Favorite Things

Some of my favorite things in 2018, in no particular order…

Loth-cats! — I loved every bit of Star Wars Rebels, and was so, so sad when it ended. One of my personal highlights were these adorably cheeky creatures. The Loth-cat pin I got for my birthday this year sits by my laptop, reminding me to have some fun with my writing.

The Expanse — Amazing TV series! Seriously, I think this is the best science fiction show of the past couple of years. Great diversity, amazing cast, and a wide range of female characters who are strong in many different ways — perfect.

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert — This has probably been my favorite YA read of 2018, so far. Released in January, it’s the perfect mix of dark portal fantasy and magical realism, with a killer contemporary voice.

Letitia Wright as Shuri in Black Panther — The whole movie was great, but Shuri was my fave character. Also? All those fantastic Tumblr posts where Shuri and Peter Parker team up and #science.

Maple syrup tea — Smells delicious and makes a break from my usual tea flavors. I can’t believe I didn’t really get into it before now.

Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive — This ongoing series has everything a girl brought up on Tolkien’s vast epic fantasy could wish for. The third book, Oathbringer, came out in November 2017 but I didn’t get around to reading it until this year.

Marvel’s Runaways — Another great TV show! You can find it on Hulu. I binged it in one weekend with my husband and 13 year-old daughter, and now I really really want a pet velociraptor. Can someone make that happen, please?

Opal by Maggie Stiefvater — This short story, which came as a freebie at the end of the 2018 paperback edition of The Raven King, was perfect. It reminded me a little of Patrick Rothfuss’ The Slow Regard of Silent Things, and I’m in love with Ronan and Adam’s goat-legged daughter. Maybe she can come for a playdate with my velociraptor! One for fans of the series…

The Magisterium books by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare — I only discovered this middle grade series this year, and read the first four books in a week. Luckily, the last book, The Golden Tower, comes out in September, so I won’t have long to wait for the conclusion.

Rice cakes — Seriously, I’d never really eaten these until my nephew came to stay and his parents left a packet behind. Perfect for a quick energy booster snack with either cream cheese or peanut butter.