2024 Reading Round-up

Last year was surprisingly fruitful where reading is concerned. Despite how busy I seemed to be, and how little time I had to actually write, I was able to finish a total of 48 books. This is a substantial increase on the 35 I finished in 2023, and we’d better not talk about 2022 where I only managed to make it through 13 titles. I would love to sit down and review many of the titles I read in depth, however for now this quick tour of my 2024 in books will have to do. I will link to the Goodreads page of all of the mentioned titles, rather than linking to any particular shop where you can buy them, as I trust that you will seek them out on your own should you wish to.

The best of the year

The honour of best book of the year is a difficult one to give out because I was fortunate enough to read many excellent titles. However, I am giving it to Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England’s Kings and Queens by David Mitchell. If you’re a bit of a geek about history but also want to read something that’s going to make you laugh, this is the book for you. It’s a very quick tour of the kings and queens of England up to Elizabeth I. I enjoyed it because we often start at the Tudors and go on from there, however in this book we go all the way back to see where the idea of kings and queens began.

I recommend the audio book if you want to get the full force of David’s anger and listen to him ranting, which anyone who has watched him on the TV will be familiar with. I read this at the start of the year, and what a great way to start it was.

A New Series

Picking up a new series is such a joy. It can also be a frustrating flop, however when it works out it really is a gift. You don’t just get one book to enjoy, you get a number of them. A series I picked up and immediately bought the next book was Empire of the Wolf, which starts with The Justice of Kings. Richard Swan apparently trained as a lawyer and it shows, as he skilfully weaves legal theory into a fantasy world that is in equal measures delightful and utterly sickening. Told from the perspective of Helena Sedanka, clerk to justice Sir Konrad Vonvalt, she documents his attempts to quell unrest in the empire, and ultimately his descent into madness and violence. I have never read a fantasy novel that delves so deeply into legal theory and the idea of justice. This was a very interesting angle and it worked well.

I am thrilled that he is writing more books set within this world, as the world building was utterly masterful and I know there is so much more to be uncovered. This series was terrifying in parts and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to describe it as fantasy horror. However the characters also feel very human, and I cried with them at times. All in all a wonderful discovery.

A favourite author

Finding an author who you know writes books that you will love every time is something I don’t take for granted. There are plenty of authors that I like, but I can’t guarantee I will like all of their books. However Matthew Ward is an author who has never written a book that I don’t enjoy. The Darkness Before Them is the start of his latest series, the Soulfire Saga. Two books in the series have been published and I’m eagerly awaiting the third. This book follows Kat, a thief who wants to set herself free from debts so that she can live a life on her own terms, rather than everyone else’s. With the power to control spirits and bend them to her will, what could possibly go wrong? Meanwhile, a rebel is trying to topple the ruthless rule of the king and other noble families, and Kat is going to find herself in the centre of it all.
I’ve written a review of the Darkness Before Them which you can read on this blog. I also encourage you to start with Matthew Ward’s Legacy trilogy, as I feel that all of his books are linked, and this will give you the best start.

Most surprising

Without a doubt, the most surprising (and disturbing) book I read was My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen. Roos has a spirit companion who she has been able to see and speak with since she was a child. Sometimes loving, sometimes violent, her companion is with her wherever she goes. She is there when Roos is forced to conduct séances with her mother, and she is there when Roos is swept up by the wealthy Agnes Knoop scoops Roos up and takes her away.

Roos and Agnes begin a complicated, intense relationship. When Agnes is found dead, Roos is the obvious culprit. Who else can it be?

Comfort read

After all the scheming and violence found in many of my other reads, I can thankfully say that there were some familiar and comforting books on the list. I decided to reread all of the Rivers of London series, by Ben Aaronovitch. When PC Peter Grant is out late one night, the last person he expects to meet is a ghost. But that is exactly what happens. Soon Peter discovers that there is a whole other side of London to the one he has known all his life. In comes Chief Inspector Nightingale. A detective who just happens to be a wizard (though he would call himself a practitioner) who deals with all the illegal magical goings on in the city.

I absolutely adore this series. It takes the London we all know and changes it very slightly, so that there is magic everywhere you look, and gods walk among us. Seeing the world through Peter’s eyes allows us to explore it bit by bit, and we are just as confused as he is when yet another magical creature or river god shows up, determined that they will have their say. I’ve read every book in the series so far and I eagerly await new releases. If you’re able to access audio books, the narration for this series is brilliant and you shouldn’t miss it.

So there you have it. Just five books out of a total of 48. However they were all extremely enjoyable in their own way, and I hope you will find one that you love. If you’re interested in what else I read, you can take a look at my 2024 Goodreads year in books for inspiration.