Madame Askew and The Grand Arbiter

Originally posted to our Patreon

My favourite gift giving tradition of the year is almost upon us. Jólabókaflóð, Iceland’s book giving tradition during the winter holidays, is a delightful custom I have happily embraced over the last 5 years. The gift of story is, I think, a true treasure, but this is also the gift of encouraging our loved ones to take time for themselves during the hurly-burly of the holiday season. What a lovely way to celebrate!

In honour of this tradition, I’ve gathered some of my favourite book recommendations from the past year. I am delighted to share 16 marvelous reads for a wide variety of genre fiction readers. 

For the Cosy Mystery Reader:

Cheddar Luck Next Time by Beth Cato — A charming cheese fan falls in love and starts a new phase in her life all while solving a mystery and exonerating a friend in a quaint California town. This is a delightful, compulsively readable book that left me hungry for the next installment and for a really good cheese plate.

A House Between Sea and Sky by Beth Cato — The latest cosy mystery from Beth Cato, the moody opening really sets the tone for a book best read in a warm nook with a good blanket. I am an absolute hussy for a house as a character in a book! Cato unleashes all of her considerable skills as an author to create compelling characters and a story that really captured my heart. Like most of her books, do not read this one hungry! 

The Ink that Bleeds by Piper J. Drake — A magical, haunted book store and a charming corgi elevate this to one of my favourite cosy mysteries, but the enchanting cast of characters, the romance side plot, and the relatable main character really made this a fun read. A perfect little jewel box of a mystery with a few paranormal elements, this is just my cuppa tea. 

For the Science Fiction Fan:

The Murderbot Diaries Volume 1 by Martha Wells — A Security Unit, with terrible anxiety and a longing to be left alone to enjoy its media collection, somehow finds a family in a weird little collective of scientists and ends up going on a journey of self discovery all whilst pushing back on big corporate powers. This is my current favourite series, and I cannot possibly recommend it highly enough. The first two novellas are collected into this single volume, and for those who have not yet read Martha Wells, this is a wonderful treat.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi — Scalzi knows how to write a compelling, funny, achingly human story, and this is a charming example of Scalzi at his best. At a time when the world feels incredibly divided, this is a story of how much humans have in common and how wild science and culture can be. Implausible as the story may be, it is an utter delight to read, and I finished the book with a sense of hope for the world.

For the Steampunk Reader: 

Soulless by Gail Carriger — The Parasol Protectorate has long been my favourite steampunk series. Bursting with whimsical Victorian nonsense, absurd fashion and inventions, and the most marvelous cast of characters, these books are a treasure trove of excellent steampunk story telling, and it all started with Soulless.

Foresaken Beauty and the Etherbeast by Kelsey Josephson — One of this year’s Temporal Textual Talks book chat picks, this steampunk retelling of Beauty and the Beast is full of nail biting moments, airship battles, and wild inventions. The protagonists and their cohort of friends make this a gem of a read.

Angel Maker by Elizabeth Bear — The third installment in the series starting with Karen Memory, and a gift to fans of Karen and her wonderful companions, this is another brilliant novel from Bear. Normally, I recommend the first book in any series–and I absolutely do encourage everyone to start with the first book!–but I not so secretly also want everyone to continue reading through this excellent third book. Karen is ready to ride to adventure, rebellion against injustice, and save her friends once again.

Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark — Since I first read Clark, I have been absolutely smitten by his work and this is an absolutely incredible example of Clark at his best. This can be read as a stand along novel although the novellas that lead to this book are well worth the read. Clark has a gift for creating characters that will linger with the reader and bringing to life a fantastical society that feels entirely real. His talent for setting and character is equally matched by his pacing and plot in this novel. It is a riveting read! 

For the Fantasy Lover: 

Swordheart by T. Kingfisher — Scrappy heroine meets possessed sword and fantastical shenanigans ensue! Also, there is the most charming romance as a side plot. Once again, Kingfisher does not disappoint with this take on fantasy. Her side characters and world building make this an exceptional read and an excellent introduction to her fantasy writing.

The Complete Astreiant by Melissa Scott and Lisa A. Barnett — A mystery solving duo in a fantastical setting? Yes, please! This omnibus includes all 6 Astreiant novels and is a wonderful gift for the Fantasy Fan who also relishes a good mystery. It is also the book on this list that I would buy as a gift to myself! With extraordinary characters, wonderful world building, and excellent  writing, this is an absolute treat to read.

Urban Fantasy

Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw — Serendipity brought this book to the top of my TBR list. It was one of my favourite reads of the past year and just so happens to be the first book in a marvelous series. Reminiscent of Douglas Adams in humorous tone, Shaw creates a captivating world of supernatural creatures just trying to get by in the world and the quirky doctor who looks after them. This is the perfect read for someone who appreciates laughter with a side of wild adventure.

Redneck Revenant by David R. Slayton — The latest book from Slayton and a continuation of Adam Binder’s story is as gripping and poignant as the first three Binder books. Slayton has a gift for delving into the raw and heavy emotions of loss and family struggle without getting lost in the angst. His writing is tender but never mawkish, thoughtful without succumbing to cynicism.  Adam and Vic’s story continues as the core of the story but as usual with Slayton, his deft hand with his cast of characters and sharp writing really heightens the tension of the plot and keeps the pages turning. (I recommend revisiting the first book, White Trash Warlock.) 

Silver Moon by Catherine Lundoff — I have five words: Menopausal Werewolves save the day. The premise alone is enough to capture my affection for this novel, but Lundoff’s relatable characters and great pacing make this book a thoroughly engrossing read. Lundoff is a master of creating believable and well developed characters whilst maintaining a deliciously taut story. For anyone experiencing menopause, the story is not only cathartic but a triumph. The topnotch writing makes this a treat for any urban fantasy fan. 

Young Adult

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Skyby Kwame Mbalia — This little gem of a book is the first novel in the Tristan Strong Trilogy from Rick Riordan presents. Much like the Percy Jackson novels, a young man must grapple with his own struggles with family expectation, anger, and even grief all whilst navigating a fantastical world of mythology come to life. Mbalia has a deft hand with developing the mythical beings and using every detail on the page for incredible effect. Tristan is the strong center of the story and a wonderfully developed character but his cohort of friends, especially Tar Baby, make the story jump off the page.

Victories Greater than Death by Charlie Jane Anders — A modern space opera, the best way, this often poignant and extremely queer young adult adventure is a treat for lovers of space opera at any age. Anders subverts many expectations of the genre and the results are brilliant. The chosen one, the sole hero against impossible odds, uncovers her heroine’s journey instead and discovers her found family. While there are high stakes on the horizon for the characters and many tense moments, the emotional bonds between Anders’ ensemble cast create many cosy, sweet moments to leaven the space opera drama.


Happy reading!
~Madame


P.S. This is my happy reminder that I am abookshop.org affiliate. I am proud to be part of this program becauseBookshop.org supports independent bookstores across North America, giving over 80% of their profits directly to indy bookstores. As an affiliate, I receive a small commission every time you buy a book from one of my links and, to be honest, that money goes right back into our monthly book chats.