I did a post back in October about my pull list for single issues, basically just what I was getting and into (which you can find here). Favorites, though, is a whole different thing, and a much more condensed thing.
First off, I'm going to mention one that was a limited run, but I haven't read the last one (or the last two, I don't remember, I kind of need to organize the single issues, also very behind). Anyway, that's Captain America: White by Jeph Leob, Tim Sale. I haven't ready any of their other 'color' series, but I was really interested in this one because Steve, but also because I hadn't read anything that had stuff about their time fighting together in world war two, and this Bucky and Steve have a different dynamic then the movies. And it's interesting, and horribly sad, I think I've, at the very least, teared up at every issue. And I guess I'll just mention the two other Marvel titles here.
Spider-Gwen by Jason LaTour, Robbi Rodriguez
I'm kind of surprised this one is on the list, because I gave most of the beginning issues 3/5, but for some reason it just stuck with me. I love the idea, first of all, of Gwen being the one that was bitten. Also love the band part, and her costume is kind of damn gorgeous.
Black Canary by Brenden Fletcher, Annie Wu
I've been loving this series, and I'm not all together sure why but I am. It's so much fun, just plain and simple, it's just a lot of fun. And I started it because I read the first trade of Batgirl earlier and then this was coming out, and I was like... well, I might as well give it a shot. And I really like all the characters, the arts bright and fantastic, and it really is just a lot of fun
The Wicked and the Divine by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie, +
I've mentioned this one a time or two... everywhere, really. And I just can't take the time to list all of the artists they had this year, because they had quite a few different ones filling in at points, but they were all fantastic. And shit went down in this comic this year, it really just doesn't stop, and I cannot wait to see where the hell it's going (I'm an issue behind, actually, must read).
Wayward by Jim Zub, Steve Cummings
I've also been singing praises for this one since it started and I started reading it, in all honesty, and it's just so damn good. I love the lore that's behind it, and the essays in the back about certain things in Japan history or mythology that's linked to the story. And the art is gorgeous. Cannot wait to get to read more (actually, I also think I'm an issue behind in this one, December was a bit crazy).
RunLoveKill by Jonathan Tsuei, Eric Canete
So 4/8 of the issues came out this year, and now they're on hiatus. No idea when they're starting up again, but I hope they do period. This is so different and so gorgeous. I don't know what it is about the art that I like so much, but I do. And the beginning is set up like a movie intro. And she's some badass women on the run, I am here for that completely. First four issues were fantastic, trying to be patient as I was for more.
Injection by Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey
This one snuck up on me. The first two or three issues were pretty good, but not really blowing my mind. And then it started to get really good, and now I am dying for more, this series is so good. I can't say anything because you don't know much those first few issues, and knowing is what makes it great. So don't look into anything, it's Warren Ellis (and Trees, Volume 1 was incredible), just go forth and try it (I think volume one of this is out now, or is out soon).
East of West by Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin
I almost forgot about this one, but just because I'm a few issues behind. I read the first three volumes of this one in 2014 and it is glorious and amazing - am considering switching back to trades, though. Because, while I love getting the single issues, the story line is a little too insane to follow sometimes issue to issue. I'm not confused yet, but I could be.... and the trades would look so pretty together, okay? Either way - four horsemen of the apocalypse, but not like you're use to, and it's incredible. I recommend this on (and Wayward, WicDiv) to everyone. This one can be confusing at points, but you've just got to take it slow. Highly recommended
Kaptara by Chip Zdarsky, Kagan McLeon
I went back and forth on putting this on this list, or just dropping it to the honorable mentions, but I'm going to leave it on. It's ridiculous, it's so damn ridiculous. In the best way possible. Zdarsky does Sex Criminals with Matt Fraction, and that was just a taste of his humor. This is - just so damn... it's ridiculous and amazing. And what the fuck for a good portion of it. Also the art is surprisingly amazing, I was impressed, it's so colorful and pretty. And ridiculous. If you like ridiculous things, then do I have the thing for you. (It takes place in space, there's some problems. Just check it out).
Honorable Mentions: Descender (loved it at first, but now it's a little eh. Considering dropping and getting the trades), Wolf (the first issue blew my socks off, now it's a tad eh, also might switch to trades)
Showing posts with label 2015 favorites. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2015 favorites. Show all posts
Friday, January 15, 2016
Friday, January 8, 2016
2015 Favorites | Graphic Novels & Trades & Misc.
Part two, kind of, of my favorite books of 2015. Because, yes, I could definitely not choose just ten from all of the different categories. So I kind of split them up. The first post - fiction and non-fiction - this one with Trades and such, and then I'm planning on doing on about the single issues/running series I found or continued to love through out 2015. Now, let's just jump right in.
I read this pretty early in 2015 and I'm still thinking about it, and also still excited about getting volume 2. I don't know what it is about this story or anything, but I just fucking loved it. I didn't know anything going into it, just the gorgeous cover, and that I'd liked something Ellis had written before. He's now an auto read/buy author, which is not a common thing for comic writers for me. To the point - this trade is incredible, and diverse, and I just can't recommend it enough.
Sex Criminals, Volume 2: Two Worlds, One Cup by Matt Fraction, Chip Zdarsky
These two. This comic. These two. If you haven't heard of Sex Criminals, basically it's about two people who, all their lives, have stopped time when they orgasmed. And then they meet each other and realize that each other can do the same thing. And then they decide to rob a bank. And then things get really fucking crazy. I so recommend this comic series, and the team of Fraction/Zdarsky does it so damn well. Definitely NSFW or kids, though, most of these aren't, honestly.
Locke and Key, Volumes 1 - 6 by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez
I am not technically including rereads in these favorites list - and volumes 1 to 3 in this series were this year - however this whole series was just so damn good I think it's fair to include all six. This is a story about a family that has a lot of problems, focusing on the three kids, and it's just damn amazing. You get so attached to the characters, and the world is one that you'd kind of want to be in, because of the keys. Highly, highly recommended.
Velvet, Volumes 1 + 2 by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Bettie Breitweiser
I'm not going to lie, I saw this was Brubaker and Epting, and bought volume one. I didn't know much about it going in, and was kind of blown away. I'm not sure why I loved both of these so damn much, it must just be a person taste kind of thing. They're about a women in the cold war who is a secretary at a government agency - I want to say CIA, but I don't think they say or I don't remember - but she isn't just a secretary. And she's badass and it's awesome, it's just so good. Probably not for everyone, but I was a fan.
Lady Killer, Volume 1 by Joëlle Jones, Jamie S. Rich
I saw this one too late to grab issue one, so I had to wait for the trade. It was definitely worth the wait, though. This is about a women in the sixties whose a housewife, a perfect one with the two kids and everything. However, she is also an assassin. (female assassins is just one of my things, apparently). This is so well done, though, the main character is fantastic, though I'm still not sure I like her. The art is gorgeous, especially how the blood is done. Also so damn highly recommended, all of these are.
Ms. Marvel, Volume Two: Generation Why & Volume Three: Crushed by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona
I read volume 1 in 2014 - and I can't praise highly enough for this series, though I've sure you've heard about it. It's been everywhere, really, been spread far and wide on the bookternet. And it's just so damn good, I love Kamala so much as a character, and I just feel for her so much - even though her life is in no way the same as mine, but I just want good things for her. She's so great as a character.
Thor, Volume One: Goddess of Thunder & Thor, Volume Two: Who Holds the Hammer? by Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman
As soon as I heard that this was happening, I wanted it, so much. I haven't read any pervious Thor stories, though I'm thinking of doing so before my Marvel Unlimited year runs out. This story line is so interesting, though - female Thor and what that means. And who she is. No spoilers, and don't go looking, because it is so worth not knowing.
Captain Marvel by Kelly Sue DeConnick, David Lopez, Mario Takara
I read these a little out of order by accident - I read Volume One: Higher, Further, Faster, More (And Volume Two, Stay Fly) without realizing that there'd been series that DeConnick had been writing before it, but I did go back and read that (Volume One, In Pursuit of Flight). Regardless - I cannot recommend this series highly enough. DeConnick is a fantastic writer and Carol is such a fantastic character. The whole this is amazing, all of it. Read Captain Marvel.
Honorable mentions: Batgirl, Volume One: The Batgirl of Burnside, Brubaker's Cap run from Winter Soldier through Red Menace, Runaways, Complete Collection: Volume One, and Virgil
Above the Dreamless Dead: World War 1 in Poetry and Comics edited by Chris Duffy
I had never read any World War 1 poetry until this collection, and I'm not entirely sure why I decided to pick it up. I remember hearing some good things about it, and being intrigued, and then I had it and was reading it. It's gorgeously put together. It's also heart-wrenching and beautiful - the art aside for right now, the words are beautiful and horrible. I kind of want to reread it just talking about it, because it's been about a year now, and I also want to read more trench poetry, some of those were my favorites.
Mostrous Affections edited by Kelly Link
My first Kelly Link short story collection! This is some kind of monumental thing, right? I'm not sure what it was about this that I loved so much, but I did. I wrote up a full thing on Goodreads, and I definitely want to reread this one, and read more of Kelly's collections - just her and others.
No Matter the Wreckage by Sarah Kay
Sarah Kay is a spoken word poet, so reading her poems was a little strange - though, I did end up reading them out loud to myself. Either way, I highly suggest her in general. I did a whole post about spoken word and slam poetry, but you can also just type her name into youtube.
The Melancholy of Mechagirl by Catherynne M. Valente
My first book by this wonderful author and I just loved the whole thing. I'm not entirely sure why, but I did, it was just plain incredible. Magical realism but also so much more then that, highly recommended if you're into that kind of thing. So damn good.
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
To be honest, I was just going to put this in with the fiction, but it just didn't feel like it went with the other things over there. And I want back and forth, but it's here now. This book hurt, I'm not entirely sure why, but it did. It was incredible, but it also just hurt and was hard to read. And I already want to reread it.
Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink, Jeffery Cranor
I've been listening to the podcast since... 2012? That's when it started, so I guess it couldn't of been earlier then that. I think just a few episodes after it started. And there's been multiple points when I've fallen behind, but it's just so damn good, I highly recommend it. I also highly recommend this book, because it's so different then what the podcast is, though there's the same atmosphere and feeling, also small tastes of what the podcast episode would be. Highly recommended - book and podcast.
And I think that's it - would love to hear your thoughts. Your favorites or if you've read any of these, or would like to. Let me know!
2015 Favorites | General Fiction and Non-Fiction
Trades
Trees, Volume 1 by Warren Ellis, Jason HowardI read this pretty early in 2015 and I'm still thinking about it, and also still excited about getting volume 2. I don't know what it is about this story or anything, but I just fucking loved it. I didn't know anything going into it, just the gorgeous cover, and that I'd liked something Ellis had written before. He's now an auto read/buy author, which is not a common thing for comic writers for me. To the point - this trade is incredible, and diverse, and I just can't recommend it enough.
Sex Criminals, Volume 2: Two Worlds, One Cup by Matt Fraction, Chip Zdarsky
These two. This comic. These two. If you haven't heard of Sex Criminals, basically it's about two people who, all their lives, have stopped time when they orgasmed. And then they meet each other and realize that each other can do the same thing. And then they decide to rob a bank. And then things get really fucking crazy. I so recommend this comic series, and the team of Fraction/Zdarsky does it so damn well. Definitely NSFW or kids, though, most of these aren't, honestly.
Locke and Key, Volumes 1 - 6 by Joe Hill, Gabriel Rodriguez
I am not technically including rereads in these favorites list - and volumes 1 to 3 in this series were this year - however this whole series was just so damn good I think it's fair to include all six. This is a story about a family that has a lot of problems, focusing on the three kids, and it's just damn amazing. You get so attached to the characters, and the world is one that you'd kind of want to be in, because of the keys. Highly, highly recommended.
Velvet, Volumes 1 + 2 by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting, Bettie Breitweiser
I'm not going to lie, I saw this was Brubaker and Epting, and bought volume one. I didn't know much about it going in, and was kind of blown away. I'm not sure why I loved both of these so damn much, it must just be a person taste kind of thing. They're about a women in the cold war who is a secretary at a government agency - I want to say CIA, but I don't think they say or I don't remember - but she isn't just a secretary. And she's badass and it's awesome, it's just so good. Probably not for everyone, but I was a fan.
Lady Killer, Volume 1 by Joëlle Jones, Jamie S. Rich
I saw this one too late to grab issue one, so I had to wait for the trade. It was definitely worth the wait, though. This is about a women in the sixties whose a housewife, a perfect one with the two kids and everything. However, she is also an assassin. (female assassins is just one of my things, apparently). This is so well done, though, the main character is fantastic, though I'm still not sure I like her. The art is gorgeous, especially how the blood is done. Also so damn highly recommended, all of these are.
Ms. Marvel, Volume Two: Generation Why & Volume Three: Crushed by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona
I read volume 1 in 2014 - and I can't praise highly enough for this series, though I've sure you've heard about it. It's been everywhere, really, been spread far and wide on the bookternet. And it's just so damn good, I love Kamala so much as a character, and I just feel for her so much - even though her life is in no way the same as mine, but I just want good things for her. She's so great as a character.
Thor, Volume One: Goddess of Thunder & Thor, Volume Two: Who Holds the Hammer? by Jason Aaron, Russell Dauterman
As soon as I heard that this was happening, I wanted it, so much. I haven't read any pervious Thor stories, though I'm thinking of doing so before my Marvel Unlimited year runs out. This story line is so interesting, though - female Thor and what that means. And who she is. No spoilers, and don't go looking, because it is so worth not knowing.
Captain Marvel by Kelly Sue DeConnick, David Lopez, Mario Takara
I read these a little out of order by accident - I read Volume One: Higher, Further, Faster, More (And Volume Two, Stay Fly) without realizing that there'd been series that DeConnick had been writing before it, but I did go back and read that (Volume One, In Pursuit of Flight). Regardless - I cannot recommend this series highly enough. DeConnick is a fantastic writer and Carol is such a fantastic character. The whole this is amazing, all of it. Read Captain Marvel.
Honorable mentions: Batgirl, Volume One: The Batgirl of Burnside, Brubaker's Cap run from Winter Soldier through Red Menace, Runaways, Complete Collection: Volume One, and Virgil
Miscellaneous
So I'm kind of cheating here - but these are some books that I just felt didn't fit on the general fiction/non-fiction list.Above the Dreamless Dead: World War 1 in Poetry and Comics edited by Chris Duffy
I had never read any World War 1 poetry until this collection, and I'm not entirely sure why I decided to pick it up. I remember hearing some good things about it, and being intrigued, and then I had it and was reading it. It's gorgeously put together. It's also heart-wrenching and beautiful - the art aside for right now, the words are beautiful and horrible. I kind of want to reread it just talking about it, because it's been about a year now, and I also want to read more trench poetry, some of those were my favorites.
Mostrous Affections edited by Kelly Link
My first Kelly Link short story collection! This is some kind of monumental thing, right? I'm not sure what it was about this that I loved so much, but I did. I wrote up a full thing on Goodreads, and I definitely want to reread this one, and read more of Kelly's collections - just her and others.
No Matter the Wreckage by Sarah Kay
Sarah Kay is a spoken word poet, so reading her poems was a little strange - though, I did end up reading them out loud to myself. Either way, I highly suggest her in general. I did a whole post about spoken word and slam poetry, but you can also just type her name into youtube.
The Melancholy of Mechagirl by Catherynne M. Valente
My first book by this wonderful author and I just loved the whole thing. I'm not entirely sure why, but I did, it was just plain incredible. Magical realism but also so much more then that, highly recommended if you're into that kind of thing. So damn good.
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
To be honest, I was just going to put this in with the fiction, but it just didn't feel like it went with the other things over there. And I want back and forth, but it's here now. This book hurt, I'm not entirely sure why, but it did. It was incredible, but it also just hurt and was hard to read. And I already want to reread it.
Welcome to Night Vale by Joseph Fink, Jeffery Cranor
I've been listening to the podcast since... 2012? That's when it started, so I guess it couldn't of been earlier then that. I think just a few episodes after it started. And there's been multiple points when I've fallen behind, but it's just so damn good, I highly recommend it. I also highly recommend this book, because it's so different then what the podcast is, though there's the same atmosphere and feeling, also small tastes of what the podcast episode would be. Highly recommended - book and podcast.
And I think that's it - would love to hear your thoughts. Your favorites or if you've read any of these, or would like to. Let me know!
2015 Favorites | General Fiction and Non-Fiction
Thursday, January 7, 2016
2015 Favorites | General Fiction and Non-Fiction
I read a lot in 2015 so, obviously, I read a lot of good things. Which I think I was actual pretty luck in, considering everything. So I've decided to separate the favorite posts a bit just to make it a little more manageable - honestly, mostly for me.
I'm going to go fiction first and then go onto non-fiction. "General Fiction" is hopefully including all the book-y things I read this year, novels - fiction, SciFi/Fantasy, Middle Grade anything, same for Young Adult. Just a whole bunch of good stuff. They're also in no particular order because that would of been way too hard.
(All of the tops I gave five stars, the honorable mentions were possibly also 5, because I am someone who rates on the high side and likes, apparently, too many things. Also there will be no rereads included in these lists, because I only reread favorites).
This is one I read really early in the year, and kind of already want to reread it. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and just so damn good, in all. It's written in verse and just - I cried for a good part of it.
The Way of Shadows (Night Angel #1) by Brent Weeks
I'd never read anything by Brent Weeks before and I, for some reason, haven't continued onto something else yet. However - adored this one. High fantasy with some fantastic characters and a super interesting world.
Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King
I had never read an A.S. King book before this year, and now I've read two and they were both just fantastic, gave both 5 stars. They're contemporary YA but with a very specific magical realism twist, that I ended up just adoring. I read them almost back to back, because I just wanted more. And I definitely want to read more of her books. The other one I read was Ask the Passengers, also fantastic.
Redeployment by Phil Klay
I picked this up because I'd been hearing good things, it was a National Book Award winner, and I'd never read anything related to the Afghanistan war, really any contemporary war anything. (going to mention another related one in the misc category, which might be where I put things that, while were kind of not straight and narrow anything, was also a way to mention more books).
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
I bought this when it first came out and just didn't get to it until this year. And it was heartbreaking and breathtaking and gorgeous. The writing, and how everything was described, it was just incredible. And I honestly can't recommend this one enough. So damn good.
Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Steivater
I'm pretty sure I've sang my praises of the The Raven Cycle series enough that you guys might have realized I kind of like it. It's amazing, though, freaking incredible. And I'm sure it isn't for some people, but for some reason this series click with me and is just so damn gorgeous, and I love the characters.
The Marvels by Brian Selznick
I've loved both his other novels - love how they're illustrated and written, so well mixed - and this one, I was not expecting to cry for like the last 100 pages of or so, but I did. And it was so good. And I 100% recommend going in not knowing anything.
The Alloy of Law and Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson
I don't think I'll go a year now without reading and loving a Sanderson. Also not for everyone, I'm well aware of that, so I will try not to spew at you guys too much. But I'm such a sucker for the interlinked kind of world thing, and references to people in the past. And I just love his writing, somehow it feels so easy to read and I love his characters. Also love the style in this series, the flintlock fantasy, kind of steampunk but western thing. Also the magic systems. Sanderson's magic systems in everything.
Tiffany Reisz - not a book, but an author. And I read 6 books by her this year. 6. And they were incredible. Also not for everything. They're dark - really dark, at points - BDSM stories with fantastic characters. I'm so damn attached to these characters, and I really hope she's going to continue in some series after the last one that came out. The whole series is called the Original Sinners, but the two separate series are the White Years and then the Red Years. I will probably sing her praises continuously, hoping the read the last one in January.
Honorable Mentions(no order): Whistling in the Dark. The Enchanted, The Curious Tale of the In-Between, The Rest of Us Just Live Here
I can't speak enough praise for this book. I read it early in the year and kept thinking about it for months after it. It's more poems then prose, and it's just damn incredible.
You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day
I'm a huge fan of Felicia, have been since the Guild (and Eureka, listen, I love Eureka and still slightly salty five years later). She's an incredible person and I just love so much of what she does. This is kind of her memoir, starting from her early years to now, and it's so interesting. Super interesting to see what she went through more recently. If you love her, read it, and if you don't - read it anyway.
March: Book One and Book Two by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell
I don't know if I can say anything about this one. It's by John Lewis about the civil rights movement, and it's hard to read. It's painful to see what was happening then, and also related to what is happening right now. It's hard, but I can't recommend it enough.
Showa: A History of Japan, 1926 - 1939 by Shigeru Mizuki
I picked this up on a whim at an indie bookstore. And holy shit, it was so good. It's history, which I really enjoy, but it's just just plain history - a mixture of his person history, Mizuki's, but also the history of what was happening political, with a little bit of a twist at parts. So damn good, I can't wait to keep reading more, but I think I have to reread this one because I think my brain has mixed up some dates. Either way - highly, highly recommended. (Graphic novel)
Spook by Mary Roach
I need to read more of her, because this one was so damn good. I really enjoy her writing and how there's so much packed in to a book that isn't that long, or that hard to read. Can't wait to read more.
Honorable Mention: Quiet
I'd like to add that this is a tad bit late and, while I had company, I also could of written it up early. Only a few days late, at least, and with the fact I have two more of these posts to get up - that isn't that bad. (I'll have one with miscellaneous things and graphic novels/tradcs, and then another with single issues/basically my favorite currently running series.
Let me know if you did a best of 2015 post - book related, comics, or whatever - or just let me know your favorites in the comments. Also let me know if you've read any of these or are planning on it.
Happy New Year! And happy reading.
I'm going to go fiction first and then go onto non-fiction. "General Fiction" is hopefully including all the book-y things I read this year, novels - fiction, SciFi/Fantasy, Middle Grade anything, same for Young Adult. Just a whole bunch of good stuff. They're also in no particular order because that would of been way too hard.
(All of the tops I gave five stars, the honorable mentions were possibly also 5, because I am someone who rates on the high side and likes, apparently, too many things. Also there will be no rereads included in these lists, because I only reread favorites).
Fiction
Freakboy by Kristin Elizabeth ClarkThis is one I read really early in the year, and kind of already want to reread it. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and just so damn good, in all. It's written in verse and just - I cried for a good part of it.
The Way of Shadows (Night Angel #1) by Brent Weeks
I'd never read anything by Brent Weeks before and I, for some reason, haven't continued onto something else yet. However - adored this one. High fantasy with some fantastic characters and a super interesting world.
Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King
I had never read an A.S. King book before this year, and now I've read two and they were both just fantastic, gave both 5 stars. They're contemporary YA but with a very specific magical realism twist, that I ended up just adoring. I read them almost back to back, because I just wanted more. And I definitely want to read more of her books. The other one I read was Ask the Passengers, also fantastic.
Redeployment by Phil Klay
I picked this up because I'd been hearing good things, it was a National Book Award winner, and I'd never read anything related to the Afghanistan war, really any contemporary war anything. (going to mention another related one in the misc category, which might be where I put things that, while were kind of not straight and narrow anything, was also a way to mention more books).
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
I bought this when it first came out and just didn't get to it until this year. And it was heartbreaking and breathtaking and gorgeous. The writing, and how everything was described, it was just incredible. And I honestly can't recommend this one enough. So damn good.
Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Steivater
I'm pretty sure I've sang my praises of the The Raven Cycle series enough that you guys might have realized I kind of like it. It's amazing, though, freaking incredible. And I'm sure it isn't for some people, but for some reason this series click with me and is just so damn gorgeous, and I love the characters.
The Marvels by Brian Selznick
I've loved both his other novels - love how they're illustrated and written, so well mixed - and this one, I was not expecting to cry for like the last 100 pages of or so, but I did. And it was so good. And I 100% recommend going in not knowing anything.
The Alloy of Law and Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson
I don't think I'll go a year now without reading and loving a Sanderson. Also not for everyone, I'm well aware of that, so I will try not to spew at you guys too much. But I'm such a sucker for the interlinked kind of world thing, and references to people in the past. And I just love his writing, somehow it feels so easy to read and I love his characters. Also love the style in this series, the flintlock fantasy, kind of steampunk but western thing. Also the magic systems. Sanderson's magic systems in everything.
Tiffany Reisz - not a book, but an author. And I read 6 books by her this year. 6. And they were incredible. Also not for everything. They're dark - really dark, at points - BDSM stories with fantastic characters. I'm so damn attached to these characters, and I really hope she's going to continue in some series after the last one that came out. The whole series is called the Original Sinners, but the two separate series are the White Years and then the Red Years. I will probably sing her praises continuously, hoping the read the last one in January.
Honorable Mentions(no order): Whistling in the Dark. The Enchanted, The Curious Tale of the In-Between, The Rest of Us Just Live Here
Non-Fiction
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline WoodsonI can't speak enough praise for this book. I read it early in the year and kept thinking about it for months after it. It's more poems then prose, and it's just damn incredible.
You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day
I'm a huge fan of Felicia, have been since the Guild (and Eureka, listen, I love Eureka and still slightly salty five years later). She's an incredible person and I just love so much of what she does. This is kind of her memoir, starting from her early years to now, and it's so interesting. Super interesting to see what she went through more recently. If you love her, read it, and if you don't - read it anyway.
March: Book One and Book Two by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell
I don't know if I can say anything about this one. It's by John Lewis about the civil rights movement, and it's hard to read. It's painful to see what was happening then, and also related to what is happening right now. It's hard, but I can't recommend it enough.
Showa: A History of Japan, 1926 - 1939 by Shigeru Mizuki
I picked this up on a whim at an indie bookstore. And holy shit, it was so good. It's history, which I really enjoy, but it's just just plain history - a mixture of his person history, Mizuki's, but also the history of what was happening political, with a little bit of a twist at parts. So damn good, I can't wait to keep reading more, but I think I have to reread this one because I think my brain has mixed up some dates. Either way - highly, highly recommended. (Graphic novel)
Spook by Mary Roach
I need to read more of her, because this one was so damn good. I really enjoy her writing and how there's so much packed in to a book that isn't that long, or that hard to read. Can't wait to read more.
Honorable Mention: Quiet
I'd like to add that this is a tad bit late and, while I had company, I also could of written it up early. Only a few days late, at least, and with the fact I have two more of these posts to get up - that isn't that bad. (I'll have one with miscellaneous things and graphic novels/tradcs, and then another with single issues/basically my favorite currently running series.
Let me know if you did a best of 2015 post - book related, comics, or whatever - or just let me know your favorites in the comments. Also let me know if you've read any of these or are planning on it.
Happy New Year! And happy reading.
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