Wow- this was an amazing read. As someone trained in history and research, Kostova pulled me into a world both academically familiar, and discordant. I forgot at times that I was reading fiction rather than a dissertation on the Dracula Mythos, which is high praise. I’m currently reading her newest book, since after reading The Historian, Kostova was moved to the top of the stack.

A few of these are books that I started in the last few days of 2011, but if the bulk of the book was read after 1/1/12, it makes the cut. These are the books that I finished prior to the 11th of January.

Freehold – Michael Z Williamson (SF) – reread

(ebook found in title via baenebooks.com)

Quintessential Williamson, Freehold is his version of a capitalist libertarian utopia, and while it has plenty of flaws, I re-read it every few years. This time, it was AFTER I read the next book on the list…

The Weapon – Michael Z Williamson (SF) – reread

(ebook found in title via baenebooks.com)

Which is framed around the events in Freehold, as told from the point of view of the Kenneth Chinran, leader of the Black Ops team that wreck such destructive havoc. I read this in preparation for reading…

Rogue – Michael Z Williamson (SF)

(ebook found in title via baenebooks.com)

Set several years after the events in The Weapon, Rogue reprises Chinran as he is tasked to track down one of his operatives that has gone “Rogue” – I was not as much a fan of this book as I was the first two – but it is totally readable military genre SF.

The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson (FN) – reread

OMG OMG OMG – I have such a crush on Brandon Sanderson, and his brain. This was the second time that I read The Way of Kings, which is a promising first book in what Sanderson has said is going to be a multi-book opus rather than his usual stand alone books or trilogies. There are parts that lagged a bit, but Sanderson has the chops to pull it all together, and from past experience with his works, it will all tie in at the end. I’m hoping that we don’t end up with a middle series slump ala Robert Jordan, for whom Sanderson is writing the last 3 books in his series following his passing. This time, I was able to pick up on so many of the minute details that eluded me the first time around, and I know I’ll be re-reading this book again sometime this year.

Open by Marcus Engel & Amy Vega – (SS)(CI)

This was a quick sweet short story that was free for nook via BN.com – link found in the title.

Awakening Mercy by Angela Benson (CI)

Free for nook via bn.com – link found in title

Classic Christian Inspiration – this book was rather schlocky- I punched a few holes through it, both doctrine, and plot.