2020 started off very busy for me: I moved house on the 7th January, went on a mini break to the Lake District and another to Vienna – all before Valentines Day! However, with lockdown and some changes in work, I was able to find plenty of time for reading.

This year I really diversified my reading. Previously I’ve stuck pretty closely to fantasy titles, but this year I started to move more towards historical fiction, horror, gothic and thriller. I had quite a lot of new reads over re-reads this year so my shelves are flowing with new titles and looking prettier than ever.

To save you reading the full review, my top 5 reads of 2020 are (in no particular order):

  • The Ghost Tree
  • The Silent Companions
  • A Cosmology of Monsters
  • City of Thieves
  • The Familiars

Favourite trilogy of the year: The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden.

  1. The Toll, Neal Shusterman.

The final part of Shusterman’s Arc of the Scythe series. I was hugely impressed with Scythe and Thunderhead, both being great examples of dystopian fiction as well as YA fiction. The Toll covers a lot of ground, and while there are some moments of well crafted tension, particularly with Rowan’s character and Scythe Goddard, I felt it was a bit overlong and the ending just fell flat for me. Probably the weakest of the three books for me, but a good series nonetheless.

2. Furyborn, Claire Legrand

I loved how Legrand built her world of magic and blended the two timelines of our heroines Rielle and Eliana. She paced it well, gave the characters room to grow and show their flaws, threw in a good dollop of romance and created a real winner of YA fantasy. It may not be the most intellectual book but it was definitely a fun read.

3. Daughter of the Burning City, Amanda Foody

Having read Foody’s Ace of Shades and King of Fools in 2019 I decided to revisit her earlier work while waiting for the third instalment. You can tell this is a debut novel but it’s not terrible – if anything it was nice to see how much she grew as a writer between books. The premise is interesting, and I like the idea of heroine with no eyes (not blind, she literally has no eyes) who can create illusions that are as real as people. The setting of the Burning City is very atmospheric and the novel deals with a number of coming-of-age themes. While it’s not my favourite book of hers it was enjoyable and nice to see how far Foody has come.

4. This Is Going To Hurt, Adam Kay

I picked this up in the airport ahead of flying to Vienna. It’s one that’s been on the radar for some time but one I never quite got round to. As many more esteemed critics before me have said, this book is funny, sad, inspiring, eye opening and an all-round amazing shout out to the work of our NHS. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a book that you can breeze through while loving every page.

5. Caraval, Stephanie Garber

Caraval is another YA novel that I’d seen floating around for a while. I was never hugely sold on the premise: a huge mysterious carnival/party appears on a magic island and players are invited to join, with the winner having a wish granted. I also thought the heroine had a stupid name (which is a really petty reason not to read something, but seriously, who calls someone Donnatella?). Curiosity finally got the better of me, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The puzzle aspect of the game of Caraval is interesting, I liked the relationship between Scarlett and Julian, and the setting is rich with details and funky little quirks. I can see why it’s so loved in the YA community as it’s definitely one of the better examples of the genre.

6. Legendary, Stephanie Garber

Sequel to Caraval, Legendary flips the focus from Scarlett (our heroine in book 1) to her sister Donatella (Tella). The Caraval game also moves to the capital city and we start to learn more about Legend, the master of Caraval himself. This one was more heavy on the character relationships and romance than before, and personally I felt a bit miffed that Scarlett was pushed aside so swiftly in favour of focusing on Tella. Having spent an entire novel with her, to suddenly have her so sidelined felt quite jarring.

7. Finale, Stephanie Garber

I’m not sure if it’s because I read the Caraval series in such quick succession or if Finale was just not that interesting, but I can’t remember a great deal of it. There were a lot of overly floral descriptions of clothes that got boring pretty quickly, and everything tied up in a perfect YA fantasy bow. I felt it was a let down after the strong start to the series and the ending is so redundant and pointless it made me a bit angry.

8. The Librarian of Auschwitz, Antonio Itube

Although harrowing, The Librarian of Auschwitz is a beautiful, gripping read of survival and finding hope in the darkest parts of the world. Taken directly from interviews and experiences with the Librarian herself as well as other historical accounts, Itube doesn’t shy away from the reality of the camps. The final chapters where they are transferred to Belsen particularly hit home for me; I had family involved in the liberation of the camp. A stunning historical read that is heart wrenching, brutal, hopeful and a reminder all at once.

9. The Familiars, Stacey Halls

I didn’t know much about the Pendle Witch Trials before reading this, and although I knew this was Halls’ breakout novel that had been heaped with praise, I always get a bit wary when this happens. Thankfully, I was quite wrong. This novel is a beautifully crafted story with historical accuracy and flourishes of poetic licence. The quiet relationship between Fleetwood and her maid/midwife/companion Alice is a beautiful example of female friendship in times when women lacked power and responsibility, and how they create their own secret world apart from the men in their lives. The descriptions of the rugged northern english countryside are evocative and it shone a light on an area of history I knew little about. A stunning read, one of my favourites of the year.

10. All The Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr

Although a re-read, All The Light We Cannot See is one of the most beautifully written historical fiction novels I’ve come across. Set against the Nazi occupation of France, the story flits between blind Marie-Laure, who longs to find her father and is trapped in the seaside city of Saint-Malo, and Werner, a young German boy with a talent for radios who finds himself facing the brutality of war. It’s a heart breaking look at how people try to survive even when the odds are stacked against them, the resourcefulness of the human spirit, but also how we can be cruel and kind in the same breath.

11. Deathless, Catherynne Valente

Another re-read, this time diving into a re-telling of the famous Russian fairytale Koschei the Deathless. Set against a backdrop of Russian history, including the 1917 Revolution and the Siege of Stalingrad, it’s a fascinating blend of history, reality, and fantasy worlds. This was one of the novels that really got me interested in Russian folklore and history.

12. The Bear and the Nightingale, Katherine Arden

I read this a few years ago, and while I liked the themes and the setting, something just didn’t quite grab me, so it’s been sitting on my shelf since. After reading Deathless I was keen to read some more Russian-inspired fantasy so decided to give this another go. I enjoyed this much more on a second read and appreciated the folklore more. It’s very well written and Arden does a great job of highlighting the difficulties of the life back then without it being too miserable.

13. The Girl in the Tower, Katherine Arden

After having enjoyed The Bear and The Nightingale I picked up the sequel and this was a really fantastic follow up. Set mainly in the city of Moscow, we learn more about the intricacies of court and the struggles of Vasya as she rebels against the patriarchal society that dooms her to the role of wife or nun. Her relationship with her horse Solovey is also really beautiful – as a horse lover I enjoyed this very much. The Girl In The Tower brings out more Russian folklore as we meet key figures such as the Firebird, the Gamayun and Koschei the Deathless. A fantastic piece of historical fantasy that strengthened from the first book.

14. The Winter of the Witch, Katherine Arden

Concluding the Winternight Trilogy, The Winter of the Witch doesn’t disappoint. It throws huge curveballs at Vasya with loss, persecution, and the fate of Russia resting on her shoulders. Her relationship with Morozko also advances, but it’s not one driven by love or lust – its mutual respect and understanding which is so refreshing in a romance plot. The ending had me in tears and I wondered why I’d waited so long to try this series again. A stunning trilogy for fans of history and fantasy alike.

15. And I Darken, Kiersten White

Another historical fantasy/fiction, And I Darken is the re-telling of the story of Vlad the Impaler – only White flips Vlad to be Lada, a girl with the viciousness and tenacity of a warrior who wants only to retake her beloved Wallachia and become its ruler. This dives into the history of Eastern Europe and the Ottoman Empire, two areas I knew little about. Her brother Radu and their relationship with future sultan Mehmed is also a great piece of character writing – their triangle is equally dependent, toxic, loving and tenacious all at once.

16. Now I Rise, Kiersten White

We follow more of Lada’s journey towards becoming Prince of Wallachia, and Mehmed’s difficulties as she tries to free herself from under the rule of the empire – thereby making herself an enemy of her childhood friend. We also spend a lot of time with Radu, who is involved in the siege of Constantinople, and how he’s manipulated and exploited for his relationships, compassion, and sexuality. Mehmed starts to flex his power as Sultan and Lada steps closer to becoming ‘The Impaler’ as she retakes Wallachia.

17. Bright We Burn, Kiersten White

Lada steps more into her role as antihero, becoming more brutal and violent than ever before. Radu, scarred by the horrors of Constantinople and now realising he’s just a pawn to Mehmed, starts to take things into his own hands to try and protect the people he loves. Mehmed, who loves Lada because she refuses to give into him, is forced to take troops against her. We have a recreation one of Vlad the Impaler’s more notorious acts (forest of stakes) and Lada will stop at nothing for Wallachia. The characters dig deeper, love harder, and fight more ferociously than before in a fantastic conclusion of this trilogy.

Side note: White’s depiction of homosexuality and platonic love in the trilogy is one of the best and most accurate representations I’ve read – both for the time period and just generally. It was great to see so many queer characters in the cast.

18. The Sisters of the Winter Wood, Rena Rossner

Still sticking with the historical fantasy, The Sisters of the Winter Wood is a turn of the 20th century novel set in Eastern Europe (Ukraine I believe). It tells the story of two Jewish sisters – one who can transform into a swan, the other a bear. This is a slow burner of a story – it’s not packed with action or violence but it is a gripping story nonetheless. It’s about how quickly your neighbours can turn on you, how fast the flames of persecution can spread, how family are everything but also how you can welcome new people into that family. It’s a really touching story and apparently is based on Christina Rossetti’s famous ‘Goblin Market’. If you’re looking for a blend of history, fantasy and family driven stories I highly recommend this.

19. Spinning Silver, Naomi Novik

Another re-read, but I love Novik’s work (Uprooted is one of my all time favourite novels) so it was a delight to come back to Spinning Silver. Loosely based on the story of Rumpelstiltskin, we follow Miryem, daughter of a Jewish moneylender, as she turns her hand to bookkeeping. Her skill at money lending does not go unnoticed. Her grandfather is proud, her neighbours grow jealous, and ultimately she draws the attention of the Staryk King, a creature of winter who desires gold above all else. Spinning Silver didn’t capture me quite as much as Uprooted, but it’s still a great story about a girl who takes fate in her own hands, a queen with magic blood, a violent, vengeful prince and a cold heartless king. A beautiful piece of folklore, social commentary, history and fantasy.

20. The Mercies, Kiran Millwood Hargrave

As a lover of the Scandinavian region, when I heard about The Mercies I couldn’t wait to read it. Based on the true story of a town in Norway who lost almost all of their men in a freak storm, it’s a great look into how capable the people of the time were (set in the early 1600s). The story focuses heavily on the persecution of witchcraft and the Lappish people, and provides insight into how hard life was even for those who were more prosperous. A great snippet of history magnified by excellent character building, it lent me more insight into the witchcraft frenzy of the Middle Ages.

21. Wakenhyrst, Michelle Paver

Switching away from historical fiction, Wakenhyrst is an atmospheric gothic story set in the Norfolk fens in the early 20th century. When a Doom painting is uncovered in the nearby church, it sparks a series of events that spiral into paranoia, witchcraft, murder and insanity. I particularly liked the magpies and the imagery of the fens as a place of secrets, of magic, of something old and undisturbed.

22. We Were The Lucky Ones, Georgia Hunter

Back on the history! We’re back in World War Two, following the Kurc family as they struggle against the atrocities. Being both Polish and Jewish, they find themselves heavily persecuted by the Nazi invaders and their own neighbours as tensions rise. We Were the Lucky Ones is based on true historic accounts of the Kurc family, and follows each of the 5 adult children and their parents as they find themselves flung across Europe. It’s an extraordinary tale and the title is explained in a lovely author’s note at the end.

23. City of Thieves, David Benioff

I was familiar with Benioff from his work as a Game of Thrones series writer/creator, but I wasn’t aware he’d published a novel. City of Thieves is a fantastic (true!) story of two young men trapped in the Siege of Leningrad who are given an impossible task to evade execution; source a dozen fresh eggs for the Colonel’s daughter’s wedding cake. In a city where people are eating books, shoes and wallpaper to survive, where are you supposed to find 12 eggs? While the premise does sound a little ridiculous, the richness of the setting, the tenacious relationship between the two main characters and the sense of desperation that underpins it all makes for a fantastic story and one of the best Russian historic fiction books I’ve read. Add into it that the main character Lev is David Benioff’s grandfather and everything becomes that much more real.

24. The Queen’s Rising, Rebecca Ross

Sadly, this was my most forgettable read of the year. I remember pretty much nothing about it, it left me with an ‘eh’ feeling, and I was quick to donate it. I’m sure had I been a little younger (I think the target audience must be 11-15) I might have enjoyed it more, but not for me.

25. The Power, Naomi Alderman

A re-read and always a favourite, The Power envisages a world where women can suddenly conduct electricity with their hands. A fascinating look at how power influences us/corrupts, coupled with some great high-stakes heists, gang crime and family feuds. A piece of dystopian fiction that is sure to be a classic (and is coming to Amazon Prime!).

26. The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Attwood

Do I really need to say anything about Attwood’s incredible, genre-defining work that is The Handmaid’s Tale? A beautiful, taut, honed piece of prose that is always exciting to read again and again. I was embarrassingly late to this, reading it for the first time in 2018. I wish I’d read it sooner.

27. Goodbye to Budapest, Margarita Morris

Another piece of historic fiction, this time we are headed to Hungary in the 1950s for the Hungarian Uprising. I knew nothing about this event and I would say that the first 2/3 of this book are pretty good – lots of historic detail, a solid storyline about the professor forced to confess by the Secret Police and his daughter trying to find him. A few cliches along the way but overall it was a good story. But the ending…it was messy. Characters who had met just days earlier declaring undying love for each other, the chaos of the battle spilled out into the writing, making it hard to follow what was happening. I felt irritated at the end of the novel and wondered why an editor hadn’t picked up on the plot holes and typos (so many typos). The answer: it was a self-publish.

Now, some self publish can be good. But not all, and definitely not the vast majority. I fell into a similar trap with Jennifer Armentrout’s From Blood And Ash, which I managed about two chapters of before I gave up in disgust.

28. The Testaments, Margaret Attwood

I’ll admit, I was a little sceptical that Attwood decided to produce a sort-of sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale after so many years. But thankfully, she proved wrong. The Testaments has three storylines that converge, each highlighting a different aspect of Gilead and the characters, including some fascinating backstory on the famous Aunts. Outstanding work as I should have expected.

29. Animal: An Autobiography of the female body, Sara Pascoe

This was recommended to me by a friend and I’m really glad I took her up on this. Pascoe is honest, funny, endearing, realistic, and eager to learn throughout her narration of what it’s like growing up with a female body. Her insatiable thirst for knowledge reminds me of myself, and I love her comedic style that helps her tackle subjects with ease while maintaining respect. Littered with fascinating facts, anecdotes and insight, it was a surprise read for how much I enjoyed it.

30. Sex, Power, Money, Sara Pascoe

Pascoe follows up Animal with Sex, Power, Money, which is more of an anthropological insight into human behaviour and why we’re obsessed with these three things. A little more philosophical and removed than Animal, Pascoe still dives into some pretty hefty topics such as pornography and sex work. I did feel at the end she was still looking for an answer rather than drawing a decent conclusion to all her research – I suspect a third book will come out to help her work through some of the loose ends.

31. Nevernight, Jay Kristoff

A re-read as I was refreshing myself ahead of Darkdawn, the third instalment. Kristoff delivers a school of wannabe assassins and doesn’t hold back on the violence, sex, language, betrayals and brutality. It’s a no-holds-barred example of when fantasy is written by good writers, it’s really good. Also, what’s not to love about a smart-aleck shadow cat called Mr Kindly?

32. Godsgrave, Jay Kristoff

Godsgrave picks up right after Nevernight but we change scene – this time, we’re off to the gladiator sands where Mia is fighting her way through the ranks for her chance at revenge. The cast of fellow gladiators is well handled, the deaths are just as brutal, and the interwoven politics are sexy and subtle. A great bridging piece with huge leaps forward in plot and character development for Mia.

33. Darkdawn, Jay Kristoff

I was SO excited when Darkdawn was announced in paperback. I had been waiting so long to read it and I smashed through it in around 2 days. The end of the series wrapped up in a fashion that I thoroughly enjoyed – Mia Corvere steps into her own power as a Darkin and revenge is finally served. It was bloody, dark and utterly savage at certain points, but the character relationship between Mia and her cohorts (including her family) holds everything together and made it a breathtaking ride of adventure. Also, I personally love the footnotes – I know they’re a bit marmite for some.

34. Kingsbane, Claire Legrand

Having read Furyborn at the start of the year, I was keen to find out how Rielle and Eliana were getting on in Kingsbane. And…I was disappointed, Furyborn at least had some decent action scenes and a goal that was in reach, plus it had some character development if it was a little thin at times. Kingsbane just drags on and on with Rielle trying to be an antihero (and failing), trying to be a hero (and failing), Eliana trying to reconcile her magic powers (and being reckless), trying to take on the army of angels (and being reckless). All the while, Legrand insists on weaving in sex scenes at pretty much any opportunity. And these aren’t relevant to the plot in most cases – they feel very much dropped in to please a horny teenage audience. The ending was also infuriating, to the point where I don’t know if I’ll pick up the third instalment if it’s going to be more of the same.

35. The Left Hand of God, Paul Hoffman

This is a book my partner has had knocking around for years, and as I was short on new reading material I picked it up. The premise is good and I would have enjoyed seeing a lot more of the school where the boys are ‘taught’ (read: punishing and brainwashed into soldiers) rather than it darting away to a city. I liked the four characters who it led with but somewhere in the middle, around about the time the ‘love interest’ comes in, it all starts to slide apart. There’s not enough of one thing or the other; not enough violence to be dark, not enough romance to be a love story. I think it just loses it’s way a little bit and as with some of these male protagonist male-written novels, I found it all a bit gritty without the depth.

36. American Gods, Neil Gaiman

If you’ve never read American Gods, don’t be put off by the length. This is Gaiman’s finest work and the story is just something else. Following Shadow, a recently released convict who gets mixed up with some Old Gods and New Gods, Gaiman takes a razor sharp look at our world with his talented writing and beautiful storytelling. I’ve read his writing in this book described as being like chocolate, which is a perfect description.

37. Dark Matter, Michelle Paver

A ghost story of the arctic and polar exploration in the 1930s is probably not an ideal summer read, but I still really enjoyed it. Relatively short and told in diary entries, Paver does a great job of slowly cranking up the creeping tension and the fear of the unknown when you’re trapped and isolated in a world of perpetual darkness. I also enjoyed all the huskies mentioned.

38. Anansi Boys, Neil Gaiman

Described as a ‘sort of’ sequel to American Gods, Anansi Boys focuses specifically on Charlie Nancy, whose dad just happens to be Anansi, the Spider God. We meet his eclectic, carefree brother Spider and the ensuring chaos he brings to Charlie’s life is quite something. A really interesting look at how old world traditions and newer ideas intermesh in Caribbean-influenced culture, I loved how exasperated Charlie was, how sulky Spider was and how infuriatingly boring Graham Coats was.

39. Alias Grace, Margaret Attwood

Having been impressed with Attwood’s other work, I decided to give Alias Grace a go. Based loosely on historic events, the book is written in quite an unusual way. Attwood focuses heavily on minute details without it feeling overly descriptive or boring. I can see how some people would find this style dull but personally I really liked it. As the narrative unfolds we get to know more about the scandal surrounding Grace and the murders – the ending was a really excellent close as well.

40. The Volunteer, Jack Fairweather

Although this is technically historic fiction, The Volunteer is written in a very journalistic style so at times you are reading a great deal of information. As a history fan, and knowing how this book was written, I personally didn’t mind, but I know this style can drive some people mad. The true story of a man from the Polish resistance who goes into Auschwitz in order to report on the conditions, you see firsthand how slow the Allies were to act, how easy it was for the atrocities to mount up – but also how the resistance worked inside the camps to keep people together. The reality of the story really bites at times but I appreciated Fairweather not shying away from any of the details.

41. The Huntress, Kate Quinn

This was my first novel of Quinn’s and I was very impressed. Her attention to detail and historical accuracy was excellent, and I really enjoyed the different character perspectives of the Russian female fighter pilot, American teenager, and Nazi hunting Brit. I believe it’s loosely based on a true account but either way, I really enjoyed the read, the pacing was good, the character development natural and the ending was a great way to tie things up.

42. Vita Nostra, Marina & Sergey Dyachenko

A re-read, but still as mind-boggling and inventive as the first time I read it. If anyone ever asks me for a recommendation on surrealist fiction, this is my go-to. Vita Nostra is one of the strangest books I’ve ever read, and even giving a synopsis tells you very little about the actual story. As mind-bending as it is, it’s a thoroughly original read and if you’re after something completely different that’s in the vein of science fiction/surrealism/body horror, this is a winner.

43. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King

A sort of autobiography and writing how-to guide, Stephen King gives excellent insight into his own journey as a writer and his advice on how to be a better writer is actually practical! You can put things into practice pretty easily from reading this book. I read this in preparation for National Novel Writing Month and it was definitely a good book to get me ready for writing .

44. Queen of Volts, Amanda Foody

The final instalment in The Shadow Game trilogy, I wasn’t sure how this was going to measure up as I adored King of Fools, the previous book. This is a book with a huge character cast so be prepared to remember names, enemies, lovers, ex-lovers, family ties and more. Foody does manage to tie everything up without it feeling rushed, and everyone gets what they deserve, whether that’s good or not. I liked how Enne and Levi interacted – unlike most YA novels where one wrongs the other and is immediately forgiven, they both kinda hate each other, use each other, but ultimately they overcome the pettiness and respect is earned. A great ending to an outstanding YA series – one of the best I’ve read in recent years.

45. The Foundling, Stacey Halls

Having been blown away by The Familiars, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Foundling. It is definitely a mystery/history novel, as we follow Bess trying to find her missing child. We travel through 1700s London which is painted in exquisite detail, we see the struggles of working and the disparity between the working and upper classes. I loved the linkboys and how the diverse population of London was depicted – the imagery of the docks and the rag market was just stunning.

46. A Cosmology of Monsters, Shaun Hamill

I picked this up on a whim, intrigued by the cover and the premise of a haunted house attraction. Hamill’s debut novel has turned out to be one of my favourite reads from 2020, and a really genuine surprise. Blending all the wonderful tropes of the 1980s and 1990s horror movies along with some Stranger Things ‘Upsidedown’ vibes, this is a story that is a coming of age tale with a twist. Deeply dark and visceral at times, A Cosmology of Monsters was a really enjoyable read with an unusual setting – I look forwards to seeing more work from Hamill.

47. The Silent Companions, Laura Purcell

Another horror, or perhaps more accurately, a gothic chiller/thriller, The Silent Companions is a blend of two timelines and two women – one in the Victorian era, the other in the reign of Charles I. The ‘companions’ are wooden statues that are uncovered in the house when the new tenant, Elsie, moves in with her batty cousin. Purcell does an excellent job of building creeping tension, keeping the companions just out of sight, and the ending really gave my chills. Considering it was her debut I was thoroughly impressed.

48. Let The Right One In, John Ajvide Lindqvist

Sweden? Vampire? Gothic horror? Let The Right One In has all this along with a rather touching coming of age story between Oskar and Eli. You can see why this book captured the public and filmmakers alike – it’s creepy enough to make you shudder but the wonderful relationships and interesting take on the vampire theme is great.

49. The Last, Hanna Jameson

It’s the end of the world and you’re stuck in a hotel for a work conference when a dead girl turns up in the water tank. A weird premise but Jameson does a great job with her post-apocalyptic setting, the tensions drawn out between a group of strangers forced to work together, and the overhanging ‘whodunnit’ of the murdered girl. A great thriller with an unusual setting and the challenges that come with that.

50. A Skinful of Shadows, Francis Hardinge

We’re back in 17th century England and yes, it’s more witchcraft! Set against the backdrop of the English Civil War, Hardinge introduces us to Makepeace, a girl who has the ability to see ghosts and store them within her skin. With a scheming evil family, a bleak moorland house and the threat of being overtaken by ghosts against her will, Makepeace is a girl who wants to survive against the odds and rescue her friend James from a similar fate. A lovely piece of historic fantasy with the right balance of history to fantasy.

51. The Ghost Tree, Christina Henry

I knew of Christina Henry having seen her dark retellings of The Little Mermaid and Alice in Wonderland heaped with praise, although I’m not interested in either story particularly. The Ghost Tree, however, is not a retelling. We meet Lauren and Miranda, best friends, both 14 and dealing with all the awfulness of being an early teenage girl. Then two dead girls turn up, shredded, eviscerated and laid out in a woman’s backyard, and the town begins to unravel. It’s small town America, it’s the 1980s and it’s summer – yes, there’s clearly some Stranger Things influence going on here, but I’m not complaining. This book was a real surprise and I loved the twists and turns, how Lauren and Miranda’s relationships developed and the ghost tree and the violence around it were jarring enough to keep you grounded.

52. Bone China, Laura Purcell

What’s more festive than reading about tuberculosis patients in Victorian England? Having been impressed with The Silent Companions, I received Bone China for Christmas. I didn’t think it was quite as strong as her other work, but still creepy and atmospheric nonetheless, and reflective of some of the medical practices around TB at the time. Blending the traditional fairy stories and ‘little people’ folklore of Cornwall with the viciousness of the disease creates a story that is unusual if a bit slow at times.