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!