Summer 2025 Reading Recommendations

Introduction

Whilst it would be much easier to do a round up of my reading at the end of each calendar year, everyone does that and I dare to be different. This annual blog is instead designed to give authors a welcome mid-year boost, where I look back at my reading over the past 12 months and recommend which books I think should find their way into your suitcase as we enter the summer holiday season. If you’re struggling to find space for books, then ditch that jumper. Honestly, you’re not going to need it - unless you’re going to Iceland, in which case ditch the flip flops instead.

In July 2024 I featured 15 books. This time round the list has grown to 22, mainly because this includes my own holiday reading in April, May and June. Every book on this list is one I would recommend, so have a look at the summary or check out the link to the full review on Page Chewing or Goodreads and see if some of these might be right for you.

With having a larger list, I’ve decided to group my books a little bit more this year. So in addition to my recommended reads, I’m also highlighting some of my favourites in a second group of ‘Five Star Reads’. Books within these two groups are simply listed in reading order. It was too hard to try and decide on a top 10 or a top 5, although I have singled out an overall favourite as well as a runner up.

You can keep track of my reading on Goodreads. I’m also one of the resident reviewers on the Page Chewing and Spotlight Indie blogs. Both of these are excellent online communities, offering a wealth of interesting and engaging content for fans of fantasy and sci-fi books and shows, so I encourage you to take a look at them as well!

Recommended Reads

It’s time to dive in! I really enjoyed all the books in this first group and and would wholeheartedly recommend each of these. If you’re looking for something new to read, why not take a look at some of these authors?

A Ritual of Bone by Lee C Conley

A Ritual of Bone was the first full-length novel I’d read by Lee C Conley and I loved the tone of this book, with its effective fusion of fantasy and horror. A gripping and entertaining read, this series feels fresh and exciting. The cliffhanger ending leaves things very much poised for book two, A Ritual of Flesh, which I’ll be reading later this year.

Callus & Crow by DB Rook

Callus & Crow makes most genre mash ups look like they’re playing it safe. Here we have Weird West meets vampires, with a pinch of Vikings, a generous splash of druids and lumbering trolls, a huge dollop of steampunk, a satirical swipe at the double-standards of religion and a side-dish of rebellion against soulless industrial revolution. Oh, sorry, I almost forgot – we also have unfathomable magic and mysterious eldritch horror lurking in the oceans straight out of the pages of HP Lovecraft. All of this adds a heady dose of spice to the literary pot and leaves the reader going, “What the hell did I just read?”

I loved Callus & Crow and this was actually my favourite book from my sample of entrants for the tenth Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off competition.

Your Blood And Bones by J Patricia Anderson

A book doesn’t have to be long for it to be captivating and resonate with the reader. Your Blood And Bones is a novella that draws on both fantasy and horror tropes to tell a mesmerising tale about two outcast young lovers trying to start again and build a life for themselves. This story is also about the power of hope, and what we’re prepared to do in the name of attaining our dreams.

Gates of Hope by JE Hannaford

JE Hannaford’s love letter to epic fantasy was deservedly selected as a finalist for the tenth Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off competition. This book will appeal to fans of JRR Tolkien and Brandon Sanderson, who enjoy stories rich in history and lore. Gates of Hope is epic fantasy in every sense of the word, with the emphasis firmly on the characters and the vast world Hannaford has created. The antithesis of hack and slash sword and sorcery, this is one for readers who like a slower pace of book and to immerse themselves in their fantasy worlds.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

The book which started the Twilight phenomenon, launching Stephenie Meyer’s literary career and which made stars of the actors in the subsequent movies needs no introduction. I was outside my comfort zone reading this one but now that I have I can understand why it was so successful. A perfect depiction of young love at high school, this was surprisingly readable and I think I will be picking up the next book in 2026.

Lightfall by Ed Crocker

Ed Crocker’s impressive debut novel is another vampire tale, but this is one with a difference. In a world where everyone is immortal the powerful still find ways to oppress those weaker than themselves. Crocker has done something original, fresh and new with this book, with an unusual spin on what, on the face of it, sounds like familiar fantasy fare. You have never read a story involving vampires, sorcerers and werewolves like this one! Highly recommended.

Trollgrave by Alex S Bradshaw

Bradshaw’s standalone novel Trollgrave is inspired by the Norse myths and did well in the tenth Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off Competition, reaching the Semi-Finals. I really enjoyed this story, which pulls off the rather difficult feat of being an in-depth character study whilst also keeping the reader entertained with a sense of mystery alongside some superb action scenes. This is a work of exceptional imagination, told with great skill.

Power by Bharat Krishnan

Privilege, the first book in the Privilege Trilogy, was a real surprise for me when I read it in 2023. The series isn’t easy to classify. The primary themes make this an alternate history political satire, where events in Washington are interweaved with those of a criminal underworld thriller involving the illegal shipment of drugs. Alongside this, there’s a slice of life romantic sub-plot, which was actually my favourite part of this story.

This is a great example of a novel with something to say, and Krishnan is not afraid to tackle issues around racism, privilege and whether the political system can ever adequately represent every citizen in the US.

Impossible Fruit by Gary J Mack

Impossible Fruit is a selection of sci-fi and fantasy short stories, written by multi-genre author Gary J Mack. Tremendous fun from start to finish, Mack is gifted with a distinctive voice as an author. If you enjoy speculative fiction full of surprises where no two stories are the same then I recommend you give his books a try.

The Century Blade by Rob J Hayes

The Century Blade is a short novella, just 30 pages long, and works really well as a standalone introduction to Hayes’ Asian sword & sorcery Mortal Techniques world. Alternatively if, like me, you’ve already read some or all of his standalone novels then it offers the chance to delve further, as he expands on the history of the setting and its characters.

This book may have been short but it was a reminder of how good Hayes is as a storyteller. I’ll be reading more of his work in the second half of 2025.

Time’s Ellipse by Frasier Armitage

In Time’s Ellipse, Frasier Armitage has written a science fiction novel which is hugely ambitious in concept, scale and storytelling. Time’s Ellipse is an emotional and impactful tale, with many moments that genuinely moved me. It’s a great example of how the sci-fi genre allows us to tell stories that couldn’t be told in any other way.

The Citrine Key by LL MacRae

The Citrine Key is the prequel novella to MacRae’s Dragon Spirits fantasy series. This book is a fairly straightforward adventure story and a great introduction to MacRae’s writing. This is one for readers who pick up a fantasy book primarily for pure escapism. I had a lot of fun with this one.

Residuum by DB Rook

A second entry this year for DB Rook! Residuum is a sci-fi novella which takes place in Rook’s Darkening Dawn universe, where the human race faces extinction at the hands of an army of genocidal robots who have turned on their masters. Featuring a mismatched crew of space pirates, I loved the sense of found family between these characters and Rook really makes you care for them. Tremendous fun from start to finish, I hope there will be more books in the Darkening Dawn setting very soon!

Five Star Reads

The books in this second group, again listed in reading order, ticked all the right boxes for me. Whether or not something is a ‘Five Star Read’ is always going to be subjective, but in my view these books absolutely delivered in their respective genres and were among my favourites of the past 12 months!

Godless Lands by Sean Crow

Godless Lands is Sean Crow’s debut novel and the first book in his Godless Lands grimdark fantasy series. I found this compulsively readable due to the excellent character work and well-executed action scenes, which were always filled with tension. The setting of Godless Lands and the associated themes of the story offer the reader a fascinating new fantasy world to explore. Without a doubt this was one of the best novels I’ve read in the past 12 months.

Road Trip: Outer Hebrides by Robbie Roams

We switch briefly to non-fiction for this next title. I’ve used the No Fuss Travel Guides, written by the improbably named Robbie Roams, to plan a couple of different holidays. This guidebook was perfect for my road trip to the Outer Hebrides in April and May this year. Well-organised and written in a simple, accessible style, this book focusses on telling you what you need to know. There are also plenty of anecdotes to keep you entertained as well, making this a quick, fun read.

Dance With Me by Livia J Elliot

In Dance With Me Livia J Elliot has written a clever, dark, psychological fairy tale. This was one of those books I found myself thinking about a lot after I’d finished, and Elliot uses the novella format in creative and unusual ways to tell her story. Dance With Me deals with some difficult themes, including trauma and abuse, so this isn’t a comfortable read. However, it also explores these issues from the perspective of the healing power of love and hope. This is a book that will definitely reward a re-read and I’m looking forward to receiving my special edition later this year, having backed Elliot’s Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.

A Pack of Wolves by PL Stuart

PL Stuart’s Drowned Kingdom Saga is a must for fans of epic historical fantasy and is shaping up to be a masterpiece. This is the best book in the series so far - I simply could not put it down, with many late-night reading sessions to squeeze in just one more chapter. This was one of those books where I didn’t want it to end and, when it was finally over, I was tempted to turn back to page one and start all over again.

The Devising by Jacob Sannox

Sannox’s Dark Oak Chronicles offer an alternative take on epic fantasy, considering what happens when evil is conquered and the winning side has to make some difficult choices in the absence of the traditional dark lord they unified to defeat. Sannox did a masterful job with this book, which concludes the trilogy. It’s a beautifully written novel which hits the spot for me in having both compelling action and the emotional depth to explore some thought-provoking themes. The Devising ensures the Dark Oak Chronicles gets the excellent finale it deserves, and I highly recommend the whole series to readers who are looking for something different in the fantasy genre..

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

All Systems Red is a fun, entertaining sci-fi read. It’s written in an engaging style and you can enjoy this purely for the action and adventure. However, I think the reason this worked so well for me was the way it explored themes about what it means to have free will and choice. I can see why this novella won multiple awards and why this series has its legions of fans. After reading All Systems Red, I think I might be one of them.

The Shadow Gate by LL MacRae

LL MacRae is another author who features twice in this round up. The Shadow Gate is the second book in her Dragon Spirits fantasy trilogy. I loved the first novel, The Iron Crown, and a return to MacRae’s colourful fantasy world of Tassar was long overdue. I thought this book succeeded in the difficult task of improving on every aspect that made The Iron Crown such a good read. This series is one which is equally suitable for older children and adults alike, with plenty of depth in both its characters and the world they inhabit. The overriding pleasure of these books comes from the sense of escapism they offer. I’m looking forward to finishing the trilogy, since the final instalment, The Broken Sword, has just been released.

Runner Up

This was so, so close. This is the first year I’ve selected a runner up in addition to my overall favourite book, and that accolade goes to…

Iron Truth by SA Tholin

The deserving winner of the 2021-22 Self-Published Science Fiction Contest, Iron Truth was an amazing read. Everything about this book is so good, with its fascinating setting, rich, varied and believable characters and its relentless, terrifying plot. If you like hard military sci-fi with plenty of action and elements of cosmic horror and don’t mind a bit of romance then I highly recommend this book. This is a series I will definitely be continuing and it took all my self-control not to pick up the second book straight away!

In another year there’s no doubt in my mind this could have been my winner. However, it still finishes as my top indie read in a highly competitive field.

Overall Winner!

I’ve read some amazing books in the past year but there was one which, ultimately, I felt deserved to be my top pick.

Withered Hill by David Barnett

An English folk horror novel, drawing on elements you normally find in dark psychological thrillers and fantasy tales, Withered Hill is a complex, rich and absorbing book. This is another one I could not stop thinking about afterwards. The strange otherness of the pagan worshipping Lancashire village of Withered Hill, a place which won’t let you leave until you’re ready, was brilliantly done.

What made this book stand out for me was how the structure and dual timeline was used to tell the story. I can’t say much more without getting into spoilers but this book is best explored with no pre-conceived ideas, since Withered Hill is like a wonderous puzzle. The ending, whilst making perfect sense, completely threw me and I never saw it coming. Expertly building on a mounting sense of dread as the novel progresses, this is one of the most chilling and terrifying books I’ve ever read. It’s also one of the best, and all those elements make it my winner this year.

So there you have it - those are my thoughts on the 22 books I read in the last 12 months. I enjoyed each and every one of these, so I hope some of them sound like they might be right for you and you’re able to give them a chance this summer!