The Tattooed Book Geek Top Ten Books of the Year!!!

Welcome to my first books of the year post, it’s hard to believe that I first started blogging way back on March 5th and we are now near the years end, thank you to everyone for making me feel so welcome and for allowing me to be a small part of your community.

I’ve unfortunately been unable to start and/or finish a few books due to time constraints and the general busy time of the year recently that I’m sure would also have been included on this list, then it would have had to have been a top 13 instead of a top 10 though so no harm done but shout outs to The Mirror’s Truth by Michael R. Fletcher – I’ve heard nothing but great things and I’m anticipating an awesome deluded read. Dead Man’s Steel by Luke Scull, the conclusion of his quality grimdark trilogy The Grim Company. And, The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin and the what should be epic finale to his Passage trilogy of books – I’m currently reading it and it’s great, The Passage is one of my favourite ever books and I’m hoping for a fitting conclusion to the story.

Also, mention needs to go to Jakob’s Colours by Lindsay Hawdon, it is definitely one of my “must read” books of the year. However, it was first released in 2015 and isn’t on the list as it’s not actually a 2016 release but it thoroughly deserves your attention and to be read. My review can be found below:

• Jakob’s Colours by Lindsay Hawdon.

I read 56 books this year, though both to and for me that’s a good total, about a book per week. But since blogging I feel that I should write “I’ve only read 56 books this year” as I have seen that some of you can read upwards of 150 + books per year, some even breaching the 200 mark so I realise it’s a lacklustre attempt, but I’m a slow reader and I read for enjoyment, so I guess I shouldn’t feel to disenchanted over it.

Anyway, without further ado, I give to you my top 10 books of the year, 9 in no particular order and the last book on the list I am deeming to be my book of the year!

Bite contains all the good things that are own inner raider requires for a fun-filled time. Violence, gore, action, swearing and guns, guns and more guns but also some lighter moments to. While the crew aren’t sentimental there is the odd occasion of some slight semblance of emotion to be found thrown into the mix and humour, there’s plenty of laughs strewn across the wasteland in this action packed read.

While I do like losing myself in big and heavy tomes, being a fantasy and post-apocalyptic fan it’s part of the genre that most of the books are huge and hefty chunks of time and reading. It’s nice to occasionally kickback and read something that’s simply fun. That’s what Bite is, big, bold, brash, loud and unashamed fun! It’s a wild ride that I thoroughly enjoyed from the first page through to the last.

Bite is Merbeth’s debut book and deserves to do well. It’s a full throttle blast that left me wanting more! Sequel please!

My full review can be found below:

• Bite Book Review.
  

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Now the question is, if you haven’t already joined The Greatcoats then why the hell not?!?! This series is a must read and well deserving of your time!

To sum up how much I enjoyed the book, I shall give you one sentence of my infinite, all-knowing, manly, benevolent wisdom:

‘With Saint’s Blood, Sebastien de Castell has created an outstanding book that is a masterpiece in storytelling and modern fantasy’.

My full review can be found below:

• Saint’s Blood by Sebastien de Castell Book Review.
  

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And, while A Plague of Swords fails to live up to the high standard Cameron set with the previous three books in the series (The Red Knight, The Fell Sword and The Dread Wyrm) it’s still a thoroughly enjoyable, engrossing and welcome addition to The Traitor Son Cycle that deserves to be at the forefront of fantasy. Leaving you waiting in eager anticipation for the final instalment and what is sure to be an epic conclusion.

And, for The Traitor Son Cycle itself, well, yes, I most definitely would recommend this series. It’s a truly stunning epic fantasy series that in this humble bloggers opinion deserves to be listed as one of the top fantasy series and for me is a guaranteed must read.

If you’re not already part of The Red Knight’s Company then sign up now and let Gabriel and his bunch of colourful characters lead you on an epic journey, highly recommended.

My full review can be found below:

• A Plague of Swords Book Review.
  

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I have to admit that while the cover ‘sold’ the book to me as something I wanted to read I was in-fact slightly concerned when I started the actual book as I couldn’t help but think that on the surface what a strange amalgamation the two worlds would make, delving deeper however and as the story progressed they fitted together surprisingly well and with what in the hands of a lesser talented author could have been a disappointing mash-up ruining two beloved classic franchises, alienating the fans of both in the process. In the hands of Kane turns into a respectful tale embodying elements of the original works that deftly incorporates aspects from both into a delightfully glorious and stunning read making Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell one of the surprise books of the year!

By Jove! It’s highly recommended.

My full review can be found below:

• Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell by Paul Kane.
  

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As stated earlier in my review, there’s popular culture references strewn within Poison City and it seems only apt to use one myself to help describe the book. The first one that springs to mind is from the classic 1980’s cartoon series Transformers.

Poison City: more than meets the eye.

Poison City is well written with great characterisation making for an entertaining read, that rewards you with becoming a far deeper book than it at first appears to be. With a satisfying conclusion that ties up the story in the book nicely, while also hinting at more to come in the sequel, it’s a great captivating read.

On the front cover of the book it says ‘The war is coming’ well after reading this book, where’s the Delphic Division job application form because, I want in, sign me up!

For fans of urban fantasy, fantasy and booklovers/readers simply looking for something different to dabble in and try, this book would be a great addition to your TBR lists and library.

My full review can be found below:

• Poison City by Paul Crilley Book Review.
  

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The Wall of Storms has everything you could want in a book from the fantasy genre, a huge cast of well-developed and engaging characters, a complex world, ingenious creations and inventions and finally to hold it all together a multifaceted story full of emotion, betrayal, philosophy, political machinations, meddling gods, war and change that spans years with an ending that leaves you yearning for the next book in the trilogy as you want to see where Liu next takes his story.

Winter is coming – yes, I went there! But, with the changing seasons, it’s getting colder, darker, the nights are drawing in and becoming longer. Meaning it’s the perfect time to pick-up an epic tome and lose yourself in a sweeping and majestic engrossing fantasy world.

My full review can be found below:

• The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu.
  

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There’s alot to like in The Wolf Road and I feel that it’s a book that transcends an individual genre, you have the post apocalyptic element albeit slight, a western feel, thriller type moments and strong characterisation that makes it a very gritty character driven read. For anyone looking for something abit different or just a great read in general then this is the book for you.

This is an exceptional debut from Beth Lewis and a cracking good read. The book just like one of Elka’s snares, traps you and doesn’t let go until the final page.

My full review can be found below:

• The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis.
  

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Turner’s writing is again top quality as he pulls you into his story from the first few pages through to the last, great characters, settings, story arcs, plot twists, deadly magic, sea dragons, action dark humour and emotion Red Tide has everything that you could want and more in an Epic Fantasy book and is by far Turner’s best work so far.

With Red Tide, Marc Turner has written his best book yet. It’s a book that should propel him to the forefront of modern fantasy allowing him to stand alongside his peers and cementing his reputation as one of the must read authors in the genre.

My full review can be found below:

• Red Tide by Marc Turner.
  

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In my review of The Liar’s Key I wrote that Mark Lawrence had done himself proud with that book, well……The Wheel of Osheim far eclipses that as I feel this is his best book to date. To end the trilogy Mark Lawrence has crafted an outstandingly complex and engrossing book and now that it’s over I can write that just like The Broken Empire trilogy before it, with The Red Queen’s War Mark Lawrence has created yet another fantastic fantasy series that fully deserves to be added to any and every best of fantasy series list out there for many years to come.

My full review can be found below:

• The Wheel of Osheim Book Review.
  

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AND MY BOOK OF THE YEAR IS…………………………….

As Wrath, well, Wrath is my book of the year, it is the perfect storm, poignant, emotional, humorous, perfectly paced and a gripping climax to what has been an epic battle of good vs evil. Gwynne takes you through a range of emotions as you find yourself feeling sad, happy, laughing and even shedding a manly tear along the way towards that final page. A masterpiece in modern fantasy and a breathtaking finale to what is my all-time favourite fantasy series.

And, with its conclusion, I can say that in my humble opinion John Gwynne’s The Faithful and the Fallen fully deserves to be read by all fantasy fans, standing alongside other finished fantasy series as an outstanding achievement in the genre and recognised as a modern classic.

If you haven’t started this series yet or say that fantasy isn’t your genre and “isn’t for you” then do yourself a favour and give this series a go, highly recommended!

My full review can be found below:

• Wrath by john Gwynne.

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Well, that concludes my top ten books of the year, I hope you’ve all enjoyed reading the list.

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