Fantasy, of various sub-genres.

These are books I read for the first time in 2013, that rating an 8,9, or 10/10. If it was a re-read, I’m not listing it, not matter how good it was.

Fantasy, straight-up

Heaven’s Net is Wide (2007) Lian Hearn   (10/10)

I really love this series, set in an historical, imaginary, Asian country.

River of Stars (2013) Guy Gavriel Kay  (9/10)

He is always astounding, the amount of research he puts into creating a world and time that never actually existed, but is based upon one or more historical places. And this book has an absolutely gorgeous cover.
 
 
 
Supernatural Mystery

Slashback (2013) Rob Thurman (9/10)

I love Rob Thurman’s writing, and I adore the Cal Leandros series.

Peter Grant / The Rivers of London

Midnight Riot (2011) Ben Aaronovitch  (8/10)

Moon Over Soho (2011) Ben Aaronovitch  (8/10)

Whispers Under Ground (2012) Ben Aaronovitch  (8/10)

Peter Grant is a London cop who can see things few other people can, so he’s transferred to the secret unit of the London force–a very very small unit that’s less elite than it is one the department is trying to forget.

Occult Crimes Unit Investigation

Hard Spell (2011) Justin Gustainis  (8/10)

Stan Markowski is a Detective on the Scranton Police Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit. This is the series I pointed out as having absolutely terrible covers. Luckily, the writing was better than the cover.
 
 
 
Supernatural

Written In Red (2013) Anne Bishop  (8/10)

Neurondoc got me this book, saying I’d really like it. She was right. I had quibbles, but they were only quibbles, and the story really was enjoyable.

Magic Rises (2013) Ilona Andrews  (8/10)

The Kate Daniels book for 2013 didn’t hold up in my memory as well as my initial impression upon reading. But I still pre-ordered the next book as soon as it appeared.

Frost Burned (2013) Patricia Briggs  (8/10)

Fair Game (2012) Patricia Briggs  (8/10)

These books are set in the same world, but follow two different sets of characters. In general, I prefer the Mercy Thompson series to the Alpha and Omega series, but there were some amazing events in Fair Game.

Blood Trade (2013) Faith Hunter  (8/10)
 
 
 
Steampunk / Victorian Magical

The Death of the Necromancer (1998) Martha Wells  (8/10)

This is an older book, written before Steampunk / Victorian Magical became a thing, and I really enjoyed it.
 
 
 
Short Stories

Companions to the Moon (2007) Charles de Lint (short story)  (9/10)

I love pretty much everything I’ve ever read by Charles de Lint. That that under advisement.

In Sea-Salt Tears (2012) Seanan McGuire (short story)  (8/10)

This was a free story available from the author’s website, and was a marvelous look The Luidaeg, who is a fascinating character.

And that’s the past year in reading.