The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

I’ve read quite a few five star books this year. The one that stands out the most in my mind, however, is The Fifth Season! What can I say about this book other than it was absolutely incredible? All that hype? Worth it. This book took my expectations and launched them into space. It has incredible characters, superb world-building, a plot that kept me engaged throughout… in short, it has everything!

Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse

This has to go to Fevered Star! There’s really no contest, at this point. Any book that can get me to like Naranpa automatically gets five stars 😂 I’m kidding, of course, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the character growth in this sequel is on another level. Every single POV character is Going Through It and the author makes you feel their struggle as though it were yours. I connected so much with all of these characters and that’s quite a feat. I cannot wait til the next book 😆

Gallant by V.E. Schwab

Probably the new release that I’m most excited to read and that I actually own is Gallant. I’m a big fan of V.E. Schwab’s writing. I’m also a big fan of books with big, creepy houses in them. This seems like it’s a guaranteed win for me! I’ve been wanting to read this since it arrived in an Illumicrate box and just haven’t gotten around to it yet. Which is the fate of so many of my anticipated reads these days, heh. Soon, though… soon.

Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston

Oh, it definitely has to be Amari and the Great Game. I was blown away by the first book in this middle grade fantasy series, Amari and the Night Brothers, last year. It’s a beautiful book, inside and out! I was completely captivated by the story, the magic, the intrigue and I’m so excited to be able to continue soon. Just a couple more months!

Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra Khaw

I was scrolling through my reading spreadsheet, trying to decide what to pick for this, and this book popped up. No more need to scroll because the disappointment I felt after reading it hit me all over again. This cover promises a story that will keep me up at night. The book delivers a story about a bunch of privileged assholes being extra asshole-y to each other… and maybe there’s a ghost. I wanted so much more from the spooky elements and left feeling very meh.

The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies

This question always makes me feel weird. I always feel like when I say a book surprised me, I’m saying I thought it was going to be bad going in. That’s never the case! That being said, when I picked up The Thirteenth Hour, I didn’t expect to devour it like I did. Steampunk/gaslamp isn’t really my thing, but I ate this book up and was begging for seconds! This is an incredible read and I can’t wait to get my greedy little hands on the sequel 😆

Sue Lynn Tan, author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess

There were so many possible choices for this answer. Going through my spreadsheet, I realized I’ve read a lot of new or new to me authors this year! I have to give it to Sue Lynn Tan, though, because this book… This book has writing that is beyond beautiful. It’s captivating, evocative, lyrical in all the best ways and I couldn’t get enough. Which is why I’m glad the sequel will be out… soonish.

Leon from The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

I typically don’t answer this question because I rarely get fictional crushes these days. Even in this instance, it’s less that I drool over Leon (though he is certainly drool-worthy) and more that I want all the good things for him and Tiffy. THEY DESERVE ALL THE HAPPINESS!!! And he’s definitely one of my favorite romance heroes that I’ve read this year.

Seven, Valley, and Thorn from Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega

Yeah, I know, I didn’t pick just one. But I will fight anyone for these girls so how am I supposed to choose between them??? I adore the three main characters in Ortega’s Witchlings so much. They are wonderful, complex characters that have big ideas but still read like the kids that they are. It makes for some messy situations, but it’s wonderful to see how they bond and grow throughout the story.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

Listen. This book focuses partly on the relationship between a cat and his owner and I recently had to say goodbye to one of my kitties. This book was bound to make me tear up at the very least. I’m not saying the cat dies but it just made me think of how much I loved Nelson and wonder how he truly felt about us. There were a lot of emotions reading this one, that’s for sure.

Heartstopper by Alice Oseman

The Heartstopper graphic novel series never fails to make me smile! It’s definitely made me tear up, as well, but the overwhelming feeling is happiness. Happiness watching this young couple, Nick and Charlie, find each other and have one of the healthier relationships I’ve ever seen in a book. They don’t have it easy at all, but it warms my heart to see how much they love each other.

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

I’ve acquired a lot of beautiful books this year thanks to Illumicrate, but this one definitely takes the cake. It is absolutely stunning! This picture cannot do it justice, it’s so much prettier in person. Either way, I now need prettier bookshelves that are worthy to hold this masterpiece. And here’s hoping what’s inside the book is just as incredible as the work of art that is the outside!