Every
year I make a list of the "best of the best" books I've read. I'm
glad I made my wished-for book count in 2018, where I've come across some
beautiful and inspiring books.
There
were several more books I had hoped to finish – and see if they would make it
to this list – but starting October time was not on my side, followed by no
reading in November for NaNoWriMo, which I won by the way, then December is
just rolling by and I've also been unable to pick up where I left off.
The
books in this list are not put in any order whatsoever. Most are indie books
but some are with traditional publishers. Making it to this list does NOT mean
that the other books weren't great but as I said this is the "best of the
best". For all other reviews, check out the full Book Reviews page.
This year's list has poetry, short stories, and novels spanning horror
to children's books, mysteries to becoming-of-age books. Just to name a few.
So, what were the best books I've read in 2018?
Here
they come!
Breathe. Breathe. by
Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi
A
collection of dark, fantastical and realistic, beautifully-written, highly
visual poems and short stories, where several pieces that reminded me of
literature, such as "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "Great
Expectation". Al-Mehairi later told me personally and in an interview that
my connections were spot on.
Two
main themes recur throughout Breathe. Breathe., namely abuse and
violence against women, which I believe Al-Mehairi brings some of from past
pains in her life, and the idea of breathing; the need to breathe and
let go.
"Night
Stalked", "The Heirloom", and "Clock of Doom" were
among the 10-star poems in the collection. Here's an excerpt from the poem:
"Click-clock
Tick-tock.
There's no
escape
From the
claustrophobia
of monotonous
chirps,
as the hands
move without
empathy or
pardon for the soul."
Full book review for Breathe. Breathe. by Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi. Also check out Nadaness In Motion's exclusive interview with Al-Mehairi
The
Sea Was a Fair Master by Calvin Demmer
is
a short story collection spanning realism to paranormal, including
sad-and-heartbreaking family and romance to creepy tales that will have you
hiding under your bed!
There
is a tonne of creativity in this collection and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
“They were a little nosy like you officer,” a voice said. “I can’t have
people coming and disturbing the dead.”
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Diva
by Gemma Halliday and Kelly Rey
A highly humourous, fast-paced, exciting, and enjoyable cozy mystery. Loved
every bit of it and couldn't put it down.
"Do you think we should knock on that door?"
"I think we should leave and never come back," Irene
said. "Rebecca Lowery probably jumped out of her casket and ran off by
herself when she got a look at this place."
The book has all the aspects Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes is
popular for – but differently. Holmes "hardly a celebrity. Especially considering he
didn't actually exist". The address for the now popular but
elusive detective is in Baker Street, while Irene Adler is the narrator's best
friend and main accomplice in creating the detective façade.
Full book review of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Disappearing Diva by Gemma Halliday and Kelly Rey
The
Secret of the Lost Pharaoh by Carolyn Arnold
"The fate of the world could be at stake."
"Not to make too dramatic a statement, but yes, it could be."
Archaeologist and
adventurer Matthew Connor receives a phone call from friend and former lover,
Alex, to join her on what could be the discovery of a lifetime in Egypt. Alex claims
to have uncovered a pharaoh's tomb AND the famed mythical Emerald Tablets,
which may have the secrets of the universe. Anyone who acquires the tablets
would have major wealth and power but if they fall into the wrong hands, well
the world as we know it would be in great peril.
The lost pharaoh is
believed to be son of Khufu, and I must applaud Arnold for the massive research
she has done and put into the novel, making it realistic and plausible. There
are a lot of historical tidbits in the book, which prompted me to do my own
research after I finished reading.
The Tides Between
by Elizabeth Jane Corbett
“We are all of
us running, Tom, from poverty and disappointment, perhaps, some of us from
cruel expectations. It takes courage to see ourselves truly, to take pleasure
in our modest achievements. I’m not sure I have that courage. Or that I will ever
now find it. Pray God, I am wrong. That like Elffin, I will one day find wealth
where I least expect it.”
The book is an emotional
story about family, hardship, a journey to something better, and how fairy
tales can bring people together. Bridie, the protagonist, is a kind-hearted
15-year-old who is on the cusp of growing up. She wants to live in the world of
fairy tales, while her mother and step-father seek to drag her to the real one. A
Welsh couple on board the ship sailing to Australia help her realise that she
can have both fairy tales and the real world.
There were so many
beautiful quotes in this book. Lots of wisdom and the characters all develop on
their journey to a new land with promised opportunities.
“Fairy tales
are nonsense.”
“We all need
stories, Mr. Bustle. They help us understand our lives.”
Academia
of the Beast by K. N. Lee
A
fast-paced fairytale retelling of the Beauty and the Beast with a dark twist
and lots of beautifully-flawed characters, Academia of the Beast is a must-read
on all levels.
"She saw within him a soul just as lost as she was. When he held
her hand, she was at peace."
Allyn
is a witch, a breed that's being hunted down, who meets the princes of Elastria
at a party. One of the princes is Conall, whom Allyn had met previously. A brief
encounter rekindles their love but there are darker forces at bay.
"We found her."
Conall froze. "What?"
"You heard right…. Not just any witch. We found the one that Lennox
told your father about. She sounds incredible. None of the others were able to
do the things she did that night in the woods. And no one escapes Lennox."
"Whatever you do, don't let Lennox find out."
Full book review of Academia of the Beast by K.N. Lee
The
Writer's Lexicon by Kathy Steinemann
This book is an
encyclopedia of writing tips and help. To say that it is a wealth of
information is understatement. It's a five-star must-read for newbie and
seasoned writers alike.
“Although you’ll encounter a few “rules” in this book, writing is not
rules. It is a fusion of emotions, senses, and conflict. Whatever engages your
readers should be the rule.”
"Clear the throat. Irritating in real life. Ditto in fiction."
Full book review of The Writer's Lexicon by Kathy Steinemann
Madam
Tulip by David Ahern
In the first
instalment in a fast-paced, exciting, Ireland-set paranormal mystery series, we
meet unemployed actress Derry O'Donnell with a possible ability to see
into the future through tarot readings. She poses as fortune teller Madam Tulip
at a celebrity charity event where she encounters a dead body.
"Derry O'Donnell was fully qualified for unemployment in three
different dialects."
The
book is full of lots of laugh-out-loud situations, sleuthing, and excellent imagery
and similes. Five stars to this ride. Plus, Ahern creates Madam Tulip
from his previous work in the art and acting industry, giving depth and
experience to the novel and characters, and how they act and react.
"Next to Marlene, Derry felt like a hobbit - a hobbit overweight
and round even by the famously relaxed standards of hobbits."
Full book review of Madam Tulip by David Ahern. Plus, check out Nadaness In Motion's exclusive interview with David Ahern.
BackStabbers by Julie K. Mulhern
"Of the three partners at Bisby, Marshall, & Wallace, one was
hospitalised, one was murdered, and one was a murder suspect."
There
were a lot of angles to the mystery, allowing Mulhern to keep the reader
off-track most of the time. There's also a lot of
"show-don't-tell". Used expertly throughout the book.
"You have that sound in your voice."
"What sound?"
"The I've-found-another-body sound."
Full book review of BackStabbers by Julie K. Mulhern
Ronaldo,
the Reindeer Flying Academy by Maxine Sylvester
A
fast-paced, enjoyable, and humourous children's novella that parents will love
reading to their children over and over.
"Don't just think it. IMAGINE! See it, feel it, believe it. You can
do anything, if you truly believe in yourself."
Every
page and chapter in Ronaldo,
the Reindeer Flying Academy features a black and white picture of one or
more of the characters, helping readers, especially children, visualise the
story.
Silent Lips, Speaking Hearts by Tarek Refaat
This
Arabic collection of short tales of women is both inspiring and highlights many
social problems. Some of the stories are funny and some are serious; but all
are nicely-handled.
The
review is still in Arabic but I still plan to translate it to English and
update the link here later.
Full Arabic book review of Silent Lips, Speaking Hearts by Tarek Refaat.
Hardened Hearts anthology
Last but certainly not
least is the Hardened Hearts anthology published by Unnerving and
featuring 17 short stories of heartache, heart-breaks, and as the title
suggests, hearts that have turned to stone or worse. While the book, for me,
opened with a not-so-impressive tale, the rest just blew me away, wrenching my
heart deep within.
Some of the stories in
this collection will move you deeply, others will keep you guessing, and some
will have you putting your hand on your heart as you try to separate fiction
from reality.
The anthology features
authors like Calvin Demmer (yes, you've met him in The Sea Was a Fair Master
above), Theresa Braun (interviewed by Nadaness In Motion), Erin Sweet
Al-Mehairi (also above and interviewed on this blog), Somer Canon, Tom Deady,
and many more amazing authors and wordsmiths.
Full book review of the Hardened Hearts anthology.
And here's the full list in an a stunning image by my friend and designer Sara Ahmed <3 o:p="">
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