Mid-Year Reads Giveaway: Top 3 Favorite Debs in '12

I'm excited to be taking part in  Good Choice Reading's Mid Year Reads Giveaway! Though it's only June, there have been some AWESOME reads this year that have blown me away, and good portion of those have been from debut authors. Today I'm going to be featuring my top 3 favorite debut books (so far) of 2012. You can read all of this year's 5 star reviews | 4.5 star reviews | 4 star reviews via the high lighted links. Don't forget to read about the giveaway and how to enter at the end of the post!

#1 favorite:

By: Robin LaFevers

Published by: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Released on: April 3rd, 2012

5 stars: I LOVED It! Go Pick It Up!

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Series:  His Fair Assassin series, Book 1

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? 

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. 

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart? -quoted from Goodreads

I am in love with this book! All the things I love about a well written story are found within the pages of Grave Mercy. Beautiful writing, a rich historical setting, an enchanting romance, the unique paranormal element and the lively, in-depth characters. The characters in this book are fabulous, and I really liked that there weren't one dimensional characters who didn't really serve a purpose in the story. No matter how big or little their roles were in this story they each added a depth or richness to the incredibly engaging storyline. Read the rest of my 5 star review here.

#2 favorite:

By: A.C. Gaughen

Published by: Bloomsbury Teens

To Be Released on: February 14th, 2012, TOMORROW

Source: book from publisher to review

5 stars: I LOVED it!

Purchase from: IndieBound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.

It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for -quoted from Goodreads

I didn't think I could love Robin Hood or the legend of Robin Hood any more than I already have, but I'm totally in love with A.C. Gaughen's verion of this historical hero. Her writing is flawless! She not vividly describes what it was like to live during this time period, she also captures the feelings of the people, and the hope Robin Hood and his band of thieves brought to them. I felt like she perfectly crafted together a story of how I envision a younger version of Robin Hood. I absolutely love what she's done with the lore of Robin Hood, Marian and Will Scarlet, not to mention John and the rest of the lively characters present in this story. Read the rest of my review here.

#3 favorite: 

By: Veronica Rossi

Published by: Harper Teen

Released on: January 3rd, 2012

5 stars: I LOVED It!

Purchase from: Harper Teen | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Browse inside the book via Harper Teen

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction. 

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions. 

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY -quoted from Goodreads

What a stunning debut! I really wasn't prepared to be totally swept off my feet with this book like I was. Veronica's writing is brilliant and it didn't take me long at all to totally fall in love with her amazing story. I LOVED the feel of this book. For me it felt like a blend of fantasy, dystopian and a little bit of sci-fi, which worked beautifully for this book. Along with the fascinating world that Veronica's created are some unforgettable characters. I really enjoyed the journey I took with Aria and Perry, so much so that I kept turning the blank pages of the ARC hoping to find just a little bit more of the story. I didn't want to leave the world or the characters just yet, and I'm sure I'll have the same longing feeling even with this series ends, and it's just beginning.  You can read the rest of my review here.

GIVEAWAY:

TO enter to win 1 of these titles, leave me a comment telling me what your favorite read of 2012 has been so far, along with your email address and which of these titles you'd like to win. Open internationally (where the Book Depository ships to). Good luck!