I can't believe another year has come and gone! As I write this post, I've officially read 100 books in 2018, a number I never would have believed possible just twelve short months ago. When you encounter so many books — so many stories and so many ways of telling them — you inevitably encounter a few disappointments. Luckily, I've had far more success than failure when it came to picking my current reads this year, and I've discovered plenty of new favorites that I know I'll gush over for years to come. Below the cut are some of my absolute favorite titles read throughout the year. Some are new releases, some are backlist titles, but all of them are equally deserving of a new reader or two. Which one will you choose?
A continuation of one of my favorite book series (which also served as the inspiration for my blog title!) filled with more of Pullman's beautiful writing. Although you don't need to have read The Golden Compass/Northern Lights to understand what takes place in this prequel, it will be a richer experience if you pick up the original trilogy first.
The series might have ended with a whimper instead of a bang, but the first entry in the Southern Reach trilogy crawls with eldritch dread. Perfect for those looking to read science fiction with few answers and an intellectual slant, you don't have to continue on with the sequels to appreciate Vandermeer's mastery of tone and setting.
This debut novel reads like the work of a seasoned author, drawing you in with the first chapter and refusing to let go long after you've finished. The sequel, Children of Virtue and Vengeance, is one of my most anticipated releases in 2019. Read this before you fall too far behind!
Novik's second stand-alone novel is perfect for fans of The Bear and The Nightingale and Deathless. As much as I loved Uprooted, it had a few pacing issues in the final third that are thankfully resolved in this beautiful winter tale. I'll be revisiting this story at least once before spring comes around.
This book is everything—and I mean everything—I want in a story! Fallen angels, a melding of religion and science, political intrigue, and plenty of romantic tension, all capped off with two fantastic female POV characters. If I were to cut this list in half, Furyborn would still easily make the cut...and maybe even take a top spot, if I were brave enough to sort these titles into rankings.
Another contender (or contenders, as the case may be) for best book of the year would be Katherine Arden's mystical Russian fantasy series! I read the first two earlier this year and I've been fortunate enough to read an early copy of the third and final novel, which publishes in just a few short weeks. Arden has crafted a masterpiece from start to finish, as heartbreaking as it is heartwarming, and I consider Vasya's world a new home in book form.
Legrand blew me away twice in one year—no easy feat! Sawkill Girls is both vastly different, and yet dreadfully similar to, her earlier 2018 release. Still featuring kick-ass girls, a terrifying supernatural opponent, and a spooky mythology requiring sacrifice, suffering, and obedience, Sawkill Girls wraps up its message of female empowerment in a captivating contemporary fantasy/horror hybrid. It's utterly unique and cannot be missed.
This quiet little fantasy snuck up on me, with Ross taking the bold and refreshing path of making her main character a supporting actor in the overall action. Finally we learn what it looks like to not be the chosen one and to not vie for the crown, while still experiencing a journey full of meaning. Although its a humbler story than some others on this list, The Queen's Rising emphatically proves that even the smaller stories are worth telling.
An allegorical gem, Arnold masterfully dissembles the fairy tale genre in this brisk, emotional novel. Some of the darker themes might prove too demanding of some readers, but for those willing to follow Ama on her harrowing journey from amnesia to earth-shattering awareness, the pay-off is beyond compare.
Never a fan of Beowulf, I found myself breathless each time I picked up Tucholke's latest book. Bursting with strong, diverse female characters and using the ancient poem as only a loose guide, The Boneless Mercies explores what it means to be a woman—and a moral person—in a society that values strength and survival above all. The lessons woven into the Mercies' travels are subtle, but very much necessary in times like these, reminding us of the power that friendship and steadfastness still hold.
Criticisms of purple prose and slow plotting might not be entirely off base, but I personally found the leisurely stroll with Lazlo Strange to be well worth it. Taylor has crafted a stunning universe, then manages to expand and contract it at the same time in this year's sequel. No matter the length of a series, it can be difficult to stick the landing and satisfy all (or even a majority) of your readers. Taylor does so with ease, capping off a resonant story about love, belonging, and the true meaning of home.
What were some of your favorite reads this year? What are you most looking forward to in 2019? Give me some recommendations in comments below!
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