Best Books of 2022 Pt. 1: Backlist & 2023 Releases

 

Today I am presenting to you all Part I of my favorite books of 2022! I know we're already into the second week of January, but I've been weirdly busy and had a lot going on already so we are a little behind on things–but that's okay! I always feel very fortunate to be able to read so many books every year–both the good and the not so good–and always find so much joy in looking back at all the books I read in order to pick out my favorites. I really enjoy a lot of books I read, but I think we all know when we read one that just feels a little extra special to us and is one that will likely stick with us just a little more than others, and these are some of them.

Just as I split up my lists for the past couple of years, I am once again splitting up my favorites lists into a few categories because I read a grand total of 154 books and there are just too many that I loved to make only one list. Today I am sharing my favorite backlist titles (this will include any title published prior to 2022) and two 2023 ARCs I read and also loved. Part II, which consists of 2023 releases, will (hopefully) be up later this week, and my annual reading stats post will be up by the end of the month (assuming nothing drastic happens in my life to change that). As always, these lists are in no particular order. Without further ado, let's dive in!

Backlist Titles 
(pre-2022 release, in no particular order):

    
1. Hunting by Stars by Cheri Dimaline: The Marrow Thieves was a favorite read last year, and this sequel was just as incredible. This duology is about dystopian future where Indigenous peoples of North America are the last ones able to dream, and the rest of the world begins hunting them for their bone marrow and ability to dream. Hunting by Stars is a sequel that really carried on the story in a meaningful way and served to further expand on each character's experiences, backstories, and evolutions as people throughout these books. I was captivated by the plot and moved by the stories within this book. 

2. The Stone Knife by Anna Stephens: Since I loved Anna Stephens' previous series, Godblind, I had a feeling I would like The Stone Knife–I didn't realize I'd end up loving it quite as much as I did! This is a fantasy taking place in an ancient Central American setting and it was truly incredible to explore this world in a fantasy setting. I adored all of the characters and found the magic system, political intrigue, and plotlines fascinating. I genuinely cannot wait for the sequel (which I think is coming soon!) and would urge any fantasy fan to try this one out. 

3. A Dowry of Blood by S.T. Gibson: (Quick note: This was re-released under Orbit this year, which technically makes it a 2022 release, however, I read the self-published version early in the year so am counting it as a backlist since it was initially published in 2021.) The first thing that grabbed me about A Dowry of Blood was the gorgeous, immediately captivating prose. Gibson is clearly an incredible talented writer and knows how to write a character that is impossible to look away from. I also found myself completely captured by the general story itself of Constanta as Dracula's first bride and how she moves through her life with him. This was incredible! 

    

4. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer: This was a book I'd been meaning to read for a number of years now and I'm really glad I finally did. I read this after reading Treuer's Rez Life, which was also great, and was blown away by his immense research and insight throughout this book. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee covers much of Native history in the Americas (to the extent that one book can) and it was an unbelievably enlightening and important read. Not to mention, if you are a history fan like me then you'll be getting tons of history to learn about. It also covers present day issues and where things currently stand, which I also found incredibly helpful in deciding what I want to read next. If you like nonfiction and/or history and haven't read The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee yet, then add this to your TBR!

5. The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting by Evanna Lynch: I had a feeling that this would be a really thoughtful and well-written memoir, but I didn't expect it to resonate with me as much as it did. There are a lot of personal reasons I connected so much with this book, but I especially liked hearing her talk about a consistent theme that plagued her through life regarding what she was meant to do and what was expected of her–I think these are very common themes many of us can understand. I loved hearing about her perspectives on life dealing with all the anxieties and obstacles that plague us all. This was 

6. How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu: This book hit me hard in all the best ways possible. I believe it's considered a novel, but it reads much more like a series of interconnected short stories set in over hundreds of years throughout the future after a climate plague has wreaked havoc upon humanity. It's an intense read that includes a variety of different settings and characters, but that all maintain a very cohesive theme and thread of humanity, dreaming for something more, and the resilience that humans always display. It was deeply moving, beautiful, and I still think about it fairly regularly. 

    

7. Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont: This book is one I'd been wanting to read for a number of years and finally got around to it... and was immediately taken aback by how much I really loved it. This entire book has a melancholy air to it that fits so well with the teenage experience in a way that is very deep and relatable and gives validity to these experiences. None of the characters in it are perfect, but that's the point to some extent, and this book covers so many of the things we all struggle with, from guilt to loss to much more. This is a beautiful story. 

8. Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston: I read some great nonfiction this year, and Lost City of the Monkey God was one of my favorites that involved exploring one of my favorite settings. I've never read any of Douglas Preston's books, but I really enjoyed reading about his experiences researching and visiting the archaeological site known as The White City in the La Mosquitia region in Honduras. I loved all of the historical information he provided, as well as the nuance and care given to the topic of relics and idea of "discovery" regarding past civilizations. I think this would be a great read for anyone who loves adventure and exploration, as well as someone interested in history or who is curious about how to tackle topics around "lost" civilizations and how we look at the past. 

9. Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam: This was a very unexpected horror novel that I loved. It seems to have a fairly low average rating on Goodreads and I can actually understand why because it's a little odd and a little... lacking in action? But everything weird about it worked incredibly well for me and I really loved how this author played with tension and atmosphere. I didn't love every aspects, such as some of the weird things thought by the male characters, but I liked the overall story and that's why I've included it on this favorites list. 

2023 Advance Reads:

  

1. Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee: Although I won't have a review up until closer to the release of Untethered Sky in April, I had to include a brief note about it in this list since I loved this novella and I did read it in 2022. Untethered Sky is one of the best novellas I've read for so many reasons: it has adventure, rocs (awesome large birds of prey), ruhkers (riders of rocs), family, revenge, loss, hope, and much much more. I already knew Fonda Lee was an incredible writer, but getting to see her write something so different from The Green Bone Saga has really cemented for me just how talented she is and how she is clearly capable of writing in many different genres. This makes me even more excited for future work from Fonda Lee!

2. Sister, Maiden, Monster by Luca A. Snyder: I don't even know what to say about this novella other than what the actual f@ck just happened. This was an unhinged level of bananas and I loved it. Seriously, I was more glued to this book than I've been glued to any book in a very long time. It starts off as a pandemic story, only this pandemic is a million times worse than Covid (in my opinion, and especially as someone who is emetophobic) and things go completely sideways as the story progresses. I don't know how I feel about how this went but I know it was crazy and awesome and very thought-provoking and I think you are all in for a huge treat this year when it releases. I'll have a review up closer to its publication, but for now just know it was a favorite 2022 read for me and it will keep you hooked and dying to know what's going to happen next. 

Have you read any of these books? What backlist titles and/or 2023 ARCs did you read and love last year? Feel free to link any of your favorites lists below!

Best Books of 2021 Pt. I: Backlist & 2022 Early Reads!

I'm not sure how to start this post because 2021 was truly a whirlwind for me in every sense of the word. I will say that I'm super excited to finally be getting a chance to look through my books from 2021 and pick out favorites and once again feel excited and delighted by the wonderful books I was fortunate enough to read this year. 

As usual, I read far too many books this year to narrow it down too much (or rather, I'm too indecisive to pick only a couple), so I've once again decided to split my lists up. This first post will feature backlist titles I read in 2021 (anything pre-2021 release will be counted) and, because I only have a couple of them, two 2022 ARCs I read that were truly phenomenal. Part II will be up next week, and my annual reading stats post that I love making will be up hopefully by the end of the month. These lists are in no particular order and include those books that I just had a blast reading, am still thinking about, and that make me remember why I love reading so much. So enough talk, let's dive into the books!

Backlist Titles (pre-2021 release, in no particular order):

1. The Marrow Thieves by Cheri Dimaline: I read this after reading and loving Dimaline's The Wild and I think I may have loved it even more. This is a hard read that tackles some really intense topics in a way that I found utterly compelling and gut-wrenching. A sequel to this was released at the end of last year and I was fortunate enough to receive it for Christmas, so I'll be diving into that very soon!

2. The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher: I read and adored T. Kingfisher's The Hollow Places last year and had a feeling I'd enjoy more from Kingfisher... and I was right! I can't get enough of Kingfisher's writing; it's witty and down to earth while also manages to fully capture all the true elements of growing dead and creepy horror, with some great dashed of humor throughout to keep us all sane. I need to read even more from T. Kingfisher ASAP!

3. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke: I had no idea how much I would love this book and I'm so happy I finally read it last year! Everything about this book was perfect and I absolutely adored our main protagonist while I was captivated by this really weird premise and world he inhabited. I can't recommend this one enough if you like things that are a bit odd and don't really give the reader too much information. I actually loved how I always felt like I had just enough to follow the story, but no real larger idea of what was happening. A truly incredible book!

4. Taaqtumi by Aviaq Johnston, Richard Van Camp, Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley, et al. : I weirdly don't think I gave this collection of arctic horror stories from indigenous authors a full five stars, but it's one I keep returning to and thinking about because of how much I enjoyed reading through all of these mini horror stories. Something about them has captured my mind and I have been dying to look up more work from the authors who were a part of this.

5. The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch: I feel like this was just going to be a given because of how much I love the Gentleman Bastards series and I think each book is going to be a favorite book at this point. I just love Lynch's characters, plotting, world-building, all the details he includes–just everything. I almost don't know what else to say about this book other than that it's an amazing installment to the series and I haven't met a weak one yet!

6. The Tiger's Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera: This was one of those books that I'd been wanting to read since it first came out, but it took me years to get around to and then when I finally read it, I was floored by how much I loved it and mad I didn't read it sooner. This was so surprisingly beautiful and tugged at me far more than I expected to. Rivera's writing prose is stunning and I was captivated by this complex, unique story. I'm hoping to read the sequel soon!

7. The Lost City of Z by David Grann: As we all know (or maybe you don't, I promise I'm not expecting anyone to remember random things about me), I love nonfiction about explorers, adventurers survival, anything along those lines. The Lost City of Z is about Colonel Percy Fawcett and his forays into the Amazon to begin mapping it, and I thought it was excellently written and full of so much information both about Fawcett and about the areas in which he explored, while also acknowledging the problems around exploration and perceptions of South America. This was such a fascinating read that prompted me to keep reading more about the area!

8. Skeletons on the Zahara by Dean King: And surprise! Skeletons on the Zahara is another survival story that I was so enamored with I could barely put it down. I hadn't really read a survival story set in the desert before, and especially not one like this. This was an incredibly compelling nonfiction account and I appreciated how much research King put into the story, which also prompted me to learn more about the areas, peoples, and time period mentioned. 

9. Watcher of the Dead by J.V. Jones: I have been a huge fan of Jones' Sword and Shadows series and this series usually always ends up in a best books list as well just because they're all so good! I'm obsessed with all the characters and this incredibly huge, detailed world. I'm all caught up now and can't wait until we finally get the next book!

10. A Registry of My Passage Upon the Earth by Daniel Mason: This was probably my biggest surprise favorite read of the year. I had never heard of this book until I saw it as a daily deal on Audible and gave it a go–it's also one of the few short story collections that I read and loved this past year. Each story had such a beautiful and engrossing sense of awe that made me unable to put it down. There was something about the messaging that just felt so much bigger than our world and lives, and that is what really captured me. Daniel Mason really did an incredible job with this collection!

11. Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones: Stephen Graham Jones has quickly become a favorite author of mine, and I found myself really captivated by this book. It's a bit weird, as most of his books are, but it's a weird with purpose and has an incredible mix of thoughtfully horrific elements that make it impossible to forget. 

12. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami: As we all know, I'm an enormous fan of Murakami's work, and I found this memoir from him particularly delightful and illuminating. I find Murakami to be an incredibly insightful and thoughtful person and hearing his own thoughts on life and different topics was truly a great experience. Highly recommended, whether you've read any books by Murakami or not!
 

2022 Advance Reads:

1. The Violence by Delilah Dawson: This book made me forget that I was reading, and that just does not happen much these days with my anxiety and inability to focus on things as fully as I used to. Time would simply fly by while I was reading this and that's how I knew it was a special and amazing book. I don't want to say too much since it's not even out yet, but please put this one on your radar if you haven't! The characters are so wonderfully fleshed out and the storyline is eerily familiar and compelling and truly so haunting. Do be warned it's pretty graphic and hard to read at times, so if you are sensitive to abuse, violence, etc., I would seek out some reviews and content warnings before diving in (I will include some in my review as well, which will be up closer to it's release!).

2. The Carnival of Ash by Tom Beckerlegge: This was a super unexpected read for me that I didn't know existed until I saw it on NetGalley and knew I had to read it. I didn't even mean to read it so early, but it was just calling to me. The format of this book feels a little like vignettes into people's lives that follow the same timeline and I promise it's unbelievably captivating. I thought I would get tired of it at some point, but something about Beckerlegge's writing just lured me in consistently and I ended up being immensely impressed and a little in awe of how he crafted this book. Another one to keep on your radar for 2022!

Have you read any of these books? What backlist titles did you read and love last year?

Best Book of 2019 Pt. II -- 2019 Releases!

Now that we've covered my top backlist titles and 2019 debuts, we can finally move onto my favorite 2019 releases! There were so many to choose from, but there were definitely a select number that really stood out to me. As with my previous 'best books' post, I decided to highlight a couple titles that particularly meant a lot to me. Without further ado, let's jump in!

1. The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky: I don't usually have a single favorite book each year, but if I had to pick it was unquestionably be The Wolf in the Whale. It's beautiful, unforgettable, and one of the best stories I've read all year (or even years). (Review)

2. Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff: Although there seems to be some controversy over whether this was a good or bad finale, I loved it. The ending had some issues that weren't my favorite and I don't love the pairing that ended up surviving, but despite that everything else was utterly riveting and beautifully written and I just wish I could bask in this book and world forever. Kristoff's writing in the Nevernight series has been some of my favorite--ever--and I'm so sad that this book marked the end of this one. But it'll always be there for re-reads!

3. The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden: A perfect ending to a perfectly magical trilogy. Arden's prose in incomparable and she paints such a vivid story with incredible characters and a fairy tale atmosphere that I just can't get enough of. I almost don't know what else to say about this book, save that it was one of the best endings to a trilogy (the other ending to a trilogy I loved is also in this favorites list) and I will never stop loving this trilogy. (Review)

4. This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger: This was probably my favorite unexpected read of the year. I knew nothing about this book when it showed up on my radar, but I decided to pick it up and it was one of my best decisions. This is a really beautiful and heartbreaking tale of four orphans on an unpredictable and dangerous odyssey towards what they hope is a better life. I can't recommend this book enough to anyone! (Review)

5. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig: I was blown away by the sheer scope of this novel and am still pretty much in awe of it. I loved how Wendig explored a lot of different themes that are really core to our issues and values in society all while still telling a story that was impossible to put down. This book is a hefty one at about eight hundred pages, but I promise it's worth every page--I ended up finishing this one while on vacation this year because I just couldn't stand not knowing what would happen at the end! (Review)

6. The Unbound Empire by Melissa Caruso: If you haven't read the Sword and Fire series yet, you need to! It's unbelievably good and so underrated. The Unbound Empire is the final book in the series and it was one of the most satisfying and perfect endings I've read. (Review)

7. Spit and Song by Travis M. Riddle: Riddle's Balam, Spring made my list last year and now Spit and Song is on it for this year, which I think is a great tradition. Spit and Song is one of those that was just so much fun that I can't help but think back on it with so much fondness and positivity. The story was great, the characters were relatable and incredibly well developed, and the writing was engaging and entirely readable. (Review)

8. The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang: This is a bit of a 'sleeper' favorite for me and I almost didn't even put it on this list because, to be honest, I sort of tend to forget I read it this year? I'm not sure why, but this book was such a ride! It was very different from The Poppy War, but just as intense, unpredictable, and compelling. (Review)

9. The Hod King by Josiah Bancroft: Bancroft is such a unique and imaginative voice in the fantasy genre and I have loved reading his Books of Babel series. I didn't love the second books much, but with The Hod King I once again fell in love and I was blown away with how wild Bancroft's imagination must be. There's really something special about Senlin and his journey up the Tower. This series is continuing strong and I'm so anxious for the next book to arrive next year in 2021! (Review) 

10. Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas: Whether you love S.J. Maas or hate her (the arguments about her are so old these days, let's just enjoy whoever we want), I can't deny that I found this final installment of the Throne of Glass series to be truly an incredible book. I think it's pretty mixed among people, but I loved it and thought it was so entertaining, exciting, and one of her best books yet. It's quite literally unrecognizable from the first book in the best ways possible and for being a nine hundred+ page book, I wasn't bored for a single page--and I think that says something.

11. Jade War by Fonda Lee: I didn't realize how much I would fall back in love with this intense, cutthroat world created by Fonda Lee. I love all of the politics and incredibly nuanced roles of the characters and the intricacies of the world involved in this story. This is such a fantastic series so far and Jade War really stood out to me as strongly written novel that I keep seeming to come back to. (Review)

Have you read any of these? What were some of your favorite 2019 releases!?

Best Books of 2019 Pt. I -- Backlist and 2019 Debuts!

Happy New Year's!
I hope you all had a wonderful New Year's Eve and that your new year is off to a great start. The beginning of a new year still manages to make me anxious, but I know how excited most people are about the prospect of what is often seen as a fresh slate, so I hope it's going great for all of you!

Now that we've got the most disappointing books out of the way, we can finally move onto the best books of 2019! I read a total of 150 books this year, so my favorites lists always tend to get a bit, uh, out of control and I end up having to split them up. 

Today I'm sharing my favorite backlist titles that I read this year as well as 2019 debuts (simply meaning no previous books from these authors) and tomorrow I will be sharing all of my favorite 2019 releases (non-debut)! I decided to highlight a few titles in yellow to indicate they are ones I especially loved this year and would highly recommend. I'll have the rest of my favorites up tomorrow, so in the meantime let's jump into these favorites!

Top 5 Backlist Titles:

1. Vita Nostra by Marina & Sergey Dyachenko: This book was so brilliant and unexpected and unpredictable. It was truly unlike anything I've read and I really want to re-read sometime soon and immerse myself in this weird story that doesn't quite make sense, yet somehow still completely pulls me in. I highly recommend this book if you like things a little on the metaphysical side (even if you don't, it's completely worth it!). (Review)

2. Night Film by Marisha Pessl: I meant to read this when it first came out years and never did, so this year when I finally got around to it I was so frustrated with myself for not reading it before because I was enraptured by this incredible book. The mixed media components added so much and I loved the explorations of darkness and unpredictability of people. This seems to be a really polarizing book for a lot of people, but I fell for it--hard. (Review)

3. Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire: This book was written for me, I think. All of McGuire's Wayward Children books have been great, but this one easily takes the cake for me of the ones I've read. It follows Jack and Jill as they first enter their fairy tale land and it just had the most incredible atmosphere and a plot that I was so engrossed in. (Review)

4. Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing: When I picked up this book, I knew it would be interesting, but I had no idea how much I would actually love it. Ernest Shackleton is incredible (a fitting title!) and this true story of how his entire crew survived lost in the Antarctic for over a year is astounding. I now plan to read everything I can about Shackleton (including his own account of the wreck, which I didn't know existed until after reading this!) and this horrible yet inspiring story of survival. It's really something special and I would encourage anyone to read it.

5. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: It took me a while, but I finally got around to reading The Night Circus as well. It was almost exactly what I expected in terms of prose and it was beautiful. I love the aesthetic of the circus itself and all of the little tidbits of magic that inhabit it. This book is about the characters, yes, but it's also equally (or more) about the circus and the magic as characters as well. 

Top 2019 Debuts:

1. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H.G. Parry: This book came up on my radar out of nowhere from Orbit and as soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to read it. It was so fun while also being surprisingly deep and full of really interesting themes relating to life, literature, human nature,and so much more. It's incredibly imaginative and I couldn't put it down while I read it. (Review)

2. House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig: 'The perfect dark fairy tale retelling' is the most accurate description of this book that I can think of. I loved the characters, the atmospheric setting, the plot, the twists--truly, I loved everything. This book was a genuine joy to read and I can only hope that Craig continues to write books that grab me as much as this one did. (Review)

3. Nottingham by Nathan Makaryk: This has easily become one of my favorite Robin Hood-inspired tales and I'm so excited by the innovative qualities Makaryk brought to the story. It's a serious story while at the same time it somehow doesn't take itself too seriously and there is plenty of humor and sarcasm and wittiness that makes this not only an interesting book, but also a highly entertaining one. I had a fantastic time reading this and I really can't wait to see what's next. I believe there is a sequel coming out in 2020 and I will absolutely be checking it out! (Review)

4. The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling: This was one of my favorites because of how engrossing and unique it was. I'd never really read any fantasty/sci-fi books centered around a cave diver-especially one cave diving on a different planet. I loved exploring this underground world along with the protagonist while also learning about the safety, steps, and courage needed to undertake this job. There were so many twists and turns in this book and I genuinely enjoyed every second of it. (Review)

Have you read any of these books? What were some of your favorite backlist titles you read this year and/or debuts!?

Best Backlist Titles I've Read in 2018 (So Far!)

Earlier this week I posted my top 2018 releases of the year so far, so today I'm sharing some of my favorite backlist titles that I've read so far this year!

   
In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente (review)

I expected this book to be way too confusing with all the stories-within-stories, but it wasn't bad at all and I loved this book.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

A Cavern of Black Ice by J.V. Jones (review)

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

The Little Mermaid and Other Stories by Hans Christian Andersen

This is my favorite not only because I love The Little Mermaid story, but also because this edition is one of the most stunning things I've ever laid my hands on. Seriously, if you love illustrated, somewhat interactive, collectible books, then definitely grab this one. They also have these editions for Peter Pan, Heidi, The Jungle Book, and hopefully more soon!
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

   

Radiance by Catherynne M. Valente

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

The Wicker King by K. Ancrum

This sort of ripped my heart out, but in the best way possible. I almost have no words for how to describe this book in any way, but it's incredible.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Prince's Gambit by C.S. Pacat

I'm slowly working my way through this trilogy, and although I know it;s super divisive, I am just loving it.
Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey (review)

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Re-read! The Oresteia of Aeschylus

ft. "Agamenon," "Choephori," "The Eumenides"
I've read Aeschylus' plays a fair number of times already, but I just love them and the ancient plays in general, so I thought it was time for a re-read. After reading Agamemnon again, I immediately decided that I was going to attempt to translate that one next since it is one of my favorites. I started translating a couple weeks ago and it's slow going, but I love it!

Buy the book: Amazon | Book Depository

Have you read any of these books? What are some backlist titles you've read and loved so far this year?

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