posts in category reading

January 2, 2025

my top books of 2024

I somehow managed to meet my reading goal of 52 books this year, despite being in a months long reading slump over the summer. Within those 52 books, there were a select few that stood out. I haven’t done a big reading wrap-up in a while, and it’s something I want to bring back next year. In any case, here’s a list of my favorite books I read in 2024.

Hellbent (Alex Stern #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Ninth House is one of my favorite books of all time, and Hellbent did not disappoint. Although I waited nearly a year after its release, the events of Ninth House stayed fresh in my mind and I picked up right where I left off. Like Ninth House, Hellbent was executed extremely well. I wish I could say more, but even the synopsis of this book would be a spoiler to Ninth House.

Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli

I don’t read many thrillers or contemporary mysteries nowadays, but this was one that I’m glad I picked up. I read this back at the beginning of the year and I still find myself thinking back to this book often. This novel takes a different approach to typical mysteries and thrillers and follows the spirits of the victims of a serial killer. They keep up with their own murder investigations, following the killer from place to place as he moves his wife and children (who are unaware of his actions) around the country all while doing everything they can to prevent the same fate befalling anyone else. This book was suspenseful, but it was also a moving and devastating story. I got tired of many thrillers being formulaic and this one really shattered that mold.

The Final Empire (Mistborn #1) by Brandon Sanderson

I knew this was going to be an all-time favorite from the moment I picked this book up in February. I had extremely high expectations for this book given how often I hear its title thrown around. I fell in love with everything about this book. I grew a near immediate attachment to Kelsier and Lin, the magic system was imaginative, and the entire book was playing out like a movie in my mind. I’m going to stop myself here because I can talk about Mistborn all day.

The Shepherd King duology by Rachel Gillig

One Dark Window, Two Twisted Crowns

This was the first year that I really tried to implement a new rule about finishing series instead of leaving months or years between reading each installment. The Shepherd King duology was the first one that I read back to back and so it feels like I read one big story instead of two separate books— and I consider this a good thing. I really enjoyed so, so many elements about this book. I found the playing card-based magic system fascinating. I loved the foggy, misty setting, and I was completely taken by the relationship between Elspeth and the Monster that quite literally lives in her head. The way she grows as a person, finds love, and the way she learns to accept the parts of herself that she never wanted to acknowledge were perfectly executed. I read these when I had Kindle Unlimited, but I think I’ll eventually give in and buy some special editions so they have a home on my shelf.

If We Were Villains by ML Rio

This is by far one of the most beautifully written books I’ve read, and the theatre setting felt very familiar (I did theatre growing up and well into university). I love the subtleties in the story, but also the way the mystery unwound itself through the story. I don’t have the desire to reread too many books, but this is one that I cannot wait to reread.

In the Company of Witches (Evenfall Witches B&B #1) by Auralee Wallace

I have really, really wanted to love a lot of the cozy fantasy that I’ve read thus far, but many of them have fallen flat. Although this book is witchy and not the swords and sorcery that most of us associate with fantasy, the execution of this book was exactly what I’d been craving from a cozy fantasy/mystery. While this book has that cozy, small town atmosphere, it didn’t feel like it was trying too hard to fit the mold of a trendy buzzword. It was a touching story about love, loss, and moving on. It had a good story, a fun mystery, and it left me misty eyed. I cannot wait to read the second installment, When the Crow’s Away.

Once Upon a Broken Heart Trilogy by Stephanie Garber

Once Upon a Broken Heart, the Ballad of Never After, A Curse for True Love

Stephanie Garber is able to weave these incredibly whimsical and fantastical worlds like no one else. I loved the Caraval trilogy and I think I may have fallen in love with the Once Upon A Broken Heart trilogy even harder. Like the Shepherd King duology, I read these back to back to back, so they all run together to create one big story in my mind. While there were minor flaws interspersed throughout the trilogy, I can’t ignore the enjoyment I took in reading these. They transported me to a magical world that I wasn’t at all ready to leave. I cannot wait to read more from Stephanie Garber because very few other books are able to transport me like hers can.

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

I love gothic literature, and I especially love when it has genuinely tense and scary moments. The book was beautifully written with evocative depictions of a dilapidated manor and a slightly off-kilter world complete with its own religions and histories. The mystery that permeates the book is suspenseful and left me clinging to every word and revelation as they happened. I really couldn’t put this book down.

Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Though I enjoyed Six of Crows back in January, Crooked Kingdom was really the one that did it for me. The sheer scope of the story, the intricacies, and the character work that Leigh Bardugo seamlessly wove into the story made me feel like I knew the characters on a much more intimate level and made the plot that much more impactful. By the time the book concluded I’d felt the full range of emotions I’m capable of and it left me with a bittersweet feeling in my heart.

…

I’m actually quite surprised at the variety of the books that have made it into this final list. I think this list is quite representative of what I enjoy overall: a lot of fantasy, dark academia, bleak settings, with an occasional break in the clouds for something cozy or whimsical.

I’m going to hold myself to my promise to share some more reading lists in 2025, so I’ll be back soon with my winter reading wrap-up!

book review, bookworm, fantasy, reading, spoiler free

September 16, 2022

What I've Been Reading: 2022 recap

This has been a big year for me in terms of my reading. At the beginning of the year, I set my Goodreads reading challenge at 30-- a number I thought would challenge, but not overwhelm me as I was still a student up until my graduation in the spring. I've had some incredible months that saw me reading up to eight books (February), whereas I didn't finish a single book in April, May, or June. Despite this, I've been able to keep up with my goal and I'm currently "right on track!" with 21/30 books read as of today. It's been a while since I've updated with what I've been reading, so let's get into it!

Instead of recapping all 21 books, I picked out the ones that stood out to me the most. I managed to whittle down the list to around half of what I've read-- I guess I've read some pretty good books this year! Here's the short list of my favorites so far:

Hold Back the Tide by Melinda Salisbury

A creature feature with familial secrets and a hostile small town.

Finale (Caraval, #3) by Stephanie Garber

The final book in the Caraval trilogy, Finale did not disappoint. I began this trilogy last year and I was quickly immersed in the vivid world that Garber created. I was really pleased that all three books in this trilogy never lost their momentum.

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

The Little Mermaid, but lethal. This book was a last-minute addition to my Amazon cart earlier this year, but it ended up sweeping me off my feet. This is a standalone novel about the deadliest siren and a notorious siren killer with a touch of romance and a lot of action.

Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1) by Leigh Bardugo

I started the audiobook for Ninth House back in 2020 during a move, but working full time while maintaining a full-time university curriculum put all of my reading on hold. This is my most recent read and it was incredible. It's a slow burn with tons of flashbacks, exposition, and background information that you're thankful for once things start coming together. The intimate knowledge that's provided to you throughout the book makes for characters that you really care about and sympathize with. I read a lot of books, and many of them are entertaining and tell good stories-- I even like many of the characters that I encounter. Few, however, make me care about them. I found myself truly concerned and invested in the characters' well-being. I can't wait for Hell Bent, the second book in the series that'll be released next January (the day before my birthday!).

Ruin and Rising (Grisha, #3) by Leigh Bardugo

The conclusion to the Grisha trilogy. I was ultimately pleased with the trilogy's conclusion. I can't wait to read the Six of Crows duology!

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) by Sarah J. Maas

This was my first SJM read and it didn't disappoint. It played on some well-known fantasy tropes, but I thought they were done well. I burned through this book quickly and have already continued with the series, as well as the novellas that precede the first novel.

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson

A unique fantasy world where the fae and humans co-exist tenuously. Humans are able to provide "crafts" for the fae who are unable to do it themselves, occasionally providing the humans that have served them with enchanted items. I loved the unique relationships between the fae and humans, as well as the worldbuilding and magic system Rogerson created. I already have her other novels on my TBR.

The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones

How dare this book make me cry. This was such a beautifully written story about magic and zombies. This book was full of mystery and action, but also explored love, loss, and grief in such a beautiful, unexpected way. I'm tearing up as I recall reading this book, so I'm moving on.

Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper, #1) by Kerri Maniscalco

THIS. BOOK. WAS. SO. MUCH. FUN. I actually have a dedicated review for this book that I'll link here. I absolutely devoured this story. It's a murder mystery first and foremost, but I really enjoyed the romance sprinkled throughout. I love Audrey Rose and Thomas, and I can't wait to continue their stories with the rest of the series.

The Bone Shard Daughter (The Drowning Empire, #1) by Andrea Stewart

I saved the best for last with The Bone Shard Daughter. There aren't enough words to describe how I feel about this book. I'll go as far as saying that this book is tied with Rebecca by Daphne du Marier for my favorite book of all time.

Like Ninth House above, I really, really, cared about these characters. There were moments when I hesitated turning to the next page because Stewart made me so deeply afraid of what would happen next. (I immediately picked up The Bone Shard Emporer-- its sequel-- but I've been putting off reading it for that exact reason.) This book has it all, and it's no wonder I keep seeing it at the top of lists of those who've read it. It's a book about magic and mystery, sure, but it's so much more than that. I don't want to give anything else away, so just do yourself a favor and pick this book up.

TBR:

The Bone Shard Empire (The Drowning Empire, #2) by Andrea Stewart

I've gotta rip the band-aid off eventually.

Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1) by Kerri Maniscalco

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

This was another book that I began reading in 2020 but that school got in the way of. I've started the book over, so I'll soon have the quintessential dark academia book under my belt!