my top 10/100 reads of 2022

Hi everyone!

I finally completed my goodreads challenge of 100 books!

Last year I made a post listing my top 10 of the 100 books I read that year, and I wanted to do that again because it was so fun last time! How this works is I used this tutorial to make a sorter and listed all 100 books I read, and then used that to find my top 10 favourite reads. Here’s the outcome:

I actually did this about three times before I got tired and decided to stick with the last outcome. I read so many good books this year that it was difficult choosing which books I liked over the other.

I’m not too surprised about the ones that made it up here. I obviously loved The Atlas Paradox, and books like We Are Not Free and Alone With You In The Ether had such a big impact on me. The fact there’s a classic and a non-fiction novel here is a wonder, but I’m glad because I have been trying to make the effort to read more classics and non-fiction.

So, here are the top 10 books I’ve read this year, and the reasons why I enjoyed them.

★ the atlas paradox ★

★ goodreads ★ storygraph ★

SYNOPSIS: Six magicians. Two rivalries. One researcher. And a man who can walk through dreams. All must pick a side: do they wish to preserve the world—or destroy it? In this electric sequel to the viral sensation, The Atlas Six, the society of Alexandrians is revealed for what it is: a secret society with raw, world-changing power, headed by a man whose plans to change life as we know it are already under way. But the cost of knowledge is steep, and as the price of power demands each character choose a side, which alliances will hold and which will see their enmity deepen?”

I don’t think it is too surprising to see this at the top of my list. Last year, The Atlas Six was the ranked #1 of the books I read and, as I had anticipated, its sequel ranks #1 this year. I really loved this novel. I flew through it and had to force myself to pace myself otherwise it would over too soon.

I thought the novel was just so fun to read. There was so much chaos and character development/devolvement. Olivie Blake’s writing had only improved since TA6; it was riveting and the way the magic was written was beautiful and fascinating. You can read more of my thoughts here.

★ six crimson cranes ★

★ goodreads ★ storygraph ★

SYNOPSIS: Shiori, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Her stepmother, Raikama, has dark magic of her own, and she banishes the young princess – right after turning her brothers into cranes, and warning Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.

Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and, on her journey, uncovers a conspiracy to overtake the throne—a conspiracy more twisted and deceitful, more cunning and complex, than even Raikama’s betrayal. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she’s been taught all her life to contain—no matter what it costs her.

I never thought a high fantasy novel would be so high up on this list, but here we are! Six Crimson Cranes was such a fantastically written novel; I loved our main character, Shiori, and seeing her grow throughout the story. Her determination to save her brothers made her such an endearing character, and I admired her strength and ambition. 

★ we are not free ★

★ goodreads ★ storygraph ★

SYNOPSIS: Fourteen teens who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco. Fourteen teens who form a community and a family, as interconnected as they are conflicted. Fourteen teens whose lives are turned upside down when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry are removed from their homes and forced into desolate incarceration camps. In a world that seems determined to hate them, these young Nisei must rally together as racism and injustice threaten to pull them apart.

It’s hard to talk about this novel because it was just so beautiful. Despite the plethora of characters, we got to know each of them one by one, and see exactly how being imprisoned in the Japanese internment camps affected them. It was a moving story that left me in tears and embedded itself into my heart.

★ alone with you in the ether ★

★ goodreads ★ storygraph ★

SYNOPSIS: Two people meet in the Art Institute by chance. Prior to their encounter, he is a doctoral student who manages his destructive thoughts with compulsive calculations about time travel; she is a bipolar counterfeit artist, undergoing court-ordered psychotherapy. By the end of the story, these things will still be true. But this is not a story about endings.

For Regan, people are predictable and tedious, including and perhaps especially herself. She copes with the dreariness of existence by living impulsively. To Aldo, the world feels disturbingly chaotic. He gets through his days by erecting a wall of routine: a backbeat of rules and formulas that keep him going. For Regan and Aldo, life has been a matter of resigning themselves to the blueprints of inevitability—until the two meet. Could six conversations with a stranger be the variable that shakes up the entire simulation?

While I am not the biggest fan of contemporary romances, I was so curious about this as it was written by Olivie Blake. It was such an atmospheric read and felt so suffocating at the same time because I felt like I was there in that moment and in their thoughts. It focuses so much on the characters and their flaws; the writing is so well done that you can really feel like you’re in their head and can see their anxieties and inner turmoil.

★ a far wilder magic ★

★ goodreads ★ storygraph ★

SYNOPSIS: When Margaret Welty spots the legendary hala, the last living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will soon follow. Whoever is able to kill the hala will earn fame and riches, and unlock an ancient magical secret. If Margaret wins the hunt, it may finally bring her mother home. While Margaret is the best sharpshooter in town, only teams of two can register, and she needs an alchemist.

Weston Winters isn’t an alchemist–yet. Fired from every apprenticeship he’s landed, his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret and her bloodhound Trouble. Margaret begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her.

Although they make an unlikely team, Wes is in awe of the girl who has endured alone on the outskirts of a town that doesn’t want her, in this creaking house of ghosts and sorrow. And even though Wes disrupts every aspect of her life, Margaret is drawn to him. He, too, knows what it’s like to be an outsider. As the hunt looms closer and tensions rise, Margaret and Wes uncover dark magic that could be the key to winning the hunt – if they survive that long.

Allison Saft continues to wow me with her writing. Her debut novel was one of my faves last year, and this year I adored her sophomore novel. I thought the grumpy/sunshine dynamic was adorable, and how they turned from reluctant allies to lovers. The novel also touched on themes of otherness and discrimination in a very careful way, and I appreciated it exploring an important topic within a fantasy setting.

★ into the drowning deep ★

★ goodreads ★ storygraph ★

SYNOPSIS: Seven years ago, the Atargatis set off on a voyage to the Mariana Trench to film a “mockumentary” bringing to life ancient sea creatures of legend. It was lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy.

Now, a new crew has been assembled. But this time they’re not out to entertain. Some seek to validate their life’s work. Some seek the greatest hunt of all. Some seek the truth. But for the ambitious young scientist Victoria Stewart this is a voyage to uncover the fate of the sister she lost.

Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the waves. But the secrets of the deep come with a price.

Who doesn’t love killer mermaids? This is the perfect mix of sci-fi and horror, and was riveting from beginning to end. I also really appreciated how all the characters were developed, and we got a very lovely romance within the story too. You can read more of my thoughts here.

★ the red palace ★

★ goodreads ★ storygraph ★

SYNOPSIS: Joseon (Korea), 1758. There are few options available to illegitimate daughters in the capital city, but through hard work and study, eighteen-year-old Hyeon has earned a position as a palace nurse. However, things take a turn when Hyeon is suddenly thrust into the dark and dangerous world of court politics after someone murders four women in a single night, and the prime suspect is Hyeon’s closest friend and mentor. Determined to prove her beloved teacher’s innocence, Hyeon launches her own secret investigation.

In her hunt for the truth, she encounters Eojin, a young police inspector also searching for the killer. When evidence begins to point to the Crown Prince himself as the murderer, Hyeon and Eojin must work together to search the darkest corners of the palace to uncover the deadly secrets behind the bloodshed.

This was one of the first books I read in 2022, and it was such a wonderful way to start off the year. I love mysteries, and this one was so well written. Normally I find romance in mystery novels to take away from the main plotline, but I adored the romance here and thought it was so sweet. Plus, the setting is wonderful and you can see how much thought and research Hur puts into her writing. Here’s my review!

★ the weight of blood ★

★ goodreads ★ storygraph ★

SYNOPSIS: When Springville residents are questioned about what happened on prom night, they all have the same explanation… Maddy did it.

An outcast at her small-town Georgia high school, Madison Washington has always been a target for bullies, and she’s dealt with it because she has more pressing problems to manage. Until the morning a surprise rainstorm reveals her most closely kept secret: Maddy is biracial. She has been passing for white her entire life at the behest of her fanatical white father.

After a viral bullying video pulls back the curtain on Springville High’s racist roots, student leaders come up with a plan to change their image: host the school’s first integrated prom as a show of unity. The popular white class president convinces her Black superstar quarterback boyfriend to ask Maddy to be his date, leaving Maddy wondering if it’s possible to have a normal life. But some of her classmates aren’t done with her just yet. And what they don’t know is that Maddy still has another secret… one that will cost them all their lives.

I discussed all the reasons I loved this book in my review – but, to reiterate, this was such a fun horror novel. The mixed media format kept me on my toes, and the non-linear timeline kept me engaged with the story. I thought this twist on Carrie was so well done and made for a great spooky time read.

★ persuasion ★

★ goodreads ★ storygraph ★

SYNOPSIS: At twenty-seven, Anne Elliot is no longer young and has few romantic prospects. Eight years earlier, persuaded by her friend Lady Russell, she broke off her engagement to Frederick Wentworth, a handsome naval captain with neither fortune nor rank. Now older and wiser, the decision has haunted her along with the memory of the man she loved.

When fate throws the two together again, in very different circumstances, Anne will learn how deeply the past can still wound and what can be endured for love. As she finds herself again torn between the demands of family and social convention she must learn to find her own judgement in a sea of influence.

I cannot believe that a novel from the 1800s made it into my top 10! Persuasion was a book I buddy read, and I really love that I got to enjoy it with my friends. As expected, Austen’s writing was wonderful, and really conveyed the longing and pining felt throughout the novel. I loved this second-chance romance and the resolution at the end, and I’m so excited to read the rest of Austen’s works.

★ how to be perfect ★

★ goodreads ★ storygraph ★

SYNOPSIS: With bright wit and deep insight, How to Be Perfect explains concepts like deontology, utilitarianism, existentialism, ubuntu, and more so we can sound cool at parties and become better people. Schur starts off with easy ethical questions like “Should I punch my friend in the face for no reason?” (No.) and works his way up to the most complex moral issues we all face. Such as: Can I still enjoy great art if it was created by terrible people? How much money should I give to charity? Why bother being good at all when there are no consequences for being bad? And much more.

By the time the book is done, we’ll know exactly how to act in every conceivable situation, so as to produce a verifiably maximal amount of moral good. We will be perfect, and all our friends will be jealous. OK, not quite. Instead, we’ll gain fresh, funny, inspiring wisdom on the toughest issues we face every day.

I still about this novel and the things I learnt from it. I really enjoyed this look into moral philosophy and ethics, and how it broke it down into the basics. The author is the creator of The Good Place, and the book had the same humour while delving into important topics. I really can’t wait to reread and annotate this in the future, to get the most out of it.

Thank you for reading!
Let me know what your fave reads of 2022 have been!

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