First Love and Other Novellas by Samuel Beckett
I think you either love Beckett, or hate him. Many people see him as being rather bleak and absurd, and that’s all. There is a lot more to Beckett than this. His work can be bleak, absurd, hopeless and perplexing, but it can also be invigorating, eye-opening and humourous. These four stories are rich and deeply moving…if even a bit unsettling. It’s a short book, but takes some time to read as you delve into the words and thoughts of Beckett. I found myself re-reading passages to really savour the imagery Beckett evokes. If you enjoy Beckett, this is a must read.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
A brilliant fantasy read. I’m itching for the next installment from Rothfuss and frustrated that I have to wait so long. Name of the Wind recounts the tale of Kvothe – a young man with various legends and stories surrounding him as the most powerful wizard of all time. Kvothe tells us his story starting with his childhood years as a member of a traveling troupe and how he first became interested, and involved in magic. It is the foundation of an epic tale, and one I am looking forward to reading.
Evermore by Alyson Noel
An enjoyable read overall for a YA dark romance. It didn’t grip me entirely and I’m unsure if I will follow the rest of the series or not. A quick, light read though with the expected teen angst and forbidden love that goes hand in hand with YA dark romance. Ever Bloom (yes, that is the main character’s name) can read minds and see auras, until she meets Damen that is – a mysterious and entirely too handsome new guy at school (sound familiar?). Damen is dangerous, but Ever can’t help be drawn to him, as if she’s known him her whole life…and more. Ahhh…the mystery! 
No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong
I’m a huge Kelley Armstrong fan and have read almost all of the Women of the Otherworld series (only two others to still read). In this installment, we follow Jaime Vegas – a necromancer – as she tries to start a TV career and instead, finds a better calling. My favourite aspect of the entire story though, is watching the relationship between Jamie and Jeremy unfold. I’d love for Kelley to write more about these two – especially the quiet, withdrawn and mysterious Jeremy.
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
It took me a little while to get into this, but once I was drawn into the world, I was hooked. A lovely story following Ethan and the sudden arrival of a very unusual girl, Lena. It may seem a tad cliched to start, but Garcia and Stohl are able to weave a rather unique story with a sweet romance and two characters that you really want to get behind and see them find a happy ending. I’m looking forward to the next installment and wish it were already out for me to buy today. If you are looking for a sweet YA “dark romance”, this is a wonderful option.
Men of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong
If you’ve read any of the Women of the Otherworld series, you are already familiar with Clay and Jeremy, although how they first met and how Jeremy adopted Clay is quite vague in the series. Here Kelley delves right into the backgrounds of Clay and Jeremy and we get a fantastic insight into where these two strong characters come from. If you are a fan of Kelley’s, you’ll love this.
Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange
I read Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Grange and loved it so I thought I’d read this as well, and who can resist anything to do with Mr. Darcy? This is a diary of Pride and Prejudice from Darcy’s viewpoint. An interesting read, but it didn’t quite meet my, admittedly, high expectations. I enjoyed it as a fun supplement though, but perhaps I’m biased and will enjoy anything, even remotely, connected to Darcy.
