In every aspect of my life, I’m trying to adopt a new mindset — keep it simple, stupid. Hence, the very obvious title for this blog post!
Because of my work with Book Riot, I feel like I’m pretty well read in the world of new nonfiction. My fiction reading, on the other hand, tends to be a little further behind the times. I read new fiction by authors I love and buzzy titles I can get through the library, but for the most part I think my fiction tends towards books that are popular but slightly older. Here are four books I read this year that are a little older, relatively buzzy, and generally excellent.
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Of course I’m starting this post out with one of the big books that opened 2018 — way to abandon the premise of the post almost immediately! Moving on… the premise of The Immortalists is both dark and intriguing. In 1969, four siblings visit a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the day they’ll die. Finding out their death date — real or imagined, it’s not clear — affects each of the Gold children differently and dictates the course of the rest of their lives.
I thought this book was absolutely stunning. The writing is beautiful, the characters are sympathetic and real, and the premise plays out in some really surprising, touching ways. I was deeply moved by this story in a way that I didn’t understand until I’d finished, and I think it’s one I’ll be rereading in the future.
Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye
In this book, Lyndsay Faye gives new life to the story of Jane Eyre by imagining that Jane is actually a serial killer who murders men who abuse women. Jane Steele isn’t quite as gruesome as it sounds, though. There were fewer murders than I expected, and Jane’s romance with her gruff employer plays better than it does in the original. My one complaint is that there was a lesbian subplot of the novel that (disappointingly) didn’t go in the direction I expected, but overall this book was a lot of fun.
In the Woods by Tana French
Everyone I know who loves mysteries raves about Tana French, but I didn’t get around to reading the first book in her Dublin Murder Squad series, In the Woods, until earlier this summer. And it was so great! The plot — the investigation of a young girl’s murder and it’s possible connection to a cold case involving one of the investigating detectives — is interesting enough, but this is a book that’s really more about the characters in the squad. The whole book has this sense of ominousness to it that I really dug too. I’m glad I have more of these books to read!
An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard
My favorite fantasy novels are those that take place in a familiar world that also just happens to have magic as part of it, which is almost exactly what An Unkindness of Magicians is about. In New York City, magic controls everything, but it’s also controlled by a strict set of magical families and rules. When a powerful new magician, Sydney, arrives, she upends the social order during a time when power throughout magician society is already being reshuffled. This is a standalone fantasy book, but the way the story ended feels ripe for a sequel or series. There’s no gaping plot holes left open, but the characters Kat Howard introduced were so interesting and rich, I just want to see where their lives take them next. I loved it.
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I am a bit behind on the Tana Woods books. I really should try to catch up!
This one was my first, so it’s exciting to know there are many more to come!
And I haven’t read any of them. :/
Lots of books, not enough time 🙂
The only one of these that I’ve read is Jane Steele, but I thought it was a lot of fun too! It’s the only book I’ve read by Faye and it makes me think I should read more 🙂
Agreed! I found the first in one of her other series, Gods of Gotham, at a used bookstore, so that’s on my shelves now just waiting.
I’m one of the very few who didn’t like The Immortalists! I thought the premise was intriguing and the first part was excellent, but it went downhill for me after that.
And I have Tana French’s latest and do want to go back and read In the Woods!
I think you’re right, the ending doesn’t quite have the same punch as the beginning, but I liked it anyway 🙂
I’m glad to hear you also liked An Unkindness of Magicians. Recently I re-read the story The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas and thought of Kat Howard’s novel as a kind of imitation.
Oh interesting! I will have to go look for that.
The next book in the Dublin Murder Squad series, The Likeness, is my favourite! Faithful Place, the third, comes in close behind. Enjoy!
Oh nice! I’m hoping to read one this fall or winter, her book felt very atmospheric and cold weather-y to me.
I’ve heard good things about In the Woods. Perhaps it’s time for me to read it!
It was good! It made me excited to keep going with the series.
Oh so glad to hear you liked Jane Steele and In the Woods. I love Tana French’s novels so hope you get a chance to read more of her books. The other books could definitely be read as standalones so not quite the traditional mystery series.
That’s good to know! I know they’re loosely connected, but it’s good you don’t really have to read one to understand the next.