I decided not to include any sequels or rereads in my “best books” list this year so I have to give a few books a shoutout before we dive into this. I reread The Bear and the Nightingale and enjoyed it even more than the first time. I finally finished the series and is not solidified as one of my all time favourites. I also reread Emily Wilde and the Encyclopaedia of Faeries and read the sequel. I will forever love Emily! I also reread my favourite T. Kingfisher, A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking, and it is still my favourite. Finally, I finished the Burningblade and Silvereye series and it was everything.
I Was a Teenage Slasher
Stephen Graham Jones has the potential to become one of my favourite horror authors- I just need to read more from him. I know he has an extensive backlist and I don’t know where to start. If you are a fan of his, let me know where to go next. So far I have read The Only Good Indians and I Was a Teenage Slasher, which I obviously loved and ended up on this list. I think Jones has a powerful voice and horror is the perfect genre for him to express it.
Just for the Summer
I suspect that any time that Abby Jimenez releases a book, it will end up on my best books of the year list! She is able to write about difficult topics while also creating a swoon-worthy romance. You find yourself rooting for the characters as a couple and as individuals. Both of the characters in Just for the Summer have complicated relationships with their mothers and I appreciated how that was explored. I also think it is best to read Part of Your World and Yours Truly first so you can understand some of the cameos that we get!
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde
Tia Williams is quickly becoming one of my auto-buy romance authors. When I find a romance author I love, I become pretty loyal to them! I wouldn’t go into A Love Song for Ricki Wilde expecting Seven Days in June 2.0 as there are magical realism to this book that might not work for everyone. It certainly worked for me and I was moved to tears by this one!
Dreadful
There has been an increase in books with villains as main characters and I have been loving it! I loved the perspective in Dreadful and the humour really worked for me. Seeing the main character forget who he is and battle with the fact that he is an evil person and hating himself for it was just an absolute delight to read. I cannot wait for the author’s 2025 release!
Someone You Can Build a Nest In
Someone You Can Build a Nest In is a completely different take on the villain as the main character trope! She embraces her villainhood and I was all about it. I also appreciated that this was a sapphic romance and how over the top the humour was. John Wiswell also has a book coming out this year and I will be preordering!
A Sorceress Comes to Call
It wouldn’t be me if there wasn’t a T. Kingfisher on this list. I fangirl over her and love everything that she does. A Sorceress Comes to Call is no exception and I have seen many readers say this is their favourite from her. I love the direction she is going with dark fairytale retellings and I think this is where she excells!
Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower
It pains me that it is impossible to find a copy of Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower without paying an arm and a leg for it! I absolutely loved this novella and it is one I think about and will reread. It does something different with the girl stuck in a tower trope and the ending floored me. Remind me that I NEED to read Gideon the Ninth in 2025!
The Spellshop
This is the second year in a row that Sarah Beth Durst has ended up on my list even though The Spellshop is very different from Queen of Blood. I love that she is leaning into cozy fantasy, since that is my comfort genre. The sentient spider plant, named Caz, might just be my favourite character of 2024!
Maid and the Crocodile
I waited years for something new from Jordan Ifueko since Raybearer continues to be one of my favourite books and let me tell you that this way more than worth the wait. It is set in the same world as Raybearer but is a standalone and it was so amazing to be back in that universe. I always say this but I am in awe of Ifueko’s mind. This book is severely underhyped and it infuriates me!
Evocation
I feel like this is a controversial favourite but I have to be true to myself! I adored Evocation and everything about it but I 100% understand why it did not work for everyone. Do not go into this expecting A Dowry of Blood- it is much lighter on the fantasy and is focused on relationships. I can see why it would be boring to some but I was riveted!
What was the best book you read in 2024?
YouTube | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads
I loved The Spellshop!
Great list! I hope to read Abby Jimenez book this year.
I loved hearing about your favorite books 💞 I also loved The Spellshop so much this year, it made it on my own favorites list 🥰 I’m excited that there is going to be another book in the same universe!