Top Ten Books I've Read So Far in 2014

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke & The Bookish

It's been a while since I've done one of these, but I remember at the end of last year it was helpful to have a mid-year list of favorite books from a TTT, so I'm jumping onto the feature this week. Maybe this will jumpstart me into participating more regularly again. 

Top Ten (plus) Books I've read so far this year:

 I've been on a big historical and historical fantasy kick this year:

1) Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen - This is a sequel that far out shined the first book for me. LOVE this new perspective on Robin Hood. 

2) Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blakeman - Seeing Hitler's rise to power in the early 1930s completely freaked me out. This is historical fiction so well done it was frightening. 

3) Tsarina by J. Nelle Patrick - Adding a fantasy element to the story of the Bolshevik revolution and end of Tsarist Russia somehow combined to create a story that was riveting and breathtaking. 

 Books I loved with contemporary settings:

4) Something Real by Heather Demetrios - I almost passed this book by because of the wacky reality show description, but it ended up being one of my favorite parts. And Patrick Sheldon! 

5) Rites of Passage by Joy Hensley - This is one of the only books I've read in a while that truly had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I was completely riveted to Sam's story and what it was like for a girl to enter a prestigious military academy. The author does not disappoint on the gory details. 

Favorite fantasy/dystopian/sci-fi books:

6) The Unbound by Victoria Schwab - I loved this sequel to The Archived. Mac grows up so much and Wesley stole me heart again. Plus Schwab's prose and imagery continue to blow me away. 

7) Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini - Sci-fi + Fantasy, witches in an alternate Salem, somehow worked great for me. This book hooked me from start to finish and I'm still thinking about the characters and world, some of which made me uncomfortable or still don't understand fully. It isn't a perfect story, but it's a book that is sticking with me weeks after I read it, which is always a sign of success for me. I cannot wait for more of this series to come. 

8) The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa - I've read several disappointing series conclusions this year, but this wasn't one of them. I love how Kagawa wraps up Ali's story. 

Non YA books that I've read and loved this year:

9) Archetype and Prototype by M.D. Waters - This series is extremely readable addicting, and makes you want to keep going so you can find out what is happening. If you haven't started it yet, wait until the second book releases next month so you can read them together. This is one that it's hard to discuss ahead of time, and it definitely surprised me in places. 

10) All Lined Up by Cora Carmack - This is best New Adult book I've read in a while. I dislike the cover, but I loved Dallas and Carson's story. 

11) The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand - Chocolate, romance and Paris are a decadent combination. I'm glad I finally read this book. 

 I read four of my favorite 2014 books in 2013:

1) Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

2) Cress by Marissa Meyer

3) The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

4) Infinite by Jodi Meadows

I've actually felt like I've been in a bit of a reading rut this spring, so I'm hoping that I experience many 2014 favorites in the second half of the year!  After BEA I have a lot of promising choices. 

Tell me some of your favorite 2014 reads!