Thursday, January 1, 2026
The Books of 2025: Fantasy
~ Rated 9/10 ~
Stone and Sky (2025) Ben Aaronovitch
Rivers of London #10
The POV in this book alternates between Peter and Abigail: Peter looking into police matters and Abigail theoretically helping to look for the disappearing leopard, but mostly there because they adults thought a change would be helpful as she struggles with the death of Paul.
His death was inevitable–even Abigail noted this in earlier stories–but that doesn’t mean it isn’t hard for a teenager to come to terms with the loss of her brother.
Peter wants me to do grief counseling, which is rare coming from him, but I said it’s my grief, innit? And I ain’t finished with it yet.
Story-telling-wise, now that Peter has kids, those kids both take up a lot of his time and make him far more risk-adverse. So adding in Abigail gives us not just another story-line, but a character interested in adventure (even if she is far more sensible than Peter ever was).
I appreciate that Ben Aaronovitch lets us see Abigail’s grief, but offsets it with both Abigail’s adventures and Peter’s dealing with his kids.
The twins ate their chips and the inside of their burgers, and would have used the buns as impromptu frisbees if I hadn’t moved to confiscate them.
Note to other authors: that’s how you write young kids.
But I expected the kids to be well-written, considering what a good job he did with a younger Abigail.
DAW
Mystery, Queer
Peter Grant: Midnight Riot (2011), Moon Over Soho (2011), Whispers Under Ground (2012), Broken Homes (2014), Foxglove Summer (2014), The Hanging Tree (2017), The Furthest Station (2017), Lies Sleeping (2018), False Value (2020), Amongst Our Weapons (2022)
Rivers of London: The October Man (2019), Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection (2020), What Abigail Did That Summer (2021), Winter’s Gifts (2023), The Masquerades of Spring (2024)
~ Rated 8.5/10 ~
Rogue Community College (2024) David R. Slayton
Liberty House #1
I liked the Adam Binder series, but haven’t been able to get into Dark Moon, Shallow Sea (this isn’t a surprise, as I still have some trouble starting new books).
Although this is in the same world as the Adam Binder books, it’s much less of an urban fantasy, with much of the action taking place in parallel lands rather than our world.
“Now, can anyone tell me what occurred in the Christmas War of 1984?”
“Is that the one where people were beating each other up over dolls?”
“Not exactly, though you have the correct time period.”
Mostly.
Isaac Frost is an orphan who had been taken in by The Undertaker and raised as an assassin, but never sent out on a mission–until now.
Blackstone Publishing
Queer
Fire Spells Between Friends (2024) Sarah Wallace and S.O. Callahan
Fae & Human Relations #2
This is the second book in the series, and follows the brother of one of the characters from the first book.
Instead of enemies to lovers, we have two characters who are already lovers. One is being pushed to find a spouse, and the other doesn’t believe they could ever be married because of politics and the fact that Torquil is half-human/half-fey, a position that generally makes one an outcast.
“Such is the price for being the most outstanding sibling in a prominent family,” Keelan said matter-of-factly.
“Why should I be the one to suffer? Would it not make more sense that I be rewarded for my magical aptitude by having the freedom to marry for love rather than duty?” His brothers had been allowed such privilege, as would Aveline when she finally settled down.
Keelan made a thin hum of uncertainty. “Your reward is inheritance. Knowing your future is secure. In turn, you find an equally powerful partner to ensure that your children and grandchildren are guaranteed the same.”
But things are changing in the world, started by the events in the first book.
Self-published
Romance, Historical, Queer
Fae & Human Relations: Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms (2024)
Bookshops & Bonedust (2023) Travis Baldree
Legends & Lattes #1
This is the prequel to Legends & Lattes, and a book I’d put off reading for reasons that didn’t even make sense at the time.
We go back to the start of Viv’s career, when she is injured during her first battle, and is forced to recuperate in a small town.
With every impact, she found a new, more colorful epithet for Rackam. Not that it was his fault, of course. Still, it was a lot more satisfying to curse someone by name, even if that name should’ve been her own.
It’s just as cozy as the first book, although not a romance (since Viv finds love after she gives up life as a mercenary).
Tor
Cozy, Queer
Legends & Lattes (2022)
Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD: The Thin Blue Ley-Line (2025) Keith R. A. Decandido
I love police procedurals. Add in supernatural elements and I’m all but guaranteed to at least try the story. But good supernatural cop stories are hard to find, and my favorites tend to last only three books, but I’m hoping this book is the start of a series.
The SCU had been formed after a vampire named Bogdan Albescu killed a City Hall employee named John Rosario on the latter’s way to work.
One of the things I appreciate in a well-written law enforcement story is the acknowledgement that much of the job entails dealing with bureaucracy, and that solving crime is a lot of really boring work that only rarely becomes exciting.
Of course dealing with supernatural elements–especially newly discovered ones–makes things more exciting by default.
Blackstone Publishing
Mystery, Queer
~ Rated 8/10 ~
Viscounts & Villainy (2025) Allie Therin
Roaring Twenties Magic #3
This finishes the story arc begun in Spellbound, as well as the romance between Sebastian and Wesley.
“Stop trying to give me feelings, you absolute menace.”
I like Wesley.
Although the POV stays between Wesley and Sebastian, we do get to see Rory and Arthur.
“We’ll follow behind your train tomorrow in the car.”
“It’s a long drive,” Wesley said.
“Respectfully, Wes,” Arthur said patiently, “what you consider a long drive as an Englishman and what I consider a long drive as an American are not the same thing. We’ll be fine.”
I love that exchange so much.
Carina Press
Romance, Mystery, Queer
Magic in Manhattan: Spellbound (2019), Starcrossed (2020), Wonderstruck (2021)
Roaring Twenties Magic: Proper Scoundrels (2021), Once a Rogue (2023), Viscounts & Villainy (2025)
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea (2022) Rebecca Thorne
Tomes & Tea #1
Cozy has been my by-word in recent years, so when I heard about this book I added it to my TBR pile.
And then actually picked it up to start reading.
Reyna is an elite bodyguard who is more than tired of her job. So she finally decides to run away.
Run away with me, the mage had said, her eyes alight. You like tea. I like books. Let’s open a shop somewhere remote and forget the world exists.
Unfortunately, her job isn’t one you’re allowed to walk away from, and her girlfriend is the top mage in her country, so it’s complicated.
This did have higher stakes than I was expecting, but was still nice escape.
Self-published
Queer, Cozy
As much as I read this year, I only finished 11 new-to-me fantasy books. But it’s ok. I’m slowly starting to pick up books that aren’t rereads, so hopefully I’ll double that number in 2026.
- self-published: 2
- DAW: 1
- Tor: 1
- Carina (Harlequin): 1
