Best & Worst Books I've Read in 2025 (so far..)

The first one has to be A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett. This is just one of my current favorite releasing series at the moment. It's the perfect combination of mystery and fantasy, and I also feel like I've been talking about it incessantly, but for good reason, because both of them so far have been five out of five stars.

I have to say my other favorite thing I've read so far this year, it's definitely a bit of an emotional pivot, but it has to be the Age of Madness series by Joe Abercrombie. So far, I've read the first two books. Both of them have both been a five out of five stars.

I not only fell in love with her writing style, but I found her voice to be incredibly insightful and moving, and I would definitely pick up anything else that she puts out in the future.

My next favorite sequel has to be before your memory fades and tales from the cafe from Koshi Kazu Kawaguchi. I recently picked up books two and three from this series and loved them. I don't know if it was like a time and place element for me, but just the story, the writing style just felt so emotionally impactful.

I read Before the Coffee Gets Cold a couple years ago and I liked it, but I recently picked up books two and three from this series and loved them.

The Ragg Picker King came out this year. Five out of five star read for me as was Sword Catcher. But there are so many characters in this series to fall in love with.

The Ragg Picker King came out this year. Five out of five star read for me as was Sword Catcher. But there are so many characters in this series to fall in love with.

My next favorite sequel has to be before your memory fades and tales from the cafe from Koshi Kazu Kawaguchi. I recently picked up books two and three from this series and loved them. I don't know if it was like a time and place element for me, but just the story, the writing style just felt so emotionally impactful.

Next is the biggest surprise and I have to go with The Devils by Joe Abbercrombie. I'm not surprised that I loved this novel as this was one of my most anticipated releases, but I was very surprised by like the tone and experience of this novel in a way that I was like thrilled about.

I will say The Echo Wife was ultimately quite disappointing for me. This just was underwhelming. I felt like the concept was really strong, but the execution was actually kind of boring and lackluster.

It was a win for me overall. And I also love an a steer Shakespearean inspired medieval setting. And the vibes of this book worked for me and so did the romantic pairing. It was quite fun.

This is honestly one of my favorite books I've read so far this year. It's a fa centered short story that was just a stunning reading experience.

I have to say my other favorite thing I've read so far this year, it's definitely a bit of an emotional pivot, but it has to be the Age of Madness series by Joe Abercrombie. So far, I've read the first two books. Both of them have both been a five out of five stars.

I really enjoyed the first one. I obviously want to see where the series is going to take us, so I'm going to read it.

First book I'm going to show off is The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez. Simon Jimenez has quickly become one of my favorite authors of all time. I've only read two of his books, but both of them have been clear five out of five star reads for me.

I feel like The Whisper Wix is just one of the most delightful, well-written middle-grade fantasy books I have read in a minute. It's portal fantasy centering family and friendship and perseverance and just like the themes of this just really touched my heart and I would recommend this book to anyone.