Best of 2024: The Books That Made You Laugh, Cry, and Ignore Your Laundry

A thousand years ago, Dianna made a desperate choice to save her sister, invoking a dark power she barely understood. Now, bound to the ruthless Kaden, she’s tasked with retrieving a deadly relic from creatures that would happily see her dead. Dianna’s loyalty and survival hinge on completing this mission, no matter the cost. Liam, once known as Samkiel, the legendary World Ender, has hidden from his past and his crown. But when a vicious attack threatens those he loves, he’s forced to return to a realm he swore he’d abandoned. Haunted by old betrayals and enemies thought defeated, he must confront a threat that endangers all realms. Two powerful enemies are thrown together, bound by a common goal. But can they set aside centuries of grudges to save their worlds?

A gifted young knight named Collum arrives at Camelot to compete for a place at the Round Table, only to find that he’s too late. King Arthur died two weeks ago at the Battle of Camlann, and only a handful of the knights of the Round Table are left. The survivors aren’t the heroes of legend like Lancelot or Gawain. They’re the oddballs of the Round Table, like Sir Palomides, the Saracen Knight, and Sir Dagonet, Arthur’s fool, who was knighted as a joke. They’re joined by Nimue, who was Merlin’s apprentice until she turned on him and buried him under a hill. But it’s up to them to rebuild Camelot in a world that has lost its balance, even as God abandons Britain and the fairies and old gods return, led by Morgan le Fay. They must reclaim Excalibur and make this ruined world whole again—but first they’ll have to solve the mystery of why the lonely, brilliant King Arthur fell.

An ancient secret is stirring, and only an unlikely team stands in its way. Otto, a quirky wand-wielding wizard; Zac, a towering werewolf; and Anastasia, a pint-sized powerhouse, don’t know each other yet. But when fate throws them together, they uncover a dark truth hidden in Earth’s history. Millennia ago, false gods—mighty beings who siphoned Earth’s power—were trapped in a demon realm. Now, their prison weakens, and these false gods are clawing back into our world, bent on reclaiming dominance over humanity. With time slipping away, Otto, Zac, and Anastasia must harness the remnants of forgotten magic to stop them. But will their combined strength be enough to thwart an enemy that once held the world in its grip?

Buried under the Antarctic ice lies a secret that will change humanity’s fate: an alien pyramid revealing that Earth was once a colony of the ruthless V’kit’no’sat empire, abandoned 100,000 years ago. Humanity’s very existence is illegal, and if the V’kit’no’sat return, they’ll eradicate us all. When a powerful corporation uncovers this truth, they don’t notify world governments. Instead, they launch a new, covert mission to prepare Earth for an inevitable invasion. But can humanity rally, evolve, and create an empire strong enough to face the coming threat? As ancient powers resurface, humanity’s survival hangs by a thread. And time is running out before our former masters come back to claim what they left behind.

Theadora Kathryn Blackwood doesn’t play by anyone’s rules but her own. After years of navigating the local Coven’s power plays, she’s won a deal that could set her free forever: three years as an Arcane Consultant with the Arcane Investigations Division, and she’s done with Coven politics for good. But New Orleans isn’t known for playing nice. Two witches in her position have died in the past four years, and Thea lacks formal training or Coven support. What she does have is the Blackwood name—a name with a legacy of power and ruthlessness that terrifies her enemies and haunts her allies. As dark forces close in and loyalties shift, Thea must survive a deadly game where the stakes are her freedom—and her life.

Cassie Andrews leads an ordinary life shelving books and serving coffee in a New York bookshop—until a favorite customer dies and leaves behind a peculiar gift: the Book of Doors. Inscribed with cryptic text, the book promises that any door is every door—if you know how to open them. When Drummond Fox, a shadowy librarian, reveals the book’s immense power, Cassie learns it’s part of a collection sought by those who will stop at nothing to possess them. With danger closing in, Cassie must decide whether to join Drummond in protecting the books or risk everything to keep her life intact. Hunted by a deadly collector, Cassie holds the key to a hidden library—and a battle between knowledge and dark ambition.

Welcome to Phantasma, a deadly contest where the rules are simple: stay alive, and don’t fall in love. When Ophelia’s sister vanishes, her only chance to save her is to enter Phantasma—a twisted maze of haunted halls, lurking demons, and nine treacherous challenges. With a single wish as the prize, Ophelia must navigate the mansion’s horrors while fending off ruthless rivals who will do anything to win. As she teeters on the edge of fear and despair, a stranger named Blackwell offers her a dangerous deal: his guidance through the trials in exchange for ten years of her life. Arrogant, charming, and maddeningly attractive, Blackwell is as tempting as he is mysterious. But in a place where danger and desire intertwine, will trusting him be her salvation—or her downfall?

Indulge in a curated set of five standalone spicy rom-coms that deliver your favorite tropes with humor, heart, and heat. Meet a duo navigating forbidden attraction in Birthday Suit, a best friend’s ex workplace romance that sizzles with tension. Root for friends-turned-lovers in Instant Gratification, where fake dates lead to real sparks. Embrace a love born of convenience in Part-Time Lover, a marriage of necessity that feels far from business. Swoon over the snarky wit and irresistible chemistry in Dear Sexy Ex-Boyfriend’s fake fiancé adventure. Finally, get swept up in an “oops-he’s-my-boss” tale in The What If Guy. Each story is a rollercoaster of laughs, longing, and love. The perfect excuse to cancel plans—don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel The city of Ebora once gleamed with gold. Now, its streets are haunted by wolves, and its empire crumbles. Tormalin the Oathless would rather drown his guilt in wine and women than watch his homeland decay. So when eccentric explorer Lady Vincenza “Vintage” de Grazon offers him a way out—hunting monsters and recovering lost artifacts—he takes it. Joined by a fugitive witch with a fiery temper, their journey soon leads them into a tangled conspiracy of magic and war. The ancient enemy known as the Jure’lia are stirring once more, and the world stands on the brink of devastation. Epic, immersive, and thrilling, The Ninth Rain is the first book in the award-winning Winnowing Flame trilogy—perfect for fans of Robin Hobb and Jay Kristoff.

What if everything you knew about the Devil was a lie? When author Joseph Banbury, famous for his controversial book challenging religion, is approached by the Devil with a once-in-a-lifetime offer—to write Satan’s side of the story—he’s thrust into a nightmare far beyond his wildest imagination. As Joseph journeys into the depths of Hell, he quickly realizes that nothing is as it seems. The Devil’s twisted narrative hides dark secrets, including a terrifying prophecy that foretells the end of the Universe. The deeper he goes, the more Joseph’s own fate intertwines with the fate of humanity. With time running out, Joseph faces an impossible choice: succumb to Hell’s deception or fight to alter destiny itself. But can anyone truly defy the Devil?

Caspian is a loyal soldier trapped under the iron fist of a merciless master, bound to a life of unflinching obedience and unrelenting violence. His next mission? Hunt down Niamh—a dreamer so innocently naive she’s practically begging to be broken. But Niamh isn’t just a victim. She’s driven by her one impossible dream: to escape her suffocating reality and explore the world. Even if it means stepping into the monster’s den willingly. When Caspian’s cold calculations melt into a fiery obsession, the lines between hunter and prey blur dangerously. Can Niamh survive his dark games? Or will Caspian lose the only thing he might have left—his control? Caught in a deadly spiral, they’re each the other’s undoing. And this game? It has no rules, no winners, and no way out.

In a kingdom where magic means death, surviving the trials isn’t just a goal—it’s everything. I’ve been cursed since birth: a single touch can kill. Everyone fears me, except Maelor—the dark, enigmatic hunter immune to my curse. But his secret is more dangerous than my touch. He’s a vampire, bound to hunt the cursed like me. Every year, the god of our realm demands a trial, pitting cursed souls against each other. The prize? Freedom. The price? Death for everyone else. As Maelor and I navigate deadly traps and rival contenders, I can’t tell if he’s my salvation or my downfall. The clock is ticking, and betrayal lurks everywhere. Will our forbidden bond save me—or destroy us both?

The Banished Lands are shattered, and war looms on the horizon. Corban dreams of becoming a warrior, but bloodshed and sacrifice will come sooner than he ever wanted. Evnis craves power, willing to destroy anyone in his way to seize it. Veradis, a gifted swordsman, fights for glory, but his brother’s shadow looms large. Nathair, ambitious and cunning, plans to defy his father’s will and carve his own path to power. As ancient giants stir and dark forces awaken, these men will face a danger greater than any army. If they fail, the Banished Lands will drown in blood. Can they stop the impending chaos, or is their world doomed to fall apart forever?

One hundred years ago, Anna, a farm girl in rural Ireland, agreed to help a mysterious American translate old fairy stories. But the more they worked, the more she realized something darker was unfolding—one that could destroy her world. In present-day New York, Sarah Harper embarks on a journey to Ireland, searching for answers. What she discovers isn’t just family history—it’s a secret tangled between the realms of myth and reality, where unseen forces hold dangerous power. As Sarah delves deeper, her every step threatens to unravel the truth that could reshape both her life and the world she thought she knew. Will she uncover the mystery before it’s too late, or will she fall prey to the unseen?

When an ancient enemy awakens, Jael Furyck—beloved of the Goddess of War—faces a darkness that threatens her family, her kingdom, and the destiny she was born to fulfill. As ruler of Brekka, Jael has defended her bloodline for centuries. But a haunting vision of flames and shadows leaves her questioning her family’s fate. Desperate for answers, she ventures to Tuura, only to find it razed and her dreamer grandmother vanished. Now, a chilling trail of blood, sickened fields, and whispers of rebellion spread across the kingdom. With each step, Jael senses something darker at play—and time is running out. Will she uncover the truth, or has her enemy already set the final trap?

For twenty years, Sciona has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry. When Sciona finally passes the qualifying exam and becomes a highmage, she finds her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues are determined to make her feel unwelcome—and, instead of a qualified lab assistant, they give her a janitor. What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was not always a janitor. Ten years ago, he was a nomadic hunter who lost his family on their perilous journey from the wild plains to the city. But now he sees the opportunity to understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the privileged in power. At first, mage and outsider have a fractious relationship. But working together, they uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first.

The Ninth Rain has fallen, awakening the ancient Jure’lia and plunging Sarn into chaos. Tormalin the Oathless and the fell-witch Noon must rally the war-beasts—the first born in centuries—but these fractured creatures, hatched too soon, are shadows of their former might. Their discord threatens to doom Sarn before the battle even begins. Scholar Vintage believes the key to uniting the war-beasts lies on a distant, mythical island tied to two vanished Eboran legends. Tormalin and Noon must embark on a perilous journey to uncover the truth, while the Jure’lia grow stronger and new horrors stalk those left behind. Will Sarn’s defenders rise in time, or will the world fall to the ancient enemy once more? The fate of all hangs in the balance.

A mysterious asteroid has entered Earth’s orbit, sparking questions—and a terrifying possibility. Inside this 300-kilometer behemoth lie abandoned cities, eerily similar to Earth’s, built by a civilization called Thistledown. The inhabitants survived a nuclear apocalypse over a thousand years from now, raising a chilling warning for Earth’s future. Theoretical mathematician Patricia Vasquez is tasked with exploring Thistledown, her mission clear: uncover its secrets and prevent humanity from meeting the same fate. But as she delves deeper, Patricia finds something even stranger—a tunnel extending beyond the asteroid’s dimensions, hinting at forces that defy known science. With humanity’s future at stake, Patricia faces a mystery that transcends time, space, and imagination. Can she solve it before history repeats itself?

The Star Continent has unified. War is imminent. For ages, five continents lay scattered across the world—until a cataclysm forged a new land, The Star Continent. Now, two powerful nations, the Realm of the Holdings and the Rahain Republic, vie for control of the continent’s richest plateau. The Rahain Republic, insatiable and armed to the teeth, has eyes on its neighbors, intent on conquest. But the Holdings have an ace: their god speaks to their vision mages, offering guidance and unmatched power. As battle looms, the stakes couldn’t be higher. If the Holdings lose, their people face annihilation—or worse. Yet, with a god on their side, can they truly fail? Will divine power be enough to turn the tides of war—or has the Realm’s fate already been sealed?

In the shadows of the crumbling Old City, a twisted hospital stands, holding those lost to both memory and madness. Inside, a woman with tangled hair and fragments of a forgotten life. All she remembers is a tea party, a pair of long ears… and blood. But when a fire breaks out, she seizes her chance to escape, desperate to uncover the truth of who she once was. Yet freedom comes at a cost. A dark force has slipped out alongside her—something ancient, something hungry. To reclaim her past, she’ll have to descend into the heart of the Old City, where nightmares and reality blend, and a sinister figure waits to welcome her back. Who is she, and what terrible secrets lie in the rabbit’s lair?