While I didn’t read as much as I hope this year (as I say every year) these are the top 5 books from the 50+ that I read. They are in no particular order, though I will give some shout outs to honorable mentions at the end!
Phantasma | Caraval but make it dark, spicy, and actually interesting. I am always intrigued by books that riff on heaven/hell/biblical things, and I love a white haired MMC. This is more on the pranormal side of Romantasy and I just loved it- the gothic New Orleans setting, the FMC and MMC were both likeable, the set up for future companion books, the trials…I’m really excited to see where this series goes, and after originally getting this one from the library I did go ahead and order the special edition!
This Book Will Bury Me | This one had me absolutely hooked. Inspired by the real life events of the tragic Idaho college murders, this novel is written in the format of a book the fictional protagonist is writing about the fictional case, so there’s always the question of how reliable the narration is. There’s a lot to chew on in this one about the intersection of true crime vigilantes, social media, and regular law enforcement. Though the twist is a bit predictable toward the end, it was still cleverly crafted and I could not put it down.
The Rose Bargain | I don’t read a whole lot of YA these days, so I was pleasantly surprised that this one topped my list! It’s historical fiction + romantasy and I adored the Victorian-era setting combined with a more “traditional” take on Fae (they are powerful tricksters, mortals are aware of them, etc.) I’ve already pre-ordered the sequel for 2026!
Brimstone | I am aware that this book was a bit of a mess; the pacing was off, there were more plotholes than I’d like to admit, and not a whole lot happened when it really comes down to it. But the vibes were still immaculate, I still love Kingfisher and Carrion, and I loved being back in this world. The third book is supposedly due for release this year, but I hope it’s edited better.
The Academy | I have no idea how this popped up on my TBR (probably on one of those Goodreads recommends lists) and I had never heard of the novel but I was intrigued by the mystery + east coast boarding school setting. And boy oh boy was this one juicy. It was like reading a (better written) Gossip Girl book, though with all Gen Z characters. While I do wish we had gotten more of the mystery element (it seems a lot has been saved for book 2) I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Honorable Mentions: Terror at the Gates, I Was Feeling Epic, Disney High
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