2024 has been an amazing year for books! Especially for Enclave Publishing who released all these novels. Today I will share with you my top three releases of 2024 (and their predecessors in the series for clarity). Let’s dig into this rich and yet sugary chocolate cake that is this year’s top fantasy books!
Starting at number three: Ignite, by Kara Swanson.
The world has grown cold in the light of the dying sun, but Mara’s phoenix fire burns hotter than she can control. Her father taught her to fear herself because he was the only one who could stop her from exploding. Under his instruction, Mara learns to cut her wings, tame her fire, and avoid the hollow human hunters who only want the phoenix for their warmth against the frozen world.
Sleep calls to the phoenix flock and Mara must stand watch. When she fails and her family goes missing, her explosion will burn the world.
Or will it? She encounters a human named Eli who isn’t like the hunters her father taught her to fear, and he seems to know more about being a Phoenix than she does. As Mara’s wings grow again, she must decide if she can save her family or herself.
Wow, just wow. This book has so many unique concepts and plot twists. As a fantasy lover, I have the problem of finding books too similar and not original enough. This tale gives a fresh take on the mythical phoenix creature in a tundra setting. I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Mara, who just wants to please her father and do what is right while battling the whirlwind of herself and her untamed mind. The cold feel of the world, along with the burning crystal wings of the phoenix, were beyond intriguing. I also enjoyed Eli’s selfless spirit and kindness towards Mara as he tries to show her the strength she doesn’t know she has. I would 100% recommend this to any fantasy and or mythology-loving reader!!!!
Scoresheet:
Category: YA Fantasy
Spice/Romance: Clean read/No spice. Only the beginnings of romantic interest
Violence: Mild warning. Humans hunt Phoenix blood for warmth so there is mention of death and bloodletting multiple times as well as wing removal.
Morals/Worldview: Christian worldview in symbolic form. Good morals.
Recommended reading age: 16+
Taking second place is Memoria, by J. J. Fischer.
This is the last book in The Nightingale Trilogy so I will start with the first two books to get you up to date.
Sephone is given up for adoption but is instead condemned to slavery because of her valuable gift. The ability to enter the mind and suppress or enhance memories.
Her world comes crashing down when a former ruler named Dorian enters and saves her life from her power-hungry adductors. He reveals the lies she’s been fed and offers her an escape in exchange for her services. He wants the memories of his perished family removed from his mind forever.
Sephone must decide if she will help this mysterious noble on his quest to unite the war-torn land and destroy his memories, or live a life for herself alone in a world that envies her power.
This post-apocalyptic fantasy with an intricate magic system was by far my favorite read of 2023 and, oddly enough, is lots of others’ favorite too because Calor won Best in Fantasy and Book of the Year at Realm Awards!
This new adult no-spice fantasy will keep you on the edge of your seat and enthrall you with its unique world-building. J. J Fischer excellently weaves a slow burn, age gap relationship (about ten years age difference) into a quest adventure story with post-end-of-world vibes. I particularly enjoy each character’s unique powers and personality. No two are alike and each has their own secrets to hide.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves a unique twist in fantasy stories but is okay with a slight cliffhanger.
Score sheet:
Spice/Romance: Low/none. There is a non-romantic kiss that is used only as a diversion during an event.
Violence: Low/mild. No gore or blood. Most damage is done to characters’ minds using their rare powers.
Morals/Worldview: Christian/good morals
Recommended reading age: 16+
Lumen, book 2:
The second installment of the Nightingale Trilogy begins on a beach of broken glass and Sephone Winter slowly dying.
On her quest with the war-weary ex-ruler, Dorian, and the mysterious but sassy former slave, Cass, Sephone must decide her fate. The only problem is, without a cure, all paths end in her death.
Her heart burns with deep affection for the broken man who saved her life and actively avoids the boyish wanderer who seeks her, but the nation’s fate is more important than the desires of her heart.
With a gifted fire wheeler behind them and a persuasive enemy beside them, saving the world is more difficult than they realize. Sephone will have to decide between family and love as war boils beneath the surface of the foggy land.
Lumen is just as fantastic as its predecessor, Calor! I enjoyed the mutable twists and turns our quests take us on, the inner struggle of each character, and the magic that flows from the page. Action-packed pages pulled me through to the surprising ending!
Score sheet:
Spice/ Romance: No spice, mild kissing and hugging.
Violence: Mild. Blood and death mentioned. A character off-screen as their throat cut.
Morals/Worldview: Christian/good morals, Parts have an allegorical Jesus.
Recommended reading age: 17+
Memoria, book 3 and our second place winner:
Long months have passed, but Dorian and Cass can’t find a trace of Sephone. As far as they can tell, she was kidnapped and left them each a note, which they refuse to show each other.
At odds with one another, Dorian and Cass come to an agreement when they at last find a clue. Dorian will sacrifice himself, and Cass will protect Sephone, but he can never tell her Dorian’s plan.
Sephone has endured months of unspeakable terror… but most of it was by her own hand after being forced by a masked stranger. Racked with guilt, she finds hope in a second stranger who visits her each night. Whether man or beast, she cannot tell.
All she knows is she must free herself before the poison in her spreads and try to ignore the love ranging in her heart for one of the men who seek her freedom.
Battles, betrayal, animal shapeshifters, a white raven (a personal favorite real-life animal of mine), blacking veins of poison, unreciprocated love, AND reciprocated love are all neatly crammed into this glorious novel. The spell-binding ending to The Nightingale Trilogy will have your jaw drop. Literally. I was listening to this at work and when the identity of the masked stranger was revealed I screamed, “What???” aloud.
If you loved Calor and Lumen (but like me, hated the cliffhanger ending) you need to pick up this finale ASAP!!!!!
Scoresheet:
Category: YA/NA Dystopian Fantasy
Spice/Romance: Clean read/No spice. Sweet embraces and kisses
Violence: No excessive gore. Some blood.
Morals/Worldview: Christian worldview in allegorical form. Good morals.
Recommended reading age: 16+
The winner of my favorite 2024 reads is:
Of Sea and Smoke, by Gillian Bronte Adams!
Now technically this is a 2023 release but it was at the end of the year so I’m counting it as a 2024 release. It is the second book in the Fireborn Epic series so let’s dive into book one.
Of Fire and Ash, book 1:
The horses of Soldonia are unlike any other. Fire-welding, water-breathing, and earth-moving horses are just a few of the breeds of magical steeds.
After an unfortunate accident that claimed the life of her twin brother, Ceridwen is exiled and given the name of the steed she rides, Fireborn. The flames of her strong heart are almost as visible as the scorching ribbons that coil around her fireborn’s breath.
Despite her outcast status, she protects her people as an outrider, guarding the borders. When invaders arrive and destroy her kingdom from within, she must fight to claim the crown she was denied and rise above the smoke her burning path holds.
Her journey will soon become entwined with an enslaved priest and a boy on the run. The fate of the three may determine the fate of nations.
….speechless. This book left me speechless! It has everything, flaming horses, exalted royalty, ancient rivalries, betrayal, found family, and the stubbornness of a hero who refuses to fail. This is by far my favorite read of the year, and that’s saying something because my 2024 books have been one winner after another. If you love epic storytelling with high-stakes and tightly interwoven plots, you need to read this book! I implore you!
Scoresheet:
Category: YA Epic Fantasy
Spice/Romance: Clean read/No spice. More friendship than romance, only brief mentions of emotional connections building.
Violence: Mild warning but nothing too intense. Beheadings, lost limbs, and bloody wounds are presented on stage but not graphically.
Morals/Worldview: Christian worldview. Hints to scripture and God in allegorical form.
Recommended reading age: 14+
Of Sea and Smoke: Book 2, and our 2024 winner!!!!!
A kingdom divided. Who truly has the right to rule?
Ceridwen discovers a terrible secret from her father’s past and it complicates her present struggle. The war chiefs are undecided if the king’s outcast daughter or his former adviser should lead them in their battle against the emperor.
Rafi can no longer keep his secret of being the rightful heir to the imperial throne as the rebels rally around him, but he does his best to shield his new friend Ceridwen from the truth.
Would she feel the same way about him if she knew he was the enemy? Would she continue to teach them to ride the magic steads and aid them in their fight against their common foe?
Jakim is once again thrown in the middle of war but perhaps this is part of his destiny. Can he find the mysterious steed the enemy is looking for and use to help save Soldonia?
This sequel is just as fantastic as its precursor! Water battles, fire battles, and the healing mane of the most mysterious steeds will enthrall you as well as entertain you. The continuation of Ceridewn’s quest, along with our other favorite characters, kept me listening to the audiobook even while at work. I had to know the end! And that ending! My goodness, I cannot wait for the third book. Please hurry Gillian! Type faster!!!
Scoresheet:
Category: YA Epic Fantasy
Spice/Romance: Clean read. Budding romance but no spice
Violence: Mild warning, but nothing too intense. Beheadings, lost limbs, and bloody wounds are presented on stage but not graphically.
Morals/Worldview: Christian worldview. Hints to scripture and God in allegorical form.
Recommended reading age: 14+
I hope you will pick up one or ALL of these amazing books. You can truly show your love and support to these authors by leaving a review of these novels on Amazon and/or Goodreads.
Hey, you made it to the end of this massive book review blog!
Since you’re here, leave me a comment about your favorite 2024 read!
