{"id":16382,"date":"2026-01-01T00:15:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T07:15:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=16382"},"modified":"2026-01-04T09:51:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T16:51:20","slug":"16382","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=16382","title":{"rendered":"Books of the Year 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>All the Books I Read In 2025<\/h1>\n<p><em>The year of the re-read<\/em><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019t want to deal with the unknown, or the despair, or the sheer amount of thought they required.<\/p>\n<p>But here they are nonetheless, and despite my reluctance, I found a few really great ones.<\/p>\n<h3>The Books 2025<\/h3>\n<h4>January (9)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>House of Open Wounds<\/em><\/strong> Adrian Tchaikovsky (2023)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>The Tyrant Philosophers<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>A Rising Thunder<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (2012)<br \/>\nBook 13 of <em>Honor Harrington<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Shadow of Freedom<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (2013)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Saganami<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Sten<\/em><\/strong> Allan Cole &amp; Chris Bunch (1982)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Sten<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Cauldron of Ghosts<\/em><\/strong> David Weber &amp; Eric Flint (2014)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Crown of Slaves<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Shadow of Victory<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (2016)<br \/>\nBook 4 of <em>Saganami<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Uncompromising Honor<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (2018)<br \/>\nBook 14 of <em>Honor Harrington<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>To End in Fire<\/em><\/strong> David Weber &amp; Eric Flint (2021)<br \/>\nBook 4 of <em>Crown of Slaves<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>By the Sword<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (1991)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Valdemar<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>February (7)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Winds of Fate<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (1992)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Mage Winds<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Winds of Change<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (1993)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Mage Winds<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Last Watch<\/em><\/strong> J. S. Dewes (2021)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>The Divide<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Exiled Fleet<\/em><\/strong> J. S. Dewes (2021)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>The Divide<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Relentless Legion<\/em><\/strong> J. S. Dewes (2024)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>The Divide<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Dorsai!<\/em><\/strong> Gordon R. Dickson (1959)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Childe Cycle<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Winds of Fury<\/em><\/strong> Mercedes Lackey (1994)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Mage Winds<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>March (10)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>A Call to Duty<\/em><\/strong> David Weber &amp; Timothy Zahn (2014)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Manticore Ascendant<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>A Call to Arms<\/em><\/strong> David Weber &amp; Timothy Zahn &amp; Thomas Pope (2015)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Manticore Ascendant<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>A Call to Vengance<\/em><\/strong> David Weber &amp; Timothy Zahn &amp; Thomas Pope (2018)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Manticore Ascendant<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>A Call to Insurrection<\/em><\/strong> David Weber &amp; Timothy Zahn &amp; Thomas Pope (2022)<br \/>\nBook 4 of <em>Manticore Ascendant<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Summer&#8217;s End<\/em><\/strong> John van Stry (2022)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Dave Walker<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Tomb of Dragons<\/em><\/strong> Katherine Addison (2025)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>The Cemeteries of Amalo<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Goblin Emperor<\/em><\/strong> Katherine Addison (2014)<br \/>\n\u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Traitor Baru Cormorant<\/em><\/strong> Seth Dickinson (2015)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>The Masquerade<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Monster Baru Cormorant<\/em><\/strong> Seth Dickinson (2018)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>The Masquerade<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>When the Moon Hits Your Eye<\/em><\/strong> John Scalzi (2025)<br \/>\n\u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>April (17)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Second to None<\/em><\/strong> Alexander Kent (1999)<br \/>\nBook 26 of <em>Bolitho<\/em> \u2013 ebook<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Point of Hearts<\/em><\/strong> Melissa Scott (2025)<br \/>\nBook 5 of <em>Astreant<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Good Guys<\/em><\/strong> Steven Brust (2018)<br \/>\n\u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Fire With Fire<\/em><\/strong> Charles E. Gannon (2013)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Caine Riordan<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>All Systems Red<\/em><\/strong> Martha Wells (2017)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>The Murderbot Diaries<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Artificial Condition<\/em><\/strong> Martha Wells (2018)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>The Murderbot Diaries<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Rogue Protocol<\/em><\/strong> Martha Wells (2018)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>The Murderbot Diaries<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Exit Strategy<\/em><\/strong> Martha Wells (2018)<br \/>\nBook 4 of <em>The Murderbot Diaries<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Network Effect<\/em><\/strong> Martha Wells (2020)<br \/>\nBook 5 of <em>The Murderbot Diaries<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Fugitive Telemetry<\/em><\/strong> Martha Wells (2021)<br \/>\nBook 6 of <em>The Murderbot Diaries<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>System Collapse<\/em><\/strong> Martha Wells (2023)<br \/>\nBook 7 of <em>The Murderbot Diaries<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Local Custom<\/em><\/strong> Sharon Lee &amp; Steve Miller (2000)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Liaden<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Scout\u2019s Progress<\/em><\/strong> Sharon Lee &amp; Steve Miller (2000)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Liaden<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Conflict of Honors<\/em><\/strong> Sharon Lee &amp; Steve Miller (1988)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Liaden<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Agent of Change<\/em><\/strong> Sharon Lee &amp; Steve Miller (1989)<br \/>\nBook 5 of <em>Liaden<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Carpe Diem<\/em><\/strong> Sharon Lee &amp; Steve Miller (1988)<br \/>\nBook 6 of <em>Liaden<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Plan B<\/em><\/strong> Sharon Lee &amp; Steve Miller (1998)<br \/>\nBook 7 of <em>Liaden<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>May (12)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>I Dare<\/em><\/strong> Sharon Lee &amp; Steve Miller (2002)<br \/>\nBook 8 of <em>Liaden<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Martian Contingency<\/em><\/strong> Mary Robinette Kowal (2025)<br \/>\nBook 4 of <em>Lady Astronaut<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Killing Gravity<\/em><\/strong> Corey J. White (2017)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Voidwitch Saga<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Finity&#8217;s End<\/em><\/strong> C. J. Cherryh (1997)<br \/>\nBook 7 of <em>Company Wars<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Angel with the Sword<\/em><\/strong> C. J. Cherryh (1985)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Merovingen Nights<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Drifter<\/em><\/strong> William C. Dietz (1991)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Pik Lando<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Black Company<\/em><\/strong> Glen Cook (1984)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>The Black Company<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Terms of Enlistment<\/em><\/strong> Marko Kloos (2013)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Frontlines<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Lines of Departure<\/em><\/strong> Marko Kloos (2014)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Frontlines<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Angles of Attack<\/em><\/strong> Marko Kloos (2015)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Frontlines<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>March Upcountry<\/em><\/strong> David Weber &amp; John Ringo (2001)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Empire of Man<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>March to the Sea<\/em><\/strong> David Weber &amp; John Ringo (2002)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Empire of Man<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>June (13)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>We Few<\/em><\/strong> David Weber &amp; John Ringo (2002)<br \/>\nBook 4 of <em>Empire of Man<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>March Upcountry<\/em><\/strong> David Weber &amp; John Ringo (2001)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Empire of Man<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Chains of Command<\/em><\/strong> Marko Kloos (2016)<br \/>\nBook 4 of <em>Frontlines<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Incandescent<\/em><\/strong> Emily Tesh (2025)<br \/>\n\u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Fields of Fire<\/em><\/strong> Marko Kloos (2017)<br \/>\nBook 5 of <em>Frontlines<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Points of Impact<\/em><\/strong> Marko Kloos (2018)<br \/>\nBook 6 of <em>Frontlines<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Orders of Battle<\/em><\/strong> Marko Kloos (2020)<br \/>\nBook 7 of <em>Frontlines<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Centers of Gravity<\/em><\/strong> Marko Kloos (2022)<br \/>\nBook 8 of <em>Frontlines<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Shadows Linger<\/em><\/strong> Glen Cook (1984)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>The Black Company<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Galaxy Grifter<\/em><\/strong> A. Zaykova (2025)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>BlackJack Interstellar<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Unnatural Habits<\/em><\/strong> Kerry Greenwood (2012)<br \/>\nBook 19 of <em>Phryne Fisher Mysteries<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Folded Sky<\/em><\/strong> Elizabeth Bear (2025)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>White Space<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>White Wing<\/em><\/strong> Shariann Lewitt &amp; Susan Shwartz (1985)<br \/>\n\u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>July (12)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Wild Cards I<\/em><\/strong> George R. R. Martin (1987)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Wild Cards<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Diplomatic Immunity<\/em><\/strong> Lois McMaster Bujold (2002)<br \/>\nBook 10 of <em>Miles Vorkosigan<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Ender&#8217;s Game<\/em><\/strong> Orson Scott Card (1985)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Ender<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Cryoburn &#8211; ARC<\/em><\/strong> Lois McMaster Bujold (2010)<br \/>\nBook 11 of <em>Miles Vorkosigan<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Midnight Riot<\/em><\/strong> Ben Aaronovitch (2011)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Rivers of London<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The White Rose<\/em><\/strong> Glen Cook (1985)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>The Black Company<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Moon Over Soho<\/em><\/strong> Ben Aaronovitch (2011)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Rivers of London<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Adventure of the Demonic Ox<\/em><\/strong> Lois McMaster Bujold (2025)<br \/>\nBook 15 of <em>Penric &amp; Desdemona<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Regiment<\/em><\/strong> John Dallas (1987)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>The Regiment<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy<\/em><\/strong> Martha Wells (2018)<br \/>\nBook 2.5 of <em>The Murderbot Diaries<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Crimes Against Humanity<\/em><\/strong> Susan R. Matthews (2019)<br \/>\nBook 8 of <em>Under Jurisdiction<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Mutineer&#8217;s Moon<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1994)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Dahak<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>August (10)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>The War Of The Flowers<\/em><\/strong> Tad Williams (2006)<br \/>\n\u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Relentless Pursuit<\/em><\/strong> Alexander Kent (2001)<br \/>\nBook 27 of <em>Bolitho<\/em> \u2013 ebook<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Old Man&#8217;s War<\/em><\/strong> John Scalzi (2005)<br \/>\nBook # of <em>Old Man&#8217;s War<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Whispers Under Ground<\/em><\/strong> Ben Aaronovitch (2012)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Rivers of London<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The White Regiment<\/em><\/strong> John Dallas (1990)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>The Regiment<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Armageddon Inheritance<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1994)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Dahak<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Heirs of Empire<\/em><\/strong> David Weber (1996)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Dahak<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Broken Homes<\/em><\/strong> Ben Aaronovitch (2014)<br \/>\nBook 4 of <em>Rivers of London<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Poor Man&#8217;s Fight<\/em><\/strong> Elliott Kay (2013)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Poor Man&#8217;s Fight<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Rich Man&#8217;s War<\/em><\/strong> Elliott Kay (2015)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Poor Man&#8217;s Fight<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>September (9)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>No Medals for Secrets<\/em><\/strong> Elliott Kay (2017)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Poor Man&#8217;s Fight<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Dead Man&#8217;s Debt<\/em><\/strong> Elliott Kay (2016)<br \/>\nBook 4 of <em>Poor Man&#8217;s Fight<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Last Man Out<\/em><\/strong> Elliott Kay (2018)<br \/>\nBook 5 of <em>Poor Man&#8217;s Fight<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Orb of Cairado<\/em><\/strong> Katherine Addison (2025)<br \/>\nBook 1.5 of <em>Goblin Emperor<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>No Man&#8217;s Land<\/em><\/strong> Elliott Kay (2023)<br \/>\nBook 6 of <em>Poor Man&#8217;s Fight<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Foxglove<\/em><\/strong> Ben Aaronovitch (2015)<br \/>\nBook 5 of <em>Rivers of London<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Hanging Tree<\/em><\/strong> Ben Aaronovitch (2017)<br \/>\nBook 6 of <em>Rivers of London<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Three Cheers For Me<\/em><\/strong> Donald Jack (1973)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>The Bandy Papers<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Lies Sleeping<\/em><\/strong> Ben Aaronovitch (2018)<br \/>\nBook 7 of <em>Rivers of London<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>October (14)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>The Regiment<\/em><\/strong> John Dallas (1993)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>The Regiment\u2019s War<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Impossible Fortune<\/em><\/strong> Richard Osman (2025)<br \/>\nBook 5 of <em>A Thursday Murder Club Mystery<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>False Value<\/em><\/strong> Ben Aaronovitch (2020)<br \/>\nBook 8 of <em>Rivers of London<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Amongst Our Weapons<\/em><\/strong> Ben Aaronovitch (2022)<br \/>\nBook 9 of <em>Rivers of London<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Stone &amp; Sky<\/em><\/strong> Ben Aaronovitch (2025)<br \/>\nBook 11 of <em>Rivers of London<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>That&#8217;s Me in the Middle<\/em><\/strong> Donald Jack (1973)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>The Bandy Papers<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Up the Down Staircase<\/em><\/strong> Bel Kaufman (1964)<br \/>\n\u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>It&#8217;s Me Again<\/em><\/strong> Donald Jack (1975)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>The Bandy Papers<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Lost War<\/em><\/strong> Justin Lee Anderson (2022)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Eidyn<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Unbreakable<\/em><\/strong> W. C. Bauers (2015)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Chronicles of Promise Paen<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Indomitable<\/em><\/strong> W. C. Bauers (2016)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Chronicles of Promise Paen<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Testimony of Mute Things<\/em><\/strong> Lois McMaster Bujold (2025)<br \/>\nBook 15 of <em>Penric &amp; Desdemona<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Bitter Crown<\/em><\/strong> Justin Lee Anderson (2023)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Eidyn<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Masquerade in Lodi<\/em><\/strong> Lois McMaster Bujold (2020)<br \/>\nBook 8 of <em>Penric &amp; Desdemona<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>November (14)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Galactic Bounty<\/em><\/strong> William C. Dietz (1986)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Sam McCade<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Penric&#8217;s Demon<\/em><\/strong> Lois McMaster Bujold (2016)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Penric &amp; Desdemona<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Penric and the Shaman<\/em><\/strong> Lois McMaster Bujold (2017)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Penric &amp; Desdemona<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Hallowed Hunt<\/em><\/strong> Lois McMaster Bujold (2005)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Chalion<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Murder and Mendelssohn<\/em><\/strong> Kerry Greenwood (2013)<br \/>\nBook 20 of*Phryne Fisher Mysteries \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>A Mouthful of Dust<\/em><\/strong> Nghi Vo (2025)<br \/>\nBook 6 of <em>The Singing Hills Cycle<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>An Oblique Approach<\/em><\/strong> David Drake (1998)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Belisarius<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>In the Heart of Darkness<\/em><\/strong> David Drake (1998)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Belisarius<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Destiny&#8217;s Shield<\/em><\/strong> David Drake (1998)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Belisarius<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Fortune&#8217;s Stroke<\/em><\/strong> David Drake (2000)<br \/>\nBook 4 of <em>Belisarius<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Tide of Victory<\/em><\/strong> David Drake (2001)<br \/>\nBook 5 of <em>Belisarius<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Dance of Time<\/em><\/strong> David Drake (2006)<br \/>\nBook 6 of <em>Belisarius<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The City of Brass<\/em><\/strong> S. A. Chakraborty (2018)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Daevabad<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Space Vikings<\/em><\/strong> H. Beam Piper (2025)<br \/>\n\u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>December (14)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>The Kingdom of Copper<\/em><\/strong> S. A. Chakraborty (2019)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Daevabad<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Wizard&#8217;s Bane<\/em><\/strong> Rick Cook (1997)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Wiz Biz<\/em> \u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Paladin<\/em><\/strong> C. J. Cherryh (1988)<br \/>\n\u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>An Election<\/em><\/strong> John Scalzi (2010)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Third District<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Constituent Service<\/em><\/strong> John Scalzi (2025)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Third District<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Empire of Gold<\/em><\/strong> S. A. Chakraborty (2021)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Daevabad<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Automatic Noodle<\/em><\/strong> Annalee Newitz (2025)<br \/>\n\u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Man of War<\/em><\/strong> Alexander Kent (2003)<br \/>\nBook 28 of <em>Bolitho<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Silver and Lead<\/em><\/strong> Seanan McGuire (2025)<br \/>\nBook 19 of <em>October Daye<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Starter Villain<\/em><\/strong> John Scalzi (2023)<br \/>\n\u2013 ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Valor&#8217;s Choice<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2000)<br \/>\nBook 1 of <em>Confederation<\/em> &#8211; ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Better Part of Valor<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2002)<br \/>\nBook 2 of <em>Confederation<\/em> &#8211; ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Heart of Valor<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2007)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Confederation<\/em> &#8211; ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Valor&#8217;s Trial<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2008)<br \/>\nBook 4 of <em>Confederation<\/em> &#8211; ebook; reread<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Truth of Valor<\/em><\/strong> Tanya Huff (2010)<br \/>\nBook 5 of <em>Confederation<\/em> &#8211; ebook; reread<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Unfinished (3)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>The Damned King<\/em><\/strong> Justin Lee Anderson (2025)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>Eidyn<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>The Tyrant Baru Cormorant<\/em><\/strong> Seth Dickinson (2020)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>The Masquerade<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>Take Back the Sky<\/em><\/strong> Greg Bear (2016)<br \/>\nBook 3 of <em>War Dogs<\/em> \u2013 ebook;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>(&#40;\\<br \/>\n(-.-)<br \/>\no_(&#8220;)(&#8220;)<\/p>\n<h2>Some numbers<\/h2>\n<p>Total Read: <strong>142 books<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>98 rereads<br \/>\n3 unfinished<\/p>\n<p>Books by women: (21\/50 authors) (56\/142 books)<br \/>\nOldest book: <em>Dorsal!<\/em> (1959)<br \/>\nNon SF\/Fantasy: 5<br \/>\n0 print (sigh)<\/p>\n<h2>Some Notes<\/h2>\n<p>Last year I couldn\u2019t get through <em>War Dogs<\/em> and <em>The Monster Baru Cormorant<\/em>. I still haven\u2019t gotten back to <em>War Dogs<\/em> but I did finish <em>The Monster Baru Cormorant<\/em>. Unfortunately I got half way through <strong><em>The Tyrant Baru Cormorant<\/em><\/strong>, Seth Dickinson (2020) Book 3 of <em>The Masquerade<\/em> and stalled. I still haven\u2019t got back to it. Not bad, just mind-numbingly (my mind) complex and not all that fast paced. It just stalled in my head.<\/p>\n<p>I also powered out on book 3 of Justin Lee Anderson\u2019s <em>Eidyn<\/em>. 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.<\/p>\n<h2>Some Thoughts<\/h2>\n<h3>S.A (Shannon) Chakraborty<\/h3>\n<p>I mentioned last year that I thoroughly enjoyed <em>The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi<\/em> by Shannon Chakraborty (Book 1 of <strong>Amina al-Sirafi<\/strong>) and when I came across the <strong>Daevabad<\/strong> series by S.A Chakraborty I went Hmmmmm\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Turns out they <em>are<\/em> 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 \u201cauthentic\u201d name for a series that really has little of the western world in it. Either one works, especially since she is now \u201cfamous\u201d enough to go back to her full name.<\/p>\n<p>Or I could be full of it.<\/p>\n<h3>Notable<\/h3>\n<p>Not much to choose from since I really only read ~40 new books. Nghi Vo continues to impress although <em>A Mouthful of Dust<\/em> was a bit more depressing than I really wanted at the time.<\/p>\n<p>Annalee Newitz\u2019s <em>Automatic Noodle<\/em> was a standout. My \u201ccomfort read of the year\u201d I quipped on Bluesky and got a like from Annalee. Read it. It\u2019s fun and warm and happy. I have read another of her books \u2014 <em>Autonomous<\/em> (2017) \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<p>I <em>finally<\/em> finished up <em>all<\/em> the <em>Honor Harrington<\/em> 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\u2019t see any need to go through all that again.<\/p>\n<p>I am enjoying Adrian Tchaikovsky\u2019s <em>The Tyrant Philosophers<\/em> series. They are less of a series and more of a collection of tales in a particular world. I\u2019ve 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 <strong>everything<\/strong>\u2026 which is, I think, an ok thing. I will engage him more organically\u2026 like the old days \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p>I started in on Tad Williams. He is new-to-me\u2014I just never really encountered him before except as a visual style of covers that didn\u2019t really attract me. I started <em>Tailchaser&#8217;s Song<\/em> (1985) on a recommendation of books about cats, but didn\u2019t get more than a few pages into it before I realized I wasn\u2019t in the right frame of mind. It\u2019s still on the list. His <em>The War Of The Flowers<\/em> (2006) was pretty darn good though. Like Tchaikovsky I probably will get back to more of his stuff as time goes by.<\/p>\n<p>I also finished up some series that had been left lagging. Susan R. Matthews\u2019 <em>Crimes Against Humanity<\/em> \u2014 Book 8 of <em>Under Jurisdiction<\/em> and Melissa Scott\u2019s <em>Point of Hearts<\/em> \u2014 Book 5 of <em>Astreant<\/em>. 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.<\/p>\n<h3>Re-reads\u2026 Some oldies<\/h3>\n<p>I re-read a lot of series. And I did note some were just not as good second time around. Both William C. Dietz\u2019s <em>Sam McCade<\/em> and <em>Pik Lando<\/em> seemed a bit duller and even some of Mercedes Lackey\u2019s <em>Valdemar<\/em> weren\u2019t as good the second time around.<\/p>\n<h2>In conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Stress = bad. At least bad for reading new books. I love my heroes: Staff Sergeant Torin, Murderbot, Penric, PC Peter Grant, Miles Vorkosigan, etc.\u2026 They make me happy and I\u2019m good with that. I can\u2019t believe I managed to not read <em>Curse of Chalion<\/em> again \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Cheers.<\/p>\n<h3>Side note<\/h3>\n<p><em>I keep wondering if I should add ebooks that I have worked on. They are mostly Middle Grade fiction that, while I don\u2019t \u201cread\u201d, I do consume quite a bit of\u2026often reading a chapters at a time before I remember I am supposed to be working \ud83d\ude42<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>I guess I will leave them off for now except the few I actually into my system. But I am just saying\u2026 In my university days I would still be able to pump out a 2000-word paper based on what I read. Lol.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>My fellow book counters: Dr. La&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/moreblaze.blogspot.com\/2026\/01\/what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What we talk about when we talk about 2025<\/a> and the Mr Earl J. Woods&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earljwoods.com\/2025\/12\/quality-over-quantity-in-time-of.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Quality over Quantity<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Links to previous years\u2019 book count posts:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=2941\">2012 <\/a>(85)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=5733\">2013 <\/a>(95)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=7902\">2014 <\/a>(106)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=10026\">2015 <\/a>(92)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=11024\">2016 <\/a>(101)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=11814\">2017 <\/a>(120)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=12492\">2018 <\/a>(142)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=13441\">2019 <\/a>(123)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=14227\">2020 <\/a>(112)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=14841\">2021 <\/a>(124)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=15654\">2022 <\/a>(136)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=15985\">2023 <\/a>(136)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/?p=15985\">2024 <\/a>(157)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16382"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16382"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16399,"href":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16382\/revisions\/16399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/macblaze.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}