Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the Broke and the Bookish, and you can click that link and check out other top ten lists!
So we’re nearly half-way through the year, and today we’re selecting our favorite books of the year so far. I have to say 2016 has been a great year for SFF books, and with six months left to go, I’ll most likely wind up having a tough time selecting my faves at the end of the year. But that’s a good thing, right? Even this list was hard to narrow down, so I can only imagine how hard it will be when December rolls around! So here they are, my top ten favorite books of 2016 so far:
1.
The Suicide Motor Club by Christopher Buehlman. I was blown away by this book! Masterful writing, perfect pacing and characters with depth, this is everything I look for in a horror book—or any book, for that matter. Read my review here.
2.
Railhead by Philip Reeve. Another wonderful surprise, Railhead came out of nowhere and made such an impact on me. I feel like it’s not getting enough attention, and I really want more people to read it. Read my review here.
3.
The Voodoo Killings by Kristi Charish. I had so much fun with this unexpectedly wonderful urban fantasy story, and it’s a shame it’s not readily available in other countries besides Canada at the moment. But I do have a giveaway coming up later this week for an audio version of the book, so check back soon! Read my review here.
4.
All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders. This book was so quirky and original and irresistible that I immediately fell in love with Anders’ ideas and characters. Read my review here.
5.
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire. This is the only novella to make the list, and that’s saying something. Novellas often feel too short or the story just isn’t developed enough. But this is one exception. Read my review here.
6.
Borderline by Mishell Baker. I adored Baker’s unique world of the fae, and her mentally ill and physically challenged main character made this story very special and different. I can’t wait for the sequel! Read my review here.
7.
The Brotherhood of the Wheel by R.S. Belcher. Belcher’s latest urban fantasy was everything I expect from this talented writer. If you haven’t read anything by Belcher, I highly recommend you pick up this book, or even better, try Nightwise, which is my FAVORITE of his books:-) Read my review here.
8.
Fellside by M.R. Carey. My reaction to reading this book surprised me. I couldn’t believe how deeply I became immersed in a story about life in prison! Carey’s storytelling abilities are wide-ranging, and even though the speculative elements in this book took a back seat to the human story, I loved it. Read my review here.
9.
The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky. This modern-day take on the Greek gods was so entertaining! And scholarly! And romantic! I was hooked, and I can’t wait until Winter of the Gods comes out next year! Read my review here.
10.
City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett. This is such a strong series and every fantasy fan should be reading these books. The conclusion to the trilogy, City of Miracles, can’t come out soon enough! Read my review here.
So there you have it! I’m so curious to see if any of these will end up on my list at the end of the year (I suspect some will…). Let me know if you’ve read any of these, and link me up to you top ten as well!
I’ve actually been a little disappointed with this year’s crop so far. Most of my brand new 2016 reads have been so-so or unimpressive. :/ BUT. There have been a few good or really good new books in between, so I have enough to make a top 5 right now:
The Immortals by Jordanna Max Brodsky (really glad to see this on your list, too!)
A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly
City of Light by Keri Arthur
The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie
The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
I’ve also read a LOT of great pre-2016 books so far this year, too. Rae Carson’s Walk On Earth A Stranger, Patrick Rothfuss’s The Wise Man’s Fear, and Andy Weir’s The Martian are the first ones that come to mind.
Sara L. recently posted…Submit Your Questions for a Blogoversary Interview with Me!
So many of these are on my TBR (probably if truth be told because I have been visiting your blog so much – haha). I vow to start The Suicide Motor Club this weekend directly after my current read and if I hadn’t already did my post a week ago, Every Heart a Doorway would have definitely made my list. I finally broke down and ordered an expensive copy of The Voodoo Killings because I was having trouble obtaining it reasonably and couldn’t even grab it for my Kindle. It should be here in a few days. Thanks for sharing your list (and thank heavens the ones you posted were already on my TBR and I didn’t have to add any others). Seriously though, I am loving your recommendations.
Barb(boxermommyreads) recently posted…TTT – Top 10 Favorite 2016 Releases So Far!
I have “The Voodoo Killings” lined up among my next reads, and I’m looking forward to it!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…TEASER TUESDAY #8
I did like The Immortals, and like you I’m waiting anxiously for Winter of the Gods. And Railhead looks kinda interesting- I’ll go check it out.
Greg recently posted…Game of Thrones Discussion- Is Skinchanging Bad?
I haven’t read any of these book yet this year 🙁 Although, based off of review I’ve read, if I did pick one, it would be The Suicide Motor Club.
We have three of the same books this week. I really do want to read the Charish book – everyone has been enjoying that one. Every Heart a Doorway was so good. I loved that one and I heard there would be more from that world – hope so?
I would have put Fellside on my list too but I’d picked my 10 – I actually had 12 so had to be harsh and delete 2.
Lynn 😀
I’ve read 2 from your list, City of Blades and Brotherhood of the Wheel. Every Heart a Doorway is one I’d like to read. Some of my favorites so far (some may have first published pre-2016, but I think each had an edition released this year):
City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett
Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor
The Vagrant by Peter Newman
Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger
The Brotherhood of the Wheel by R.S. Belcher
Black City Saint by Richard A Knaak
Pacific Burn by Jim Brodie (non-speculative)
Thin Ice by Quentin Bates (non-speculative)
I’ve queued up Borderline to read soon, because enough waiting! I also just finished The Suicide Motor Club a few days ago, and it was pretty good. I probably didn’t like it as much as The Lesser Dead though 😀
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum recently posted…Book Review: The Dark Side by Anthony O’Neill
I haven’t read any of these, although I do have Fellside and All The Birds in the Sky on loan from the library at the moment. I’ll get to them! 😉
Lorraine recently posted…Read in February 2016 (Catch Up Post!)
I saw somebody else recently raving about Railhead. Seems like I really oughta check it out! I still need to give The Immortals another shot. Hopefully soon. 🙂 Great picks!
Bonnie @ For the Love of Words recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday – Favorite 2016 Releases (So Far)
These all sound great. The Voodoo Killings sounds fantastic. I’ve been trying to get a physical copy of it for a couple of months but it’s not available in the US. Odd since her Owl books are easy to get here.
Samantha recently posted…Review: Forevermore by Kristen Callihan
I know, it’s frustrating that Voodoo Killings doesn’t have a US publisher yet. Crazy!