At some point in the first few months leading into this year, I found myself overwhelmed with reading obligations. There’s the books I bought for myself, the books I bought to review, books that were given to me (KINDLY and GRACIOUSLY and IN GOOD FAITH) by publishers, and everything else I had straggling along. When I finally dug myself out of this mire in March, I did it with a new resolution: I wasn’t going to buy books this year that were “genre,” ie SF/F. Those books I read would only be by the graces of the publishers for review, and I was going to focus my “free” time and money on other things. If that was reading, then it was going to be reading that in some fashion was “for bettering myself,” whether that be personally, or just expanding my horizons.
- The Crimson Campaign by Brian McClellan. Book 1 was an unexpected and blow my socks off pleasure. Sure, it was “old fashioned” fantasy in the sense of great magics and mysterious destinies and the usual baggage, but it was fresh and original at the same. Loved Brian’s first book, really looking forward to this book.
- The Widow’s House by Daniel Abraham. Cannot emphasize enough how much of a fanboy I am of Abraham’s work. If I had to compare it to something, I’d say it’s like the Game of Thrones series, but not nearly as draggingly deep and weighted down. Plus, the books come out every 9-12 months, so there’s little risk of Daniel not finishing it. I think.
- Cibola Burn by S.A. Corey – which astute readers will know is really just 50% more Daniel Abraham. It’s weird, in a way – individually, I’ve had fault with a few parts of this series, and yet as a whole it has been exactly what the doctor ordered. Blow your socks off space opera – check! Also, you should probably read the books before SyFy goes to air with the series they’re adapting from book one. I hope they do the series justice, but just in case, read it now while you can.
- The Broken Eye by Brent Weeks. Loved the Night Angel trilogy to death – read all three books in the span of a week after discovering them. This series uses chromatic magic (based on color), which you’d think I wouldn’t fancy. And yet here it is, on my list.
What’s missing? Well, there’s Ken Scholes next book, which I feel guilty not including. I’m a little over halfway through Requiem and loving it – Ken’s books are always sweet and magical. However, I haven’t seen anything floating around yet about the next book (or rather, I have, but I can’t lay my fingers on where), making it difficult to include here. But these are my definite, going to pay good money and enjoy every moment of reading them books for this year.
So far.