The first three months of 2019 was a great time for reading. I managed to make my way through twenty-eight different titles, which included eleven books, eleven graphic novels, and six audiobooks. Winter was also a great time for variety, as I indulged in a wide range of genres. Eight of these titles were fantasy books, six were sci-fi, four were superhero. four romance, three science fiction, and two were horror, a genre that I rarely read.
So out of all of these lovely books, which were my favorites? Read on for my top titles of winter.
The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty (Fantasy)– The Kingdom of Copper, the second book in the Daevabad trilogy, picks up five years after the events of The City of Brass. While this gives our characters a chance to grow up, it doesn’t erase their problems. Caught up in a city plagued by warring factions and under the rule of a wicked king, Ali and Nahri struggle to find peace for all of Daevabad. But war is on the horizon.
The strength of The Daevabad Trilogy has always been on its middle eastern-inspired setting, morally complex characters, and an at times merciless plot. All of those strengths are on display in its second volume, which concludes with a finale that somehow manages to be even more nail biting then the first. I am impatiently waiting for book three.
If you’d like to read my more in depth thoughts on The Kingdom of Copper, check out my review on Speculative Chic.
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (Horror/Historical Fiction/Young Adult)– After the dead rose
during the Battle of Gettysburg, the Civil War came to an end, but the problems that fueled it remain. Jane McKeene is a teenage girl who, like all black and native children, has been forced into a special school to teach her how to fight and kill shamblers. Then she finds out that families around Baltimore have gone missing, but investigating this mystery will change her life forever.
Dread Nation has a lot going for it. Jane is a wonderful lead, smart and capable, with an appealing dose of sass. And while it took me a little while to warm up to some of the other characters, I really liked the friendship she ended up sharing with Katherine, and the fact that this book’s love triangle (although intriguing) was not this book’s central relationship. I felt like the alternate history elements also worked out well. The end of the Civil War did not cure America of racism, and neither does the emergence of the dead. The world created here by Ireland certainly felt plausible to me.
If you’re a fan of alternate history, thought provoking YA, or books about killing the undead, then I highly recommend Dread Nation.
Mister Miracle by Tom King (Superhero)– Mister Miracle (aka Scott Free) is an escape artist and superhero, but before that he was raised under the harsh tutelage of Granny Goodness on the planet New Genesis. With his former home caught up in war, he and his wife Big Barda must travel across space to lead the bloody charge. But in between battles, they come back home.
Mister Miracle is a unique comic that exists in the intersection between the epic and the mundane, and the results are absolutely brilliant. It didn’t take long before I fell in love with Scott and Big Barda, characters that were forged by childhoods of intense pain and suffering, yet still feel grounded and relatable. Praise should also be heaped on artist Mitch Gerads, who’s more realistic style suits the stories at times very gritty content. I finished Mister Miracle weeks ago now, and I can’t stop thinking about that ending. If you like superhero comics that march to the beat of their own drummer, then I highly recommend checking this one out.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (Fantasy)– When Rin discovers that her guardians intend to 
marry her off to help their opium business, she decides to escape by doing the impossible: pass the Keju and get into the most prestigious academy in all of Nikan. She succeeds, but her challenges are just beginning. How can this country war orphan keep up in school of elites? And what’s a military academy to do when the threat of the Third Poppy War looms near?
I picked up The Poppy War due to all the positive press it’s been receiving, and the fact that it’s been nominated for a Nebula Award (look for my review on Speculative Chic later this month!). I found myself incredibly impressed with the results. The Poppy War is both an engaging, yet gritty, school story, a well as a tale of the harrowing effects of war. As a result, the book starts off dark, and just gets darker (to the point where I would not recommend you pick this up if you are squeamish about reading about the atrocities of war, for any reason). But the characters created here are so complex, and the way the author, R.F. Kuang delves into these dark themes is so compelling, that it’s was completely worth it for me. I look forward to reading the second book, The Dragon Republic, when it comes out later this year.
Infidel by Pornsak Pichetshote (Horror)– After her future mother-in-law’s apartment building
is bombed by a man labeled a terrorist, Aisha moves into the building in hopes of providing emotional support. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to provide support when it’s clear that Aisha’s mother-in-law, Leslie, is struggling to come to terms with the fact that his son is engaged to a Muslim. On top of that, Aisha is having nightmares. When those nightmares start to manifest in real life, it quickly becomes obvious that her new home is haunted.
Infidel is a fantastic take on the classic haunted house story, modernized for the current era. The artwork, provided by Aaron Campbell, is deliciously creepy, and really draws you in to the more horrifying moments. By keeping the emphasis on the characters and scary bits, Pornsak Pichetshote managed to tell a story about the dangers and pervasiveness of racism without seeming heavy handed. The storyline has quite a few twists in it for a five-issue arc, and I found myself flying through the pages.
Horror is admittedly not a regular part of my reading diet, but comics like Infidel make me want to dig into the genre more. I highly recommend this one.
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson (Science Fiction/Young Adult)– Skyward focuses on Spensa, a 
teenage girl living on an alien planet regularly attacked by creatures known as the “Krell.” This violent existence has resulted in humanity becoming highly militant, and Spensa, who dreams of becoming a pilot, is no exception. Unfortunately, Spensa’s father was a notorious coward, and everyone expects that Spensa will be the same. When she comes across an abandoned ship, she sees a chance to grasp the future she’s always wanted, but will she be able to handle the truth she encounters along the way?
Brandon Sanderson is one of my favorite authors, and Skyward perfectly encapsulates what I love so much about his work. The world building, while not as complex as The Stormlight Archive, is incredibly engrossing. The plot is exciting, and filled with the perfect amount of twists and turns. But the best part of this novel is the characters. Spensa is a wonderful protagonist and I really felt for her as she grew over the course of the book. I am so eager to see where things end up with her next and I know that I will be picking up book two, Starsight, as soon as it’s available.
Sleepless, Volume One by Sarah Vaughn (Fantasy)– Despite being the daughter of a king, the 
illegitimate Poppy is no princess. Then her father dies, and an attempt is made on her life. Unable to escape court, Poppy must depend on the protection of her sworn knight Cyrenic, who never sleeps. But even though Cyrenic’s skill with a blade is unmatched, and Poppy’s mind is sharp, will their combined efforts be enough to foil the person who wishes her dead?
How have I not discovered Sleepless before this point? This high fantasy graphic novel was like catnip to me. I loved the emphasis on court life, from the murderous intrigue to the beautiful dresses (point to artist Leila Del Duca, who does a wonderful job all around). And while there’s not as much space for worldbuilding in a graphic novel as opposed to a prose novel, I loved the glimpses of what we got to see. This is especially true with the Sleepless, or knights that give up the ability to sleep to protect the royal family, but often at a terrible cost. Poppy and Cyrenic are such likable characters, and the chemistry that grows between them over the course of several issues had me rooting for them to get together. Volume One of Sleepless ends on a very intense note. I eagerly look forward to see how the story resolves itself with Volume Two.
Honorable Mentions: A Perfect Balance by Laura Ambrose, No Man Can Tame by Miranda Hornfleur, How Long ‘Til Black Future Month by NK Jemisin, The Android’s Dream by John Scalzi. Emotions Explained with Buff Dudes by Andrew Tsyaston
Nancy O'Toole 