Favourite books of 2015

It's that time of the year again. It feels like yesterday when I typed my Best of 2014 post! This year flew by so fast it gave me a whiplash. Thankfully, I read a ton of amazing books which helped keep me sane when life was getting a bit too crazy.
Here's my absolute favourite books of 2015. Hope you can find something you like among these awesome reads, and super talented authors.

                                          

 

I have to start with one of my all-time favourite authors, Santino Hassell. I've been a fan of his ever since I read ICoS and I was looking forward to reading more books from him. In 2015 he published 3 full-length novels, and all of them were fantastic! I can't recommend Sutphin Boulevard (you can read my full review HERE) and Sunset Park strong enough! 

Santino's Gothic paranormal novel Stygian is an epic read! It's a stand alone, not connected to any series and is just brilliant!

In 2015 Leta Blake and Indra Vaugh wrote a book that blew me away! It's a love story about a priest and a rock star, and I have to admit that I was nervous to read it because religious themes make me uncomfortable. But, man, am I glad I did read it! It's phenomenal, one of the best books I've ever laid my hands on.

I never know what to expect from Heidi Cullinan. Her books are so different, both in writing style and theme. But Carry the Ocean came highly recommended from most of my friends, so I gave it a go.

I fell in love from the very first chapter. Such an amazing book! Everyone should read it at least once in the life.

Varian Krylov is one of the most talented authors I've ever had the pleasure of reading. She uses words to create feelings. Every time I read one of her novels I'm in awe with her talent. The words flow so beautifully... Transmundo: Escape is no exception. It's an amazing novel. You can read my full review HERE.

In the Middle of Somewhere is Roan Parrish's debut MM romance novel and it's fantastic! I fell in love with Roan's writing and I'm pretty sure I'll read anything she ever writes. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

True Brit was the pleasant surprise in the Best of 2015 collection. I read it without any expectations and I absolutely loved it! It turned out to be so much more than what the book blurb said it would be. I can't wait to read more from Con Riley.

                                                     

Kim Fielding is another favourite author of mine. She's incredibly talented and I've never read a book of hers I don't like. She was represented on my Best of 2014 list with Brute - an incredible book that still haunts me. This year I read a lot of Ms Fielding's books, but the 2 that absolutely stood out were Rattlesnake and The Tin Box. Both are fantastic novels, and yet they's so incredibly different! I can't pick between the two to save my life!

I love Adrienne Wilder's writing! In the Absence of Light is an amazing book! Ms Wilder never shies away from difficult themes and this novel is no exception. Absolutely brilliant book!

I'm not a huge fantasy/sci-fi/paranormal fan, but this year I discovered two incredible fantasy series - Whyborne&Griffin is one of them. It's so good that I couldn't stop reading until I devoured the whole series! 

The other fantasy series I loved was Mermen of Ea. I've never read any books about mermen but let me tell you, this series is totally addictive! Highly recommend for fans of fantasy/adventure books!

I've probably - unintentionally - left out lots of books I loved this year, for which I'm sorry, but it was such a good year for the genre that it was difficult to choose just a handful. I'm so excited to see our little genre growing and so many talented authors getting more and more attention, and well-deserved recognition, outside of the MM romance clique. I hope 2016 will be even better and we'll see a ton of MM books in the Amazon Top100!

Transmundo by Varian Krylov - ARC review

Transmundo: Escape

Varian Krylov

Book description:

Strange, quiet Luka doesn't live in this world; long ago he took refuge in his art, escaping into surreal mindscapes inspired by his favorite painters. In the beautifully monstrous realms of his imagination, he is safe from the pain of his losses: his family, his friends, his hope. 

Until war breaks out, and he is forced to flee the only home he's known since he was thirteen. 

Captured by an enemy soldier, young Luka is marched across brutal terrain, toward a fate known only by the bearded menace holding him prisoner. Quick with a knife, tireless and strong, Tarik guards the purpose of his mission as he takes Luka deeper and deeper into enemy territory. 

When the soldier discovers the painful secret he has been hiding since childhood, Luka fears he is about to endure a new kind of cruelty, worse than being abandoned, ostracized or beaten. Or is it possible the soldier holding Luka prisoner is the one person who isn't afraid of the truth behind Luka's silence and lies?

My thoughts:

First off, look at that cover! How beautiful is it? Varian used one of her own images for it and it's gorgeous! For those of you who don't know, Varian is also a very talented photographer and owner of Strangeland Photography. If you haven't checked out her photos yet, you really should! The cover was designed by the very talented Bey Deckard - I love how he incorporated the map of Varian's book setting into the image.

It's no secret I love Varian's writing. I fell in love with it after reading Dangerously Happy, and later on the sequel Bad Things. Both books had a strong BDSM undercurrent and even though BDSM is not usually my thing, I enjoyed them immensely.

In Transmundo, Varian takes a step back from the BDSM. It's a sweet, melancholic journey of discovery.

Luka is a 19 year old man born in the wrong country at the wrong time. His country is at war, a senseless, cruel war, that seems to have no meaning or foreseeable end. His gentle soul has been beaten, stomped on and abused all his life. Luka doesn't need much - he just wants to live in peace and be free to express himself through his art.

Unfortunately, vile hatred towards everything Luka is - gay, beautiful, effeminate, talented - crushes all of Luka's dreams, however small and fragile they may be.

Horrible circumstances lead Luka into Tarik's life.

Tarik is a deserted soldier who's refused to be a part of the madness of the war. The two men travel hundreds of kilometres on foot, struggling to survive. Struggling to trust each other.

But when they do - it's beautiful.

Varian's writing is pure magic. I've never read an author who could pull me into the story so fully that I feel it bleeding off the page and surrounding me. I could feel every breath, every exhale, every shiver, hunger pang and gentle caress. 

Luka and Tarik's journey is hard - physically and mentally exhausting, and yet they manage to find their way towards each other; to try and mend whatever is broken inside both of them.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Transmundo to anyone who's looking for a sensual, beautiful book resembling a piece of art rather than a novel. The ending is Happy for Now since this is the first part of a series, and I already can't wait for part 2!

Where to buy:

Transmundo will be released on August 6th. You can preorder it now at Amazon.

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