Blogmas #7: Favourite 2019 Books Part 2

Blogmas #7Welcome to the second part of my favourite books of 2019! As explained in Part One, these aren’t books published this year, but books I’ve read this year, with one book picked from each month, and a note of other books I read that month so you can see what it was stacked up against. There will also be links to my reviews, so if any catch your eye, go check them out. As this is July – December, there will also be links to my reviews over at Dead Head Reviews, which if you’re a horror fan, is definitely a website you need to check out.

And onto part two! Enjoy.

July

spin the dawnSpin the Dawn – Elizabeth Lim

My Review

I only read three books this month, but the choice was really difficult, as I read both Spin the Dawn and Circe in July. In the end, I decided to go for Elizabeth Lim’s debut novel, a retelling of Mulan that weaves in some fantastic elements and beautiful imagery, and just absolutely swept me off my feet. This book is fantastic, and I really can’t wait for the sequel. Definitely check it out if you haven’t already.

Also Read This Month: Circe, Hysteria: The Biography

August

nos4r2.jpgNOS4R2 – Joe Hill

My Review

This is the month where I started reviewing for Dead Head Reviews, and therefore read a lot of horror. But NOS4R2 deserves a mention, because it’s a downright creepy, eerie read, with a creepy antagonist obsessed with Christmas, and a young woman desperately trying to understand her own abilities. It’s almost like X-Men meets Stephen King. That car, the Christmas songs, the way the protagonist questions her own mind and no one around actually believes her, it all adds up to a brilliant, if hefty, read.

Also Read This Month: Rose, The Blade Itself, The Deal Maker, Kakorrhaphiophobia

September

black rainbow.jpgBlack Rainbow – Edited By Scott Savino

My Review

This was a very difficult month, and my choice really came down to this, Midnight in the Graveyard, and Grind Your Bones to Dust, but Black Rainbow was pure gold. An LGBT horror anthology, the stories contained within it are unique and fresh, bringing new voices to the horror genre and giving us some excellent stories. Check it out – you really won’t be disappointed.

Also Read This Month: Carmilla, Mr Deadman Made Me Do It, Dangerous Women Part 1, Grind Your Bones to Dust, The Town That Feared Dusk, Fevre Dream, Midnight in the Graveyard

October

whispersWhispers in the Dark – Laurel Hightower

My Review

Another tough month. Basically, since I started reviewing for Dead Head Reviews, I’ve read some amazing horror novels, but Whispers in the Dark is one of my favourites I’ve read this year, let alone in just October. It’s a fantastic, gripping, haunting read, and I’m keen to see what Laurel Hightower gives readers next.

Also Read This Month: A Parallel Abyss, The Tunnellers, Under My Hat, In the Scrape

November

a curse so darkA Curse So Dark and Lonely – Brigid Kemmerer

My Review

This was the hardest month yet, as somehow I managed to read nine books. Considering I didn’t read for a few days as I was away, I’m kind of amazed at myself. But not only was it nine books read, the majority of them were really, really good. Still, I’m going to put this at the top of my favourites for this month. Just something about this Beauty and the Beast retelling really captivated me, and it helped me heal after finishing Queen of Nothing. A fantastic book, and I can’t wait for the sequel.

Also Read This Month: The Devil’s Apprentice, The Sea Was a Fair Master, A World of Horror, Esme’s Wish, Let It Go, Dear Laura, The Queen of Nothing, Various States of Decay

December

TBD

I’ve only finished two books this month so far, so I won’t make any decisions on December yet. Expect an update post from me later in the month!

 

So there we have it! Twelve favourites across two posts. And you really can tell when I started reviewing for Dead Head Reviews, can’t you? For reading, it’s been a really good year for me so far, with some fantastic books, new-to-me authors, a few old favourites and some debuts that absolutely blew me away. Let’s hope this trend of reading great books continues into 2020!
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