It’s that time of year again! The time to discuss all the wonderful books I read and loved this year! If you want to see everything I read this year, hop over to Goodreads and check it out.
First, some stats.
This year my goal was to read 70 books. I blew that goal away! As of the writing of this post, I’m at 89 books and expect to finish at least 1 or 2 more before the end of December.
Of those books, I believe 25 (possibly more) were indie authors.
Three were my own (surprise!), which technically I read at least 3 times each.
One was a book I beta read.
Eight were graphic novels or manga.
Six were nonfiction (including an anthology I participated in).
Four were poetry.
And now, without further ado, my picks for favorite reads of the year!
Young adult
The Siren, by Kiera Cass
Yes, I know this is kind of an old one, but I adored this standalone! I especially loved how the ocean was its own character.
Strange the Dreamer, by Laini Taylor
This was an incredibly inventive fantasy that I became completely immersed in. If you’re looking for something well-written and just a bit different, this is a great pick!
General Fiction and Adult Fiction
Sourdough, by Robin Sloan
Oh my word, I loved this book! It’s all about an engineer who discovers a love for baking bread…and who inherits a pretty awesome sourdough starter that may or may not be alive? I mean, beyond the usual yeast-alive that bread starters have…
Fantasy
The WAy of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
I can’t believe it took me so long to finally dive into Brandon Sanderson, but I finished this book early in the year and still can’t get over the magic and worldbuilding in this series. They’re long, but so worth the read!
Daughter of Sun, Bride of Ice, by H.L. Burke
This is an indie book that was absolutely fantastic. I really loved the worldbuilding and the fiery characters in here!
Sand and Storm, by Stella Dorthwany
Another indie I read in the Fellowship of Fantasy book club this year, this book has some awesome high fantasy worldbuilding, sand magic, and archaeology, all things I loved wrapped together so beautifully!
Garden of Lilies, by Eli Constant
Okay, so I read a lot of indies this year! This was an adult urban fantasy I just could not put down…even though I didn’t love what happened in the ending. Despite that, I found that by the end of November, I was craving the world and characters again, and I purchased and devoured book 2. Definitely worth the read, but not for those of you who like clean fiction!
Lake Silence, by Anne Bishop
And finally, of course Anne Bishop is on this list! I was a little skeptical when the new The Others book wasn’t following Meg and Simon, but I quickly fell in love with this book. Let’s be real, I just love this world!
Graphic Novels
Monstress
This is such a beautifully created art style and interesting fantasy. I highly recommend this!
Over the Wall
Another gorgeous fantasy with an awesome storyline. I can’t wait to get the next books by this creator!
Delicious in Dungeon
I discovered this one at Katsucon in February, and I just can’t get over it. It’s basically a group of adventurers who need to return to the depths of a dungeon to save their friend from a dragon, but because they have no money to supply themselves, they eat their way through the dungeon. Hilarious, and an awesome treat for fans of DND!
Nonfiction
Wild, by Cheryl Strayed
I have a soft spot for adventure nonfiction. In previous years I enjoyed A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson and Antarctic Tears by Aaron Linsdau, and this book felt like it was in the same vein. It was a story of discovery, perseverance, and nature that I loved!
Resources for Writers
The Business of Being a Writer, by Jane Friedman
This is definitely a must-read for anyone who wants to write professionally, whether that’s indie or traditional. It covers a range of topics including the basics of writing jobs, online tools, and the ins and outs of the industry, both indie and trad.
Concluding Thoughts
I read so many awesome books this year, and if I shared every one I loved, this post would be more like a novella! So if you’re interested in seeing everything I read, don’t forget to hop over to Goodreads!
There are also a bunch of books on my TBR that I wish I could have read this year but unfortunately won’t make it until next year (thinking of you, Dear Author!). I look forward to sharing them next December!
In the meantime, what did you read and love this year? I’m always looking for new reads, especially in fantasy, urban fantasy, YA, and writing! Let’s chat in the comments!
Selina J. Eckert 