May is always a huge month for new releases, and this year all the titles I'd been waiting for lived up to the hype. I read the 5 YA titles above and a few adult books as well. You can check out my reviews of Bitterblue, Insurgent, and Reunited for more info. I'd have to pick Insurgent as the best book of the month, which is really saying something for the middle child of a trilogy. City of Lost Souls was every bit as steamy as I'd expected, though I'll be glad to get a more finite conclusion in book 6. And The Serpent's Shadow was an excellent end to the series. I highly recommend The Kane Chronicles if you're looking for a good MG adventure.
In other news, I'm tacking on a belated response to last week's RTW. Thanks to skymiles and a very supportive husband, I am going to SCBWI in LA! I am equal parts excited and nervous, and I'd love some suggestions on how to make the most of it. I've been to smaller state conferences over the past few years, but nothing like SCBWI. Are any of you blogger-type-people going? I'd love to chat about plans for the conference, and it would be awesome to meet you in person!
Music for today: Not a song, but a very cool trailer for Muse's upcoming album.
I know not everyone feels the same way, but I'm with you in being pleasantly surprised at how strong a "middle book" INSURGENT turned out to be. There are few series that manage to maintain momentum across the entire series. CATCHING FIRE was a better-than-most middle book, but perhaps not quite as strong as THE HUNGER GAMES. BEHEMOTH by Scott Westerfeld is, for me, the exemplar when it comes to middle books. All three of the LEVIATHAN series are equally strong, IMO. And that's rare. I look forward to finding out if I can say the same for all three DIVERGENT books. :)
ReplyDeleteINSURGENT made it on to my list too, though, I'm not sure if I would label it as the best book I read in May. There were just too many good ones! I won an ARC of BITTERBLUE, and I have to say that I didn't like it anywhere near as much as GRACELING or FIRE. I love Cashore's world, but this one just felt lacking and a bit meandering to me. Having said that, I'd love to read more in this world. I hope Cashore doesn't abandon it any time soon! :)
ReplyDeleteINSURGENT was definitely the best book I read in May. There aren't many middle books that I adore this much (CATCHING FIRE being the only other one that comes to mind) and I was really happy about that.
ReplyDeleteI did start reading CITY OF LOST SOULS, but I still haven't finished it. I'm in the last third and I just know that it's going to hurt.
I really want to read the book Insurgent, it looks really awesome! :)
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Reading BITTERBLUE now! I wasn't as impressed with INSURGENT as I thought I would be, but it was solid enough. Good pick! :)
ReplyDeleteI've actually never been to a conference. I've been considering SCBWI LA, but the thought of that as my first conference is a bit terrifying so I think I need to find some local ones first. Have fun!
I LOVED Insurgent! Not my fav this month, but a close second. And thanks to your review of Reunited, I'm DYING for it to release! Looks so great!
ReplyDeleteOoh, ooh, lucky you, going to LA this year! I'm hoping I'll be able to get my act (and some funding) together for January in NY. Please blog a full report of your time at SCBWI!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendations! :)
ReplyDeleteHey I've given you an award from over at my blog! :)
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