Cyn’s Workshop’s Best Books of 2024

And with that, the new year is upon us! I don’t know about you folks, but I surpassed my goal of 100 books and read over 120! I’m very proud of myself for making the time to read because reading is my passion. It’s like breathing for me. I love to read and write, and this year, I could do so much of both.

What’s more, I was able to read so many great books. Here are my favorites published this year.

Here’s to another great year!

1. When the Moon Hatched

I loved this book more than I thought I would. Don’t get me wrong, I love dragons, everything to do with dragons, and epic fantasy stories. However, considering all the hype surrounding this book, I was hesitant. But, thanks to Avon, who gave me a free copy, I could invest in the novel without qualms. I loved the storytelling, the subtle foreshadowing in the beginning that hinted at a bigger story later revealed with Reave. And I loved the world-building. Let me just say I may have been gifted this book for free, but I loved it so much I bought the Waterstones Exclusive and the Fairyloot exclusive. I was in the queue for three hours for this book! It was worth every penny and then some.

2. Bad Graces

Kyrie McCauley has been one of my favorite authors since I discovered her. I love her storytelling; I love how she addresses real-world issues thoughtfully to make for a compelling story. With Bad Graces, think Shakespeare’s The Tempest meets Yellowjackets. It was brilliant. A group of girls are shipwrecked on a deserted island and start to change, like in Annihilation. They have to reckon with their past and how being a girl in society is hard, how there are certain expectations made of them, how they are taken advantage of in so many ways, and how their gender and sexuality force them to play a part in the world other than being true to themselves. It’s a powerful narrative told through a compelling piece of literature.

3. Heartless Hunter

This is another one I was worried about. Sometimes, the hype is too much, but boy, was I wrong here. Thankfully, my book club chose this novel as the book pick for my Read with Cyn’s Workshop book club. It was amazing. The characterization, the storytelling, the world-building, the pacing! I was hooked from beginning to end. It was absolutely thrilling, and I am so excited about the sequel, and can’t wait to pick it up!

4. The Blonde Dies First

I feel like the world is sleeping on Joelle Wellington. I only say that because I don’t think her books are getting the attention they deserve. I mean, really, this novel was excellent. I’m a massive fan of horror movies and slasher flicks. This novel had everything I wanted and more. I feel like this novel was Scream if Scream had been written by Jordan Peele. And I LOVE the Scream franchise. Honestly, Peele, call Joelle Wellington and work with her, please. This novel subverts all expectations while leaning into those tropes that make up the formula for the classic slasher. It takes so many twists and turns and reminds readers that we are more than the box society puts us in.

5. Lore Olympus: Volumes 6 & 7

What can I say? We all knew Lore Olympus was going to be here. I love this series so much; I love it so much that I re-read the last episode on Webtoon three times and then cried when it was over. Smythe’s color story is meaningful to me, and the characters are unforgettable. I love Hermes, Hera, Artemis, Persephone, and Hades. They are, without a doubt, such unforgettable characters and the found family element, the way Persephone comes into herself and learns to cope with her trauma inflicted upon her by Apollo. Reading the episodes in novel format and seeing how they flow, it reads differently.

6. The Crimson Crown

I love Heather Walter. I loved this story; I loved how Walter continues reinventing fairytales through an LGBTQ lens. This story is fantastic, the birth of the Evil Queen. But is she really? Walter’s storytelling is fantastic, as is her characterization. And that final line still gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. I’m so excited that there is a sequel, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

7. My Salty Mary

The Janies are such a fantastic group of authors. Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadow, and Brodi Ashton are an unbeatable team. Here we have a retelling of The Little Mermaid but with pirates. First, I love how the story flits back and forth between the three characters – Mary, Tobias, and Jack – to tell the story of the little mermaid. The pirate element was terrific and fun! Just like with all their stories, this was fun, energetic, and heartfelt. I absolutely loved every moment of the novel, and I want more.

8. Stranger Skies

Alright, this was a shocker for me. Not to say that the first novel was terrible; it wasn’t, but it was slow and a bit confusing at times. This time around, Stranger Skies blew me away. I loved the dark academia element of the story and how Baz and Emory grew throughout the story. And I loved that Romie and Kai got their own POVs in this novel. Don’t get me wrong, Romie was my least favorite character, but Kai, I loved them so much. And to see Baz come alive here, to see him embrace his power, and for Emory to embrace her power, it was terrific because they influenced the rising tension of the storytelling. It was brilliantly done, and that ending was epic! I can’t wait to see how things evolve in the next novel.

9. Bookshops & Bonedust

I love Lore Olympus. I love the story; I love how the panels have been adapted to fit into a graphic novel, giving the story a different kind of feel. Rachel Smythe is a fantastic storyteller, and if you love Greek Mythology, you must read this story.

10. Dragons of Eternity

I cried. Yeah, I cried when I finished this book because it was like going home, and it felt like home to me. I loved the characters. I loved seeing those classic characters from Chronicles given life again and seeing their stories in a new way. Honestly, I sobbed when I finished reading this book. Sobbed!