Ganesh’s (Pippin Took) top reads of 2025

I did not read a lot because of work and travel, so my 2025 books read count is not as high as I would like it to be but I did read some amazing books. Here are my top reads for the year in no particular order:

• The Emperor’s Soul by Brandon Sanderson – I read this all the way back in January and I knew then itself that this would make my top reads list. What Brandon achieved with just two characters talking in a room, in under 200 pages is nothing short of magical to me. I firmly believe this book and not Mistborn should be the de facto choice for where people should start with Sanderson. 

• An Inkling of Flame by Z. B. Steele – Another magnificent novella, I started this book on Kindle Unlimited but stopped around halfway to order a physical copy for myself. It is not just that good, it is PHENOMENAL. As a person, Z. B. leaves nothing to be desired, he is the king, he is the GOAT, and he is the peak of human perfection, so is it any wonder that his writing is in turn spectacular too. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will be shaken by that ending. This book is just a treat to all epic fantasy and grimdark fans. 

• Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant – The most beautiful way a horror book can be written. Do I even need to say anything more than killer mermaids? Orbit books, if you are listening, please commission the sequels from her 🙏

• Undead Samurai by Baptiste Pinson Wu – The only book I’ve not yet written a dedicated review for and I’m kicking myself for it. I will do it soon though. If I had to, had to rank one book as my absolute number #1 read from last year under threat of bodily harm, this is the book I will choose. It is a mix of historical Japan and undead zombies. It grabs you from the prologue and never lets you go. I loved and cared about every character in this book, that I was publicly crying in a bank when I reached a certain scene in the book. If you loved or even liked Never Die, you’ll fall head-over-heels for this book. 

• The Devils by Joe Abercrombie –  The absolute easiest way to torture me is to lock me in a room and say “Choose which of the character’s in Abercrombie’s devils is your most favorite and you’re free to leave.” I will go certifiably insane. “Steal some bastard’s purse you’re a thief, steal a whole town you’re a hero.” 

• The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi- Every book I read from John Scalzi has been a banger and this one was no exception. Every time a book with a Godzilla goes up against a book without a Godzilla for me, the book with the Godzilla wins.

• Eyes of Empire by J.C. M. Berne- 2025 was definitely the year of Berne for me, I read 5 of his books and I still wanted more. While this is book #5 of an ongoing series, this book is also kind of a conclusion to the first arc of the Hybrid Helix and Joe pulls it off stunningly. The way this conclusion transforms the whole saga is electric and anyone who’s a fan of DCC are only doing themselves a disservice by not yet starting this series. 

• Majordomo by Tim Carter- I was affectionately bullied by a certain penguin from the Fantasy Fellowship discord into starting this book and by the end of it I pledged myself in fealty to him out of eternal gratitude for introducing this book to me. Even if one is a veteran of 500 or 1000 fantasy books, you have genuinely read nothing like this. This is one of those kinds of books that will rejuvenate your love of all things SFF.

• Crossroads of Ravens by Andrzej Sapkowski- Sapkowski and the translator David French, I will literally send you roses if I knew your addresses. This is the book that establishes everyone’s favorite witcher’s worldview and moral code and I loved it immensely. 

• To Bargain with Mortals by R. A. Basu- I literally wrote close to a 1000 words yesterday in praise of this book. Green Bone saga fans suffering from withdrawal, this book is your answer. As someone who thinks Green Bone saga is the greatest epic fantasy trilogy, that is the highest praise I can bestow upon this book. You will find all of the action, magic, character work and world-building here.