1. Good Omens – Neil Gaimen and Terry Pratchett
Alright, so I just finished Good Omens, and honestly, I’m a little sad it’s over. I mean, where do you even start with a book like this? It’s like Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett sat down, looked at the apocalypse, and said, “Yeah, but what if we made it… British?”
The whole thing is just a brilliant, chaotic mess of divine comedy. You’ve got an angel, Aziraphale, and a demon, Crowley, who have been on Earth for six millennia, and they’ve kind of… settled in. They’re not exactly besties, but they’re definitely not enemies anymore. Their whole dynamic is the absolute heart of the book, and their witty banter and begrudging affection for each other is just chef’s kiss.
Then there’s the whole Antichrist situation. A mix-up at the hospital leads to the wrong kid being raised as the Son of Satan, and it’s just pure, unadulterated absurdity. You’ve got the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse on motorbikes, a young girl who is a professional witch, and a prophesying descendant of the aforementioned witch who is just trying to live her life.
The humor is so sharp and so uniquely British—dry, sarcastic, and full of wonderfully silly footnotes that are a hallmark of Pratchett’s style. Gaiman’s influence is clear in the intricate plotting and the beautiful, sweeping prose. It’s a perfect blend of two literary giants.
Ultimately, Good Omens isn’t just a book about the end of the world. It’s a story about friendship, free will, and the very human capacity for love, even when you’re a celestial being or a demon. It’s a cozy, hilarious, and surprisingly heartwarming read that I would recommend to absolutely anyone. Seriously, read it. You won’t regret it.
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2. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell – Susanna Clarke
Okay, so I finally finished Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. I’m not going to lie, it’s a commitment. This is a big, hefty book that feels less like a novel and more like a lost historical document. And that, I think, is its greatest strength.
Susanna Clarke writes with this brilliant, dry wit that perfectly mimics the style of a 19th-century author. You’ll find yourself laughing at the footnotes just as much as the main text, which is an absolute feat. The story itself is a slow burn, a gradual unfurling of magic and history in an alternate Napoleonic England where magic was once a vibrant art, but has since dwindled to a forgotten study.
Then you have the two titular magicians. Mr. Norrell is a fussy, reclusive academic, obsessed with collecting old magical books and restoring the “respectable” side of magic. Jonathan Strange is his polar opposite: a charismatic, impulsive, and brilliant young man who wants to push the boundaries of what magic can do. Their rivalry and partnership is the engine of the story, and it’s a fascinating one to watch unfold.
The world-building is just incredible. Clarke has crafted a rich, believable history of magic in England, complete with its own folklore, prophets, and a sinister, fey figure known as the Raven King. The magic itself isn’t some quick-fix solution; it’s dangerous, unpredictable, and often has a price.
This is not a fast-paced fantasy epic, but a deep, immersive historical novel that just happens to have magic in it. If you’re willing to take your time and get lost in its beautifully written world, it’s a truly rewarding experience.
3. Gallant – Victoria Schwan
Gallant by Victoria Schwab is one of those books that you can’t help but be drawn into, almost against your will. It’s a gothic fairy tale that feels both familiar and entirely new. I mean, the whole “orphan gets a mysterious letter and goes to a strange old house” trope is classic, but Schwab puts such a unique, unsettling spin on it.
The main character, Olivia Prior, is non-verbal, and the way Schwab navigates her world through her unique perspective is just brilliant. You really get a sense of her isolation and her fierce determination to find out who she is and where she comes from. Her mother’s journal, filled with disturbing illustrations and cryptic warnings, is a fantastic plot device that pulls you right into the mystery.
And the house… oh, Gallant. It’s a character in its own right. It’s beautiful and crumbling, full of secrets, and holds a secret of its own: a crumbling, shadowy version of itself on the other side of a wall. The writing is so incredibly atmospheric; you can almost feel the dampness and the dust, and the sense of unease never really leaves you.
This isn’t a fast-paced thriller. It’s a slow, creeping kind of horror, a story about family, belonging, and the shadows that haunt us all. Schwab’s prose is as beautiful and haunting as ever, and while the plot might be a little simpler than some of her other works, the mood and the characters more than make up for it. If you’re a fan of gothic fiction or just love a good, spooky mystery, this is a must-read.
4. Spinning Silver – Naomi Novik
You know that old fairy tale, Rumpelstiltskin? Yeah, throw that out the window. Naomi Novik’s Spinning Silver takes the basic premise and spins it into this incredible, intricate tapestry of a story. It’s not just a retelling; it’s a completely new, rich, and deeply human tale.
The book is centered around Miryem, the daughter of a moneylender who, frankly, isn’t very good at his job. To save her family from poverty, Miryem hardens her heart and takes over, becoming known for her ability to “turn silver into gold.” This boast, however, attracts the attention of the Staryk, a terrifying race of fey creatures who rule over the winter.
But the story doesn’t just stick with Miryem. We also get the perspectives of other women, like Wanda, a peasant girl trying to escape an abusive home, and Irina, a duke’s daughter who finds herself married to a tsar with a terrifying secret. These multiple viewpoints are brilliant, weaving together a complex plot where these three women, all from different walks of life, have to use their wits to survive a world filled with magic, demons, and the ever-present cold.
Novik’s prose is absolutely gorgeous—it’s like being wrapped in a cozy blanket and a chilling gust of wind at the same time. The world-building, inspired by Eastern European folklore, is so immersive you can almost feel the biting cold and see the enchanted silver. It’s a story about female strength, resilience, and the power of cleverness over brute force. If you love a good fairy tale with real stakes and beautifully drawn characters, you have to pick this up.
5. Tigana – Guy Gavriel Kay
Okay, I’ve got to tell you about Tigana. If you’re looking for a classic, swords-and-sorcery fantasy, this isn’t exactly it. It’s so much more. Guy Gavriel Kay is a master, and this book feels like a love letter to a history that never was. It’s a beautiful, melancholic, and incredibly powerful story about memory and identity.
The premise is brilliant and heartbreaking: a beautiful peninsula, a land called the Palm, has been conquered by two rival sorcerers. One of them, in a fit of rage after his son was killed by its people, casts a spell on the province of Tigana, erasing its name from the minds of everyone who isn’t from there. The name, the history, the culture—it all just ceases to exist for outsiders.
The story follows a group of rebels, led by the last prince of Tigana, Alessan. They’re trying to do the impossible: to kill both tyrants and restore their land’s name. But it’s not a simple quest. It’s a political thriller, a tragic romance, and a profound meditation on what it means to lose your home and your past.
The characters are so richly drawn, so human in their flaws and their passions, that you feel every one of their victories and every single one of their devastating losses.
Kay’s prose is what really sets this book apart. It’s lyrical, almost poetic, and it perfectly captures the sense of a land haunted by its own history. This is a book that will make you think, make you feel, and stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. It’s a masterpiece.
