My Top Reads of The Year: 2015 Edition
Hey, ladies and gents! These are all the books which rocked my world in 2015. Not all of them were published this year as you can see, but I count them as my top reads anyway.
Best Contemporary Romance
NOTHING BETWEEN US featured another unexpected threesome in this remarkable series, and the complexity of the main characters just completely blew me away. What a book! TRADE ME made me cry, it was so thoughtful and sincere. THE ONE IN MY HEART had an unusual, bittersweet twist. DUMPLIN' made me laugh, and ASKING FOR IT tackled a very controversial, difficult topic with much insight and unexpected scorching heat.
Best Paranormal Fantasy / Dystopian
Much awaited THE MIME ORDER left me at a loss for words, it was brutal, complex and beautiful. MENAGERIE was a very difficult read, but I was on the edge of my seat all the time, and I applaud the author for tackling the issue of racism in such a fascinating way. At last, LAND OF THE BEAUTIFUL DEAD was freaking awesome. Not surprisingly, R.Lee Smith is in my top reads of the year three years in a row already!
Best Historical Fantasy
THE DIABOLICAL MISS HYDE was an absolute delight, with this unexpected darkness in the main heroine and a wickedly attractive villain. LAIR OF DREAMS completely immersed me in its gorgeous world, and I didn't want to leave. At last, A CURIOUS BEGINNING was such a delight to read, from its banter to a kick ass adventurous, insanely smart heroine, that I can not wait to read more of this author!
Best Historical Fantasy Romance
While I loved Grace Draven's story, it's Elizabeth Hunter's A VERY PROPER MONSTER which reduced me to tears, it was so heartbreakingly wonderful.
Best Urban Fantasy
VISION IN SILVER and DEAD HEAT were read by me in the beginning of this year and both were absolutely amazing. CHANGES just broke my heart, it must have been one of the hardest scenes I've read in urban fantasy, and I'm still thinking about it. SWEEP IN PEACE and MAGIC STARS were the usual Andrewses' brand of badassery, which I sadly didn't see in Magic Shifts. At last, DECEPTION, a very strong urban fantasy, introduced a great new turn in the series, and I loved it.
Best Mystery / Thriller
NON-STOP TILL TOKYO was a wicked ride with an incredible female protagonist. I really want K.J. to continue writing about her. ECHOES was a wild card which totally paid off. Fantastic book about hackers! At last, RECIPES FOR LOVE AND MURDER was deliciously atmospheric. Yum!
Best Fantasy Romance
CAPTIVE PRINCE, PRINCE'S GAMBIT and LORD OF THE WHITE HELL. Surprisingly all of these are M/M fantasy romances, and they are absolutely gorgeous. There is actually very little sexual content. It's more about incredible tension and anticipation between the characters amidst some gripping world-building. Honestly, read them! You'll thank me afterwards. *grinning*
Best Fantasy
I loved, loved, loved UPROOTED! It was beautifully written, and I've no doubt read it again and again over the years. COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES started a bit shakily, but holy Mother of God, it sure rocked my world at the end. MISTBORN made me realise the genius of Sanderson. Honestly, that book kicked ass philosophically, action-wise and by its sheer enormous world-building. THE IMMORTAL HEIGHTS made me cry with its absolutely epic ending. At last, if I could take phrases from THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA and hang them on my walls, I totally would. Alas, they are not PG-rated. That book was hilarious, full of sarcasm and at the same time heart-breaking, without even mentioning the cleverness of the plot itself.
“You've got that motherly concern in your eyes, Jean. I must look like I'm hammered as shit," said Locke.
"Actually you look like you were executed last week.”
― Scott Lynch, The Lies of Locke Lamora
Best Science Fiction
Both DARK HORSE and SHIFTER PLANET were incredibly well written and had kick ass heroines who saved the day with a flair, and both were from my favorite authors debuting in a totally new genre for them. I loved these books!
So any of these made it into your list of best reads of the year?
