Parajunkee’s Best Reads of 2011

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake 

A spectacle to behold, ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD is a darkly intense thriller that will leave you breathless – not knowing which way to turn. > Read More

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons

In a remarkably well-thought out dystopian world, Kristen Simmons, introduces us to two teenagers thrust into a world beyond their control. Two teenagers that will stick with you because of their depth and range of emotion and the story that binds them. Simmons knows how to tell a story and her choice of gritty, dystopian settings will resonate. It’s not a pretty romance, or a fight to the death dystopian. But, it is a story of survival and the lengths you’ll go to protect someone you love. {Review to come}

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

ASHES by Isla Bick is a unique story of an apocalyptic event that will have your skin slithering and your heart pounding. Written in a militaristic style of attention to detail and precision writing I was instantly in love with the author’s style. > Read More

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

An emotional reaction garnered from the pages of a book is like nothing else. The reason why I’m so infatuated with the genres of dystopian and apocalyptic is because of this emotional reaction. > Read More

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Wow. I haven’t read a young adult novel, with paranormal themes, this original and compelling in a long time. Step away from the usual vampire love stories and grab Darkness Becomes Her, you won’t be disappointed. > Read More

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

If a book could render me speechless it would be ENCLAVE. So, I sat and thought about it for about a week. I don’t want to destroy it with words like amazing, wonderful, spectacular, it just doesn’t convey what this book was for me. It devoured me. > Read More

The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4) by Julie Kagawa

THE IRON KNIGHT is from Prince Ash’s perspective and is very different from the original trilogy which had its own draw. I loved it. I thought it was well written and Kagawa wrapped it up in the perfect package.

Legend by Marie Lu

Some fabulous dystopian novels have come out this year and ‘Legend’ is another epic addition. ‘Legend’ has everything a good dystopian needs, an overpowering government, a great divide between the wealthy and the poor and a focus on two uniquely driven but deep, well-drawn out characters. The setting was unique, the interplay between characters was excellent and the plot kept the book moving with enough anxiety that I didn’t want to put this book down! > Read More

The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card

The Lost Gate took Card thirty years to write and I’m so glad he kept the idea alive. His idea of the Mither Mages is so encompassing and deep of a world you can’t even begin to compare it to other Young Adult Fantasy type novels. > Read More

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

…the Lost Hero is caught up to Percy Jackson’s time line and the characters are nicely aged at 16/17 range. They are mature and a bit war hardened. The time period is after the Titan War but we usher into a whole new set of heros. Riordan did an amazing job of making this completely believable without us all going WTH? If you like the Percy Jackson world, or if you want to try it out for the first time, this is a great companion and start. I was greatly entertained – and my only disappointment lay with the narrator of this audio book and not with the book itself.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

The book was poetic in the interaction of characters and the way the story played out. I was captivated, horrified and enlightened from one moment to another. I don’t know many authors that can accomplish this. If you haven’t had the honor of reading a Stiefvater piece — go out and buy THE SCORPIO RACES, you will not be disappointed, because while it is just a story about a girl, a boy and two horses – the writing in-between makes it resonate. > Read More

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

This is how I like my dystopian. WITHERwas an intense discovery of a new world, it wasn’t a very nice world, but it was real. DeStefano painted such a rich picture that I could actually believe it was possible. I fell in love with the characters, mourned with Rhine, felt her happiness and experience her horror. I couldn’t get enough of this novel and I can’t wait to read the second in this series. > Read More