The Cool Kids' Fantasy Club discussion

Since the Goodreads main poll concludes very soon: which were the best 5 books you read this year? And if you are prolific enough, which were the best 5 that were published this year?

Marielle wrote: "In no particular order:
Grey sister
The Winter Road
Priest of Bones
A time of Dread and
Ravencry...
Did a lot of rereading this year so I haven't read all the books published in 2018 I want to read..."

I read Priest of Bones and A Time of Dread, both very good reads I thought.

I really believe we’re in a golden age for fantasy literature. So much choice and I’ve given a lot of 5* this year but these are my stand outs. Roughly the order I’ve read them this year;

Senlin Ascends/Arm of the Sphinx (Josiah Bancroft) - no other comment than both brilliant. Can’t separate them.

Grey Sister (Mark Lawrence) - the ultimate gritty fantasy adventure with unlikely marvellous characters

She who waits (Low Town #3, Daniel Polanski) - The whole trilogy is excellent but I highlight the last for concluding it so well. Published a while ago.

Master Assassins (Robert Reddick) - I’d quite enjoyed his Chathrand Voyage trilogy previously but this one blew me away. So well written, natural flowing plot and those brothers....

The Riyria Revelations by Michael Sullivan which I’ve just finished were close behind for their epic ‘Lord of the Rings’ scale but just squeezed out.

2018 equates to a lot of books read already, I didn’t properly realise..

- Uprooted by Naomi Novik (and to be fair, the new one ‘Spinning Silver’ as well)
- Grey Sister
- Poppy War by RF Kuang
- The Power by Naomi Alderman
- Skullsworn by Brian Stavely

(5 really doesn’t seem sufficient to reflect my reading this year. As I’ve have read all three series by NK Jemisin and was absolutely stunned! Also Skyward by Sanderson - because it’s by Sanderson and I can find no fault there..)

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennet

Death March by Phil Tucker

The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

My top 5 Fantasy reads for 2018 so far (published in the last 12 months-ish):

1. Grey Sister (Lawrence)
2. The Poppy War (Kuang)
3. The Ember Blade (Wooding)
4. City of Brass (Chakraborty)
5. Reaper at the Gates (Tahir)

My Top 5 Fantasy Reads for 2018-Only the first 3 were published in 2018:
1. Grey Sister
2. Age of War
3. The Disappearance of Winters Daughter
4. The Dream Thieves
5. The Pines

Let's see … (Note that most, if not all of these, were not published in 2018 …)

In no particular order, and subject to change at whim:

Dark Forces: New Stories of Suspense and Supernatural Horror
Jade City
Night's Master and the rest of the Flat Earth books
Skyfarer/Dragon Road
A Princess of Mars and the rest of the Barsoom series

No particular order:
1. American Hippo (Gailey)
2. City of Lies (Hawke)
3. Beyond Redemption (Fletcher)
4. The Queen of Swords (Belcher)
5. After the Crown (Wagers)

Steve wrote: "I really believe we’re in a golden age for fantasy literature. So much choice and I’ve given a lot of 5* this year but these are my stand outs. Roughly the order I’ve read them this year;

Senlin A..."

Yes, Master Assassins & Senlin Ascends are both filled with incredible prose, and brilliant stories to boot.

Just five books? Damn. It'll be hard.

1. Vita Nostra - Marina Dyachenko
2. Grey Sister - Mark Lawrence
3. Ghosts of Tomorrow - Michael R. Fletcher
4. Kings of Paradise - Richard Nell
5. The Liminal People - Ayize Jama-Everett

Lukasz wrote: "Just five books? Damn. It'll be hard.

1. Vita Nostra - Marina Dyachenko
2. Grey Sister - Mark Lawrence
3. Ghosts of Tomorrow - Michael R. Fletcher
4. Kings of Paradise - Richard Nell
5. The Limina..."

Now I want to make a bad joke about subliminal people...

You've sort of done it :)

My top reads for 2018.

1. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
2. Kings of the Wild by Nicholas Eames
3. Little Moments of Love by Catana Chetwynd*
4. Circe by Madeline Miller*
5. Equal Rites by Terry Pratchett

*= published this year.

I've not read a great deal of Fantasy this year and as you can see I'm way behind with Mark Lawrence. Sorry Mark !Also wanted to rectify my David Gemmel deficit this year. I've enjoyed all the Fantasy books I've read this year and these are my favourites.

1.Age of Assassins by RJ Barker
2.Smilers Fair by Rebecca Levene
3.Sword in the Storm by the hugely influential David Gemmel
4.Siege Line by Myke Cole
5.Wheel of Osheim by Mark Lawrence

John wrote: "I've not read a great deal of Fantasy this year and as you can see I'm way behind with Mark Lawrence. Sorry Mark !Also wanted to rectify my David Gemmel deficit this year. I've enjoyed all the Fant..."

Outrageous! :o

Sword in the Storm is my favourite Gemmell book! And I'm a fan of Myke Cole's books, though I haven't got to Siege Line yet.

My top 5:
1. Oathbringer, by Brandon Sanderson
2. IT, by Stephen King
3. The Bitter Twins, by Jen Williams
4. The Crimson Campaign, by Brian McClellan
5. Not finished yet and it's probably coming higher on the rank later: The Poppy War, by R.F.Kuang

Among these, The Bitter Twins and The Poppy War were released in 2018.

I didn’t read much this year so I don’t have a top 5 but I do have a top 3

1. Godsgrave by jay kristoff
2.warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
3. The reluctant queen by Sarah Beth durst

Difficult to choose 5, and impossible to rank the ones I chose, but I enjoyed these the most:

Arm of the Sphinx- Bancroft
She Who Waits- Polanski
The Folding Knife- Parker
King of Thorns- Lawrence
Chains of the Heretic- Salyards

Installments of a trilogy could easily represent the entire series, which are all among the best I've read (I haven't experienced the Hod King yet, but I have faith).

Jeremy wrote: "Difficult to choose 5, and impossible to rank the ones I chose, but I enjoyed these the most:

Arm of the Sphinx- Bancroft
She Who Waits- Polanski
The Folding Knife- Parker
King of Thorns- Lawrenc..."

What good taste you’ve got! A holy trinity there that I really like; Bancroft, Polanski and Lawrence......

Likewise, Steve! Master Assassins might've made my list on another day; at the least, its upwards on my top 10. 2018 was my introduction into Bancroft, Polanski, and KJ Parker, all of whom are now among my favorite authors; I began Mark's Thorn trilogy last year and finished early this year. I've got quite a bit of catching up to do with Dr. Lawrence

Micchael Scott Earle, The Destroyer series, period, my first...
Joe Abercrombie, Everything connected to First World series, Logan Ninefingers, nothing else needed to be said...
Adrian Selby, The Winter Road, Live Teyr Admondsen! She is....astounding...then there is Snakewood...trilogy
Mark Lawrence, Red Sister, Grey Sister, Nona,... enough said trilogy...
Brian McClellan, Powder Mage series, trilogy. No apologies.

Contenders that must be mentioned...please...
John Gwynne, Of Blood & Bone trilogy,
Michael Sullivan, Age of Myth, Swords, War.
Jay Kristoff, Nevernight, Godsgrave, trilogy, Mia? WHAT? wow.
All Stellar books, writers, incredible work! Thank you, all.

1. Kingdom of Ash
2. ACOFAS
3. Grishaverse
4. Fantastic Beasts Script
5. The Orphan Queen

I have read many, but the above are my absolute faves of this year!

So I read both Tawny Man and Fitz and the Fool series this year and Hobb is like my absolute favourite, so here are 5 other books that I loved this year (cuz if I would count 6 of Hobb's book, there would be no space left for any other author in top 5)

1. Kings of Wyld - Nicholas Eams
2. Malice (and also Valour) - John Gwynne
3. Grey Sister - Mark Lawrence
4. Foundryside - Robert Jackson Bennet
5. The Core - Peter V Brett

Best 5 fantasy I read this year:
1. Ken Liu - Dandelion Empire Series
2. Lev Grossman Magicians Series
3. Katherine Arden - Winternight Series
4. Nicholas Eames - Kings of the Wyld
5. Mark Lawrence - Grey Sister / Michael J. Sullivan - (Legends of the first empire series)

in no order
foundryside-robert Jackson Bennett
Jade city- Fonda Lee(I'm not quite done with this yet, but unless the last 1/4 of the book drastically changes, it will be there)
bloody roses- Nicholas Eames
and older books that I slept on somehow also included
carrion comfort- Dan Simmons
and a tie, but I feel okay being the same author
swan song/boys life- Robert Mccammon

and for the worst
elevation- Stephen King
the child thief- brom

Sumayyah wrote: "So I read both Tawny Man and Fitz and the Fool series this year and Hobb is like my absolute favourite, so here are 5 other books that I loved this year (cuz if I would count 6 of Hobb's book, ther..."

I feel the same way about Hobb! :)

1. Oathbringer,
2. The Lies of Lock Lamora
3. The Arm of the Sphinx
4. Blooddy Rose
5. Grey Sister

Keith I enjoyed Elevation but it left me unsatisfied. It definitely wouldn’t be on this list though.

In no particular order mine would have to be (considering Fantasy hasn’t been my main read this year but next year things are going to change...)

Red Sister by Mark Lawrence (My beautiful signed copy of Grey Sister is sitting waiting for me at home when I actually have the time to be able to sit and read it and enjoy it)
The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French
Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend (MG/YA but excellent and I’m currently reading Wundersmith the next in the series)
Good Omens by Terry Prachett and Neil Gaiman.

Among those I loved best which were published this year (not in any order).
The Age of War - Michael J Sullivan
Grey Sister - Can't remember his name ;-)
The Infernal Battalion - Django Wexler
Brief Cases - Jim Butcher (It was a sip of water for a big thirst even though some stories were older previously published!)

Some of my favorite re-reads and new readings of earlier published books.
Low Town - Daniel Polanski
Road Brothers - by whats-his-name
Riyria Revelations/Chronicles especially The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter - Michael J Sullivan
Lost Gods - Brom

Beverly wrote: "Among those I loved best which were published this year (not in any order).
The Age of War - Michael J Sullivan
Grey Sister - Can't remember his name ;-)
The Infernal Battalion - Django Wexler
Brie..."

Low Town is an underappreciated gem.

Jacqueline wrote: "Keith I enjoyed Elevation but it left me unsatisfied. It definitely wouldn’t be on this list though.

In no particular order mine would have to be (considering Fantasy hasn’t been my main read thi..."

The Grey Bastards is very good. One of the best to come out of the SPFBO contest.

Grey Sister (Until we meet again Keot)

Iron Gold (I read the whole series again but IG was released this year so...)

Spellslinger (omg Spellslinger et al)

Six of Crows

Ravencry

Honourable mention goes to Circe.

Senlin Ascends
Going Postal
Ravencry
The Name of the Wind
The Tower of Living and Dying

Honorable mention:
Bloody Rose

J.L. wrote: "Senlin Ascends
Going Postal
Ravencry
The Name of the Wind
The Tower of Living and Dying

Honorable mention:
Bloody Rose"


I love Going Postal !!!!!! I feel like so many people miss out on the greatness that is Terry Pratchett!

I was one of them for too long! I've read 6 more Discworld novels since and have spread the goodness to my wife. I'm using Discworld as a palette cleanser between grimdark meals of blood and grit. :)

J.L. wrote: "I was one of them for too long! I've read 6 more Discworld novels since and have spread the goodness to my wife. I'm using Discworld as a palette cleanser between grimdark meals of blood and grit. :)"

Some Discworld fans have missed out on his Bromeliad Trilogy - lovely tale of little people living in an old style Departmental Store. If you have, I recommend it. Just as good as the Discworld series....

I've read too many books so far this year and it's hard to pick out any favourites but here are some of them that aren't re-reads. Three of them were published this year so that's something.

Revenant Gun
Captain Vorpatril's Alliance
From the Shadows of the Owl Queen's Court
Bloody Rose
Going Postal

Gonna go with books published in 2018, in no particular order:

The Winter Road
Foundryside
Chasing Graves
The Fires of Muspelheim
Manifest Recall

Damn. I've read some great books this year.

I'm not done with this year's reading yet, but I don't think my choices will change much. So this will probably be my best-reads-of-the-year list:

A Sacred Storm, by Theodore Brun
A Mighty Dawn, also by Theodore Brun
The Power, by Naomi Alderman
Prince of Fools, by... we all know who, right? ;)
and Uprooted, by Naomi Novik.

Carla wrote: "I'm not done with this year's reading yet, but I don't think my choices will change much. So this will probably be my best-reads-of-the-year list:

A Sacred Storm, by Theodore Brun
A Mighty Dawn, a..."

Not heard of Theodore Brun. What led you to read his books?

Mark wrote: "Carla wrote: "I'm not done with this year's reading yet, but I don't think my choices will change much. So this will probably be my best-reads-of-the-year list:

A Sacred Storm, by Theodore Brun
A ..."

Found them on twitter and they sounded like my kind of books, so I'm really glad I got the chance to read them. I love it when a book mixes history and fantasy, and Theodore does it brilliantly. Also, the main character is amazing. (And broke my heart multiple times, which seems to be a thing with me).

It's really hard to pick only 5 and impossible to rank them, but I guess mine would be, in alphabetical order:
Brief Cases - Jim Butcher
Dreams of Steel - Glen Cook
Norse Mythology - Neil Gaiman
Oathbringer - Brandon Sanderson
Red Sister - Mark Lawrence

João wrote: "It's really hard to pick only 5 and impossible to rank them, but I guess mine would be, in alphabetical order:
Brief Cases - Jim Butcher
Dreams of Steel - Glen Cook
Norse Mythology - Neil Gaiman
O..."

It was very nearly alphabetical order on authors too!

Oh my, i'm feeling like i'm in " Sophie's Choise " XD

Well not that i read too many books on '18 but i will go with this, on the right order:

1: Emperor of Thorns - Mark Lawrence
2: The Republic of Thieves - Scott Lynch
3: The Adamantine Palace - Stephen Deas
4: The Road - Cormac McCarthy
5: The Warlock's Shadow - Stephen Deas

The Game by Ken Dryden
Promise of Blood (Powder Mage, #1) by Brian McClellan
Year One (The Chronicles of the One, #1) by Nora Roberts
Beartown (Beartown, #1) by Fredrick Backman
1776 by David McCullough

Dimitris wrote: "Oh my, i'm feeling like i'm in " Sophie's Choise " XD

Well not that i read too many books on '18 but i will go with this, on the right order:

1: Emperor of Thorns - Mark Lawrence
2: The Republic ..."

Not read Stephen Deas but I have a tenuous connection with the man as he used to play D&D at university with a guy I played D&D with at school. And that guy went on to win three Oscars for special effects!

From 2018's books, in no particular order:
The Poppy War
Grey Sister
Master Assassins
Thin Air (hard core sci-fi, but it's fantastic... :0)
Foundryside (still reading, but shaping up to be my #1)
Honorable mention for books published earlier - She Who Waits, The Vagrant, Senlin Ascends.

A little late to the discussion:
Grey Sister - Was a little skeptical that this was going to be as good as the Broken Empire/Red Queen series, but it's blown away my expectations.
Senlin Ascends/Arm of the Sphinx - Enthralled is the best word for how I felt about Bancroft's world. I loved every minute...
Deadhouse Landing | Ian Esslemont - I dare say that I've enjoyed Esslemonts writing more lately than Erikson (wasn't impressed with Rejoice: A Knife to the Heart). The backstory of Dancer and Kellanved shows there's a lot of Malazan left to explore.
The Shadow of the High King: The Weaving of Shadows | Frank Dorian - Was a shot in the dark and a great read. Anxiously waiting for Book 2.

Some of my favourite reads from 2018, in no particular order:

1. The Faithful and the Fallen series - John Gwynne
2. The Vagrant - Peter Newman
3. several books from the Malazan Book if the Fallen series - Steven Erikson
4. Daughter of the Forest - Juliet Marillier
5. Los Nefilim - T. Frohock (looking forward to reading her new full length novel in this series)