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2025 was a good year for book releases, with many popular, established authors releasing their newest works. Of all these books, here are our favorites:
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab:
It is no secret that I love more or less every book that V.E. Schwab has ever published. And when I found out that she was releasing a horror/fantasy vampire novel, I was beyond thrilled. I had high expectations for this book, and they were beyond met. Firstly, the prose is just beautiful and positively poetic. Every sentence is crafted with the utmost precision and care. Secondly, the characters were incredible. The book centers around three girls in three different times and places: Maria in Santo Domingo de la Calzada during 1532, Charlotte in London during 1827, and Alice in London during 2019. This is a very character-centered novel, which I tend to enjoy immensely. It tells the story of all three of the girls and then ties that in to the current timeline. Their stories are all intricately woven together in such a masterful way. V.E. Schwab described this book as being more of an origin story than the main story, and I love that description of it. The ending both wraps up the story and makes you yearn for more, which is a particular mix of emotions that Schwab has provoked before, in her ending of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. She admitted that Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil takes place in the same world as Addie LaRue’s story, and that she may return to this world in the future. I really hope that she does, as these are two of my favorites of her books. All in all, I gave this book an easy 5 stars and am sure that it will stay as a favorite of mine for a long time.
This was my third book from V.E. Schwab, and wow, I am blown away by her work once more, but I’m sure this streak will last. Schwab’s writing is music to my ears, from her whimsical prose to her deeply detailed characters, I can never get enough. I had so much fun being immersed in this world, and while it might seem like a surface-level entertaining book, it begs you to answer the question. What would you do if you were immortal? I don’t think I could rank Alice, Sabine, or Charlotte in order of favorites because they are all so different and contribute different aspects to the story. In fear of spoiling, I won’t go too far into their characters. I’m not usually interested in vampirical media, but Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil might have gotten me into a new obsession. I also gave this book 5 stars without a doubt. I couldn’t put it down, and to this day I still think about it. I will have to go back and reread sometime in the future.
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig:
Rachel Gillig, known for her Shepherd King Duology (which consists of One Dark Window and Two Twisted Crowns), has now released her start of a new duology. Sara and I went to see her on the release day of the book, and I promptly devoured it over the following few days. The Knight and the Moth was a wonderful fantasy with a subplot of romance, which happens to be my favorite type of book. It was incredible: Gillig delivered on her signature gothic fantasy vibe, but the world felt very different from her previous series. There is a fascinating magic system, and the world has an entire lore and religion behind it. The cast of characters was wonderful, and as much as I loved the leads, Sybil and Rory, the character who truly took my heart was the talking gargoyle that accompanied them on their journey. The premise behind the story is so fascinating, and the whole book ended up being just as interesting as I had hoped. In her typical style, Gillig chose to end the novel with an insane cliffhanger, and I have been anxiously awaiting the next book ever since I read the last page.
Rachel Gillig has been a favorite of mine ever since I (Sara) found her debut novel, One Dark Window, in a Target aisle. I engulfed it and its sequel, Two Twisted Crowns, which started my need for gothic literature. When Lyra brought up her book signing for her new release, I knew I had to go. While I wasn’t super interested in her new book at the time, The Knight and the Moth, I still went so I could meet her, get my books signed, you know the deal. A couple of months later, I found the special edition at Barnes and Noble and grabbed it because Lyra and many people on the internet were raving about it. And what a book to rave about, Gillig has an exceptional talent for creating such a perfect gothic setting and characters. Sybil and Rory were so engaging, especially as their romantic relationship developed throughout the book. As Lyra stated above, this book, while being a gothic romantasy, was very different from her first duology. The Knight and the Moth has a classic magic system that revolved around divination of dreams; they believed that they could receive signs of how something would go by actions that happen in dreams. Sybil, being one of the six Diviners, gave us a unique insight into how that system worked. Rory was so much fun to read, especially when he and Sybil were accompanied by the talking gargoyle. I will never forget that plot twist ending ever. Gillig better repay us when the second book comes out. This book got a solid 5 stars, and I expect only the best from Rachel Gillig.
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson:
Holly Jackson’s adult debut has one of the most intriguing premises that I’ve ever encountered: someone attempts to kill the main character, Jet, in her home on Halloween night. She survives, but not for long: she only has about a week to live before a brain aneurysm will kill her. In this final week, she dedicates herself to solving her own murder, with the assistance of her childhood best friend, Billy. Jet was an excellent main character: she was strong, witty, and determined, unwilling to let anything or anyone get in her way. It was impossible not to root for her. This mystery was an intense ride, riddled with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. There were plenty of clues to follow, and the way they all ended up tying in to the ending was incredibly done. Holly Jackson never fails to deliver an insane, shocking conclusion to her novels, and this ending was no different. It left me astonished (and in tears), and it has stuck with me, even months later.
Holly Jackson never fails to amaze me with her books, although it always ends with me in tears and cursing Jackson, I will always read her work. I was astonished when I read the synopsis of her adult debut. I won’t regurgitate it since Lyra explained it above, but I was immediately interested. I grew to love Jet the moment I finished the first chapter; her quick, witty comments cracked me up, and I heavily related to her procrastination issues. Jackson has such a way with her mysteries, I suspected literally every character at one point or another, the only one I didn’t suspect was Jet’s dog, Reggie! Jackson made me sob at the end, but would it really be one of her books if I didn’t? No, but seriously, 5 stars all around. I will read anything Holly Jackson releases, but I will also make sure to buy a box of tissues with it.
Reporting and contributions by Lyra Klinedinst and Sara Stoeckle
