Beth’s Year in Review – 2025
Back in 2023, I wrote my first Year in Review post, looking back over everything I read that year. Last year, having enjoyed the process of going back through my reads (I’m super forgetful, so it was fun rediscovering!), I wrote another post – but I didn’t end up publishing it as I didn’t get around to finishing November and December…
This year I’ve decided to do a Top 25 instead, in the hope it won’t be as much work going through the year entirely… I’ll order them as I read them, and I’ll also share galleries of each month’s reading. My reading can be fairly eclectic – I’m a fantasy lover first and foremost, but I also love Japanese translations, the odd crime thriller, and I’m a member of two book clubs!
So settle in for my wrap up of 2025!
Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis
I had so many buddy reads with Nils this year and this was our first! Wooing the Witch Queen is a bit of a romantasy, a bit of a villainess story – there’s been a kind of cosy dark genre emerging and this is an excellent representation of it.
“There’s plenty of comedy in their romance, with Shakespearian hidden identities and miscommunications, that made it such a joy to read. Burgis woos her readers with this story of trust and belonging that sparkles with magic and passion.”
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
The Devils was my second buddy read with Nils (seriously, two in the first month – it very much set the mood for the year) and it was amazing to be back in a world created by Joe Abercrombie. There was a very different feel to this world compared to the world of the First Law, and yet the snarky humour and observations of human (and inhuman) nature were firmly Abercrombian.
“I was expecting a good story, and what was delivered was a great one. Abercrombie has proven once again that he is adaptable, he can still deliver fresh and relevant stories; that he is a true master of the genre. ”
January
Servant of Rage by Alex Knight
In February I was beyond thrilled to reread Servant of Rage by Alex Knight. This was one of the first books I ever reviewed, waaaaay back before I was a reviewer for the Hive and I had my own blog. Since self-publishing it back then, Alex has done a lot of work on Servant of Rage, rewriting it and applying his wealth of interim experience to it. I loved these characters when I first met them, and I was so excited to be back with them and for more people to meet them through Portal Books’ platform.
” an exhilarating gut-punch of a book that packs it all – earth-shattering fights, electrifying magical powers, and a meaningful investigation of the human condition.”
February
Death on the Caldera by Emily Paxman
We’re back to another buddy read with Nils! Seriously, there were seventeen in total this year – find yourself someone to buddy read with because honestly it is the best. There’s nothing I love more than whatsapping Nils about our reads, sending each other our favourite quotes and swapping theories.
Death on the Caldera was especially brilliant for this as it’s a murder mystery set in a fantasy world! Why don’t we have more of these by the way? I love fantasy, and I love the puzzle of a crime thriller – bringing those together is just something I cannot get enough of. This is Paxman’s debut, which was incredible considering how well written and plotted this was!
“I loved this book so much, I couldn’t put it down, the multiple mysteries kept me guessing at every turn of the page… I wasn’t expecting so much depth or heart, such moving storylines.”
March
Paladin’s Grace by T. Kingfisher
And so began what I affectionately think of as the Year of Kingfisher – I read ten T. Kingfisher books this year; I could have read a total of fourteen, but Snake Eater, Nine Goblins, The Wonder Engine, and Wolf Worm I saved for next year. Seriously, Orbit and Titan spoil me rotten. Paladin’s Grace was very much the catalyst of this new obsession. I’d previously only read Thornhedge by Kingfisher when Orbit sent me a copy of their reissue of Paladin’s Grace. I fell completely and utterly in love; with the characters, with the world, with Kingfisher’s writing. It was all so cosy, and heart warming, but also spicy, and thought provoking, and I just couldn’t get enough.
“I was hoping for a whimsical, easy read. I was gifted a story full of joy and hope, darkness and hurt, adorable characters, romance and frank discussions on love, laughter and tears. Kingfisher wraps up a modern love story in fairy-tale prose with a charming and unique voice. She’s a firm new favourite.”
Well that was putting it mildly past me
April
The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis
May was quite a cosy month, with this buddy read with Nils burrowing its way between all the paladins. Grimoire Grammar is another example of that kind of cosy dark thing I was talking about earlier; there are of fantasy creatures you might ordinarily associate with being evil or villains, but it’s in the cosy setting of a primary school.
I say cosy. There’s a PTA, and anyone who knows the hell of PTAs know just how far from cosy they are.
“Rozakis is proving herself a most accomplished storyteller, expertly representing some serious themes in a cosy and fun tale that will stay with you long after. ”
Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
Here’s an example of why I like doing these end of year wrap-up posts, because I didn’t actually get around to writing reviews for either Swordheart or the next on my list, Scarlet.
For anyone confused about why there are suddenly loads of Kingfisher books on the scene this year, Orbit is republishing a whole lot of them, and Swordheart was one of those reissued. I’ve discovered that in reading Paladin’s Grace first, I’ve sort of come to this world from the wrong end. As I now understand it, there’s the Clocktaur War duology first (which of course I haven’t read yet), then Swordheart, and then the Paladin books. Swordheart is a very sweet romance, not as spicy as the paladin books, that follows a widow who inherits a sword… that releases a man when you unsheath it. I mean, the connotations there are boundless, obviously. Whereas I didn’t enjoy this as much as my previous reads, Kingfisher’s storytelling is still excellent and I was just so pleased to back in this world.
Scarlet by Genevieve Cogman
I’m quite annoyed with myself for not finishing my review for this book, because I thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy. I’ve picked the first book, Scarlet, to feature within the Top 25 because, looking back over my year of reading as a whole, it’s beginning to feel like I always prefer the first book in a series, and I find myself using it as the yardstick for the rest of the series. Don’t get me wrong, this is an excellent trilogy as a whole; but there’s something about the experience of discovering Cogman’s vampiric revolutionary France for the first time that sets Scarlet apart in my considerations. The eponymous scarlet is the Scarlet Pimpernel (although of course there are also plenty of other applications for ‘scarlet’ in a world of vampires, beheading and revolution, but primarily I’m pretty sure it’s referencing the Pimpernel) and, having not ever read the original Scarlet Pimpernel adventures, my only references were the old Milk Tray adverts and Blackadder. Safe to say, Cogman has assuredly remedied that with her unforgetable Sir Percy!
May
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
Time for another buddy read with Nils! This time, we returned to a previous firm favourite – Sangu Mandanna. A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping had been on our ancticipated watch list for ages, so we were super excited to start this, and it was absolutely worth the wait. There was so much magic packed into this heartwarming and funny story!
“It packs in a great deal of heart and character growth, with plenty of exploration around the drive for power and the importance of acceptance. This is very much a character driven story, with a wonderful storyteller in Mandanna behind the wheel, taking us on a gentle drive through a magical landscape. I also cried at that ending, but I laughed so much along the way too.”
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, translated by Eric Ozawa
This is the first book in my Top 25 that isn’t actually SFF (and won’t be the last) because, as I said at the start and as you may have picked up, I don’t always tend to stick to just fantasy in my reading.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a beautifully quiet story that follows Takako who, following a heartbreak, moves in with her uncle to assist him in running his book store. What I loved about this book, and its sequel, is the way in which they invite you to read between the lines to discover what Yagisawa illuminates about the human condition; about depression, and the complexities of romantic and filial love. I also connected very strongly with this book because, six months after leaving the world of bookselling, I was really missing the joy of discussing and recommending books to people, helping them find the story they needed.
June
What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyoma, translated by Alison Watts
‘I was really missing the joy of discussing and recommending books to people, helping them find the story they needed…’ – which is why I also connected so strongly with What you are Looking for is in the Library. This story did have a bit more of a magical realism feel about it, as there was something magically uncanny in the way in which the librarian, Sayuri Komachi, is able to change lives with her recommendations. I adore this kind of book from Japan; the book is separated into parts which follow five different characters, and they are quite formulaic in their set up (this kind of story set up can also be found in books like Before the Coffee gets Cold, The Kamagawa Food Detectives, and The Blanket Cats, it seems to be a particular structure used in Japanese storytelling). There is often something that connects each character to each other and I loved following these threads. Ultimately, each character we meet is unhappy about some aspect of their life, and the books they borrow from the eponymous library do not seem, at first, to bear any relation to their issues; instead, they teach each character to view their issues from a new angle. I felt I learned so much from this book. It’s common enough for me to fall in love with a story, to be swept away by it and utterly transported, but I feel it’s rare for me to finish a book and feel changed by it. But I was this time. It came at the right time for me.
Human Rites by Juno Dawson
After the profoundity of my last entry, Human Rites couldn’t be more different! We’re talking full-on end of the world witches and demons shenannigans – huge stakes, the biggest possible, and so. much. magic. I said earlier that this year I’ve come to the conclusion that I generally prefer the first book in a trilogy and the rest never quite live up to the first; although I’d still argue that HMRC is my if-I-had-choose favourite of the trilogy, all three of these books were five stars.
” I cannot urge you strongly enough to pick up these books. They are compelling, they are devastating, they are relatable and yet unpredictable. They deal with magic but are themselves a feat of sorcery.”
July
The Summer Book by Tove Jansson
I read The Summer Book for this month’s book club, and it was one of those reads that I hadn’t really been looking forward to, and in all honesty, I found it kind of boring to begin with. It was one of those reads I found myself thinking, what am I reading? What is supposed to be happening here? But before I knew it, I was so invested in the lives on this little island. This was quite possibly one of the most insidious reads I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, it crept up on me and it was some time before I realised I couldn’t actually put it down or get it out of my head. And yet, even now, I couldn’t really tell you what it’s about. Other than, simply, a young girl’s summer holidays on an island…
Savage Blooms by ST Gibson
This book I can most assuredly tell you what it’s about. Sex. A lot of it. In case you couldn’t guess that at all from the cover. What drew me to requesting this one was the promise of it being a dark story set in the Scottish highlands featuring the fae, and I have to be honest I was disappointed that the fae didn’t feature as prominently as I’d been expecting. But despite that, this was an addictive one.
“a decadent feast of deceit and desire in a gorgeously realised and atmospheric setting… sensuous and addictive, but most definitely human with all our faults and needs and weaknesses at the forefront.”
Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher
The Year of Kingfisher continues! And this time with one of her books that was actually published this year. If, like me, you’re a fan of Thornhedge, then you will enjoy Kingfisher’s further forays into fairytale retellings in Hemlock & Silver. I love the way Kingfisher approaches fairytales; I appreciate a lot of the community have had their fill of retellings, but I most certainly haven’t, and in Kingfisher’s defense, her exploration of them is very different to any other kind of retelling I’ve come across. In Hemlock & Silver we have elements of the Snow White story – we have apples, we have mirror magic, a pale princess and wicked queen – but we end up with a very different story entirely.
” a skilful fusion of refreshing worldbuilding, imaginative retelling, and unique storytelling. ”
Slow Horses by Mick Herron
And now for something completely different. I’ve been watching the adapation of these books and my husband and I are hooked on it, and my friend told me she’d started reading the books waiting for the new series to come out, and was pleased by how closely they’ve adapted them.
I’ve not read any spy thrillers previously, and I’m usually first to call out genre snobbery but I’ve discovered I was subconsciously nursing a prejudice here because I found myself surprised by how well written this was…
August
A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
Apparently, this is another retelling from Kingfisher, this time of Goose Girl. Being entirely unfamiliar with this particular fairytale, this fact completely passed me by. Instead, I found myself consumed by this story of sourcery and abuse. I hadn’t expected this story to be as dark as it is (probably if I’d known the original fairytale I could have seen it coming) – seriously, the themes are dark, but there are also some quite gruesome scenes.
Having said all that, there are also themes of found family which are heartwarming, and Kingfisher truly excels at representing older protagonists.
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow
The Everlasting is a strong contender for my book of the year. Harrow has confidently been one of my favourite authors for some time now, and part of the joy of reading her stories is reading them with Nils and exploring theories with her – and there were so many to be explored here! The Everlasting did so much that I loved and just ticked so many boxes for me; from the dissection of Arthurian-like hero myths, to the exploration of the nature and purpose of storytelling. It was just exquisite.
” I have always loved Harrow’s books for their strength of characters and magical storytelling, but Harrow’s plotting in this story scales dizzying new heights that had me reeling. Her writing is utterly sublime this time round, too; there were so many lines I bookmarked for their beauty or for how they struck me. ”
September
Cinder House by Freya Marske
So for October I agreed to read outside of my comfort zone and focus on spooky reads, so I decided to start with something I wasn’t expecting to be too spooky; Freya Marske’s Cinderella retelling Cinder House. It was darker than I was expecting, but not at all what I would describe as scary per se. Ella is a ghost, and we have a heartbreakingly haunted/sentient house which responds to her emotions. It’s a darkly beautiful read that really surprised me.
“The fact that Cinder House is a novella still surprises me, as Marske is able to weave such a great deal into this story; it’s atmospheric, melancholic, claustrophic… but never feels overdone or rushed. Marske’s writing is utterly sublime in this breathtakingly beautiful story which, in killing this done-to-death figure, ironically breathes new life into a previously predictable tale.”
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Another one that surprised me was my last Kingfisher on my Top 25, What Moves the Dead. It’s Kingfisher’s Edgar Allan Poe retelling, but having never read anything of his before this book (remedied when I was done as I found myself needing to compare), like Sorceress any comparisons were lost on me. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would argue, again like Sorceress, you needn’t read the source inspiration. You can still revel in the creeping Gothic horror of this unsettling novella. This was an example where I preferred the first book; the other two were very good reads, but as Kingfisher explores different kinds of horror styles for each, the first reflected my personal tastes better.
“a psychological feast of the Gothic and uncanny, best suited for fans of atmospheric and creepy horror. ”
October
The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong
November was an excellent reading month for me; although I had two DNFs, the other three were some of my absolute favourite reads of the year. The Keeper of Magical Things was another book Nils and I have been anticipating ever since we read The Teller of Small Fortunes together – we just couldn’t wait to be swept away by Julie Leong’s whimsical magical writing again. As much as I loved Teller, I think Keeper is my favourite of the two. Set in the same world, the two stories are unconnected, and this time around we have two unlikely characters forced to work together and overcome some difficult circumstances by learning to trust each other. It was wholesome and everything I needed after all the dark reads of the previous month.
“The Keeper of Magical Things has cemented Leong as a writer I know I can return to with confidence for an entertaining story that will sweep me away and warm the cockles of my heart.”
Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
Speaking of heartwarming, just when I thought I couldn’t possibly find a more magical cosier book, along comes Agnes Aubert with her mystical cats and Howl’s Moving Castle invoking not-really-a-dark-wizard Havelock. I hadn’t read Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde books, and despite knowing how popular and beloved they are, I was still surprised by just how fantastic her writing is. As beautiful as the UK cover is, I think it’s a little too twee and does the story something of a disservice, as there is also a lot of complexity and depth to this one.
“This story has been a wondrous discovery that I know I’m going to return to and delight in again and again. There were seemingly some threads left trailing at the end and I’m left praying that Fawcett will take us back to this world. ”
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Earlier I spoke of books that change your worldview and how that’s a rare thing for me to experience, and yet I managed to find another one in Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle. This is a classic children’s story, often used, apparently, to teach children diary writing as a style of storytelling, but it had copmletely passed me by. And I’m rather sad for my younger, diary-writing, self that I missed out on it. Despite the profound affect it had on me, I didn’t end up reviewing it; as much as I love reviewing books, discussing what I loved about any given story, sometimes it can be freeing to lose yourself so utterly in a story that you stop to consider what you’d say about it in a review. That was definitely the case here. I barely stopped to sleep.
November
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
After Agnes, of course I had to read the Emily Wilde books, and fortunately I’d only recently bought Compendium when it came out in paperback, so all three were waiting on my shelf for me. I was slightly worried that, as they’ve been described as light academia, I’d find them a bit dry, and Emily’s constant references and foot notes about various researchers and dryadologists and text books did take some getting used to. However it wasn’t long before I was of course completely caught up in the story and the magic and the gorgeous setting (perfect for this time of year!). This is another example where the first book was my favourite of the three. In fact, I felt there was something of a disconnect between the third and the first two, naturally enough considering the story (no spoilers) but one I struggled with nontheless.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by H. G. Parry
Finally, I ended the year, and so my Top 25, on a high with H G Parry’s The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep. This has, criminally, been languishing on my shelf for ages, and considering how much I absolutely love Parry’s storytelling, I don’t know why I was so slow to pick up her debut. Again, it was the perfect read for me for this time of year, as I always find myself craving some kind of period drama or Dickensian adaptation at Christmas.
I’ve not read David Copperfield, and although I had watched the recent adaptation with Dev Patel, I’m much more familiar with Great Expectations and Bleak House. Although named for the character from David Copperfield, you don’t need to be a fan of Dickens to enjoy this story; however, if you are a fan, then you will absolutely adore it. Our protagonist is Rob Sutherland and we soon discover that his brother Charley has an unusual and incredible ability – he can read characters from books into being. On the face of it, this sounds amazing – tea with Mr Tumnus, anyone? But it’s very much an emotional reaction that he struggles to control.
This was my last buddy read of the year with Nils and again, I utterly loved our conversations about the many themes inherent in this wonderful story!
December
Created with GIMP
