A selection of books that impressed me this year

At the end of the year, it is common to summarize personal or professional achievements. Some share their accomplishments on blogs, others highlight their work, and some receive prestigious awards. In this case, I decided to review my reading experiences over the past year. This selection includes books I read in 2025 that stood out to me, whether for positive or negative reasons.

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It should be noted that this selection is based solely on my personal literary preferences, which are relatively modest. This does not imply that what I found impressive will have the same effect on other readers, or vice versa. However, if the descriptions and impressions resonate, a book might be worth noting for future reading. Additionally, the selection is not limited to releases from this year.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Breakthrough of the Year – “Children of Blood and Bone”, Tomi Adeyemi

This was a case where I initially hesitated to start the book, expecting the story to be dull, the names difficult, and the context confusing. In short, none of these concerns were realized. The novel, written by an American author of African descent, combines a fantasy framework with socially relevant themes and a contemporary American context. Adeyemi depicts the world of Orïsha, once a prosperous country where many inhabitants possessed magical abilities. However, the king eventually ordered the eradication of all magic users, leading to its disappearance. The society that remains is divided into two groups: ordinary people and descendants of magical families, the latter of whom also have distinct physical characteristics.

Members of the second group are referred to as “Wizened,” and the attitude of ordinary people toward them is correspondingly hostile. This is evident from the opening pages, when soldiers arrive at a camp where adolescent girls are training. The situation can be interpreted as an analogy to racism and police oppression, although the presence of magic and the characters’ journeys firmly situates the book within the fantasy genre. The novel also incorporates references to the Yoruba religion of West Africa, primarily through names, which subtly anchor the story in a specific cultural context. As a result, the world feels both fantastical and ethnically grounded. Emotional responses while reading fluctuate between admiration and surprise to shock and discomfort.

Unputdownable Book – “Good Girl, Bad Blood” by Holly Jackson

This is the second installment in the series featuring Pippa Fitz-Amobi; I had read the first book, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, the previous year. Naturally, it is recommended to start with the first book. The series is a well-constructed young adult detective story that clearly illustrates character development, not through age but through circumstances. In the first book, Pip is an overly conscientious teenager who, alongside her new friend Ravi, becomes involved in a case that had already been investigated and closed. In the second installment, she deals with the consequences of the fame she gained after exposing the truth and outsmarting the police.

Although Pippa had promised herself and Ravi not to involve herself in any more investigations, she could not ignore the disappearance of her friend. Unlike the police, she revisits the pasts of the town’s residents, gathers minute details, and delves into another cold case involving a serial killer. The story is sufficiently engaging that, after finishing the second book, I immediately proceeded to the third, where Pippa has evolved into a markedly different character – broken, disillusioned, and angry, yet still methodical and composed. The physical edition of the trilogy by ReadBerry is also noteworthy. It features colored edges forming a fingerprint design and includes pages with dialogues, notifications, diary entries, and notes, making it both visually appealing and practical to read.

Book That Requires a Pause – “The Crystal Castle” by Iryna Hrabovska

Apologies for discussing the third book in the series, as it is assumed that the first two should be read beforehand. However, this is common in sword-and-sorcery fantasy, where a single volume is rarely sufficient to fully establish a complex world with new races, detailed geography, economy, religion, political systems, multiple plotlines, royal families, and dozens of characters. In this book, the world includes ordinary humans, magicians, bird-like humans, gorgons with serpent-like features, and other races. Conflicts over power and territory occur between some groups, while others seek allies, revenge, or the restoration of the throne.

The world is rich and engaging, and the characters are diverse – some gentle and likable, others rigid and embittered, some broken and cunning, others confident and loyal. Iryna Hrabovska has invested significant effort into world-building, and upon finishing the final page, the emotional impact was substantial. The narrative allows readers to experience the characters’ struggles, love, and moral dilemmas within a harsh world. The series also addresses themes of self-acceptance, which began developing in the first book and continued throughout the trilogy, highlighting how prejudice can persist even in fantastical settings. For me, Hrabovska’s The Crystal Castle trilogy ranks among the stronger works in the fantasy genre, and I am looking forward to the republication of her adventure fantasy set in the steampunk world of Leoburg.

Book Worth Returning To – “Him” by Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen

This year, I became interested in romantic queer literature. The interest began last year with Red, White & Royal Blue, and developed further in 2025. The market is seeing an increase in such books, and this year the publisher RM released the duology Him/Us, which follows two hockey players – one gay, the other bisexual. The narrative is explicit, intended for adult audiences, and depicts a world in which the surrounding environment is largely accepting, contributing to a setting with minimal conflict regarding sexual orientation.

The story is enjoyable and engaging. Jamie and Wesley meet at a hockey camp, starting as friends, exchanging messages regularly, and developing their own rituals and traditions. The narrative progresses naturally, blending lighthearted and humorous moments with sincere and emotionally resonant scenes. The writing style is easy to read and immersive, creating a comforting experience for the reader. Unlike many romantic comedies where male characters are idealized individually, this book presents two well-developed male protagonists, each with appealing qualities, providing a dynamic and balanced portrayal.

A brief note: within the same category, I also recommend In Love by Nadia Bila. However, in terms of tone and portrayal of acceptance, it occupies a different part of the spectrum. The book offers a realistic perspective on the experiences of a young man who unexpectedly develops feelings for an older man.

Most Intriguing Story – “Lazarus” by Svitlana Taratorina

I previously mentioned Taratorina’s post-apocalyptic novel House of Salt in a discussion of notable dystopias, and Lazarus naturally fits into this selection. The book is an urban retro-detective fantasy set in Kyiv in 1913. Kyiv is depicted as a city of boundaries, where humans coexist with supernatural beings such as devils, vampires, and werewolves. The story begins when investigator Oleksandr Tyurin, tasked with high-profile cases, passes through the city and becomes involved in the investigation of a brutal child murder, for which supernatural entities are suspected. The case has the potential to ignite a new conflict.

However, the investigation and present-day events represent only one layer of the story. There are also narrative threads exploring Tyurin’s past and his family, historical events, and references to folklore. The book can be read as an alternate history, as a puzzle of “Easter eggs” related to real events or figures, or analyzed for deeper meanings. It also highlights social issues such as intolerance and prejudice toward “other species.” By the conclusion, all narrative details and detective threads converge, creating a compelling overall picture. This is the kind of story that encourages readers to reflect on the author’s intended message.

Best Protagonist – Castiel / “From Blood and Ash” by Jennifer L. Armentrout

A common phrase on booktok and bookstagram is that the best men are those created by women, and it’s hard to disagree. This year, my collection of favorite male characters expanded with another notable example – Casteel from Jennifer L. Armentrout’s FromBlood and Ash series. I previously mentioned this series in a selection of vampire-themed books, and Casteel belongs to a race with abilities and characteristics reminiscent of vampires.

This character embodies a full set of traits, mostly clichéd, but that hardly matters when reading romantic fantasy. What is important is that he is strong, courageous – sometimes to the point of recklessness – handsome, and intensely devoted to the heroine. He also has a tragic past (which won’t be revealed here to avoid spoilers) and is driven by a desire for revenge and justice for his family and people. While there are shades of moral ambiguity early on, as the saying goes, nobody is perfect.

Best Female Character – Jude Duarte / “The Folk of the Air” by Holly Black

The Folk of the Air tetralogy is not new, but I only finished the last two books this year. I reread the first two volumes and, as before, remained captivated by Jude Duarte. In a world of slender, gifted, and immortal faerie, she is a human, which makes her vulnerable to injury, poisons, and mental manipulation. From the start, she is essentially playing with losing hands, but her anger, determination, and desire for revenge empower her. She manages to turn human “weaknesses” into advantages in the fae world, learning to fight and weave intrigue, ultimately transforming from an underdog into a queen.

This is a fantasy story featuring the classic “enemies-to-lovers” trope. The romance is passionate but not explicit – there are no adult scenes – yet the chemistry between Jude and Prince Cardan is immediately evident, even though at first they are genuinely willing to kill each other.

Honorable Mention – Disappointment of the Year

Why not add a bit of mud to this literary honey? To be honest, two books competed for this category: a motivational nonfiction work and a fairy tale retelling, which also won the 2024 Hugo and Locus Awards for Best Novella. I chose the nonfiction book because I spent 320 UAH ($7.62) on it, compared to 217 UAH ($5.17) for the novella – less financial loss, less disappointment. In this category, the “winner” is The Pivot Year by Brianna West.

This is a popular author, and her book The Mountain Is You is decent and somewhat useful, especially for readers new to this type of literature. I had similar expectations for The Pivot Year – practical advice, interesting ideas, or at least motivating affirmations. Instead, I found 384 pages of filler. Honestly, even ChatGPT could provide better guidance. The book’s format is designed so that readers open a new page each day for a dose of wisdom and inspiration, but I found neither motivating nor insightful content. From a practical perspective, books like The Miracle Morning or Atomic Habits are more effective, and even The Mountain Is You can be more useful, though it doesn’t always translate well to contemporary Ukrainian realities.

And what books were the best for you this year?

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