The Best Books of 2018

Outside of my literature class this semester, I didn't manage to read as much as I would have liked this year. But then I remind myself that there are people who can't read any books at all in a year (the horror), and I feel a little better. 2018 was a big year for me. I graduated high school, moved out, and started college. However, I was able to sneak in some reading in between all of this (and all of the essays I wrote), and the books I read this year were almost entirely spectacular. 

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Welcome to my absolute favorite book of 2018. Usually when people ask me what was the best book I read recently, I scoff a little, because how could I ever choose? But this year, there will be no scoffing, because The Bear and the Nightingale, plus its sequel The Girl in the Tower, absolutely stole by cold dead heart. Old magic plus medieval Russia plus fairy tales? Yes, please. This is exactly what I look for in fantasy, the ethereal atmosphere, some sword fighting, gorgeous writing, and strong characters. The third and final book, The Winter of the Witch, comes out January ninth, and you can bet that I will be there waiting in Barnes & Noble that morning. I don't remember the last time I was so ecstatic for a new release. If you love fantasy, magic, Russia, or all of the above...this series is perfect for you.  

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Guess who finally got around to reading this beauty??? I've heard some bookworms saying that Six of Crows ended up being a disappointment to them because of the ridiculous amount of hype surrounding this novel. That is an experience I did not have. Six of Crows was anything but a disappointment--it was more of a pleasant surprise. For someone who didn't particularly enjoy the Grisha series and only made it through the first book, I was skeptical of this one. But Leigh Bardugo impressed me. I love the scheming, the heists, and of course, the characters. If you haven't yet, give it a chance. It's a clever and vibrant story filled with characters that you will fall in love with. 



Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero

The second I spotted this in the bookstore, I knew I would love it. Meddling Kids is a horror, sci-fi, Scooby-Doo adventure fit with the dog sidekick and everything. If you enjoyed It, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or any eighties science fiction, you'll have a ball with this book. The Blyton Summer Detective Club reunites to get down to the bottom of the events that happened during a case they investigated as teens in Oregon. Some of the group haven't fared too well in the following years--one's been to prison, one's in a mental institution, and one is dead. There's a haunted house, spell books, and monsters that rise up from the lake. I especially enjoyed the way Edgar Cantero manipulates language and toys with language structure. His writing is so skillful that I'm shocked that his first language isn't English. 

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

The Rose Garden was my biggest surprise this year. At first glance, this book appears nothing like the stuff I usually enjoy--magic, ghosts, aliens, etc. I picked it up to read during my finals time as something that would be light and enjoyable, but not distracting. Well, I was proven wrong when I became very distracted. I couldn't put this done. Our protagonist, Eva, returns to Cornwall to scatter her dead sister's ashes and soon begins to slip back in time to the early 1700s during the Jacobite rebellion. It's a whimsical tale with pirates, ley lines, and some timey-wimey mishaps. I usually hate romance, but this book manages to strike the balance between the relationship and the plot perfectly. I'll definitely be checking out other novels by Susanna Kearsley in the coming year.


The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

Considering that The Final Empire was on my best of 2017 list, it should come as no surprise that its sequel is one of my 2018 favorites. Brandon Sanderson does fantasy like no other, and the suspense, new characters, and new secrets uncovered in The Well of Ascension makes me love this series even more. I don't even know where to start with this one. The magic system, society, and politics of this fantasy world are still some of my favorite things. I also really adored the new characters, even the evil and/or psychotic ones. Given how spectacular the endings to the first two books in the series have been, I'm sure that the last book is going to be explosive. I'll get around to reading it soon (hopefully), when I feel more emotionally prepared. 

What are your favorite books of 2018?