Witness! The Malazan love makes me happy, and I’m also happy to see that, unlike me, you remembered to include some Quilluminati reads. I should have included The Last Kingdom in my video about my favorite reads of the year too. At least there’s more Cornwell on my TBR for 2025. Here’s to the reads to come in the year ahead, my friend!
Great list and video, Brian! So many are already on my TBR and makes me even more excited when I’m able to get to them. Loved the OFTR as well, fantastic point and wholeheartedly agree. Cheers to 2025 reads!
Yessss!! What an awesome list and an awesome year of reading, Brian! Shogun and Cornwell both showed up in my own list, and there are a bunch of books on your list I can't wait to dive into in 2025 (Wurts, Lions, LPQ, Suneater, Last Kingdom) Happy reading! 😁
Memories of Ice is also one of my top reads of the year. One of the greatest novels I've ever read. Looking forward to returning to Malazan in 2025. I was definitely shocked no LitRPG made your official top 10, but the books you listed are truly hard to beat. Wish you an even better reading year in 2025!
Did you have a glossary or maps? It's so hard on audio. The first book was brilliant and easy to follow, an all time favorite but the next two gave my brain a case of the twisters 🤪
I loooove the Last Kingdom TV show 😈The books are on my list. I need more Janny 😢 Terry ❤🙌🏻🤣 I like Sun Eater so much better than Red Rising... I hope no one throws fruit at me 😳 Shogun 🤔 I remember Richard Chamberlain in the 80s mini-series. Fun video 🎉 Thanks.
not feeling very good these days, but love you man, i like everything you do; i hope next year will be a good one for you and there are a few titles that i would love to read from your 2024 top
Loved how eclectic this list is, very well rounded reading sir 🎉 I did alot of exploring this year so I haven't had that many 5 star reads but I am still glad that I have looked over the horizon ❤
Awesome vid! Shogun and Lions are two of my favorite reads of the year too, and Demon in White was already a favorite. Definitely need to get into LPQ and the City Watch books! Cloud Atlas also seems like one I need to tackle
Best book I read this year was The Crippled God way back in February. Dune, The Warrior Prophet, and Blood Meridian rank pretty high as well. Love the jacket!
So thrilled to see more love for the LPQ. Got to pick up both Suneater and Malazan again. Both on book 3. Some great reads indeed Here's to some new ones in 2025! 🍻
Hey Brian,great video.after watching the video, I got to thinking about my top 10 of the year.Here goes. Pillars of the Earth,Blackwater,Gone with the Wind,A Storm Of Swords,Ruin,Of War and Ruin,Best Served Cold,Enemy of God,Rocket Boys,The Shadow of the Gods.
Glad to see Memories of Ice on the list. I loved this book too, as I'm nearing the end of House of Chains. In this book, Karsa is the character I like the most; he is just so great! I loved his journey from his homeland to other places in search of truth, and Witnessing his journey is great! In Memories of Ice, I loved Itkovian, along with the other main characters we know from before.
Just finished "Shogun" yesterday - such great character resolutions, as well as their arcs overall, as you mentioned! The middle part with Blackthorne learning and his evolving relations with Mariko/Toranaga/Fujiko/others was probably my favourite, though climax and conclusion may be on par with it. Have a Happy New year!
@@BrianBell7 As for my other favourite books of this year, i thought "To green angel tower" by Tad Williams would be the winner, but "Shogun" was truly special.
You have me excited to get into To Ride Hells Chasm. Very glad sun eater and Malazan are toward the top. Of those first four, memories was truly from start to finish the best, but deadhouse gates just hit me so hard. Midnight tides felt very much like memories cathartically for me. And wow-I need to read shogun
Great list! I want to get into the Suneater books in 2025. My favorite book of this year was The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. I may need to try some of the other books on your list as well.
Great list Brian! Suneater is just amazing. Excited to hear what you think of Disquiet Gods once you get to it - it’s unseated Demon In White for me! Your number 1 was mine as well - Shogun is such a masterpiece!!
Fantastic list Brian! I’m excited to start Malazan. I expect it will be middle of 2025 that I begin. Do you think you’ll complete Malazan next year and if so do you have another challenging or literary series lined up afterwards?
I am unsure if I can complete Malazan next year. I have 6 books to go, but am also reading Wars of Light and Shadow with John. If not finished in 2025, then early 2026. Afterwards, possibly Memory, Sorrow & Thorn - maybe the Dandelion Dynasty - maybe the Gormenghast books....
Quilluminati had some big wins this year! (we won't talk about that one book...) Last Kingdom definitively makes me want to continue Saxon tales. Ordinary Grace scratched that coming-of-age itch almost as well as Boy's Life
I did read one of the books on your list, Shogun; only a C+ book for me. In fantasy, Yangsze Choo's The Fox Wife earned an A grade from me. My highlight was Ellis Peter's Brother Cadfael series of historical mysteries. Set in 12th century England, they're more about characters in that turbulent historical period than mysteries. Most of all, I love her writing - of the period in flavor, but very accessible and evocative. Looking forward to what books you discover in 2025.
I read and enjoyed Shogun simultaneously with the show, but I guess I couldn't put it at my #1 if I'm being honest with myself (and with you...). I think I burnt myself out with 2 months of Japanese culture. Some top reads for me in 2024 in no ranking order: 1. Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb 2. The Armour of Light by Ken Follett 3. Edge of Dark Water by Joe R Lansdale (I recommend if you like messed up historical fiction ) 4. Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry 5. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
Hmm. Cheating a bit with a combo of books and series in no particular order or number: These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs, Andrew Rowe's Weapons and Wielders series, Boy's Life by Robert McCammon, Guns of the Dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series, Ilona Andrews' Innkeeper Chronicles series, Stephen Aryan's The Nightingale and the Falcon series, and Not Till We Are Lost by Dennis E. Taylor (latest Bobiverse).
You make it sound like Mr. Roucchio invented the wheel instead of just taking ideas from everything else that is out there including Deathstalker! I dnf’d the start of Demon in White as I was tired of waiting for this super hyped booked to get good. I already put too many hours into the first two that I wish I could have back. 😢
@@BrianBell7 oh yea, I will take almost.🤪 I sent BBB a copy of Outlaw as he mentioned he loved Robin Hood. I also submitted it as my patreon pick for the Talking Story drawing this weekend.🤞
Thanks so much for watching! Hope you enjoy!
Witness! The Malazan love makes me happy, and I’m also happy to see that, unlike me, you remembered to include some Quilluminati reads. I should have included The Last Kingdom in my video about my favorite reads of the year too. At least there’s more Cornwell on my TBR for 2025. Here’s to the reads to come in the year ahead, my friend!
If Beowulf isn't all 10 of your top 10's, I'm just going to pout. Witness! Can't wait for more reads with you, Philip!
@ Alas, no rereads are allowed on my list. Otherwise, Beowulf would rule!
Wonderful stuff sir! Will be looking forward to such list for many upcoming years....
Thank you so much! I appreciate you being here!
I’m starting Malazan with The Brothers Gwynne read-along in January. I think I’m ready. I hope I’m ready. Let’s go.
It's so excellent. Perfect booktubers to do it with IMO!
I’m hoping to do their read along too!
Great list and video, Brian! So many are already on my TBR and makes me even more excited when I’m able to get to them. Loved the OFTR as well, fantastic point and wholeheartedly agree. Cheers to 2025 reads!
Cheers to you too! I’m excited to hear your thought on them all!
Yessss!! What an awesome list and an awesome year of reading, Brian!
Shogun and Cornwell both showed up in my own list, and there are a bunch of books on your list I can't wait to dive into in 2025 (Wurts, Lions, LPQ, Suneater, Last Kingdom)
Happy reading! 😁
I love to hear that! I'm looking forward to your thoughts on all of them!
I really can’t wait to start Malazan and Suneater. Great list!
They’re both amazing choices - you’ll love them!
@ I believe I will!
Great reading year! Its awesome to hear how much Malazan worked for you this year! This reminded me I need to go and finish watching Shogun as well
yes! they are both so great! Thanks, Tom!!
Memories of Ice is also one of my top reads of the year. One of the greatest novels I've ever read. Looking forward to returning to Malazan in 2025. I was definitely shocked no LitRPG made your official top 10, but the books you listed are truly hard to beat. Wish you an even better reading year in 2025!
Backatcha Dark-O! 2025 we will find some great ones! Maybe even read a couple together!
Did you have a glossary or maps? It's so hard on audio. The first book was brilliant and easy to follow, an all time favorite but the next two gave my brain a case of the twisters 🤪
@@ithrahmunchswallow468 I could never do Malazan on audio. No way. Too complicated. Way too easy to miss things without rewinding constantly.
I loooove the Last Kingdom TV show 😈The books are on my list.
I need more Janny 😢
Terry ❤🙌🏻🤣
I like Sun Eater so much better than Red Rising... I hope no one throws fruit at me 😳
Shogun 🤔 I remember Richard Chamberlain in the 80s mini-series.
Fun video 🎉 Thanks.
Great list! I am starting Malazan in Jan. Can't wait for the last Sun Eater book in 2025! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you as well!
Great video Brian! I love year-end best of lists, and yours is awesome! Happy 2025 reading!
and Happy reading to you, P.L.! Thank you!
An exceptional list. Looking forward to catching up to some series in 2025
Thanks, John!!
not feeling very good these days, but love you man, i like everything you do; i hope next year will be a good one for you and there are a few titles that i would love to read from your 2024 top
I really hope you feel better soon, Thaurnol. You are a great part of our community!
Oooh looking sharp, brother! Great list and video! These are all ones I loved or want to read so badly. Happy Holidays my friend!
Happy Holidays to you too! Thank you!
Love the energy in this video! Sick coat.
Thanks! I try to bring it!
Shogun was my favorite book this year too. 🥰💚. Thanks for sharing!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching!!
Loved how eclectic this list is, very well rounded reading sir 🎉 I did alot of exploring this year so I haven't had that many 5 star reads but I am still glad that I have looked over the horizon ❤
Thank you! Yeah, this list has a little bit of everything!
Awesome vid! Shogun and Lions are two of my favorite reads of the year too, and Demon in White was already a favorite. Definitely need to get into LPQ and the City Watch books! Cloud Atlas also seems like one I need to tackle
Thanks, Ben! We have very similar tastes! (except the one... 😉)
@ indeed indeed - having perfectly aligned tastes would be too boring ☺️
Best book I read this year was The Crippled God way back in February. Dune, The Warrior Prophet, and Blood Meridian rank pretty high as well.
Love the jacket!
Thanks! It'll be a minute before I get to The Crippled God but wow do I know a lot of people who agree with you!
So thrilled to see more love for the LPQ. Got to pick up both Suneater and Malazan again. Both on book 3. Some great reads indeed Here's to some new ones in 2025! 🍻
Cheers to that! 2025 will be amazing! LPQ deserves all the love. You told me so!
Hey Brian,great video.after watching the video, I got to thinking about my top 10 of the year.Here goes.
Pillars of the Earth,Blackwater,Gone with the Wind,A Storm Of Swords,Ruin,Of War and Ruin,Best Served Cold,Enemy of God,Rocket Boys,The Shadow of the Gods.
That's a killer list! I really ought to hit Pillars.. I own it. Just haven't made the time... yet!
Great list Brian :)
Thanks, literally just finished watching your video from today!
Great list! Nice to see Lions up so high, that book's incredible.
It totally is deserving of it's place! Thank you!
Glad to see Memories of Ice on the list. I loved this book too, as I'm nearing the end of House of Chains. In this book, Karsa is the character I like the most; he is just so great! I loved his journey from his homeland to other places in search of truth, and Witnessing his journey is great! In Memories of Ice, I loved Itkovian, along with the other main characters we know from before.
Witness! Yeah, I'm such a big fan :)
Just finished "Shogun" yesterday - such great character resolutions, as well as their arcs overall, as you mentioned! The middle part with Blackthorne learning and his evolving relations with Mariko/Toranaga/Fujiko/others was probably my favourite, though climax and conclusion may be on par with it.
Have a Happy New year!
Happy New Year to you as well! Thank you so much!
@@BrianBell7 As for my other favourite books of this year, i thought "To green angel tower" by Tad Williams would be the winner, but "Shogun" was truly special.
You have me excited to get into To Ride Hells Chasm.
Very glad sun eater and Malazan are toward the top. Of those first four, memories was truly from start to finish the best, but deadhouse gates just hit me so hard.
Midnight tides felt very much like memories cathartically for me.
And wow-I need to read shogun
I think as both an author and a reader, you will have an entirely different appreciation for Shogun than most. It's incredible.
Shogun and Lions of Al-Rassan! Two of my all time favourites! Easily in my Top 10! Be well, stay safe! All the best in the New Year!
Thank you! Happy New Year a little early to you too!
Great list, Brian! Glad you enjoyed LPQ. :)
Thank you for being such a great influence you influencer you!
I wholeheartedly agree with your number one favorite ❤
It's an all-timer for me!
I'm hopping to get into The Long Price Quartet in 2025.
rock on! I hope you do!
Great list! I want to get into the Suneater books in 2025. My favorite book of this year was The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. I may need to try some of the other books on your list as well.
Thank you! I'm adding that book right now to my TBR. I'd meant to do it before when someone else mentioned it! Now I won't forget.
Great list Brian! Suneater is just amazing. Excited to hear what you think of Disquiet Gods once you get to it - it’s unseated Demon In White for me! Your number 1 was mine as well - Shogun is such a masterpiece!!
Yep, I've read Disquiet Gods. I still like DiW better. Thank you!
Fantastic list Brian! I’m excited to start Malazan. I expect it will be middle of 2025 that I begin. Do you think you’ll complete Malazan next year and if so do you have another challenging or literary series lined up afterwards?
I am unsure if I can complete Malazan next year. I have 6 books to go, but am also reading Wars of Light and Shadow with John. If not finished in 2025, then early 2026. Afterwards, possibly Memory, Sorrow & Thorn - maybe the Dandelion Dynasty - maybe the Gormenghast books....
@ with Winds of Winter being a question I do wonder if Tad will scratch that itch.
Quilluminati had some big wins this year! (we won't talk about that one book...) Last Kingdom definitively makes me want to continue Saxon tales. Ordinary Grace scratched that coming-of-age itch almost as well as Boy's Life
For sure we did. It's awesome getting into books I may have not otherwise!
Great list. I have Demon in White as my favorite book of the year. Also a big fan of Empire of the Wolf and Of Darkness and Light by Ryan Cahill
Nice! I, too, love the Cahill books!
I did read one of the books on your list, Shogun; only a C+ book for me. In fantasy, Yangsze Choo's The Fox Wife earned an A grade from me. My highlight was Ellis Peter's Brother Cadfael series of historical mysteries. Set in 12th century England, they're more about characters in that turbulent historical period than mysteries. Most of all, I love her writing - of the period in flavor, but very accessible and evocative. Looking forward to what books you discover in 2025.
Thank you! I'll check that author out!
Shogun is an amazing book . I usually only read sci-fi fantasy .
Same!
2 Quilluminatti books make the list awesome!
as the famous philosopher said, "2 outta 3 ain't bad"
Memories on Ice is fantastic. The papier-mache kchain chemalle was great on the skates, and Whiskeyjack is just a great figure skater in general.
All the kids loved it.
I read and enjoyed Shogun simultaneously with the show, but I guess I couldn't put it at my #1 if I'm being honest with myself (and with you...). I think I burnt myself out with 2 months of Japanese culture.
Some top reads for me in 2024 in no ranking order:
1. Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb
2. The Armour of Light by Ken Follett
3. Edge of Dark Water by Joe R Lansdale (I recommend if you like messed up historical fiction )
4. Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry
5. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig
Excellent! Thank you for sharing those! Lonesome Dove was my # 1 last year. Big Larry fan! and HUGE Hobb fan :)
@BrianBell7 yep, Lonesome Dove was mine for last year too!
Shogun is a great book.
100%
I also need to add The Failures by Benjamin Liar. I think it was my top book off 2024. Super unique with a Dark Tower feel.
Cool, I'll check it out!
“I recommended this to myself” that’s me in 2025 😂
"Allow myself, to introduce, myself." - Austin Powers :)
Hmm. Cheating a bit with a combo of books and series in no particular order or number: These Burning Stars by Bethany Jacobs, Andrew Rowe's Weapons and Wielders series, Boy's Life by Robert McCammon, Guns of the Dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Benedict Jacka's Alex Verus series, Ilona Andrews' Innkeeper Chronicles series, Stephen Aryan's The Nightingale and the Falcon series, and Not Till We Are Lost by Dennis E. Taylor (latest Bobiverse).
Excellent list! I'm such a huge Alex Verus fan and can't get enough of Andrew Rowe's universe! I'll add some of these others to TBR Mountain!
You make it sound like Mr. Roucchio invented the wheel instead of just taking ideas from everything else that is out there including Deathstalker! I dnf’d the start of Demon in White as I was tired of waiting for this super hyped booked to get good. I already put too many hours into the first two that I wish I could have back. 😢
Ha, I know you aren't a Sun Eater fan :) Outlaw almost got an Honorable Mention!
@@BrianBell7 oh yea, I will take almost.🤪 I sent BBB a copy of Outlaw as he mentioned he loved Robin Hood. I also submitted it as my patreon pick for the Talking Story drawing this weekend.🤞