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