Top Ten Reads of 2019

Hello everybody and welcome back to another edition of The CW Torch. Even though the first couple of weeks of the new year have already sprung, I thought I would share my top ten favorite books that I read in 2019.

Top Ten Books of 2019:

10. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Final Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

When I first picked up this book, I was hesitant to put it on this list. As the start of the book was very slow to me, and there was a lot going on so it was hard to follow at times. But what really drew me in was the mystery of the secret societies at Yale University. It provided a very creepy and magical atmosphere that kept me glued to the story. The atmosphere and the mystery of these magical societies reminded me a lot of the feel Riverdale provides me. It was very unorthodox with certain supernatural elements woven into it, which is how I would describe Riverdale. Sometimes, while it doesn't make sense it all comes together in the end, but at the same time your left with a lot of unanswered questions. As for the characters, at first I thought there were too many to follow, and I wasn't sure how I felt about Galaxy. She was a very problematic and unreliable character, which are usually characters I don't like, because you can't really understand there narrative. However, overtime Alex (short for Galaxy) grew on me, and I was very invested in learning more about what was going on in her life. Overall, I was very entertained with this book and I can't wait for the series continue.

9. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Final Rating: 4/5 Stars

A lot of you know how much I don't really enjoy reading contemporaries. I don't read them a lot and when I do they are very disappointing, yet the first book I've written myself is a contemporary. But, clearly, I wrote the type of contemporary that I would want to read. With the Fire on High was one of those books, which managed to make it on my top ten books of the year. I flew threw this book as the writing style was easy to get into but at the same time was very poignant. I was invested in our main character Emoni from the very beginning, even though at times she was an unreliable character. I felt instantly connected to her with her love for cooking, as I love to cook as well. I loved that a main character of this age within this genre actually has a passion for something that she was willing to go abroad for, even though she couldn't afford it and would be spending a lengthy time without her daughter. It was kind of refreshing to see her follow her passions, even though when most odds were against her. The only issue I had with this book was the romance, but I am usually disappointed with most romances in young adult contemporaries. I really would've liked to learn more about her relationship with her daughter and her daughter's father. Other than those small issues I thought this was such a beautiful read, inside and out.

8. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Final Rating: 4/5 Stars... *Updated 5/5 Stars

There are few books that make me cry, and for some reason this one got to me. A Monster Calls was probably one of the shortest books I read, that wasn't a graphic novel or comic. But, despite it's length it still managed to move me deeply enough to cry on a plane ride to Chicago. This book follows our main character, Conor, who dreams the same dream every night since learning his mother has fallen ill. It's the most difficult thing he has ever felt and that's the truth. The entire time I was reading this book I felt so bad for him, not because of his mother. But, because of knowing what was happening with his mother caused him to lash out, even getting into fights with other students at his school. Yet, no one seemed to realize that was the entire reason why he was acting that way, only the monster that haunted his dreams. What really got me with this beautiful story was his relationship with his mother. While we didn't get much of it, it was still moving and very special. This book was probably one of the most beautiful books I read last year, and as I am writing this review I have actually decided to give it a 5/5 stars. Since, it was a really special book that I was lucky enough to come across.

7. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

Final Rating: 5/5 Stars

There was a lot of controversy with this young adult fantasy when it first came out. A lot of people thought it was trying to be a new Six of Crows, but at the same time was very confusing and convoluted. As there wasn't much description or explanation of the magic system. However, I didn't find it confusing at all, I thought the magic system was explained in a very unique and different way which I thoroughly enjoyed. I felt like the only reason why people were having a hard time understanding this book was because Roshani Chokshi doesn't give us any lead-in to the main reason why these characters are doing this "heist." There were some moments that did remind me of Six of Crows, but the main plot line was vastly different, and I felt like the magic system may have been more developed than Six of Crows. I also loved the characters in this story, and thought they were extremely diverse. I loved learning more and more about these characters back stories, and I honestly felt more of a connection to these characters than I did with Six of Crows. Whereas in Six of Crows there were some characters I didn't love and wasn't as invested in their stories. But with the Gilded Wolves, I wanted to learn every aspect of each character's life. I am excited to see where this story goes because it definitely took us on a wild ride.

6. Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff

Final Rating: 4/5 Stars

I am very surprised that this book even made my list, as I wasn't much of a fan of Nevernight. I had many issues with the first novel in this series, from the writing being too dense to not really liking our main character Mia. There was a lot going on and with the added footnotes incorporated into the story, it was really hard to get through. However, my opinions changed drastically after reading the second book in this series. I wasn't sure if it was due to their being less footnotes, which made it much easier to read. But, the actual plot-line was a lot more interesting to me too. I was starting to enjoy Mia as a character more because I felt like she really developed and almost changed into a completely different character in Godsgrave. When I started to read Godsgrave, I couldn't put it down, even though it almost took me an entire month to complete. I am very excited to get into the third and final book of this trilogy, Darkdawn, to see where Mia's journey ends. Even though, it will probably ruin me.

5. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Final Rating: 4/5 Stars

The first Erin Morgenstern book that has made it on this list... hinting towards the future.

There is something about Erin Morgenstern's writing that is so magical and sucks you in from the very beginning, making you feel that you are actually somehow a part of the story. From the very beginning I wanted the magical circus to appear right before my eyes. I was intrigued with every character and every story that was centered around this one circus. I also for once, really enjoyed the romance involved between our two characters, because it was the type of romance that I love, forbidden love between two feuding families. While there was a lot going on, everything seemed to come together so perfectly in the end. The only reason why I gave this a 4 star and not a complete 5, was because the pacing of the story was a bit slow. But other than that, it was such a magical and mysterious book, it almost felt as if I were watching a painting come to life with my very own eyes.

4. Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Final Rating: 5/5 Stars

This is the second Taylor Jenkins Reid novel that has made it onto my top ten books of the year list. As last year, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, made it as one of my top books of the year. I don't know what it is, but there is something about Taylor Jenkins Reid's novels that seem very real. Even though they are historical fiction, but while I was reading Daisy Jones and The Six I thought I was following the real life accounts of this famous band of the 60's. Albeit, I did not like Daisy Jones at all, as she was another extremely unreliable character. Who not only kept destroying her life with drugs and alcohol, but she also kept ruining the lives of those around her. I know for some reason a lot of people didn't like Billy Dunne, because he was very selfish at times when it came to The Six. But for some reason I kept rooting for Billy to make the right decisions, because all he wanted was to make sure his girlfriend and future child had everything in the world. There were many things around him that kept pulling him away from accomplishing that, but he continued to make sure that the success of their band would bring them financial gain. A part from our two main characters, I was more invested in the side characters that this story focused on as well. I loved Karen and Camila and their relationship, because to me those were the most poignant and telling friendships of this band. I think it's so easy to fall in love with Taylor's novels because the characters do seem so real and feel as if she's actually telling the story of famous people in reality.

3. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Lani Taylor

Final Rating: 5/5 Stars

I read the first book of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy right after I read Daisy Jones & The Six. I wasn't sure how it was going to live up to what I just read or if I would be in the mood to read a fantasy as I would only be thinking about the amazing book I just read. But, once I started to read Daughter of Smoke & Bone, I couldn't put it down. This was another very magical read that had me instantly transported to the wonderfully mysterious, Prague. A place I have never been before, but through Lani Taylor's writing it somehow seemed very familiar. Not only was the setting extremely vast and magical, I was so invested and cared deeply for our main character Karou. She was so mysterious and the entire time I was reading this book all I wanted to find out was why she kept stealing teeth. The story was also very fast-paced, even though the world was very magical and vast. I was captured by the first page and didn't want to put it down, because of the feeling I got when reading Lani Taylor's magical and atmospheric writing. This book has definitely made it as one of my all-time favorite books, and I can't wait to continue the story of Karou with the next two novels in this series.

2. The Inexplicable Logic of My Life by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Final Rating: 5/5 Stars

Somehow, another young adult contemporary novel has made it onto my top ten books of the year. The Inexplicable Logic of my Life is perhaps one of the most beautiful and telling contemporaries I have read in a very long time. I have never felt so moved when reading this book, which was mainly due to our main character's relationship with his dad's. This beautiful novel was a coming of age story of a young boy trying to figure out why other people around him couldn't understand that he had two dad's. It was a moving and extremely poetic story of a theme that can be very confusing to people, that is if you aren't open enough to the idea of it. I loved all of the characters and wanted to treasure them with all of my heart. While the entire time I was reading it, all I could wonder was why such young people could feel so sad and confused. When the most important people in their life told them it's all right to be whoever you want to be. For some reason I felt really connected to this book and Benjamin Alire Saenz's writing style, that I can't wait to read more of his other works. Even though they will probably make me cry, just as The Inexplicable Logic of My Life did.

1. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Final Rating: 5/5 Stars

The reason why The Starless Sea made it as my favorite book of 2019, was for similar reasons as to why The Night Circus was one of my favorite books of the year. I was invested in the story from the very first line, and could not stop reading. Like The Night Circus, there were a lot of little stories/vignettes that made up of a much larger story that related to our main character. It was a love story of books and magical worlds, of endless sea's, and romance. It had everything I love about fantasies and books in general, it was my favorite type of book to read. There is just something about Erin Morgenstern's writing that's so atmospheric it sucks you right in, and almost makes you feel addicted to the story. Since, each chapter leads into the next, and you have to keep reading to figure out the major story arc. I finished this book in about a week because I could not put it down. It also made me think about my childhood and watching The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Erin's writing style somehow reminded me of those adventures, because it was very whimsical and unorthodox. I can't wait to see what she writes next, even if it may be another ten years.

There you have it folks, my top ten books of 2019. Were any of you guys surprised with the books I chose, because I was for a few of them? I would be interested in hearing what your favorite books were of 2019! I hope you guys enjoyed this post, even though it took me a while before I could share it. While it's always fun to reflect on the past year, I am definitely looking forward to write about the books I hope to read in 2020. To see what books make my favorites of the new decade!

XOXO,

Chynna @TheCWTORCH

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