Sometime in August, I challenged myself to read a book a week up to Christmas. Why? So that I can be confident in my recommendations — and because the sheer number of new books I’m excited for this year far exceeds previous years.
So far, I have not been disappointed.
What I have Read So Far:
A Taste of Iron and Gold
by Alexandra Rowland
For anyone who loves A Taste of Iron and Gold I would also recommend A Strange and Stubborn Endurance and vice versa. If you’re looking for some fun, something light with some high emotional stakes but ultimate good-feels, then this is for you. The characters are complex and lovable and the world is easy to slip into — think medieval fantasy with modern sentiments.
A Strange and Stubborn Endurance
by Foz Meadows
Foz Meadows is an Australian author to watch. A Strange and Stubborn Endurance was a delight to read, and again is for those wanting something fun and frivolous to escape reality. The political intrigue and action will have you turning the pages faster than you want to, and keeping you awake until the godforsaken hours of the morning to finish it.
Wolfsong
by TJ Klune
Alright so apparently I was in the mood for romance? Wolfsong is a re-release from TJ Klune who shot to fame with his House on the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. Think … the werewolves from Twilight but better.
Of course, Wolfsong isn’t JUST romance. It wouldn’t be a TJ Klune without some wholesome found-family and character growth — a plot driven by character as well as by plot. Don’t be put off by the size. This won’t take you long to devour.
Star Eater
by Kerstin Hall
Star Eater is perfect for anyone 16+. I took a break from romance for a second with this one; this is a world unlike any I’ve read in fantasy before. There’s a little of the ‘chosen one’ trope with a heavy dose of reluctant heroism. Think witches and sisterhoods, strong women and feisty men. There’s magic and politics and adventure, with a few twists and turns along the way.
moon sugar
by Angela Meyer
Angela Meyer is a genius. I read A Superior Spectre when it was first released and could not wait to get my hands on Moon Sugar.
Moon Sugar is for those who prefer a little magical realism with their literary fiction; there’s a mystery that our main characters are trying to solve, two people who are an unlikely pairing but who compliment each other in ways they hadn’t expected.
Read our interview with Angela Meyer here.
A Dowry of Blood
by S.T. Gibson
A Dowry of Blood is Dracula, written from the point of view of one of his wives. It does not touch upon Dracula’s story as we know it, but instead what came before and what came after. Short, quick, very easy to read. A little bit sexy — but this is no romance, not really. It’s about loss of agency and the slow journey to reclamation. It’s a love story to female independence, to breaking free from emotionally abusive relationships.
THE ATLAS PARADOX
by Olivie Blake
This is the anticipated follow on from The Atlas Six — dark academia with some time travel and plenty of intrigue. I think what I like most about these books are the rapport between the characters, of which there are many. The Atlas Paradox explores these relationships in greater depth while also developing character arcs so that the reader cares more for the characters than they did before.
THE BRANDED
by Jo Riccioni
The Branded has a Mad Max feel to it, but with less graphic violence, more greenery, and a bit of Celtic-sque magic thrown in for good measure. A perfect morsel for fantasy fans who love adventure and plot over romance; there’s a hint of romance, sure, but it doesn’t commandeer or control the plot. This was one of my favourites this year. Plus, the cover is so pretty!
