Best Reads of 2021

On this, the 5,721st day of March 2020, here is my list for favourite reads this year! Some were published earlier, some later, but all were read in 2021. Let’s start with short fiction:

1. Diamonds and Pearls by J.L. George. As both a language teacher and a language student, this has to be one of the most beautiful depictions of connecting with linguistic cultural heritage I’ve ever read. Actually, I might just go re-read it now. You should, too.

https://firesidefiction.com/diamonds-and-pearls

2. Metal Like Blood in the Dark by T. Kingfisher. This is a story I read early in 2021, and it’s one I keep thinking about. The relationship between the main characters is so powerful, and if you haven’t read it, congrats! You now have plans. ;)

https://uncannymagazine.com/article/metal-like-blood-in-the-dark/

3. Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell. This story exists right at the intersection of my love for Halloween and my love for my dad. Seeing how much the characters, House included, care about each other... well, I’m not crying, you’re crying...

https://www.diabolicalplots.com/dp-fiction-64a-open-house-on-haunted-hill-by-john-wiswell/

4. Bluebeard’s Wife by T. Kingfisher. Bluebeard was a story I’d heard often enough from Grimm collections as a kid, and it always scared me. Seeing this exploration of the human capacity to love was really compelling, and I’m still turning it over in my head.

https://firesidefiction.com/bluebeards-wife

5. Do Not Look Back, My Lion by Alix E. Harrow. This was another story I read early in 2021 and holy smokes! The worldbuilding, the tension, the characters. Yes. Just promise me you’ll read it.

https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/stories/do-not-look-back-my-lion/

6. Stretch by Shari Paul. So usually I tread more on the spoopy side of scary, but this story was too good to pass up! Driving roads after dark will never feel the same way again...

https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/stretch/

7. You Perfect, Broken Thing by C.L. Clark. Again, if you haven’t seen the pattern, I’m a sucker for character-driven stories, and this one is no exception. Ask yourself: what would you do, and how far would you go, to protect your family?

https://uncannymagazine.com/article/you-perfect-broken-thing/

8. And now, long-form fiction! Hands down, my favourite book I read this year has to be A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. My husband and I still talk about it, the poetry, the names, the world-building. My birthday’s coming up and you better believe A Desolation Called Peace is on my list.

https://www.arkadymartine.net/books/amce

9. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. I know I’m late to this party, but have you seen my Halloween photos? This was an incredible book – I loved how it straddled sci-fi and fantasy, I loved Gideon and Harrow, I loved how gosh darn spooky this book was. Harrow the Ninth is on 2022’s TBR list, for sure.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42036538-gideon-the-ninth

10. and finally, The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold. Yes, it has taken me 20 years to read this, and I’m so glad I did! Cazaril is such a compelling and loveable character, and the tension of the Curse wreaks such havoc on my poor nerves (as Mrs. Bennett would say). Definitely worth a read.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61886.The_Curse_of_Chalion

Stay safe out there everyone, and here’s to a better 2022.