So here’s what I read this year.
There’s not a whole lot of variety there in terms of genre, is there? The year started with Adam Nevill’s The Reddening, and it remained one of my favourite novels of the year. I’d prbably put that alongside Tim Lebbon’s Eden and Stephen Graham Jones’ The Only Good Indians as my top novels of the year.
On the subject of Stephen Graham Jones, I also read Mongrels this year, which was one of three werewolf novels I read this year alonside Lou Yardley’s Hellhound and J.R. Park’s Mad Dog. It’s odd that I read three great werewolf tales this year, when I don’t think I read any in the last five years.
I don’t often read YA sci fi, but I was glad I gave Tom Rimer’s The Glowing trilogy a try. The characters are great,t he plot inventive, and the Bokai are a constant menace.
There are a few short story collections among my reading too. S.H. Cooper’s All That’s Fair is a fabulous collection as is John McNee’s Doom Cabaret. I was lucky enough to win my copy of Doom Cabaret at John’s online launch even thanks to guessing the horror theme he played on piano. It was a great way to do a launch when it was impossible to do in person.
There are quite a lot of novellas on my list too. Laura Mauro’s On the Shoulders of Otava was among the best, alongside Kit Power’s A Song for the End.
On the subject of Kit Power, I’m still reading the last two books in the image. Power’s My life in Horror is a fabulous read. I’m reading an article in it between other texts and on bright mornings when I can sit in the sun and really enjoy it. I’d recommend that to everyone.