ARC provided by the publisher—Orbit Books—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art designed by Tommy Pocket
The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Cyberpunk
Pages: 514 pages (ARC Edition)
Published: 5th May 2026 by Orbit Books
The year is off to an explosive start. The Last Contract of Isako is the best science fiction standalone novel I’ve ever read. …
ARC provided by the publisher—Saga Press—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art by Jaime Jones
The Strength of the Few by James Islington
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Hierarchy (Book #2)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Science Fantasy
Pages: 736 pages (Hardcover edition)
Word Count: 240,000 words
Published: 11th Novermber 2025 by Saga Press
We’re not at the end of 2025 yet, but I believe The Strength of the Few by James Islington has secured the best fantasy book of the year award. This is the finest sequel I’ve read since Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson and The Wall of Storms by Ken Liu.
“The power to protect is the highest responsibility.”
Cover art by Gary Ruddell
The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Hyperion Cantos (Book #2 of 4)
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera
Pages: 676 pages (Kindle Edition)
Word count: 184,000 words
Published: 1st March 1990 by Spectra
Utterly awesome. This book was phenomenal in every way. The Fall of Hyperion is a riveting sci-fi epic with heart, intensity, unpredictability, and gigantic scope.
“It’s hard to die. Harder to live.”
Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
An Inkling of Flame: A Song of the Damned novella by Z.B. Steele
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Song of the Damned (Book #0.5)
Genre: Fantasy, Grimdark Fantasy
Pages: 89 pages (Paperback edition)
Published: 13th January 2025
An Inkling of Flame by Z.B. Steele does what the title signifies. It shows the burning potential the series has to leave its scorching mark in the genre. …
Cover art illustrated by Eshpur
Herald by Rob J. Hayes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Age of the God Eater (Book #1 of 3), The God Eater Saga
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Pages: 720 pages (Hardcover edition)
Word Count: 235,000 words
Publish date: 23rd of July 2024 by Rob J. Hayes (Self-Published)
Herald, or the entire God Eater Saga by Rob J. Hayes, is my pick for the best self-published fantasy books of 2024.
“Books, I have long since learned, can enslave or liberate a person as surely can a sword. But often, with a book, the subject won’t know the difference.”
Cover art illustrated by Jim Tierney
Brothers of the Wind by Tad Williams
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: The Last King of Osten Ard (#0.75 of 4)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High fantasy
Pages: 276 pages (Kindle edition)
Word count: 104,000 words
Publish date: 2nd November 2021 by DAW (US) & Hodderscape (UK)
Super underrated. Brothers of the Wind is beautifully written, melancholic, and layered with impactful details.
“Duty is honor,” my stern father often used to tell me. “And honor is all.” But I would amend his saying. I have learned that our first duty is to truth, because without truth, honor itself is hollow.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art illustrated by Devin Elle Kurtz
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Standalone
Genre: Fantasy, Cozy Fantasy
Pages: 336 pages (Paperback edition)
Publish date: 5th November 2024 by Ace (US) & Hodderscape (UK)
The Teller of Small Fortunes could become the new benchmark for cozy fantasy novel. …
ARC provided by the publisher—Gollancz—in exchange for an honest review.
Cover art by Will Staehle
The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: The Devils (Book #1)
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Historical Fantasy
Pages: 512 pages (Paperback edition)
Word Count: 213,000 words
Publish date: 6th May 2025 by Gollancz & Tor Books (US)
I fully realize this book is not out until May 2025, but so far, The Devils by Joe Abercrombie is the best fantasy book I’ve read this year. It’s devilishly brilliant.
‘No matter how you fight, you can’t beat time. It lays low every empire, topples every tyrant.’
Cover art illustrated by Nate Taylor
The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: The Kingkiller Chronicle (Book #0.5 of 3)
Genre: Fantasy, High Fantasy
Pages: 240 pages (Hardcover edition)
Word Count: 40,000 words
Publish date: 14th November 2023 by DAW Books and Gollancz
The Narrow Road Between Desires by Patrick Rothfuss is a potentially rewarding expansion to the already whimsical and beautiful novella, The Lightning Tree. …
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Series: Kingsbridge (Book #1 of 5)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 992 pages (Hardcover edition)
Word Count: 410,000 words
Publish date: October 1989 by Macmillan …