2012 in 12 sentences

Whilst traversing the blogsphere, I stumbled upon this post at Vonnie's Reading Corner. I thought it looked interesting, and that it was a good way to finish off 2012, so I though I would give it a go! The idea is to sum up 2012 with one sentence for each month. 

January: Took trips to Melbourne and Shoal Bay with friends, and was accepted into my dream course at university.

February: Had a reunion of the 2011 graduating class from high school, and started at university.

March: Spent a lot of time meeting new people at uni, but was constantly worried that I wouldn't make any friends.

April: Skipped someone's birthday party because I was afraid of the social interaction with people I didn't know (can you tell I'm an introvert?), but talked myself into going to one a couple of weeks later and thoroughly enjoyed it.

May: Celebrated a high school friends birthday at her beach house, got a bit overwhelmed with uni work, and marvelled at the number of posts I did in April due to the A to Z Blogging Challenge.

June: Took my first uni exams (thankfully I passed them all!)

July: Had my first house party, which confirmed that I had indeed made friends at uni, and took a trip to the Hunter Valley.

August: Officially spent more time socialising at uni as opposed to studying.

September: saw Legally Blonde the Musical, talked myself into going to another party filled with people I didn't know, had my own birthday party (which was amazing) and went to IMATS (international makeup expo) with some close friends.

October: went paintballing (again with mostly people I didn't know - I'm getting better at this social interaction!) the day before my 19th birthday, and spent the rest of the month working busily on uni assignments.

November: said au revior to a close friend, who I won't see again until the end of Jan, took some more uni exams, and embraced the freedom that came after them!

December: really got back into blogging, finished all my reading challenges, and made my new years resolutions. 

So what about you? Can you summarise 2012 in 12 sentences?

Best Reads of 2012

Ooo something new - how exciting! With 2012 coming to a close, I thought I would share with you what my top 10 reads were for this year. No, they aren't all books that were published this year. No, they are not in order. Yes, they are all amazing, and you should read them. 

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I can't believe it took me as long as it did to read this novel. I don't think I really need to describe how amazing this book was. 

"In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed."

2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Again, I don't really think I need to describe how amazing this book is. Just like I said in my review, this book took everything that was great about The Hunger Games and then just took it to the next level. 

"Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge."




3. One Day by David Nicholls 
The impact that this book had on me was profound. This novel helped me to work out issues I was going through at the time I read it, and taught me valuable life lessons. On top of that, I have never read a book written in this style before. This is a must read. 

"It’s 1988 and Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. But after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. Over twenty years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day—July 15th—of each year. Dex and Em face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. And as the true meaning of this one crucial day is revealed, they must come to grips with the nature of love and life itself."

4. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger 
Another must read. What got me with this book was that the storyline had amazing highs and deep lows - there were amazingly joyous moments, which could be followed with saddening, heart-wrenching ones. I don't think the movie does the novel justice, so if you've seen the movie and like it, then you need to get your hands on this!

"A dazzling novel in the most untraditional fashion, this is the remarkable story of Henry DeTamble, a dashing, adventuresome librarian who travels involuntarily through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare's passionate love affair endures across a sea of time and captures the two lovers in an impossibly romantic trap, and it is Audrey Niffenegger's cinematic storytelling that makes the novel's unconventional chronology so vibrantly triumphant."

5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
I read this all the way back in January and I still think about it - it was that good! I love anything and everything to do with modern retellings of fairytales, so I had no doubt when I picked this up that I would like it, but I honestly had no idea what I was in store for. I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel early next year!

"Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future."

6. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Oh my god. Oh. my. god. Just read it. 

"Mara Dyer doesn't believe life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through she can fall in love. She's wrong"


7. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi 
This is another one of those books where I read it and then kicked myself for not reading it sooner. Some parts of the storyline bothered me, but besides these minor gripes, I loved this book wholeheartedly. 

"You can't touch me," I whisper.

I'm lying, is what I don't tell him.

He can touch me, is what I'll never tell him.

But things happen when people touch me.

Strange things.

Bad things.

No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal, but The Reestablishment has plans for her. Plans to use her as a weapon.

But Juliette has plans of her own.

After a lifetime without freedom, she's finally discovering a strength to fight back for the very first time—and to find a future with the one boy she thought she'd lost forever."  

8. Tempest by Julie Cross
I really, really loved this book. Even though I didn't think the plot was that original, I still loved it, and I loved the characters, the setting, the romance - I just loved it!

"The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world."

9. Abandon by Meg Cabot 

Just like with fairytales, I pretty much love anything and everything to do with Greek mythology with a modern twist. And this book definitely did not disappoint.

"Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld."

10. The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

I enjoyed this book so much that I made sure to read as many books in this series as possible (I ended up reading 5) - that's got to mean something, right?

"He holds the secret that can end the world.

The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life.

The records show that he died in 1418.

But his tomb is empty.

The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.

Sometimes legends are true.

And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time."

So what about you? What were the best books you read this year?

Know Me Better (3)

Know Me Better is a weekly Meme by Inspired Kathy
@ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

This weeks questions are...

Favourite restaurant?

I don't think I visit restaurants often enough to have a favourite. Any Italian or Thai restaurant is perfect for me.  

What is your view on self publishing?
I think it's fine, although I don't think I read many (if any) self published books.

How do you feel about banned books? Do you have a favourite?
I honestly don't have an opinion, probably because I've never thought about it before. I've never heard about book banning at my local library, and I don't remember hearing anything about it when I was in primary and secondary school. My parents have never restricted which books I am allowed to read, but then again, I don't think I ever chose to read books that weren't age appropriate for me. Since I haven't thought about banned books before, I don't have a favourite.

Are you for or against books being made into movies?
I think it's great - as long as it's done right. 

Top 3 things on your bucket list?
Travel all around the world
Graduate from university with the prospect of being able to get a good job
Get out and about more - I'm too much of a homebody

2013 Challenge #5 - Books in a Series Reading Challenge

It's my fifth and final challenge! I thought this looked interesting, and after going through my Off the Shelf Challenge reading list, I found that the majority of them came from series - so this challenge is perfect! I'm going to have a go at The Obsessive level - read 20+ books from series. For all the event info, click here.



1. Divergent by Veronica Roth (Divergent #1) {review}
2. The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (Mara Dyer #2) {review}
3. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments #1) {review}
4. Ingenue by Jillian Larkin (The Flappers #2) {review}
5. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1) {review}
6. Wither by Lauren Destefano (The Chemical Garden Trilogy #1) {review}
7. The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross (The Steampunk Chronicles #1) {review}
8. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #2) {review}
9. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (The Caster Chronicles #1) {review}
10. Uglies by Scott Westerfield (Uglies #1) {review}
11. The Host by Stephenie Meyer (The Host #1) {review}
12. Insurgent by Veronica Roth (Divergent #2) {review}
13. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart (The Arthurian Saga #1) {review}
14. Splintered by A.G. Howard (Splintered #1) {review}
15. Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Maraget Stohl (The Caster Chronicles #2) {review}
16. Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs (Tempe Brennan #4) {review}
17. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (Anna #1) {review}
18. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) {review}
19. A Clash of Kings by George R.R Martin (A Song of Ice and Fire #2) {review}
20. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) {review}
21. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone #1) {review}
22. Underworld by Meg Cabot (Abandon Trilogy #2) {review}
23. Legend by Marie Lu (Legend Trilogy #1) {review}
24. Withering Tights by Louise Rennison (The Misadventures of Tallulah Casey #1) {review}
25. Wicked by Gregory Maguire (The Wicked Years #1) {review}
26. Angelfall by Susan Ee (Penryn & The End of Days #1) {review}
27. The Enchantress by Michael Scott (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flammel #6) {review}
28. Ruby Red by Kerstin Geir (The Precious Stones Trilogy #1) {review}
29. Allegiant by Veronica Roth (Divergent #3) {review}
30. The Lucky Ones by Anna Godbersen (Bright Young Things #3) {review}
31. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon (The Bone Season #1) {review}
32. Eragon by Christopher Paolini (The Inheritance Cycle #1) {review}
33. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me #2) {review}

2013 Challenge #4 - Genre Variety Reading Challenge

In 2012 I participated in the Around the Stack in How Many Ways? Reading Challenge, where the aim was to read from as many different genres as possible. For 2013 I thought I'd try a different challenge that's pretty similar - the Genre Variety Reading Challenge! Pretty simple - chose a level and read that many books from however many different genres you've picked. I've decided to go for the Cautious level - 12 books from 12 different genre. Here's what I'm thinking:

Classic - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald {review}
Historical Fiction - Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel {review}
Drama - The Help by Kathryn Stockett {review}
Crime - A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton {review}
Chick Lit - The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes {review}
Espionage - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carre {review}
Dystopian - Divergent by Veronica Roth {review}
Adventure - Eragon by Christopher Paolini {review}
Young Adult - Wither by Lauren Destefano {review}
Fantasy - City of Bones by Cassandra Claire {review}
Steampunk - The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross {review}
Fairy Tales Retold - Scarlet by Marissa Meyer {review}

Of course, this list could change during the year, I may even decide to read from different genres. Who knows, we'll see how it goes. For all the event deets, click here.  

2012 Off the Shelf Challenge: Completion Post!

IT'S DONE! I'm officially calling it quits on the Off the Shelf Challenge, after reading 19 books from my list - 4 more than I actually needed too! Next year I'm going a level higher with Making a Dint - 30 books. Here are all the books I read this year:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
   {review here}
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
   {review here}
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
   {review here}
4. A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander
   {review here}
5. Abandon by Meg Cabot {review here}
6. Shatter Me by Tahere Mafi {review here}
7. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
   {review here}
8. The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory {review here}
9. The Alchemyst by Michael Scott {review here}
10. The Magician by Michael Scott {review here}
11. The Sorceress by Michael Scott {review here}
12. The Necromancer by Michael Scott {review here}
13. The Warlock by Michael Scott {review here}
14. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley {review here}
15. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger {review here}
16. Vixen by Jillian Larkin {review here}
17. Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper {review here}
18. Asenath by Anna Patricio {review here}
19. One Day by David Nicholls {review here}

Book Review: The Warlock (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #5) by Michael Scott

The Warlock (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #5) by Michael Scott 
Release Date: 24th April 2012

Publisher: Random House
Format: Paperback 
Pages: 264
Rating: 4.5/5.0

This book was read as part of the 2012 OTS Challenge

Summary from Amazon:

" In the fifth installment of this bestselling series, the twins of prophesy have been divided, and the end is finally beginning.

With Scatty, Joan of Arc, Saint Germain, Palamedes, and Shakespeare all in Danu Talis, Sophie is on her own with the ever-weakening Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel. She must depend on Niten to help her find an immortal to teach her Earth Magic. The surprise is that she will find her teacher in the most ordinary of places. "

Review:
If you follow this blog, you'll know that I'm a pretty big fan of this series. I started this series earlier this year and I just couldn't get enough. And the fifth instalment in this series which appears to be coming to a close doesn't disappoint. The book is just as action packed and drama filled as its predecessors. By five books, you might think that the author might start running out of ideas, out of things to say. But this really isn't the case for these books. The characters continue to learn and grow (even some new characters are introduced), new facts get revealed, along with new mysteries, with all of this surrounded by constant action. 

I liked how Scott set out his chapters in this novel. Each chapter focuses on a group of people, and at any given time, there could be six or seven different groups that a chapter could focus on. For me, I found this was an effective tool to keep me reading - I would reach the end of a chapter, turn the page and find the next chapter is focusing on a different group of people, and I want to know what they're doing, so I just keep reading! It's a good way to help you get quickly through a book that's almost 400 pages long. 

If I had to point out something I didn't like, it would have to involve the Lotan. I don't mean to spoil anything, but the Lotan was built up to be this unstoppable creature, but then, the way that it is stopped is so simple and over so quickly, that I just didn't think it fit well. And this actually annoyed me quite a bit. That aside, The Warlock is a great fifth instalment in this series, and I'll be getting my hands on the sixth book as soon as I can. 

BUT THERE'S MORE! **SPOILERS AHEAD** 

2013 Challenge #3 - Ebook Challenge

Considering I have an ereader, and am planning to use it quite a lot in the coming year, I though I'd try out this challenge. The 2013 Ebook Challenge is pretty simple - read some ebooks! I'm signing up for the CD level - 10 ebooks. For a full run down of the event, click here. 

1. The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald {review}
2. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carre {review}
3. Uglies by Scott Westerfield {review}
4. The Host by Stephenie Meyer {review}
5. The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks {review}
6. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart {review}
7. Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs {review}
8. The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky {review}
9. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin {review}
10. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin {review}

WOO! I guess technically I've now finished the challenge. I'm going to keep this one open though, and keep adding to the list to see just how many ebooks I can read this year - maybe I'll even make it to the next level!

11. The Help by Kathryn Stockett {review}
12. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton {review}
13. Wicked by Gregory Maguire {review}
14. Eragon by Christopher Paolini {review}
15. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi {review}

2013 Challenge #2 - Outdo Yourself

So, the second reading challenge I'm signing up for is the 2013 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge hosted by The Book Vixen. The idea is pretty simple - read more books than you did in the previous year! In 2012 I read 28 books, and considering I've decided to aim to read 30 books in the Off the Shelf Challenge, I think I can be successful in this challenge to! But, I don't want to get too ahead of myself, so I'll be signing up for the Getting my heart rate up level, aiming to read 1-5 more books than I read in 2012. For a full run down of the event, click here. 

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth {review} {amazon}
2. The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin {review} {amazon}
3. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare {review} {amazon}
4. The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald {review} {amazon}
5. Ingenue by Jillian Larkin {review} {amazon}
6. Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon {review} {amazon}
7. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor {review} {amazon}
8. Wither by Lauren Destefano {review} {amazon}
9. The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross {review} {amazon}
10. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel {review} {amazon}
11. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer {review} {amazon}
12. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl {review} {amazon}
13. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carre {review} {amazon}
14. Uglies by Scott Westerfield {review} {amazon}
15. The Host by Stephenie Meyer {review} {amazon}
16. The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks {review} {amazon}
17. Insurgent by Veronica Roth {review} {amazon}
18. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart {review} {amazon}
19. The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes {review} {amazon}
20. Splintered by A.G. Howard {review} {amazon}
21. Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl {review} {amazon}
22. Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs {review} {amazon}
23. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake {review} {amazon}
24. The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky {review} {amazon}
25. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin {review} {amazon}
26. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame Smith {review} {amazon}
27. A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin {review} {amazon}
28. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor {review} {amazon}
29. The Help by Kathryn Stockett {review} {amazon}
30. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton {review} {amazon}
31. Underworld by Meg Cabot {review} {amazon}
32. Legend by Marie Lu {review} {amazon}
33. Withering Tights by Louise Rennison {review} {amazon}
34. Wicked by Gregory Maguire {review} {amazon}
35. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith {review} {amazon}
36. Angelfall by Susan Ee {review} {amazon}
37. The Enchantress by Michael Scott {review} {amazon}
38. The Bling Ring by Nancy Jo Sales {review} {amazon}
39. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn {review} {amazon}
40. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier {review} {amazon}
41. Allegiant by Veronica Roth {review} {amazon}
42. The Lucky Ones by Anna Godbersen {review} {amazon}
43. The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon {review} {amazon}
44. Eragon by Christopher Paolini {review} {amazon}
45. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi {review} {amazon}

2013 Challenge #1 - Off the Shelf

First off, congrats to everyone for surviving the apocalypse! With that out the way, I thought I'd get onto signing up to some reading challenges. For 2013 I've chosen 5 to be a part of! The first one I'm letting you know about is the 2013 Off the Shelf Challenge hosted by Bookish Ardour. In 2012, I had a go at the Trying level, so next year I'm going to step it up a notch and have a go at Making A Dint, aka reading 30 books from my TBR pile/list. Here's what I'm thinking about reading:

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald {review}
2. Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel {review} 
3. The Host by Stephenie Meyer {review}
4. The Help by Kathryn Stockett {review}
5. Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs {review}
6. Divergent by Veronica Roth {review}
7.  Insurgent by Veronica Roth {review}
8. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John Le Carre {review}
9. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky {review}
10. The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks {review}
11. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame Smith {review}
12. Ingenue by Jillian Larkin {review}
13. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton {review}
14. Uglies by Scott Westerfield {review}
15. Eragon by Christopher Paolini {review}
16. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor {review}
17. Legend by Marie Lu {review}
18. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake {review}
19. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl {review}
20. Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl {review}
21. A Game of Thrones by George R.R Martin {review}
22. A Clash of Kings by George R.R Martin {review}
23. The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart {review}
24. The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross {review}
25. The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin {review}
26. Wither by Lauren Destefano {review}
27. Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon {review}
28. The Enchantress by Michael Scott {review}
29. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare {review}
30. Wicked by Gregory Maguire {review}

I'm pretty happy with this mix of books, but considering how much I change my mind all the time, it's likely that this list will see some shifts over the coming year. In 2012 I managed to surpass that 15 books required for the Trying level by 4 books, so wish my luck for my goal of 30 books in 2013!