Best Books I Read In 2016
I’m happy to say that I did a bunch of reading in 2016. Most of it was fantasy and science fiction, but there were some fitness books and a non-fiction or two in there as well.
With all the reading I did, here are my top picks for books (not graphic novels – that’ll be another post) I read this year…
The Rook – I just finished reading this one and I think it may have been my favorite this year. Urban fantasy and conspiracies really had me hooked from page one.
14 – I don’t usually go in for horror, but this wasn’t too scary for a horror novel. This was Cthulhu wrapped in a current day mystery with historical and scientific overtones. So much fun!
Uprooted – This comes close to The Rook in terms of my favorites this year. Naomi Novik can really spin a yarn and I was enthralled with her lyrical magic and the love story she told. Can’t wait to see how they make this into a movie/television show.
Off To Be The Wizard – This one was just fun. Puns, bathroom humor, magic, and software engineering all combined to make this a very enjoyable read.
The Memory Painter – This was an interesting one…kinda like The Mummy meets The Fountain, this was a love story, a mystery, and kinda threw in some time travel or at least multiple time frames.
The Library at Mount Char – this was an interesting read that I’d almost put in the same category as American Gods. Urban fantasy with some interesting twists…not my favorite, but a good read none-the-less.
The Fifth Season – I loved the way this story was told and the characters were very compelling. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Ancillary Justice – Fun SciFi with AIs, space ships, clones, and psychology. This is another where I’m looking forward to the next installation.
Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang – this was a bit preachy for me at the start, but it grew on me. I’m not sure I’ve read much environmental science fiction before, but while this started out with that vibe, the psychology of the characters as the story progressed make it an interesting read.
The Goblin Emperor – There was a lot of politicking and court intrigue in this one but it turned out pretty well. I enjoyed the mystery and it was a fun read.
On the whole, I think this was a year full of good books.