All the Books I Read In 2025

The year of the re-read

You can see what kind of year it was when you see the re-read stats. It was definitely the year of the comfort read over new titles. A couple of books were real slogs to get through, not through any fault of their own, but because I just didn’t want to deal with the unknown, or the despair, or the sheer amount of thought they required.

But here they are nonetheless, and despite my reluctance, I found a few really great ones.

The Books 2025

January (9)

• House of Open Wounds Adrian Tchaikovsky (2023)
  Book 2 of The Tyrant Philosophers – ebook;
• A Rising Thunder David Weber (2012)
  Book 13 of Honor Harrington – ebook; reread
• Shadow of Freedom David Weber (2013)
  Book 3 of Saganami – ebook; reread
• Sten Allan Cole & Chris Bunch (1982)
  Book 1 of Sten – ebook; reread
• Cauldron of Ghosts David Weber & Eric Flint (2014)
  Book 3 of Crown of Slaves – ebook; reread
• Shadow of Victory David Weber (2016)
  Book 4 of Saganami – ebook;
• Uncompromising Honor David Weber (2018)
  Book 14 of Honor Harrington – ebook;
• To End in Fire David Weber & Eric Flint (2021)
  Book 4 of Crown of Slaves – ebook;
• By the Sword Mercedes Lackey (1991)
  Book 1 of Valdemar – ebook;

February (7)

• Winds of Fate Mercedes Lackey (1992)
  Book 1 of Mage Winds – ebook;
• Winds of Change Mercedes Lackey (1993)
  Book 2 of Mage Winds – ebook;
• The Last Watch J. S. Dewes (2021)
  Book 1 of The Divide – ebook; reread
• The Exiled Fleet J. S. Dewes (2021)
  Book 2 of The Divide – ebook; reread
• The Relentless Legion J. S. Dewes (2024)
  Book 3 of The Divide – ebook;
• Dorsai! Gordon R. Dickson (1959)
  Book 1 of Childe Cycle – ebook; reread
• Winds of Fury Mercedes Lackey (1994)
  Book 3 of Mage Winds – ebook;

March (10)

• A Call to Duty David Weber & Timothy Zahn (2014)
  Book 1 of Manticore Ascendant – ebook; reread
• A Call to Arms David Weber & Timothy Zahn & Thomas Pope (2015)
  Book 2 of Manticore Ascendant – ebook; reread
• A Call to Vengance David Weber & Timothy Zahn & Thomas Pope (2018)
  Book 3 of Manticore Ascendant – ebook; reread
• A Call to Insurrection David Weber & Timothy Zahn & Thomas Pope (2022)
  Book 4 of Manticore Ascendant – ebook;
• Summer’s End John van Stry (2022)
  Book 1 of Dave Walker – ebook;
• The Tomb of Dragons Katherine Addison (2025)
  Book 3 of The Cemeteries of Amalo – ebook;
• The Goblin Emperor Katherine Addison (2014)
  – ebook; reread
• The Traitor Baru Cormorant Seth Dickinson (2015)
  Book 1 of The Masquerade – ebook;
• The Monster Baru Cormorant Seth Dickinson (2018)
  Book 2 of The Masquerade – ebook;
• When the Moon Hits Your Eye John Scalzi (2025)
  – ebook;

April (17)

• Second to None Alexander Kent (1999)
  Book 26 of Bolitho – ebook
• Point of Hearts Melissa Scott (2025)
  Book 5 of Astreant – ebook;
• Good Guys Steven Brust (2018)
  – ebook; reread
• Fire With Fire Charles E. Gannon (2013)
  Book 1 of Caine Riordan – ebook; reread
• All Systems Red Martha Wells (2017)
  Book 1 of The Murderbot Diaries – ebook; reread
• Artificial Condition Martha Wells (2018)
  Book 2 of The Murderbot Diaries – ebook; reread
• Rogue Protocol Martha Wells (2018)
  Book 3 of The Murderbot Diaries – ebook; reread
• Exit Strategy Martha Wells (2018)
  Book 4 of The Murderbot Diaries – ebook; reread
• Network Effect Martha Wells (2020)
  Book 5 of The Murderbot Diaries – ebook; reread
• Fugitive Telemetry Martha Wells (2021)
  Book 6 of The Murderbot Diaries – ebook; reread
• System Collapse Martha Wells (2023)
  Book 7 of The Murderbot Diaries – ebook; reread
• Local Custom Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (2000)
  Book 1 of Liaden – ebook; reread
• Scout’s Progress Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (2000)
  Book 2 of Liaden – ebook; reread
• Conflict of Honors Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (1988)
  Book 3 of Liaden – ebook; reread
• Agent of Change Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (1989)
  Book 5 of Liaden – ebook; reread
• Carpe Diem Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (1988)
  Book 6 of Liaden – ebook; reread
• Plan B Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (1998)
  Book 7 of Liaden – ebook; reread

May (12)

• I Dare Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (2002)
  Book 8 of Liaden – ebook; reread
• The Martian Contingency Mary Robinette Kowal (2025)
  Book 4 of Lady Astronaut – ebook;
• Killing Gravity Corey J. White (2017)
  Book 1 of Voidwitch Saga – ebook; reread
• Finity’s End C. J. Cherryh (1997)
  Book 7 of Company Wars – ebook; reread
• Angel with the Sword C. J. Cherryh (1985)
  Book 1 of Merovingen Nights – ebook; reread
• Drifter William C. Dietz (1991)
  Book 1 of Pik Lando – ebook; reread
• The Black Company Glen Cook (1984)
  Book 1 of The Black Company – ebook; reread
• Terms of Enlistment Marko Kloos (2013)
  Book 1 of Frontlines – ebook; reread
• Lines of Departure Marko Kloos (2014)
  Book 2 of Frontlines – ebook; reread
• Angles of Attack Marko Kloos (2015)
  Book 3 of Frontlines – ebook; reread
• March Upcountry David Weber & John Ringo (2001)
  Book 1 of Empire of Man – ebook; reread
• March to the Sea David Weber & John Ringo (2002)
  Book 2 of Empire of Man – ebook; reread

June (13)

• We Few David Weber & John Ringo (2002)
  Book 4 of Empire of Man – ebook; reread
• March Upcountry David Weber & John Ringo (2001)
  Book 1 of Empire of Man – ebook; reread
• Chains of Command Marko Kloos (2016)
  Book 4 of Frontlines – ebook; reread
• The Incandescent Emily Tesh (2025)
  – ebook; reread
• Fields of Fire Marko Kloos (2017)
  Book 5 of Frontlines – ebook; reread
• Points of Impact Marko Kloos (2018)
  Book 6 of Frontlines – ebook; reread
• Orders of Battle Marko Kloos (2020)
  Book 7 of Frontlines – ebook; reread
• Centers of Gravity Marko Kloos (2022)
  Book 8 of Frontlines – ebook; reread
• Shadows Linger Glen Cook (1984)
  Book 2 of The Black Company – ebook; reread
• Galaxy Grifter A. Zaykova (2025)
  Book 1 of BlackJack Interstellar – ebook;
• Unnatural Habits Kerry Greenwood (2012)
  Book 19 of Phryne Fisher Mysteries – ebook;
• The Folded Sky Elizabeth Bear (2025)
  Book 3 of White Space – ebook;
• White Wing Shariann Lewitt & Susan Shwartz (1985)
  – ebook; reread

July (12)

• Wild Cards I George R. R. Martin (1987)
  Book 1 of Wild Cards – ebook;
• Diplomatic Immunity Lois McMaster Bujold (2002)
  Book 10 of Miles Vorkosigan – ebook; reread
• Ender’s Game Orson Scott Card (1985)
  Book 1 of Ender – ebook; reread
• Cryoburn – ARC Lois McMaster Bujold (2010)
  Book 11 of Miles Vorkosigan – ebook; reread
• Midnight Riot Ben Aaronovitch (2011)
  Book 1 of Rivers of London – ebook; reread
• The White Rose Glen Cook (1985)
  Book 3 of The Black Company – ebook; reread
• Moon Over Soho Ben Aaronovitch (2011)
  Book 2 of Rivers of London – ebook; reread
• The Adventure of the Demonic Ox Lois McMaster Bujold (2025)
  Book 15 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook;
• The Regiment John Dallas (1987)
  Book 1 of The Regiment – ebook; reread
• Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy Martha Wells (2018)
  Book 2.5 of The Murderbot Diaries – ebook;
• Crimes Against Humanity Susan R. Matthews (2019)
  Book 8 of Under Jurisdiction – ebook;
• Mutineer’s Moon David Weber (1994)
  Book 1 of Dahak – ebook; reread

August (10)

• The War Of The Flowers Tad Williams (2006)
  – ebook;
• Relentless Pursuit Alexander Kent (2001)
  Book 27 of Bolitho – ebook
• Old Man’s War John Scalzi (2005)
  Book # of Old Man’s War – ebook; reread
• Whispers Under Ground Ben Aaronovitch (2012)
  Book 3 of Rivers of London – ebook; reread
• The White Regiment John Dallas (1990)
  Book 2 of The Regiment – ebook; reread
• The Armageddon Inheritance David Weber (1994)
  Book 2 of Dahak – ebook; reread
• Heirs of Empire David Weber (1996)
  Book 3 of Dahak – ebook; reread
• Broken Homes Ben Aaronovitch (2014)
  Book 4 of Rivers of London – ebook; reread
• Poor Man’s Fight Elliott Kay (2013)
  Book 1 of Poor Man’s Fight – ebook; reread
• Rich Man’s War Elliott Kay (2015)
  Book 2 of Poor Man’s Fight – ebook; reread

September (9)

• No Medals for Secrets Elliott Kay (2017)
  Book 3 of Poor Man’s Fight – ebook; reread
• Dead Man’s Debt Elliott Kay (2016)
  Book 4 of Poor Man’s Fight – ebook; reread
• Last Man Out Elliott Kay (2018)
  Book 5 of Poor Man’s Fight – ebook; reread
• The Orb of Cairado Katherine Addison (2025)
  Book 1.5 of Goblin Emperor – ebook;
• No Man’s Land Elliott Kay (2023)
  Book 6 of Poor Man’s Fight – ebook;
• Foxglove Ben Aaronovitch (2015)
  Book 5 of Rivers of London – ebook; reread
• The Hanging Tree Ben Aaronovitch (2017)
  Book 6 of Rivers of London – ebook; reread
• Three Cheers For Me Donald Jack (1973)
  Book 1 of The Bandy Papers – ebook; reread
• Lies Sleeping Ben Aaronovitch (2018)
  Book 7 of Rivers of London – ebook; reread

October (14)

• The Regiment John Dallas (1993)
  Book 3 of The Regiment’s War – ebook; reread
• The Impossible Fortune Richard Osman (2025)
  Book 5 of A Thursday Murder Club Mystery – ebook;
• False Value Ben Aaronovitch (2020)
  Book 8 of Rivers of London – ebook; reread
• Amongst Our Weapons Ben Aaronovitch (2022)
  Book 9 of Rivers of London – ebook; reread
• Stone & Sky Ben Aaronovitch (2025)
  Book 11 of Rivers of London – ebook;
• That’s Me in the Middle Donald Jack (1973)
  Book 2 of The Bandy Papers – ebook; reread
• Up the Down Staircase Bel Kaufman (1964)
  – ebook; reread
• It’s Me Again Donald Jack (1975)
  Book 3 of The Bandy Papers – ebook; reread
• The Lost War Justin Lee Anderson (2022)
  Book 1 of Eidyn – ebook; reread
• Unbreakable W. C. Bauers (2015)
  Book 1 of Chronicles of Promise Paen – ebook; reread
• Indomitable W. C. Bauers (2016)
  Book 2 of Chronicles of Promise Paen – ebook; reread
• Testimony of Mute Things Lois McMaster Bujold (2025)
  Book 15 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook;
• The Bitter Crown Justin Lee Anderson (2023)
  Book 2 of Eidyn – ebook;
• Masquerade in Lodi Lois McMaster Bujold (2020)
  Book 8 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread

November (14)

• Galactic Bounty William C. Dietz (1986)
  Book 1 of Sam McCade – ebook; reread
• Penric’s Demon Lois McMaster Bujold (2016)
  Book 1 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread
• Penric and the Shaman Lois McMaster Bujold (2017)
  Book 2 of Penric & Desdemona – ebook; reread
• The Hallowed Hunt Lois McMaster Bujold (2005)
  Book 3 of Chalion – ebook; reread
• Murder and Mendelssohn Kerry Greenwood (2013)
  Book 20 of*Phryne Fisher Mysteries – ebook;
• A Mouthful of Dust Nghi Vo (2025)
  Book 6 of The Singing Hills Cycle – ebook;
• An Oblique Approach David Drake (1998)
  Book 1 of Belisarius – ebook; reread
• In the Heart of Darkness David Drake (1998)
  Book 2 of Belisarius – ebook; reread
• Destiny’s Shield David Drake (1998)
  Book 3 of Belisarius – ebook; reread
• Fortune’s Stroke David Drake (2000)
  Book 4 of Belisarius – ebook; reread
• The Tide of Victory David Drake (2001)
  Book 5 of Belisarius – ebook; reread
• The Dance of Time David Drake (2006)
  Book 6 of Belisarius – ebook; reread
• The City of Brass S. A. Chakraborty (2018)
  Book 1 of Daevabad – ebook;
• Space Vikings H. Beam Piper (2025)
  – ebook; reread

December (14)

• The Kingdom of Copper S. A. Chakraborty (2019)
  Book 2 of Daevabad – ebook;
• Wizard’s Bane Rick Cook (1997)
  Book 1 of Wiz Biz – ebook; reread
• The Paladin C. J. Cherryh (1988)
  – ebook; reread
• An Election John Scalzi (2010)
  Book 1 of Third District – ebook;
• Constituent Service John Scalzi (2025)
  Book 2 of Third District – ebook;
• The Empire of Gold S. A. Chakraborty (2021)
  Book 3 of Daevabad – ebook;
• Automatic Noodle Annalee Newitz (2025)
  – ebook;
• Man of War Alexander Kent (2003)
  Book 28 of Bolitho – ebook;
• Silver and Lead Seanan McGuire (2025)
  Book 19 of October Daye – ebook;
• Starter Villain John Scalzi (2023)
  – ebook; reread
• Valor’s Choice Tanya Huff (2000)
  Book 1 of Confederation – ebook; reread
• The Better Part of Valor Tanya Huff (2002)
  Book 2 of Confederation – ebook; reread
• The Heart of Valor Tanya Huff (2007)
  Book 3 of Confederation – ebook; reread
• Valor’s Trial Tanya Huff (2008)
  Book 4 of Confederation – ebook; reread
• The Truth of Valor Tanya Huff (2010)
  Book 5 of Confederation – ebook; reread

Unfinished (3)

• The Damned King Justin Lee Anderson (2025)
  Book 3 of Eidyn – ebook;
• The Tyrant Baru Cormorant Seth Dickinson (2020)
  Book 3 of The Masquerade – ebook;
• Take Back the Sky Greg Bear (2016)
  Book 3 of War Dogs – ebook;

((\
(-.-)
o_(“)(“)

Some numbers

Total Read: 142 books

98 rereads
3 unfinished

Books by women: (21/50 authors) (56/142 books)
Oldest book: Dorsal! (1959)
Non SF/Fantasy: 5
0 print (sigh)

Some Notes

Last year I couldn’t get through War Dogs and The Monster Baru Cormorant. I still haven’t gotten back to War Dogs but I did finish The Monster Baru Cormorant. Unfortunately I got half way through The Tyrant Baru Cormorant, Seth Dickinson (2020) Book 3 of The Masquerade and stalled. I still haven’t got back to it. Not bad, just mind-numbingly (my mind) complex and not all that fast paced. It just stalled in my head.

I also powered out on book 3 of Justin Lee Anderson’s Eidyn. It was a combination of too much relentless sameness in plot and the overall sense of it (the plot) just not getting better. I like a redeeming plot/hero/arc. Sometimes it just takes too much energy to sympathize. I quite liked the first one, enjoyed the second, but by book 3, I was just not as into it. But I will finish it. I promise.

Some Thoughts

S.A (Shannon) Chakraborty

I mentioned last year that I thoroughly enjoyed The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (Book 1 of Amina al-Sirafi) and when I came across the Daevabad series by S.A Chakraborty I went Hmmmmm…

Turns out they are the same person. I waffle between my own pet theories that a) she went by the initials because women often do in the genre (although I think [hope?] that particular prejudice moved on quite a while ago) or b) she wanted a more “authentic” name for a series that really has little of the western world in it. Either one works, especially since she is now “famous” enough to go back to her full name.

Or I could be full of it.

Notable

Not much to choose from since I really only read ~40 new books. Nghi Vo continues to impress although A Mouthful of Dust was a bit more depressing than I really wanted at the time.

Annalee Newitz’s Automatic Noodle was a standout. My “comfort read of the year” I quipped on Bluesky and got a like from Annalee. Read it. It’s fun and warm and happy. I have read another of her books — Autonomous (2017) — and liked it a lot as well. She has two more but they are bit more post-apocalyptic-ish and I think I will wait.

I finally finished up all the Honor Harrington and associated series books. Quite the slog. Some of the middle ones were almost painful but he brightened up towards the end. I think I will only cherry pick my favourites (the early ones) from now on. I can’t see any need to go through all that again.

I am enjoying Adrian Tchaikovsky’s The Tyrant Philosophers series. They are less of a series and more of a collection of tales in a particular world. I’ve read quite a bit (7) of Tchaikovsky stuff now but he really does escape definition. A little bit of everything and so far I am enjoying him. Although I have not yet been gripped by that familiar urge to read everything… which is, I think, an ok thing. I will engage him more organically… like the old days 🙂

I started in on Tad Williams. He is new-to-me—I just never really encountered him before except as a visual style of covers that didn’t really attract me. I started Tailchaser’s Song (1985) on a recommendation of books about cats, but didn’t get more than a few pages into it before I realized I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. It’s still on the list. His The War Of The Flowers (2006) was pretty darn good though. Like Tchaikovsky I probably will get back to more of his stuff as time goes by.

I also finished up some series that had been left lagging. Susan R. Matthews’ Crimes Against Humanity — Book 8 of Under Jurisdiction and Melissa Scott’s Point of Hearts — Book 5 of Astreant. I continue to chug away at Phryne Fischer (20 out of 22) and Bolitho (28 out of 30) and will likely get them done in 2026. I continue to enjoy Phryne but the Bolitho seriess are starting to get a bit more tedious and much less tight in their overall experience.

Re-reads… Some oldies

I re-read a lot of series. And I did note some were just not as good second time around. Both William C. Dietz’s Sam McCade and Pik Lando seemed a bit duller and even some of Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar weren’t as good the second time around.

In conclusion

Stress = bad. At least bad for reading new books. I love my heroes: Staff Sergeant Torin, Murderbot, Penric, PC Peter Grant, Miles Vorkosigan, etc.… They make me happy and I’m good with that. I can’t believe I managed to not read Curse of Chalion again 🙂

But 2026 is a new year and I have quite a few books in the to-be-read pile that I have been procrastinating over.

Cheers.

Side note

I keep wondering if I should add ebooks that I have worked on. They are mostly Middle Grade fiction that, while I don’t “read”, I do consume quite a bit of…often reading a chapters at a time before I remember I am supposed to be working 🙂

I guess I will leave them off for now except the few I actually into my system. But I am just saying… In my university days I would still be able to pump out a 2000-word paper based on what I read. Lol.

 

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My fellow book counters: Dr. La’s What we talk about when we talk about 2025 and the Mr Earl J. Woods’ Quality over Quantity.

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)
• 2024 (157)