This year had a lot of ups and downs in my reading journey. A few books were exactly as good as I anticipated; others were major disappointments; but a few were great!
In fact, I did a middle-of-the-year list as well (Best Reads of 2015 So Far!), which you can compare to this top ten if you’d like to see how things have changed throughout 2015.
Obviously, this list is my end-of-the-year effort to look back on all my reading experiences, give my favorites a little hype, and reminiscence a bit about all the great books I discovered in 2015. Hopefully, you’ll discover something on here that you’d love to read as well.
10. WHEN THE HEAVENS FALL by MARC TURNER
Series: Chronicle of the Exile
Publisher: Tor Books (May 19, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
My Review: Here
Mr. Turner’s debut novel was a standalone story with multiple points of view. The tale introducing you to numerous people – some with good motives, some with bad, and some whose motives aren’t truly clear. But while their motives might be in doubt their goal is clear, but the way it all concludes is sheer fantasy magic!
Buy When the Heavens Fall
9. MISTBORN: THE FINAL EMPIRE by BRANDON SANDERSON
Series: Mistborn
Publisher: Tor (July 25, 2006)
Author Information:Website | Twitter
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
A series that I had heard about and heard about. The hype was huge. Finally, I gave in to my friends constant badgering and read it already. While some other novels crumbled under my high expectations this year, Mistborn lived up to them; allomancy mesmerizing me with its creative magic and the characters making me a fan of Mr. Sanderson’s writing skill.
Buy Mistborn: The Final Empire
8. THE EMPEROR’S BLADES by BRIAN STAVELEY
Series: Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne
Publisher: Tor Books (January 14, 2014)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
My Review: Here
It took me far to long to give this fantasy series a try, but once I did it became apparent to me why everyone had been raving about it. Amazing world, interesting characters, and an intriguing plot, Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne is definitely “The Next Big Thing” in fantasy.
Buy The Emperor’s Blades 
7. CITY OF WONDERS by JAMES A. MOORE
Series: Seven Forges
Publisher: Angry Robot (November 3, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
My Review: Here
The Seven Forges series is one of my favorites at the moment. An amalgamation of sword and sorcery, horror, and epic fantasy, this series never fails to entertain and is amazingly re-readable; a quality which I don’t find in all my fantasy reads. Plus, those damn covers are freaking amazing!
Buy City of Wonders: Seven Forges Book III
6. SWORD OF THE NORTH by LUKE SCULL
Series: The Grim Company
Publisher: Roc (May 5, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
My Review: Here
This is another series where I came late to the party, discovering The Grim Company the first half of the year and loving its grimdark beauty. Honestly, I couldn’t believe that Mr. Scull could top it, but he did – and in spades. Sword of the North continuing to blend gritty action, dark humor, and amazing worldbuilding into a grimdark lover delight. Can’t wait for the next installment of the series.
Buy Sword of the North: The Grim Company
5. CHAINS OF THE HERETIC by JEFF SALYARDS
Series: Bloodsounder’s Arc
Publisher: Night Shade (November 1, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
My Review: Coming Soon!
I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced reading copy of this novel and loved it. It was a fitting, if sorrowful, ending to what had become one of my favorite grimdark series. I hate that Arki and I won’t be journeying together anymore, but I’m glad Mr. Salyards gifted everyone with his tale, because he was quite the unique protagonist.
Buy Chains of the Heretic: Bloodsounder’s Arc Book Three
4. EMPEROR OF THORNS by MARK LAWRENCE
Series: The Broken Empire
Publisher: Ace (August 6, 2013)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
My Review: Here
Prince of Thorns shocked and amazed me; King of Thorns teased and disappointed me; so when I finally read Emperor I didn’t know what my reaction would be. All my doubts were unwarranted, however, as Mr. Lawrence concluded the tale of Jorg Ancrath in the most fitting of ways – by spilling blood, revealing secrets, and allowing Jorg to wax philosophical about life.
Buy Emperor of Thorns (The Broken Empire)
3. BEYOND REDEMPTION by MICHAEL R. FLETCHER
Series: Standalone (Series Planned)
Publisher: Harper Voyager (June 16, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
My Review: Here
The biggest surprise of the year goes to this creative, demented grimdark which blew me away. From a magic system of pure insanity to remorseless characters, from bloody combat to philosophical insights, Michael Fletcher captured the essence of this genre and delivered a stunning work which is beyond belief. Now, more people need to go read it already!
Buy Beyond Redemption
2. LORDS OF THE SITH by PAUL S. COOK
Series: Star Wars
Publisher: Del Rey (April 28, 2015)
Author Information:Website | Twitter
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
My Review: Here
With The Force Awakens movie shattering records at the box office, it might not be too strange that a Star Wars novel is on this list, but where the new film is all about nostalgia, this story is all about Sith epic-ness. Mr. Kemp delivering the perfect mixture of Anakin angst, Vader violence, and Emperor machinations, wrapped up tight in a fast-paced adventure which never slows down to catch its breath.
Buy Lords of the Sith: Star Wars
1. KNIGHT’S SHADOW by SEBASTIEN DE CASTELL
Series: Greatcoats
Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books (June 2, 2015)
Author Information: Website | Twitter
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
My Review: Here
Ever since finishing this novel I had a feeling it would be my best book of 2015, and after reading for twelve months, nothing changed my mind. Mixing swashbuckling fun with Game of Thrones-like deception and destruction, this second installment of the Greatcoats series is, by far, the best novel that I have read this year!
Buy Knight’s Shadow (Greatcoats)
Well, that is my list. Hopefully, you agree with, at least, some of my picks, and maybe, just maybe, I’ve introduced you to a few novels you’d never heard about but now want to try.
bookwraiths.com 
Some of my favorite books/authors in your top five 🙂
Great list, and awesome 2015. Happy New Year!
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Thanks for all always reading. Happy New Year!
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Once I got over Jorg’s age, I loved the whole Broken Empire series. And I was so glad when Mark Lawrence said he wouldn’t extend the trilogy – I thought it was perfect as it was.
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Totally agree. It ran its course, told an amazing story, and ended in a fitting manner. One of the all-time best fantasy trilogies ever. Happy New Year!
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Awesome list! Amazing books!
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So many titles I want to read in your list! It’s good to see that they more than worthy of attention 🙂
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When I get around to making my top reads of 2015, Mistborn, The Emperor’s Blades, and Emperor of Thorns will most likely be in my top 10.
Also, still have to start the Greatcoats series; aka, the greatest series since slices bread XD
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