Best books I've read in 2012

It was difficult, but I managed to narrow down my list to a few of the best books I've read this year (doesn't mean they were published this year, though...in fact, I've spent rather a lot of time catching up on LAST year's reading!) But here's the list! (in no particular order)

I loved that I finally got to read the conclusion to Julie Kagawa's fantastic Iron Fey series this year - The Iron Knight was brilliant, an imaginative, tear-jerking journey, and wow...what an ending! Read my review here. 

Cassandra Clare's latest Mortal Instruments book was well worth the wait! Definitely one of my favourite YA urban fantasy series. Read my review of 'City of Lost Souls' here. 

I read the first in Veronica Roth's dystopian trilogy this year, and finally discovered what all the fuss was about! If you like thrilling, action-packed dystopia, you can't go wrong with this. Read my review here.

I discovered this witty and inventive urban fantasy series earlier this year and I intend to read the next two books soon! Read my reviews of 'Forsaken' and 'Forbidden'. 

This trilogy blew my mind. Astonishingly original and compelling, this is a fantastic fantasy series by a great author. Read my review of the first book here. 

Derek Landy's Skulduggery Pleasant series is just plain brilliant. Every book is hilariously witty, action-packed and full of bizarre characters with fun names. This is inventive fantasy at its best, and with a racing plot, dark magic, and plenty of horrible monsters, 'Kingdom of the Wicked' is a fantastic addition to the series. 

Amanda Hocking's Trylle trilogy gets a thumbs-up from me for being an example of how self-publishing can really pay off. The books sold over a million copies before being re-published by St Martin's Press, and Macmillan in the UK (incidentally, I actually received my copies of the books whilst on work experience at Pan Macmillan and it was only when I discovered Amanda Hocking's blog later on that I made the connection!). Switched is the first in a paranormal romance trilogy about trolls from legend - a pretty awesome concept!

 

I reviewed this a few weeks ago, and it remains one of the best post-apocalyptic novels I've ever read. A gripping and thrilling tale of one girl's quest to rescue her sister from evil angels of the apocalypse - read my review here! 

Another by Julie Kagawa, but The Immortal Rules, the first in the Blood of Eden series, couldn't be more different from the Iron Fey. Vampire dystopia? Hell yeah! My review's here. 

I've just finished this one - review on the way soon!