Top Five Fantasy Books…

I was re-capping the books I read last year (it still feels strange to be referring to 2012 as last year) and decided to name my top five of the year and also my top five upcoming titles this year, that is 2013, which also feels weird to say.

So my top five books released in 2012 are the following, and this I have based on both the enjoyment I got from reading them at the time and the lasting impressions that stuck with me long after I had read them.

1      The Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks.

2      Tomorrow The Killing by Daniel Polansky.

3      City of Dragons by Robin Hobb.

4      Red Country by Joe Abercrombie.

5      Knife Sworn by Mazarkis Williams.

And my top five anticipated books for 2013 are:

1      The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch.

2      Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb.

3      The Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks.

4      Sworn in Steel by Douglas Hulick.

5      Scrivener’s Tale by Fiona McIntosh.

The Republic of Thieves we’ve all been waiting for. Enough said. Fingers crossed we get that this year. Blood of Dragons is the conclusion to Hobb’s The Rain Wild Chronicles, which began slowly but has now secured its place as a Hobb great. Brent Week’s third book in the Lightbringer series is securely on my list after the impressive The Blinding Knife. Sworn in Steel is perhaps a quiet contender but again one I’ve been waiting for having really rated Among Thieves. Fiona McIntosh’s Scrivener’s Tale is perhaps the wild card  – being a huge fan of her later trilogies I’m curious how this stand alone will have turned out after her break from fantasy.

I also have two honourable mentions because I have already read these and assure you they are definitely worth looking out for in 2013:

1      Pantomime by Laura Lam.

2      Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed.

Some great reads and some highly recommended authors, though of course not a definitive list. Go enjoy and share your own.

Elloise Hopkins.