Top Ten Tuesday: Fall 2013 TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is Top Ten Books on my fall TBR list.

I will preface this post by saying that some of these books have already been published, others are books that will be published at some point in the next few months. Regardless of if the book has been published or not, I am looking forward to reading all of these in the coming months.

Allegiant by Veronica Roth - There is a strong likelihood that Allegiant is on just about everyone's list and I totally understand why. After everything that went down in Insurgent, I can't wait to see how it will all come together. Plus we get Four's point of view.

Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes - I found myself liking Falling Kingdoms last year so I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next. I've had an ARC of Rebel Spring sitting on my bookshelf for a few months and now that the release date is getting closer, I have the perfect excuse to read it.

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead - Richelle Mead. Adrian Ivashkov. Enough said.

Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano - The premise of Perfect Ruin is that it takes place in a utopian world. And it's written by Lauren DeStefano. That's pretty much all I need to know in order to know I will want to read this book.

Crash Into You by Katie McGarry - My heart broke a little in Dare You To with what happened to Isaiah so I can't wait to finally read his story in Crash Into You. Plus, as far as I'm concerned, Katie McGarry can do no wrong.

How to Love by Katie Cotugno - I was lucky enough to get an ARC of How to Love while at BEA and I proceeded to read it on the bus ride back from NYC. But it's one of those books that I really, desperately want to reread. So since it's coming out soon, I'll most likely be doing just that.

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White - So far I have loved everything I have read by Kiersten WHite. And now she writes a book about mythology? Count me in.

Resist by Sarah Crossan - I loved Breathe. I want to know what happens next (though I may need a refresher between now and then). And that's all that really needs to be said about Resist.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black - Vampires and Holly Black. Do I really need to explain this any further?

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater - I only just recently read The Raven Boys but the moment I finished, I wanted the sequel. And now I have it. So you can bet I'll be reading The Dream Thieves and Ronan's story quite soon.

What books are on your fall TBR list?

Mind Games by Kiersten White

Title: Mind Games (Mind Games #1)

Author: Kiersten White

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: February 19, 2013

Source: Borrowed from fellow blogger

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her--except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other's lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other--no matter the cost. 

This is where I admit that I've only read the first book in Kiersten White's Paranormalcy trilogy despite owning all three. But despite this I was still excited when Mind Games was first announced. The premise for the story sounded so different and unlike anything I would have expected from Kiersten White. And after having read the book, I can officially say that it was dark, edgy and absolutely fantastic.

Fia has always known what she should do in any given situation. Having been born with perfect instincts she knows she can always trust her gut feelings. And because of those instincts, Fia makes the perfect spy. Annie is blind but has visions. And those visions allow her to help her sister stay out of trouble. The two sisters are kept at a school that uses them for their powers. And both will do anything in their power to protect the other. But what if protecting your sister means going against everything you believe in?

I knew just from reading the synopsis and from what others had said that Mind Games was going to be dark and different from Kiersten White's other books. However I did not necessarily expect it to be as dark as some parts of it ended up being. But just because it was a dark story it doesn't mean it wasn't an absolutely fantastic one. The story in Mind Games is twisted and the whole time I was reading I wasn't entirely sure about what I was reading. The way the story was written also made it difficult at times to make sense of what I was reading. Not only was it told from the perspectives of both Annie and Fia but there were also some flashbacks from both their perspectives included in the story. Those flashbacks added another layer to the story that was necessary. For me, at least, they helped understand where Annie and Fia were coming from, why they were doing the things they were doing and how they had gotten to where they were. As you can probably tell but this point, despite the short length of the book, it presents quite a complex story.

Fia is probably one of the most interesting characters I have read about in the last few months. There is just so much going on with this girl. For quite a long time I really did not know what to make of Fia. I could tell that she was conflicted, doing what she had to do to keep her sister safe. But the way her mind worked is what truly intrigued me when it came to Fia. The thing about Fia is that she has perfect instincts and that makes seeing what she says and does really interesting. She'll decide to wear certain clothes based on a feeling she has that turns out to be quite helpful in the future. Annie was more subdued than her sister, but that didn't make her any less interesting. And much like Fia, Annie would do anything to protect her sister. Now if only the two sisters weren't unknowingly working against each other while trying to protect the other things would work a little better for them. And then there was James who I'm not sure what to make of at all. At times he seemed like the most charming man ever, but at other times that charm almost looked like it was a cover for something else. And the same thing can be said for Adam. Hopefully I'll find out more about both of them in the future.

Mind Games was different from what I've come to know Kiersten White for. This book is dark and twisted and will leave you thinking for a long time after you are finished reading. Don't expect the Kiersten White from the Paranormalcy trilogy because you will be disappointed if you do. But just because it's different that doesn't mean it's any less fantastic.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Title: Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy #1)

Author: Kiersten White

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: August 31, 2010

Source: Purchased

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo

Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie’s always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours, but still. Normal.

Only now paranormals are dying, and Evie’s dreams are filled with haunting voices and mysterious prophecies. She soon realizes that there may be a link between her abilities and the sudden rash of deaths. Not only that, but she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

Ever since it came out last fall, I have heard nothing but good things about Paranormalcy, so I don’t know why I waited so long to read it. What finally did convince me to read it was the fact that the second second book was coming out soon. At any rate, I am more than happy to have finally read it as it turned out to be just as amazing as everyone told me it was.

Life has never been quite normal for Evie. And how can it have it been when for as long as she can remember she has lived at and has been working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, or IPCA for short. The thing about Evie is that she has an ability that is quite unique, she can see through paranormal’s glamours and that makes her quite valuable to IPCA. Evie has always believed in what IPCA does but when mysterious Lend shows up and is placed in a containment cell, Evie starts to doubt what she’s been doing. And when something starts to kill paranormals, Evie doesn’t know what to do anymore. How is she supposed to solve this mystery and start a relationship with Lend, all the while continuing to look fabulous? What’s a girl supposed to do?

Kiersten White is quite simply an amazing writer. If I hadn’t know it, I never in a million years would have believed this was her first book. To be completely honest, there was not one thing I didn’t like about the book, that’s how amazing it was. Basically, Paranormalcy was unlike any other paranormal book I’ve read. The concept of an agency that deals with containing paranormal creatures is on that I never would have even considered, and that alone would have been enough to keep me reading. The absolutely amazing writing also kept me going. But most of all, what kept me turning page after page was Evie.

I don’t even know how to begin describing Evie. Saying she is unlike any other YA character out there is a gross understatement. She has an incredible voice and she was more than unique. To be honest, she didn’t really strike me as the type of person who would go out and fight paranormals for a living, but I guess with Tasey by her side and a great outfit Evie can do just about anything. I absolutely loved Lend. Despite the mystery that surrounded him at first, you could tell that he was a genuinely good person (or whatever being he actually is). Though I have to admit that the mystery abound him was a large part of why I liked him as much as I did. Plus, he was really good to Evie and you can’t go wrong with someone like that. Reth on the other hand sort of gave me the creeps and I didn’t find him likable at all. But at the same time, that story wouldn’t have worked as well without him.

Paranormalcy was a truly amazing book and established that Kiersten White is an absolutely fantastic writer. It took me on a thrilling ride and I can’t wait to find out what happens next in the sequel, Supernaturally.