2011 Mundie Moms Favorites: Settings

Today's 2011 MM's Favorites is settings. This year there's been some fabulous places we've enjoyed "visiting" via the books we've read. Whether the setting was a real place like Paris with Jules or Vail, Co with Ren and Calla, a historical setting like Victorian London with Will and Jem or a place that exists in our minds like Idris with Jace and Clary. Settings have allowed us to explore new places and fall in love with places we wish we could go visit for a day, or two.

Here's our list of favorite settings from this year:

1. London (Clockwork Prince, The Faerie Ring & a few other books we've read this year)- Victorian London, Modern Day London, pretty much London of any time period after sewers were invented
2. Amber eyes (City of Fallen Angels)- OKay, this one made me snort, because Sophie has a way of making a "setting" out of anything, though she does make an excellent point- Staring into Jace's eyes and trying to determine the exact shade of amber. Cracked? Cloudy? Clear and committed? What?!? That's not a setting? Well, it is for us. Pick any location where we can start into his eyes and we're there.
3. On a horse (The Iron Queen/ The Iron Knight)- To counter her setting, I think my birthday post for her had the best setting- on the back of Prince Ash's horse. What? It's a setting- he'd take you for a horse ride through the woods, the mountains, really anywhere you need to go.... just think, you'd have a good excuse for holding on tight, not that Sophie would need that. haha
4. In a carriage (Clockwork Prince)- We both agreed that a carriage ride with Will and Jem counts as a setting.... we don't need to explain why that one is on our list. The same goes with feeding the ducks.... *snickers*
5. The Mountains: Vail, Co (Wolfsbane) & The Tetons, WY (Unearthly)- Running with the wolves in the woods of Vail, Co. I know what you're thinking, it's like running with the wolves on 1st beach, only we're not chasing vampires here (not that that wouldn't be fun), we're running just because we can. Seriously, who would say no to running in wolf form through the woods with Ren. Or how about skiing with Christian or fishing with Tucker in an mountain lake? I'm so there!
6. 14th Century Italy (The River of Time Series)-This has Sophie's favorite, HBWS (hot boys with swords) and three dashing guys who courageously defend their land, their families and homes at any cost. What's not to like about this setting?
7. The Ocean/Beach (Tempest Rising, Moonglass)- It doesn't matter if it's undersea or next to the shoreline, there's something romantic about an ocean side setting that sucks me in.
8. Future Cities (Divergent, Legend, The Pledge, Possession, Shatter Me, Delirium)- Who wants to live in a place of utopia when you can have unrest, and action? Certainly not us. Not only did we fall in love with the characters and the stories, but the world building that each of these books contains is brilliant. We'd happily go running into the face of danger in each of the cities from these books, as long as we had each of the book's characters right there with us.
9. The Woods (Wolfsbane, Forever, The Dark & Hollow Places, Eternal Starling, Desires of the Dead, Trial by Fire, Blood Solstice etc)- Pretty much many of the paranormal/urban fantasy books that I loved this year had some sort of "woods" or in "the forest" setting. Whether a big chuck of the story was written there or a pivotal scene, there's something about being in the middle of a bunch of trees that just gives off a certain vibe that I loved.
10. Paris (Die For Me)- One word, JULES. Okay, there's more reasons than just Jules for why I loved this setting.

Honorable mentions just for Sophie:

King Caspian's quarters and Dr Who's time traveler Oh wait, sorry, those aren't books. HAHA See I told you I'd find a way to list them..... what about Michael's arms for when you time travel? *snickers*

What are some of your favorite settings?