I read a lot more mystery than you see here on this list, mostly because I re-read a lot of mysteries: especially Donna Leon and Agatha Christie

Historical

What Darkness Brings (2013) C.S. Harris (9/10)

I love the Sebastian St Cyr series–I actually purchase and READ the hard back editions, I love this series so much, and it feels like it just gets better over time.

The Sleeping Partner (2012) Madeleine E. Robins (8/10)

I read the first two books in this series, the Sarah Tolerance mysteries, and then she lost her publisher, so I was delighted to discover this new book.

An Unmarked Grave (2012) Charles Todd (8/10)

An Impartial Witness (2010) Charles Todd (8/10)

This series is set during The Great War, which is the biggest attraction for me. We may say that the men and women who made it through the Second World War are the Greatest Generation, but I think that title more rightfully goes to their parents’ generation, those who survived the first World War, when absolutely everything changed.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (2009) Alan Bradley (8/10)

Flavia de Luce is an eleven-year old quite unlike any other girl in her English village. She loves chemistry, and science, and solving problems. So when she stumbles across the body of a man who was most likely murdered, she sees is as an exciting challenge.
 
 
 
Police

After hearing about the woman who was trying to Read Around the World, I ran across some mysteries written in languages other than English in my TBR pile, and started reading.

I’m quite glad I did.

Silence of the Grave (2002/2005) Arnaldur Indridason translated by Bernard Scudder

This is the second book in the Inspector Erlendur series, and I really liked it. In fact, looking back, I liked the first book more than my initial impression when I wrote the review. I also really want to go to Iceland (I’d wanted to prior to this, this series just reinforced that.)

He Who Fears the Wolf (2003) Karin Fossum translated by Felicity David (8/10)

This is the second book in the Inspector Sejer series, and I’ll be honest, as much as I enjoyed this story, I absolutely couldn’t stand the story that followed. It wasn’t bad–it just really was not for me.

And that’s the year in mysteries.

There are two types of comics here: the traditional comics complied into a graphic novel, and web comics, compiled into a collection of stories, and one book that doesn’t fit either category.

Graphic Novels

Madame Mirage (2008) Paul Dini and Kenneth Rocafort (9/10)

This may say volume one, but as best I can tell, there isn’t a volume two, which is too bad, because I really liked this.

And don’t let the cover fool you. This isn’t one of those types of characters.

Fairest Vol 1: Fairest In All the Land (2013) Bill Willingham (8/10)

Fairest Vol. 2: Hidden Kingdom (2013) Lauren Beukes, Bill Willingham, Inaki Miranda (8/10)

Although I love Fables, I’ve been less fond of the spin-offs, Cinderella and Jack of Fables. So it was with a bit of trepidation that I started this series. Never fear, it was actually very good and I really enjoyed it.

Fables Vol 18: Cubs in Toyland (2013) Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Gene Ha (8/10)

Warning, this is not one of the happier comics. This series hasn’t hesitate to kill of characters (like Stinky, I’m still waiting for Boy Blue to return) and there’s a death here. You’ll know it’s coming, but you won’t know who. This is also a comic where I missed a lot because I tend to gloss over the art for the story, forgetting that the two are integrated.
 
 
 
Web Comics

Walking Your Octopus: A Guidebook to the Domesticated Cephalopod (2013) Brian Kesinger  (9/10)

This isn’t a web comic, but a collection of gorgeous drawings. I gave this as a gift to a friend, and she took her copy to work, where visitors are constantly delighted by it. It’s gorgeous and marvelous and wonderful.

Erstwhile: Untold Tales From the Brothers Grimm (2012) Gina Biggs, Louisa Roy, Elle Skinner  (8/10)

I’ve been reading Erstwhile for awhile, and so wanted to support them when the published a paper book. In my opinion it was well worth it.

Evil Diva Anthology Volume 1 (2013) Peter Menotti, Joe Cashman, Stephen Hood, Team Diva  (8/10)

Sadly, I don’t think this is being published anymore, which is too bad, because I really enjoyed it.

And that’s 2013 in comics.

We’ll start the yearly wrap up with the genres that I read less frequently: Non-Fiction, Romance, YA, and Anthologies. (I read enough YA for it’s own category last year, but read more mysteries this year.)
 
 
 
Non-Fiction

A History of the World in 6 Glasses (2005) Tom Standage  (10/10)

This is a look at how six beverages: beer, wine, liquor, coffee, tea, and Coca Cola–changed the world. I found it both fascinating and enjoyable as things I knew but hadn’t really considered (living without access to clean water) were put into perspective.
 
 
 
Romance

Midsummer Moon (1987) Laura Kinsale  (8/10)

This book had a marvelous cover what first attracted me, and then the story was an amusing romp. There are elements of fantasy and steampunk, but they are only a minor part of the story. How can you resist a story where a hedgehog is a (non-speaking) recurring character?

Twice Tempted: A Night Prince Novel (2013) Jeaniene Frost  (8/10)

Theoretically, this is supernatural fantasy, but the romance is really the largest part of the story, so I decided it’s primary classification was romance. And although there are vampires, and there is a lot of boinking, it’s really quite good.
 
 
 
YA

Shadow Falls

Whispers at Moonrise (2012) C. C. Hunter  (8/10)

Chosen at Nightfall (2013) C.C. Hunter  (8/10)

These two books are the conclusion to Kylie Galen’s story arc, and I thought she did a lovely job wrapping up Kylie’s discovery of who she is and how she fits into the world. The parallel series, focusing on Delia Tang, is, I believe, not YA, but the short stories and novella’s I’ve read have been quite good.
 
 
 
Anthologies

I love anthologies. These properly should have been classified as fantasy, but there were already too many books for that post.

Weird Detectives: Recent Investigations (2013) edited by Paula Guran  (8/10)

The Mad Scientist’s Guide to World Domination: Original Short Fiction for the Modern Evil Genius (2013) John Joseph Adams  (8/10)

Teeth: Vampire Tales (2011) edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling  (8/10)

Happily Ever After (2011) edited by  John Klima   (8/10)

All of these are fantasy compilations, and all are quite good.

Since I pointed out covers I hated, it’s only fair I point out covers I loved. And there are quite a few of them.

YA

The Raven Boys (2012) Maggie Stiefvater

Grave Mercy (2012) Robin LaFevers

Romance

Midsummer Moon (1987) Laura Kinsale

I absolutely adore the hedgehog.

Scarlet Sails (2013) TS Rhodes (short story)

In general, I don’t like headless models, but it works here, and more impressively, this is for a short story.

I complain a lot of female cover models, so here are some well done covers for stories with female protagonists.

Fantasy : Female Covers

Chimes at Midnight (2013) Seanan McGuire

Seanan McGuire almost always gets marvelous covers for the Toby Daye series.

Magic Rises (2013) Ilona Andrews

I’ve not cared much for many of the earlier covers in the Kate Daniels series, but this is marvelous and gorgeous.

Blood Trade (2013) Faith Hunter

Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock covers are always good, and this was no exception.

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (2011) Kady Cross

This is a short story cover, and I really like the lack of a cover model here. And it’s quite clear this is a steampunk story.

Graveminder (2011) Melissa Marr

Again, no model on the front, but I really like this cover. Some combination of the font and the colors and the title drew me in and made me look at this book.

Fantasy : Male

Slashback (2013) Rob Thurman

I love the covers in this series almost as much as I love the stories. This is Cal.

Libriomancer (2012) Jim C. Hines

I love the tone of this cover, and how it describes the story. I just wish I’d love the story itself, more.

Thieftaker (2012) D.B. Jackson

This is another cover that perfectly nails the story.

Midnight Riot (2011) Ben Aaronovitch

I really like how the model is a mere outline, but you can still tell he’s a man of color.

Fated (2012) Benedict Jacka

No people at all on this cover. I just think it’s gorgeous.

Fade to Black  (2013) Francis Knight

This is another cover that is very different from what else I generally see out there, but represents the book very well, and is what drew me to consider the book in the first place.

Fantasy : Other

Here are the rest of the covers I loved, including what might have been my favorite cover of the year.

The Mad Scientist’s Guide to World Domination: Original Short Fiction for the Modern Evil Genius (2013) John Joseph Adams

This is fun, goofy cover that matches the tone of many of the stories

Heaven’s Net is Wide (2007) Lian Hearn

All the covers in this series are beautiful. There are alternate covers out there that I don’t like at all, and can’t understand why anyone would have changed from this.

River of Stars (2013) Guy Gavriel Kay

I believe this is my favorite cover of the year.

Simply gorgeous.

It’s time for my wrap up of the books I read in 2013, and once again I’m going to start with covers.

And the first covers are ones I hated, to get that out of the way.

There are two types of terrible covers: ones that are just plain awful, and ones that are good, but I personally disliked.

We’ll start with the former. Neither of these covers are terrible, but…

Twice Tempted: A Night Prince Novel (2013) Jeaniene Frost

Jeaniene Frost has had some absolutely horrific covers, and this in no way stoops to that level. But that doesn’t mean I like it. Which is too bad, because despite the boinking, it’s a good book and one I enjoyed.

First, it’s the male equivalent of the butt-n-boobs shot, although this is at least anatomically possible.

But that’s not really what bothered me. What I dislike is that the model doesn’t match Vlad. (Yes, Vlad the Impaler, but it’s a good book. Trust me.)

Winged eyebrows framed eyes that were a blend of copper and emerald, and sleek material draped over a body hardened from decades of battle when he was human. As usual, only his hands and face were bare.
…
Unlike most well-built men, Vlad didn’t flash a lot of skin, but those custom-tailored clothes flaunted his taut body as effectively as running shorts and a sleeveless muscle shirt.

Vlad is described as always being impeccably dressed, so we get… man titty.

Next up, a cover that isn’t horrible, but I just did not like.

Fair Game (2012) Patricia Briggs

That just doesn’t look like a wolf to me. And it certainly doesn’t look like the bad-ass enforcer wolf. The position of the two characters is just … weird. And I keep thinking that’s a Pringle floating in front of them.

Now, two covers that are just terrible.

I liked and enjoyed these stories, but thank goodness I read them in eBook format, so I didn’t have to actually LOOK at either of these covers.

Aside from what I may read today, my total books read for 2012 is 160. That’s the second greatest number read after 2006, when I read 164.

November (22) and February (19) were the months I read the most–wonder if that relates to how dreary those months can be, since I also read less than average in March (7) and April (10). (July we were on vacation, so that doesn’t count.)

The total for genre comes out to be more than 160, because many of the books I read fell into multiple categories.

As always, I read primarily fantasies (104) but those were predominantly supernatural fantasy rather than epic or sword & sorcery. That’s because I’m still not in the mood to commit to authors like Robert Jordan or George RR Martin who write huge books in series that never seem to end.

I still want primarily single book story arcs, and it’s hard to find good S&S that does that.

The number of romances (33) I read (this is almost always a secondary category) went up, but the number of YA books (35) I read doubled. There are a LOT of good YA books out there, and an eReader means I don’t have to lurk the YA section of the book store to find them. (I know there’s nothing wrong with it, but hanging out there made me feel weird.)

I also read several blogs that review a lot of YA, so I’ve discovered plenty more to read–as if my TBR pile wasn’t already huge.

As far as the types of books I’ve read, eBooks has blown away every other category, almost doubling since last year.

The slight increase in hardback books is due almost entirely to the number of cookbooks I read (6). But mostly you can see that eBooks (97) have mostly replaced mass market paperback books (22). I don’t think the number trade paperback books (30) will change, because that category contains comics and graphic novels (15) and I won’t read those in any other format.

And in case you missed them, here are my favorites from 2012.

My Favorite Books of 2012:
YA and Fantasy
Romance and Mystery
Non-Fiction and Comics

Good Covers of 2012:
YA, Romance, and Mystery
Fantasy

And my book blog still lives at Random Reading, and updates to that appear in the sidebar to the right.

So, with all that, any recommendations for me for 2013?

I have always read a lot of fantasy, but in recent years, I’ve discovered some of the best fantasy is in the YA section. Luckily for me, the internet makes perusing the YA section less uncomfortable. I’m still not reading much epic / sword & sorcery fantasy and a lot of urban fantasy / paranormal fantasy, but that’s okay, because I like what I like, and there’s nothing wring with that.

The YA I read is almost all fantasy, but I’ve been following a lot of book blogs that recommend YA, so I’ve picked up a few non-fantasy YA books to read. We’ll see if that trend continues next year.

Unless otherwise stated, these were published in 2012.
(Click on a book title to read my full review, click on the author’s name to see more books by that author.)

Fantasy

Death’s Rival, Raven Cursed, and Have Stakes Will Travel (Jane Yellowrock) Faith Hunter

I really like Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series. Jane is a licensed vampire hunter who has managed to get hired by the vampire master of New Orleans. Jane is also a skin walker, which is something she works to keep secret from everyone, because to the best of her knowledge, there are no other skin walkers anymore.

Although Jane has some powers from being a shifter, she primarily succeeds through her wits and intimidation. She also suffers the consequences of her actions–and since she has a violent occupations, there are almost always consequences.

Have Stakes Will Travel is a collection of Jane short stories, covering her entire career. The other two are the latest Jane Yellowrock books.
 
 
Permeable Borders by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

I love Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s writing–I’ll pick up pretty much any fantasy book she’s written.

Although many of her books have romantic elements, she writes fantasy along the lines of Charles de Lint, rather than paranormal fantasies, even though her stories contain magic.

Several of these stories appeared in anthologies, and many of those I’ve read, but others–those written upon a them mostly–I had not seen before. Of course, even the stories I’d read before, I still enjoyed.
 
 
Gunmetal Magic (The World of Kate Daniels) Ilona Andrews

Although Kate and Curran make appearances here, this book is about Andrea, Kate’s partner. I’ve read several short stories featuring Andrea, so was looking forward to an entire novel about her, and I was not disappointed.

Andrea has always been a very strong female character in Kate’s world, so she was easily able to inhabit a book on her own.
 
 
Ashes of Honor (October Daye) Seanan McGuire

There are more Toby Daye books to come (I checked) but this book ends in such a good place I’d be okay if the series ended here. Not that I don’t want to read more about Toby, it’s just that many of her problems have finally been resolved and she can actually get in on with her life now.
 
 
Garrett Investigates (Abby Irene) Elizabeth Bear

This is a collection of Abby Irene short stories/novellas.

These stories have elements of fantasy and steampunk, but I think first and foremost I’d label them as alternate history, with those other elements coming secondary, because the world in which Abby Irene lives is as important to the stories as the fantasy and steampunk elements.
 
 
The Very Best of Charles de Lint (2010) Charles de Lint

I absolutely adore Charles de Lint’s stories, so despite having many of these stories already, I couldn’t resist this collection for the stories I didn’t have.

It’s a strange thing–many of his stories deal with dark and depressing elements–sexual abuse, child abuse, loss–yet his stories leave me with a sense of hope.
 
 
Hex Appeal edited by P.N. Elrod

This is an anthology of stories about magic and boinking.

Okay, not all the stories have boinking, but most of them do. Despite that, there is some wonderful world-building and there are many fantastic stories here, which gave this anthology a very good rating despite having stories I didn’t finish.
 
 
Down These Strange Streets (2011) edited by Gardner Dozois and George R. R. Martin

This was a fabulous collection–I don’t think there was a single story here I hated, and most of the stories I loved. It also introduced me to several authors I had not read or heard of, but went on to search out because I so enjoyed their tales here.

YA

The Far West (Frontier Magic) Patricia C. Wrede

This is the concluding story to her Frontier Magic series, and is marvelous. This is an alternate history where magic has shaped the founding of the US, and although there are many parallels between this world and our own history, there are also many significant differences.

Although the main character is a girl (a young woman by the time of this book) I believe that boys might enjoy it as well–especially the first book in the series.

To be honest, I enjoyed this world so much I am sad to see this series end.
 
 
Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride

This is a fun series. Sam has discovered he is a powerful necromancer, so has to learn quickly how to deal with his powers.

There is an acknowledgement of teen’s sexuality in this book, though nothing descriptive.
 
 
Dark Frost (Mythos Academy) Jennifer Estep

This is another interesting series, though a little heavier on the romance than I might prefer. Gwen goes to a school for magical heroes of a sort, but her powers aren’t the sort that are good for bashing monsters, and she wasn’t told of the existence of others until she was in high school.

This is a modern setting, and there’s acknowledgement of boinking, but no details.

I’ve been enjoying this series, though I’m not quite sure I like where it’s heading.
 
 
A Conspiracy of Kings (2010) (Thief of Eddis) Megan Whalen Turner

Yeah, this is one of the books that made me bend the rules for books published in the past several years instead of just 2012. This series is so wonderful, I want to make sure everyone knows about it.
 
 
Under My Hat: Tales from the Cauldron edited by Jonathan Strahan

This is a very good anthology–a great combination of authors I’m already reading, and authors that are new to me. I wish I knew more people who loved anthologies as much as I do.

My favorite comics and non-fiction books and my favorite mysteries and romance of the past year.

My favorite Fantasy and YA covers of 2012.

I’ve always loved mysteries, from Nancy Drew to Trixie Beldon to Sherlock Holmes as a kid, to Spenser, Sonchai Jitplecheep, and Inspector John Rebus as a grownup. Grandmom shared this love of mysteries, so after her death, I sort of drew back from reading as many mysteries, because it often made me sad when I’d think, “Grandmom would LOVE this!”

But, I’ve started back into reading mysteries again, and there were always a few series that I was keeping up with, regardless.

Romance is a new field for me, one I was drawn into through the amount of paranormal fantasy I was reading. I eventually decided that as long as I knew before hand I was reading a romance, it wasn’t that bad. However, most of the romances I’ve been reading are either part of a fantasy series I was already into, or much older books I’m just now discovering.

Unless otherwise stated, all books were published in 2012.

Romance

Steel’s Edge (The Edge) Ilona Andrews

This is the final book in The Edge series, so there was quite a bit to wrap up, but I think they did it admirably. Ilona Andrews has said they may write more about these characters in the future, but not as part of this series. So if you’re a completist, all four books are available now!

These books have boinking, but not a huge amount of boinking. Just so you know.
 
 
Scarlet A. C. Gaughen

This is a take on Robin Hood that I initially had a hard time getting into, but once I got to about two chapters in, I couldn’t put it down. Will Scarlet is actually a girl hiding from her past, and only three people know Scarlet is actually a girl, and none of those know her true identity.

I really enjoyed this, and was surprised not to see a sequel, because there easily could be one. Not much boinking here, though there is an open acknowledgement of sex.

My review of Scarlet.
 
 
Kilts & Kraken (Gaslight Chronicles) Cindy Spencer Pape

This series is more a bunch of serial novellas, so be aware the stories are relatively short.

There is also a LOT of boinking.

But the world building and the characters are so wonderful, I keep getting the books in this series because I enjoy them so much in spite of all the graphic sex.

There were actually two stories in this series published this year, but I didn’t find the second quite as good as this one (or the previous stories).

My review of Kilts & Kraken.

Mystery

The Custom of the Army (2012) Diana Gabaldon

I read my first Lord John story in the anthology Down these Strange Streets, and I almost immediately went looking for more stories about Lord John. The first book I found was good, but the next two I read, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade and Lord John and the Hand of Devils were excellent, and I was immediately pulled in.

The Custom of the Army is a novella featuring Lord John, a major in the British Army during the Seven Years War. The fact Lord John happens to be gay, at a time when that could lead to his hanging, makes his life even more dangerous.

The history in these stories is my second favorite thing after Lord John. She is meticulous in her research to make sure the details are historically correct. And some of those details are pretty amazing to modern eyes.

These aren’t your typical mysteries, but neither are the romances either, so I’ve mentally classified them as historical mysteries and moved on.

My review of The Custom of the Army.
 
 
Vulture Peak (Sonchai Jitpleecheep) John Burdett

I don’t remember anymore why I initially picked up Bangkok 8, but once I did, I was drawn into the story and the characters and the city and have eagerly awaited each additional book in this series.

This is NOT a series I recommended to Grandmom. Bangkok is not a place for the faint of heart or squeamish, and these books reflect that. That said, these books are also amazing, and it never fails to astound me the things that are ethical and immoral in Sonchai’s world.

My review of Vulture Peak.
 
 
Beastly Things (Commissario Guido Brunetti) Donna Leon

This is a series that Grandmom really enjoyed. Brunetti is an inspector in the Venice police, and Venice is as much a character in this series as Bangkok is in the Sonchai Jitplecheep series.

As are the meals Brunetti and his family eat. I have two Italian mystery series I am keeping up with, and in both the food is as much a part of the book as the place and the (inevitable) murder.

Although some books are better than others, all are good, and all are worth reading.

My review of Beastly Things.

My favorite romance and mystery covers of 2012.

That was initially going to be a list at some of my favorites books that were published in 2012, but I decided that wasn’t quite fair, since there are some series that I’ve just become aware of, so instead I’ve limited the list to books that were published in 2010, 2011, or 2012. Additionally, I almost never buy hardback books, so I want to include books that just came out in paperback 2012.

And also, if I hadn’t, my non-fiction selection would have been one book.

First up: Non-fiction and comics.

I don’t get through a lot of non-fiction during the year, mostly because it tends to be my bedtime reading, so I usually get about a chapter a night read before I fall asleep.

As far as comics, I don’t follow a lot of comics, and the ones I do follow I generally really really like, so you’re seeing most of what I read this year. The other series that I’d been following are either completed or have stopped publishing (boo!). The exception to this is Hellboy, which I read erratically, because there are generally two different plots: the ongoing story, and short stories from the past. As I prefer the short stories, I tend to fall behind on the Hellboy series.

Hopefully I can find some new series to keep up with in the coming year.

Non-Fiction

Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) (2012) Jenny Lawson

If you follow The Bloggess, then you know she put out a memoir this year.

And if you follow The Bloggess, you also know she is completely irreverent, frequently blasphemous, and possibly the funniest blogger around. She also suffers from medical issues, including depression and anxiety disorder, which makes her writing often even more poignant.

If you do not regularly read The Bloggess, I highly recommend her writing, assuming you are not offended by foul language, and irreverent (and perhaps blasphemous) writing.

Or taxidermy.

My review of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir).
 
 
The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2011 (2011) edited by Mary Roach and Tim Folger

I like science. I like how Mary Roach writes. So when I saw she was editing an anthology of science writing, I said, “why not?”

Most of the writing is not as irreverent as what Mary Roach writes, but it is still very good, and well worth checking out if you like science writing.

My review of The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2011
 
 
Made for Goodness: And Why This Makes All the Difference (2010) Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu

For someone who is mostly agnostic (or perhaps just a monotheist) I read a lot of religious writing. Partially because I’m looking for answers I know I won’t find, but also because religion is so very important to so many people in my life, I want to learn as much as I can, so at least I can grasp it intellectually, even if I feel nothing emotionally or spiritually.

Desmond Tutu is friends with the Dalai Lama, whose writing is always setting by the bed to read, (I’m currently reading The Path to Tranquility: Daily Wisdom) so after hearing an interview with him, I got this book.

It is thought-provoking, because this is a man who has seen and lived through horrors, yet he is still able to see love in good and his fellow men and women–something I find astounding.

If you’d like to have some of your faith in humanity restored, this is a good book for it.

My review of Made for Goodness: And Why This Makes All the Difference.

Comics

Fairest Vol 1: Wide Awake (2012) Bill Willingham, Phil Jimenez, Andy Lanning, Matthew Sturges, Shawn McManus

Fairest is a new Fables spin off. This issue was centered on Sleeping Beauty and the White Witch, although in this column, Ali Baba shared the spotlight. As much as I love Fables, I haven’t much liked any of the spin-offs, so there wasn’t a guarantee I’d like this one. I have so far.

My review of Fairest: Wide Awake
 
 
Fables: Werewolves of the Heartland (2012) Bill Willingham, Craig Hamilton, Jim Fern, Ray Snyder, Mark Farmer

Like 1001 Nights of Snowfall, this is a stand-alone story. Although there are plenty of references to events from the main story line, this might be a decent introduction if you are interested in checking out Fables.

My review of Werewolves of the Heartland.
 
 
Fables 17: Inherit the Wind (2012) Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Shawn McManus

This is the latest installment in he Fables series. After the death of Bigby’s father, it appears that one of his and Snow’s children will have to take over as the North Wind.

I do so love this series.

My review of Fables Vol 17: Inherit the Wind .

Yesterday was YA, Romance, and Mystery covers. Today is fantasy covers.

Romance gets some horrible, lurid covers, but I think fantasy in general, is worse. Especially the kinds of books I love, which have strong, independent, female lead characters.

If they aren’t in completely ridiculous outfits for what they are supposed to be doing, they’re in poses that are humanly impossible or simply in some rendition of what the artist thinks is “sexy.” Which means there are a lot of horrible—and even downright offensive—covers with female characters.

So I’m delighted when I find a series with covers that not only don’t suck, but are actually awesome.

First up is Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series: Death’s Rival, Raven Cursed, and Have Stakes Will Travel (2012)

I generally love the covers in this series, and there ended up being three different Jane Yellowrock books this year (two novels and an anthology).

First, the cover model looks like Jane (who is Native American).

Second, Jane actually looks like she could kick your ass, and (aside from the ridiculously tight pants and excess of boob) is dressed for combat.

I think my biggest complaint about the covers is that in the series is that it explicitly states (multiple times) that Jane wears her hair up in a style that cannot be grabbed when she’s fighting. So I find the depiction with long, unbound hair ridiculous, but in the grand scheme of book covers, that’s a minor quibble.

My reviews of Death’s Rival, Raven Cursed, and Have Stakes Will Travel

Doubletake (2012) Rob Thurman

This is the only series/book with a male protagonist that made the list; I can’t help myself, I just adore these covers.

I love they managed to capture the essential pissy bastard nature of Cal.

My review of Doubletake

Gunmetal Magic (2012) Ilona Andrews

As much as I love Ilona Andrews’ books, I generally tend to dislike the covers to the Kate Daniels series. Although Kate is typically competent looking, the depiction of Curran (always as a lion) just bugs me. So I was delighted by the cover of this book.

Andrea looks like she’s ready to kick your ass. The model looks pretty much like Andrea is described. And we have Atlanta burning in the background.

I also like that although part of the focus of the story was her working things out with Raphael, he doesn’t make an appearance on the cover. Which is good, because this story is about Andrea, not him.

Only quibble I have is (again), why is her hair down? How can you fight—or do much of anything—with your hair in your face?

My review of Gunmetal Magic

Ashes of Honor (2012) Seanan McGuire

Seanan McGuire has also gotten some great covers for her Toby Daye series. They’re dark (possibly a little darker than the series itself, but that’s ok) and Toby isn’t shown doing anything ridiculous, nor is she in a submissive pose.

She is portrayed here is active and independent–who knows what she’s actually doing, but she is doing it–things are NOT being done to her.

Additionally, is it strange that I love the font they use? Because I do.

My review of Ashes of Honor

Permeable Borders (2012) Nina Kiriki Hoffman

I love this cover. I love the font, I love the water, I love the sky, I love everything.

No, it doesn’t tell you anything specific about the contents, but that’s good, because this is an anthology of her writing, and the stories don’t necessarily fit any one theme, besides being fantasy. So I just love that it’s so beautiful.

My review of Permeable Borders

I complain a lot about bad book covers. Some covers are so terrible they make me glad for the advent of the eBook, so I can read whatever I want in public.

On the other hand, when book covers are good, they tend to be very good. I fully admit that I’ve been drawn to books solely by the cover art. So I want to point out some covers for books were published in 2012 that I really liked, because that seems only fair.

First up: YA, Romance, and Mystery covers. Next: Fantasy Covers

YA

Most of the YA covers weren’t bad—I can’t think of anything in particular I hated, but I thought these covers were especially good.

The Far West (2012) Patricia C. Wrede

Interestingly, the first book in the series had a very different cover from the next two. I’ve liked all the covers in this series, and I think this one does a very good job of giving you a feel for the tone of the story without giving anything away.

There are strange monsters in the background you can’t quite make out. The dress of the main character is obviously not modern, but also very sensible for what she’s doing.

The first cover in the series didn’t have a picture of main character, I presume in an attempt to appeal to male and female readers.

My review of The Far West.

Croak (2012) Gina Damico

This is first off, a spot on depiction of the main character. I love that she’s in a hoodie and isn’t made to look the slightest bit sexy. I also like how you can’t immediately tell if she is male or female, which would, again, make it possible appeal to a male or female reader.

My review of Croak

Romance

Cindy Spencer Pape‘s Moonlight & Mechanicals (2012) and Kilts & Kraken (2012)

Despite the fact these are novellas, she has gotten some really wonderful covers for this series. This is one of those cases where I picked up the book for the cover.

The books are steam punk and alternate history where magic exists, which I think the covers do a fabulous job of showing. There are ALSO kissing books, which isn’t (to me) obvious from the covers, but despite all the boinking, I’m really enjoying the series, and in fact, probably would never have read any of these books if they had the typical “romance” cover.

My reviews of Moonlight & Mechanicals and Kilts & Kraken

Mystery

When Maidens Mourn (2012) C.S. Harris

This is a well-established series that shifted quickly from mass-market paperback to hard-back for the initial release, so the odds of her getting a crappy cover were relatively low. That said, I haven’t loved all the covers in this series (I rather disliked the cover of What Remains of Heaven (http://klishis.com/reading/archives/1571) because it didn’t feel like it had much to do with the book) but for the most part she has gorgeous covers that portray the tone of the book marvelously.

These are mysteries set in Regency England, and the main character is a British noble who, after time in the Army during the Napoleonic wars, cares far less than his family likes for society and proper behavior, which is how he keeps getting embroiled in murders and their attending mysteries.

Although the covers are gorgeous, their tone also has a sense of mystery (or menace), often with people or objects coming out of the mist.

My review of When Maidens Mourn

Oddly, I read no “plain” fantasy published in 2011. I read several books that came out in paperback in 2011, but had initially been published in hardback in 2010. (I find hardback books uncomfortable to read, so with the Kindle will probably buy few–if any–hardback books again.)

Fantasy, however, is the category that has the “re-reads”, my comfort books.

RE-READS:

Ellen Kushner

Swordspoint (1987) Review

The falling snow made it hard for him to see. The fight hadn’t winded him, but he was hot and sweaty, and he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He ignored it, making for Riverside, where no one was likely to follow him.

He could have stayed, if he’d wanted to. The swordfight had been very impressive, and the party guests and its outcome would be talked about for weeks. But if he stayed, the swordsman knew that he would be offered wine, and rich pastry, and asked boring questions about his technique, and difficult questions about who had arranged the fight. He ran on.

Under his cloak, his shirt was spattered with blood, and the Watch would want to know what he was doing up on the Hill at this hour. It was their right to know; but his profession forbade him to answer, so he dodged around corners and caught his breath in doorways until he’d left the splendors of the Hill behind, working his way down through the city.

Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agness Nutter, Witch (1990) Review

(24) So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life…
25 And the Lord spake unto the Angel that guarded the eastern gate, saying Where is the flaming sword which was given unto thee?
26 And the Angel said, I had it here only a moment ago, I must have put it down some where, forget my own head next.
27 And the Lord did not ask him again.

Terry Pratchett

Men at Arms (1993) (Discworld) Review

…(W)hen you hit your thumb with an eight-pound hammer it’s nice to be able to blaspheme. It takes a very special and strong-minded kind of atheist to jump up and down with their hand clasped under their other armpit and shout, ‘Oh, random-fluccuations-in-the-space-time-continuum!’ or ‘Aaargh, primitive-and-outmoded-concept on a crutch!’

Sergei Lukyanenko, translated by Andrew Bromfield

Night Watch (2006) Review; Day Watch (2006) Review; Twilight Watch (2007) Review; Last Watch (2009) Review

Anton Gorodetsky is an low-level Other: a human with the ability to slip into different levels of reality and perform feats of magic. Anton is also a member of the Night Watch: a group of Light Magicians who keep an eye on the Dark others, to make sure they follow the Treaty and do not take advantage. Before he became an other he was a computer programmer, so as an other, he has done similar work, only now Gesar (his boss) has decided Anton needs to do field work, and so has sent him out to keep an eye on the Dark Others.

Each book contains three self-contained stories, all building upon what has happened previously, but complete in and of themselves.

New Reads

Charles de Lint

Muse and Reverie (2009) Review

Charles de Lint is an author I can rely on to write books that I love from page one, and his short story collections set in Newford are always my favorite reads. Although urban fantasy, his works rely upon the creatures of folklore–Coyote, Crow Girls, the narrow places that allow you to move between the worlds. He writes elegant stories of redemption and love that remind me that the fantastic may be possible and that the world of dreams is sometimes real.

Liz Williams

The Iron Khan 2010 (Detective Inspector Chen) Review

Detective Inspector Chen is a Snake Agent. A policeman in Singapore who deals with supernatural crimes. Zhu Irzh is a demon from Hell who is sent to Singapore Three to work with Chen. These book often focus on Heaven and Hell and the relationship between the two, but this is not a Western afterlife but a thoroughly Chinese one, with bureaucracy and even communication with the dead.

Once a week he took the tram out to Bharulay to see his elderly father , and they went for long, silent walks along the canal. His mother, the shrill quarrelsome Mrs Roche, had long since passed into one of the more pleasant neighborhoods of Hell, if that wasn’t a contradiction in terms. She sometimes telephoned, a tinny distant voice in her son’s ear, demanding to know why he was still unwed.

Alternate History:

Guy Gavriel Kay

Under Heaven 2010 Review

Guy Gavriel Kay spends years researching the past to help him create the worlds in which he sets his books, and is able to create marvelous and magical cities and people that never existed, yet are amazingly alive and real. I have yet to read a Guy Gavriel Kay book I didn’t love, yet Under Heaven may somehow have managed to become my favorite.

Barry Hughart

Bridge of Birds 1984 Review; The Story of the Stone 1988 Review ; Eight Skilled Gentlemen 1991 Review

(Master Li and Number Ten Ox)

Old P’i-pao-ku, “Leatherbag Bone,” was Mrs. Wu’s grandmother, and she was waiting at the confectioner’s to get hard sugar decorations of the five poisonous insects (centipede, scorpion, lizard, toad, snake) to spread over top of her wu tu po po cake, which she would purposely make as inedible as possible without being actually deadly. Every family member eats a slice on the fifth day of the fifth moon, and sickness demons stare at people capable of eating stuff like that and go elsewhere.

Elizabeth Bear

The White City 2010 (Abby Irene) Review

Vampires. North America still colonized by Britain and France and Spain in 1899. Middle aged female magicians who are also Detective Crown Inspectors. It’s steampunk and alternate history and magic all piled into a single book.

Anthologies:

Masked 2010 edited by Lou Anders Review

Superhero stories with the focus less on the daring do and more on the lives in between the heroics–or even long after the heroics have ended.

The Secret History of Fantasy 2010 edited by Peter S. Beagle Review

Maureen F. McHugh. Gregory Maguire. Patricia A. McKillip. T.C. Boyle. Steve Millhauser. Steven King. Francesca Lia Block. Jeffery Ford. Susanna Clarke. Robert Holdstock. Kij Johnson. Every story in here is good, even the ones that I didn’t like.

Young Adult:

I noticed in recent years that some of the best fantasy out there is sitting in the young adult section of the book store.

Suzanne Collins

Hunger Games 2008 (Hunger Games) Review

I’ll be surprised if anyone the slightest bit conversant with fantasy books has not already heard of and/or read this. I actually have not read the following two, simply because they are very dark and I can only take darkness (no matter the quality) in small doses.

Patricia Wrede

A Matter of Magic (2010) Review

Patricia C. Wrede is another young adult author who should really be read by anyone who loves a good fantasy story. Although A Matter of Magic starts with the trope of a young girl passing as a boy, it soon discards that to move onto the real story–instead of being the focus of the tale, it is simply an explanation of how a girl could survive on the streets as a thief and not be forced into a house of ill repute.

Megan Whalen Turner

The Thief 1996; The Queen of Attolia 2000; The King of Attolia 2006 (The Queen’s Thief) Review

Instead of Three Wishes (2006) Review

This year I discovered that Megan Whalen Turner–hiding in that young adult section–is writing some of the best fantasy around, regardless of the age for which it was written. And unlike much of the current fantasy, her books stand alone on their own merit. No cliffhangers. No plot points dragging on unresolved for years. Just good solid writing the kind of which you wish there was more of.

The Year in Reading: Fantasy
The Year in Reading: Supernatural Fantasy
The Year in Reading: Comics, Mystery, and History
The Year in Reading: Books Published in 2011

I have several authors of comics, supernatural fantasy, and mystery on pre-order, but since supernatural fantasy tends to come out first in mass market paperback rather than hardback, those are the books I read immediately upon publication. Several of these were mentioned in my discussion of my favorite books published in 2011, so I’ll only list those books here.

Blackout (Cal Leandros) Rob Thurman

One Salt Sea, Late Eclipses (October Daye) Seanan McGuire

Eye of the Tempest, Tempest’s Legacy (Jane True) Nicole Peeler

Mercy Blade (Jane Yellowrock) Faith Hunter

Magic Slays (Kate Daniels), Fate’s Edge (The Edge) Ilona Andrews

Now onto the books that were not first published in 2011.

Richard Kadrey

Kill the Dead (2010) (Sandman Slim) Review

Stark got sent to Hell by some friends, but he escaped and needs revenge. That’s the synopsis of the first book. In the second book, Stark is at loose ends, and ends up having to deal with zombies. Lots of zombies.

I hate zombies. Yet I liked the book.

If you didn’t read Sandman Slim, Stark is an American cross between Simon R. Green’s John Taylor and Mike Carey’s Felix Castor. All three are powerful magicians and right bastards, but the usually end up doing the right thing, bitching about it the whole damned way.

Lish McBride

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer (2010) Review ; Necromancer: A Novella (2011)

Sam is at loose ends. College didn’t work for him, so he’s doing the menial food service thing for awhile till he figures out what he wants to do with himself. Unfortunately, events lead to Sam discover that he is a necromancer–and a very powerful one at that, and that the current Power That Be do not want a loose necromancer in town.

Sam is very likable, his reactions to events are realistic, and his friends are awesome. The novella “Necromancer” is set in the same world, only Ash (the avatar of death) is the secondary character, and her friend Matt is the primary character, so you can read either with no knowledge of the other.

This is a young adult book, and although there is some boinking, it’s off screen.

Patricia Briggs

Silver Bourne (2010) (Mercy Thompson) Review

I love Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series. Mercy is a lone shape-shifter in a world where werewolves and vampires exist, and are all contemplating coming out of the closet. Because her mother didn’t know what to do with her, she was raised by the Marroc, the head of the American werewolf clans, so she learned to hunt and and become a predator, however, unlike the werewolves, she must rely upon cunning rather than brute strength and magical healing. Her advantage is that the process of changing is natural for her, albeit one that she cannot share with others.

Mercy is also an auto mechanic and fully capable of rescuing herself if the need arises. As the series has progressed she has gained a love interest, but the romance has not taken over the series.

Jeaniene Frost

First Drop of Crimson (2010) (Night Huntress World) Review

This book exists in the same world as the Night Huntress, and Cat and Bones make an appearance, but the main characters are Cat’s friend Denise, and Bones mate Spade.

First things first, all these books are FULL of boinking. Lots and lots of boinking. And yet, I really like this series, this world, and these characters. The female characters are strong and capable and not idiots. The world is fascinating, and I really like the way she deals with vampire abilities.

I also like how the characters deal with the romances like grown-ups. For the most part anyway. Things happen, and the deal with them and go on.

Full Moon City edited by Darrell Schweitzer & Martin H Greenberg (2010) Review

I love short stories, so of course I love anthologies. This is a collection of supernatural stories, primarily were-creatures. This collection has some stories by some of my favorite authors: Peter S. Beagle. Carrie Vaughan. Holly Black. Mike Resnick. Gregory Frost. Pretty much a full complement of great authors, and even the stories I didn’t like were good (just not to my taste). But if you’re unsure, Peter S. Beagle’s story, La Lune T’Attend is worth the price of the entire book.

Vampires: The Recent Undead edited by Paula Guran (2001) Review

• Another anthology with another complement of great authors: Holly Black. Charles de Lint. Kelly Armstrong. Tannith Lee. Emma Bull. Carrie Vaughan.

This collection is (obviously) about vampires. But each author’s take is slightly different from what the others have written or common folklore. And it is those differences can be fascinating. There are several excellent stories in this collection, and although a couple of the stories (Carrie Vaughan and Charles de Lint’s for two) are found in other collections, it’s still a very good collection.

The Year in Reading: Fantasy
The Year in Reading: Supernatural Fantasy
The Year in Reading: Comics, Mystery, and History
The Year in Reading: Books Published in 2011

I was going to make a single post about some of my favorite books I read this year, but realized I read so much I’d be better served breaking this up into multiple posts. I’m going to have one post for supernatural fantasy, one post for general fantasy, and this post is for everything else. These books are ones I rated an 8 or higher when I read/reviewed them.

Comics

Several of these I mentioned in my post on books from 2011, so I’ll just list them here.

Edie Ernst – USO Singer: Allied Spy (9 Chickweed Lane) Brooke McElowney

Fables Vol 15: Rose Red (Fables) Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham, Steve Leialoha, Inaki Miranda, Andrew Pepoy, Dan Green

Girl Genius Vol 10: Agatha Heterodyne and the Guardian Muse(Girl Genius) Phil & Kaja Foglio

Madame Xanadu Vol 4: Extra-Sensory(Madame Xanadu) Matt Wagner, Marley Zarcone, Laurenn McCubbin, Chrissie Zullo, Celia Calle, Marian Churchland

The Rabbi’s Cat (2005) by Joann Sfar Review

When a Rabbi’s cat eat his parrot, the cat gains the power of speech, and then goes on to question everything and everyone. This is a philosophical work, but it’s also hilarious. Take the following exchange between the cat and the Rabbi:

And then he tells me that the Greeks believed the dog to be the epitome of the philosophical animal. The dog, not the cat.

I reply that the Greeks destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem and if a rabbi ends up calling on them for help, it means he’s run out of arguments.

If you find that passage at all amusing, I recommend you check out The Rabbi’s Cat. It is an absolutely wonderful book.

Collections

Folk Tales from the Russian (1903) collected by Verra Xenophontovna Kalamatiano de Blumenthal
Review

I love folktales, but didn’t have particularly high expectations for this freebie collection for the Kindle. I was very pleasantly surprised.

In addition to the stories, there are notes on the terms, that (since this is an ebook) are accessible with a click. So I quite enjoyed learning about ‘boyars’ and ‘moujiks’.

Is this for everyone? Probably not, but if you love folktales the way I do, it’s hard to turn down a good collection that is also FREE!

Under Her Skin (2009) Ilona Andrews, Jeaniene Frost, Meljean Brook
Review

This is an anthology of three paranormal romance short stories about shapeshifters. Neither Ilona Andrews nor Jeaniene Frost’s stories are set in their existing world with existing characters. As I expect with the authors, the stories feature strong female characters who work to save themselves. It was only $3 for the collection; a buck a story doesn’t seem too much to support some favorite authors.

History

David McCullough

The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge (1972) Review

I tend to read non-fiction before bed, because I can’t go to sleep without reading, but fiction tends to draw me into the story too deeply. I find history work well, not because it’s boring (it isn’t) but because I generally know what’s going to happen, so it doesn’t keep me awake.

This was an absolutely fascinating book. Bridges are interesting, but I had never previously considered the engineering required to make one–especially when one is overcoming unique difficulties. But this book also talks of the social and political intrigues of the time in addition to the engineering feats, as all these things were integral to the construction of the bridge.

Plus, I learned the “the bends” was first called “Cassion disease” and discovered during bridge building. I love learning tidbits like that.

Romance

I’m relatively new to reading romance, as I’ve never been fond of kissing books. But I discovered that there are some fabulous stories out there that happen to have HEAs as part of the tale. As long as I know going in I’m going to be reading a kissing book, I discovered I’m OK with it.

Lucia St. Clair Robson

The Tokaido Road (1991) Review

I came across this book on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books and loved the cover so much I decided to see if the book was something I’d like reading.

OMG yes.

Kat’s father was forced to kill himself as a result of political intrigue, so to support her mother, and to give herself time to plan her vengeance against Kira, the man who caused her father’s downfall, Kat goes to work in a pleasure house.

First and foremost, although this is a romance, Kat continually rescues herself. Secondly, the research and historical facts are amazing. I loved reading all the little details about what life was like, and the little quirks that you might not think of from a modern vantage (no shocks in palanquins).

This is a fabulous story that I highly recommend.

Sharon Shinn

Quatrain (2009) Review

Quatrain is four separate romance novellas set in four of Sharon Shinn’s fantasy worlds. If you have not read anything by Sharon Shinn before, this book would be a good introduction to her writing, and the variety of worlds and characters she creates.

Although these are romances, for me, the romance takes a back seat to the incredible world building, story telling, and characters.

Mystery

Robert Crais

The First Rule (2010) (Elvis Cole) Review

I started reading Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole mysteries last summer when I broke my ankle, and quickly read through the series. The First Rule came out this year in paperback, so I snatched it up once it was available.

Although Elvis makes an appearance, this is a Joe Pike story, which means the feel of the story is very different, since Pike is such a dark and conflicted character. Interestingly, although we learn more about Joe’s past in this story, he remains an enigma, and although he tries to do good, one never gets the feeling his a good guy.

Ian Rankin

Let it Bleed (1996) Review
Black and Blue (1997) Review
The Hanging Garden (1998) Review
The Falls (2000) Review
Resurrection Men (2002) Review
The Naming of the Dead (2006) Review

I read a lot of Ian Rankin this year.

John Rebus is a Detective Inspector in the Edinburgh police force, and although he is a very good cop, he is not necessarily a very good person. And he is really bad about getting along with his superiors and doing what is political instead of doing what is right. Also, you’d totally never want him to date one of your friends. Rebus smokes. He’s an alcoholic. He’s a lousy father. He walks a very fine line sometimes when it comes to what is legal. But he always does what he believes is right.

I have one Inspector Rebus mystery left to read, and I keep putting it off, because once I read it, the series is over. Done. No more Rebus. And I don’t WANT that. So the book sits on my shelf, waiting.

The Year in Reading: Fantasy
The Year in Reading: Supernatural Fantasy
The Year in Reading: Comics, Mystery, and History
The Year in Reading: Books Published in 2011