Reading List for 2025
I highlighted twelve titles at the start of 2024 that I planned to read during the course of the year. I say plan, but really that was more of a rough guide - with plenty of detours and exceptions. In other words, what actually happened is I read eighteen books (a big haul for me) but only eight of those were on the 2024 list. In my defence, I’m a mood reader and I always want to give a book the best possible chance, so if it doesn’t feel right I’ll move on and try something else.
I’m sticking with twelve books I’m aiming to read in 2025 and four from 2024 are rolled forward and included on the list once more. I’ll start the list with those before highlighting eight more that have drawn my eye that I want to explore further this year.
You can keep track of my reading and the books I recommend on Goodreads and Page Chewing, where I’m one of the resident reviewers. I also do a round up every summer here on my blog of my reading over the past twelve months.
Privilege Trilogy by Bharat Krishnan
ROLLED FORWARD
The sci-fi/fantasy thriller Privilege, the first story in the Privilege Trilogy, was a real surprise for me when I read it in 2023. Set in 2020, it’s an alternative history satire and reading the second and third books in this series, Power and Promise, is now long overdue!
Iron Truth by SA Tholin
ROLLED FORWARD - SORT OF
My 2024 pick, by a whisker, was actually the SPSFC 2022-23 winner The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August. However, that indie book as since been picked up by a traditional publisher and isn’t out until later in 2025. As a result the 2021-22 winner, Iron Truth, by SA Tholin squeezes into the top 12 for 2025 and I’ll read The Last Gifts of the Universe once I have chance to pick up a copy.
The Shadow Gate by LL MacRae
ROLLED FORWARD
I really enjoyed the SPFBO7 Finalist The Iron Crown. The Shadow Gate continues MacRae’s imaginative Dragon Spirits series and, with plenty of unanswered burning questions from book 1, this is a novel I’m eager to dive into this year.
Spirits of Vengeance by Rob J Hayes
ROLLED FORWARD
I love Hayes’ Mortal Techniques wuxia-inspired novels. Many fellow readers tell me this is the best one so far, so this is a must read for 2025.
The Devising by Jacob Sannox
Sannox’s Dark Oak Chronicles offer an alternative take on epic fantasy, considering what happens when evil is conquered and the winning side has to make some difficult choices in the absence of the traditional dark lord they unified to defeat. The Devising is the concluding book in the trilogy and I can’t wait to see how Sannox wraps up this dark tale.
Lightfall by Ed Crocker
I’ve just finished reading Ed Crocker’s impressive debut novel, which is a vampire tale with a difference. In a world where everyone is immortal the powerful still find ways to oppress those weaker than themselves. My full review will be posted soon over on Page Chewing and the book goes on general release on 14th January 2025.
Wrath of a Hungry God by Sean Crow
Crow’s debut, Godless Lands, was one of my favourite reads in the second half of 2024. In a bleak world ravaged by blight and disease his compelling characters cling on to hope in the face of adversity. Crow has recently finished this trilogy, so I’m gearing up to read the second book, Wrath of a Hungry God, during 2025 so I can move on and complete the series.
A Time of Dread by John Gwynne
John Gwynne was a huge influence on me as a writer and I read his debut series, The Faithful and the Fallen, whilst writing my own. I loved how he used traditional fantasy tropes whilst also giving them a fresh spin as well as the epic sweep of his storylines. It’s long overdue that I go on and explore more of his writing, so I plan to pick up A Time of Dread which kicks off his follow-up Blood and Bone trilogy.
Land by Bjørn Larssen
Children by Bjørn Larssen was my introduction into the world of independent fantasy and I’ve not looked back since. Larssen has incredible range as a writer and I’ve enjoyed his other works but I’m really pleased he’s now continued his alternative take on Norse myth in the Ten Worlds Cycle with Land. Larssen’s writing stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
When I say I like sci-fi The Murderbot Diaries are one of the first things people recommend to me. I heard Martha Wells speak at WorldCon in Glasgow last summer about her influences and her approach to writing, which finally prompted me to put All Systems Red on my Christmas list. Now I own a copy there’s no excuse to keep putting this one off.
A Ritual of Flesh by Lee C Conley
A Ritual of Bone was the first full-length novel I’d read by Lee C Conley and I loved the tone of the book and its fusion of fantasy and horror. This is a series I’m keen to continue during 2025, especially as that first book ended on something of a cliffhanger!
A Pack of Wolves by PL Stuart
This is another one which isn’t out yet but, as you can tell from the photo, I’m a big fan of this series. The fifth book in the Drowned Kingdom Saga, A Pack of Wolves is due out in the Spring of 2025 and I’m lucky enough to have an advance copy. PL Stuart’s historical fantasy series inspired by the legend of Atlantis is one of incredible ambition and scale.
I hope this blog and my upcoming reviews inspire you to pick up some of these titles and give these amazing writers a try. If you’ve read any of these stories or have any other recommendations please do leave a comment below.
