The Friday Face-Off: Current Read #34

                         

 Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme at Books by Proxy. Join us every Friday as we pit cover against cover, and publisher against publisher, to find the best artwork in our literary universe.  You can find a list of upcoming topics at Lynn's Books.

This week's topic is:

Current Read #34

 I was actually going to post a review today, but some things came up and changed those plans, so instead we've done a last minute pivot to a Friday Face-Off, because why not? It's been a while since I've done one, and it's always nice to take some time to appreciate cover art.  I actually decided to re-read How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu this week, and it's been just as heartbreaking and wonderful as I remember. Honestly, sometimes I wonder why I do these things to myself considering how sad  some of the stories in this collection are. But regardless, there are some lovely editions of this book out in the world, so let's have a look at some of them. 

2022 US Hardcover | 2024 Catalan/Valencian | 2024 Arabic

2022 UK Hardcover | 2023 UK Paperback | 2023 Italian

2023 Chinese | 2023 Bulgarian | 2024 Korean

My favorite(s):

These are all so gorgeous! I am finding myself particularly drawn to the Chinese and US Hardcover editions. I just love the simplicity of most of these, and I wish I could own a copy of the Chinese one (I already own the US edition) because it's so beautiful and I think it really captures the sort of melancholy/hopeful/sad feelings this collection evokes. 

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Black Orb by Ewhan Kim, Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods, & The Poorly Made and Other Things by Sam Rebelein

 

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! 

The Black Orb by Ewhan Kim
Publication: February 4th, 2025
MIRA
Hardcover. 304 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"One evening in downtown Seoul, Jeong-su is smoking a cigarette outside when he sees something impossible: a huge black orb appears out of nowhere and sucks his neighbor inside. Jeong-su manages to get away, but the terrifying sphere can move through walls, so he’s sure he won’t be able to hide for long.

The orb soon begins consuming every person caught in its path, and no one knows how to stop it. Impervious to bullets and tanks, the orb splits and multiplies, chasing the hapless residents of Seoul out into the country and sparking a global crisis with widespread violence and looting. Jeong-su must rely on his wits as he makes the arduous journey in search of his elderly parents. But the strangest phases of this ever-expanding disaster are yet to come and Jeong-su will be forced to question everything he has taken for granted.

Dryly funny, propulsive and absurd, The Black Orb is terrifyingly prescient about the fragility of human civilization."

This sounds so weird and I'm totally here for it.

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods
Publication: February 18th, 2025
Tor 
Hardcover. 432 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Saint-Malo, Brittany, 1758.
For Lucinde Leon, the youngest daughter of one of Saint-Malo's wealthiest ship-owners, the high walls of the city are more hindrance than haven. While her sisters are interested in securing advantageous marriages, Luce dreams of escaping her elegant but stifling home and joining a ship's crew. Only Samuel—Luce's best friend and an English smuggler—understands her longing for the sea, secretly teaching her to sail whenever she can sneak away. For Luce, the stolen time on the water with Samuel is precious.

One stormy morning, Luce's plans are blown off course when she rescues Morgan de Chatelaine, the youngest son of the most powerful ship-owner in Saint-Malo, from the sea. Immediately drawn to his charm and sense of adventure, she longs to attend the glittering ball held in honor of his safe return and begins to contemplate a different kind of future for herself.

But it is not only Luce's hopes at stake—the local fae are leaving Brittany and taking their magic with them, while the long-standing war with the English means Saint-Malo is always at risk of attack. As Luce is plunged into a world of magic, brutality, and seduction, secrets that have long been lost in the shadowy depths of the ocean begin to rise to the surface. The truth of her own power is growing brighter and brighter, shining like a sea-glass slipper.

Or the scales of a sea-maid's tail."

I enjoyed Woods' After the Forest and I'm really intrigued by the general setup of this one, so I'm looking forward to checking it out.

The Poorly Made and Other Things by Sam Rebelein
Publication: February 11th, 2025
William Morrow
Paperback. 288 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"There’s something wrong in Renfield County.

It’s in the water, the soil, the wood. But worst of all, it’s in the minds of the residents, slowly driving them mad. When Lawrence Renfield massacred his family and drew The Giant in his farmhouse with their blood, no one imagined the repercussions. At the very least, the bloodstained wood should have been set aflame, not chopped down and repurposed as furniture, décor, and heirlooms across the county. But that’s exactly what happened. Now regular people—like you and me—are sitting on… eating with… admiring… the cursed wood and reaping the consequences.

These are their stories.

In “My Name Is Ellie” a young girl uncovers disturbing secrets hiding in the walls of her beloved grandmother’s home. An unassuming box, built with reclaimed wood, connects a grieving widower with his late wife’s lingering spirit in “Hector Brim.” In “Detour” a father, desperate to return home, finds himself trapped in a dizzying maze, haunted by stories of lurking monsters that live off the remains of weary travelers.

Playing with the uncanny to explore themes of loneliness and grief, Sam Rebelein returns upstate to unravel the mysteries of Renfield. But regardless of what started the trouble, there’s one thing of which we can be for those living here, the nightmare is far from over."

I haven't read anything from this author yet so I'm unfamiliar with the setting of this book, but I'm hoping that's okay because this sounds so good! 

Review: The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks

The Way Up is Death by Dan Hanks

Angry Robot

Publication Date: January 14th, 2024

Paperback. 400 pages.

About The Way Up is Death:

"When a mysterious tower appears in the skies over England, thirteen strangers are pulled from their lives to stand before it as a countdown begins. Above the doorway is one word: ASCEND.

As a grieving teacher, a reclusive artist, and a narcissistic celebrity children’s author lead the others in trying to understand why they’ve been chosen and what the tower is, it soon becomes clear the only way out of this for everyone… is up.

And so begins a race to the top, through sinking ships, haunted houses and other waking nightmares, as the group fights to hold onto its humanity, while the twisted horror of why they’re here grows ever more apparent – and death stalks their every move."

This was my first encounter with Dan Hanks' writing, and I’m already keen to explore more of his work, especially when I’m craving something intense and gripping. The Way Up Is Death is a dark, stress-inducing mystery wrapped up in a high-stakes horror/thriller. It’s also supremely high stakes, and those high stakes only grow as the story progresses and our characters ascend in this mysterious structure. There are new horror awaiting the characters around every corner, and it is truly relentless with an atmosphere drenched in dread and anticipation.

The Way Up is Death kicks off with the sudden appearance of a strange, floating structure in the sky. Initially, there's panic and speculation as people try to understand its purpose, but when nothing significant happens after a while, society gradually returns to normal. That is, until one day when thirteen individuals are seemingly plucked out of thin air from their lives and find themselves inside this enigmatic tower. Once there, a countdown begins with only word shown: ascend. All they can do now is try to figure out a way to go up, though none of them know what awaits them at the top, and most importantly, they must survive the trip.

The cast of characters is diverse and compelling. There's a mix of personalities, from the harmless to those you root for to the mildly annoying, and to the downright egotistical and dangerous. While such a wide array of characters can sometimes feel a bit exaggerated, I felt it served a good purpose here in offering a glimpse into how different types of people might react under extreme stress and chaos. This also applies to a sense of predictability that sometimes comes into play with some stereotypes and how you might expect things to turn out, but I think it all work out well together. It was also initially a little tricky keeping track of everyone, but as the story progressed it became easier to note each character’s distinct traits, and I found watching how they evolved–or didn’t–a really engaging aspect.

One of my favorite parts of The Way Up is Death is the sheer creativity involved in the design of the tower’s “levels” (or, perhaps, the sadistic creativity, one might say?). Each new level presents a unique and often harrowing challenge, and I thought some of the later stages were particularly intriguing. The puzzles and obstacles are intricate and imaginative and provided a great foundation to learn more about characters and their perspectives, as well as how they interact with one another.

The pacing is relentless from start to finish, with action-packed sequences there to keep driving the narrative forward. As much as this can sometimes be welcome in books to make for a gripping narrative, I was slightly disappointed by just how quickly this moved at times and how much it really seemed to just be one action event after another. We got a little down time here and there to get to know our characters, but I wouldn't have minded a few more moments of meaningful discussion from them. That said, we do still get some great conversations between our characters around the tower’s purpose, humanity’s role, the earth, and a few topics that added a lot of depth to the story.

I found that hope seemed to be a recurring theme in this story as well, with some of our characters offering reflections on their own lives and what the future may hold for both themselves and others. These moments of introspection and thoughtfulness provided a nice counterbalance to the terror and fear that permeates the rest of the story.

The ending is fittingly intense and momentous, though it left me wanting more–more background, more about the tower–but I also understand that some mysteries are meant to remain unsolved, and this book handled that idea really well. It’s both resolved and a little bit open-ended, and it struck that balance well.

Overall, The Way Up is Death is a compelling blend of SFF, horror, and thriller. If you’re looking for something fast-paced, high-stakes, and thought-provoking, then this may be a good option for your next read.

*I received a copy of The Way Up is Death in exchange for an honest review. This has no affect on my rating.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

2024 Reading Stats!

The time has come to go through my 2024 reading stats! This is the last of my 'end of year' posts (you can find part one and part two of my best books of 2024 lists here and here, respectively!) and it's usually one of my favorite s to make because it's really fun to just get a broad look at what my reading year was like as a whole and be able to pinpoint certain trends and even better understand my reading. To obtain these stats, I take a few graphics from the Goodreads year in review, and the rest are from my personal Excel spreadsheet where I keep track of the books I read throughout the year and some additional information about them like page counts, format, publisher, etc. I do this every year, and last year's post can be found here.

Before I get into the stats, just a quick note to say I apologize for not getting this up last week as I had planned! I live in the Los Angeles area and the recent fires definitely impacted my ability to focus and get some things done. I fortunately live a little outside of the evacuation zones and am safe here with my husband and dog, but it's been really heartbreaking to see all of the devastation occurring around us. I'm hoping this post can be a little bit of a reprieve where I can just focus on books and reading and you can also just focus on books and reading, so let's get into it!

Yearly Totals:

The funniest part is that I think I read less pages than last year, yet more books! I think this is because for some reason, there were a lot more novellas and just slightly shorter books that were published this year and I happened to read a lot of them, I guess. Has anyone else noticed that the average page count of new releases seems a bit shorter than they used to be, or is it just me?

The average page length was 377 last year, so definitely lower this year and my reading hasn't changed too much.

This almost always ends up being my average rating because it's usually a little inflated since I typically round up my ratings on Goodreads (for instance, I do a lot of .25, .5, and .75 star ratings).

Unsurprising top book (not the best, but I'm committed to the series at this point), but ya'll, go read Baby Bird for all your body horror needs and give it some love!


So this is the book that came up in the my end of year review, but I went to my shelf on Goodreads to verify and there were actually two books with a 4.57 average rating at the time so I'm taking that as a tie and I'm including both books! Both of these make sense for having really high ratings because one, of course they are great reads, but two, they are later books in different series and typically people who have made it that far in a series are already enjoying and are likely to keep enjoying it. That being said, both of these reviews are a blast and I recommend both. 

I just wanted to include this because I loved this book so much. I don't think I did a full length review for it, though, only shared my thoughts here on Goodreads. 

Stats:
Alright, now it's time to get to the nitty-gritty details of what I read this year. In this section, I'll take a look at genres, page count, format, etc. I tend to compare it to my previous year's post to see how things change year to year. So, let's have a look:

Genre

Some of these numbers are ridiculously similar to last year, so I guess I can be fairly consistent. This year, my fantasy slice (38.3%) is just about the same as last year (38.6%), and my historical fiction is also about the same as last year (6%). I did mean to read more historical fiction this year because I really do love it, but I guess that didn't really happen, haha. I thought my horror slice (22.8%) would be bigger this year because I felt like I read a lot of horror, but it was actually slightly lower than last year (25%), and I am wondering if I included any thrillers in the horror section last year. This year I have a general 'fiction' category (9.4%) that includes general fiction and literary fiction, and that is relatively the same. My science fiction slice (8.7%) declined a bit, but my nonfiction is probably what increased the most–from 2.3% last year to 11.4% this year! I really did read a decent bit of nonfiction this year, and that's something I'd love to keep up this year. 

Target Audience

This, as usual, is no surprise. I mainly read books in the adult category (94.2%), and very seldom pick up young adult books (3.9%) these days. I am a bit surprised my middle grade category (1.9%) is so low, though, as I really do love some good middle grade, so I'll have to pay more attention to that one this year!

Format

These are surprisingly stable, as well. The biggest change is hardcover, which was 6.7% last year and is up to 14.9% this year. I chose not to separate out finished copies sent from publishers from library/owned copies, so that could account for it a bit this year as well.  Physical ARCs also decreased slightly to 20%, though I feel like I got more finished copies than ARCs this year for some reason from publishers. Audiobooks only went up one percent (37%) from last year, and eARCs went down to 15.6%. It's still wild to me sometimes that audiobooks make up such a big part of my reading considering how much I struggled with them in the past, but now I really enjoy them. 

Book Source

There are definitely some changes on this one! One change I made this year was I combined gifts that I have purchased and books that I've received as gifts into one 'owned' category. Still, I read more in the owned slice (25.3%) than last year's gifted and purchased combined (2.3%+11.5%), so it's always good to see I'm reading books off my shelves, haha. NetGalley is down a little this year at 17.5% (23.8% last year), but I do think I made it through ebooks a bit more slowly this year for some reason. My library usage (31.2%) apparently doubled this year, so hooray for that! I love my library, and I also love being able to use the Libby app to more easily access audiobooks. Publisher (24.7%) also decreased slightly, but I think that's because I tried to focus on some of the books I already owned as well last year. I also included author (1.3%) as a source, since I do still occasionally review books from authors who directly request a review! I used to do a lot more of these, but it's tapered off a bit in recent years. 

Page Count

Most of my page counts are similar to last year, with the only noticeable increases being in the 1-200 page range, which tracks with what I mentioned earlier about somehow ending up reading a lot of shorter books that were published this year. I have a feeling this year might get me back into higher amounts of chunkier books due to some fantasy reading plans, among other, but time will tell!

Tell me about your year in books! Do you keep track of information for stats like this? If you do and you made a post that I haven't seen–or any type end of year post–leave me a link below because I love checking them out!

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Garden by Nick Newman, Grave Empire by Richard Swan, Waiting for the Long Night Moon by Amanda Peters, & Boy by Nicole Galland

Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! 

February is absolutely packed with new releases, so today I'm sharing not two, not three, but four upcoming releases. Next week I'll return to my more usual amount of three. :)

The Garden by Nick Newman
Publication: February 18th, 2025
G.P. Putnam's Sons
Hardcover. 320 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"An eerie, hypnotic, darkly beautiful novel about two elderly sisters living alone at the edge of the world and how their lives unravel when their sanctum is breached, for fans of Piranesi and The Testaments.

In a place and time unknown, two elderly sisters live in a walled garden, secluded from the outside world. Evelyn and Lily have only ever known each other. What was before the garden, they have forgotten; what lies beyond it, they do not know. Each day is spent in languid service to their home: tending the bees, planting the crops, and dutifully following the instructions of the almanac written by their mother.

So when a nameless boy is found hiding in the boarded house at the center of their isolated grounds, their once-solitary lives are irrevocably disrupted. Who is he? Where did he come from? And most importantly, what does he want?

As suspicions gather and allegiances falter, Evelyn and Lily are forced to confront the dark truths about themselves, the garden, and the world as they’ve known it."

I was already sold by the Piranesi comp, but this sounds so intriguing and mysterious and I absolutely cannot wait to see what's going on with this one. I have an ARC that I'm hoping to get started on soon!

Grave Empire by Richard Swan
Publication: February 4th, 2025
Orbit
Paperback. 384 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"Blood once turned the wheels of empire. Now it is money.

A new age of exploration and innovation has dawned, and the Empire of the Wolf stands to take its place as the foremost power in the known world. Glory and riches await.

But dark days are coming. A mysterious plague has broken out in the pagan kingdoms to the north, while in the south, the Empire's proxy war in the lands of the wolfmen is weeks away from total collapse.

Worse still is the message brought to the Empress by two heretic monks, who claim to have lost contact with the spirits of the afterlife. The monks believe this is the start of an ancient prophecy heralding the end of days-the Great Silence.

It falls to Renata Rainer, a low-ranking ambassador to an enigmatic and vicious race of mermen, to seek answers from those who still practice the arcane arts. But with the road south beset by war and the Empire on the brink of supernatural catastrophe, soon there may not be a world left to save . . ."

I really enjoyed Richard Swan's Empire of the Wolf trilogy and I have been anxiously awaiting his new release!

Waiting for the Long Night Moon: Stories by Amanda Peters
Publication: February 11th, 2025
Harper Perennial
Paperback. 256 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"In her debut collection of short fiction, Amanda Peters describes the Indigenous experience from an astonishingly wide spectrum in time and place—from contact with the first European settlers to the forced removal of Indigenous children, to the present-day fight for the right to clean water.

In this intimate collection, Peters melds traditional storytelling with beautiful, spare prose to describe the dignity of the traditional way of life, the humiliations of systemic racism, and the resilient power to endure. A young man returns from residential school only to realize he can no longer communicate with his parents. As a water protector, a young woman finds purpose and healing on the front lines. An old man remembers his life as he patiently waits for death. And a young girl nervously dances in her first Mawi'omi. The collection also includes the story “The Berry Pickers," which inspired Peters' critically acclaimed novel of the same name, as well as the Indigenous Voices Award–nominated story “Pejipug (Winter Arrives)."

At times sad, sometimes disturbing but always redemptive, the stories in Waiting for the Long Night Moon will remind you that where there is grief there is also joy, where there is trauma there is resilience and, most importantly, there is power."

This sounds like a really powerful and thoughtful collection of stories, I'm hoping to have a chance to check it  out soon. 

Boy by Nicole Galland
Publication: February 25th, 2025
William Morrow
Hardcover. 352 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"From critically acclaimed author Nicole Galland, a vibrant and thought-provoking historical tale of love, political intrigue, and gender-swapping set in the theatre world of Elizabethan London.

Alexander “Sander” Cooke is the most celebrated “boy player” in the Chamberlain’s Men, William Shakespeare’s theatre company. Indeed, Sander’s androgynous beauty and deft portrayal of female roles have made him the toast of London, and his companionship is sought by noblewomen and -men alike. And yet, now at the height of his fame, he teeters on the cusp of adulthood, his future uncertain. Often, he wishes he could stop time and remain a boy forever.

Joan Buckler, Sander’s best friend, also has a dream. Though unschooled, she is whip-smart and fascinated by the snippets of natural philosophy to which she’s been exposed. And while she senses that Sander’s admiration for her is more than mere friendship, Joan’s true passion is knowledge, something that is nearly impossible for her to attain. As a woman, she has no place in the intellectual salons and cultural community of the day; only in disguise can she learn to her heart’s content.

Joan’s covert intellectual endeavors, coupled with Sander’s theatrical triumphs, attract the attention of none other than Francis Bacon: natural philosopher and trusted adviser to Queen Elizabeth. It is through their connection with Bacon—one of the greatest minds of their time—that their lives will be changed forever as they become embroiled in an intricate game of political intrigue that threatens their very survival.

Brimming with heart, curiosity, and rich historical detail, Boy offers an intimate glimpse of the moral complexities of a singular artistic era, and the roles we all choose to play on the world’s stage."

I am so intrigued by this story, and I believe it's based on a real person from history, Alexander Cooke, so I'm really eager to check this one out.

Best Books 2024, Pt. II: Backlist Titles & Honorable Mentions

Welcome to the second part of my best books of 2024 lists! This post features my favorite books I read last year that are considered backlist titles, meaning they were published prior to 2024, and I've also included some honorable mentions that are 2024 releases I also loved, but didn't include in my previous list. This all sounds a little confusing when I try to type it out, but the gist of everything is: all of these books in my first post and this post are fantastic reads that I would recommend. My yearly stats post featuring all sorts of fun bookish stats (genres I read, length, format, etc.) will be up either by the end of this week or the beginning of next, so stay tuned for that! Now, let's get to the books.

Backlist Titles (anything published pre-2024)

(in no particular order)

         

Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo
Johnny Got His Gun was written in 1938 and is often described as one of the greatest anti-war books. It is indeed an intense, often scathing look at the physical, psychological, and social effects of war. We spend the novel trapped inside the head of our protagonist, an injured soldier who has lost his limbs and his face and is himself trapped inside his own head. This was a difficult, gruesome, and oftentimes horrendous read, but it's such a worthwhile one and left me with so many feelings of anger, hopelessness, and a deep sadness. It was all of these things that made this such a standout read for me, and reminded me how important novels like these are (I first read The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien in high school, and since then I've always held an appreciation for these stories).  I really recommend it, but just keep in mind that it's really a pretty rough read and can be hard to stomach. The author, Dalton Trumbo, was also actually a screenwriter (known for movies like Spartacus, Roman Holiday, etc.) who was part of the "Hollywood Ten" blacklist from the mid-twentieth century. 

Heartless by H.G. Parry
I have loved just about everything H.G. Parry has written, and this was no exception. I devour pretty much any Peter Pan retelling out there, and this has easily become one of my new favorites. It's dark and heartbreaking and bittersweet and complex and just perfect. I also appreciated how much Parry paid respect to the original text while makingt his her own. It made me very sad, which is exactly what I want from a good Peter Pan retelling, and left me with the largest book hangover. If you are at all a fan of Peter Pan retellings, this is one you must check out. 

         

Alone on the Ice: The Greatest Survival Story in the History of Exploration by David Roberts
As I slowly work my way through as many exploration/survival stories of the Arctic and Antarctic, I have the pleasure of finally reading about Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition and it was truly an exceptional read. Reading stories like this always leave me feeling so in awe of the feats that humans are capable of, and how much a desire for survival can really drive us. So many books claim to be the greatest survival story, and so many of them are accurate because they're all absolutely incredible and insane. 

On Writing: A Memoir of The Craft by Stephen King
People are right, this really is a great book for writers! I'm really glad I finally got around to it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to include this on my favorites list because I wasn't sure if it really was a favorite. When I first started reading this book, I was a bit thrown off because the first part of it is a bit more biographical with Stephen King talking about his own life, but it's the second half where I feel he really shares some great writing wisdom and insight and made it something I wanted to highlight and think about it, and so for those reasons I've included it here on this list. If you're a writer, intend to write, or just want to read about writing, then this is a great book to pick up.

Dinotopia: A Land Apart from Time by James Gurney
Dinotopia is an illustrated fantasy story of a father and son who are shipwrecked on an island where dinosaurs are sapient and coexist peacefully with humans. This is honestly one of the coolest books and I so wish I had known this existed when I was a kid. I would have absolutely devoured it and it would've sparked my imagination to insane levels. The artwork is genuinely stunning and the sheer creativity and imaginative qualities of this book are amazing. Whether you're a kid or not, this book is amazing and I can't imagine you won't find something in it to appreciate. Thank you to Greg from Greg's Book Haven for talking about it so much over the years that I finally actually picked it up!

Honorable Mentions (2024 Releases)

(in no particular order)

        

The Rent Collectors: Exploitation, Murder, and Redemption in Immigrant LA by Jesse Katz - Review
The Rent Collectors by acclaimed journalist Jesse Katz is a nonfiction account of Giovanni Macedo's experiences as a member of the Columbia Lil Cycos. Katz covers Giovanni's upbringing and discovery of street gangs, including his attempt to kill someone to become a member and subsequently accidentally killing a newborn instead at just nineteen years old. From there, Katz takes us on a journey following Giovanni as the gang attempts to kill him for his failed job and eventually to his arrest and life behind bars up until this point in the present day. This is a harrowing journey, but it's one that kept me absolutely glued to the pages as I was led into the history of MacArthur Park and its vibrant street vending history, to better understanding immigrant stories of those vendors, and to learning more about the ins and outs of some of the 18th Street Gang and Mexican Mafia and what their rule on the streets really means. Overall, this is a nonfiction read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys true crime, gang-related history, or maybe someone who lives in Southern California/LA like me and enjoys learning a bit more about where they live. This was, at times, a brutal story, but it's one that gave me a lot to think about and for that I'm very grateful.

The Phoenix Keeper - Review
The Phoenix Keeper has easily become one of my new favorite books and is one I absolutely could not get enough of. I may or may not still be harboring hopes to work at a zoo one day, so this book pretty much felt like a love letter to zoos and my desire to be a part of taking care of so many different animals and making sure they are happy and healthy, and even helping those who are slowly inching towards extinction (something that seems to be happening more often these days). MacLean captured an extreme love and passion for animals and animal care in this book and it showed on every page. She also mentioned in an author's note that she grew up visiting the San Diego Safari Park (or Wild Animal Park, as I recall it), and I loved connecting over this since that is also a place that holds a special place in my heart.

         

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
Almost everything written by T. Kingfisher feels like magic, and this was no exception. I really love reading books where so many of the characters are exceedingly competent and make generally good decisions and yet there's still plenty of crazy plot happenings that can still happen. I love that all of Kingfisher's books, whether strictly horror or not, have some sense of immense weirdness and a layer of darkness sitting in the atmosphere, and this book had all of that and so much more. 

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley - Review 
The Ministry of Time is a charming, insightful, and oftentimes bittersweet story that perfectly mixes time travel, a bit of spy thriller (but not in an overly action-packed way), humor, and even some romance into a story that provides endless entertainment and thoughtful discussion. This was such an entertaining read that even if you’re not a fan of time travel, I’d encourage you to give this one a shot. I really enjoyed this one and found it be as funny as it was poignant. This is the perfect entertaining read that has a little something for everyone and I'm curious to see how it will be adapted!

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
I've read so many Greek myth retellings lately that I keep thinking I'm burnt out on them, but then I start reading one like Natalie Haynes' Stone Blind and I can't help but forget that I'm tired of them–this was stunning, hilarious, and tragic all at the same time. I really enjoyed getting to spend this story in the head of Medusa and experience Haynes' thoughtfully crafted exploration of Medusa's story. This is a great read for any mythology fans!

Have you read any of these? Be sure to let  me know in the comments below what you thought of them if you have! Also, be sure to let me know in the comments what some of your favorite books were that you read last year, or leave a link to your own 'best of' lists!

Best Books of 2024, Pt. I: 2024 Releases

The time has finally arrived for me to share with all of you the best books I read in 2024! 

I usually read over a hundred books every year, so I always struggle to pick just one or two favorite books. Instead, I usually break them up into categories, and these are my breakdowns for this year: 2024 releases, backlist titles, and honorable mentions. Today's post features my top ten 2024 releases! I typically post my honorable mentions and backlist favorites first to build up to the new releases, but this year we're switching things up a bit (because why not? I loved these books and am so excited to talk about). My backlist titles + honorable mentions will be up later this week, along with my yearly stats post where I dive into genres I read, where I get my books, formats, etc..

Without further ado, let's dive into my top 2024 releases!

         

Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi - Review
I've gushed about Navola a lot in my review for it, which is linked above, so I'll keep this relatively brief. Navola was truly exceptional and easily became a new all-time favorite fantasy book. This is pitched as a "literary fantasy," and I feel this story fits that well, though I would also say you might enjoy it if you like historical fiction as well, as it's not too heavy on the fantasy aspects. I was utterly captivated the entire time and I was so invested in Davico’s story that I struggled to put it down. It’s very dark at times and a tough read in places, so I'd keep that in mind if you're planning to pick this one up. This story invoked so many strong emotions in me in all the best and most impressive ways–I really can't remember the last time I felt so genuinely drawn to and connected to a character, and I haven’t been this invested or captivated by a story in a long time. The world is complex and the political intrigue was exquisitely crafted. If you like stories like Kushiel’s Dart or anything with fascinating political intrigue, subterfuge, and so much more, you’ll love this.

The Back Hunger by Nicholas Pullen - Review
I love this type of horror: a slow burn that exudes a constant sense of dread and darkness and demands the patience of its reader. You don’t know what’s coming, but you know it’s not going to be pretty. The Black Hunger is dense and intricate, and the narrative is carefully and thoughtfully executed. The slow build really paid off for me with this one, and I think it makes for a truly excellent dread-inducing horror. I also really loved all of the history and cultural aspects woven into the story and appreciated how much research and effort Pullen put into it. You can find all of my thoughts about this in my review linked above.

         

Sparrow by James Hynes
This was an incredible historical fiction that follows a young enslaved boy who is being raised at an ancient Roman brothel, where the "wolves" who work upstairs are his main companions. If you like books like The Wolf Den that have strong, extremely well-developed characters and a compelling setting centered around the difficult lives of those working in ancient brothels, then you’ll probably want to add this one to your TBR. It's rather heartbreaking at times, so read at your own risk, but know that this journey with our young protagonist as he attempts to navigate the suffocating world he's trapped in is absolutely worth it. 

The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed - Review
This is basically the creepy forest book I’ve always wanted to write and never have. The Butcher of the Forest is a dark short novel featuring a woman named Veris who is tasked with rescuing some wayward children of the tyrant of the land from an uncanny forest. This is a dark fantasy novella with just a hint of a grimdark note due to how melancholy and somewhat hopeless the tone felt at times throughout. It was everything I could’ve wanted: eerie, dark, creepy, and thought-provoking. I devoured this book and would recommend it to all my fellow readers who love a dark, disturbing forest–and even if you don't love creepy forests, you might still love the uncanny sensation that overtakes the atmosphere of this entire short novel. You can read my full thoughts in the review linked above! 

         

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett - Review
If you like the idea of a Sherlock Holmes/Agatha Christie-style murder but with a much more fantastical setting and stakes that are ultimately much higher, this is the book you're looking for. It’s full of incredible wit and dry humor, clever characters, and some of the most fascinating world-building I've read in a recent release. There's also an incredibly unique "magic" system of sorts that feels nearly limitless with its implications, but also fairly precarious in its own right. I was obsessed with the whole concept of the leviathans and how their blood is used for alterations, along with so many other aspects of this world.  I'm not lying when I say this is one of the best and most captivating fantasy books I've read lately and I absolutely adored the characters to the extent that I'm genuinely eager to reunite with them in the sequel ( and I'm reading an ARC of the sequel right now, actually, and it's definitely something to look forward to!).

The Silverblood Promise by James Logan - Review
The Silverblood Promise is everything I've been looking for in a fantasy lately: adventure, well-developed characters, intricate world-building, and layers of intrigue to get lost in. My full thoughts can be found int he review linked above! If you’re looking for a big fantasy that’s packed full of adventure, mystery, magic, endearing characters and friendships, and plenty of twists, then The Silverblood Promise should be your next read.

      

The Cloud Roost/Spireheart by Travis M. Riddle - Review/Review
I've included the last two books of the Jekua series because they both came out in 2024 and they were both fantastic. The Jekua series became a very positive part of my life over the past couple years and I'm sorry to see it the finished completed, but I'm also very pleased with such a satisfying conclusion to a wonderful series. These books feature incredible adventure that's full of heart, extraordinary friendships, vibrant world-building, captivating creatures with all sorts of different cool powers, an array of clever and lively character, enthralling battles, endless twists, and timeless journeys of discovery.

Coup de Grâce by Sofia Arjam
Coup de Grâce is very a mind-bendy and extremely thought-provoking short horror-esque(?) novel. I would put a bit of a content warning here for suicidal thoughts and ideation, so if you're sensitive I'd just be a bit cautious going itno this because it's a bit heavy on those topics at times. But I really connected to it and thought it was masterfully executed. That said, I really connected to the story and thought it was masterfully executed. This is a short read, but it really packs and punch and is one I still find myself thinking about. 

         

The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami
I had been anticipating this new novel from Murakami since it was first announced, and the way for it to then be translated from Japanese to English felt like it took ages. But it finally came out this year and I was so very pleased with it. It's quintessentially Murakami, which is exactly what I want from his work, and yet I feel like it still managed to bring something a little new to the table. Murakami has always acted like a bit of a "palate cleanser" for my brain to just sit and luxuriate in his simple yet thoughtful prose, and I enjoyed every bit of this as much as I've loved his previous work.

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvia Cathrall - Review
I wasn’t sure at first if I would put this on this main list or in my next post featuring my honorable mentions, but I felt this one really stuck with me and deserved to be here. A Letter to the Luminous Deep is a charming epistolary tale featuring an enchanting cast of characters and hints of mystery and intrigue. I absolutely adored this book and would consider it a favorite because of how much it stood out to me and how much I enjoyed every second of it. I was captivated by this extremely slow-paced epistolary novel and the hints of world-building we get through. I found myself connecting with some of the characters in here and though their development was well done. There is also a bit of a central mystery involving where this woman’s brother disappeared to, but it’s also very much an exploration of self and so much more. A truly fantastic read!

Have you read any of these book? If so, what were your thoughts about them? Let me know what some of your favorite 2024 releases were in the comments or add a link to your own posts so I can come by and check it out!