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2022 Reading in Review

 I thought it might be fun to look at my reading challenge from last year and look at what I enjoyed the most. I picked my top 5 favorite books from 2022 to highlight one more time. Choosing only five was actually more difficult than I imagined, since I had a lot of favorites. It was also hard to rank them if I'm completely honest, but here is my list!

#5 - The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

I loved this book. I loved the whimsical storytelling style and the plot. I loved the characters and how they were developed. I loved how the author carefully crafted the foreshadowing and how she carefully guided you through the mystery of Xan's memories. Overall, this book was so well written. Even though it was a middle grade book, I found myself unable to put it down.

#4 - I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

If you've followed my blog, then you probably know that I don't usually care much for Ruta Septys's writing. It's not that I dislike the stories she tells, I just feel that she has some integral problems with her story telling style. I Must Betray You had none of the usual problems I have with Sepetys's novels. In fact, this book was amazing. I LOVED the intrigue of the story. The fear of the characters was palpable and carried through the story well. I loved the resolution, and felt that for once, the ending actually fit the story well. I loved the way she unraveled the mystery, and told a story that isn't told often here in the U.S. Overall, I again, found myself unable to put the book down. I enjoyed it so much!

#3 Cytonic by Brandon Sanderson

My list would not be complete without a Brandon Sanderson novel on it. I was initially disappointed about the size of this book, as it was quite a bit shorter than the others in the series so far. As a sequel, however, it did not disappoint. I loved the direction Sanderson chose to take the story. It's led down a new path, with so many possibilities. I loved the characters, and I loved seeing Spensa grow further. It's crazy the amount of character development that has taken place over the course of the series, and I've loved it. I enjoyed the storyline, and the mysteries that Spensa is able to unravel. This one was another one that I couldn't put down.

#2 The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I have loved these books! I cannot wait to read the third installment, whenever I get around to it. I love the intrigue of the novels, and I love the characters. I love the way that Avery and the Hawthorne brothers unravel the mysteries of the past to discover who Avery really is. Barnes has a fantastic method for writing a mystery novel with twists and turns that are difficult to predict. I loved this story!

#1 All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

While I really enjoyed An Ember in the Ashes, I have to say that I loved this book even more. It was so drastically different than Tahir's fantasy, that I wasn't sure what to expect. This book did not disappoint. It was powerful and poignant. I loved the characters, and I groaned at every mistake Salahudin makes, knowing that it's going to come back and bite him, which it did. I loved unraveling what was happening to Noor. I loved that the characters had to pay for their consequences, and didn't just get off easily. This was a beautifully written story, and it's no wonder that it won several awards, including the National Book Award, because it is truly amazing.

I'm looking forward to 2023. I've already finished two books, the reviews for which will be coming soon! My goal for this year is to read 21 books. I know that doesn't sound like many, but with two kids, two cats, a dog, and a part time job, I think it will actually end up being quite challenging!
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