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Well it’s that time of the year again. It was a pretty good year with some pretty darn good months in that whole “reading a lot of books” way.

The Books

January (13)

• Treachery’s Tools L.E.Modesitt Jr. (2016)
  Book 10 of The Imager Portfolio – ebook; reread
• Assassin’s Price L.E.Modesitt Jr. (2017)
  Book 11 of The Imager Portfolio – ebook; reread
• Endgame L.E.Modesitt Jr. (2019)
  Book 12 of The Imager Portfolio – ebook; reread
• The Winter Long Seanan McGuire (2014)
  Book 8 of October Daye – ebook;
• A Red-Rose Chain Seanan McGuire (2015)
  Book 9 of October Daye – ebook;
• Mammoths at the Gates Nghi Vo (2023)
  Book 4 of The Singing Hills Cycle – ebook;
• Demon Daughter Lois McMaster Bujold (2024)
  Book 12 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook;
• The Curse of Chalion Lois McMaster Bujold (2001)
  Book 1 of Chalion – ebook; reread
• Paladin of Souls Lois McMaster Bujold (2003)
  Book 2 of Chalion – ebook; reread
• Beyond the Reef Alexander Kent (1999)
  Book 21 of Bolitho – ebook;
• Shadow and Bone Leigh Bardugo (2012)
  Book 1 of Shadow and Bone – ebook;
• Where Peace Is Lost Valerie Valdes (2023)
  – ebook;
• Green Jay Lake (2009)
  Book 1 of Green – ebook; reread
• Generation Ship Michael Mammay (2023)
  – ebook;

February (11)

• Once Broken Faith Seanan McGuire (2016)
  Book 10 of October Daye – ebook;
• The Misfit Soldier Michael Mammay (2022)
  – ebook;
• Siege and Storm Leigh Bardugo (2013)
  Book 2 of Shadow and Bone
• Ruin and Rising Leigh Bardugo (2014)
  Book 3 of Shadow and Bone – ebook; ebook;
• The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport Samit Basu (2023)
  – ebook;
• The Brightest Fell Seanan McGuire (2017)
  Book 11 of October Daye – ebook;
• Armor John Steakley (1984)
  – ebook; reread
• The Darkening Sea Alexander Kent (1993)
  Book 22 of Bolitho – ebook;
• Night and Silence Seanan McGuire (2018)
  Book 12 of October Daye – ebook;
• Monster Hunter International Larry Correia (2009)
  Book 1 of Monster Hunter International – ebook; reread
• Death by Water Kerry Greenwood (2005)
  Book 15 of Phryne Fisher Mysteries – ebook;

March (14)

• The Collapsing Empire John Scalzi (2017)
  Book 1 of Interdependency – ebook; reread
• The Consuming Fire John Scalzi (2018)
  Book 2 of Interdependency – ebook; reread
• The Last Emperox John Scalzi (2020)
  Book 3 of Interdependency – ebook; reread
• Terminal Alliance Jim C. Hines (2017)
  Book 1 of Janitors of the Post-Apocolypse – ebook; reread
• Terminal Uprising Jim C. Hines (2019)
  Book 2 of Janitors of the Post-Apocolypse – ebook; reread
• Terminal Peace Jim C. Hines (2022)
  Book 3 of Janitors of the Post-Apocolypse – ebook; reread
• The Unkindest Tide Seanan McGuire (2019)
  Book 13 of October Daye – ebook;
• The Icarus Hunt Timothy Zahn (2000)
  Book 0 of Icarus Saga – ebook; reread
• The Icarus plot Timothy Zahn (2022)
  Book 1 of Icarus Saga – ebook;
• The Stepsister Scheme Jim C. Hines (2009)
  Book 1 of Princess Series – ebook;
• Space Cadet Robert Heinlein (1948)
  – ebook; reread
• A Killing Frost Seanan McGuire (2020)
  Book 14 of October Daye – ebook;
• Endurance Jay Lake (2011)
  Book 2 of Green – ebook; reread
• Crystal Singer Anne McCaffrey (1982)
  Book 1 of Crystal Singer – ebook; reread

April (14)

• Killashandra Anne McCaffrey (1985)
  Book 2 of Crystal Singer – ebook; reread
• Crystal Singer Anne McCaffrey (1992)
  Book 3 of Crystal Singer – ebook; reread
• When Sorrows Come Seanan McGuire (2021)
  Book 15 of October Daye – ebook;
• Under a Graveyard Sky John Ringo (2013)
  Book 1 of Black Tide Rising – ebook; reread
• To Sail a Darkling Sea John Ringo (2014)
  Book 2 of Black Tide Rising – ebook; reread
• Islands of Rage and Hope John Ringo (2014)
  Book 3 of Black Tide Rising – ebook; reread
• Strands of Sorrow John Ringo (2014)
  Book 4 of Black Tide Rising – ebook; reread
• Hawk Steven Burst (2014)
  Book 14 of Vlad Taltos – ebook; reread
• Lyorn Steven Burst (2024)
  Book 17 of Vlad Taltos – ebook;
• The Furthest Station Ben Aaronovitch (2017)
  Book 5.5 of Rivers of London – ebook;
• Six of Crows Leigh Bardugo (2015)
  Book 1 of Six of Crows – ebook;
• Finder Suzanne Palmer (2019)
  Book 1 of The Finder Chronicles – ebook; reread
• Driving the Deep Suzanne Palmer (2020)
  Book 2 of The Finder Chronicles – ebook; reread
• The Scavenger Door Suzanne Palmer (2021)
  Book 3 of The Finder Chronicles – ebook; reread

May (19)

• The October Man Ben Aaronovitch (2019)
  Book 7.5 of Rivers of London – ebook;
• Be the Serpent Seanan McGuire (2022)
  Book 16 of October Daye – ebook;
• Legion of the Damned William C. Dietz (1993)
  Book 1 of Legion of the Damned – ebook; reread
• The Final Battle William C. Dietz (1995)
  Book 2 of Legion of the Damned – ebook; reread
• Penric’s Demon Lois McMaster Bujold (2015)
  Book 1 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook;
• Penric and the Shaman Lois McMaster Bujold (2017)
  Book 2 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread
• Andromeda’s Fall William C. Dietz (2012)
  Book 1 of Legion of the Damned Prequel – ebook;
• Penric’s Mission Lois McMaster Bujold (2017)
  Book 3 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread
• Andromeda’s Choice William C. Dietz (2013)
  Book 2 of Legion of the Damned Prequel – ebook;
• Mira’s Last Dance Lois McMaster Bujold (2018)
  Book 4 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread
• The Prisoner of Limnos Lois McMaster Bujold (2018)
  Book 6 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread
• Andromeda’s War William C. Dietz (2014)
  Book 3 of Legion of the Damned Prequel – ebook;
• Penric’s Fox Lois McMaster Bujold (2018)
  Book 5 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread
• His Majesty’s Service Naomi Novik (2006)
  Book 1 of Temeraire – ebook; reread
• Murder in the Dark Kerry Greenwood (2006)
  Book 16 of Phryne Fisher Mysteries – ebook;
• Throne of Jade Naomi Novik (2006)
  Book 2 of Temeraire – ebook; reread
• Black Powder War Naomi Novik (2006)
  Book 3 of Temeraire – ebook; reread
• The Reformer S.M. Stirling & David Drake (1999)
  Book 7 of The General – ebook;
• The Tyrant Eric Flint & David Drake (2002)
  Book 8 of The General – ebook; reread

June (23)

• The Forge S. M. Stirling & David Drake (1991)
  Book 1 of The General: Raj Whitehall – ebook; reread
• The Hammer S. M. Stirling & David Drake (1992)
  Book 2 of The General: Raj Whitehall – ebook; reread
• The Anvil S. M. Stirling & David Drake (1993)
  Book 3 of The General: Raj Whitehall – ebook; reread
• The Steel S. M. Stirling & David Drake (1993)
  Book 4 of The General: Raj Whitehall – ebook; reread
• The Sword S. M. Stirling & David Drake (1995)
  Book 5 of The General: Raj Whitehall – ebook; reread
• Masquerade in Lodi Lois McMaster Bujold (2018)
  Book 8 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread
• By Blood Alone William C. Dietz (1999)
  Book 3 of Legion of the Damned – ebook;
• Redshirts John Scalzi (2012)
  – ebook; reread
• Alas, Babylon Pat Frank (1959)
  – ebook; reread
• The Dispatcher John Scalzi (2017)
  Book 1 of The Dispatcher – ebook; reread
• The Dispatcher: Murder by Other Means John Scalzi (2021)
  Book 2 of The Dispatcher – ebook; reread
• The Chosen S. M. Stirling & David Drake (1996)
  Book 6 of The General: Raj Whitehall – ebook;
• For My Country’s Freedom Alexander Kent (2000)
  Book 23 of Bolitho – ebook;
• Three Cheers for Me Donald Jack (1962)
  Book 1 of The Bandy Papers – ebook; reread
• That’s Me in the Middle Donald Jack (1973)
  Book 2 of The Bandy Papers – ebook; reread
• It’s Me Again Donald Jack (1975)
  Book 3 of The Bandy Papers – ebook; reread
• The Physicians of Vilnoc Lois McMaster Bujold (2020)
  Book 9 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread
• The Assassins of Thasalon Lois McMaster Bujold (2021)
  Book 10 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread
• Knot of Shadows Lois McMaster Bujold (2021)
  Book 11 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread
• Sleep No More Seanan McGuire (2023)
  Book 17 of October Daye – ebook;
• Ancillary Justice Ann Leckie (2013)
  Book 1 of Imperial Radch – ebook; reread
• Ancillary Sword Ann Leckie (2014)
  Book 2 of Imperial Radch – ebook; reread
• Me Among the Ruins Donald Jack (1976)
  Book 4 of The Bandy Papers – ebook; reread

July (13)

• The Dispatcher: Travel by Bullet John Scalzi (2023)
  Book 3 of The Dispatcher – ebook;
• The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi Shannon Chakraborty (2023)
  Book 1 of Amina al-Sirafi – ebook;
• Demon Daughter Lois McMaster Bujold (2024)
  Book 12 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread
• Penric and the Bandit Lois McMaster Bujold (2024)
  Book 13 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook;
• Empire of Silence Christopher Ruocchio (2018)
  Book 1 of Sun Eater – ebook;
• Ghostdrift Suzanne Palmer (2024)
  Book 4 of The Finder Chronicles – ebook;
• This Alien Shore C.S. Friedman (1999)
  – ebook; reread
• Winter’s Gifts Ben Aaronovitch (2023)
  Book 9.5 of Rivers of London – ebook;
• Lock In John Scalzi (2014)
  Book 1 of Lock In – ebook; reread
• Head On John Scalzi (2018)
  Book 2 of Lock In – ebook; reread
• Swordspoint Ellen Kushner (1987)
  Book 1 of Riverside – ebook;
• Blue Moon Marilyn Halvorson (2004)
  – ebook;
• Fourth Wing Rebecca Yarros (2023)
  Book 1 of The Empyrean – ebook;

August (6)

• Murder on a Midsummer Night Kerry Greenwood (2008)
  Book 17 of Phryne Fisher Mysteries – ebook;
• The Privilege of the Sword Ellen Kushner (2006)
  Book 2 of Riverside – ebook;
• The Incrementalists Steven Brust & Skyler White (2013)
  Book 1 of Incrementalists – ebook; reread
• Howling Dark Christopher Ruocchio (2019)
  Book 2 of Sun Eater – ebook;
• The Innocent Sleep Seanan McGuire (2023)
  Book 18 of October Daye – ebook;
• Ancestral Night Elizabeth Bear (2019)
  Book 1 of White Space – ebook; reread

September (12)

• The Brides of High Hill Nghi Vo (2024)
  Book 5 of The Singing Hills Cycle – ebook;
• An Exchange of Hostages Susan R. Matthews (1997)
  Book 1 of Under Jurisdiction – ebook; reread
• Cross Of St George Alexander Kent (1996)
  Book 24 of Bolitho – ebook;
• Prisoner of Conscience Susan R. Matthews (1998)
  Book 2 of Under Jurisdiction – ebook; reread
• The Masquerades of Spring Ben Aaronovitch (2024)
  Book 10 of Rivers of London – ebook;
• Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen Lois McMaster Bujold (2016)
  Book 13 of Miles Vorkosigan – ebook; reread
• Iron Flame Rebecca Yarros (2024)
  Book 2 of The Empyrean – ebook;
• Angel of Destruction Susan R. Matthews (2001)
  Book 3 of Under Jurisdiction – ebook; reread
• Hour of Judgment Susan R. Matthews (1999)
  Book 4 of Under Jurisdiction – ebook; reread
• We Solve Murders Richard Osman (2024)
  Book 1 of We Solve Murders – ebook;
• The Devil and Deep Space Susan R. Matthews (2002)
  Book 5 of Under Jurisdiction – ebook; reread
• Fastback Beach Shirlee Smith Matheson (2003)
  – ebook;

October (12)

• The Daughters’ War Christopher Buehlman (2024)
  Book .5 of The Blacktongue Thief – ebook;
• The Blacktongue Thief Christopher Buehlman (2021)
  Book 1 of The Blacktongue Thief – ebook; reread
• Warring States Susan R. Matthews (2006)
  Book 6 of Under Jurisdiction – ebook; reread
• Oath of Swords David Weber (1995)
  Book 1 of Bahnakson – ebook; reread
• The War God’s Own David Weber (1998)
  Book 2 of Bahnakson – ebook; reread
• Arrows of the Queen Mercedes Lackey (1987)
  Book 1 of Heralds of Valdemar – ebook; reread
• Arrow’s Flight Mercedes Lackey (1987)
  Book 2 of Heralds of Valdemar – ebook; reread
• Arrow’s Fall Mercedes Lackey (1988)
  Book 3 of Heralds of Valdemar – ebook; reread
• On Basilik Station David Weber (1992)
  Book 1 of Honor Harrington – ebook; reread
• The Honor of the Queen David Weber (1993)
  Book 2 of Honor Harrington – ebook; reread
• The Short Victorious War David Weber (1994)
  Book 3 of Honor Harrington – ebook; reread
• Field of Dishonor David Weber (1994)
  Book 4 of Honor Harrington – ebook; reread

November (9)

• Service Model Adrian Tchaikovsky (2024)
  – ebook;
• Flag in Exile David Weber (1995)
  Book 5 of Honor Harrington – ebook; reread
• Honor Among Enemies David Weber (1996)
  Book 6 of Honor Harrington – ebook; reread
• In Enemy Hands David Weber (1997)
  Book 7 of Honor Harrington – ebook; reread
• Echoes of Honor David Weber (1998)
  Book 8 of Honor Harrington – ebook; reread
• Ashes of Victory David Weber (2000)
  Book 9 of Honor Harrington – ebook; reread
• Blood Relations Susan R. Matthews (2017)
  Book 7 of Under Jurisdiction – ebook;
• Dead Man’s Chest Kerry Greenwood (2010)
  Book 18 of Phryne Fisher Mysteries – ebook;
• War of Honor David Weber (2002)
  Book 10 of Honor Harrington – ebook; reread

December (9)

• Crown of Slaves David Weber (2003)
  Book 1 of Crown of Slaves – ebook; reread
• The Shadow of Saganami David Weber (2004)
  Book 1 of Saganami – ebook; reread
• Torch of Freedom David Weber (2009)
  Book 2 of Crown of Slaves – ebook; reread
• At All Costs David Weber (2005)
  Book 11 of Honor Harrington – ebook; reread
• The Legacy of Arniston House T. L. Huchu (2024)
  Book 4 of Edinburgh Nights – ebook;
• Across the Floor Natasha Dean (2016)
  – ebook;
• Storm From the Shadows David Weber (2009)
  Book 2 of Saganami – ebook; reread
• Mission of Honor David Weber (2010)
  Book 12 of Honor Harrington – ebook;
• Brewster’s Millions George Barr McCutcheon (1902)
  – ebook;
• Sword of Honour Alexander Kent (1998)
  Book 25 of Bolitho – ebook;

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Some numbers

Total read: 157

93 rereads
13.08 books/month
3.01 books/week
.43 books/day

Books by women: (21/46 authors) (71/157 books)
Non SF/Fantasy: 14
Oldest: 1902 (Brewster’s Millions  George Barr McCutcheon)
0 print (sigh)

47 different series
13 non-series books

Some Notes

Two other books to note. The first I started in 2021 and just couldn’t get through because my brain was still mush from the previous years’ events. I still haven’t got back to it but still have very intention to. The second I started in November under the impression it was Book 1 of The Masquerade. About a third of the way through I was muttering over and over to myself “there is so much missing backstory” that I checked, and sure enough I was reading Book 2. So I put it aside until I get Book 1.

• Take Back the Sky Greg Bear (2016)
  Book 3 of War Dogs – ebook;

• The Monster Baru Cormorant Seth Dickinson (2018)
  Book 2 of The Masquerade – ebook;

Some thoughts

Series

I am all caught up on October Daye books now. Not sure if she is continuing the series but it will give me something to reread in the future if she takes a long break.

At some point I realized I had gotten behind on the Weber’s Honor Harrington (and associated series) books. There are apparently half a dozen or so book in the series I haven read yet. So in October I decided to go ahead and buy the rest and start from scratch. It was late December before I actually read a new book and by then had realized why I had never finished them. After Book 6 or so Weber starts to get incredibly detailed and long-winded and I found myself reading pages at a glance for huge passages as he went on about the politics of a minor character that was about to be blown to bits or the history of a political system that had been around since Book 1. Time will tell if this trend keeps up with the new books or if he manages to keep my attention.

So while I’ll probably reread yet again the first half dozen or so in the future, I can’t see myself ever slogging through the rest again.

The Bolitho series is suffering similarly. It’s book 25 now and I believe the main character is about to be killed off. But there is so much word count “padded” in dedicated to describing and reiterating internal angst that hasn’t changed in the last half dozen books and a lot less of the action of the first books that it becomes more of a chore than a pleasure getting through the series. I’ll definitely read the next book that focusses on the nephew of Bolitho, but if it doesn’t go back to its literary roots I might leave the last 5 of books of the series languish.

Notable Series:

I recommend The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman. I love the world and the characters. A bit less in love with writing Book 1 then writing the prequel but que sera sera.

The Singing Hills Cycle by Nghi Vo  continues to be excellent. Not sure if they would work as well as longer novels but as a long-ish novella the “conceit” of the author works incredibly well.

Not so Notable:

I read Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone series and a) wonder what passes for YA these days and b) just wasn’t overwhelmed with any of it. It was fine. Even enjoyable, but didn’t grab me like it obviously grabbed everyone else.

I took a swing at Christopher Ruocchio’s first two Sun Eaters and again am not sure why they’re successful enough to justify  seven (and counting) of these behemoths. Again, fine, but maybe they appeal to the readers addicted to the trend of monster word counts that leave readers caught up in a soap opera style endings. Not my thing, and I can’t see myself investing the time or money in the rest (which really goes against my “completist” grain, but there you are…).

Some Books

I reread Alas Bablyon (1959), one of the first post-apocalyptic books I ever read (back in High School I believe). It held up pretty good for something written in the height of the cold war but I think the natures of people have changed since then and it’s a bit too optimistic for today’s brand of human being. Worth re-reading though…

I read three Orca Hi-Lo books (high interest, low literacy) because they caught my eye as I was working on them. One was a horse book, one related to hot rods and the other a sports/dance title. It reminded me of how much of those themes I read as a kid… horse books, hot rods and misguided youth. Good stuff.

Fantasy publishers continue to add more books that stray from our staid Euro-centered mythologies and while I don’t go out of my way to read them I generally enjoy them when I do. Case in point, The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (Book 1  of Amina al-Sirafi) was a real hoot. I am looking forward to Book 2 a lot despite being a bit frustrated to find out it was in fact the first book in a series.

In conclusion

It was a lot of books, mostly because May/June were so stressful and I retreat to books to hide from the world. And rereads are comfort reads so that just means my totals climb at a pretty steady clip.

My to-be-read “pile” is still not under control but at least its (mostly) current for 2024 acquisitions (Phyrne and Bolitho being the notable exceptions). But my lovely kid spoilt me with gift certificates again so I have been gritting my teeth and not going out and getting even more books.

Discounting the number of classics I always have “in case of emergency” and really have no intention of reading the TBR pile is under 25. Not bad 🙂

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My fellow book counters: Dr. La’s Slowest, Pokiest: 2024 in the Rear-view Mirror and the Great Earl J. Woods’ There Will Be Time (to Read): Books I Read in 2024 .

Links to previous years’ book count posts:

• 2012 (85)
• 2013 (95)
• 2014 (106)
• 2015 (92)
• 2016 (101)
• 2017 (120)
• 2018 (142)
• 2019 (123)
• 2020 (112)
• 2021 (124)
• 2022 (136)
• 2023 (136)