Best of 2025, in my own opinion

 It's been a minute since I've posted and I've missed it (but lack of time is a definite issue).  I will continue to try; hopefully it won't be quite so long between posts.....

Here is my top list of books for 2025, in no particular order.  Not all are new books, just new to me....and some are parts of a series, which I will definitely explain.  If you have followed me before, you will not be surprised that I (and many other SF/FAN fans) love a good series and will follow it through as long as it goes or until it jumps the shark.....(.old person reference FTW....lol)

Diamond in the Rough is book 10 in the Beyond the Veil series but is also book one for Rayn.  Avery tends to write in trilogies; so each character gets a set of three books....and yes, there is romance but this is very definitely a fantasy/alternate universe story.  For those who have never read the series, it is set in a universe where a pandemic changes the world; because it reintroduces magic via a virus.  Those who get sick may die, or live unchanged....but they may also become inbued with magical or psychic abilities or substantially changed into magical arcanid creatures (orc, faun, vampire, shifter, ghoul or elf).  Rayn has spent most of his life in an institution because his family was afraid of his magic and now he is struggling to find a way to manage both the magic and the psychic gift he got (courtesy of a bout of the virus).  Avery doesn't shy away from hard topics but also writes in a way that shows growth and hope.  This is a M/M novel, so if that bothers you, don't read it but if you enjoy a gut wrenching but beautiful book; try it.....try all of them!

FYI:  Avery is an independent author whose books are only available to purchase or read on Amazon and Kindle.

Dolls Gone Wild is book 3 in the Ghost Cupid series.  It takes place in an urban fantasy setting, where magic and ghosts are real and accepted as such.  Essentially in this series Kris works for a Ghost Matchmaking agency where her boss makes sure that those who die without a husband or wife can find one for the afterlife.  (This is actually a thing that happens in Chinese culture; but as a fictional bonus, the characters can actually interact with the ghosts).  Zhen is Kris's boss' grandson who was accidentally magically bound to her in the first book; so this is another adventure for both of them involving a ghost divorce, a lost Annabelle doll (with a real demon) and more.  I have enjoyed seeing the growth of the relationship with Kris and Zhen as well as the expanding relationships around them....both human and nonhuman.  This is a fun escapist series that I adore and encourage you to explore.  

FYI:  Brahms is one of the names this author uses (I love most of her books); and can be purchased on her site or on Kindle/Amazon.  

Dungeon Crawler Carl is a fun series that is ALL over TikTok.  I kind of zoomed through books 1-7 (#8 comes out in May) and have enjoyed them immensely.  The series is a Lit/RPG which means it reads like playing a video game; going level by level with quests and obstacles.  One thing that sets this up differently is that Carl dives right in and his feline companion, Princess Donut is equally fierce (but also hysterical).  If you are unfamiliar; the series premise is that aliens have destroyed most life on earth and humans looking to escape the damage enter an inter-stellar reality game show "The dungeon crawl".  If a person from Earth can win, they can win back control of the planet......but no one in the history of the game has ever won.  Carl starts off just trying to survive but then begins to focus on making those who run the games pay for all the atrocities.  This series is full of tension, silliness, horror and sorrow.....which is likely why everyone is obsessed with it.  Give it a try and see what you think!

Because of how much I enjoyed the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, I went looking for more Lit/RPG style books and found Battle Mage Farmer.  This is cover for book one, Domestication.  Unlike other RPG novels, this one starts 10 years after John was brought from Earth to this world....and he is no longer anything like he was.  He has a quest, so stop the apocalypse....by taking over a farm and finding a way to grow wheat that will grow in the magic corrupted lands.  One thing I really enjoyed is that John is in the middle of his journey; albeit on a new quest and thus does things much differently than someone who has just been dropped into a new world.  I really enjoy the character growth and the increasingly more difficult quests and problems as the series continues.  It is fun but not trying to be comedic; just an engrossing and entertaining journey.  I am on book 5 of the 9 part series but have been enjoying immensely.

FYI:  I found this series on Kindle Unlimited and am unsure of other places it might be available but definitely feel free to look into it.

Cursed is the 8th title in the Witchbane series.  Two witch hunters are trying to completely eliminate an evil coven who have been killing for centuries.  Seth and Evan met through the hunt and now they are continuing to work to eliminate these evil doers.  

I can't explain the series well, as you kind of need to read the whole thing, but I love the series and the growth of the relationship of Seth and Evan as well as their own growth personally and magically. Brice has also intertwined several different series titles into this universe so if you want to dive in, there is lots to enjoy.

FYI:  This is an independent author whose materials are primarily available through Amazon and Kindle but who also has titles through their own site.

Gail Z Martin is the another name for Morgan Brice (but  are purely suspense novels, no romance).

In the above note, I said that Brice mixes together several series....this is another one in the same universe but focusing on different characters.  This one focuses on a retired priest, Travis and an ex-supernatural special forces agent, Brent who fight evil magic and try to do good in the world.

This is the 3rd title in the series and focuses on the titular organization which is the organization Travis left in order.  Someone has taken the Sinistram in a dark direction and with the power of the church behind them, it will be even more difficult to resolve the issues without consequences.

As Gail Z Martin, this series reads as a buddy cop drama, Supernatural style and is pretty awesome.

FYI:  This is an independent author whose materials are primarily available through Amazon and Kindle but who also has titles through their own site.

This is another in the connected and yet separate worlds of Brice/Martin; this one includes her husband as a co-writer.   This is the 5th in the  Joe Mack Files and features a god-touched main character, Joe Mack.  He begged for help and vengeance from his Slavic god after his murder in the 1900s during one of the many mining riots.  

Joe is struggling with the changing times and the lack of community now that his closest friends are all gone.  He is also having to deal with a supernatural serial killer which requires the help of friends (new & alive and old & deceased) to catch and eliminate.

This is a fun supernatural thrill adventure for anyone who enjoys those.  You should read them in order. (You don't have to read all of the interconnecting adventures; though it's fun to spot characters if you have).

FYI:  This is an independent author whose materials are primarily available through Amazon and Kindle but who also has titles through their own site.

Z-word is a zombie riot of a novel taking place in Arizona.  Wendy is still struggling with her breakup with her girlfriend and is at a party just to do something, when everything starts to go wrong......

King-Miller follows Wendy through the disaster and all the messy parts of the interconnected queer community as they struggle to figure out where the outbreak started and how to stop it.  This was a quick read and felt like Zombieland or any number of zombie novels but with its own focus and realistic characters.  I really enjoyed it, you should try it!

This story is a haunted house story with a heart (literally and figuratively).

Aaron has moved into the house, which is very definitely haunted....but not as scary as people think.  As he and the house get to know each other, he starts to put down roots, find a boyfriend and just maybe solve the mystery of why the house is so strange.

This is a classic fluffy story with romance and a creepy house (that isn't as creepy the longer the book goes on).  This is the first book I've read from this author but I will definitely be exploring what other titles they have.

FYI:  This is an independent author that I found on Kindle Unlimited, not sure if they have books available elsewhere.

This title is (gasp!) a stand alone...wowzas!  

Masters is an author I enjoy so I dove into this one expecting great things...and got all of them.  This is framed as a classic fantasy novel where a reluctant hero is forced to go on a quest to save the world, and then twists the tropes around to make something fun and original.  

Talon is a smart and snarky main character and his forced proximity romance with the healer is not unexpected but isn't framed as expected.  Masters also threw in a zombie apocalypse so we have magic and dragons AND zombies.....

Not a novel that requires deep thinking, just fun and a quick escape from reality into a magical realm.

FYI:  This is an independent author whose materials are primarily available through Amazon and Kindle but who also has titles through their own site.

This novel plays with classic fantasy tropes and the Lit RPG format and turns it into a fun adventure with a bit of heart and a lot of fun.

Davi has spent hundreds of years trying to eliminate the Dark Lord and always fails.  She ends up back at the beginning, having to start over every time.  THIS time though, she has decided to try something different and BECOME the dark lord instead of trying to defeat him.  

This was a really fun book, and I need to read the sequel but I keep forgetting.....

Dead Cat Tail Assassins takes place in the same universe as Master of Djinn (which I adored)....so I was really excited to read this.  Thus far, Clark is a yes every time, and this book proved no exception.

We follow Eveen who is an assassin who breaks a rule, which leads to a domino effect of consequences.  I love the adventure and the emotions and the imagination of this book.  It is fabulous.

Last but not least we have    

which is #18 in the Elantra series and which I have adored every volume immensely.  Sagara has created a world and a universe that is truly unique and I greatly encourage you to explore it. This volume continues exploration of Kaylin's dragon friend Bellusdeo which of course leads to so much more.

So good!

And that's it for me, hope you enjoy some reading; and hope to get back to this blog more often 

Saleena Longmuir

South Brunswick Public Library