Challenge Update: Favorite Audiobooks of 2016

I've decided to do something a little different for my end of the year wrap up. In addition to doing a favorite books of the year thing, once a week in December I am going to do a challenge wrap up to talk about some of my favorite books in the categories that I did challenges for. I did a total of four challenges this year and so that works out really well. So I figured I would start with the audiobooks because I don't really have any plans for more audiobooks to listen to this year. I'll probably listen to at least one more on my drive to New York for the holidays but I can confidently mention some of my favorites for the year.

So I listened to a ton of audiobooks this year. I am currently at a total of 38 audiobooks for the year which is above my goal of listening to 30 for the Audiobooks Challenge which was hosted by Hot Listens. And as I have read a total of 151 books so far this year, that means that about a quarter of by books have been in the audio format. If that doesn't show how much of a fan of audiobooks I am, I don't know what will. I love them because I can listen at work, while I'm doing stuff around the house. and while I'm driving but also because I think some books are just perfect for that format.

Most of the audiobooks I listened to in 2016, about half, were rereads and I don't want to mention them here. That's for two reasons. First it's not fair to all the other books to that were amazing but also I think many of them are used to me blabbing about how much I love the Reckoners, The Raven Cycle, and Throne of Glass on audio. If not check out This Post, This Post, This Post, or This Post. Suffice it to say, I talk about audiobooks a lot. So without further ado, here is more talk about my favorite audiobooks of the year, in no particular order.

1.) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - My Review
Narrated By: Davina Porter
(Amazon / Goodreads / Audible)

I was late to the Outlander party. I had wanted to read the series but was intimidated by how think the books were and how many books there were in the series. So I took the plunge and listened to the first book this year and loved it. It's long coming in at a whopping 32 hours but it doesn't feel long. There is a ton of action, great characters, and it's the kind of audio where you don't want to stop listening.

As far as the narrator goes, I thought she did a fantastic job. There are a ton of different accents here with the Scottish and the English and she did them all really well. I have a hard time with heavily accented characters sometimes but I was impressed with these ones. Maybe they were terrible Scottish accents though. I'm not the best judge for this sort of this.

But I would absolutely recommend this one. I had it suggested from someone who is a huge fan of this series and a huge fan of audio and she was totally right. This was great and now I need to listen to the rest.

2.) You and Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnas - My Review
Narrated by Santino Fontana
(Amazon / Goodreads / Audible)


If you read my review of Hidden Bodies last week, the fact that I loved these audiobooks should not come as a surprise. Because seriously, these are amazing. Like they may end up on my favorites of the year list but if they don't they have to be on this list. I mean these books are super messed up, like it's about terrible people doing terrible things. Spoiler alert: the main character is a serial killer, and Kepnas still makes him really sympathetic. Like you root for a guy to kill people, it messes with your head.

A lot of why this book is so fantastic is because of the narrator. Santino Fontana is an amazing voice talent (he is the voice of Hans in Frozen if you weren't aware) and honestly no one does sympathetic and odious villains as good as he does. He really brings Joe to life and makes him a character you love to hate. My only issue is with his Rhode Island accents, but I'm bad at that accent too even though I lived there for six years.

Again, a book and audio I would absolutely recommend. Do I have to say that for all of these books. I recommend them all. But seriously, these are super messed up in the best possible way and the audio is amazing.

3.) Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies by Lindsay Ribar - My Review
Narrated by Michael Crouch
(Amazon / Goodreads / Audible)

There are a few books that I considered including on this list that I think would probably end up on my favorites of the year list, including this one. The reason that this makes my list over The Diablic is because I think the main reason I loved this book is because of the narrator. Michael Crouch honestly did an amazing job here. He put so much emotion into the book. I think it may have fallen a little flat for me if I didn't listen to the audio. His accents were great and it helped develop the characters in a way that really made the book for me.

But honestly this was a really amazing book. It is one of the most unique books I read this year. It's one that defies categorization with elements of magical realism, mystery, and contemporary. It was a strange and interesting book and therefore super compelling. I really loved the plot development and the world building. It's atmospheric tone was perfect for the audio format.

If you are interested in this book I would definitely suggest listening to the audio. I think it kind of made it what it was for me. It's a great read and perfect for the audio format so yes, listen to it.

4.) The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye - My Review
Narrated by Steve West
(Amazon / Goodreads / Audible)

Okay so once again I have to start by talking about the narrator because STEVE WEST! If you have read those posts I linked earlier you probably know that Steve West is among my favorite audiobook narrator. So when I saw that he was narrating a book I was super obsessed to read I knew I had to listen to the audiobook. And I was not at all disappointed. Steve was did amazing, was amazing. I usually hate Russian accents but ohmygod, this was amazing. Steve West's voice is like velvet and makes me feel things that I should not talk about in a public setting.

But also, this is another really atmospheric read that is perfect for the audio format. I love my high fantasies in audiobooks and this is a great example of that. It's the kind of book with a setting and magical system that you can perfectly visualize. Steve West totally brings it all to life. Plus it's a book that it a little light on the plot and that also works really well when in the audio format.

Again, an audio I would totally recommend but also one that I would say would be much better when it comes to audio. This was a book that I think was hit or miss for a lot of people and it was a total hit for me. A lot of that, of course was due to the fact that I love Steve West, but still.

5.) Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff - My Review
Narrated by A Full Cast of Awesomeness
(Amazon / Goodreads / Audible)

If I had to come up with a favorite audiobook of this year it would probably be this one, it's that good. I did not expect this series to be good in the audio format but after some recommendations from people around Illuminae so I decided to try this one out. And honestly, it is really fantastic. Full disclosure, I did also flip the pages to look at some of the images but the audio is really amazing. It's a total immersive experience and definitely worth it for this series. You guys, there are sound effects and music. It's perfect and amazing.

Part of what makes it so immersive is that it has a full cast. In case you didn't know, I FREAKING LOVE FULL CAST AUDIOBOOKS. I'm sorry but that required all caps. I feel that strongly about it. One of my biggest criticism about audiobook narrators is when all their characters sound the same so different narrators combats that. Plus this had some of my all-time favorite narrators like Steve West, MacLeod Andrews, and Carla Corvo. Plus the narrator for  Ella was so freaking perfect. The narrators are all amazing.

I honestly think after listening to this audio I have been totally ruined for this series, I can never go back to just reading the book. It's such a uniquely formatted series and the best way to experience it is by listening to the audio and flipping through the book.

Honorable Mentions:

6.) Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo - My Review
My only reread on this list but it was so good. It also had a full cast and they were all amazing. They perfectly embodied the characters. I only wish it was radio play style and not you narrator your sections because I wanted it to always be the same voice when a character was speaking.

7.) The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan - My Review
I didn't expect to love this audio as much as I did but it was really fun. The narrator did a great job with the accents and it worked really well in this format. If you are a big contemporary fan and like audio, check this out.

8.) Stars Above by Marissa Meyer - My Review
This is an honorable mention because while it's not totally a reread, I've talked a lot about how much I enjoy the Lunar Chronicles audiobooks and Rebecca Soler and therefore it should come as no surprise that loved this one.

There you have it, all my favorite audiobooks of the year. I seriously loved a ton of them you guys. It was a great year for audiobooks. Not only is 37 books total not to shabby but I loved so many of them. I think I only disliked about 5 of them, maybe 6. But if you want to see the full list on all the audiobooks I listened to this year and to find my thoughts, check out the Audiobooks Challenge page HERE. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Crossing Over: Unique Fantasies with Unlikable Protagonists

Hey all. This month's Crossing Over is a little later than usual because I had a lot of other posts I was working on. I think. Or I was busy. I don't know. On top of that fact, like last month, I don't have a theme this month to focus me. But I've restored my idea stockpile for these and I have one that I'm really excited to share this one.

If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature that stemmed from my desire to recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA or sometimes Middle Grade book that are similar. I hate that we pigeonhole books into a specific age range and so I try to combat that. Plus it's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. It runs once a month here and I pick the books based on the theme of what I'm reading. But like I said, no theme this month so here is a completely arbitrary choice.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Read My Review / Add to Goodreads

I love this series so much. It's one that I think is really polarizing within the fantasy community because of the way it treats magic and the characters but those are things that I love about it. For me, this is one of the most unique fantasies because of the way it plays with the classic tropes. This is a book with a magical system where magic doesn't solve problems it creates them, it's a magic that comes from darkness. There is also this really interesting world within a world that is not at all what you expect when you learn about it. Not to mention this is a book with a main character that is not easy to like. He's a selfish and whiny little jerk who never seems to be satisfied even when he gets exactly what he wants in life. But he also has some really great development throughout the book and surprisingly I empathized with him. This book is not for everyone but if you like unlikable characters and if you're looking for a unique fantasy absolutely check this out.

Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies by Lindsay Ribar
Read My Review / Add to Goodreads

I loved this book a lot when I read it last month. I think honestly one of the reasons I liked it so much is that it reminded me a lot of The Magicians when I was reading it.  For me, this is one of the most unique fantasies because of the way it plays with the classic tropes. This is a book with a magical system that is unlike many magical systems and I loved that. I don't want to give it away but it's similar to The Magicians in a very particular way that I enjoyed.  There is also this really interesting magical realism type world that is not at all what you expect when you learn about it.Not to mention this is a book with a main character that is not easy to like. He's a selfish little jerk who never seems to be satisfied even when he gets exactly what he wants. But he also has some really great development throughout the book and surprisingly I empathized with him. This book is not for everyone but if you like unlikable characters and if you're looking for a unique fantasy absolutely check this out.

These are both good examples of books I think of really weird and unique fantasies. They have these really great atmospheric tones and a unique settings with some of the most interesting magical systems I have come across. It plays with the tropes in a interesting way and I like that about it. The Magicians has been described as adult Harry Potter and so the obvious choice for a similar book would be Carry On, but not to me. There are similarities but if you really want a book that has a similar tone and themes I think this is the book for you.

Have you read The Magicians and/or Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies? What did you think? What unique fantasies with crossover appeal do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Audiobook Review: Rocks Fall Everyone Dies by Lindsay Ribar

Title: Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies Written by: Lindsay Ribar Published: June 7, 2016 by Kathy Dawson Books (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Twin Peaks meets Stars Hollow in this paranormal suspense novel about a boy who can reach inside people and steal their innermost things—fears, memories, scars, even love—and his family's secret ritual that for centuries has kept the cliff above their small town from collapsing.  Aspen Quick has never really worried about how he's affecting people when he steals from them. But this summer he'll discover just how strong the Quick family magic is—and how far they'll go to keep their secrets safe.  With a smart, arrogant protagonist, a sinister family tradition, and an ending you won't see coming, this is a fast-paced, twisty story about power, addiction, and deciding what kind of person you want to be, in a family that has the ability to control everything you are.

I was intrigued by this book when I first learned about it. Nevermind the Twin Peaks meets Stars Hollow comparison, a magical realism and paranormal mystery with a crazy family dynamic... sign me up. And this book did not disappoint. It was weird in the best possible way and one of the most unique YA fantasies I have read in awhile.

I think my favorite thing about this book was the magical realism aspects. It's a subgenre of fantasy that I have really enjoyed lately and I loved it here. The magical system was so interesting and unique. Pulling things out of people through their objects sounds really strange and it was, but it was also really fascinating. Like all good magic systems it had clear rules and guidelines but it was also something all it's own. I loved seeing the magic in effect and learning more about it as the book developed. As the book went on it became more and more complex as it was tied to deeper seated issues both internal and external. But what I liked most about is that it's one of those magic systems where it explores the idea of if magic helps or harms. There were deeper themes tied to the magic which I really enjoyed. It was definitely fantastic and weird.

And it's a good thing that I enjoyed the magic because it was very much a part of the plot of the book. And a great plot it was too. It only took me two days to listen to the audio because I seriously could not stop, it was that good. I was expecting weird and a little creepy with unexplained occurrences and sure, it had some of those elements, but they weren't the focus. What should have been weird made total sense which left room for a very different mystery. It effortlessly combined the magic and mystery to create something so compelling.  Not to mention that it really built to a thrilling ending with a climax that came so late in the book that I was wondering how it could possibly end, but it did. Plus along the way it had a lot going on and explored some really interesting themes that kept me incredibly engaged.

One of those themes was the exploration of the family dynamic, which was so entrenched into the plot and the mystery of the book. I think the family dynamic was the real drama here. There was so much going on with the Quick family and it affected them and the town at large. Learning their history and seeming them interact in both positive and negative ways was one of the best parts of the book. Messed up family dynamics are nothing new in literature but here it was handled so well that it was engaging and complex.

Which I guess brings me to the characters. They were just as complex and weird as the book. There was so much to these secondary characters, especially members of the Quick family like Grandmother Willow and Aspen's Dad. They are quirky in a non-traditional kind of way. It was more dramatic and kind of less expected. They are also terrible. So many of the characters in this book are terrible people, especially the MC. Aspen Quick is not at all likable. He's a self-centered jerk who does things out of selfish personal interest. There were so many moments where I wanted to punch him. But that was what made him so compelling, I wanted to know what would happen to him in spite of or maybe because he was so likable. Plus he had a great development throughout the book and in the end I wanted him to succeed.

I listened to the audiobook for this and it was a really great audio. Michael Crouch, the narrator, did a great job of creating the emotion and characters of this book. His tone and inflection definitely allowed the listener to feel what the characters were feeling. When the action started picking up you felt the suspense. I also really liked the way he developed the characters. His accents help you not only differentiate but get to know them on a deeper level. It was a fantastic audiobook and I'm glad I listened.

On the whole Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies is a unique and thrilling read full of mystery, magic, and complex characters. It's one of the most unique books I read in a long times and I really loved it.

I give Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies by Lindsay Ribar 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! I seriously loved this book. It's one of those books, I think, that will stick with you long after you've read it. I personally can't stop thinking about how good it was and I really want there to be a sequel. I want to give If you are looking for something different and suspenseful definitively check this one out.

Have you read Rocks Fall Everyone Dies? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!