For me, 2024 has been a year of reading fantasy and, surprisingly, some outstanding science fiction novels, which I usually don’t read that often. This list, from good ones to the best ones, offers a great variety within fantasy. You will find novels representing voices of minorities, especially queer ones and a lot of stories discussing complex and critical themes.
18: The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
This collection of short stories is a must read for every Shadowhunter fan. Each short story focuses on a period of Magnus Bane’s life, who is perhaps the most iconic character of the Shadowhunterverse. Some of them tell the story of a defining moment for Magnus Bane. There are intense love stories, changing moments in history, like the failed escape of Marie Antoinette, or a very emotional and yet critical short story on the HIV pandemic in New York City of the 80’s.
Some short stories are a good read, others are exceptional and show how Clare manages to blend history and fantasy. Besides, she brings together some of the most iconic characters of the Shadowhunterverse you usually wouldn’t connect with each other.
17: Murtagh by Christopher Paolini
Returning to the wonderful world of Alagesia was truly a pleasure. Murtagh set one year after the fall of the evil dragon rider king Galbatorix tells the story of Murtagh and his dragon Thorn. The novel wasn’t what I expected it to be and took me on side quests filled with wonder, mystery and magic, exploring the world of Alagesia further.
In this ‘sort of’ sequel, new threats unravel on the borders of Alagesia, and this time it’s not Eragon and Saphira who will face these dangers but Murtagh and Thorn. I probably don’t have to mention that there was a cliff hanger in the end, leaving the reader wanting more.
16: The Gentleman from Peru by André Aciman
This is another story (a novella) where I had different expectations and was then positively surprised. There is an element of the supernatural within the story that works really well for the plot. Just like Aciman’s most famous work Call Me by Your Name, brilliant and witty dialogue, as well as very sensual and heartbreaking prose takes you on a wonderful journey of love and lust.
15: Soul of the Deep by Natasha Bowen
Soul of the Deep is Bowen’s sequel to Skin of the Sea. In the story we reconnect with familiar characters of the first novel and dive deeper into the beautiful mythology of the mami wata and orishas. Bowen weaves together the darkest times of human history, the enslavement of African people, pairs it with the magic of storytelling and African mythology. In this novel, typical tropes of young adult fantasy, first love and coming of age come together as well as the retelling of African mythology and folklore.
14: The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins
Not a stranger to Collins’ novels, The Silence Factory was also one of those books I expected to be different. This one is by far her darkest and perhaps most critical work. It was captivating and original in its own way; however, it wasn’t as good as The Binding or The Betrayals.
Nevertheless, Collins manages to weave a mysterious story and remains as critical as ever. This time, she especially focuses on colonialism and exploitation. One wonderful aspect about the novel is how she echoes Greek mythology throughout the story, almost haunting the reader, creating an unforgettable experience.
13: Dark Heir by C. S. Pacat
Dark Heir the sequel to Dark Rise is a very strong follow up. The story continues with the characters who are still alive trying to prevent the Dark Lord and his shadow army from returning. This time, however, with secrets revealed at the end of book one, the second novel is a rollercoaster of emotions, creating an enormously character-driven plot.
Being inspired by all things The Lord of the Ring, Pacat takes you into a very dark and magical world where light and shadow battle each other and the stakes are very high. Betrayal, forbidden gay love and much more await you in this stunning sequel.
12: The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
One absolute classic has made it into my list, and rightfully so. Aliens (from Mars) attack earth at the end of the 19th century in England, London and its suburbs. The protagonist witnesses their arrival first hand and recounts the horrific story of the invasion. Mixed with a lot of philosophical themes and scientific hypotheticals, this science fiction novel is an exciting read. It gives you an entertaining as well as interesting insight into how people perceived outer space at a time when we hardly knew anything about it. Especially the plot twist in the end was brilliant and felt very realistic.
11: Uprooted by Naomi Novik
You could describe this novel as the perfect fantasy read. Because it features all the important things: an evil prince, an enchanted wood, calculating mages and a mysterious tower inhabited by a strange wizard. In the midst of it all is his young apprentice, Agnieszka (the story is also narrated by her). She was, of course, never meant to become a witch and as a simple village girl, she realises that she is not so mundane after all.
The world building is immersive, taking you right into the plot that keeps unfolding, never knowing what terrors unravel on the next page. The love story is sensual but not taking up too much of the story. Besides, there is an underlying ecocritical narrative weaved within the plot, shaped into a very important aspect towards the end of the novel.
10: Medusa by Jessie Burton
Greek mythology retellings have become a fixed point and highlight in my reading lists over the years, and this year, they did not disappoint. Medusa is a stunning story and a more hopeful take on the well-known myth of Medusa, the Gorgon. An innocent woman is turned into a supposed monster and in this story the reader finds out who this woman, or this young girl actually was.
The prose is beautiful, almost poetic and captivates from the very first page. This novel is also available as a Graphic novel. The illustrations resonate with the wonderful prose Burton creates.
9: The House by the Cerulean Sea by T. J. Klune
This novel is the most wholesome one I read this year. In this fantasy world there are magical orphans with unique abilities and very often strange outward appearances, creating an allegory to LGBTQ+ youth. Their guardians desperately try to create a safe home for the orphans in a world that doesn’t accept them.
While the book is about growing up, it is also about parents and being a good parent, finding out what it means to raise a child and how to do it in a good way. Filled with beautiful dialogue, funny and relatable characters, the story takes you on an adventure you won’t forget and will treasure in your heart forever.
8: All the Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows
The sequel to A Strange and Stubborn Endurance was captivating and exciting, very much like the first novel. Especially the world building and how all of that fit into the plot and motivated the characters expanded and elevated to higher levels.
Once again, the reader follows Velasin and Caethari and how they are handling married life as well as all the political hurricanes of the different kingdoms. In this second novel, Meadows manages to convey social and critical themes as well as homophobia in an even smoother and more brilliant way. Besides, she dives deeper into the minds of the two main characters. It really is a great sequel to A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, a duology that shouldn’t be missed.
7: Hera by Jennifer Saint
Another Greek myth retelling and written by no other but Jennifer Saint. It’s her fourth novel and once again tells the story of a woman, or shall I say Goddess, in Greek mythology, Saint gives a voice to. It is no one less than Hera, Queen of Olympus herself.
From the downfall of the titans to the rise of the Olympians, to Heracles and many more heroes, all the well-known stories are told from Hera’s point of view. It stands as a convincing, smart and fresh feminist retelling of one of the most famous Olympians.
It got all the juicy stories of Greek myth you know and love but with a twist. You learn to understand how Hera was wronged again and again and what decisions she had to make to survive in a world ruled by a violent husband, Zeus.
On a literary level, Saint has reached new heights. The descriptions, the dialogues, as well as the portrayal of iconic characters from Greek myth you think you know are placed into a new light by her writing. Your perception of them is changed and leaves you with a new opinion on everything Greek mythology related. It is a brilliant novel and one of my favourites this year!
6: The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Continuing with another Greek-myth retelling, this one tells the story of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus. In this short novel, Atwood gives Penelope a voice, telling her story from the beginning with a reflective point of view as it is set in the underworld when Penelope can talk about everything she likes because she is already dead and can’t anger the gods or men anymore.
This makes the entire story a very exciting one, of course, as Penelope doesn’t hold back. Besides, Atwood also goes into depth with some other female characters of the story. Helen of Troy is one, but her focus especially centres around Penelope’s young maids, who were, just like the suitors, slaughtered by Odysseus. Atwood tells their story too and how they stand in relation to Penelope and how their lives have been destroyed in the millennia old patriarchy that exists since ancient Greek times.
5: The Hanged Man by K. D. Edwards
The Hanged Man is the sequel to Edwards’s amazing The Last Sun (Tarot Sequence Trilogy), following Rune, his friends, and team through the exciting world of New Atlantis. The reader gets the opportunity to dive deeper into the astounding world of the different courts and their ancient secrets.
Rune and his friends go on new missions and are confronted with the darkest secrets of New Atlantis. Edwards’s writing is as impeccable as in his debut novel. He creates a story that is rich in worldbuilding, deep in character development as well as serving an exciting plot. This blend between urban fantasy and science fiction is the perfect read.
4: All That’s Left in the World by Erik J. Brown
99.9 percent of the world’s population has been wiped out by a supervirus. Andrew and Jamison are two of the few people who are immune and meet each other in the woods by chance. On their way south along the east coast of America to reach a supposed intact civilisation, they save each other’s lives in many dangerous situations.
Who can you hold on to when there is no one left? Where can you find safety when there is nothing left? And what do you do when you are two of the last people on the planet? You learn to trust each other and perhaps greater feelings develop from there.
Brown weaves an enormously exciting story around two perspectives who lost everything and learn that not everything is lost. In this science fiction novel, it is also delicately explored how homophobia still exists and takes new shapes in a world with hardly any humans left. When modern society dies out, its problems, however, don’t disappear with it.
Since the pandemic, a story like this is perhaps more relevant than ever before and shows how love can prosper even in the most hopeless places. It’s a heartbreaking but also heartwarming story, a proper page turner you don’t want to miss out on.
3: A Power Unbound by Freya Marske
A Power Unbound is Marske’s third and final novel in The Last Binding Trilogy (Book One: A Marvellous Light, Book Two: A Restless Truth). In this one all storylines and a new one come together for an explosive and, of course, very sexy magical showdown.
Marske’s complicated world of witches and wizards and their contracts with the fairy world comes to a brilliant ending, showing the reader that the genre of romantasy can be deeply fuelled by great worldbuilding and stunning plot twists.
But it’s especially the romance of the plot, where Marske has perfected her craft. Two characters who not only hate each other but who also come from completely different backgrounds come together and learn to understand and trust each other. With Marske, spice is naturally guaranteed but, in this story, she reaches higher levels.
A Power Unbound has everything the last book of a trilogy needs, and it is wonderful to see how the spice, character development, deep prose and world building of the previous novels come together in this final instalment and unfold in a great story, bringing this magical and very sexy adventure to an explosive ending.
2: The Hourglass Throne by K. D. Edwards
The third and so far, final book by Edwards concludes the Tarot Sequence Trilogy. Rune and New Atlantis face the greatest threat of their time as the Lady of the Hourglass Throne returns and intends to take back control of her throne as well as of all of New Atlantis and the rest of the world.
All courts must make a decision on what side they want to fight on in this new age of New Atlantis. Wielding time itself, the Lady of the Hourglass throne is a formidable enemy, and some might choose to join her side. Traitors and enemies popping up left and right, Rune and his friends are tested to the limit. Where the first two novels have been more about spying and mystery, here a Game of Thronsian story unfolds. Politics, magic and intrigue come together, creating an incredible story.
It is especially the second half of the novel that takes every fantasy lover to higher spheres. An incredible plot unfolds and secrets unravel about characters keeping readers at the edge of their seats. Besides, it is here where the prose also reaches higher levels. Going deep into the perspective of the main character’s mind, readers can lose themselves completely in the story. It is a brilliant conclusion to a brilliant trilogy.
1: The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer
At some point in the future there are only two countries left. Two totalitarian governments, one somewhat appearing capitalist and the other one seemingly communist. Yet, it doesn’t matter as both are caught up in an endless war for the last resources of a destroyed planet earth.
However, both countries have to work together as they receive a distress signal from the outer space settler colony on planet Titan. Neither country has the money or resources left to launch a rescue mission on their own. And this is where the story begins.
From each country, one man is chosen to go on a rescue mission to planet Titan. Ambrose and Kodiak, two men who couldn’t be more different are now together in outer space and have to rely on each other and learn to trust each other.
On the spaceship, they soon realise that some things are strange and not as they expected. Knowledge has been withheld from them when they left earth. And here, the story turns from an exciting one, to one of the most outstanding ones I have ever read. What does humanity mean when you are far away from it and perhaps never return?
This is not only a journey into the depths of outer space but also one into the depths of the human mind. This philosophical story reveals our darkest natures but also our brightest hopes. What do you do when there is nothing left? Who do you hold on to when there is no one there?
Schrefer explores the limits of what humans are capable of and what they do for each other and for humanity. The story shows the reader what humanity is about through two enormously well written characters and what they are capable of doing over and over again. This novel singularly stands out as a masterpiece of literature and how powerful a story can be.
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