The top ten best books I read in 2018

It’s that weird week between Christmas and New Years when no one really knows what to do with themselves. It feels silly to try to get back to normal routines when we know it’s just going to be thrown right out the window next Monday and Tuesday. So let’s just spend some time this week eating leftovers, playing with our new gifts, and reflecting on the year we’re about to leave in the rear-view mirror.

Today, I want to share with you the ten best books I read this year. I specifically kept this list to just books that I read new this year. And yes, this list will include some books I talked about in my list of favorite Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and favorite of all time books. So I won’t go on forever about any of them.

Thief’s Magic by Trudi Canavan

Really love the magic structure in this book, and I can’t wait to read the second one.

Norse Mythology, by Neil Gaiman

This was a great book. I don’t want to compare myself to Gaiman (even if we are both fantasy authors. Just saying.) But I am inspired by Norse Mythology in my fantasy work, as I’m sure anyone who’s read any of the Woven series can tell you.

Fear by Bob Woodward

I am kind of a politics junkie, but I don’t often read full-length books about it. Normally it’s just rehashing what I’ve already read and heard about. But getting Woodward’s point of view on the situation was fascinating.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Again, I’m really surprised I took so long to read this book. I’m glad I did.

Sky Of Stone by Homer Hickham

This was the year I realized that Homer Hickham wrote more books after Rocket Boys. This book was my life for the two days it took me to devour it. This man’s life is fascinating.

The Coalwood Way by Homer Hickham

Everything I said about Rocket Boys and Sky of Stone can be said about this. So instead, let me tell you that Homer Hickham is on Twitter, and he is funny as hell. I love you, Mr. Hickham.

Strange The Dreamer by Laini Taylor

I picked this book up during a book signing and it just sucked me right it. (It was my signing, not Taylor’s.) And, like many good books do, finishing it added more to my to read list than it took away. I can’t wait to get my hands on Muse of Nightmares, and her first trilogy.

Tempest and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce

Pierce is my favorite fantasy author of all time, so I literally had this book on preorder as soon as it was available. And it did not disappoint! It’s set in her Tortall universe, and it’s the story of Numair before he was one of the most powerful mages in the world. When he was just a student named Arram. It’s safe to say this is my favorite book that came out this year.

Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman

I gushed about this enough in my fantasy list, so I’ll just say that I read this book during a really difficult time this year, and it was a great escape. Fairy tales are meant to be an escape from the real world when the world’s just too dark. I love any book that gives that feeling to me as an adult.

Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg

First I’m going to say that I didn’t like this book as much as I liked Wild Mind. Then I’m going to point out that it’s still a the top of my list for the year. Once again, Goldberg reminds me why I’m a writer. Any time I’m in a slump, as I was at the start of December after hard rough drafting for two months straight, her words bring me back to the page, back to myself. I want to get a chance to thank her someday.

So that’s it. If you want to follow along with what I’m reading in 2019, when I aspire to not read anything I’ve read before the whole year through, please check me out on Goodreads. And I’d love to hear what your favorite books from 2018 were. Let us know in the comments below.

In Devon’s world, magical work is as common as turning a pot or fletching an arrow. What isn’t common is a man with thread magic. When Devon finds that he is a seer, weaving prophetic tapestries, his family tries to keep it a secret.

But the family can’t hide Devon’s visions after he predicts a devastating plague in the dragon lands of Coveline. He travels there to help the dragon queen save her people.

Meanwhile, Devon’s sister Lenore joins the Church of Singular Light. As Lenore learns to serve, and falls in love with her city, she discovers a dark underbelly to the church.

Lenore fights for her city, and Devon rushes to find a cure to the plague, while an unseen enemy raises an army to destroy Septa from within.

Get Broken Patterns today, and enter the world of Woven.