Roads (Ring of Five #3) by Eoin McNamee

99. Let The Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

100. The Savage Fortress (Ash Mistry #1) by Sarwat Chadda

101. The City of Death (Ash Mistry #2) by Sarwat Chaddaj

102. The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

103. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

104. The Friday Society by Adrienne Kess

105. The Son of Sobek by Rick Riordan (novella)

106. The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie