I read approximately 140 books this past year. It was awesome I was so lucky to get to have the time and access to so much reading! I read some incredible books that I want to share, yes most are fantasy and most are female authored but that’s what I read.
I want to keep this short and sweet so I am going to keep my “Why I FREAKING loved it” to 10 words or less per book.
To be honest some slots have more than one book by the same author (Don’t judge I really like books and it’s hard to pick more) So without further ado here are the best books I read this past year.
18. The Mines of the Minotaur by Julia Golding
- Complex environmental discussion with mythical beasts. Minotaurs. Mental Stability importance.
17. Kings Cage by Victoria Aveyard
- So many payoff scenes that I’d been waiting for
16. A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas
- Hades/Persephone angst/smut. Lots of growth and recovery.
15. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
- Morally grey. Genius protagonists. So many deaths.
14. The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet by Kate Rorick and Rachel Kiley
- Nostalgic LBD. Emotional and mental abuse recovery. Recovery isn’t linear.
13. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
- Reads like a fairy tale. Morally grey characters. Magical Mystery.
12. The Evertree by Marie Lu
- End of Spirit Animals series. Heartbreaking. Sweet relationships. Great villains.
11. His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik
- Dragons. Napoleonic Wars. The sweetest dragons. Dragons.
- Religion-based magic system. Nigerian world. Quest to save the world!!!
9. Fire Study by Maria V. Snyder
- The ROMANCE! The TRAUMA! Amazing found and discovered families!
8, Trickster’s Duology by Tamora Pierce
- Gods. Political plots. Spies. Unending love for Aly.
7. The House of Hades or The Burning Maze by Rick Riordan
- My precious, sad children! All the Rick Riordan!
6. The Fatal Throne edited by Candace Fleming
- Historical fiction. All the Wives! Slightly educational.
- Alanna! My perfect little found family. Also George Cooper.
4. The Hawkweed Prophecy by Irene Brignull
- Beautiful witch-y writing. Perfectly creepy. Lovely heartbreaking work.
3. Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
- I cried the whole time. Beautiful family novel.
2. Windwitch (all the Witchlands series really) by Susan Denmark
- Angsty Romance. Political Intrigue. Discovery of unreliable narrator. Owl!
1. Damsel by Elena K. Arnold
- The most beautiful writing of your life! Dragons! Feminist fantasy.
Pretend adult here 