HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE! The time has finally come! After a whole year of reading I have narrowed down my 63 books to my Top 10. To be honest, this year was a lot harder than last. I found myself really enjoying a lot of books, this month especially saw 3 book battling for the Top 10 list!

These books aren’t in particular order. I did right down an order but I lost it oops. So yes, no particular order. Let’s jump right in.

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The Dragon Reborn – Robert Jordan – This was yet again another really good installment. As with every book of Jordan’s, each installment adds more to the world, the lore and the plot. Major things happen in this book that will cause major consequences going forward which was really exciting. I loved that this time the book was focused less on the main character Rand but on the supporting cast, especially focusing on the female characters. I found this to be refreshing. I am super excited to see what happens next!

You can find my review here >>>

The Winter of the Witch – Katherine Arden – I cried. I cried reading this book! As some of you may know I had a rocky start with the series but persevered and was rewarded immensely. I loved reflecting back on the main character, Vasya, from where she was in Book 1 to now! She is an incredible character and incredibly strong. I really enjoyed how magical the writing and the world building was in this book. I highly reccomend this series!

You can read my review here >>>

Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge – An incredibly powerful book looking at structural and institutional racism with a focus on the UK. I learnt so much while reading this and was also able to put into words things that I had been thinking of myself regarding topics such as feminism. I was whole-heartedly engaged from the beginning.

You can’t review a book like this though I did compile some thoughts here >>>

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Closed Casket – Sophie Hannah – I read the first book in this series last year and enjoyed it but I wasn’t blown away by it. So, going into this book I was expecting the same thing. What I didn’t expect was to be blown away by the characterisation in this book! The psychology behind why the characters do what they do in this book is amazing! I just loved it so much and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

You can read my review here >>>

Daughter of Night – Laura Shepherd-Robinson – This book took me by complete surprise! I thought I was going to enjoy it but was not prepared to be as impressed as I was! The plot was exciting, dark with many layers and I would spend ages just reading and reading as I needed answers. It was so good I want to buy a physical copy despite reading it on my kindle. I want to physically own it!

You can read my review here >>>

The Honjin Murders – Seishi Yokomizo – This was my first Japanese murder mystery and I loved it!! The main character, Detective Kosuke Kindaichi, was incredibly smart and funny and I enjoyed watching him work and solve the case. I found the writing style to be really interesting and the writing flowed so well. The plot impressed me a lot and I have already bought the sequel to this book as I need more books from this author!

You can find my review here >>>

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The Hod King – Josiah Bancroft – Another amazing installment to an already amazing series. I loved where the direction of the series is going and knowing that I am just one book away from the end of the series makes me excited and sad at the same time. The characters, especially the female characters, in this series were amazing whether you like them or not. The writing and the imagery are just amazing. I love reading Bancroft’s writing and getting lost in this amazing world he has created. I just need more Babel content until I die please.

You can read my review here >>>

If We Were Villains – M. L. Rio – Another amazing book with amazing characterisation. This book is a modern Shakespeare tragedy, you have stereotypical characters seen in Shakespeare work, beautiful quotations of Shakespeare’s work and a story that will break your heart. I didn’t know what to expect from it but it blew me away.

You can read my review here >>>

The Starless Sea – Erin Morgenstern – I had never read a Morgenstern book though I had hoped for ages to read her debut, The Night Circus. When I read this book I just got lost in her writing, the imagery she created, the poetry and I also got lost in the complexity of her plot. I spent hours reading and theorising what this book was about and what each event that happened in this book meant for the future of the book. It was so much fun and it was such an exciting idea.

You can read my review here >>>

The Hero of Ages – Brandon Sanderson – And finally, a book that I sobbed over. What a way to end a series. Impactful, well thought out and emotional. I was on the edge of my seat reading page after page. I was lost in this book. Nothing else mattered unless I was reading this book and at 2am when I finished it I was a mess. Sanderson has solidified himself as one of my all-time favourite authors!