My Top 5 books for 2008

It's the time for year for reflection. Its been a tough year: work has been slim and hard to find and money has been in short supply, but overall things are better than when the year started. I'm ending this year employed and in good health (the migraine seem to be in control at last! *knock on wood*).

As far as books and reading goes, it has been a great year. Thanks to my many new friends in the blogosphere, I've been introduced to some great new authors: Anne Bishop, Meljean Brook, Jean Johnson, and Linnea Sinclair just to name a few. In addition some of the old favorites have come out with some great new read this year, Marjorie M. Liu, Nalini Singh and CL Wilson really standing out. So with no further ado, my top five book for 2008 are...

5. The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu
This could be the start of another lovely relationship with Marjorie. I have loved her Dirk & Steele series (minus the unfortunate The Last Twilight, which just didn't live up to the rest of the series). Maxine Hunt is definitely on my list of great heroine and I have great hope for the series. The story is both inventive and lively. I just love anything that ties in reality (as most think of it) with the mysterious and unseen, the whole fairies really do exist. And let's face it, we all could use a bit of magic in our lives.

4. Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
If I could be a sword-wielding, magical bounty hunter I would definitely be Kate. This is the second book in the Kate Daniels series and it's as fantastic as the first. I can't wait to see where Kate goes from here and all about her mysterious history (and really who IS Roland... I wonder if he has a tattoo of a skull and crossbones encircled with a heart on his ass *g* Probably not but hey wouldn't it be fun). Ilona does a wonderful job of blending the supernatural forces with the mundane. I love how technology and magic seem to be at opposing ends of the spectrum, that only one really works well at any given time. And let's not forget Curren... grr...

3. Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh
Nalini just can't go wrong. This is a wonderful 5th chapter (well full length book) in her Psy-Changling series. Dorian is absolutely scrumptious, Ashya is delightfully icy and sassy, and Amara is so wickedly evil you can't help but love her. Nalini just takes us deeper and deeper into this wonderfully crafted world and story that she does indeed take us all hostage to pleasure. I can't wait to read all about Mercy and Riley and to see where Nalini will take us next (after Dev and NY). And besides, who wouldn't love this cover.

2. Demon Bound by Meljean Brook
I can blame my addiction to Meljean on the DIK draft that occurred in May of this year. It's all their fault (not that I am complaining, missing the Guardian series would have been disastrous). Jake has a delightfully boy-ish charm, Alice is beautifully creepy and Michael is a bit less mysterious (I can't wait for his story, unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how one looks at it, Meljean has indicated that he will be last). Next comes Irena and I can't wait! And I'm hoping for Hellhound pups!

1. King of Sword and Sky by CL Wilson
I so LOVE this series and can hardly wait for the last book to come out! I think I continuously read this series for well over two weeks! Cheryl just has to write faster! Every character is delightful (even the evil ones) and there is no aspect of the book to glance through. Each scene is wonderfully crafted and the descriptions so richly described that you feel like you've really seen it or experienced it (okay, maybe not the torture parts). This is a true fairytale. An abandoned princess, the handsome prince, the perilous quest, the imprisoned king and queen, a great and powerful evil and a destiny bound to change the world. *sigh* I really NEED the last book and I NEED to know what happens to everyone. There is so much still to discover. And it doesn't come out until JUNE! *pout*