Best Books I Read in 2025

2025 was one of the best reading years ever quality-wise. Today's Top Ten Tuesday is listed in the order I read them with my favorite book of the year at the end!

 

Jade City by Fonda Lee (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Infinity Gate by M.R. Carey (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

 

The Bone Ships by R.J. Barker (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Shroud by M.R. Carey (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

 

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

The Will of the Many by James Islington (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Once Was Willem by M.R. Carey (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

From the bestselling author M. R. Carey comes an utterly unique and enchantingly dark epic fantasy fable like no other.

This is the tale of Once Was Willem, who - eleven hundred and some years after the death of Christ, in the kingdom that had but recently begun to call itself England - rose from the dead to defeat a great evil facing the humble village of Cosham.

Pennick for all its beauty was ever a place with a dark reputation. The forests of the Chase were said to be home to nixies and boggarts, and there was a common belief, passed down through many generations, that the castle housed an unquiet ghost of terrible and malign power. These rumours I can attest were all true; indeed they fell short of the truth by a long way . . .

Let me know if you have read or plan to read any of these!

On My Wishlist | In Ascension by Martin MacInnes

In Ascension by Martin MacInnes is a Booker Prize nominee that is being released in the US later this month.

An astonishing novel about a young microbiologist investigating an unfathomable deep vent in the ocean floor, leading her on a journey that will encompass the full trajectory of the cosmos and the passage of a single human life.

Leigh grew up in Rotterdam, drawn to the waterfront as an escape from her unhappy home life and volatile father. Enchanted by the undersea world of her childhood, she excels in marine biology, travelling the globe to study ancient organisms. When a trench is discovered in the Atlantic ocean, Leigh joins the exploration team, hoping to find evidence of the earth's first life forms – what she instead finds calls into question everything we know about our own beginnings. Her discovery leads Leigh to the Mojave desert and an ambitious new space agency.

Drawn deeper into the agency's work, she learns that the Atlantic trench is only one of several related phenomena from across the world, each piece linking up to suggest a pattern beyond human understanding. Leigh knows that to continue working with the agency will mean leaving behind her declining mother and her younger sister, and faces an impossible choice: to remain with her family, or to embark on a journey across the breadth of the cosmos.

Exploring the natural world with the wonder and reverence we usually reserve for the stars, In Ascension is a compassionate, deeply inquisitive epic that reaches outward to confront the greatest questions of existence, looks inward to illuminate the smallest details of the human heart, and shows how – no matter how far away we might be and how much we have lost hope – we will always attempt to return to the people and places we call home.

In Ascension had me at "deep vent in the ocean floor". I'm here for a science fiction novel that made the long list for the Booker Prize especially if it deals with the ocean. I've seen comparisons to Jeff VandeerMeer which I find very exciting.

Are you interested in reading In Ascension?

On My Wishlist | Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa

Island Witch is an adult horror novel by Amanda Jayatissa.

Inspired by Sri Lankan folklore, award-winning author Amanda Jayatissa turns her feverish, Gothic-tinged talents to late 19th century Sri Lanka where the daughter of a traditional demon-priest—relentlessly bullied by peers and accused of witchcraft herself—tries to solve the mysterious attacks that have been terrorizing her coastal village.

Being the daughter of the village Capuwa, or demon-priest, Amara is used to keeping mostly to herself. Influenced by the new religious practices brought in by the British Colonizers, the villagers who once respected her father’s craft have turned on the family. Yet, they all still seem to call on him whenever supernatural disturbances arise.

Now someone—or something —is viciously seizing upon men in the jungle. But instead of enlisting Amara’s father’s help, the villages have accused him of carrying out the attacks himself.

As she tries to clear her father’s name, Amara finds herself haunted by dreams that eerily predict the dark forces on her island. And she can’t shake the feeling that it’s all connected to the night she was recovering from a strange illness, and woke up, scared and confused, to hear her mother’s frantic No one can find out what happened .

Lush, otherworldly, and recalling horror classics like Carrie and The Exorcist, Island Witch is a deliciously creepy and darkly feminist tale about the horrors of moral panic, the violent space between girlhood and adulthood, and what happens when female rage is finally unleashed.

Island Witch is being compared to Carrie and The Exorcist. It sounds like a scary novel of female rage that I'm here for.

Is Island Witch on your radar?

New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2023

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is New-to-Me Authors I Discovered in 2023. Several of these were favorites!

 

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (10⭐ out of 5)

Book Lovers by Emily Henry (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Chlorine by Jade Song (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

 

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon (⭐⭐⭐★★)

At the End of Every Day by Arianna Reiche (⭐⭐★★★)

Below by Laurel Hightower (⭐⭐⭐⭐★)

 

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (⭐⭐⭐★★)

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (⭐⭐⭐⭐★)

Wild Spaces by S.L. Coney (⭐⭐⭐⭐★)

 

Camp Damascus is a horror novel by Chuck Tingle ( ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

The September House by Carissa Orlando (⭐⭐⭐★★)

On My Wishlist | What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

What Feasts at Night is the sequel to T. Kingfisher's What Moves the Dead.

The follow-up to T. Kingfisher’s bestselling gothic novella, What Moves the Dead .

Retired soldier, Alex Easton, returns in a horrifying new adventure.

After their terrifying ordeal at the Usher manor, Alex Easton feels as if they just survived another war. All they crave is rest, routine, and sunshine, but instead, as a favor to Angus and Miss Potter, they find themself heading to their family hunting lodge, deep in the cold, damp forests of their home country, Gallacia.

In theory, one can find relaxation in even the coldest and dampest of Gallacian autumns, but when Easton arrives, they find the caretaker dead, the lodge in disarray, and the grounds troubled by a strange, uncanny silence. The villagers whisper that a breath-stealing monster from folklore has taken up residence in Easton’s home. Easton knows better than to put too much stock in local superstitions, but they can tell that something is not quite right in their home. . . or in their dreams.

I loved What Moves the Dead so much and always enjoy books by T. Kingfisher. I'm looking forward to reading What Feasts at Night.

Have you read What Moves the Dead? Will you be reading What Feasts at Night?

Books I Meant to Read in 2023 but Didn’t Get To

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is Books I Meant to Read in 2023 but Didn’t Get To. Oh no - I'm going to feel so called out today! Hopefully I can get to all of these this year.

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling

The Ferryman by Justin Cronin

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig

The Narrow by Kate Alice Marshall

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

 

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson

The Sunlit Man by Brandon Sanderson

Bookish Goals for 2024

I love the start of a new reading year. Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is Bookish Goals for 2024. Below are my hopes and goals for 2024.

Goodreads Challenge

This is going to be the same goal I've had since the beginning of time - 50 books. Some years I read closer to 100, some years I read closer to 50. I think roughly a book a week is a massive amount for an average adult.

Nonfiction

Last year the only nonfiction books I read were picked by my book club. I need to take my brain back.

TBR Jar

I have made a TBR jar every year for as long as I can remember. I'd love to read a lot more from my jar this year. I currently have 136 books in the jar. I have no intentions of reading them all, but I want it to be my go to for picking books this year.

Kid Lit

I didn't read much middle grade or young adult last year and I'm hoping to do much better in that area this year. I know I'm missing out on some amazing stories.

Reviews

I have fallen completely out of the habit of writing reviews. I miss it, and I'm struggling hard. This may make my reading feel like a job for a while, but I want to stop and write a review of everything I read as soon as I'm done reading it. Wish me luck.

Library

I use my library a lot for digital copies of books I own. I like being able to go back and forth between print and audio. I'd love to use my library more for new to me authors or genres and then only buy the physical book if I loved it. This is a struggle because I prefer to focus on books I own, but I'm working on it.

Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Quarter of 2024

I had trouble narrowing this list down to 12. Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is Most Anticipated Books Releasing in the First Half of 2024, but I've decided to focus only on the first quarter (January - March) today.

 

Not a River by Selva Almada, translated by Annie McDermott - Selva Almada is an Argentine author, and Not a River has been translated into English. This is a story of grief and friendship and it sounds like nature is an ominous character in this one. Expected publication January 1, 2024.

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire - Is my heart ready for another Wayward Children? We'll see! I love this series and each new release is a highlight of the new year. Expected publication January 9, 2024.

This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer - This is survival horror about rock climbers inspired by the Dyatlov Pass incident. Expected publication January 16, 2024.

 

The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler - This is by the same author that wrote The Mountain in the Sea. I don't know much about it, but I love fiction with an animal character focus. Expected publication January 16, 2024.

Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa - This is an adult horror being compared to Carrie and The Exorcist so I'm ready to be scared. Let's do this! Expected publication February 20, 2024.

No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall - Kate Alice Marshall is an absolute favorite author so she will land on my most anticipated lists no matter what she writes. Expected publication January 23, 2024.

 

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett - I keep missing the boat when it comes to Robert Jackson Bennett. I really want to get caught up on his other series and hopefully start this one as well.
Expected publication February 6, 2024

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher - This is the sequel to What Moves the Dead. I loved What Moves the Dead. I'm going into the sequel completely blind, and I'm so excited.
Expected publication February 13, 2024

Murder Road by Simone St. James - I really enjoy Simone St. James so I'm hoping to check out her latest thriller this year. Expected publication March 5, 2024.

 

We Ate the Dark by Mallory Pearson - This is another story of friendship and horror. Four women are investigating the murder of their friend and it sounds pretty intense. Expected publication March 5, 2024.

In Ascension by Martin MacInnes - This Booker Prize nominee is being published in the US in February. "An astonishing novel about a young microbiologist investigating an unfathomable deep vent in the ocean floor, leading her on a journey that will encompass the full trajectory of the cosmos and the passage of a single human life."
Expected publication February 27, 2024.

Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky - Alien worlds and alien lifeforms are some of my most favorite elements in fiction. I have the highest of hopes for Alien Clay. This is one of my most anticipated of the year. Expected publication March 28, 2024.

My 2023 Year-End Reading Survey

This Year-End Survey was created by Jamie over at Perpetual Page Turner. Below is a look at my 2023 reading year!

2023 Reading Stats

Number Of Books You Read: 60

Number of Re-Reads: 8 (Yay!)

Genre You Read The Most From: I think my most read genre this year goes to fantasy.

Best in Books

Best Book You Read In 2023? 

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi made it on to my favorite books of all time list. 10 ⭐!

Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield wasn't a "bad" book, but I thought I was really going to love it. It was OK.

Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle was so different that what I was expecting, but I loved it!

Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

I "pushed" a few books last year, but my most successful campaigning had to be Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

Favorite new author you discovered in 2023?

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is the first book I've read by Shannon Chakraborty. I look forward to going back and reading her Daevabad trilogy.

Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

I read Book Lovers by Emily Henry while in my cozy area and I found a new favorite author in the process!

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

I was most glued to Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson.

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2023?

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace is a STUNNING book.

Most memorable character of 2023?

Ren from Chlorine by Jade Song.

Most beautifully written book read in 2023?

I loved Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt so much. The octopus Marcellus was probably my most memorable character of the year but I wanted to include Chlorine in the question above.

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2023 to finally read? 

I'm so glad I finally read Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel. Many thanks to my book club for picking this one this year.

Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2023?

"Nora." He just barely smiles. "You’re in books. Of course you don’t have a life. None of us do. There’s always something too good to read." - Emily Henry, Book Lovers

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2023?

Wild Spaces by S.L. Coney was my shortest book at 122 pages and my longest was Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson at 1,087 pages. I loved them both!

Book That Shocked You The Most?

I think I gasped out loud more than once at the reveals in Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson.

Favorite Book You Read in 2023 From An Author You’ve Read Previously?

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson is such a treasure. I love it so much.

Best Book You Read In 2023 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure?

I read Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros purely for the hype. I had a great time and I've pulled my friends into the hype as well.

Best 2023 debut you read?

Absolutely Chlorine by Jade Song.

Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

I don't do a lot of visualizing when I read, but I could see the world of Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson.

Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

I read Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon with a group of great friends and we had such a fun time. We still talk about it.

Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2023?

Emily Henry gets me right in the feels, and she got me with Beach Read.

Hidden Gem Of The Year?

I'm hoping as more books in the series are released The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty will gain more popularity. It's so good and deserves more hype.

Book That Crushed Your Soul?

Oof. Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire hit me hard. I will never be the same.

Most Unique Book You Read In 2023?

The September House by Carissa Orlando had the most unique elements in it. 

Book That Made You The Most Mad?

The amount of deceit in A Winter in New York by Josie Silver!

Blogging/Bookish Life

Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

The readalongs, buddy reads, and movie nights over on the Horror Spotlight discord server. We have such an amazing group over there. Everyone is so kind and thoughtful and I'm thankful for such a wonderful, fun group.

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2023?

I'm grateful for all of my bookish friends.

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Definitely writing reviews.

Best bookish discovery?

The app called Bookmory. I'm going to try to use it consistently next year to track what I'm reading each day.

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

The only goal I ever set is my Goodreads Challenge goal which I did meet.

Looking Ahead

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2023 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2024?

I wish I had found the time to read Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree. Hopefully this year!

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2024 (non-debut)?

I am most anticipating Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

2024 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock - "Told with wit and warmth, this is an extraordinary tale of family, fungus and more than a dash of bloody revenge from an exciting new voice in queer horror."

Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2024?

The Stormlight Archive #5 is going to be such a huge release in December. I need to get caught up with #3 and #4 this year so I can read on release day!

One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2024?

I want to get back to writing reviews in 2024.