Top Ten Favorite Reads for 2022 #read

I didn’t put one of these together last year. Just didn’t have the energy, you know? When I started to think about my list at the beginning of December, I wasn’t sure that I would have a list because I reread old favorites about 75% of the year. I’m a big rereader, obviously, but normally it’s about equal to new reads. But I started writing my list and had more than I thought I would.

#1 Favorite is a series by Martha Wells. The Murderbot Diaries is… give me a moment, I’m trying not to wax poetic, but this series was a big deal for me, and it took me time to figure out why. I mean, when I finished reading the series for the first time I got teary-eyed when I thought back on the story, and I didn’t know why I had that reaction. There were a lot of things that spoke to me such as Murderbot struggled with its emotions, not having context to explain what it was feeling until it had access to his serials. The struggle with interacting with people, being overwhelmed and not having the shield of its suit to protect it. There are a lot of little things that’s shown but not delved into as Murderbot grows as a person and discovers what it is it wants to do. Things that you either get or you don’t and you get it because you’ve been there. I’m only scraping the tip of the iceberg here. This series became my number one reread this year. There were months where it was the only thing that I read. I’d finish the series only to immediately start over again. I highly recommend this series.

Side note: the rest of these aren’t going to be in any particular order.

#2. White Trash Warlock by David R. Slayton. Really enjoyed this slightly spooky urban fantasy. The family struggles/drama are and aren’t a big part of the story. The author did a great job of weaving it all together and making it all matter equally instead of being too heavy on any one topic. I still need to read the next two books, it’s on my list of to-dos. LOL

#3. Minor Mage by T. Kingfisher. This is a YA fantasy and I enjoyed it so much. Our main character is only 12 years old and his journey was fraught with so many different dangers. I do wish there was an extended ending when he’s reunited with his mother. That one glimpse of her wasn’t enough for me, but the story was wonderful.

#4. Junk Yard Cats by Faith Hunter. This is a futuristic dystopian fantasy. I used to read Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series, but stopped after book… 4 or 5? I don’t remember exactly. I have read the odd novella set in that world and usually those just remind me why I stopped. It’s not bad. The world building got better with every installment and her characterizations are better now, too, but that world had a pawl of depression, that sense that nothing will go right and things will just get a little bit worse. I can’t read stories like that anymore and it was the reason why I never picked up the Junk Yard Cats. Then it was recommended in a discussion group and I thought why not. There are only two books in the series so far, but the world building, plot, and characterizations are great. I wish there were more coming soon, but I’ll try to be patient to wait.

#5. The Akseli (The Aldebarian Alliance, 4) by Dianne Duvall. I really love this series. Vampires from Earth in space. Well, they aren’t vampires but Gifted Ones and if you’ve read Duvall you know what that means. The Segonian is still one of my favorite rereads and The Akseli has been added to the lineup. Simone is awesome. And space pirates. Enough said.

#6. The Forgotten Dead (Outfoxing the Paranormal, 1) by Jordan L. Hawk. What a spooky engaging story. I read in the evenings and realized my mistake when it stopped at 11pm to got to bed and realized I was analyzing all the house noises and giving them more meaning that I should. I stayed up longer to read something else to get my mind off the spookiness. I look forward to the next book and the adventure this ghost hunting team is going on.

#7. Perfectly Imperfect Pixie by MJ May. This was a story rich book. The setting is today’s world but with paranormal people in the open with humans knowing about them. The romance is slow burn which was perfect for what was going on. The world building and characters are great. I enjoyed every page.

#8. Embrace: Savage Planet by Kassie Keegan. I wish there were more Sci-Fi romances like this one. Rich world building, alien culture, lots and lots of consent everywhere. I wish it was on audiobook which would make it easier for me to reread. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

#9. The Trouble with Trying to Date a Murderer (Murder Sprees and Mute Decrees, 1) by Jennifer Cody. Full disclosure, I just plucked this one out of the ‘Cody List’. I gobbled up most everything Cody had to offer (a couple of the Houston Hub shorts I haven’t read) and I loved them all. Even the series with heavy BDSM romance (I sorta skimmed those scenes) because the overall story was fantastic. If BDSM isn’t for you either, she has stories that doesn’t have it in them. The series I’ve listed here and both Hammer and Fist books. I would rebuy everything I’ve read in audiobook, just sayin’. I’m looking forward to all her 2023 releases.

#10. Necromancer’s Light by Tavia Lark. This was my fist book by Lark and it won’t be my last. Great storytelling and heart in this book. The world is rich and the plot kept me turning the page. I really appreciated that there was angst but it wasn’t heavy handed.

These are bonuses:

#11. The Rabbit’s Foot by Parker Williams. Paranormal romance with a bit of a twist with a rabbit shifter as the romantic interest. There’s danger and love and an alpha wolf who doesn’t want to be responsible for people. I hope there is more to come in this series.

#12. Get It Together (Undead Detective Agency) by Shelby Rhodes. This was fun. A human is hired by the agency to be a driver and he doesn’t know about the paranormal world. Oops. This was cute and lightly humorous. The next book is coming in March. That feels like a long time away. LOL

#13. Gary of a Hundred Days by Isabel Murray. This a fantasy friends to lovers romance. Gary is quite naïve and adorable. There is a bit of humor and it wasn’t as angsty as it could have been which was perfect for me.

And that’s it! Those were my favorite reads for 2022. What were yours?

Thank you for stopping by and reading!