Fantasy Book Critic: 2024 Team Favorites

It’s time to start wrapping up the year, and since I can’t resist a good Top X list, here’s mine:) Books, comics, TV series - you name it, I’ve got some gems to share.

I'll focus on broadly defined speculative fiction, but if thrillers are your thing, let me know - I’ve got a few killer suggestions.

I hope at least some of these picks will grab your attention, especially since some of them are criminally underread and deserve way more love.

BOOKS

NAVOLA by Paolo Bacigalupi - Political intrigue? Check. Deeply personal stakes? Double check. Scheming Machiavellian side characters? Oh, yes. Navola delivers all this and more! Bacigalupi shifts from heartfelt moments to bursts of calculated violence and an overwhelming sense of bleakness with ease and perfect timing, and I savored every second. While some call it a standalone with an open ending, I’m choosing to believe it’s just the start of an epic series. Fingers crossed!

Edit: I read an interview with Bacigalupi (Locus Mag, Dec 2024) and it seems it's a series.

LEVIATHAN by Robert McCammon - Matthew Corbett series ends with Leviathan. It's also my favorite series of the decade. The ending is fitting, thrilling, and satisfying. Read it if you like historical thrillers, high personal stakes, and, just perhaps, a supernatural evil lurking in the shadows.

THE TAINTED CUP by Robert Jackson Bennett - I love Bennett's approach to genre mash-ups. Fantasy, murder mystery, coming-of-age, and a sprinkle of body horror (trees literally growing out of people) -what’s not to love? And shoutout to Anna Dolabra, the eccentric genius who prefers to stay blindfolded at all times (for reasons) and won’t leave her room unless absolutely necessary. She stole every scene.

THE STORM BENEATH THE WORLD by Michael R. Fletcher - Dark fantasy fans, rejoice! Fletcher strikes again with this wildly imaginative and entertaining story. Featuring insectile ashkaro getting high on their lethal powers, it’s not as grimdark as the cover might suggest. But don’t worry, it’s still bloody, brutal, and unapologetically Fletch. A must-read for fans of the genre.

THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI by Shannon Chakraborty - Amina al-Sirafi is a 40-something mom with a bad knee and a past as a legendary pirate queen. Balancing parenting with piracy? Not easy, which is why she’s tried to retire into a quiet life. Naturally, chaos ensues, and Amina is dragged back into action. This book is a delight,and the audiobook is awesome!

DIAVOLA by Jennifer Marie Thorne A haunted house story with a twist. Diavola takes the genre’s best elements and gives them a snarky, personality-packed makeover. Anna, the narrator, is sharp-tongued and divisive - if her narration clicks with you, you'll have fun. Otherwise, you'll probably DNF it.

A SICK GRAY LAUGH by Nicole Cushing It's a fascinating book with almost no empty calories. Dense and often philosophical and descriptive, it goes meta, following the ramblings of a troubled mind. Yet, it contains moments of sheer brilliance. If you appreciate challenging books with humor that is existentially dark, check this one out.

FEVER HOUSE by Keith Rosson Pure kinetic horror with cinematic pacing, top-tier writing, and characters you’ll root for (or against). It’s brutal, wild, and an absolute blast. Easily one of my favorite reads this year.

THE PRESTIGE by Christopher Priest The Prestige is excellent. It tells an unputdownable story of obsession, deception, and blurred boundaries between reality and illusion.

THE BOOK THAT BROKE THE WORLD by Mark Lawrence - It’s darker than the first book in the series, shockingly so in places. Livira and Malar aren’t happy with their new circumstances. Rather unpleasant insectoids and a mechanical monster try to kill Evar and his siblings. New POV characters can’t can't complain about boredom either.

COMIC BOOKS / GRAPHIC NOVELS

LUCIFER by Mike Carey Dark, brilliant, and beautifully written, with stunning art to match. Carey’s Lucifer is a masterpiece of character-driven storytelling.

THE WALKING DEAD by Robert Kirkman Nobody—and I mean nobody—is safe in The Walking Dead. I devoured 15 years of Kirkman’s work in under two weeks and loved every second. Emotional trauma, zombies, and morally gray leaders? Sign me up.

MEDEA by Blandine Le Callet

Medea: villain, victim, or misunderstood antihero? In this stunning graphic novel, Blandine Le Callet and Nancy Peña give Medea the floor to tell her story, and it’s riveting.

FINAL CUT by Charles Burns - Final Cut is a beautifully weird, unsettling, and surprisingly tender look at love, art, and the stories we tell ourselves. If you’re a fan of Charles Burns or just love weird, thoughtful comics, this one’s worth the ride.

THE NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE by James Tynion IV

A mind-bending concept, great writing, and atmospheric art make this series a standout. Sure, the characters could’ve been fleshed out more, but I had a blast and am eagerly awaiting the teased second cycle.

TV SERIES

MR. ROBOT

What more can I say? It’s a masterpiece. Exceptional acting, clever writing, twists on twists on twists—if you haven’t seen it yet, fix that.

FALLOUT

It’s all fun and games on the surface, but dig deeper, and it’s genuinely chilling. That said, I had an absolute blast with this series. Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins are fantastic!

SHOGUN

Visually stunning and deeply immersive. I haven’t read the book it’s based on (yet), but the series is excellent on its own.

BLUE EYE SAMURAI

Magnificent. I binged this in two days, and it was worth every second.

ARCANE

I know, I know—I’m late to the party. But hey, better late than never, right? And wow, was it worth the hype. Spectacular storytelling and visuals!

There you have it! What are your favorites from the year?