My Top 5 Reads of 2024

YA Fantasy girlies, listen up! + some art that goes with them...

Jan 03, 2025

Hi friends! Welcome to 2025!

Contrary to my bookish persona, I do not read many books in a year. Just to give you some perspective, the most books I’ve ever read in one year were 23, which I think is decent, but is nowhere near the amount some booktok/bookstagram bloggers reach.

Not only that, but I am a DNF’er. If the book isn’t exciting me within the first 100 pages, I’m OUT.

So, I read 16 books in 2024, 1 over my goal of 15! *insert applause here*

I wanted to list my top 5 reads of 2024 so you can add them to your TBR. I am a YA, fantasy, romance-as-a-sub-plot reader, just to give you a heads-up of what to expect!

NOW ONTO THE LIST

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5. Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

This is a light Robin Hood fantasy retelling set in a kingdom suffering from a deadly illness, and a young healer who steals medicine from the rich to save her people. In a turn of events, she ends up partnering with the prince to discover a better way to distribute the medicine, uncover corruption, and ultimately save the kingdom. This is the first book in a trilogy, and I haven’t read the other 2 yet, but I plan on picking them up later in 2025!

This was an easy read and fits comfortably within typical YA romance tropes but had some political intrigue and twists I enjoyed!

I gave this 4 stars.

4. Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

This is the second book in the Emily Wilde series, which was an unexpected favorite of mine from last year! It follows the scholar Emily Wilde as she attempts to write books about the history of Fae in the world. It has mystery, is cozy and light, and the romance is sweet.

While I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first, this is a series I’m looking forward to the 3rd book coming out later in 2025.

3 stars for this book, but a 4 star series!

3. The Prison Healer Series by Lynette Noni

I picked up this series on Kindle Unlimited on a whim and ended up devouring it in 4 days. This is a trilogy that follows a girl named Kiva, a healer surviving the cruel conditions of Zalindov prison which holds the rebels and criminals who threaten the current monarchy. In a turn of events, she is tasked with keeping the rebel queen alive and takes her place in taking on 3 dangerous trials that ultimately change the course of her life.

This book is a perfect example of YA Fantasy Romance (meaning slow burn!!!) and has some very unexpected twists that left me genuinely surprised. The 3 books are really easy to read, with lovable characters, and ultimately reminded me why I think YA fantasy is the superior genre.

4 stars across the trilogy!

2. Heir by Sabaa Tahir

THIS. BOOK. I adored Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes Quartet, so when this spin-off sequel was announced, I knew I had to read it—and it did not disappoint. Set 20 years after the events of AEITA, this story follows Helene’s nephew, Quil, along with two new characters, Aiz and Sircha, switching between their POVs throughout the book. We do see a few familiar faces and discover new areas of the Ember universe.

Seeing how Sabaa developed the world 20 years later feels both grounded and vivid, and this new generation of characters is just as endearing. There’s also a twist halfway through that had me double checking if I read the book correctly, some insta-love but still enjoyable, and a cliffhanger that has me shook and ready for book 2 in what should be a duology!

You don’t necessarily need to read AEITA to read this series, but it is highly recommended!

4.5 stars!

1. The Shepherd King Duology by Rachel Gillig

This was the first series I read in 2024 and set the bar incredibly high for the rest of the year. This series is a gothic-inspired fantasy with romance that follows Elspeth, a young woman cursed with a forbidden magic that binds her to the sinister Nightmare, a sentient spirit living in her mind.

I am OBSESSED with the magic system in this book and found it to be incredibly original. The writing is poetic, the romance slow and electric (especially in the second book!) and just overall a fantastic duology that leave you fully satisfied by the end.

5 stars!

Honorable Mention: Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love

I decided to try out this insanely popular Dramoine fanfic this year, and while I gave it 3 stars, it did spark a new interest in the pairing for me. The writing style is witty and genuinely had me laughing out loud, and it inspired me to create some art, so overall, worth a mention!

Thanks for reading and I hope this gives you some books to add to your TBR this year! Leave a comment if you have any books you’d recommend. Till next time!