We’re into the New Year, so I’m now completely done with list of reviews of every book I read in 2024. According to my list, I got through 126 books this year, which is somewhat down on the previous two years, but it had been my aim to read a bit less, so I kind of succeeded there. That said, within that 126 some series were lumped in together as one, so it might’ve been more.

In 2023, I pulled out roughly half of my reads as ones I’d heartily recommend. This year, it looks like about 102/126 were books I’d recommend, and of the ones I didn’t include a good number were borderline. So there’s not much use my going through everything again, you might as well read the entire review list here!

I did star the books that particularly stood out to me, but even that list came to 38 highly recommended books. Of this, I’ve managed to whittle it down to a meagre 20 of my absolute top reads for this year (click to skip down to it).

But before we get to that, a few stats for the keen.

Reading Stats and Reflections for 2024

My reading has been stable with almost half on audio and a roughly 2:3 split of the rest for paperback vs eBook. There were a good number of authors who I read two books and a couple of threes, but only one standout where I read more, and that was Matt Dinniman with his Dungeon Crawler Carl series. I suspect I’m not alone there; it’s fantastic reading that demands binging. Also I’ve been reading Dandadan and Spy X Family as they’ve been released, but only included one review there.

Horror has crept into the lead for genres, with a 29% share of all my reads, surpassing fantasy even when combined with urban fantasy, which together reached 28%. I’ve had a chunk more of contemporary books this year, with a mix of crime, thriller, literary and even a couple of romances, and I managed to claw back some non-fiction reads at about one a month there.

My diverse reading was only just over half (i.e. not white male), at 53%, and I hit exactly 50% for male/female ratio, where I usually read more female authors. These figures were both a bit down, so I’ll be looking to expand those horizons again in 2025.

For the first time this year, I kept track of self-published/indie reads and this came out to about 25% of all my reading, which was a bit higher than I expected. I’ve got quite a few lined up for the New Year, so this ratio will probably increase.

I normally prefer shorter books but I read a heap of massive ones this year, with the longest being Ash by Mary Gentle (maybe the longest I’ve ever read!), followed by a monster WW1 textbook and The Blackwater Saga, which is technically six books. Must say I didn’t hate it; there’s a certain comfort to just sticking it out for something extra long.

Finally, I didn’t include any of the books I edited here, nor have I kept track of them, but that’d add a few dozen more reads for the year, some of which I’d also really recommend, many out of my usual area. But there’s only so much we can get into, and that’s maybe worth another post, another time.

So, without further ado, here are my top reads for 2024.

My Top 20 Reads for 2024

Brainwyrms by Alison Rumfitt (horror)

I was not prepared for how much I was completely sucked into and enjoyed this book, even after I thoroughly enjoyed Rumfitt’s Tell Me I’m Worthless. It’s brilliantly voiced and excellently encompasses some of the major issues currently facing the world through a very acute lens (that of two unstable people in an unstable relationship). It’s absolutely cringy, icky wrong at times and I couldn’t get enough; I breezed through it in just over a day. Also extra points for the Brighton setting familiar to me; the descriptions of the White Rabbit had me chortling.

Ash by Mary Gentle (historical fantasy / sci-fi)

Everyone should’ve told me about this book sooner; it’s an absolute monster but it breezes by on the formidable strength of its character. The atmosphere, easy style and charm of Ash herself justifies the length where it could certainly have been much shorter – it’s just enjoyable enough to read that I always wanted more. It’s also a very well-woven tale, with a solid feel for a detailed medieval landscape warped by occasional weirdness.

Gentle does an exceptional job of cementing this fantastical tale in reality. It’s conceptually brilliant, though the meat of that story comes in very gradually, and it comes together perfectly in the end. I had a feeling earlier on for how it had to end, without being sure how it could work, yet Gentle really pulls it off. She even makes jumping around with tenses work. I may have a new author catalogue to complete.

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman (LitRPG / fantasy)

After some heavy reading, I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon with this light book I kept seeing popping up online. I soon realised I didn’t know what this was: first, that it was a LitRPG (not my usual fare, the novel equivalent of watching someone play a computer game); second it was really rather dark and has some deep socio-political undercurrents; and third, it’s absolutely on point, massively engaging fun. I was compelled to power through the whole series in a couple of months, and couldn’t say exactly which book I thought was best at this point. Though I do recall a lot of people weren’t fond of the third book and I disagree, it was a wild ride.

Dandadan by Yukinobu Tatsu (scifi/horror manga)

I read all this fabulous series in a few weeks of binging (get it on Manga Plus, it’s legit) and what an absolute delight. Exactly my kind of blend of spec genres and humour, with monstrous horrors, space aliens and all sorts of weirdness in between. There’s a little classic manga perviness in places and it plays to tropes, but that is offset somewhat by how the characters call each other out. The dialogue and comic timing is consistently on point, and the artwork (especially considering it’s produced weekly) is frequently astounding. I’ve continued reading this every Monday and thoroughly enjoyed the new TV series too.

Whalefall by Daniel Kraus (horror/thriller)

This is the exemplary kind of horror that takes a simple concept and makes it work through identifying and realising a strong emotional throughline. In this case, the story of a man getting swallowed by a whale is underpinned by his troubled relationship with his father. You’ll wonder going in how it’s possible to write an entire book about a chap being swallowed alive, and this is absolutely how. Excellent stuff.

The World We Make by NK Jemisin (urban fantasy / cosmic horror)

Every time I read an NK Jemisin book I scold myself for not reading it sooner. I know I’ll love them and then just forget. Same here. A brilliant follow-up to The City We Became, this is bursting with life (and doubles-down on her great twist on modern-day Lovecraftian lore), so much so it made me want to go back to New York (no easy feat, I had an underwhelming time there. Twice.). And it says something about her skill that I found the most moving chapters those involving the pitiful embodiment of Staten Island.

Spireheart by Travis Riddle (fantasy)

This is the valiant finale to the six-part Pokemon-style series, and it delivers on all you could want: fulfilling character arcs, epic jekua battles, rich backstories for side-characters, high stakes villainy and the occasional brutal violence. It’s a remarkable achievement to have seen this whole series play out over just three years, and for Riddle to have done it with such skill and creativity. The world and style has been consistently unique and engaging, and you could easily go through another six books just soaking up the atmosphere. It’s been a long and heartfelt journey and this is a superb, fitting conclusion.

The Blackwater Saga by Michael McDowell (Southern Gothic / horror)

Though technically six books, as it was published, I listened to the admirably performed single audiobook. While most appropriately labelled as horror, this is really an epic family saga, exploring the trials and relationships of a small collection of people in the Deep South, with occasional sprinklings of the supernatural. And it’s absolutely quintessential Southern Gothic; the setting, characterisation, subtle weirdness, hints at hauntings, overbearing matriarch – it all adds up to a wonderfully complete and compelling atmosphere. One of those reads that really takes you on a journey and leaves you feeling like you connected with the lives presented. While also throwing in a few gruesome fantastical scenes. Wonderful.

Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (contemporary)

I had to drop everything and read Liane Moriarty’s latest, which is always a rare and wonderful treat. She has a great knack for nailing quirky idiosyncrasies and insightful storytelling, and this charming, twisty tale with fortune-telling vibes does not disappoint. I’ll keep this brief because (a) everyone should know by now she’s great, and (b) the less you know about this going in the better, I think.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due (horror)

Though this is technically horror I don’t think it sits too deeply in the genre, and is more a social drama – but either way, it’s a fantastically engaging and affecting book, delving into racial inequality and petty tyranny in a small Florida town. It feels fully authentic and you could believe it all happened then (I was even looking up a few names to see where it aligned with the history), and could unfortunately also all happen now. An excellent read.

The Mystery of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallet (crime)

Hallet has been an instabuy for me since The Appeal, and she shifts into darker territory here with a tale of cult murders and an instantly difficult but captivating main character. Tight and tense, but also intricate and complex, Hallet is an absolute master of this epistolary technique, and where in other hands it might’ve become gimmicky by now, I’d say this is her best yet. Then, I am a sucker for cult stories…

The Prestige by Christopher Priest (historical sci-fi / supernatural)

A superbly conceived and constructed saga of two magicians plotting against each other, and the legacy of their jealous schemes, with some marvellous fantastical twists. I wish I’d read this before seeing the film, as it would’ve been all the more interesting to experience not knowing how it might fit together.

The Service by Frankie Miren (contemporary)

A powerful and affecting novel following three very different women caught up in the world of sex workers. I came across this after reading Miren’s joint book with Alison Rumfitt and I expected more horror leanings, but this is a much more rugged and raw kind of book, steeped in the gritty reality of sex work. It’s eye-opening and above all a humanising and emotional ride which pulled heavily on my heart strings; highly recommend everyone dipping into this.

The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings (contemporary fantasy / horror)

A brilliant, riotous romp of wild ideas running rampant in New Orleans as worlds collide and music forms magic. This genre-bending, ambitious adventure was exactly my jam, with a little horror, a good dose of humour and a hefty portion of creative, colourful energy.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (sci-fi)

I had this lined up to read for a very long time, considering I was fairly certain it’d be great. It did indeed live up to the hype – this is a pacey, fun space thriller with a lot of heart, and it got me laughing out loud, which isn’t common with books. Brilliantly performed in audio, I’d highly recommend this.

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis (sci-fi)

A hefty chonk of a book I’d been delaying because it’s so long, but the writing and characterisation in this time-hopping adventure are curiously wonderful enough to justify its length. This is a marvel of a book in that while it avoids typical conflict and tropes, with a fairly simple and, on its face, undramatic plot, it is never less than captivating and becomes incredibly emotional and dark. Also, for a bonus, it’s essentially a Christmas story!

The Necromancer’s House by Christopher Buehlman (horror)

I’m almost all caught up with Buehlman’s work now (just Suicide Motor Club left, which Timy thankfully gave me for Christmas!) and every one of them absolutely nails its corner of the genre. In this case, washed up mages, addicts and folklore horrors collide in a lakeside retreat. Brilliantly realised, efficiently pacy and just eminently readable; Buehlman is a ludicrously talented writer.

No Man’s Land by Harold Pinter (play)

I saw this play a few years back and it stuck with me; it’s a simple set-up of four boozy chaps chatting in a room that spreads into often abstract monologues and I loved it. There’s something captivating about the language, with themes of memory and mortality mixed into often crude and abrupt asides, coming together in a mildly surreal way.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkien (fantasy)

And finally, I think it’s only polite to include one of the all-time greats. I got through all three of the Andy Serkis audiobooks in January (that’s The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King), which are brilliantly performed. It’s been some 30 years since I first delved into Tolkien so it was well past time to revisit it, and the magic is all still there, in such a superbly crafted mix of meandering adventure, lore and action. You don’t really need my review of this, we all know where the Lord of the Rings is at.