Spotlight List: My Favorite Fictional Men

You know when you attend a party for someone's birthday and you get to the required gift opening time and it's sort of a mix of awkwardness, boredom, and jealousy?

Well, everyone, consider this post the internet equivalent to that time. Minus the awkwardness and boredom, but plus hot men and still with LOTS of jealousy (because don't we all want to unwrap hot men on our birthdays?).

Yes, that's right, today is Ruby's birthday, and my present to her is a SECOND collection of some of my favorite fictional guys. (On loan, naturally. Click here to see the last year's gift of hot fictional men).

Use them well, Ruby. Use them well.

The Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan

There's are so many wonderful men in this book that there's probably someone for everyone, but chief among them are the darkly mysterious Royce (he's an assassin!) and the pure-hearted swordsman Hadrian.

For me, it's Hadrian All. The. Way. He's a rough and tumble man's man, but his heart is set on leading a noble life protecting the innocent and upholding the rules of chivalry. He loves deeply and is unswervingly loyal.

The fact that I picture him pretty much exactly like the guy on the cover (on the left) doesn't hurt, either. (The guy on the right is Royce and is a TERRIBLE model choice. He looks too nice.)

The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner

Did you like Sage from The False Prince? Then you seriously need to introduce yourself to Gen. Gen is a master thief. He whines. He complains. He brags. He swaggers.

He's always fifty steps ahead of everyone around him, and twenty of those steps are deliberate missteps designed to get us all to play right into his hands until Gen finally decides to reveal what he's truly been up to all along.

And his romance? It's as complicated as he is, but it's so subtly sweet and even thinking about it breaks my heart into a million pieces and then glues them back together again with the power of their love.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Sure there might be two main love interests in this book, but only one was ever a real consideration for me: Choal. He's an uptight warrior with a sense of morality, best friend of the prince, and unfailingly loyal.

He doesn't exactly approve of Celaena, what with her being a notorious assassin and criminal and all. But, he's set to guard her and train her and you know what that means, right? Lots of sizzling hate-turned-love banter!

Their training sessions alone were enough to keep me breathless, but the tender scene with the ring or the heart-wrenching scene where he doesn't let her quit are the stuff made for re-reads.

Angelfall by Susan Ee

The world of Angelfall may be a post-apocalyptic nightmare, but by gosh you can send me there in a heartbeat just so long as I can have Raffe as a traveling partner.

Sure, our time might be spent fighting off some of the most disgusting creatures I've ever read about, but getting to see his angel muscles ripple as he expertly swings his sword would make it all worthwhile.

And between the slaughter, there's banter! Lots of sarcastic, clever, funny, adorable banter! Even his non-verbal banter with Penryn is fantastic:

“'Leaking sacks of mutated maggots?' He raises his perfectly arched eyebrow as though I'd just failed my verbal insult exam."

Note the lifting of one eye-brow? As an essential characteristic of hot, sarcastic male leads everywhere, I rest my case.

Which hot fictional guy are you willing to loan Ruby on her birthday?

Have you read any of these books? 
Do you know any fictional men like them that I should drop everything to track down and read?

Be sure to check out Ruby's blog today and throughout the month of April for her April is Awesome event (there are lots of awesome author interviews, guest posts, and giveaways...including one from one of my Special Shelf authors!)

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Discussion & List: The Joy of Book Two

I have a love/hate relationship with series, but today I'm going to focus on the positive and gush about my explosive love for series, particularly book two.

Starting a series is great with all of its first-date suspense, hope, and possibilities. Few things come close to the delicious anticipation of wondering if I'll fall head over heels for this book and open a brand new chapter of awesomeness in my life.

Life was never the same

And then, if the stars align and everything comes together perfectly, then there's the wait for the second book. And, yeah, it's excruciating. But it's also kind of fun because even though I have to wait, I KNOW there will be a big payoff when the time comes due.

Plus, since it's only the second book, so I know I can read the book without all the sadness that comes along with reading the last book in the series when you know it's really The End.

It's like Christmas, or my birthday. Sure they only come once a year, but when they DO come, they're filled with piles of presents and tons of tasty food and general wonderfulness. And the best part is, I know these things are coming. I can rely on that guaranteed happiness, even if I have to wait a whole year for it.

And we get to do this EVERY year!

The second book in a series is often a dangerous thing, fraught with all sorts of peril like series stretching and the introduction of the dreaded Secondary Love Interest. Usually, second books scare the life out of me.

This didn't work out well for anyone

BUT, every rare once in a while a first book is so incredible, so special, so perfect that I KNOW the next book will be nothing short of chocolate fudge levels of perfection.

(Of course I'm still a little afraid I'll experience a crushing blow if the book doesn't live up to my super high expectations, but shhh, I'm pretending that isn't even a fraction of a possibility. Because, I just, I cannot fathom that reality.)

I've had my heart crushed way too many times by book disappointment, so I don't let my heart run wild after just any old book. I'm picky and jaded and I don't want to be hurt again.

 So this is my teeny tiny list of sequels I've allowed myself to throw all caution to the wind and fall madly in love with the mere idea of their existence.

They'd better live up.

Fair warning: There be (tiny) spoilers for the first books here!

The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke
sequel to The Pirate's Curse

The first book hit pretty much all of my marks for a Special Shelf book with its sleepover friend paragon of a main character, sizzling hate-turned-love romance, and heaps of fantasy peril and action. The ending left off with the potential for an even more excitement-filled quest to come, and if the strength of the first book is any indication, The Pirate's Curse is going to set a new high in quest-fantasy.

I'm banking on The Pirate's Wish having all that, and more. Namely, I want more sizzle in the romance. Sure it was pretty close to perfect in the first book, but I felt like Naji was holding out in that department a little. He's a little too closed off and mysterious, so I'm hoping book two sheds a little more light on his, presumably, growing feelings for Ananna.

An 11th hour name change wouldn't hurt, either (I mean, Naji?? I'm still not over it).

The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen
sequel to The False Prince

The idea of basking in Sage's presence is enough for me. I don't even care all that much what he's doing.

But, I'd prefer if he were scheming and manipulating and being cheeky about it all like he was in The False Prince. The blurb gives me hope that there will be a good dose of twistyness mixed with clever plotting and murder (always good for a book, I think).

I like that the blurb makes it sound like Sage has matured and gotten all responsible in The Runaway King (I always love a Capable Guy), but I'm hoping his signature sass hasn't been completely set aside. Also, a little more development of that barely-there distrustful romance would be fantastic. But just a smidgen.

The only thing I'm really not jumping for joy over is the name change. I read the blurb three times thinking, "Who the heck is Jaron?!" before I realized that, oh yeah, that's Sage's real name. But, pfft. He'll always be Sage to me.

The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle by Christopher Healy
sequel to The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

I can't stop recommending The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom. Adults, kids, teens, tweens—I've even made the elderly whip out their magnifiers and read that book. My pitch is simple: Do you like to laugh? Well then, do I have a book for you!

I'm expecting nothing less out of Christopher Healy's follow up. The cover and blurb are certainly worthy and I have no doubt the author is up to the task. So, my expectations? Super high. But my fears the book might not fulfill those expectations? Practically zero. I have total confidence, Mr. Healy.

I don't really have doubts or hopes for this sequel. Not like the other books. In this case, I just hope The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle is filled with all of the same characters (and maybe a few new ones, too. Evil villainS? Plural? Yessssss) and that they're acting exactly like themselves. And, ok, maybe it would be cute to see the rearranged couples pair up a little more solidly, but that isn't a requirement at all.

Biggest reason I'm crossing my fingers in hopeful anticipation? I desperately want Bronson Pinchot to record an audiobook version.

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers
sequel to Grave Mercy

I know this book is following different characters from the main duo in Grave Mercy, but I'm kind of okay with that. Don't get me wrong, I loved Ismae and Duvall, but I'm all about the slow burn romance and that ship has sailed for them already. When the romance comes together in book one, all book two usually offers is conflict and third parties. Or sappy, spark-less tru wuv. Either way, no thank you!

So I'm all over the idea of keeping the awesome world of assassin nuns, gods of death, and courtly intrigue but turning the focus on two new love interests. Sybella is even more distrustful and prickly than Ismae, so I'm not expecting any kind of instalove nonsense out of her. In fact, the only instalove I'm pretty certain about is the love I have for Sybella, and I can't wait to get to know her even more.

My only fear? I wasn't IN LOVE with Sybella's soon-to-be-main-squeeze. So, yeah, I'm worried I won't be feeling this romance the way I was with Duvall. But I trust Robin, so I'm not too worried. Plus, I'm sure I'll be plenty distracted with all of the historical fantasy world building and political intrigue.

Also, Sybella. I really have fallen in instalove.

What about you?

What series are you SO in love with that you just KNOW the second book will be complete perfection for you?

Do you have any hopes or fears for them?

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Spotlight List: Vivian Vande Velde

Vivian Vande Velde

I am a huge, gigantic, raining-down-the-Special-Shelf-awards fan of Vivian Vande Velde. Most of her books are pretty short, but all include her notable dry humor, deceptively deep stories, and inventive twists. Also, I love how she writes her heroes. Swoon. And their often hate-turned-love romances with very flawed but totally endearing heroines gets me every time.

Dragon's Bait
Release Date: April 1, 2003
Publisher: Magic Carpet Books
Pages: 196
Goodreads Page

Charged as a witch (she's not), tied to a stake, and left out as a sacrifice to the local dragon, Alys has seen better days. Furious with the town and vowing revenge, Alys finds an unexpected ally in the dragon--a dragon who can magically shape shift into the form of a very attractive young man.

Alys is exactly the type of heroine I adore. She's strong-willed, stubborn, persistent, and entirely real. And that dragon? Oh swoon! He so nails that "lazily sarcastic" attitude I love so much. But don't expect a romance-filled plot. Alys is firmly focused on revenge, but following her as she schemes is a ton of fun.

Stolen
Release Date: October 1, 2008
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children's Books
Pages: 158
Goodreads Page

The villages have had enough--their children have been stolen by the witch in the woods for too long. They attack the witch in her home, but she, and the baby she has just stolen, both disappear. Later that day, a 12-year-old girl appears in the woods with no memory of who she is or how she arrived in the woods. Who is she? What happened to the witch and the baby? Could this girl be one of the children stolen years ago?

At only 158 pages, there isn't a whole lot of depth here and everything reads more like a novella than a full novel. But sometimes that's ok. I was enthralled with the mystery and, though I had my suspicions, Vivian Vande Velde kept me guessing until the very end.

User Unfriendly
Release Date: November 30, 1990
Publisher: Magic Carpet Books
Pages: 256
Goodreads Page

Think fantasy computer games are fun? Imagine a game that plugged directly into your brain so you felt like you were actually IN the game? Pretty cool, right? But what if things start to go wrong? What if you don't just feel like you're in the game, but you actually are IN the game? And what happens if you die in the game?

The whole concept of this book grabbed me from the start. I'm not really into video games, but this is close enough to the idea of getting sucked into a book that I'm all over it. I also really liked keeping track of the characters and their game alter-egos. Pair it with the companion novel Heir Apparent for extra fantasy gaming fun! (Both books can be read as standalones, and in any order).

Witch Dreams
Release Date: October 30, 2005
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children's Books
Pages: 120
Goodreads Page

Nyssa's family was murdered six years ago and she is convinced the murderer is the nobleman's son Elsdon. Determined to prove his guilt, she uses her witchy powers of dream walking to slip into Elsdon's dreams and collect the evidence she needs to convince the town. What she discovers is not at all what she, or the reader, expects.

At only 120 pages, this is another book that reads more like a novella than a full novel. While part of me wishes Vivian Vande Velde had fleshed this out more (because I know this would have been a fantastic novel), I do appreciate how much she was able to pack into so few pages.

The mystery intrigued me and I was shocked by the ending. The characters may not be incredibly deep, but their plights are so emotionally charged and their feelings so understandable that I couldn't help but feel a strong connection. The emotional topic and Vivian Vande Velde's sensitive handling make this a special book that stands out to me.

The Conjurer Princess
Release Date: September 1, 1997
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 229
Goodreads Page

Lylene is determined to rescue her sister Beryl after Beryl is kidnapped on her wedding day. Before Lylene can challenge Beryl's kidnapper, she must first enlist the help of a sketchy wizard who promises to teach Lylene magic...with a catch. A con man and a handsome but mysterious warrior round out Lylene's off-beat group of allies.

This is the book that made me create the Special Shelf. Lylene, Shile, and Weiland are the characters I hold up as the standard for my favorite characters ever. Read the companion novel The Changeling Prince to learn more about that swoony warrior and friendly con man (both books are standalones and you can read them in any order).

For fans of Alexandra Bracken's Brightly Woven and Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study and Touch of Power.

Have you read any of these books? Feel free to add links to your reviews!

Want to see more Spotlight Lists? 
Click HERE to see more of my lists

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Guest Posting at Ruby's Reads

This week kicks off Ruby's epic birthday celebration, and guess what? 

I brought gifts! 

Book-related, of course. Actually, I've made a huge sacrifice and loaned Ruby some of my absolute favorite book boyfriends in a Spotlight List of Hotness. 

Curious to see who they are?  

Click here to visit Ruby's Reads! 

While you're there, tell me about YOUR favorite book boyfriends, and whether or not you're willing to share them!

(I really suck at self-promotion, so I keep forgetting to add this button. But, erm, better late than never?)

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Spotlight List: The Giant List of 2011 Recommendations (GP)

Looking for another list?

I am also guest posting today at The Happy Booker!

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Spotlight List: The Giant List of 2011 Recommendations (7)

I made a really big list

I'm a list maker, as is probably pretty obvious by this feature. So of course I HAD to make an end-of-the-year list recapping all of the books I read in 2011. It's like a snapshot of reviews, but you can click on the titles to go to my full reviews.

I broke this up into seven posts (plus a guest post) that will go up throughout the day. Settle in, this is going to be a long one!

The Specialist Special Shelf

The elite section of the Special Shelf. These are the books that I pull off the shelf when I want to visit old friends and favorite scenes. These are the type of books I am constantly searching for and treasure when I find them. If the house was burning down, these are the books I'd be saving. They may not be perfect books, but they're perfect for me.

StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce
Spies, thievery, blackmail, shifting alliances, secret organizations, and court intrigue set in a snowed-in castle. YES MORE PLEASE!

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier (review to come)
Why did I wait so long to read this?!

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder (review to come)
Post-apocalyptic fantasy is my new favorite genre.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers (review to come)
Assassins, court intrigue, and hate-turned-love romance. I am SO glad this is going to be a trilogy!

Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
Song of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
Historical fiction done exactly how I want it. I RAGED, and cried, and wanted to reach in and hug Selene because I was so happy and proud!

The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell
SO much more than I was expecting. I could talk about this book for hours.

Catspaw by Joan D. Vinge
A re-read of an old favorite. Cat is one of my absolute favorite characters ever.

Plain Kate by Erin Bow
Beautiful. Absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful. Taggle!

The River of Time series by Lisa T. Bergren
LOVE! Every. Single. Thing.

Which books made your Specialist Special Shelf in 2011? Have you read any of these? What did you think of them?

But wait! What did I think about all those other 2011 reads? Follow along to find out and weigh in on your own 2011 reads!
Part 1

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Part 5
Part 6
Guest post!

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Spotlight List: The Giant List of 2011 Recommendations (6)

I made a really big list

I'm a list maker, as is probably pretty obvious by this feature. So of course I HAD to make an end-of-the-year list recapping all of the books I read in 2011. It's like a snapshot of reviews, but you can click on the titles to go to my full reviews.

I broke this up into seven posts (plus a guest post) that will go up throughout the day. Settle in, this is going to be a long one!

A cut above

These are the books that, for some reason or another, stood out for me. I enjoyed them while I was reading, they stayed with me after I finished, and they left me wanting more. Good writing, characters that clicked with me, plots that captured me, whatever it is, they each have something I can point to and say, "This book is a cut above." I want to own these ASAP.

My Swordhand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick (review to come)
These vampires could sparkle and I would STILL pee my pants in fear. Approach this one as if it were an old folktale or legend.

The Revenant by Sonia Gensler
Color me surprised when I discovered this is a ghost story! And a great one at that. 

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson (review to come)
Quests, battles, shifting loyalties, intriguing world building, and a MC I couldn't help but love. 

Master and Commander (#1-3) by Patrick O'Brian (review to come)
Two of my favorite characters OF ALL TIME.

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley
High fantasy, brothers in arms, battle, mystery, and a totally platonic hate-turned-friendship relationship totally hooked me. I like the dog, too. Sequel, please?

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Horrible events + crazy people + dystopian + survival story = I CAN'T STOP READING!

Enclave by Ann Aguirre
I would slay zombies with Deuce and Fade in a heartbeat. Or, ok, I'd cower in a corner and watch them slay zombies, but it would still be awesome.

Picture the Dead by Adele Griffin and Lisa Brown
Pictures and words have never been so perfectly matched. Totally absorbing.

Toads and Diamonds by Heather Tomlinson
Beautiful and evocative. Can we please have more fairy tale retellings like this?

Where I Want to Be by Adele Griffin
Gutted me. Totally gutted me, and I appreciated every second of it.

The Julian Game by Adele Griffin
I could talk for days about all of the discussion points packed in this tiny book. Even more fantastically amazing for its lack of preaching.

Tighter by Adele Griffin
The perfect retelling: No need to have read the original, but if you have, then you'll have a ton of fun spotting all the references. 

Supernaturally by Kiersten White
Less action and humor than the first, but I appreciated the time spent delving into the characters and the emotional fallout of book 1.

Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade
Separate or together, Will and Alona rock.

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
All of the awesome potential was finally realized.

Which books were a cut above for you in 2011? Have you read any of these? What did you think of them?

But wait! What did I think about all those other 2011 reads? Follow along to find out and weigh in on your own 2011 reads!
Part 1

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Part 5
Part 7
Guest post!

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Spotlight List: The Giant List of 2011 Recommendations (5)

I made a really big list

I'm a list maker, as is probably pretty obvious by this feature. So of course I HAD to make an end-of-the-year list recapping all of the books I read in 2011. It's like a snapshot of reviews, but you can click on the titles to go to my full reviews.

I broke this up into seven posts (plus a guest post) that will go up throughout the day. Settle in, this is going to be a long one!

I'd read that again

I'd love to own a copy so I can do a reread, but I'm not going out of my way to buy one right now (but, remember, I'm a miser). I definitely want to read more by these authors.

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Gwen, Daphne, Logan, Vic (the talking sword), I have a lot of love for these characters. I also have a lot of love for the smorgasbord of desserts mentioned.

The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
A lot of fun...but they're no Harry Potter. *hides*

The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
It took way too long to get to the good stuff, but I was hooked once I got there. 

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
An atmospheric story told by a true storyteller. I only wish I swooned more for the romantic lead.

Betrayal by Lee Nichols
Still loving Emma, the house ghosts, the Rake, and scary ghost attacks. Still not loving Bennett.

Entwined by Heather Dixon
Way. Too. Long. Didn't like the MC, but I appreciated the focus on family. 

The Sherwood Ring by Elizabeth Marie Pope (review to come)
Not the twisty Gothic tale I was hoping for, but still a nice (if overly easy) story.

My Sparkling Misfortune by Laura Lond
Sweet messages with a funny narrator and surprisingly inventive plot. 

Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Little Women: The Edition Hilariously Annotated by a Modern Teenager

Ward Against Death by Melanie Card
Fresh and fun, with characters I liked. This is one that has me on impatient sequel watch. (I also never fail to snicker every time I read the pun-tastic title).

Just Your Average Princess by Kristina Springer
You don't get much sweeter than this, and I'm not talking about the pumpkin lattes (yum!)

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
It took me a really long time to warm up to this tale, but eventually we clicked (even if the MC totally misses the potential of secret passageways).

Cleopatra Confesses by Carolyn Meyer
This ended way too soon and before any of the good stuff (you know, the romance). But what was there was really good. 

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (review to come)
Holy basement scene!

Which books were those middle books that you liked and would read again? Have you read any of these? What did you think of them?

But wait! What did I think about all those other 2011 reads? Follow along to find out and weigh in on your own 2011 reads!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Part 6
Part 7
Guest post!

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