I absolutely love reading though and decided it was time to fit more time for it into my year. So I did. And since I started keeping track this was the highest book count I've had. Not only was I very happy with my total but I read some truly amazing books.
One thing that was especially fun this year was I found several authors who I enjoyed more than one book from. Now that's unusual for me. I might find a one off book from an author that tickles my fancy or a series where I enjoy some books and not so much others. Finding authors who I just chain picked up one book after another was a great experience for me.
My one goal for the year was to work on being better at follow through. I have a horrible habit of finishing a book(in a series) and then putting the next book on my list... but at the bottom!! By the time it cycled around to the top I'd half-forgotten what the previous book was about.
Anyway, since I was working on completing previously started series or following through on ones I started this year, I tried to be a little reasonable on what I put on this list. So even if I loved an entire series I'm only including on of the books on my list.
No more talk. Time to get to the point! Best of 2022!
.png)
Brianna bears a deadly secret: she’s not the princess she is pretending to be. If the prince finds out, her life will be forfeit and her country plunged into war.
But there is more to the icy prince than meets the eye, and Brianna slowly unravels the secrets of his dark past while surviving in a strange culture.
However her goodness and wit will only get her so far. Terrifying beasts stalk the border and a murderer is at work in the town. They know the truth of Brianna’s identity and will stop at nothing to destroy all she has fought for.
A retelling of The Goose Girl that takes on a twist so interesting that it's almost more of an true original fairy tale. This trilogy may start as a retelling but the next two books go beyond the fairy tale and are purely original concepts.
I did read all three books and loved them immensely. In the process I fell in love with Alice's writing and enjoyed a duology as well as a solo book from her. I have every intention of reading more of her work over the next year.
Brianna is a powerful character who is easy to sympathize with. Her position is difficult and I loved the twist of the servant being the victim instead of the princess. I think it was executed well too. I believed why she went through with it. Why she was silent. Why she struggled, etc.
The romance is very slow and there's obvious reservations on both sides. Brianna knows she's not who Jian believes her to be. Jian is so focused on keeping his kingdom safe that romance isn't even on his radar. I love how Brianna tries to fit into a country who's culture and people are so vastly different from her own.
There's spirit beasts, danger, intrigue, and honestly a very big question of what will win? The desires of the heart or what is best for the people. I love a good story where you're honestly not sure what people will choose. Because the characters want what is best for others more than they're determined to follow their own desires.
*Note: I also enjoyed A Flawed Princess, Feathers of Blood, Kingdom of Feathers, The Widow and the Beast, and the Songs of the Piper duology from Alice.
.png)
2. Trial of Words and Worth by Amity Thompson
Ordinary words.
Extraordinary magic.
Passable. The word echoes daily in Emi of Stagmount's mind. Never a failure. Never a success. Not good enough by far to lead her humble mountain realm.
All changes as Emi tends a handsome, foreign stranger mauled by an unworldly monster. After exhausting her meager healing abilities, Emi tells him a story of magic, hope, and truth...
And he wakes.
Little does Emi know, her words contain magic as fantastic as the eldertales she grew up loving. But to earn a happily ever after, she must first find the bravery to speak.
Experience wonder and enchantment in this standalone fairytale retelling by Amity Thompson. If you enjoy imaginative tales with loyal friendship, clean romance, and a mysterious foe, A Trial of Words and Worth will delight.
This book sucked me almost immediately. I made the mistake of reading it late at night and at one point the writing was so intense I found myself with my back pressed up against my husband and hunkered down in the blanket. Nothing was going to sneak up on me! The writing throughout the book was stellar but there was for sure a few scenes early on that had me on the edge of my seat. I felt just as hunted as Emi was.
An original fairy tale that was gripping and exciting from start to finish. There was danger, sadness, and power. I told my sister about this and said, "but don't read the beginning part at night." She forgot about that bit and told me later "So I read this really good book, but it was night and I ended up slightly terrified." I asked her what book and it was this one. She'd forgotten all about me recommending it or my warning.
Great characters. Wonderful story. And the writing was spectacular.
*Note: Out of the three books that Amity has written I read 3 of them this year. I thoroughly Blue Fire and Unseen Beauty from her.
.png)
3. The Faceless Mage by Kenley Davidson
He’ll protect her with his last breath…
Until she becomes his next target.
Leisa’s ambitions used to be simple. Guard the princess. Hide her magic. Wait for her family to return.
But all of that changes when her king demands that she use her unique abilities to spy on the rival kingdom of Garimore.
Alone, far from home, and living a lie that grows more perilous by the day, Leisa’s task is complicated by her most dangerous enemy yet—the masked assassin known only as the Raven.
Everyone in the Five Thrones knows to fear him, but the Raven is not what Leisa expected. As silent as he is lethal, he provokes her curiosity as much as her fear, and hides secrets she’s determined to learn.
When her already precarious mission takes a deadly turn, Leisa must evade the Raven himself if she is to succeed. It’s never been done before, but Leisa is nothing if not stubborn. And if she doesn’t become the first to escape his blade, her entire kingdom will pay the price—in blood.
I loved watching this story play out and honestly was so worked up at the end because I couldn't see HOW Leisa was going to get out of everything all right. Like in general I believe in good endings for main characters. So on one level I believed it would work out but good grief I couldn't see how which left me feeling so much tension at the end.
It's been a few years since I've read Kenley's work but I do remember enjoying her previous works. This book definitely made me bump up reading more of her books on my priority list for 2023.
*Note: I also read the second book in the series which wraps up the storyline for these two characters and loved that as well. I'm so sad their story is over which is why I haven't read the rest of the series which follows other characters.
4. Bread of Angels by Tessa Afshar
But before she was Lydia, the seller of purple, she was simply a merchant's daughter who loved three things: her father, her ancestral home, and making dye. Then unbearable betrayal robs her of nearly everything.
With only her father's secret formulas left, Lydia flees to Philippi and struggles to establish her business on her own. Determination and serendipitous acquaintances--along with her father's precious dye--help her become one of the city's preeminent merchants. But fear lingers in every shadow, until Lydia meets the apostle Paul and hears his message of hope, becoming his first European convert. Still, Lydia can't outrun her secrets forever, and when past and present collide, she must either stand firm and trust in her fledgling faith or succumb to the fear that has ruled her life.
Tessa Afshar was a new discovery for me this year and I ended up super hooked. I picked up several of her paperback books(brand new and untested) for Christmas just because I have such faith in her writing ability. I wept several times while reading this because there is so much packed in here that I think is important for people to hear. And some of that was things I needed to hear.
My favorite part was the realization that Lydia had that it is OKAY to pursue justice against those who have hurt you. So often we're told to just let things go, but Lydia has that moment where she goes, if I don't do something than how many more people will get hurt? How much pain can I prevent by stepping in now? What could I have prevented if I'd stepped up years ago?
Her bravery enabled others with less courage and influence to speak up as well. It was truly beautiful.
5. The Water Spinner by Jessie Chang
This is the story of a woman held captive by a cruel king, until a mysterious warrior arrives with the chance of rescue . . .
This is the story of a woman’s journey to find her way back home, a journey that unveils the true extent of her power and the weight of responsibility that comes with it . . .
But above all, this is the story of a woman falling unexpectedly in love—a love that could be the most transformative, or most destructive, of all.
This was an emotional ride that made me hurt for the characters but also feel extreme elation when they'd catch a break. I loved the world building and how the story spun out.
She must marry a prince for the good of her kingdom...but the man cursed with dragon features who saved her life is the wrong prince.
Raelyn would love a simple life getting up to mischief with her brother and being valued for herself, not her title, but she's a princess with the weight of a peace treaty on her shoulders.
When Raelyn gets separated from her family on the way to her arranged marriage to the crown prince of the neighboring kingdom, she is saved by a beast...
But now he won't let her leave.
Not only does the monster claim to be Alexander, the rightful crown prince living in hiding, but he refuses to escort her back to her family. Trapped in dangerous mountains with an infuriating, fire-breathing dragon-man, Raelyn fears for the future of her kingdom and the safety of her family.
And yet...
The kindness of the cursed prince's human friends surprises her. When Alexander reveals the shocking truth of his curse, she begins to see past the monstrous exterior to the prince’s human heart. But will Raelyn have the courage to admit her growing love for a cursed man? And will her family manage to salvage the treaty when they think her dead?
7. The Prince and the Sea Witch by A. G. Marshall
She makes potions instead, earning a reputation as a witch and becoming a social outcast. When a little mermaid asks for a potion that can reunite her with the human she loves, Briony reluctantly agrees. But there is more to the mermaid’s plan than a quest for love. The more Briony interacts with the human prince the mermaid wants to claim, the more she suspects that he never loved the little mermaid at all.
Discover a retelling that turns the classic fairytale inside out and upside down. Where mermaids lure men to their deaths with siren songs and the sea witch will be the hero if she survives the final battle.
I read this entire series of stand alone novels. This one was by far my favorite and considering that Marshall wrote it(which I didn't realize until I was done reading) I'm not surprised as she has been a favorite for several years now. She has a true gift when it comes to spinning a story.
When a kraken attack leaves her family destitute, Rosemary Mercer strikes a bargain. She will serve Prince Darian for a year to erase her father’s debts. But there is more at stake than money, and the prince’s beastly curse changes more than his appearance. Can Rosemary uphold her end of the bargain without getting caught in the spell herself?
A lifetime of selfishness and pride has cost Prince Darian his humanity, his throne, and the means to make it right. As shadows gather around his kingdom, his only hope for redemption is the brave servant who refuses to be intimidated by his monstrous form. But would she still help him if she was free to leave?
Can Rosemary and Darian see past appearances and find the beauty within themselves? Or will they be torn apart by a plot much bigger than an evil curse?
This is the fourth book in a series I can happily say I've enjoyed every book for. This one didn't let me down and I would not only recommend this one but that you start with the first book as there is some spoilers from previous books.
Unlike everyone around her, Princess Azalea has never been especially troubled by the curse placed on her at her christening. But, as her sixteenth birthday approaches, even Ben--usually her only sanctuary from her well-meaning protectors--starts to worry. Not to mention he begins acting strangely about the betrothal that's bound them since childhood. Being forced to marry her best friend has always seemed like a far bigger problem than a mere curse--until the unthinkable happens.
9. Kingdom of Slumber by Deborah Grace White
Prince Bentleigh has been in a quandary for some time. How do you go about winning a girl who's already yours, whether she wants to be or not? Any hope of finding an answer withers the moment Azalea pricks her finger and is ripped from him. The magic powering her enchanted sleep is so strong, the whole kingdom succumbs during the hours of darkness. And nothing else matters but finding a way to wake her up.
Except Azalea isn't asleep. At least, not once the sun sets. And with the rest of the kingdom in an unnatural slumber, there's no one but her to fight the deadly magic creeping into the heart of her kingdom. As the curse becomes more aggressive, Azalea and Bentleigh grow increasingly desperate--enough to risk war with the dragons, their own lives . . . even their hearts.
I read the entire series this year and enjoyed most of it. This one was my favorite of the series(which can be read solo but since you will get mentions of previous stories in each book can spoil somethings). I think for me the part I enjoyed the most was that both characters knew each other and were friends beforehand. I really love a friends first romance. I also liked the twist of the princess sleeping only during the day and the kingdom sleeping only at night. Add in the forced undoing any attempt to alert the rest of the world that she is awake at night, it really was a fun retelling.
The Darkness of Altarea has come anew. Saradon has taken Pelenor for his own, but underneath his skin, Valxiron lurks, ready to seize control.
Pelenor's forces are fractured and weak against the growing power of the Order of Valxiron, finally united underneath his leadership. Trapped within his ranks is Dimitri; to his despair, his father cedes the South to the dark king, paving the way for his forces to become unstoppable.
All that stands between doom and redemption is Erendriel's cryptic prophecy, which only leads to more questions. Increasingly frustrated, Harper and her companions split to try and find a Dragonheart, an army, and the courage to save Pelenor before the final battle that will see it doomed without their desperate actions.
Dimitri, Harper, Aedon, and their companions risk everything to give Pelenor what slim chance they can - but some of them will not live to see whether the next age brings light or darkness.
Who will give the ultimate sacrifice to save those they love and the land of Pelenor... and will they succeed?
Return to Pelenor for the heartrending finale of the Chronicles of Pelenor quartet, filled with love, loss, friendship, betrayal, intrigue, and one, epic battle.
There's a lot of moments where you're not sure how any of this is going to turn out okay. And in someways it didn't. It shouldn't have. It was too much of a mess to end with sunshine and roses. It's kind of like Lord of the Rings in the sense that when you get to the end there's been a lot of loss, pain, and change.
Our characters are not the same innocents they were at the start. They've been scarred, exposed to evil they never should've had to endure, and whoever is left is going to take awhile to heal. And they'll never be the same again.
I really appreciate Dimitri's arc. I mean this guy is to blame for a LOT of this. Of course Saradon/Valxiron is the one to blame in terms of he's the one who's giving out the orders for all of this horrible stuff and orchestrating it. But we can't really forget that it was Dimitri who brought the guy back.
No matter how much regret Dimitri has shown since then. No matter how much he's tried to help or protect since then. Neither the reader or Dimitri ever forgets that none of it would've been necessary or happened if he hadn't started the ball rolling.
And YES I get that Dimitri recognized that the old system was faulty. The king was corrupt. The nobility happy to just turn a blind eye. Things were messed up. They did need fixed. That doesn't absolve him from what he did.
But basically I enjoyed throughout the series how Dimitri was the perfect complex character. Someone who did the wrong thing for the right reason. Someone who had done horrible things in his past. Someone who let revenge drive him too far. But also someone who wasn't so morally bankrupt as to be unredeemable. And the balance of that was really well done.
It's this depth of character and being able to see past the end of the story to the future of this world and both the hope and the struggles that will be faced that really made this series a good one.
