Top Ten Recommendations

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish. This week is a freebie week, so I've decided to share my top ten recommendations. As a TV junkie, I've also taken the opportunity to recommend some of the shows that I adore!

Books

1. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
If you haven't read this series yet, I do not know where you've been. Seriously? Get to it! It's a great series, with tonnes of action and twists and the main character is pretty badass.

2. Soul Screamers by Rachel Vincent
You have probably seen me ramble on about this series before, and I have a good reason. This book series is one of the best out there in YA at the moment. I think you'll love it if you read it! Give it a go and then come back to me so we can chat about it!

3. The Study Trilogy by Maria V Snyder
Maria V Snyder is one of my favourite authors, and this trilogy is fantastic. Poison Study is absolutely phenomenal, and I believe it was Maria's debut!

4. The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
This is the book that got me hooked on contemporary YA. Before I read this, I had read a few books here and there within the genre, but now I'm craving it! The DUFF is fantastic and funny and I'd recommend it to everyone.

5. Deception by Lee Nichols
What would this list be without a ghost story? This book is highly underrated within the blogging community, at least from what I've seen. I'd definitely recommend giving it a go though, because the premise is fascinating and the writing is some of the best I've read.

6. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
So you've probably heard everyone fall head over heels for Delirium, but I'd recommend reading Before I Fall  too! This book was one of the first ones I reviewed, and it will forever be in my top ten favourites.

7. Beyond the Deepwoods by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
This may be a MG novel, but it's a blimmin' good one! It's an adventure story following a boy named Twig, who lives in the Deepwoods. One day he leaves his village and he gets lost in the woods, so then he is put through a series of events that nearly cost him his life. There are also pictures that show what the different creatures look like, which is AMAZING.

8. The Saga of Darren Shan by Darren Shan
This is a vampire series, yes, but it's a BRILLIANT vampire series. Trust me. I read it years and years ago, and it's one of my all time favourites. The world that Darren has created is so complex, and the vampires are REAL vampires. None of this sparkly rock stuff.

9. Choker by Elizabeth Woods
Choker is a fantastic mystery/thriller novel that deserves so much more hype than it got last year when it was released. I encourage everyone to pick it up, because I love it.

10. Rosebush by Michele Jaffe
This is another YA thriller that I absolutely loved. I'd definitely recommend trying it out. This is another book that deserves more hype that it gets!

TV Shows

1. Supernatural
You may have guessed by my Twitter background/blog header/profile picture that I'm a HUGE fan of Supernatural. If you hadn't guessed, then now you know. Supernatural is about two brothers who hunt ghosts, demons, angels (sometimes) and other things that go bump in the night. Sam and Dean drive around in an awesome '67 Impala - or the Metallicar, as us fans like to call it - blaring rock music and confessing their feelings. There's also a cute angel wearing a trenchcoat who joins them from time to time. It's an awesome show, and it sadly doesn't get enough recognition. Jensen and Jared are fantastic actors, and the co-stars are all awesome as well. If you don't watch this then I will never stop bugging you until you give in!

2. The Vampire Diaries
Another CW show. This series is based on the books by L J Smith but as someone who tried the books and hated them, this show is SO MUCH BETTER. I'm sure some of you already watch this and know what it's about, but if not... Elena is the main character, and she is in a middle of a love triangle between two brothers. Honestly, I'm a Delena shipper and think that it's the only side of the triangle worth focusing on, but there are lots of Stelena shippers too! There's also werewolves, ghosts and witches on this show, although none of those are as important as the sexy Original vampires. I also ship Elena with Klaus and Elijah, in case you were wondering. Come to think of it, I ship Elena with just about every male on the show. Including Jeremy.

3. Spartacus: Blood and Sand/Gods of the Arena/Vengeance
Words cannot describe how much I love this show. It's one of the best things I've watched since... well, since I started watching Supernatural! As the title suggests, this show is set in Ancient Rome and centers around Spartacus, the gladiator. Blood and Sand is the first season, Vengeance is the second (airing Friday!). Gods of the Arena is a short prequel series that was made after production for Vengeance was put back. BaS and GotA are both BRILLIANT and I can't recommend them highly enough. There is a lot of sex and violence, so let that be a warning to those who don't enjoy that kind of thing. But then again, there are lots of half naked men running around so that makes everything a lot better.

4. Game of Thrones
If you haven't heard of this series then I don't know which rock you've been hiding under. It's set on the book series by George R R Martin, and it's another very adult show with lots of sex and violence. I love it, though. There are lots of characters and the story is very complex. The world is fantastic and it makes for excellent viewing.

5. Castle
I admit, I'm only on the first season of this, but I'm loving it so far. Castle is a writer who is shadowing an FBI (?) agent as 'research' for his new book series. Castle is nerdy, and an author, and I love him to pieces. He has laser gun matches with his daughter, how awesome is that?

6. Once Upon A Time
As the title suggests, this show is about fairytales. The evil queen cursed the characters of the magical land, and they're all now stuck in our world in a town called Storybrooke. Emma, Snow White and Charming's daughter, was previously sent away for her safety, but she comes back to Storybrooke when she is found by her own son, Henry. Henry has been adopted by the evil queen, who is the town's mayor. The story is fantastic, and there are lots of flashbacks to the fairytale kingdom. Rumpelstiltskin is my personal favourite character. He's pretty insane.

7. Doctor Who
Seriously? Do I need to explain this? It's about an alien guy with two hearts, who flies around the universe in a police phone box. He usually has a companion or two.

8. Terra Nova
DINOSAURS!!!!!! Ehem. People seem to either love or despise this show, but I think it's great. There are things that could be improved if the show gets a second season, but I think this season was a great start to the series. And there are dinosaurs. (!!!) And hot men.

9. White Collar
A conman is taken from prison to help the FBI track down his previous 'colleagues'. It's an awesome show, filled with humour and lots and lots of cute bromance moments. Peter and Neal are one of my OTPs, but Peter is also amazing with his wife, Elizabeth.

10. The Walking Dead
Zombies apocalypse. That is all.