Having once been a 120-books-a-year reader, it’s somewhat disconcerting to struggle to hit 20. These days, I feel like more of a collector than a reader – still with every intention of getting to every book someday, but just enjoying having them on the shelf to admire, even if the time to read them isn’t manifesting itself. That being said, I’ve had a very positive 2024, and discovered some wonderful books amongst that small number.
‘Other Words for Smoke‘ by Sarah Maria Griffin is one that had sat on my shelves for several years, and I finally picked up at the perfect time. A hauntingly atmospheric read about power, witchcraft, and growing up, it casts a delicate spell on the reader. It’s pleasing to know that books lingering on the shelves can be savoured when the time is right.
‘The Tainted Cup‘ was a book by an author I’d been meaning to try for some time that received so many rave reviews by other readers I respect that I had to give it a go. At its heart an ode to ‘Sherlock Holmes’, this is a compulsively readable story packed with creative worldbuilding, and has definitely cemented Robert Jackson Bennett as an author to read more by.
Having enjoyed ‘The Atlas Six‘ but found ‘Masters of Death‘ less convincing, ‘Alone With You In The Ether‘ was my third foray into Olivie Blake’s work – and my favourite so far. A taut spiral into the human mind, its compulsively readable in the same way a natural disaster draws the eye: there’s something inescapably captivating about inevitable destruction. The only criticism is that it ultimately pulls its punches, but its still a wonderfully thought-provoking read.
‘The Warm Hands of Ghosts‘ was a book I was slightly scared to read. Katherine Arden is an author I know I enjoy from ‘The Bear and the Nightingale’, but historical fantasy is a very hit or miss genre for me, and I knew that this was a light on the fantasy addition. I needn’t have worried. This is a beautifully poignant read that lingers long after the last page. The imagery is stunning, if brutal in places, and the light fantasy complements the wartime setting perfectly. While Arden will remain more known for her Winternight trilogy, this book deserves more recognition and praise.
Outside of these highlights, I enjoyed delving further into the romance genre again this year, with two new books by Ali Hazelwood and branching out into romantasy with one of its stallwarts, Carissa Broadbent. ‘The Serpent and the Wings of Night‘ might not be the most original, but it’s worth its place in the romantasy hall of fame – definitely worth a try for anyone looking for an introduction to the genre.
Are there any books I’ll be prioritising in 2025? ‘Wind and Truth’ has to be up there, the much awaited fifth book in the Stormlight Archive series – especially after that dramatic ending to ‘Rhythm of War‘. (Although Sanderson has tentatively suggested a 2030 release for book six, so I have plenty of time). ‘The Will of the Many’ has been patiently sat on my shelves for the last year despite getting nearly universal praise and ticking many of the boxes of things I love in books. And, having not finished a single series in 2024, completing some cycles would be satisfying in 2025. ‘The Jasmine Throne’ was a favourite read of 2021 – now that the trilogy is complete, it seems rude not to dive back in and see if the sequels can live up to such high expectations.
I hope that 2025 brings you all health, happiness, and some wonderful new worlds to explore.
