Top Ten Tuesday | Best books of 2020!

Posted on by Jess @ Jessticulates Posted in Top Ten TuesdayTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted at That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week you compile a list of ten books which coincide with that week’s theme. You can find everything you need to know about joining in here!

This week’s theme is ‘Favourite Books of 2020’ and to be honest I’m not usually a fan of discussing favourites and least favourites until the year has officially come to an end, but I simply haven’t read very often this month so I’ll be very, very surprised if I managed to sneak in a new favourite between now and 2021.

I’d say 2020 has been a very good reading year for me – considering it’s been the hell year, I’m glad I’ve at least been able to rely on good books – and it’s particularly been a good series and sequel year for me. Considering I was someone who never read sequels a few years ago, or read them and was disappointed, this feels like a real win. So, in the order I read them, here are the best books I read in 2020!

The Kingdom of Copper by S.A Chakraborty: For me, second books in trilogies are either filler which feel a bit pointless or they’re fantastic and potentially the best book in the series. Luckily for me, The Kingdom of Copper was the latter. This book is so political and juicy and I loved it.

The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang: This is such a fantastic piece of Asian-inspired fantasy. Military fantasies are hit-and-miss for me, but this Japanese-inspired fantasy had everything I want to see in a military novel and one of the best fantasy heroines out there.

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray: Another second book in a series, and my favourite book in this series so far! Everything about this book – the plot, the pacing, the character development, the friendship between Henry and Ling – was *chef’s kiss* and I was so swept up in it while I was reading.

The Empire of Gold by S.A Chakraborty: Chakraborty isn’t the only author appearing twice on this list, and I’m so pleased that I ended up loving the finale to this trilogy just as much, if not more, than the second book. This entire novel was such an adventure and the perfect summer read. I can’t wait to read whatever Chakraborty releases next!

Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland: I love the concept of this duology and I loved Dread Nation, but Deathless Divide has a very special place in my heart for its aroace representation and for the fact that the most important relationship is the friendship between Jane and Katherine. I very rarely see friendship take precedence over romance in YA and I loved that Ireland prioritised it here, and did so without reducing the importance of any of Jane’s romantic relationships.

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson: Speaking of friendship, this YA thriller absolutely broke me. I read it back in September, I believe – listening to the audiobook, which I highly recommend – and I still think about it all the time.

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow: I loved The Ten Thousand Doors of January and I’ve loved the short fiction I’ve read by Harrow, and with this novel she’s cemented herself as one of my favourite authors. I loved everything about this book – it’s the witch novel I’ve been yearning for – and it’s another one I find myself thinking about often.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir: I hoped I’d love this absolutely batshit novel, and I’m so pleased I did. Lesbian necromancers in space with a crass sense of humour are all I want from my reading going forward.

Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend: You know that Middle Grade series that everyone’s been raving about? Turns out they’ve been raving about it because it’s really, really, really good. I fell in love with this world and its characters, and this novel is particularly special to me because it’s reignited my love for Middle Grade.

Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend: For me this novel was just as brilliant as the first book in the series and it’s another one I absolutely adored. I love that giddy feeling that comes with discovering a new favourite series.

Which books made your list this week?

58 thoughts on “Top Ten Tuesday | Best books of 2020!”

  2. Reply
    Dedra @ A Book Wanderer says:

    I still need to read Lair of Dreams, but it’s been so long since I read the first one, I think I’ll need to do a reread. 😉 Congrats on a great reading year!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Reply
    Sammie @ The Bookwyrm's Den says:

    I’m so glad 2020 has been a good reading year for you! Need to take the wins where we can, especially when it comes to 2020. xD I loved Dread Nation, but I think I enjoyed Deathless Divide even more, too! Both of those are definitely great reads from 2020, though. Kind of puts the year in perspective, too, because heeeey, at least it’s not zombies? … yet? I absolutely LOVED Gideon the Ninth, and I can’t wait to read Harrow, too! I need more of those characters in my life.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Reply
    Leslie says:

    I love your list!! So many that I have read and loved. There’s also a lot that I want to read and I’m excited to see here. I’m hoping to get to Empire of Gold soon. Also, I really need to read the sequel to Dread Nation because I loved that one. I just got Harrow for 2.99 on Kindle, so need to read Gideon!!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Reply
    Hanna @ Booking in Heels says:

    I LOVED Nevermoor and Wundersmith, and they made it into my Top Ten List last year. I’m really excited for the new one although I made the (now unfathomable decision) to wait until the paperback came out so it matched my other copies!

    I really liked the City of Brass series too, although I was a bit disappointed by the final book.

    Like

  15. Reply
    thebookishlibra says:

    The Once and Future Witches made my list this week too. I really loved that one. I’m also hoping to start The City of Brass sometime next month so hopefully I’ll love that series as much as you do. 🙂

    Like

  18. Reply
    Greg says:

    I need to read Harrow, have been meaning to, and The Sword of Kaigen has been popping up on a few lists. I’m not usually into military fantasy either, but the Japanese setting appeals to me.

    Happy new Year!!!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Reply
    lulu says:

    Yesss, Deathless Divide is so good! I so agree with you about loving the emphasis on friendship. Jane and Katherine are the best!

    Nevermoor sounds so cute and special; I need to read those books soon too.

    Thank you for sharing!! I love seeing everyone’s end-of-the-year faves 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  28. Reply
    dinipandareads says:

    Awesome list, Jess! The only ones I’ve read are the Nevermoor books but you already know how much I loved those! They made it onto my list this year too 😉 I’ve heard so many amazing things about all of these books/series though, so I’m glad to hear you enjoyed them so much!

    Liked by 1 person

  37. Reply
    Mareli Thalwitzer says:

    I’ve seen Deathless Divide quite a few times today already. Guess I will have to check it out!

    Nevermoor has been on my TBR for way too long now. It’s been translated into Afrikaans (my home language) by one of my favorite authors. Maybe I should go and buy it for the school library and just read it!

    I hope that 2021 will bring some great books for you.

    Happy New Year!

    Elza Reads Favorite Top Top Ten for 2020

    Liked by 1 person

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