YA Superlative Blogfest 2014: Popularity Contest

About the blogfest: The Class of 2014: YA Superlative Blogfest will run Monday, December 15th – Thursday, December 18th and will highlight our favorite YA books published in 2014**. The week will conclude with the lovely hosts Jessica Love, Tracey Neithercott, Alison Miller, and Katy Upperman giving away 2014 books to a few blogfest participants. Click the banner for more info!

If you join in, don't forget to link up at one of the host blogs!

**Disclaimer: I tried to choose books published in 2014 (Alz isn't participating this year because she's been in a year-long reading slump), but I will also have older books since I read A LOT LESS this year & many were not books published in 2014. I'll make a note if the book is NOT 2014 pubbed. In some cases, it was the last book in a series that came out in 2014, but I may talk about the series as a whole.


The topic of Day 2 is POPULARITY CONTEST, and these were my favorite books of 2014 for these categories.

Villain I Love to Hate: The Darkling from The Grisha Trilogy (RUIN & RISING) by Leigh Bardugo

Graphics source: Compelled by Books tumblr

The Darkling wins this category every year because I love him. (It also doesn't hurt that Sean O'Pry is the fancast for him because Sean O'Pry is smoldering eye-candy.) Not love to hate, just love. Like tell me where to sign up for his dark army because I am a-OK with a world enveloped in darkness as long as there's just enough light for me to see his gorgeous face. (Let me have this fangirl moment because the trilogy is finished and this will be the last year I get to do this.) (Also, I would be the worst minion because I'd be way too distracted all. the. time.)


Favorite Parental Figure: Veda's family from A TIME TO DANCE by Padma Venkatraman

While this beautiful verse book is very much focused on Veda and her recovery and relationship with dance, I loved the presence of her family in this book. My favorite was her grandmother - supportive and spiritual and very much the heart of family - but I also loved how Veda's relationship with her mother evolved over the course of the book. So glad I could include this book in the Superlatives today because it's such a moving, lovely read.


Most Likely to Start a Riot: Aedion Ashryver from HEIR OF FIRE by Sarah J. Maas

I don't want to spoil anything, but Aedion is a presence when he enters a room, and he's cocky as hell. He's charismatic, handsome, and absolutely lethal - and I'm sure before the series is finished, he'll incite a riot or three.


Biggest Flirt: Nikolai Lantsov from The Grisha Trilogy (RUIN & RISING) by Leigh Bardugo

I had to crop this fan-edit graphic to avoid (sorta) spoilers.
(Source: something new for every night tumblr)

Things are pretty dire for everyone who is not the Darkling in Ruin & Rising, but darling Nikolai still manages to retain his poise, his sense of humor, and his undeniable charm. This clever prince stole my heart and nearly had me jumping the Darkling ship. Nearly.


Fashion King and/or Queen: Kestrel from THE WINNER'S CURSE by Marie Rutkoski

Normally, Celaena from the Throne of Glass series would take this title, but she doesn't have her usual glorious wardrobe in this year's Heir of Fire. Kestrel, on the other hand, is a high-society lady in the militaristic and Roman-esque world of The Winner's Curse, and oh does she have some beautiful gowns. Just look at the sumptuous book cover!


Character I’d Most Want For a BFF: Blue and the Raven Boys from BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE by Maggie Stiefvater

Because who wouldn't want these people for friends? They're complex, adventurous, fun, and loving of one another. Basically, if you're part of this group, you're golden. I too want to go traipsing around Virginia in search of an enchanted, slumbering king.

Raven Cycle Character Sketches print from Maggie Stiefvater's Society6 page.

Coolest Nerd: Gansey from BLUE LILY, LILY BLUE by Maggie Stiefvater

I remember people picking Gansey for this category last year, and I agreed (though I didn't pick him then). He takes the spot this year because I feel like he was the nerdiest we've seen him in this installment of the Raven Cycle series. This was helped by the presence of Mallory, who brought out the folklore and ley line nerd in Gansey in full force.

Come back tomorrow for the Elements of Fiction category.

Previous 2014 YA Superlatives posts:
Day 1: Head of Class