Top 10 books of 2014
These aren't ten books written in 2014 because... I very rarely buy books as soon as they come out. But onwards!
The Dyke and the Dybbuk - Ellen Galford
A warm and witty story about a Jewish lesbian London cabbie, her rambunctious family, and the dybbuk that haunts her.
Flora Segunda of Crackpot Hall - Ysabeau S Wilce
Although I thought the later books in this series went a bit off the rails, I really enjoyed this loopy but heart-felt story set in an alternate version of California full of magic and heroic women.
A History of the World - Andrew Marr
This was an entertaining big-picture portrait of world history from the year dot onwards. I liked it most for the parallels it drew between different concurrent societies - the bit about how Ancient China and Ancient Rome almost managed to make diplomatic contact but didn't quite because the mission from China only made it as far as the Middle East particularly grabbed my imagination.
Three Parts Dead - Max Gladstone
A young witch who thinks nothing of casually raising zombies must bring back a deceased god before a city falls. Her reluctant allies are an undead pirate, an apprentice priest addicted to nicotine, and a city guardswoman addicted to the bite of vampires. Also, there are gargoyles. A really cool, interesting mythos and some great writing.
Captive Prince vols 1 & 2 (I'm counting them both as one book, shut up) - C.S Pacat
I'd been hearing about Captive Prince from friends for yonks but hadn't been motivated to pick it up because slave kink tropes hadn't previously been my thing... but it is SO GOOD, you guys. The best slow-burn romance I've ever read, and also a really exciting adventure story. Plus part two ends on a knife-edge (my goodreads review simply reads AAUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH.) Can book three be out now, please?
Loki: Agent of Asgard, vol 1 - Al Ewing & Lee Garbett
The stupidly fun adventures of twenty-something!Loki, who has currently been de-aged because ...comics, and keeps being mistaken for a member of One Direction.
Think of England - K.J Charles
A heart-clenchingly good country house mystery historical romance. Archie Curtis is a Boer War veteran who is hunting for the saboteur who caused the accident which led to him being invalided out of the army. Daniel da Silva is an openly queer foppish Jewish poet with a secret. Together (at least by the end of the book) they fight crime! Both smart and hot, with an absolutely perfect central couple.
The City of Silk & Steel - Mike & Louise Carey
A lovely, lovely story about a seraglio of women who are cast out of their city by a religious fanatic, and turn themselves into an army in order to take back their home.
Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire - Simon Baker
A thrilling jaunt through multiple centuries of Roman political and military history.
Flygirl - Sherri L Smith
The massively tense and emotional tale of a girl who desperately wants to join the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) in WW2, but has to 'pass' as white to do it.
For 2015 I'm aiming to read at least three books in French and three in Spanish, as well as a selection of the English books that are on my to-read list, and to read more non-fiction than I did this year.
The Dyke and the Dybbuk - Ellen Galford
A warm and witty story about a Jewish lesbian London cabbie, her rambunctious family, and the dybbuk that haunts her.
Flora Segunda of Crackpot Hall - Ysabeau S Wilce
Although I thought the later books in this series went a bit off the rails, I really enjoyed this loopy but heart-felt story set in an alternate version of California full of magic and heroic women.
A History of the World - Andrew Marr
This was an entertaining big-picture portrait of world history from the year dot onwards. I liked it most for the parallels it drew between different concurrent societies - the bit about how Ancient China and Ancient Rome almost managed to make diplomatic contact but didn't quite because the mission from China only made it as far as the Middle East particularly grabbed my imagination.
Three Parts Dead - Max Gladstone
A young witch who thinks nothing of casually raising zombies must bring back a deceased god before a city falls. Her reluctant allies are an undead pirate, an apprentice priest addicted to nicotine, and a city guardswoman addicted to the bite of vampires. Also, there are gargoyles. A really cool, interesting mythos and some great writing.
Captive Prince vols 1 & 2 (I'm counting them both as one book, shut up) - C.S Pacat
I'd been hearing about Captive Prince from friends for yonks but hadn't been motivated to pick it up because slave kink tropes hadn't previously been my thing... but it is SO GOOD, you guys. The best slow-burn romance I've ever read, and also a really exciting adventure story. Plus part two ends on a knife-edge (my goodreads review simply reads AAUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH.) Can book three be out now, please?
Loki: Agent of Asgard, vol 1 - Al Ewing & Lee Garbett
The stupidly fun adventures of twenty-something!Loki, who has currently been de-aged because ...comics, and keeps being mistaken for a member of One Direction.
Think of England - K.J Charles
A heart-clenchingly good country house mystery historical romance. Archie Curtis is a Boer War veteran who is hunting for the saboteur who caused the accident which led to him being invalided out of the army. Daniel da Silva is an openly queer foppish Jewish poet with a secret. Together (at least by the end of the book) they fight crime! Both smart and hot, with an absolutely perfect central couple.
The City of Silk & Steel - Mike & Louise Carey
A lovely, lovely story about a seraglio of women who are cast out of their city by a religious fanatic, and turn themselves into an army in order to take back their home.
Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire - Simon Baker
A thrilling jaunt through multiple centuries of Roman political and military history.
Flygirl - Sherri L Smith
The massively tense and emotional tale of a girl who desperately wants to join the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) in WW2, but has to 'pass' as white to do it.
For 2015 I'm aiming to read at least three books in French and three in Spanish, as well as a selection of the English books that are on my to-read list, and to read more non-fiction than I did this year.