I completed my goal of 50 books read in 2012 a month early! Yay me! I feel a little guilty counting the short stories as books, so I’m happy to say that I’m already far enough past my goal that the shorts don’t even need to be counted. (Not that they weren’t great!)

I actually enjoyed both the short stories I read this month quite a bit, but the best book I read in November (and possibly all year) was Legend by a landslide.

November Reading List

47. Hunted  (House of Night #5) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast (Nov 1) *e
The gang is back together now and it’s nice to have everyone working together to fight Neferet and her evil demon. I enjoy these characters (or most of them) but the story was pretty weak in this installment.

48. Treachery (Nightshade 2.5) by Andrea Cremer (Nov 3) *e
This short story falls between books 2-3 of the Nightshade trilogy and gives Ansel’s perspective on the tragic events that befell him in book 2. I loved seeing things from his p.o.v. and learning what we missed while he was captive. A must read for fans of the series.

49. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (Nov 12)
The book is darker than the movie and tends to ramble at times, but it’s still a charming read with a magical touch.

50. Legend (Legend #1) by Marie Lu (Nov 17) – See Full Review Here

51. The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3) by Rick Riordan (Nov 29) *e
Not quite as gripping as the first two Heroes of Olympus stories, but it definitely set up the next two books for what is sure to be an impressive climax to the series. Also, I really like having Percy back in the mix!

52. Hana (Delirium 1.5) by Lauren Oliver (Nov 30) *e
This short story fills in some of the things we didn’t see while the girls weren’t talking, and provides an interesting look at Hana’s side of their falling out. While it’s not crucial to the series, an important reveal at the end makes this a worthwhile read.

(An *e at the end of a title indicates an e-book.)

Once upon a time, I used to post monthly reading updates but that went by the wayside (along with my reading goals) last year. This year I’m making an effort to bring back the monthly round-up.

2012 seems to have marked a return to reading for me. After a year filled with turmoil, life seems to have settled down and as a result I’m picking up a book more often. Yay! This month I managed to finish 6 books, and I was lucky enough to really enjoy each of them.

1. The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus #2) by Rick Riordan
(Jan. 8 )

I mentioned briefly how much I loved the first book in this spin-off series last summer, and each book just keeps getting better and better!  I’m just sad I have to wait until fall for the next installment.

2. Firelight (Firelight #1) by Sophie Jordan (Jan. 9)

This was a good story… right up until the end. Because the book just STOPS. Basically right in the middle of a scene! There was no ‘ending’, and I was LIVID. If it hadn’t been an eBook I might have thrown the book.  Thankfully the version I read included the beginning of Vanish (the next book in the series), and the first chapter of Vanish makes for an excellent ending to Firelight.

3. The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff (Jan. 14) – Full review here

4. Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth (Jan. 18 )

Loved this one! Definitely in the realm of The Huger Games, but it didn’t have quite the impact of Katniss’ story.  I am eagerly awaiting the sequel.

5. Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles #1) by Suzanne Collins (Jan. 22)

Since I’ve yet to find anything I’ve loved as much as The Hunger Games since I read them, I thought I’d give Suzanne Collins earlier work a try. Gregor the Overlander is the first in a 5 book series that Suzanne wrote prior to The Hunger Games books. While it’s a good story with lots of action and likeable characters, I found it skewed a little younger than I like and I doubt I’ll continue on with the series.

6. The Future of Us by Jay Asher (Jan. 24) – Full Review here

Sometimes I want to comment on a book, but don’t really have enough to say to warrant a full review. I’ve read a few of these types of books lately, so I thought I’d blurb! Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Lost Hero (Heroes of Olympus, #1)
by Rick Riordan

The Lost Hero is the first in a spin-off series of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and it’s a fantastic start! It’s very similar in style to the Percy Jackson books and even features many of the characters we met in the original series, so if you enjoyed the PJ books, I think you’ll like The Lost Hero. i actually enjoyed The Lost Hero even more than the Percy Jackson books!  And I cannot wait for book 2, The Son of Neptune to come out in October.

If you’re still not sure, you can check out the first two chapters here.

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Smokin’ Seventeen (Stephanie Plum # 17)
by Janet Evanovich

Many fans of the Stephanie Plum series are complaining that the later books have lost their edge and it feels like we’re just getting the same stuff book after book. And while I don’t disagree with those comments, I do think book 17 marked a bit of an improvement in the Plum series. It may have something to do with the fact that Smokin’ Seventeen made me laugh out loud during a time of great sadness, but whatever the reason, I found Steph’s adventures in book 17 to be more enjoyable than the last few books. Now if only Janet would make some actual CHANGES in the Plum world, I think this series could find its second life.

Read more about what we’d like to see happen in the Plum world in our Sizzling Sixteen Book Chat.

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Marked (House of Night #1)
by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

To be fair, Marked and the House of Night books aren’t really much different from any of the other teen paranormal-love-triangle series that have flooded the YA market ever since Twilight came sparkling into existence. But something about this one had me hooked pretty quickly.

I picked up Marked specifically because I wanted some fluffy YA vamp fantasy to take to the cottage with me, even though I’ve had some failed attempts with these types of books lately and I was a little worried I might not like it. But I just couldn’t put it down. I think the fact that I really, really liked Zoey (the main character) is what made Marked stand out from the vampire crowd for me. I found it extremely refreshing to have a heroine who isn’t (excuse the language) a slutty bitch (Yes, I’m talking to you Vampire Diaries books). And while I only gave the book 3 stars, I still picked up and read book 2, Betrayed in just 2 days. And I didn’t even like Betrayed as much as Marked. Aside from being a big fan of Zoey’s, I also like that the authors have created a fresh new take on the standard vampire lore. So, if you’re in the mood for some light, fluffy vamp stories you just might have fun with the House of Night books. I know I’ll be tearing through Chosen (book #3) soon enough.

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And now we’d love some feedback from the all-important and very wise YOU!

1. How do you feel about Blurbs instead of complete Reviews? Is there enough information in the above to help you decide if you’d want to read the book or not?
2. Have you read any of these books? Please share your thoughts!

The Battle of the Labryinth, (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #4)
by Rick Riordan

*Caution: This review contains mild spoilers.

I think this might have been my favorite Percy Jackson book so far! Percy’s adventures kick into high-gear right off the bat in this fourth installment of the Olympians series, and the stakes are higher than ever. When Rachel Elizabeth Dare (whom we met in book 3) and a few demons show up for Orientation Day at Percy’s new school, he knows something bad is about to happen. Then he arrives back at Camp Half-Blood to learn that Grover is on trial, and an army of monsters is preparing to invade camp. When they discover an entrance to the Labyrinth that poses a threat to the entire camp, Annabeth finally gets her chance to lead a Quest and Percy, Tyson and Grover accompany her in what proves to be one of their most dangerous adventures yet!

The action is non-stop in The Battle of the Labyrinth, with plenty of scary new monsters and more life-threatening situations than ever before. A variety of interesting new characters adds to the already great cast in the Percy Jackson series. Throughout the book Riordan stays one step ahead of the reader, ensuring that you’re never quite sure who to trust or what will happen next. And just when you think the action is all over for this installment, there’s a bit more to The Battle of the Labyrinth that sets up the fifth (and final) book perfectly.

Happy news for fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series! It seems we no longer have to be sad that the original series has ended because a new spin-off series is in the works! According to the author Heroes of Olympus will be a five-book series. The new series is set in Percy Jackson’s world and Percy has an important role to play, but a new cast of main characters will take center stage this time around. The first book will be called The Lost Hero and is set to be released on October 12, 2010.

Here’s a brief description of the first new book from Amazon.com:

Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently she’s his girlfriend Piper, his best friend is a kid named Leo, and they’re all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for “bad kids.” What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea—except that everything seems very wrong.

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, and her vivid nightmares reveal that he’s in terrible danger. Now her boyfriend doesn’t recognize her, and when a freak storm and strange creatures attack during a school field trip, she, Jason, and Leo are whisked away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood. What is going on?

Leo has a way with tools. His new cabin at Camp Half-Blood is filled with them. Seriously, the place beats Wilderness School hands down, with its weapons training, monsters, and fine-looking girls. What’s troubling is the curse everyone keeps talking about, and that a camper’s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist they are all—including Leo—related to a god.

Rick Riordan, the best-selling author of the Percy Jackson series, pumps up the action and suspense in The Lost Hero, the first book in The Heroes of Olympus series.  Fans of demi-gods, prophesies, and quests will be left breathless–and panting for Book Two.

I already have a guess as to what Percy’s involvement might be, but it’s far too soon to start speculating. I’m just happy to hear there will be more Olympian and Half-blood stories. And this means I can go ahead and read books 4 and 5 of the Olympians series which I’ve been saving.

Have you read the Percy Jackson books? Are you happy to hear that there will be more Olympians stories? Will you read this new series?

Fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, may be aware that he’s recently released The Red Pyramid, which is the first novel in a new series called The Kane Chronicles. I have this one on my wish-list, and from what I’ve heard  it’s great!

Here’s a bit about The Red Pyramid from the official website:

Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a “research experiment” at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them–Set–has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe – a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

If for some reason you’re still not sold, or like me you have to wait until you can own for it yourself,  you can check out a preview of the first chapter of the book here!

The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson & the Olympians #2)
by Rick Riordan

It’s the end of another school year and Percy Jackson is looking forward to returning to camp. Except there’s trouble at camp Half-Blood and he’s supposed to steer clear. But when he’s attacked at school, he’s left with no choice but to return to camp in search of answers. Unfortunately trouble is everywhere, and camp is not the safe haven it used to be. When it becomes clear that things are only getting worse, Percy, Annabeth and new addition Tyson embark on another adventure in hopes of setting things right.

As with the first book in the series, The Sea of Monsters is filled with plenty of action, the dialogue is witty and never feels forced, and the characters are layered and likeable. The similarities to the Harry Potter world are far less evident in this second novel in the series, and I found Percy’s adventure in this installment to be filled with surprises.

Although I didn’t love The Sea of Monsters quite as much as I did The Lightning Thief, it’s still a thoroughly enjoyable and fun adventure that progresses Percy’s story along nicely. I can’t wait to get started on The Titan’s Curse, book #3 in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series!

*The Sea of Monsters is book #1 for the What’s in a Name? Challenge

Sorry for the brief departure from posting folks, I was off on a little vacation in Florida to visit Rae and the computer wasn’t even opened on the trip. Since things have been so quiet here, I thought I’d start the week off with an old favorite… What are you reading?

As I’m sure is common with most book bloggers, we love hearing about what YOU’RE reading, just as much as we like talking about the books we’re reading.  So please join us in the comments and tell us all about the book(s) you’re reading right now!

I finished the second book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series while I was flying home yesterday. I love to have light and fun book while flying because there’s enough stress and trauma just dealing with air travel that I want my book to take me away. So The Sea of Monsters was a perfect choice. I don’t think I enjoyed it quite as much as the first one, but it was still a fun story. (I’m working on a review, so more complete thoughts to come!)

I’m currently reading Exit Strategy, the first book in Kelley Armstrong’s Nadia Stafford series, and am enjoying it just as much as I always do with Kelley’s books. I went in kind of blind, not really knowing what the book was about except that it doesn’t contain any supernatural elements which is a change for this author. I assumed it was a detective type novel, but have been surprised to find out it’s not entirely so. I love the direction it’s going and can’t wait until I have some time to really get into this one!

So… What are you reading right now?

UPDATE**As I travel around the book blog-o-sphere, I realize that the ever popular It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? which is hosted by  J. Kaye’s Book Blog is up on many sites today. Since this post is so similar to that meme, I wanted to link back to her to ensure that credit is given.  I wasn’t attempting to compete or intentionally copying. I just like to ask from time to time!

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1)
by Rick Riordan

Let me just say that I adored this book! Set in a world where the Greek Gods still exist (in a manner of speaking), The Lightning Thief tells the tale of 12-year-old Percy Jackson, who after years of being a bad seed, realizes there might be more to his problems than dyslexia and ADD.  Trouble has always seemed to follow Percy wherever he goes, despite how hard he tries to avoid unwanted attention. Then when his mother takes him on a summer vacation, trouble comes for them in a big way. After battling an unbelievable creature, Percy finds himself thrust into a strange world that seems impossible, but just might explain the strange things that keep happening in his life.

I’ve always loved the stories of the Greek gods, and by weaving them into the tale of Percy Jackson, Riordan has created a magnificent world that feels entirely possible because so much of it is familiar to us.  I even spent time learning (or re-learning) the stories of the Gods, because I found it really added to my enjoyment of the book once I was up on the tales that were being referenced. There’s hardly a dull moment in the story, and by doling out bits of information slowly, the author ensures that we’re always wanting more. I really liked all of the characters in The Lightning Thief, and enjoyed learning the back-stories of Annabeth and Grover. I look forward to learning more about Chiron and Dionysus in the coming books.

We’re told at the beginning of the story that Percy is twelve, but I found I had a hard time picturing him as any younger than 16. Which, to me, is a good thing. I love my YA fantasy series, but I don’t like to feel like I’m reading a children’s book, and I believe that The Lightning Thief stands up well as a tale that will appeal to both teens and adults alike.

My one criticism of the story is the glaring similarities to the Harry Potter series. Yet even with the obvious parallels, it somehow doesn’t take much away from this wonderful tale.  It appears the author took the shell of the Potter series – magical land known only to those who are part of it; plucky, unaware young hero; whip-smart girl, and loyal boy to aid him in his adventure; wise, knowing elder to offer advice; and a young nemesis – but then filled it with a new world and new characters. While the framework of the two stories is almost identical, I found the similarities stopped there.  For example the fact that Percy is a young hero who is uneducated about his world and powers makes him similar to Harry, but Percy is often rude and sarcastic and the character is really nothing like Harry.

For those who are fans of the YA fantasy genre, the Percy Jackson series is not to be missed! The Lightning Thief is an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable read that sets up what looks to be a great series. I already have The Sea of Monsters and The Titan’s Curse, the next two books in the series waiting for me, and I can’t wait to dive in!

- The Lightning Thief is book #3 for the 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge.

With movies that originate as books being so popular these days, I sometimes find myself buying books because the movie looks good, or seeing movies because I loved the book(s).  I think about this phenomenon often, and it’s fresh on my mind today because I just bought the first three books in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series based almost entirely on the movie trailer!  There were a few other factors involved in the final decision making process, but the original desire to read the books was 100% due to the fantastic trailer which my sister and I saw before the New Moon movie. (Yes, another one I saw because of the book!)

We were both so impressed by the trailer for Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief that I was online learning about the movie (and subsequently the books) the next day. Of course I wouldn’t buy a set of books based on only a movie trailer, just like I wouldn’t buy a DVD based only on the movie trailer. But when I started reading reviews they were almost all positive, with many of them mentioning that fans of Harry Potter will likely enjoy these books (yes, we all know about my HP obsession), and then the set of three was only a few dollars more than a single book, so it didn’t make sense to just buy the one.

Have you read the Percy Jackson books? What did you think? And do you buy/read books because of the movie or vice-versa? What was the most recent movie you saw based on a book you had already read? What books have you bought because the movie intrigued you?

We’d love to hear your take! Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below!