2017 End of the Year Bookish Survey

  

Happy New Year, everyone!!  

I always look forward to reading everyone's end of the year book surveys and seeing what the highs and lows of their reading year were. I'm afraid that although I had a good reading year in terms of quantity (at least relative to recent previous years), in terms of quality it left something to be desired. I feel like 2017 was the year of the "meh" books for me. Not amazing, not terrible, just...okay. Here's to hoping that 2018 brings some knock-your-socks-off books my way!



This fabulous survey is hosted by Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner. If you want to participate, link up your blog post here.

Number Of Books You Read: 45


Number of Re-Reads: 2~3ish? (I re-read bits and pieces and/or skimmed The Bone Season series and Uprooted)


Genre You Read The Most From: I want to say... fantasy, probably?

1. Best Book You Read In 2017? 

The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon and The Light-Keeper's Daughters by Jean E. Pendziwol


I'm seriously glad that I didn't post my end-of-the-year survey before now, because I just finished reading The Light-Keeper's Daughters and was entranced by it. (Why isn't it popping up on more readers' "best of 2017" lists?!)


Also, the Bone Season is hands-down my favourite series at the moment, so it's not really surprising that The Song Rising made it onto here.

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Cress by Marissa Meyer — I'd really enjoyed Scarlet, so I was looking forward to continuing with the series, and then Cress just kinda dragged for me. It didn't seem as lively or quick-paced as Scarlet, and honestly I can't really remember what ended up happening in it (apart from lots of wandering around in the desert).

The Midnight Queen by Sylvia Izzo Hunter — This one just felt flat to me. I typically like "fantasy of manners" style books, but nothing stood out about this one. 

The Midnight Rose by Lucinda Riley — I was really hoping to love this one, and I did like Anahita's voice, but the contemporary storyline let me down. 

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid — I liked the sound of the premise, but in reality it ended up focusing so much on her choice between the two men, and not enough on her figuring out who she was now (regardless of which guy she ended up with). 

 3. Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?  

Rose Cottage by Mary Stewart — I picked this one up on a whim at the library (I'd read other books by Mary Stewart, so it wasn't a total gamble) and was pleasantly surprised by this cozy read!

4. Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I feel like for the past few years I've just been recommending the same authors/books (Kate Morton, Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, the Bone Season series). 

 5. Best series you started in 2017? Best Sequel of 2017? Best Series Ender of 2017?

Best series started: Gilded Cage by Vic James

Best sequel: The Song Rising by Samantha Shannon
 
Best series ender: Stolen Magic by Stephanie Burgis (it was the only series ender I read this year, though. This was not a favourite series of mine, but it was entertaining enough)

 6. Favorite new author you discovered in 2017?

Vic James, Sally Thorne, Rosamund Hodge, Jean E. Pendziwol

7. Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers — I very rarely do zombie reads, but I'd heard good things about this one so I took a chance on it. I'm glad I did, because I found it quite absorbing!

 8. Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

The Song Rising

 9. Book You Read In 2017 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Gilded Cage — I might skim this one to refresh my memory before starting the next in the series.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge and The Forgotten Book by Mecthild Gläser

11. Most memorable character of 2017?

I often have a hard time answering this question! I feel like Rapunzel from The Fairest of Them All by Carolyn Turgeon is a distinct and memorable (although not particularly likeable) character.

 12. Most beautifully written book read in 2017?

The Light-Keeper's Daughters by Jean E. Pendziwol. Her writing puts me in mind of a Canadian Kate Morton.

13. Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2017

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng — a thought-provoking look at how a family can fall apart because of all the feelings they're keeping boxed inside.
  
A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge — surprisingly thought-provoking themes (loss of innocence, power of knowledge) explored in this book, underneath its comedic surface.

 14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2017 to finally read? 

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell -- I had read and really enjoyed Attachments, but I thought I might not like Fangirl that much because of the whole emphasis on fanfiction/fandom, which I'm not that into. But I ended up really liking it! 

 15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2017? 

 "When you dream of change, it shines bright, like fire, and burns away all the rot that came before it. It's swift and inexorable. You cry for justice, and justice is done. The world stands with you in your fight. But if there was one thing I had learned in these last few weeks, it was that change had never been that simple. That kind of revolution existed only in daydreams." – The Song Rising

 16. Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2017?

Shortest: Text, Don't Call by INFJoe (Aaron Caycedo-Kimura)

Longest: Cress by Marissa Meyer

 17. Book That Shocked You The Most

Gilded Cage and The Light-Keeper's Daughters
 

18. OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Warden and Paige from the Bone Season series. Always.

19. Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

The Amalia-Zaira frenemy-ship. These two never quite knew where they stood with each other, which kept things interesting. I'm hoping to see their relationship develop into a true friendship as the series progresses!

Also, the bond of trust and devotion between Emily and Elizabeth in The Light-Keeper's Daughters. 

20. Favorite Book You Read in 2017 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

 

21. Best Book You Read In 2017 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure:

Again, Fangirl -- I got the book as a gift from a friend who strongly recommended it (and she was right!)

22. Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2017?

I don't think I have a new fictional crush this year, sadly...

23. Best 2017 debut you read?

YA: Gilded Cage by Vic James

Adult: The Light-Keeper's Daughters by Jean E. Pendziwol

24. Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Best worldbuilding: The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso

Most vivid setting: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

25. Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell -- I got lots of warm fuzzies from reading this one. Also, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and On the Fence by Kasie West.

26. Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2017?

I didn't full-on cry at any books this year that I can recall. Probably the closest I got was The Light-Keeper's Daughters.

27. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

God Is In The Pancakes by Robin Epstein

28. Book That Crushed Your Soul?

The Light-Keeper's Daughters

29. Most Unique Book You Read In 2017?

Scent of Darkness by Margot Berwin and A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge

30. Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger -- it didn't make me mad exactly, but I was so frustrated by the choices that the characters made. (A team-wide "sex strike" is the solution to your problems? Really?) Or maybe I just didn't really like the main character. Her self-centred attitude irritated me.

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2017 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2018?

 

Still Gemina. I keep hoping it will pop up on Book Outlet (in hardcover) so that I can get it for a slightly more reasonable price, but so far, no dice!  

Also, I still need to get my hands on Hunted by Meagan Spooner. 

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2018 (non-debut)?

The next (as of ye untitled) book in the Bone Season series. Can you tell I'm obsessed with that series?

3. 2018 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

The Beast's Heart by Leife Shallcross. I can't resist a Beauty and the Beast retelling. 

 4. Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2018?

The next in the Bone Season series, of course.

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2018?

I'm hoping to pick more books next year that I will love rather than just "like well enough".

6. A 2018 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):

The Forgotten Book by Mecthild Gläser – this is the only 2018 release I've read, but it's a good one! I really enjoyed it and now I need to check out The Book Jumper.