I’ve seen a lot of Best of the Decade lists going around, but I need more time to decide my faves for the past decade. However, there’s nothing I love more than reviewing the past year and seeing what I read, and remembering the circumstances and how I felt while reading it.
As usual, I’m not limiting this list to things published in 2019, just books I read in 2019. I’ll leave F-BOM selections off this list…even though they were clearly the best books of 2019…You can get our 2019 selections here, here, and here in the Bookstore, or become a member before December 31st to get magnifiqueNOIR Book One: I Am Magical before it’s gone! (I also won’t include the fencing manuals from the 1500s…that might be a little too niche 🙂
As always, be sure to add your favorites in the comments section!
Best in Fantasy
This category could also be called “Best in Fairy”, since my top two are both fantasy novels about the alluring, dangerous realm of Fairy. Spinning Silver claimed the top spot. A tale of debts owed, daring women, and what we do to survive, it might be one of my favorite books ever. Read our review.
Runner-up: The True Queen by Zen Cho. Read our review here.
Recommended: Best Books of 2017 and Best TV and Movies of 2017.
Best in Sci-Fantasy
Neither of my top picks in this category could really be called hard science fiction, but I think the term “sci-fantasy” captures these genre-twisting settings. Ninefox Gambit is a gut-wrenching space war epic with an intricate magic system. I loved it specifically because it pulled no punches. Read our review.
Runner-up: The zombie steampunk joy of Wireless. Read our review here.
Best in Graphic Novels:
This was a hard decision for me, but ultimately I landed on Isabel Greenberg’s The One Hundred Nights of Hero. This modern Scheherazade-inspired tale reminds us of the importance of stories to connect us and give us hope. Read our review here.
Runner-up: Blue Delliquanti’s O Human Star, a webcomic series. Read our review of the first two volumes.
Check out the Best TV and Movies of 2016, and the Best Books of 2016.
Best in Historical Fiction:
Our review is forthcoming, but let’s just say main character Henry Montague is unforgettable in Mackenzi Lee’s The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue. This irrepressible young man finds adventure, and learns some hard lessons, during his Grand Tour through Europe.
Runner-up: Jo Baker’s Longbourn surprised and engrossed me. Review to come!
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