Throughout the month of January (more like February now, I guess), I will posting various “best of” lists, ranging from the best books I read that were published in 2015, to my top 5 and 4 stars reads of 2015, to the best short fiction of 2015, and to my favorite foodie quotes!
Today, I am happy to announce my…
Top 9 Published Books in 2015!
9. Voyage of the Basilisk (Memoir by Lady Trent #3) by Marie Brennan
About the Book:
Devoted readers of Lady Trent’s earlier memoirs, A Natural History of Dragons and The Tropic of Serpents, may believe themselves already acquainted with the particulars of her historic voyage aboard the Royal Survey Ship Basilisk, but the true story of that illuminating, harrowing, and scandalous journey has never been revealed—until now. Six years after her perilous exploits in Eriga, Isabella embarks on her most ambitious expedition yet: a two-year trip around the world to study all manner of dragons in every place they might be found. From feathered serpents sunning themselves in the ruins of a fallen civilization to the mighty sea serpents of the tropics, these creatures are a source of both endless fascination and frequent peril. Accompanying her is not only her young son, Jake, but a chivalrous foreign archaeologist whose interests converge with Isabella’s in ways both professional and personal.
Science is, of course, the primary objective of the voyage, but Isabella’s life is rarely so simple. She must cope with storms, shipwrecks, intrigue, and warfare, even as she makes a discovery that offers a revolutionary new insight into the ancient history of dragons.
My Rating: 3.5/5
Why You Should Read It: If you’re looking for a series with a strong female protagonist – look no further! This series is for you! Plus, DRAGONS.
Read My Review
8. Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear
About the Book:
“You ain’t gonna like what I have to tell you, but I’m gonna tell you anyway. See, my name is Karen Memery, like memory only spelt with an e, and I’m one of the girls what works in the Hôtel Mon Cherie on Amity Street. Hôtel has a little hat over the o like that. It’s French, so Beatrice tells me.”
Set in the late 19th century—when the city we now call Seattle Underground was the whole town (and still on the surface), when airships plied the trade routes, would-be gold miners were heading to the gold fields of Alaska, and steam-powered mechanicals stalked the waterfront, Karen is a young woman on her own, is making the best of her orphaned state by working in Madame Damnable’s high-quality bordello. Through Karen’s eyes we get to know the other girls in the house—a resourceful group—and the poor and the powerful of the town. Trouble erupts one night when a badly injured girl arrives at their door, begging sanctuary, followed by the man who holds her indenture, and who has a machine that can take over anyone’s mind and control their actions. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, the next night brings a body dumped in their rubbish heap—a streetwalker who has been brutally murdered.
Bear brings alive this Jack-the-Ripper yarn of the old west with a light touch in Karen’s own memorable voice, and a mesmerizing evocation of classic steam-powered science.
My Rating: 3.5/5
Why You Should Read It: Karen Memory is one of the most unique, original, and lovable characters that you will ever read! Plus, she’s a total foodie!
Read My Review
7. Scavenger: Evolution (Sand Divers #1) by Timothy C. Ward
About the Book:
In this future, sand divers search the depths for the lost city of Danvar and the truth behind their bleak existence. Divemaster Rush hasn’t dove since he lost his infant. A job offer turns from an escape to a trap and the lure of a hardened heart to survive like anyone else would. One dive leads to another. Farther and farther from the surface, death and evolution change his world. He’ll have to change too or watch his wife rise without him.
Inspired by Hugh Howey’s world of Sand. Written and sold with his permission. Scavenger: Evolution takes the landscape of Dune and throws in the pacing and thrills of Alien.
My Rating: 3.5/5
Why You Should It: If you thought Hugh Hower’s sand-diver suits were cool, just wait until you check out Timothy C Ward’s Poseidon suits. A good, fun, and fast sci-fi story.
Read My Review
6. Sunset Mantle by Alter S. Reiss
About the Book:
With a single blow, Cete won both honor and exile from his last commander. Since then he has wandered, looking for a place to call home. The distant holdings of the Reach Antach offer shelter, but that promise has a price.
The Reach Antach is doomed.
Barbarians, traitors, and scheming investors conspire to destroy the burgeoning settlement. A wise man would move on, but Cete has found reason to stay. A blind weaver-woman and the beautiful sunset mantle lure the warrior to wager everything he has left on one final chance to turn back the hungry tides of war.
My Rating: 3.5/5
Why You Should It: It’s an epic fantasy in novella form.
Read My Review
5. Supersymmetry by David Walton
About the Book:
Ryan Oronzi is a paranoid, neurotic, and brilliant physicist who has developed a quantum military technology that could make soldiers nearly invincible in the field. The technology, however, gives power to the quantum creature known as the varcolac, which slowly begins to manipulate Dr. Oronzi and take over his mind. Oronzi eventually becomes the unwilling pawn of the varcolac in its bid to control the world.
The creature immediately starts attacking those responsible for defeating it fifteen years earlier, including Sandra and Alex Kelley—the two versions of Alessandra Kelley who are still living as separate people. The two young women must fight the varcolac, despite the fact that defeating it may mean resolving once again into a single person.
My Rating: 4/5
Why You Should It: More plot twists and thrilling action, but now, with time-travel! Just as good as Superposition (and some would say even better).
Read My Review
4. Superposition by David Walton
About the Book:
Jacob Kelley’s family is turned upside down when an old friend turns up, waving a gun and babbling about an alien quantum intelligence. The mystery deepens when the friend is found dead in an underground bunker…apparently murdered the night before he appeared at Jacob’s house. Jacob is arrested for the murder and put on trial.
As the details of the crime slowly come to light, the weave of reality becomes ever more tangled, twisted by a miraculous new technology and a quantum creature unconstrained by the normal limits of space and matter. With the help of his daughter, Alessandra, Jacob must find the true murderer before the creature destroys his family and everything he loves.
My Rating: 4/5
Why You Should It: If you like science fiction, this is for you. If like mysteries, this is for you. If you like thrillers, this is for you. It is an amazing blend of all those three genres, and the execution of Superposition is spot on!
Read My Review
3. The Death of Dulgath (The Riyria Chronicles #3) by Michael J. Sullivan
About the Book:
When the last member of the oldest noble family in Avryn is targeted for assassination, Riyria is hired to foil the plot. Three years have passed since the war-weary mercenary Hadrian and the cynical ex-assassin Royce joined forces to start life as rogues-for-hire. Things have gone well enough until they’re asked to help prevent a murder. Now they must venture into an ancient corner of the world to save a mysterious woman who knows more about Royce than is safe and cares less about herself than is sane.
From the best-selling author of The Riyria Revelations comes the third installment of The Riyria Chronicles. Although part of a series, it’s designed to thrill both new readers looking for fun, fast-paced fantasy and Riyria veterans wishing to reunite with old friends.
My Rating: 4/5
Why You Should Read It: It’s the last new adventure we are getting with Royce and Hadrian!
Review Coming Soon
2. Firefight (Calamity #2) by Brandon Sanderson
About the Book:
From the #1 “New York Times” bestselling author of Words of Radiance coauthor of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, and creator of the internationally bestselling Mistborn Trilogy, Brandon Sanderson presents the second book in the Reckoners series: Firefight, the sequel to the #1 bestseller Steelheart.
They told David it was impossible–that even the Reckoners had never killed a High Epic. Yet, Steelheart–invincible, immortal, unconquerable–is dead. And he died by David’s hand.
Eliminating Steelheart was supposed to make life more simple. Instead, it only made David realize he has questions. Big ones. And there’s no one in Newcago who can give him the answers he needs.
Babylon Restored, the old borough of Manhattan, has possibilities, though. Ruled by the mysterious High Epic, Regalia, David is sure Babylon Restored will lead him to what he needs to find. And while entering another city oppressed by a High Epic despot is a gamble, David’s willing to risk it. Because killing Steelheart left a hole in David’s heart. A hole where his thirst for vengeance once lived. Somehow, he filled that hole with another Epic–Firefight. And he’s willing to go on a quest darker, and more dangerous even, than the fight against Steelheart to find her, and to get his answers.
My Rating: 4.5/5
Why You Should It: Sanderson is an amazing storyteller. You’d have to be a complete fool not to pick this up! Go pick up Steelheart (my review) and start this series!
Read My Review
1. Edge of Dark (Glitter Edge #1) by Brenda Cooper
About the Book:
What if a society banished its worst nightmare to the far edge of the solar system, destined to sip only dregs of light and struggle for the barest living. And yet, that life thrived? It grew and learned and became far more than you ever expected, and it wanted to return to the sun. What if it didn’t share your moral compass in any way?
The Glittering Edge duology describes the clash of forces when an advanced society that has filled a solar system with flesh and blood life meets the near-AI’s that it banished long ago. This is a story of love for the wild and natural life on a colony planet, complex adventure set in powerful space stations, and the desire to live completely whether you are made of flesh and bone or silicon and carbon fiber.
In Edge of Dark, meet ranger Charlie Windar and his adopted wild predator, and explore their home on a planet that has been raped and restored more than once. Meet Nona Hall, child of power and privilege from the greatest station in the system, the Diamond Deep. Meet Nona’s best friend, a young woman named Chrystal who awakens in a robotic body….
My Rating: 4.5/5
Why You Should It: One of my top books of the year! I can’t describe how must it frustrates and angers me that no one is reading this book and that it is not getting nearly the amount of attention and recognition that is deserves! GO READ THIS BOOK!
This will be the #1 book I am putting on my Hugo ballot this year!
MyLifeMyBooksMyEscape 
I loved Supersymmetry, and I’m still trying to get to Karen Memory. I have read other rave reviews of Edge of Dark, so I will have to check that one out, since you love it so much!
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I haven’t heard much about Edge of Dark, but I just put in a suggestion to purchase for it at my local library! All of these books sound amazing and the only one I’ve read is Karen Memory…. I’m going to be busy catching up 🙂
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huh…. I’ve only read two of these (Karen Memory and Firefight). 🙂 Looks like I have some more reading to do! Death of Dulgath and Supersymmetry have been on my radar.
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It’s time to take them off your radar, and put them on your shelf! 😛
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So much love for this list, because you gave top spot to Edge of Dark. I think I rated it 4 out of 5 and so there were higher rated books that pushed it out of my top lists, but it was bar none one of the best surprises of 2015. I am pretty excited for Spear of Light which should be a follow up, though there hasn’t been much info yet so I’m eagerly awaiting more details.
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[…] book was also #2 on my “Top 9 Published Books of 2015” […]
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