Top 10 Books I'm looking forward to in 2012

Top 10 of 2011 is hosted by Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Lisa from A Life Bound by Books, Jamie & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Rachel from Fiktshun. It's a great opportunity to go back and remember all of the books you've read in 2011. For more information go here.

This is the last week for this "challenge" and I'm almost sad to see it end. It was so much fun to put together lists even though it's almost impossible to limit them to ten books / characters only. Today's list has proven to be just as difficult as the last four ones. There are definitely more than just ten books I'm looking forward to in 2012!

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Expected Publication: January 24th, 2012

(HarperCollins / Balzer + Bray)

Luckily I already have an eARC for this one, because I'm dying to read this. It sounds absolutely fantastic and almost everyone who has already read it, loved it!

Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Expected Publication: May 2012
(Entangled Publishing)

It's almost impossible to describe how much I loved Obsidian. Oh, Daemon, I'm already missing you! I definitely need this second installment in this series as soon as possible!

In Too Deep by Amanda Grace
Expected Publication: February 8th, 2012
(Flux)

Oh, I'm dying to read this one as well. It sounds a little bit dark, but I was immediately captivated by its summary nonetheless. In my opinion, everyone should add this to their to-read lists!

The Selection by Kiera Cass
Expected Publication: April 24th, 2012
(HarperTeen)

Even if the summary didn't sound so good, I'd probably be tempted to buy this just to drool over the cover. I really need this book! Is it April yet?

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
Expected Publication: May 8th, 2012
(Margaret K. McElderry)

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare
Expected Publication: November 2012
(Margaret K. McElderry)

Okay, this is the part where I officially start to cheat. But Cassandra Clare's books are so easy and fast to read (I devoured five of them this year) that two of her book can count as one. I haven't even read CoFA, but I know that I'll probably be dying for CoLS which is why I'm trying to wait. I also really loved the second book of the Infernal Devices series and need the third installment now!

Revived by Cat Patrick
Expected Publication: May 8th, 2012
(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

I absolutely loved Cat's other book Forgotten and can't wait to read more of her work. Revived sounds very unique and like a very exciting novel. Need this one now, too!

Timepiece by Myra McEntire
Expected Publication: June 12th, 2012
(Egmont USA)

The first book of this series, Hourglass, has been featured on a few of my previous 2011 lists and I can't wait to find out how this story continues.

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead
Expected Publication: June 19th, 2012
(Razorbill)

Adrian! Do I need to say more?! I've been missing him ever since I've finished reading Bloodlines and I can't wait to see / read about him again.

Until I Die by Amy Plum
Expected Publication: May 8th, 2012
(HarperCollins)

I loved the first book, its very refreshing paranormal aspects and the fantastic characters. Can't wait for the second installment!

And (sadly) this list won't survive without
Honorable Mentions:

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti
The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
Dreamless by Josephine Angelini
Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

(and since it has no cover yet)
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

... and many many more ...

Please feel free to link your own lists below and share your love for some awesome 2012 releases. It looks like my bank account will hate me next year. But it will be quite an amazing reading-year!

Carina

Top 10 Characters in 2011

Top 10 of 2011 is hosted by Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Lisa from A Life Bound by Books, Jamie & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Rachel from Fiktshun. It's a great opportunity to go back and remember all of the books you've read in 2011. For more information go here.

Just like the previous three posts (Top 10 Books I've Read in 2011 // Top 10 Covers of 2011 // Top 10 Book Boyfriends in 2011), this is a very hard post to write. When I first thought about my favorite characters, all of my book boyfriends of yesterday's list came to my mind. Then the heroines from my favorite books. Needless to say, this list could be endless.

So I'm trying something different to try and stick to ten characters only. I've created a few categories and will tell you my favorite characters that fit into them, so I won't repeat yesterday's list.

My favorite villains:

Warner from Shatter Me

Roman from Blue Moon

It's hard to explain why I like these two so much, especially since it's been a while since I read Blue Moon (beginning of 2011, even before I started blogging). It's probably because they are very hard to hate or maybe because I love to hate them. Whatever it is, I'm looking forward to see more of them.

My favorite heroines:

Lola from Lola and the Boy Next Door
Emerson from Hourglass
Rose from Vampire Academy

These girls are unique in the YA world. I love their wittiness, how they're able to fight for themselves and the things they believe in and how much they care about others.

My favorite "messed-up" characters:

Mara from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Cole from Linger & Forever

I don't think it's a secret that Mara Dyer is a seriously messed up character, but considering the things she is experiencing I think it's appropriate; it's what makes this novel so special. And Cole is definitely messed up, too, but I always enjoy reading the chapters from his point of view the most.

Characters who never fail to make me smile:

Magnus Bane from The Mortal Instruments / The Infernal Devices
Puck from The Iron Fey
Adrian from Vampire Academy / Bloodlines

When these characters appear, I squee like a little girl. They're special and I love them soooo much. I know that Puck and Adrian already appeared in my Top 10 Book Boyfriends list, but I just needed to mention them again - they're that awesome.

Please link your lists below so I can check out your favorite characters! Were you able to stick to ten people only or did you give in to your love for them?

Carina

Top 10 Book Boyfriends in 2011

Top 10 of 2011 is hosted by Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Lisa from A Life Bound by Books, Jamie & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Rachel from Fiktshun. It's a great opportunity to go back and remember all of the books you've read in 2011. For more information go here.

While this series of posts is so much fun, it's also very difficult to limit these lists to ten books or, in today's case, boyfriends. Check out my previous lists Top 10 Books I've Read in 2011 and Top 10 Book Covers of 2011. Originally I wanted to post pictures of actors / models who look like I imagine the characters to look like, but I sadly don't have enough time. But I'm sure you'll enjoy this list of awesomeness nonetheless! 

Adrian from the Vampire Academy / Bloodlines series

Puck from the Iron Fey series

Jace from the Mortal Instruments series

Étienne from Anna and the French Kiss

Tucker from the Unearthly series 

Irial from the Wicked Lovely series

Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door

Cole from the Wolves of Mercy Falls series

Will & Jem from the Infernal Devices series

Daemon from Obsidian

Originally I had planned another huge section of honorable mentions. And actually I should be adding it, because there are still so many male characters that need to be appreciated (e.g. Noah from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, Henry from Catching Jordan, Kaleb from Hourglass or Jules from Die For Me). But I'm trying to be strong here and stick to ten book boyfriends. 

Please link your lists below! We need more posts of book-boyfriend-awesomeness (even though these fictional guys are totally ruining me for real life guys).

Carina

Top 10 Book Covers of 2011

Top 10 of 2011 is hosted by Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Lisa from A Life Bound by Books, Jamie & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and Rachel from Fiktshun. It's a great opportunity to go back and remember all of the books you've read in 2011. For more information go here.

This is a post full of prettiness and again it's very difficult to decide which books to include and which not. Yesterday's post was TOP 10 BOOKS I'VE READ IN 2011 and it was impossible to limit this list to ten books. That's why I cheated. Let's see whether I can stick to ten books when it comes to book covers...

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey

This book cover is already incredibly gorgeous online, but in real life it's even prettier. The dust jacket actually has a velvety feel to it and makes me want to hold this book in my hands all day. And I want to keep staring at this beautiful colour combination, the gorgeous rose petals and the lovely font placement all day.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

This book has the same velvety feel to it in real life as Shattered Souls has. The font has a silvery sheen to it and in combination with this gorgeous photo it has a wonderful three-dimensional feeling to it. This is another book I could stare at for hours!

Brightest Kind of Darkness by P.T. Michelle

Yes, I know that there are many book covers out there with girls in (red) dresses, but for me this is one of the best. Especially since it does not only focus on the girl, but on the whole, slightly creepy, atmosphere which portrays the story perfectly.

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

It's almost impossible, but it's even more gorgeous in real life. There is something wonderfully mysterious about this photo in combination with these very light colors.

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Like the first two books of this list, this book has this wonderful velvety feel to it in real life. This brings out the gorgeous colors even more. And please look at that image: she's standing on the wall!

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Again, this is even more gorgeous in real life since it's really shiny. But I also love the colors and the choice of font for title and author. And I really like that the girl's wearing a dress (which she does in the book) and is see-through like you'd imagine a ghost to be.

Enthralled by Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong et al.

The first thing that caught my eye wasn't the amazing authors who contributed to this anthology but this gorgeous cover. I'm completely in love with the colors and the whole atmosphere of this!

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Wow - I love the combination of blue and red in this image, I love how the girl seems to almost break through the surface and I love how they turned the photo to give this a very surreal effect. Definitely need to read this book soon!

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

I absolutely love this shade of blue and how everything focuses on that - it's quite a different way to put emphasis on a girl wearing a dress. And I love how the large font doesn't overwhelm the cover.

Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

This photo is really gorgeous and I love how it doesn't focus on any details but just the shape of the girl. The pink highlights the almost black silhouette and creates a beautiful contrast.

Honorable Mentions:
The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff
Wildefire by Karsten Knight
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

And of course I couldn't stick to ten book covers, but with just four honorable mentions I think I did quite well. Please link your Top 10 posts below and let me know about your favorite 2011 covers!

Carina