My Top 10 Books of 2018

I kind of hate these things. I read so many books, and like them for different reasons. Trying to quantify them for a list such as this is not only hard, but almost unfair to the other books I liked. I’m going to try and put them some in some semblance of order, but just because one is numerically superior (or inferior, depending on perspective) doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a vast gulf between. For the record, here’s most of the books I’ve read this year, courtesy of My Year in Books from Goodreads. To help me a little with decision-making, all of these books were released in 2018, and damn, it was still hard.

10. City of Lies by Sam Hawke – In a genre now rife with assassins and killers, City of Lies follows the exploits of two MCs who prevent poisonings. But that is not the most unique quality of our two MCs. Jovan not only has to deal with the catastrophic events unfolding around him, but his crippling anxiety and OCD. Kalina, his sister is strong-willed and brave, but cursed with an ailing body. Throw in the intrigue of the plot, and this is a fantasy that dumps many genre tropes on their heads. My Review

9. Manifest Recall by Alan Baxter – Eli finds himself in the driving seat of an unknown car, with a scantily clad woman tied up beside him and no idea how he got there. More importantly, why are the ghosts of people he’s killed riding in the backseat and heckling him? More of a supernatural thriller than my usual fantasy fare, Manifest Recall reels you in from the very start and never lets up as it rattles along. The plot is a trip, literally and figuratively, as the first person POV leaves us guessing at every turn. Fans of the eminent Clive Barker will dig this. My Review

8. Drones by Rob J Hayes – The author took a break from his usual excellent fantasy fare to create an excellent near-future science fiction tale. Drugs are now passé, and emotional transference is the new high. Garrick is a drone, one who sells his emotions for gain. When he finds his “dealer” murdered, Garrick attempts to find the culprit. This isn’t a long book, maybe 200 or so pages, but the author packs in a twisting plot, likeable characters, and plenty of action. Garrick has his own tragic backstory that paints a picture of a man who wants more from selling his emotions than just money. My Review 

7. Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett – Ever wondered how an author might try and squeeze the intricacies of code and hacking into a fantasy setting? Well, wonder no more. The author has written a clever and fun story of a society where corporations attempt to one-up each other be adapting magic (code) for their own gain. The hero, Sancia, stumbles on a plot by one of the corporation to unearth an old magic that would blow the others away. The characters are great, the world-building is impressive, and how the author portrays the magic/code is hilariously bonkers at times. My Review 

6. Son of Zeus by Glyn Iliffe – One for fans of mythology and historical fantasy, Son of Zeus breathes life into the well known Twelve Labours of Heracles. Not only does he flesh out the story some, but breathes life into each of the characters, painting a picture of a former hero who has reached rock bottom, rife with despair and with the whole world baying for his blood. Despite knowing the outcomes, each battle (we see three here) is exciting and tense, the plot of Heracles rising to greatness despite the enmity of Hera is well written, and we root for our hero as he crawls his way back to the top. This is pitch dark though, as the tale deserves to be, but it very rewarding for those who can fight past the bleak tone of the first half of the book. My Review

5. The Fires of Muspelheim by Matt Larkin – Another foray into mythology/historical fantasy, this time as the author outlines Odin and Company’s plunge towards Ragnarok. Call this a series award. This is the final part of the nine-part Ragnarok Era series, based on the Norse (and German) Eschaton Cycle. Also achingly bleak (end of the world, dude), the author inserts more humanity into the characters we probably feel we all now well, such as Odin, Thor and so forth. But these are not the jolly Marvel bunch, these are hard-bitten warriors, weighed down by their lot in life, fighting to save a world that doesn’t seem to care. I recommend you start from the beginning, as this is a journey well worth taking. My Review

4. We Ride the Storm by Devin Madson – A favourite on the SPFBO crew, this tale of changing times, and how three very different people endeavour to deal with it has to be one of the hits of the year, independent or otherwise. The story is set in an Asian culture-inspired world, and tells the story of a tribesman who tries to cling on to the old ways as his people move with the times; a whore/assassin who takes on a job that may be the end of her; and a princess whose sole value seems to be her marital value. So far, so “been there, done that?” Don’t let this turn you off. The worldbuilding, familiar but very different, and the “bet you didn’t see that coming” plot are impressive, as is the author’s prose and scene writing, but it’s her characters that steal most of the plaudits. If you haven’t tested the indie fantasy waters, then let this be the one the lure you in. My Review

3. The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French – Speaking of SPFBO favourites, this was the 2016 winner, and received a coveted (by some) publishing contract. I know I’m cheating a little but, well, it’s my list. The Grey Bastards tells the tale of a tribe of half-orcs, the spawn of humans and orcs (I’ll let you figure that bit out), who live in a harsh desert land, watching for raiding parties of orcs, and worse. A wizard appears from climes unknown, setting the half-orcs world upside down and sending the hero, Jackal, on a quest that seems to be far more than advertised. This is a hilarious, action-packed, sweary romp, with great characters (wait until you meet Fetch) and an awesome familiar-but-different fantasy setting. Don’t take my word for it though. Check it out, it’s a blast. My Review

2. Chasing Graves by Ben Galley – One of the more recent books I’ve read, I’ve had a number of the author’s books sitting on my TBR crying out for my attention. Then an ARC came my way with a deadline, “forcing” me to read it. Now I’m wondering, what else have I missed? The novel is based on Egyptian mythology, although as it’s not my forté, you’ll have to take the author’s word for it. The setting is great though. The gods are dead, and the souls of the recently deceased are bonded and sold as slaves. This, of course, leads to criminal behaviour, and roaming the streets at night is no longer safe. The hero, Caltro, is a “locksmith” (safe-cracker), but he looks like he would be more at home playing darts in a pub than out slaying dragons. He also dies in the first chapter, setting the tone for a terrific plot. The story is a utterly bonkers at times (my favourite plot device), and one of the last books of the year is also one of the best. My Review

1. The Winter Road by Adrian Selby – you could persuade me to change some of the other rankings on the list without much argument, but you ain’t shifting  me on this one. The Winter Road is a bleak, unforgiving and often heart-aching account of a former-warrior who aims to change the world by building a road between the various villages in the harsh environment in which she lives. But others have their own ideas on progress, and our intrepid hero finds herself waylaid at every step of the way. But it doesn’t stop her. Teyr is one of the finest characters of recent fantasy, and it’s impossible not to root for her. She’s a decorated warrior, but has become a trader in recent times. She’s a well-drawn character though, not just a man in a dress, and is a mother and wife, who cares deeply for those who deserve it. The setting is harsh, but realistic. The prose suits the world, and the author uses some interesting and wildly different styles throughout. Be warned though, this book is not for everyone, but ultimately rewarding for those who stick with it. My Review

So there you have it, my top 10 utterly subjective books of the year. What do you think? What were your favourites, fantasy or otherwise? Mine just happened to be fantasy, as I read a lot of it, but I’ve read some cracking sci-fi, horror and historical fiction too. Want lists of those too? Let me know.