Remember that To-Read list last year? I gave it a honest try, before getting sidetracked. If a long-anticipated book wasn’t dropping, science fiction was calling my name. I read a ton of that last year, according to my StoryGraph.

What I Did Read

• Around the Way Girl, by Taraji P. Henson – I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, so I made a point to give this attention. Need a physical copy for my shelves– the highest accolade I can bestow a book.
• Now I’ll Tell You Everything, Volume 25, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor – I caught up on Wikipedia and dove right in. What a wonderful sendoff.
• The Jade Bone Saga by Fonda Lee – had been on my To Read list for a long time. Enjoyed every damn minute of it and I think I like urban fantasy now.
• Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson – When this came out in December, I dropped everything and gave this my undivided attention. I was shook. I am shaken. Did I mention I was shook? We have a book club of three dedicated to the Cosmere and I can’t wait for our next meeting.
• Iron Widow and Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao – Unfortunately, Sanderson writes some doorstoppers so I had to wait before devouring the sequel (and yes, loved the first book!). Again, I was shook and shaken. More. More! Moooooore!!
• The Children of Time series by Adrian Tchaikovsky – Currently on the final book, Children of Memory; I paused between books to read Sanderson and Zhao. It really scratched my itch for Uplifted Animals in Space. Jumping spiders creating flowy spaceships, octupi who cracked the code on FTL travel, and corvids who outlived humans on a semi-terraformed planet.

What I Didn’t Read

• Queen Bees and Wannabes – this just fell lower and lower on my priority list. Sorry, nonfiction.
• Small Steps by Louis Sachar – no excuse, really.
• So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole – Highest Priority Bump; I’m mad at myself for neglecting this one. There’s a sequel coming out soon so I need to get on it!
• Winter Without End by Casimir Laski – I’ve yet to come across a physical copy of this.
• Alecto the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir – where is it where is it where is it where is it where is it where is it where is it where is it
• Connie Willis anything – as Crosstalk made me break out in hives, I won’t be torn up about this if I never get around to it. I’m scared, man.

Looking Forward To

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

I ate up some some horror/thriller compilations like The Black Girl Survives in This One and All These Sunken Souls. I want more. Apparently I’m setting myself up for thrillers and horrors this year. I am ready to be scared. Consensually. Unlike anything Connie Willis may write to upset my introverted nerves.

I Fed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea

I came across this person while searching for more scary stuff. They’re also featured in These Dreaming Spires collection, so add that to my To-Read list too.

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson

"Basically an interesting spin on Stephen King’s Carrie," a friend summarized to me. Grrl, say less!

A Crown So Cursed by L.L. McKinney

This is the third (and final, IIRC) book in the Nightmare-Verse series that slipped by me as it released in 2023. I’m a sucker for Alice and Wonderland GRIMDARK stories– I loved The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor (and now that I mention it, I’ll re-read that series too.) Unlike Beddor’s work, this is YA with the protagonist as a high schooler. I would’ve loved this when I was a Young Adult!

The Broken Earth series by N.K. Jemisin

Because why the fuck haven’t I read it yet? Because I thought it a fantasy series, that’s why, and I need to give fantasy books more of a chance. There’s a reason why people keep telling me about this!

Honorable Mention: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

One of those "eh, I’ll get to it" nominations, but the premise is interesting: Earth gets turned into a giant dungeon by bored aliens and hilarity ensues. If I get really in the mood for something lighthearted and silly I’ll definitely look into this.

I’ll Probably Just Read the SparkNotes: The Foundation Series by Isaac Asimov

A partner and I have been watching the Foundation series and let’s just say I need a refresher. It was years and years ago when I finished the books and– as this entry’s theme– all I could remember was that, eventually The Mule shows up. I’ve been enjoying the episodes but I can’t help but wonder what I’m missing, and what all the changes are (besides some even I picked up). By the way, the casting and acting? Absolutely phenomenal.

The Intrusive Thought: Sunshine by Robin McKinley

Watching (listening) to a Youtube video about some baking scam or another, the cover of a book jumped into my mind as someone described their business as "a romance novel" due to all the smells of baking. It was this one. Was it a romance novel? I don’t remember. All I can recall is that a baker and a vampire get involved with each other, somehow. And I do remember a friend recommending it to me a decade-and-change ago because I wanted something Twilight similar. But I’ll probably pick this up again; I did enjoy it.

…

After I read that one book someone told me about last year. I’m a man of my word.

And if you have any more recommendations for me, or just want to talk about your latest read, please leave a comment!