Wow! This year has rocked with five star reads as quite a few of my favorite authors either released new books or I read books by them that I am just now getting to, so I had to go through all my books and pick out my top 25 reads of the year. That was no easy task as I have read some great books this year. Also the authors are listed by genre and they are listed in no particular order.
HORROR:
DUNCAN RALSTON
The Midwives
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50519856-the-midwives
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3165467730
RONALD KELLY
The Halloween Store and Other Tales of All Hallows Eve
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3559610535
PATRICK JAMES RYAN
The Night It Got Out
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3365826038
JOHN EVERSON
Voodoo Heart
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54351471-voodoo-heart
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3516316524
JONATHAN JANZ
The Raven
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54351473-the-raven
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3516643064
(Note: This book has horror elements laced through it but it is also considered the sub-genre horror/apocalypse - also I added it to shelves of dark urban fantasy as this book has it all.)
CATHERINE CAVENDISH
The Malan Witch
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54637219-the-malan-witch
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3607944742
LEE MOUNTFORD
Haunted: Perron Manor
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55446843-haunted
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3598774288
(Note: Actually this whole series rocks and all the books I read in the series which all of the books released this year were five star reads.)
KEVIN J. KENNEDY/KJK PUBLISHING
The Horror Collection: White Edition
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48562703-the-horror-collection
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3106275639
(Note: This is a Christmas horror collection of short stories/poems)
CARVER PIKE
Scalp
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55033152-scalp
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3580794098
JEFF STRAND and JAMES A. MOORE
The Haunted Forest Tour
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34339545-the-haunted-forest-tour
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2070912816
DAVID HAYNES
Bone Snow
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3059900926
LEE FRANKLIN
Nang Tani
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53358639-nang-tani
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3684145966
D.J. DOYLE AND LEE FRANKLIN
Xtreme Xmas
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56165544-xtreme-xmas
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3695459306
JEFFREY CASTON:
Food
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54224703-food
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3446691034
GLENN ROLFE
Until Summer Comes Around
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53553436-until-summer-comes-around
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3360755031
RICK WOOD
Shutter House
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43384271-shutter-house
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3008767530
RAY GARTON
Ravenous
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22598118-ravenous
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3501931262
SCOTT THOMAS
Kill Creek
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36397095-kill-creek
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2160119399
JEFF DEGORDICK
Ghosthunter (The Haunted Hamlet #1)
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51773399-ghosthunter
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3106279203
HUNTER SHEA
Misfits
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54682089-misfits
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3538098613
Thoughts:
Horror was awesome this year - it normally is awesome but this year was rocking right along from the get-go and I literally discovered new authors this year as well! All the books listed on here in the horror section basically kept me awake nights which fueled my insomnia!
I have decided to list out the new authors discovered this year with reading their books for the first time!
New Authors Discovered:
Patrick James Ryan
Jeffrey Caston (debut author)
Carver Pike
Lee Franklin
D. J. Doyle
Scott Thomas
Ray Garton
Rick Wood
So for the horror realm - all I can say is "What A "Horrorfic Ride"!
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FANTASY/DARK FANTASY:
JAY RAVEN
Daylight's Deadly Kiss (Blood Riders #2)
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50544617-daylight-s-deadly-kiss
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3219690149
J. K. ROWLING
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42844155-harry-potter-and-the-sorcerer-s-stone
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3640176578
Thoughts:
In the fantasy realm I really didn't read a whole lot in fantasy this year, so that is something I need to remedy next year, but fantasy was great this year with revisiting an old author and discovering a new author.
New Authors Discovered:
J. K. Rowling
With fantasy this year all I can say it was a "Magical" ride!
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URBAN FANTASY:
GRAEME RODAUGHAN
A Subtle Agency Omnibus
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52547249-a-subtle-agency-omnibus
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3223921542
(Note: This was sort of reread as the omnibus contains the first three books in the series which I have already read - but the omnibus released earlier this year.)
WILLIAM MASSA
Damnation Code (Occult Assassin #1)
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44299366-damnation-code
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3660347632
Thoughts:
Urban fantasy was really fun this year as I stepped back into a series I have been entrenched in since 2016 and discovered a new author with lots of series to pursue. With the urban fantasy genre there were tons of action which kept my insomnia fueled with cinematic movie action!
New Authors Discovered:
William Massa
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SCIENCE FICTION:
ANDY PELOQUIN
Kill Order (Cerberus #0)
Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51480335-kill-order
My Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3104795975
Thoughts:
Unfortunately I don't read enough science fiction which I probably need to remedy that next year, but I read this book which was recommended by a friend and I was not disappointed as I read this book in just a few days! It is a series of books so I need to buckle down and reenter that world.
New Author:
Andy Peloquin
So for the science fiction world it was a "Galactic Space Adventure ride"!
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COMPLETE THOUGHTS:
For all the books I have read this year it was a wonderful time to step into the minds of all the authors especially with the way things were this year I feel that the book world was the best thing that shined in the year 2020 at least for me. I surpassed my reading goals and discovered new authors to explore along with revisiting authors from the past. It was an awesome reading ride!
This is so cool. Thank you for making Scalp a part of your list. I'm truly honored.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Carver! I loved Scalp and your writing style! That book was awesome! You deserve to be on my list! :)
DeleteSo honored that Voodoo Heart made your list! Thanks for reading Marie and have a great holiday!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, John! I just loved Voodoo Heart! Thank you John! Hope and your family have a Happy Holiday too! :)
DeleteAwesome blog post, Marie.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Graeme! :)
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