This week’s theme is Top Ten Books of the Year So Far — so armed with my statistics spreadsheet, let’s jump into mine: books I’ve read this year for the first time and rated four or five stars! I’m going to skip the non-fiction books, as I think people are less interested in those. I’ve also stuck to the first book if it’s a series, because I think it’s hard to judge a second book on its own and I think this list kind of works as recommendations!
- A Matter of Oaths, by Helen C. Wright. I’m so glad I finally got round to reading this, because it really worked for me. If you’re a fan of Ann Leckie or Yoon Ha Lee’s work, I think this’d be right up your street. Becky Chambers, too.
- Foundryside, by Robert Jackson Bennett. I got the ARC for this, and just can’t wait to talk about it with other people. Luckily, my wife’s now reading my copy and I get to watch her react to it.
- In Other Lands, by Sarah Rees Brennan. Okay, Elliot is a dick but he’s a dick who tries to do the right thing, and I love his relationships with his closest friends. I think it’s a good one if you’re a fan of Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On.
- Arabella of Mars, by David Levine. This isn’t groundbreaking in any way, but it’s such a lot of fun. There’s a need for that when everything seems like crap around you, and I think a lot of people feel that way at the moment.
- Ghost Talkers, by Mary Robinette Kowal. Thank you for breaking my heart and expecting me to enjoy it, Kowal. …I did.
- Meddling Kids, by Edgar Cantero. I didn’t love one of his other books — and this one had its eyerolly moments in his chosen writing style, but I had a ton of fun and read it in an eyeblink.
- Semiosis, by Sue Burke. This has a dazzling central concept: sentient plants on a world humans are trying to colonise. I had some quibbles, but I loved exploring the minds of these plants.
- An Unseen Attraction, by K.J. Charles. Charles has a knack for characters and stories I can really get into, and this is a great gay romance/mystery.
- The Prince and the Dressmaker, by Jen Wang. This is just adorable and fun. I mean, unless you have a problem with a prince who likes to wear dresses and for whom things turn out great. If you are, you might not enjoy this blog in general and you definitely won’t enjoy this graphic novel.
- War for the Oaks, by Emma Bull. A classic of fantasy literature, and one I found a heck of a lot of fun. Kinda like hanging out with the cool grandma of Kate Daniels and Toby Daye, this was an introduction to Where It All Began for urban fantasy.
I got A Matter of Oaths in December and when I saw one meh review I got scared to not like it but now, seeing what you thought, I really want to get to it asap
Was also on the fence for In Other Lands, thanks for your thoughts!
Haaaaaa Ghosts Talker same here haha! I love that it wasn’t too long because the idea behind the novel wouldn’t have been enough for a 500 pages fantasy novel I think. Such a nice book
Oh gosh I can’t wait for my library to get a copy of The Prince and the Dressmaker I don’t know if you’ve seen the French cover but it’s so nice
…oh heck, seconded for A Matter of Oaths. I loved it too!
imyril recently posted…Subjective Chaos: announcing our 2018 finalists
A Matter of Oaths is very much worth a try — I loved it a lot. In Other Lands I’m slightly more hesitate to recommend as such, because the main character really can be a total arsehole, but I had a lot of fun too.
….I need to read Ghost Talkers, don’t I?
imyril recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: best reads of the year so far
I think so!
Excellent list matey! I loved Ghosts Talkers and thought Semiosis was nifty in concept. I am looking forward to reading me e-Arc of Foundryside and have to get a copy of Arabella of Mars. Arrr!
x The Captain
Foundryside is a lot of fun!
I’ve got the Emma Bull book lurking on my ereader somewhere. I swear the books breed on that thing!
Yep, I know that feeling…!
You invoked the magic words “Toby Daye”! Now I have to read War For the Oaks. 🙂 I picked up a copy of Ghost Talkers when it came out, and haven’t managed to actually read it yet… so glad to see it on your list! I loved the description, so I don’t know what my problem is other than too many books and not enough time.
Lisa @ Bookshelf Fantasies recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday: My ten favorite books (so far!) in 2018
And I’ve made myself really want to reread/catch up with Toby Daye!
I haven’t read any of these, but my sister and I just picked up In Other Lands for our buddy read next month. The library had a copy available, so I’ve got in on my nightstand now. Your comment on it has me both intrigued but also wondering if it’s the kind of story I’ll like, haha.
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I enjoyed it a lot! It’s very wry about a lot of fantasy tropes, and at times hilarious.