2025 was… something. At least I got a lot of reading done, so it’s time for a wrap up!

So… every single one of these top books is some form of fantasy. I promise I read other genres! I just happen to like fantasy best, and, well, it’s extremely evident this year. Oops.

As usual, this list may have 2025 in the title, but it covers my favorite books that I read this year (not counting any rereads), regardless of when they were published.

Before we get into the top ten, though, I have to give a special shoutout to my friend Alysha’s debut novel Her Soul for a Crown. I think I’m way too biased and was far too close to the writing process to be able to reasonably include it in this list (I read a draft back in 2022, after all). But I really enjoyed it, even more than a couple books on this list, so I had to mention it!

10. Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven

This YA standalone is filled with magic and emotion, with strong characters, a variety of wonderful historical settings, and high stakes. The reincarnation element was so well done, and overall this far exceeded my expectations!

9. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

A multigenre epic, this book is easily one of the best vampire novels I’ve ever read. Of course, this is much more than just a vampire novel—it’s an indictment of American expansion, a horror novel, and an examination of what it means to be monstrous.

8. Katabasis by R. F. Kuang

As you might expect from a story set in Hell, this is a dark and intense book, but it’s also engrossing and layered and clever. The magic is great, the characters fascinating, and the commentary about academia are thought-provoking.

7. Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher

Kingfisher is basically the only author who writes fairytale retellings that I care about, and this one is so fun! The characters—especially the supporting cast—are awesome, and the twist on Snow White is excellent. A bizarre yet fun story!

6. Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson

Stormlight Archive is kind of exhausting, but it’s also really good. This setting is fantastic, the plot is complex and compelling, and I adore the characters! This second installment expands the world and develops the cast, yet still leaves you excited to see what’s next. Bring on book three! (Yet I continue to procrastinate starting it…)

5. A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

Fantasy and mystery is a match made in heaven, and then combine those genres with nuanced themes about imperialism and power, a cool setting, and well-rounded characters, and you’ve got a stellar novel. I love Ana and Din deeply, and I’d follow them anywhere.

4. Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill

A feral lake monster learns about friendship while going on a magical quest? Say less! I had so much fun with this and the way it twists British folklore. It’s funny and weird, dark and monstrous, cozy and whimsical, and I loved it.

3. The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

This is the best series opener I’ve read in a while. You wouldn’t think that animal-themed factions, a magical competition, political intrigue, and a murder mystery would come together into something coherent, but this book pulls it off with wit and aplomb, resulting in something compulsively readable.

2. The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow

Not only is this an excellent lady knight novel, it’s also a transporting tale across time, with a touching love story and a biting look at how history is so often shaped (and warped) by those in power. It’s a beautiful book, Harrow’s best work I’ve read to date.

1. The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

This isn’t an easy read, being quite complex and brutal at times… but I ADORED it. It’s visceral, creative, surreal, and fascinating. The multifaceted narration, compelling characters, and engrossing plot make this one of the most challenging but rewarding novels I’ve ever read.

And that’s all she read!

In total, I read 130 new-to-me books this year (seven of which were even nonfiction, and a lot of which weren’t even fantasy, I swear!). I also reread seven books, so my actual total for the year was 137. A little less than last year’s 149, but still incredible, if I do say so myself.

• 73 physical books
• 44 audiobooks
• 13 digital (approximately; I should have kept better track of this number)
• 7 rereads (3 audio and 4 physical)

Some honorable mentions include:

• Silverborn (a delightful installment in a super underrated middle grade series)
• The Bewitching (an intriguing multiple timeline/POV witchy tale)
• Devious Prey (a gripping young adult fantasy with a cool setting, lots of tension, and a dragon!)
• Frankenstein (even though this was a reread, obviously it deserves the Most Honorable Mention. It is, after all, one of my favorite books of all time)

As a sidenote, I think I’ve mostly lost the ability to read ebooks. Maybe it would be different if I had a dedicated ereader, but I don’t. Instead, I have to deal with my phone, which is a pretty horrendous device to read entire novels on. So I just… can’t really make myself do it anymore. I’ll try again in the new year, though, because it can be handy! When it doesn’t hurt my eyes, that is.

Goals for 2026: I have an ABSURD number of unread books on my shelves (such as James, City of Brass, and The Vanished Birds), an embarrassingly lengthy backlog of audiobooks (like Theo of Golden and Bog Queen), quite a few nonfiction works staring me down (including Mavericks, The Wonders We Seek, and Dinosaurs at the Dinner Party), and several highly anticipated reads (namely To Ride a Rising Storm, A Trade in Blood, and The Tapestry of Fate) AND MORE that I’d love to get to! We’ll see how well this paragraph ages in one year…

Thanks for reading! Happy new year!