Well, this took a bit longer to decide than I expected. I'll confess, I didn't set a very high bar for myself for a reading challenge in 2021. I only expected to be able to read about 75 books, mostly because I thought life would be closer to normal.
I wound up reading 156 books, which is not a lot, all things considered. I read some new authors, and some familiar ones. I wandered from genre to genre indiscriminately. And it's still nearly impossible to narrow it to a mere top 5. So, in no particular order, here are the books that resonated the most for me in 2021.
The first is actually a trilogy: The Tide Child trilogy by RJ Barker. I started it in 2020, and read the third book in 2021. The world-building is stupendous, and the characters are magnificently human, flawed but capable of extraordinary things because they are so very human.
A friend recommended The City We Became by NK Jemisin. I'd read some of her work already, and loved her work immensely. Personally, I think it's entirely fitting that this book is set in my hometown of New York City, and the author captures the character of the city superbly.
Another trilogy made my list: the Sword Dance trilogy by AJ Demas. I love historical fiction, and I am enormously fond of Hellenic and Roman history. I'd read the first two books, and loved them, so when the third book, Strong Wine, was released, I pounced on it like a long-lost friend.
Science fiction was my favorite genre as a teen, and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir did not disappoint. Again, this is humanity with all its flaws managing to prevail in spite of itself.
The delightful Clocktaur Wars books both make my list: Clockwork Boys and The Wonder Engine by T Kingfisher. I don't think I've ever read anything by T Kingfisher that I didn't like, but as an old school D&D player, I adored these books.
I'll finish my list with two books, which are the first of a four-book series, and I promise you, I'll be pre-ordering the third book the moment it's available. The Rage of Dragons and The Fires of Vengeance by Evan Winter are extraordinary books by an amazingly talented author. The world-building is first-class, and the story is exquisitely thought-provoking. I'm not quite sure where this will head over the course of the next two books, but I know I will be enthralled.
Let's hope 2022 brings more books for me to enjoy as much as I did these amazing works. If you've read something wonderful, and want to tell me about it, I'd love to hear from you!
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