I would have to say that while I did not
read any great fiction literature this year, I did have fun with the books I
did read. There was nothing classic, but
it was all fun and well-written. As in
previous years, I read a lot of fantasy fiction, but also enjoyed a number of
mysteries and thrillers.
Here are the best books I read this year
(in no particular order), followed by the others:
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R.
King. Take an aging Sherlock Holmes, introduce him to Mary Russell, a
teenage girl who is as smart as he is, and send them out to solve
mysteries. Maybe it sounds corny to you,
but these books are very well done. They
don't move fast, but they are immersive and a pleasure to read. The Beekeeper's Apprentice kicks off a
series that both my wife and I enjoyed this year.
Riptide by Douglas Preston and Lincoln
Child. I read a few Preston and Child novels many
years ago and enjoyed them. This year I
gave their books another try and once again, thought they were great fun. Although Riptide does not contain my
favorite Preston and Child character, Agent Pendergast, it is a rollicking read
with pirates, mystery and an island with buried treasure. What
is not to like about any of that?
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George
R. R. Martin. I have been a big fan of George Martin's Game
of Thrones books for many years. While I
love the intricacies of his plots, I do wish the books were cleaner. (That said, the books are thankfully much
cleaner than the TV show.) A Knight
of Seven Kingdoms is a collection of three prequel novellas set in the Game
of Thrones world featuring Dunk, a poor hedge knight, and Egg, his
sharp-tongued squire who is a prince of the realm in disguise. I would love to see more stories with these
characters.
Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson. Brandon Sanderson's novels have made my "best of" lists for
a number of years. Shadows of Self
is set in Sanderson's Mistborn world, but hundreds of years after the original
series. Set in a technological age
similar to the late 19th or early 20th century, this series of novels is much
funnier than the original Mistborn series, but still set in Sanderson’s unique
fantasy world.
2nd
Tier books - very good, but just shy of great:
The Shadow Lamp by Stephen R. Lawhead (Bright Empires
series, #4)
The Fatal Tree by Stephen R. Lawhead (Bright Empires
series, #5)
The Order War by L. E. Modesitt Jr. (Magic of Recluse
series)
White Fire by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
O Jerusalem by Laurie R. King (Mary Russell series)
Rhapsody by Elizabeth Hayden
A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King (Mary Russell series)
Wellspring of Chaos by L. E. Modesitt Jr. (Magic of Recluse
series)
Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Reliquary by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Thunderhead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Still Life with Crows by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
A Letter of Mary by Laurie R. King (Mary Russell series)
Brimstone by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Dance of Death by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
The Moor by Laurie R. King (Mary Russell series)
The Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
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