It’s time, everyone. It’s time for the most exciting post of the year: my favorite reads of 2016. I will already say that these are in no particular order, and they are not all 2016 releases. I just read them this year, and absolutely loved them. So let’s get into it!


Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo
Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo
I don’t think this will be a surprise for anyone. I already enjoyed her Grisha trilogy, but this duology was just on a whole other level. Not only did I love the setting, which is I believe inspired by the Netherlands as I recognized quite some names of people and places, but I loved the characters and the diversity in race, religion, disability… I just adored it. And you all know heist stories are the way to my heart.


The Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2) by Brandon Sanderson
The Hero of Ages (Mistborn #3) by Brandon Sanderson
I know, I chose two again. I just couldn’t pick a favorite! I finally finished the first Mistborn trilogy -after having read The Final Empire in 2013… I was blown away. They were even better than the first book. I adored the characters, the world, the religions -the character development- and just about everything. Although I have to admit I was both happy and devastated by the ending. Brandon Sanderson is a master of words.


The Secret History by Donna Tartt
Assassin’s Apprentice (Farseer #1) by Robin Hobb
The Secret History was definitely a surprise for me. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did, because I don’t often read general fiction. But I was blown away. This is the story of a group of college kids in New England who study Latin and Greek, and murdered one of their friends. I was so invested in the story adn the characters! Donna Tartt has a way of toying with your emotions when it comes to her characters.
Assassin’s Apprentice started my foray into Robin Hobb’s works. I’d heard nothing but great things for years, so I decided it was finally time to pick one up. I adored it. I have to say, don’t go into this expecting a fast-paced, action-packed assassin story. That’s not what this is. This is more a chronicle of Fitz’s life -and I adored it. I will definitely read the third book soon, and continue with her other works.


Night Film by Marisha Pessl
The Warded Man (Demon Cycle #1) by Peter V. Brett
Night Film had been on my shelf for a while, until I decided to pick it up for the #spookathon. I adored this mystery book. It’s the story of Scott, a journalist trying to discover whether famous girl Ashley Cordova truly committed suicide, or whether she was murdered. It blew me away. It’s also mixed media because it has pictures, text messages, web pages, articles, etc. throughout the story. I felt like that only added to the mystique of this book and its story.
The Warded Man is one of those fantasy books that’s really popular on Reddit, but I never really see on blogs or videos. It makes me so sad, because this was amazing. It’s about this world in which demons come out of the ground when the sun goes down. If you’re not in a circle of protective wards, you will be murdered by them. Does that not sounds EPIC? It is. I can’t wait to read the second book soon.


Marked in Flesh (The Others #4) by Anne Bishop
Nice Dragons Finish Last (Heartstrikers #1) by Rachel Aaron
Marked In Flesh will come as no surprise if you’ve been reading my blog for a while. I absolutely adore this series, and have for years. Each year, I screech with excitement at the next book. Although I can’t believe that the next book, Etched in Bone, will be the last one. I am so not ready to say goodbye. This is an amazing series about a blood prophet, shapeshifters, ancient creatures and (awful) humans.
Nice Dragons Finish Last is the first book in the Heartstrikers series, a series I’d been wanting to read for a while. I have loved every Rachel Aaron (/Rachel Bach) book I’ve read so far -which I think are 9 books? This is an urban fantasy series about a dragon named Julius, who is nice. Being nice is not a welcome trait for a dragon, which means he’s the family outcast. IT IS SO MUCH FUN.


The Alchemists of Loom (Loom Saga #1) by Elise Kova
The Bone Witch (The Bone Witch #1) by Rin Chupeco
The Alchemists of Loom is a book I immediately requested on Netgalley when I saw it. It’s a 2017 release, but I urge you all to pick it up when it’s released. I liked her other book Air Awakens, but didn’t truly love it. This one I adored. It’s got dragons, chimaera, steampunk, scheming, guilds -EVERYTHING I LOVE.
The Bone Witch is actually also a 2017 releaese! Another one worth the wait though. It’s an Asian-inspired fantasy book that stars the main character Tea who discovers she is a witch (or an asha as it’s called in this book) when she accidentally raises her brother from the dead. It’s told in two timelines, one starting when she discovers her powers, and one where she is alone on an island raising monsters. HOW AWESOME IS THAT??
We Should All be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This is such a short one, because it’s basically her speech written out. It’s only 49 pages but I honestly couldn’t leave it off my list. I feel like this is a must-read for everyone, from those who know nothing about feminism to those who are really educated on the topic. It’s an eye-opener.
Those are my favorite reads of 2016! Have you read any of these? What did you think of them? And what are your favorite reads of the year?
Great post. I’m definitely adding quite a few of these books to my reading list.
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Thank you! I hope you’ll enjoy them too 😀
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YES JOLIEN! Couldn’t agree more on Marked in Flesh and Rachel Aaron/Bach, as I loved both of those series this year. I actually just read Etched in Bone and I adored it. Hopefully you’ll love it too! Assassin’s Apprentice and The Alchemist of Loom are both on my TBR for this year, so fingers crossed that I’ll love them. 😊
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I can’t wait for Etched in Bone!! I was so sad when I wasn’t approved for it, because I didn’t understand why. I’ve been approved for that series for 2 years already and now my blog is bigger 😦 Anyway, I can’t wait to read it, and I’m glad you loved it! I hope you’ll love The Alchemists of Loom and Assassin’s Apprentice too. They are well worth your time 😀
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Looks like you had a really good reading year. There’re some amazing books here on your list, like The Mistborn Trilogy. And that ending… I think we were all destroyed. The best ending to a series I’ve ever read. 🙌
Happy New Year!! 🎊
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Happy new year! It definitely was an incredible ending!
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I love Six of Crows, Night Film and We Should All Be Feminists!! They’re so good. I really need to read Crooked Kingdom and The Secret History. I’m super excited for The Bone Witch so I’m glad you enjoyed that one!!
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I really hope you’ll enjoy these three too! 😀
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I NEED to read the Six of Crows duology and the Mistborn books as I’ve heard so many amazing things! I reserved a copy of SoC at my library so hopefully I can get to it soon!
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I hope you’ll be able to get it soon then! And that you’ll love it of course 😀
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It’s been a year – here’s to another great bunch of books in 2017 🙂
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What a great year! I’m really looking forward to the Bone Witch, I’ve been saving that one special for the new year. Happy 2017!
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Thanks! I hope you’ll enjoy it. Happy 2017!
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i’ve got a galley of Bone Witch – can’t wait to read it!
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I hope you’ll like it!
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I’m glad you’re reading Robin Hobb! The Tawny Man and Liveship Trader trilogies are my favorite, so the best is still to come. 😉
I need to read Nice Dragons Finish Last next year. Kaja recommended it a while ago, but I didn’t get to it this year.
Despite having a fairly mediocre reading year, I did manage to find ten books for the Top 10 Tuesday guest post I wrote! 🙂
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I side with Kaja on this recommendation, it’s really good 😀 I’m looking forward to more (and even better) Robin Hobb books 😀
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So many good books here! The Six of Crows duology and the Mistbor. Trilogy are on my TBR, though I might be adding some more after this post! I loved We Should All Be Feminists and also really enjoyed The Bone Witch. I want to know how she got to the island so bad! 😉 Happy New Year!
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Yes, read them soon! I hope you’ll love them too 😀 ME TOO. And I was so into the ending scene. I’m like: Girl, please explain it all -but also: POWER TO YOU.
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I know right?!? I want to know all the things that made all parts of that possible, since it’s so far from where the flashbacks are, but I really want to believe in her.
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Sounds like you had an awesome year:-) You already know how I feel about The Secret History! Happy New Year!
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Thanks! Happy 2017 😀
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You know, I noticed that too about The Warded Man. I barely see the book being spoken about within the blogging realm, but I am aware that it has a sizeably good following (I mean, the author himself is awesome and greatly appreciates his fans). I read this book over a year ago, and I don’t know why I still haven’t read any of its sequels…this needs to be remedied.
Also, Mistborn! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Right? And I wonder how no one here talks about him… Maybe I’m not following the bloggers who do?
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I also read the Mistborn trilogy this year, all three, and they blew me away. I’m so glad I see them on your list! I also read Night Film this year and thought it was incredible. Great choices!
Rebecca @ The Portsmouth Review
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Right? They are so good. Thanks 😀
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