Ho Ho Hoooooo

“Open your eyes, look to the books when you’re reading

There will be stars shining for you

Reader awake, it’s getting late, books are calling

The whole wide world is wombling tooooo”

So, if you want to let people know what is good as a gift for you someone else or perhaps just treating yourself too; then join me in my grotto and let’s talk some book ideas.  My favourites of the year come later this month but these listed are all worthy of your consideration.

Stocking 6 - Fantasy

Another great year for fantasy with stunning tales again a theme of working out what is next after the dark times comes through but lots of variety

Urban

And by urban I mean near future alternate America where native American gods have returned in the intriguing Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

With more a noir bent and also a lovely look at lies and relationships I think there is a lot to enjoy in Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey

VV James provides a brilliant and powerful look at a small magical town that has its own #MeToo moment and its starting but compulsive in Sanctuary

Our relationship with stories is explored powerfully in Skein Island by Aliya Whiteley

One of those surprises that I enjoyed so much more than I expected was a delightful trip to New Orleans where various gods are horse-trading in Gather the Fortunes by Bryan Camp

Historical Fantasy

WE tend to imagine fantasy as epic battles but Marie Brennan managed to make a tale of magical research just as thrilling and as powerful as any epic spell in Turning Darkness Into Light

Zen Cho returns to the magical regency England with a tale of love, joy and how privilege sees people not like them in The True Queen

And while the Fantasy is very low key I love the weaving tales told in the charming Once Upon A River by Diane Setterfield

Mythic Fantasy

Movie adaptations can be viewed with suspicion but when they actually compliment and build on the film its amazing just like in Pan's Labyrinth of The Faun by Guillermo Del Toro and Cornelia Funke

And a recent read but on you ALL need to pick up is the haunting and brilliant The Deep by Rivers Solomon

Epic Fantasy

Endings

Tasha Suri completes  The Books of Ambha duology in stunning fashion with Realm of Ash

While Jen Williams finishes the Willowing Flame trilogy in the wonderful The Poison Song

Beginnings

But when one band go off into the sunset another starts a new path. Or in this case harbour as RJ Barker takes to the high seas in the excellent The Bone Ships

Evan Winter provides an action paced start to a tale based on african myths and culture in Rage of Dragons

Standalones

Ed Cox had a busy year firstly in a novella with a virtually all female cast searching for a lost prince in The Bone Shaker and then in a very different sombre and sorrowful style gave us The Song of the Sycamore

Ann Leckie moves from SF to fantasy in a brilliant story that resembles Hamlet bar a trans lead; magic and a lot of Gods in The Raven Tower

I know it’s set in the same universe as Snakewood but I loved the haunting and powerful trek I went on in The Winter Road with a very different lead and her journey to reach a new land that goes horribly wrong.