I've read more books in 2023 than I did throughout '24, and I am still in contention to add another before the year ends.
With fantasy being my favorite genre, I thought it a fine thing to reprise last year's end-of-year listicle. Here are my top epic fantasy reads in 2024 in descending order:
Thorns of War proved every bit as nail-biting as the first instalment in the Smokesmiths series, with the antagonist main character taking centre stage.
If you haven't read Seeds of War, you're doing yourself a massive disservice by denying your senses the opportunity to enjoy the electric smoke-infused duels and some badass fighting that frequently feature in the plot.
Thorns of War is the tense epilogue to João F. Silva's thrilling epic fantasy that brings the forces of the physical and metaphysical together to do battle.
While the scope of the conflict appeared to have been magnified tenfold with the cliffhanger ending from Seeds of War, Thorns of War keeps things streamlined, and there's no chance for readers to get overwhelmed by details.
Indeed, the author maintains the simplicity and easy writing style he started with in Book 1. While the plot continues to thicken, the elements don't expand, and it's easy to follow through. In Thorns of War, nothing is overdone or overemphasized, and there are a few thrilling twists that enhance reading pleasure throughout.
The tale of Vonvalt and his quest to save the heart of the Empire of the Wolf continues to be told by his faithful clerk at the conclusion of this so-far-packed epic.
Book 3, while slightly slower-paced than the previous two books, pulsed with the life of its divisive main character and other supporting characters in an impressive anti-hero fantasy epic.
It's quite interesting to see Vonvalt's development take on a different trajectory. Gone is the uptight, self-righteous lawman we saw in book one. Now, we begin to see the true effects of such an unhealthy exposure to the elements of evil, both seen and unseen.
In fighting evil, Vonvalt becomes ruthless, willing to use formerly-frowned-upon methods to further his aim of defeating Claver and his minions; it's quite interesting to watch.
While this author has stated that her book isn't to be described first as a work of fantasy, she prefers the term historical fiction as a more accurate styling of her sweeping epic that draws inspiration from ancient Yoruba history.
Still, in my books, there are enough esoteric elements to have it qualify as fantasy, with its strong female lead and crafty weaving of poetic elements.
In terms of cultural appropriation, Masquerade does a far better job of accurately adopting historical and contemporary Yoruba elements into her historical fiction debut.
It's not Afro-Fantasy, but there are allusions to the Yoruba pantheon. While certain depictions and references to deities are a bit off the mark, it's still impressively done.
Legacy of the Brightwash didn't exactly start with a bang. But, as a very well-written story, it grows on the audience, becoming the addictive image of grimdark-steampunk in a world of human engines, magic and neo-slavery.
The story has a delicious slow-burn romance, which makes things a whole lot better. If you want something different from the eternal duelling of high mages and dark lords, this book's your best bet.
Legacy of the Brightwash is a delightfully written, grimdark, steampunk story with a surprisingly well-written romance subplot.
Dark fantasy isn't typically synonymous with dewy-eyed characters, but the author cleverly positions this element as a much-welcome backstory alongside the expectedly tenuous and grim main plot.
What would a year-end list look like without Joe Abercrombie? It'd have to be a very dark year in reading terms not to enjoy at least one read from Lord Grimdark.
The Wisdom of Crowds is an aptly named stunner that triggers all the correct emotions in readers, with a satisfying ending to wrap up the rollercoaster fantasy drama.
In 'A Little Hatred,' Rikke had seen the future with her long eye - The Lion swallowing the Wolf, the Lamb swallowing the Lion, the Owl swallowing the Lamb - so it was relatively easy to see how the victories would go by the completion of the second book.
Tori Tecken's The Blood Stones only narrowly misses out on being my top epic fantasy read of the year, with the author's writing comparable to Brian McLellan's and James Islington's.
The Blood Stones is gripping from start to finish. Readers are steered through the correct outposts in an immersive ride that prompts several real-world questions.
In The Blood Stones, Tori Tecken reveals a most wonderful world of fantasy, one where the starkest deeds of man are laid bare, and the inner battle waged within every man is at its most intense.
It's hard to pick a favorite character, as each of the three MCs tugs at your heartstrings, even as their purpose sometimes seems to be at odds with the other.
The Tainted Cup isn't clear-cut epic fantasy, you may say, but the epic depth of the conflict means that the author's signature urban-epic hybrid is my top fantasy pick of 2024.
From brilliant characters to a thickly-knotted mystery puzzle, The Tainted Cup combines the monsters and sweeping locations of epic fantasy with detailed bio-driven mutation technology to deliver a story that fully entertains, no matter the angle from which you examine it.
The protagonists are brilliant, and it's exciting to see how the author introduces the rest of the characters, drawing them into an amazing web of mind-boggling suspense.
It's a fresh type of fantasy, far removed from fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping epic fantasy reads or Grimdark stories.
