Top 5 Fave Books of 2017
Last updated on 11 April 2018
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It’s time to share my top 5 fave books of 2017!
I do this every year, and I find it’s not only a great way to share with you the fantastic books I’ve read, but it also gives me a chance to go back through the books I’ve read throughout the year and remind myself why I loved them. I might even end up adding some to my To-ReRead list.
2017 started with a bang in my reading world, and really gave me a kick towards getting my Goodreads Challenge completed when I did. There was one weekend where I read 3 books, and the month of February saw me reading 7, which is incredibly good for me. Most of those books in the early months were really good, and I loved soaring through them. There have been some duds throughout the year, as every year, but towards the end of the year it picked up again.
Overall there was mix of 2 – 5 star books, but I’ve settled on five 5-star books to share with you today. Hopefully you can add one or two of these to your 2018 To Be Read list. I have to just point out that these books aren’t necessarily titles that were released this year, just ones that I have picked up.
A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab Find at Booktopia
Goodreads
This is the final book in the A Darker Shade of Magic series, and it was incredible.
The best thing about this book? The ending. I don't want to spoil it, but it was magical and everything ended in the most perfect way possible. I was so terrified that I was going to hate the ending and therefore be any at both Schwab, the ending, and all my favourite characters, but somehow it was perfect. So perfect, and I could not be happier with the way things turned out.
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor Find at Booktopia
Find at Hachette NZ
Goodreads
The story was insanely good. You know how sometimes the characters overshadow the story, or the plot line is epic, but the personalities kinda put a damper on things? Not in Strange the Dreamer. The story line was so captivating, and even though there were a few things that I called before they were spelled out, it didn’t make the book any less incredible.
Taylor writes with this style that’s hard to explain. All I know is that’s its magical, it’s ‘beautiful and full of monsters’. It draws you in and doesn’t let you go. There’s no way that I won’t be reading this book again.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Find at Booktopia
Goodreads
The plot was this spectacular mix of carefully planned events that were well thought out and executed, and so many twists and turns you could call it a pretzel. I haven’t read too many heist books, but this one was brilliant set out, and I thoroughly enjoyed the Grisha aspect to it all.
Bardugo’s writing is just as fantastic as always. I love the way she differentiates between characters, and even though the perspective is split between the Crows throughout the book, it was never jarring, nor was there a perspective I didn’t enjoy reading.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber Find at Booktopia
Find at Hachette NZ
Goodreads
The concept of this story is incredible. Such a neat idea, and Garber really wrote it well. It’s amazing that this is her first book! There was never really a moment where I questioned the setting, or thought something was unrealistic to the plot line or uncharacteristic of people. It’s this mixture of fun-loving carnival feels with magical lights and beautiful gowns, dazzling costumes and fancy hotels. But it’s dark and almost sinister at times, and it’s this wonderful combination of good and bad, pleasure and pain, life and death, love and loss. I won’t say anything more, but the twists and turns this book definitely take you on a journey.
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller Find at Booktopia
Goodreads
Firstly, I loved Alosa. The front covers boasts the character as 'a female Captain Jack Sparrow' and if you love a bit of Pirates of the Caribbean like I do, then you're off to a good start. Alosa is this fierce young red-headed woman with a fantastic sense of humour and a cunningness about her which definitely rivals Captain Jack. She's a woman on a mission, and she tries hard not to let being trapped, underestimated, or her feelings towards a certain first mate get in the way of that. She succeeds in some areas, not in others.
You can see all the books I’ve read this past year on Goodreads.
Check out my Top 5 Fave from past years:
What was your favourite read from 2017?
This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Anjali Kay
Anjali Kay is an Aotearoa New Zealand-based blogger and book lover sharing travel inspiration, bookish posts, the occasional creative project, and a lot of practical blogging tips here at This Splendid Shambles. Based in Auckland, she's been writing book reviews and travel posts, sharing creative projects and blogging tips since she started her first blog in 2009. When she's not working on her own blog, Anjali also offers blog coaching and support for bloggers who want real guidance from someone who's actually done the work, and is a few chapters ahead of them.
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