Top 10 Reads of 2024

It’s time to list our top 10 reads of 2024 (and download massive TBR reclists, of course). Not much of reading this year, but I would not have missed this Top 10 Tuesday theme for the world!

1 / The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

I have not been a great fan or follower of the Grishaverse, so was hesitant in picking this up. But what a marvelous story this turned out to be. We peer into the ages of 16th century when anti-semitism was rife. Luzia is desperately trying to escape her confined pitiful life with her displays of magical craft… but soon ends up getting embroiled in a larger political net. Everything in this book was so impressive – the Spanish Golden Age/ Renaissance feel, the worldbuilding, the writing, the prose, the characterizations. Aaaaand, it is a standalone. If you’ve liked Mistress of the Art of Death, you’ll love this one too.

2 / He Who Whispers by John Carr

In France, on top of a lonely tower, a man is stabbed by a sword from an invisible hand, as if by some supernatural being. But years later, his son’s fiancé is still on the run, with that haunted look in her eyes… Or something like that. The plot is sinister, tense atmosphere throughout. Right till the end, the detective won’t lay down his cards because he isn’t fully “certain” (it gets a little annoying after a while). Carr also also doesn’t seem morally neutral in his writing, but that’s a small quibble. Supposedly one of the top 5 Carrs ever written.

3 / Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto

Bloody brilliant book! This book got me out of my slump in a jiffy – a disgraced heir to the House of Bone is exiled to the wall protecting the Dominions from the treacherous House of Iron. Wren is just waiting for the chance to prove herself again, and in walks a prince ready to be kidnapped…. It’s a rollercoaster. This has necromancers and Game of Thrones vibes and badass protagonists and crazy plotting. Some peg this book as YA, but I think it works fine for new adults and adults alike. Loved it and hope to read the sequel soon.

4 / The King’s Messenger by Susanna Kearsley

It’s difficult to describe the mystery at the heart of this historical fiction set in 1613. It starts off with the death of the popular eldest prince. King James (son of Mary, Queen of Scots) sends Andrew Logan with a message to one of the murder suspects, to bring him back for trial in London. But Andrew has his own secrets, and his companions on the journey also have their own secrets, and the mourning Queen has her own secrets… Nothing is what it seems.

5 / Scenes of Clerical Life by George Eliot

Scenes of Clerical Life is a collection of 3 debut stories from Eliot, all three of them dealing with the loss of love (or a loved one), and how it changes you and the people around you. As is usual with Eliot’s work, these stories have brilliant characterization and are very moving depictions of every human’s daily struggles. I read this for the Classics Club Challenge, and regretted not a single moment. The Librivox podcast/ audiobook in public domain is highly recommended. Full review here.

6 / The Beacon at Alexandria by Gillian Bradshaw

How did the Roman Empire come to its end? This book is an engrossing (and non-academic, very importantly) reply to this question. I cannot remember reading any other book where we see the glory of ancient Rome crash and burn. But Bradshaw manages to tell it all with ease through the eyes of an aristocratic who disguised herself as a eunuch, and fled to Alexandria to study medicine. And that’s just the first one-third of the book. A rollicking read across the melting pot of Rome, Persia, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, and Scandinavia.

7 / The Healthy Skin Kitchen by Karen Fischer

This book totally caught me by surprise, but it’s so phenomenal that I feel everyone should read it. Especially if you or anyone close to you is suffering from mysterious body ailments/ skin conditions/ food intolerances that do not seem to have any known trigger or cause. If you like cooking, this book has lots of great easy recipes too. Your body is what you eat, so pay attention.

8 / What Monstrous Gods by Rosamund Hodge

If you like mythological fantasy, then this spooky YA book is a great addition to your TBR. It starts off with a Rapunzel tale, then spins a Sleeping Beauty trope but with gender swap, then becomes a ghost story, and afterwards, a heroic quest to save the world… And all of this within the span of the same book. Every single character in this book was drawn up so well. I’m not sure whether this is a series, since this first book is whole on its own — which is another plus point.

9 / Dark Moon Defender by Sharon Shinn

Another complex mythological fantasy, and it’s an underrated gem which reminded me strongly of Bujold’s Chalion series. The followers of the Pale Mother (one of the depictions of the moon) are turning into fanatics and want to persecute all magic wielders as evil. One of the king’s guard is spying on the Pale Mother’s convent, but would he be able to save the captives there? This book can be read as a standalone, and is so beautifully written that you’ll marvel at it.

10 / Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life by Bill Perkins

Stop saving all of that money folks — spend a little too, on yourself. The author goes on to give very persuasive arguments about how after a point of time, saving saving saving can result in diminishing returns. So — book that trip, book those new experiences and remember to enjoy yourself too. Die with “zero” (savings).

Those are my top 10 reads of 2024. Which books won you over this year?