Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. The theme for this week is favorite books that we’ve read this year. This list was both easy and difficult to come with. Easy because I read some really great books this past year, and difficult because I had to cut a few from the final list. 

1. CARAVAL by Stephanie Garber
This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and thankfully it also finished as one of my favorites. The fact that Caraval is Stephanie Garber’s debut novel is astounding: her writing was so phenomenal and this book was so well-crafted and and breathtaking that it reads like it was written by a seasoned author. I cannot wait for the sequel. [review]

2. A CROWN OF WISHES by Roshani Choski
A Crown of Wishes managed to make it on a whole bunch of other lists throughout the year, so it should come to no surprise to find it on this list as well! Everything about this book was wonderful, starting with the stunning cover and including a couple of amazing characters. [review]

3. THE BIRD AND THE SWORD by Amy Harmon
As soon as I finished reading The Bird and the Sword, I knew I had found my new favorite book. I could read this a hundred times and love it more each time. [review]

4. STRANGE THE DREAMER by Laini Taylor
It’s no secret that Laini Taylor is an immensely talented author whose writings contain a lyrical, magical quality that makes it difficult to put down. Strange the Dreamer was no different. The story is vivid and creative and the characters were diverse and interesting. It also contains of the most tragic, heartbreaking love stories I have ever read-and they were only side characters. I’m looking forward to returning to this world when the sequel comes out. [review]

5. FROM ASH AND SAND by Amy Harmon
Historical Fiction is a favorite genre of mine, and From Ash and Sand quickly became a favorite. The story between Eva and Angelo was heart-wrenching and Amy Harmon’s weaves a portrayal of WWII that is so realistic I could feel the terror and pain along with the characters. [review]

6. THE QUEEN AND THE CURE by Amy Harmon
The Queen and the Cure is the companion book/sequel to The Bird and the Sword and it was just as amazing. The story this book centered around was both wonderful and heartbreaking. [review]

7. THE ALICE NETWORK by Kate Quinn
Kate Quinn is one of my favorite authors and when I found out she would be writing a new book set in WWII, a favorite sub-genre of mine, I was beyond excited. The Alice Network was everything I had hoped for and more. [review]

8. THE DAY OF THE DUCHESS by Sarah MacLean
From the first time I read The Rogue Not Taken, I wanted to know more about Serafina and Haven. The mere fact that Sarah MacLean was able to make me not only forgive, but also fall head-over-heels in love with the “villain” of a previous book, especially since we all knew what he had done, is nothing short of a miracle. A thousand kudos. 

9. THE DARK OF THE MOON by E.S. Bell
I requested this book through NetGalley on a whim and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. This book is so good and needs more exposure! It has everything I could ever want in a fantasy book and is written so well. I’m excited for whatever the author has in store for us next in this series and I’m hoping it gains some well-deserved popularity! [review]

10. AN ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS by Margaret Rogerson
Why can’t all Young Adult fantasy books (especially those featuring fae) be like this? An Enchantment of Ravens was such a captivating read and has everything that is so addicting about certain other books-a Fae prince, the courts, the magic, BUT written without all the problematic issues. There was a smart, caring heroine whom I genuinely liked, a consensual relationship that developed slowly into deeper feelings, and a love interest who was swoon-worthy AND respectful. I highly recommend this to anyone!