"Top Ten" Tuesday: Top Ten Books I've Read So Far In 2015

Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Each week, The Broke and Bookish host the Top Ten Tuesday discussion. They provide a bookish prompt and  other bloggers are welcome to share their "Top Ten" in the specific topic!

Today is a Tuesday, which means it's time for a Top Ten! Today's topic is "Top Ten Books I've Read So Far in 2015."

I've also thrown in some excerpts from my reviews of the books--this way you can get a taste of why they're in my top ten! In no particular order, here they are:


The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker
"Boecker honestly captivates with her interpretation of 15th century politics. I loved the interaction between magic and politics. From the Thirteenth Tablet (which made magic illegal) to their young king (whose parents died of a plague started by magic), magic was deeply rooted in the entire story."


Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry
"As always, Katie McGarry flawlessly constructs her characters. The people in her novels have as much depth as the Mariana Trench. Every character has so many layers; it's amazing. There are no simple stock characters in McGarry's books. They're all complex, as are their relationships."

Confess by Colleen Hoover
"Overall, this book was a fantastic story of healing and redemption. With traces of addiction, guilt, and family, Confess was one of the most moving books I've read all year. I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone and everyone, with no reservations."

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
"I loved everything about this book. From the characters to the setting to the world Aveyard created to the fierce politics. I loved Mare. No matter her flaws, I was rooting for her. And I still am. The characters reached a new level of complexity."

Take Me On by Katie McGarry
"There is no spineless damsel in distress that the boy saves. It's never one-sided. The couples always save each other. There's always an amazing sense of balance."

All Played Out by Cora Carmack
"I think that one of the greatest things about the Rusk novels is that no couple is the same. Carson and Dallas, Silas and Dylan, Mateo and Nell: they're all different people with different dynamics. I love that. Each book is a new adventure, a new story."

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
"The plot, setting, and lore behind the events was exquisitely presented. The story was completely original and kept me at the edge of my seat. Very interesting."

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
"I'm not sure that I've ever read a book that had as much of an impact on me as All the Bright Places did. The writing was absolutely flawless. I felt the characters in my bones."

Alienated by Melissa Landers
"Alienated has everything you could ever think to ask for in an alien romance. It has a spunky, intelligent, compassionate, and independent heroine. It has a swoon worthy, coarse-but-then-sweet, cocky, and evolving love interest. It has an absolutely captivating conflict, in which the author combines politics, science fiction, and teen angst."

The Masked Truth by Kelley Armstrong
"It was so amazing to read something so spot-on. Armstrong dealt with the mental illnesses in the novel in the most real and open way, starting such a serious discussion about such an important topic."

And those are the top ten books I've read so far in 2015!

What are your top ten books you've read in 2015 so far?

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker (and Giveaway)

Title: The Witch Hunter
Author: Virginia Boecker
Format I Read: ARC
Pages: 368
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Release Date: June 2, 2015
Stars: 5
Goodreads Link

Virginia Boecker makes a stunning debut with her new novel, The Witch Hunter. She expertly creates her 15th century world and effortlessly develops her characters. I truly couldn't put this book down.

I'll be completely honest: I picked this book up on a whim at BEA. I didn't expect to love it. I didn't expect to become completely entranced by Boecker's storytelling. I didn't expect to become completely invested in the political intrigue. But I did.

For those who are unaware of the pure gem that is The Witch Hunter, I've included the synopsis:

Your greatest enemy isn't what you fight, but what you fear.

Elizabeth Grey is one of the king's best witch hunters, devoted to rooting out witchcraft and doling out justice. But when she's accused of being a witch herself, Elizabeth is arrested and sentenced to burn at the stake.

Salvation comes from a man she thought was her enemy. Nicholas Perevil, the most powerful and dangerous wizard in the kingdom, offers her a deal: he will save her from execution if she can break the deadly curse that's been laid upon him.

But Nicholas and his followers know nothing of Elizabeth's witch hunting past--if they find out, the stake will be the least of her worries. And as she's thrust into the magical world of witches, ghosts, pirates, and one all-too-handsome healer, Elizabeth is forced to redefine her ideas of right and wrong, of friends and enemies, and of love and hate.

From the start, the reader is sucked into the entangled web of magic and betrayal. Though I felt that the first few chapters were a little slow, I was soon sucked right in. Elizabeth starts off as a bit of a lovestruck teenage girl who is merely pretending to be a big bad witch hunter. She grew up around Caleb, a fellow witch hunter, and has followed him around ever since. She acts strong, but she's really just a lovesick puppy. However, her arrest is the catalyst that forces her to grow up and be more independent.  Despite her original loyalties and her history, Elizabeth becomes someone who does what is right. She bypasses the opportunities to protect herself at the expense of others and begins to see the meaning of family. The character development was honestly astounding. I loved everyone and the way that they changed. Even the minor characters were fantastic: Nicholas, John, Fifer, George, Peter, Humbert, Blackwell, Caleb, and so many more. Everyone had depth (which is a huge point for me).

And the world--wow! Boecker honestly captivates with her interpretation of 15th century politics. I loved the interaction between magic and politics. From the Thirteenth Tablet (which made magic illegal) to their young king (whose parents died of a plague started by magic), magic was deeply rooted in the entire story. Even where the reader thought magic wasn't involved, it ended up being intertwined--completely fascinating! I also loved Boecker's descriptions of the different magical creatures and the different wizards/witches. It was absolutely amazing.

Not to mention the crazy ending (and the big reveal that actually occurred in the middle of the book)! The story was like a piece of art. Everything fit together in a huge puzzle at the end. I adored this book. It's such a fantastic read--which is why I want to share the love!

Giveaway

I have an extra ARC of The Witch Hunter. I know it's already been released, so you can get a shiny hardcover (which you should totally do), but I figured I'd spread the love anyway!

Important information

• This giveaway is US only
• Must be 18+ or have parental consent to enter
• This is a giveaway for an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC), which is not for sale. Please don't sell it after you've read it. Pass it on, like I'm doing!

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