Best Books of 2018 Pt.II: Fantasy!

Pt. I can be found here.

Now it's time to talk about some of my favorite fantasy books I read in 2018 that were also published in 2018! It was another incredibly fantastic year for fantasy and it's getting harder and harder to pick favorites. In fact, don't always like making favorites list because it's hard to leave out books that I still genuinely enjoyed and want to share, but I also like to showcase the ones that have really stuck with me and I find myself thinking about throughout the year.
The quality and inventiveness of fantasy being published only seems to be growing in quality lately, which only makes me more excited to see what the future has in store. Without further ado, let's jump into some of the best fantasy I read in 2018!

We Ride the Storm by Devin Madson: I know I've talked about this book a lot, but that's because it's incredible. It's dark, violent, and definitely not for everyone, but if you don't mind darker fantasy then please pick this one up. The world and characters in this book are so well drawn and have left me unbelievable interested to see what Madson will do in the next book. If you also want to find more genuinely badass women in fantasy, then you'll love these characters. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Master Assassins by Robert V.S. Redick: This was one of my first favorites of the year and it still remains prominent in my mind. I loved this book so much that my review for this book is 1300+ words. That's basically a short essay, guys (sorry about that). But in all seriousness, Master Assassins has an awesome desert setting, traveling (I love traveling), a really awesome brother relationship with weird and unexpected dynamics, and some pretty great female characters to boot. There are also so many unpredictable plot twists, from the major to the minor, and it's easily one of the best books I read in 2018. I truly cannot wait for the sequel. I'm not sure when it's coming out, but I am so in love with this book that I'm content to wait as long as Redick needs to make it exactly what he wants (as long as I don't, you know, die or something first). REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft: This was ridiculously inventive and exciting and I've never read anything quite like it. In this delightful book, Senlin and his wife decide to journey to the great Tower of Babel, which has layers upon layers of different 'ringdoms,' which are essentially separate kingdoms with different themes. Senlin's wife disappears and thus he must journey up the tower to find her. Bancroft is a genius and full of wit and fantastic ideas. This is an underrated gem that I highly recommend it if you're looking for something fresh. The third book comes out this month! REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

The Tower of Living and Dying by Anna Smith Spark: I loved the first book in this series, The Court of Broken Knives, and this sequel was no disappointment. The thing that stands out to me with Spark's books is easily her incredibly poetic and dark prose style. It is the most beautiful, fluid style that conveys so much so effortlessly. She can write a devastating or violent scene in a stunning way and I just loved this book as much as the first one, if not more. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield: This book warmed my cold heart in all the right places. It's a beautifully magical tale that is full of delightful characters, an intriguing mystery, and an incredible town setting. If you're not ready for the cozy winter holidays to be over, then grab this book, curl up, and enjoy. I could not put this down and loved learning about all the different characters and their backstories. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones: I feel as though I don't see people talking much about the Wintersong duology, but they really should! Wintersong was a beautiful and dark goblin market-inspired story, and somehow Shadowsong is even darker and more mentally exhausting (in a good way)--it's an incredible journey. The author has talkee about how much of a struggle mentally this book was for her to write and that really makes me appreciate it all the more. It truly is a labor of love and grief and it shows so much. I loved this book. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Circe by Madeline Miller: The Classics are my love. I am always excited when I hear a new book set in the Ancient Greek/Roman world or centered on that mythology is coming out, and more often than not I am disappointed. Still, I never fail to be lured to any Classics-related book, and this time Circe far exceeded my expectations. This book was breathtaking and I think told a new (and old) story of Circe in the best way it could have ever been told. I am so impressed by Miller's work and so thankful for how much respect she has for the Classics. Obviously she takes artistic liberties in this book since there's no real 'fact', but she also keeps so much of the history and background 'true' (as true as you can be) to the more original myths and culture. This book has gotten a lot of praise (and I think the rights for film were optioned?) and it truly does deserve it in this case. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang: This was one of those books that came out of nowhere and truly blew up. I am very picky about which new adult hardcover books I buy because they're so expensive, but I splurged and bought myself a copy knowing hardly anything about it other than the Chinese-influenced plot/setting and hearing all the raves. It was a risk for me, but it paid off because it was insane. Kuang is also an awesome person and I'm so impressed that this was her debut novel. This book starts off with a welcome boarding school-type setting that we all love, but the second half of the book takes a huge turn and things get really, really dark. It's well worth a read!  REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French: I'm not sure I can even place exactly what made me enjoy this book quite so much, but it just makes me smile when I think about it. The characters are fantastic and horrible at the same time (horrible in a good way, you know what I mean? like they're kinda dicks sometimes, but you still love them?) and I had such an enjoyable time reading this book. I think The Grey Bastards so fondly and can't wait to continue in this world and with these characters! REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor: Muse of Nightmares made me tear up more times than I'd like to admit--and I'm not someone who usually cries when reading! Maybe a handful of times a year, if that much. But there were moment both sad and beautiful that made me tear up, both because of what was happening int he book but also because a certain phrase or passage would resonate with me in my life so much that I had to stop reading for a minute. Taylor never fails to have beautiful prose, and the best part is that she has equally compelling characters and plot lines to follow. The direction she ended up taking Muse of Nightmares was so unexpected and I was blown away. It's incredible. I can't recommend the Strange the Dreamer series more. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri: This was a damn beautiful story. I could not get myself to stop reading it, yet I also found myself subconsciously reading slowly so that it would last longer. Mehr, the protagonist, is one of my new favorite characters in fantasy because of her intelligence, common sense, and the sheer amount of respect that I grew to have for her. The plot is fascinating and I loved finding out about this world, and I hope the sequel explores it even more. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

A few 4-star favorites!

Every year I have a few books that I only think of in fondness even though I gave them four stars instead of five, so I thought I'd include them this year! These are the type of the books that I imagine when I go back and read them I'll probably up my rating to five stars. It's just a matter of time.

Rosewater by Tade Thompson: This is a favorite that wasn't abundantly clear to me it was a favorite, and I know how confusing that sounds. When I think about this book, I don't immediately think, 'oh I just love that book,' but once I start thinking about it and how genius and compelling it was, I can't help but realize how much I genuinely loved it and am so excited for the sequel. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Balam, Spring by Travis M. Riddle
I feel like this is another book I've talked about a lot, but that's because I can't help it! It's somehow a wonderfully cozy slice-of-life, but there's also this really crazy mystery going on to keep things spicy. There were a lot of things that caught me off guard in the best way possible throughout the story and I keep recommending this to everyone I know. It's a ton of fun with great characters and a perfect small town. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Kingshold by D.P. Woolliscroft
This is another one that I had such a fantastic time reading. It's a politically focused fantasy about a monarchical rules as it turns to a more democratic rule and it's done in a really fascinating and entertaining way. There's also some really neat magic systems and other plot points to follow along with that make this even better. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
As I'm typing this, I'm trying to remember why I only gave this four stars and not five, but as I mentioned before--these will all probably be bumped up one day. Into the Drowning Deep is haunting, creepy, and ridiculously compelling. I don't know if I've ever wanted a sequel to a book as much as I want one for this book. Killer mermaids, secrets of the Mariana Trench, and the constant air of unease and mystery in this book were everything I wanted. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

That's all for my favorite books of 2018! I still have some 'end of year' wrap-up type posts in the works, however, so stay tuned for that. :) What were some of your favorite books of 2018?

Best Books I Read in 2018 Pt. I: Ft. 2018 Non-Fantasy Releases & Backlist Titles

Happy New Year's, everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's Eve, whether you partied the night away or were in bed by ten. I am not much a party animal myself, so I had a nice quiet night in--just the way I like it. And now that the year is officially (almost) over, I can finally start talking about my year in books! First up is part one of my favorite books. I know it might sound crazy to have multiple parts, but I read over a hundred books this year and so many of them were simply fantastic.

Since I tend to read more fantasy than any other genre, I decided to split up my best of lists into two parts: Part I: non-fantasy 2018 releases & backlist titles; Part II: 2018 fantasy releases (coming Thursday)! I just don't want these lists to be super long, really, but I want to fit them all in. I'll also be tacking on my End of Year Survey/Year in Books post later this week to showcase some fun stats about the books I read this read. Without further ado, let's jump into some of the best books I've read this year!

2018 Releases (non-fantasy):

For clarification: a few of these non-fantasy titles are more in the magical realism realm, but I'm including them here since they tend to pop up in non-fantasy categories elsewhere as well. 

The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte: Growing up, I went to an elementary and middle school that didn't really teach us anything about dinosaurs, and then by high school it just isn't a subject that's really taught. I've always been interested in dinosaurs, but my lack of dino knowledge has always been so embarrassingly small that I just refrained from looking into it. That all changed with this awesome book that I was so excited to read--and I loved! If you want a nice comprehensive look at the history of dinosaurs, from the beginning to the end, including all the different types of dinos, then you have to read this book. Brusatte is a fantastic narrator and makes this book endlessly fun and engaging to read and not at all dry.
Amazon | Book Depository

The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale: If you've been on my blog before, then you've probably seen me gush about this book more than enough, but that's because it was so stunning that I knew it would be a favorite from the moment I finished it in early 2018. It's magical, heartbreaking, and all-around a truly wonderful story. There's a toy store, two brothers, the toymaker himself, a young girl seeking a job, and unexpected magical elements sprinkled throughout. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne: Simply put, Boyne is a genius. This is second book I've read by Boyne (the first being The Heart's Invisible Furies, which I loved and was a 2017 favorite book) and it did not disappoint in the slightest. This book is filled with unlikable characters that you can't look away from and a story centered on the inside of publishing life that's equally riveting. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

I Love You Too Much by Alicia Drake: It feels like I read this book years ago, but apparently it was just in January 2018! This book broke my heart in the most devastating and perfect way possible. There is the most beautiful, precious boy in this book that I just wanted to give a hug and tell him everything will be okay. Seriously, this book broke me somehow. I don't even know what else to say.
Amazon | Book Depository

The Wisdom of Wolves by Jim & Jamie Dutcher: This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. Wolves are some of the most beautiful and fascinating animals to me. I grew up with my mom being a huge wolf lover and ambassador, which has in turn made me love and have the utmost respect for these animals. In the wildlife world, the Dutchers are the wolf couple to talk to. They essentially lived alongside wolves for a certain period of time to observe them (without interfering) and better understand how they communicate, how they survive, and how they work together as a family. Their experiences are documented in many places, but this book really showcases the traits that we both share with wolves and can learn from wolves. If there's one book on this list that I think is most important to read, it's this one without a doubt. REVIEW + INTERVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami: Before this book came out in English, I was hearing that it was one of Murakami's best. Then it finally came out in October and I started seeing tons of negative reviews for it, so I was nervous... and I ended up loving it anyway! I think it's one of Murakami's best and it's one that I'll definitely keep thinking about. People seem to complain that Murakami keeps writing the same mundane stories, but one, that's his style, and two, it's so much more than that! This book felt like it should be mundane, but for some reason I couldn't stop turning the pages.
Amazon | Book Depository

Backlist Titles:

In the Night Garden by Catherynne Valente: This is the most perfect collection of folktale-esque stories that I've read in the longest time. I didn't expect to get sucked into this story-within-a-story-within-a-story-within-a-story.... but I did! There's something truly remarkable about this book and it's one that I plan to revisit for many years to come. And I believe there's a second installment to this, so hopefully I'll pick that up this year sometime. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes: I love dark Alice in Wonderland-inspired stories and this book was no exception. I was actually surprised at just how dark and intriguing it was. This is technically a YA book I believe, and I was impressed with the character development and the story elements included, especially a particularly frightening prison..
Amazon | Book Depository

The Shadow of What Was Lost by James Islington: This was such an incredible start to a new fantasy series and I truly loved every minute of it. I hadn't felt this sucked into a new epic fantasy in a long time (especially one coming in at 600+ pages) and I highly recommend it to someone looking for something exciting and welcoming. It almost felt comforting in a way. I'm planning to start the sequel soon, and the third book comes out this year! (so no waiting!) REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

Kings of Paradise by Richard Nell: This grimdark fantasy blew me away. I had heard this one was good and was considering checking out sometime when the author sent me an email about reviewing it--of course I would! This was ridiculously good and I love finding self-published fantasy of this high caliber quality and detail. It's a bummer it got knocked out of the SPFBO contest early, but it seems it was just a case of the wrong person reading it, so it's still a winner in my book. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

A Cavern of Black Ice by J.V. Jones: This was a hidden gem of dark fantasy that I didn't realize I was missing. This has a super cold, dark setting with insanely harsh conditions and equally harsh characters and lifestyles, but there are also characters that I grew to love and enjoy following. I really can't recommend this enough if you're looking for some incredibly epic dark fantasy. REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

The Wicker King by K.A. Ancrum: I don't read a lot of YA contemporary, but this one really caught my eye and I'm so glad it did because this was beautiful. It's dark, showcases great mental health rep and relationships, and is overall an incredibly worthwhile read. This book is also really neat because since it's about a young man's descent into madness, the pages start off white and slowly get darker and darker until you have black pages with white font. I love those added details, and I think that's a small part of what really set this book over the edge into absolute favorite for me.  REVIEW
Amazon | Book Depository

That's it for part one! Have you read any of these books? What were some of your favorite 2018 reads? I'll have my favorite 2018 fantasy releases up this Thursday!