Top Ten Tuesday (14)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the Broke and the Bookish where a new top ten list is posted each week. This week is: Top Ten Books I Want To Give As Gifts (and to who...even if you won't actually give them!)

I was actually going to sit out this week seeing as the majority of people I've brought books to give as gifts know where my blog is, until I saw Mist's very clever post over at Bookaholics Book Club where she picked ten of her favourite books that she would be happy to give as gifts. My list is in the same spirit as hers and I've marked all the books as YA or Adult :)

1. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Definitely one of my favourite books of 2011, I really enjoyed this book! Written in Maggie Stiefvater's normal atmospheric style I quickly fell in love with the world and the characters. Plus creepy water horses aid an air of danger that I adored. (YA)

2. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
I tried reading this as a teen and couldn't get into it. When I tried again as an adult (after seeing the TV adaptation) I ended up totally hooked. It's an incredible world full of depth and ideal for any fantasy fan, or anyone who would love luggage that walks by itself. (Adult)

3. Tomorrow When the War Began by John Mardsen
This isn't my usual type of book but I picked it up after seeing the movie and realising I'd read it a few years earlier. It tells the story of a group of Australian teens who come home from camping in the outback to find their country invaded. Action packed and great for pretty much anyone. (YA)

4. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
This was the first fantasy novel I read and liked. I adored Yelena and ended up ordering the rest of the trilogy and rationing this until they arrived. The story is action packed from the start and goes from strength to strength throughout. (Adult)

5. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Jim Butcher is one of the few male authors I read, and Harry Dresden is probably my favourite male protagonist. This book focuses on a wizard for hire who takes on a case that gets out of hand. Cleverly written with a believable world, this is a great read. (Adult)

6. Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
One of the most unique urban fantasies I've ever read, Ill Wind focuses on Wardens who can control the weather, earth or fire. The book starts right in the middle of the action and the pace doesn't let up throughout. The series is now complete at 9 books which is handy in a genre where some series go on forever. (Adult)

7. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
My first urban fantasy and one that really sucked me into the genre. Elena is the only female werewolf in the world and she gets sucked back into the paranormal world when her pack needs her help. A great action packed read. (Adult)

8. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
I read this recently and thought it was brilliant (my review will be posted soon). It's one of my favourite dystopian novels and is set in a broken world where women die at 20 and men die at 25. Rhine is trying to escape her forced marriage and I was glued to the page throughout. (YA)

9. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
I love the whole Psy-Changeling series and, despite the cheesy cover, I like recommending this to people. There is an amazing depth of world building alongside the romance and the author manages to set up two distinct species of character with believable histories without info dumping. (Adult)

10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
The ultimate Christmas book that everyone should have read, at least in my opinion. I own two copies and I gave my niece her own copy last Christmas, despite the fact she was only a month old. I read it every year (and watch the movie) and I'm hoping to include my niece in the tradition as her Mum is not a Grinch fan. (Everyone!)