For my last blog post of the year, I wanted to highlight what were my favorites books/series that I read this year. I’m excited to say that I reached my goal of reading 100 books! Many of them were by new authors, but I also had a few tried and true comfort books in the mix as well. Instead of trying to nitpit about individual books, I did clump all the books in a series together (so that series overall was in the top 10). So, here were my top 10 reads of 2021; and maybe you’ll find some new books to add to your reading list for 2022!
10. The Fairy Tale Royals series by Emily Deady
I’ve read a lot of fairy tale retellings in the last few years, and I’m always impressed when the author can take these familiar comfort stories and transform them into something new and different. The Fairy Tale Royals series by Emily Deady follows the story of one royal family made up of four brothers and one sister, who are finding love as well as discovering that the history of their kingdom may not be exactly what they’ve always been taught. It includes retellings of Cinderella, Beauty & the Beast, the Little Mermaid, and a fairy tale I wasn’t familiar with called East of the Sun & West of the Moon. There’s also a novella, which is a retelling of Goose Girl; and the fifth book in the series (set to release next year, I believe) is a retelling of Robin Hood. I thoroughly recommend for any lovers of clean romance or fairy tales!
9. The Desert Princess by Melanie Cellier
Before this year, I hadn’t read any retellings of Aladdin; and now I’ve read two gender-bent versions by two different authors! Melanie Cellier is an author that I discovered a couple years ago, who really got me into the genres of both clean romance and fairytale retellings. While The Desert Princess isn’t my favorite retelling of hers, I still thought it was incredibly creative in how it alluded to the original story while still creating its own cast of characters. Although I think it works well as a standalone, I’d certainly recommend reading the other books in the series: Return to the Four Kingdoms, which is actually a spin-off of her other two series (The Four Kingdoms & Beyond the Four Kingdoms).
8. Spellsmith & Carver series by H.L. Burke
Steampunk is a genre that I’m wanting to read more of, and this series was recommended to me as a fun example of it. It’s got a little bit of science, a little bit of magic, and a whole lot of witty banter between the main characters. I pretty much binge-read all three books in the series within a few days! The stories are captivating and the struggles the characters face are relatable. I particularly loved the romance elements in all three books, which felt like they were real people as opposed to simply characters in a story. I’m looking forward to exploring more from H.L. Burke next year!
7. Strange Planet series by Nathan W. Pyle
Okay, so I do recognize that comics and particularly webcomics (which seemed to have gained immense popularity in the last few years) are not everyone’s cup of tea. However, sometimes you just need an easy read that makes you laugh; and the Strange Planet comics by Nathan W. Pyle certainly deliver! The main premise of the comics is following the everyday lives of aliens experiencing life on this planet. They discover new things and explain their uses, celebrate holidays, and discuss their emotions all in a hilarious manner that literally has me laughing out loud. I love his use of interesting vocabulary to get across the point! And I particularly enjoy the comics that feature simple tunes (ie “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”) that have been rewritten in the alien’s speaking style. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a little more humor in your life!
6. Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
The fourth installment of Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive series was definitely at the top of my list when I started this year; so I read it quite early on. And it still managed to beat out most of the other books I read this year! Sanderson’s style is dense, but incredible world-building that completely transports you to a new world. Two of my favorite characters in this series are Kaladin and Shallan, both of whom made great leaps and bounds forward in their character arcs in this book. There are scenes that made me laugh, scenes that made me cry, and scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait for the next book in this series, and it made me want to add a few more Brandon Sanderson books to my list for 2022 that I haven’t had a chance to read yet.
5. Ms. Marvel comics
I’ve never read comic books much before, other than the occasional Superman from my dad’s childhood stash. But I checked out the first collected edition of Ms. Marvel comics from the library on a whim, and I was hooked. The series of 10 collected editions follows Ms. Marvel, aka Kamala Khan, as she discovers her powers and learns how to live the super hero life as she protects her community in New Jersey. I love it because it deals with all the typical struggles of a super hero such as work life balance, but it also brings in elements of dealing with her culture as a Pakistani-American Muslim teenage girl (which I thought was done incredibly tastefully and respectfully). Spider-Man has always been my favorite Marvel super hero…but he may have some competition now!
4. The Cat Who… series by Lillian Jackson Braun
Aside from reading 100 books this year, I also decided to make it a goal of mine to read all the books in this series (29 of them) in order. This is a series that I fell in love with back in junior high, but I’d never actually read all of the books in order from start to finish. The series follows Qwilleran, a seasoned journalist who ends up as the heir to a ridiculous fortune in a very small town in the northern Midwest, and his two Siamese cats: Koko and Yum Yum. While the female cat, Yum Yum, seems to be just your average cat; that is not the case with the male cat, Koko. He seems particularly astute, especially when it comes to sniffing out crime! This cozy mystery series is a treat and one that I’ve loved coming back to throughout this year because with Mr. Q and Koko on the case…there’s no escaping justice!
3. A Thieving Curse by Selena Gonzalez
As I said before, I’ve read A LOT of fairy tale retellings in recent years. The most popular remain Cinderella and Beauty & the Beast, which to me is one of the hardest fairy tales to find a unique take on. So this book was an incredibly pleasant surprise, as it brought both Beauty & the Beast to light in a new way. This is the first book I’ve read by Gonzalez, and this is her first book in this series. It was an easy read that completely pulled me in, and I can’t wait to see where she goes from here. The romance between the main characters was incredibly well done as well. Definitely a great read for any clean romance or fairy tale retelling fans!
2. This Present Darkness series by Frank Peretti
This is one of those old favorites that just deserves a re-read every so often. I can’t really remember how many times I’ve read this duology, but every time it grips me just as strongly. Frank Peretti’s writing is captivating, and I love how he plays with the idea of what spiritual warfare could look like. The reminders that what goes on in our hearts and minds, as well as our prayer lives, is important for reasons we may never know or understand are powerful. I also just love all the little bits of humor that make their way in amongst the seriousness of the plot. I’d definitely recommend for anyone who enjoys reading Christian fiction that borders on fantasy (as the spiritual elements can seem quite fantastical!).
1. The Sword of Lyric series by Sharon Hinck
Tired heroes. I feel like this is a trope that I desperately want more of! And it’s what drew me in immediately when I started reading The Sword of Lyric series. Each of the main characters she utilizes in her series have been “leaders” in their homes, families, and beyond; but they are still called to greater things when they become the Restorer, a leader called to represent God and gifted with mythical powers that enable them to fulfill their task. And each of them must struggle with what that responsibility looks like, as well as what it costs. I loved the world that we escape to through the portal in this book, and I adored getting a peak at the thoughts and struggles of the characters. This series is definitely perfect for any fans of Christian fantasy!
Kathleen Bird 