Ketch’s Best Reads of 2010

For me, a book must have certain qualities to be rated 5 out of 5 stars. It must entice me, drawing me into the very depths of its pages. They are the books that I stay up until mid-night reading – dying to know what comes next. Usually they are intense, keeping me on the edge of my seat. Yet, it has to be humorous. After all, what is life without something to laugh about? Only a few books I have read this year ended up with my top rating. These special few are listed below:

The Familiars

Aldwyn, an orphaned alley cat, finds himself in an unusual pet store where Jack, a young wizard in training, comes and chooses him to be his familiar. Then the unthinkable happens. Jack and two other young wizards are captured by the evil queen of Vastia. Aldwyn, along with Gilbert and Skylar, must now save their loyals while facing dangerous foes.

I guess you could say it’s because I’m a cat lover – having two cats of my own. And I do love Aldwyn. But, this is truly a magical tale. It’s full of action from the first chapter on. But, most importantly, it’s full of good humor. The best part of this book, in my opinion, is actually the character Gilbert, a magical tree frog. He is hilarious!

Sphinx’s Queen

In the sequel of Sphinx’s Princess, Nefertiti’s life has changed overnight. She is no longer living in the royal palace as the intended bride of the Pharaoh’s son. Instead, she is on the run from a crime she did not commit.

I love Nefertiti’s strength in this novel and her friends’ cunning. The very thing she needs during these dark times in her life. There are so many dangers and so many trials she must face, to prove that she is innocent. That is what kept the pages turning into the night. The novel takes so many twists and turns, you keep wondering how it will all end.

Wildwing

Anxious to leave her miserable life behind, Addy travels back in time to the middle ages where she is mistaken to be the Lady Matilda, the pampered ward of the king. As the Lady Matilda, she is rewarded with glorious gowns, jewels, and respect. But, things take a turn when she falls in love with a falconer’s son. Now she must choose between the life she longed for and true love. Either choice could cost her dearly.

I was at the edge of my seat with this novel. It seemed every choice Addy faced had a high consequence. Danger was around every corner. The passion and the romance drove Addy to make extremely difficult decisions, heightening the sense of urgency. The mixture of these elements drew me into the novel’s pages. But, most of all, I loved how the falcons were the driving force of the story. They were the messengers, the teachers, and in many ways the souls of the characters.

All three of these novels have captured all new worlds and brought them to life. They draw you into their pages and refuse to let you go. They are intense, yet humorous in many ways. And therefore, I would highly recommend them.