My year in audiobooks

I credit audiobooks as seriously improving my life. They are wonderful and really make a difference. I didn't get through as many audiobooks this year as I normally would have, because I've been bingeing on a few podcasts I've recently discovered (Blurry Photos and The Dollop).

Kings of the Wyld: The Band, Book 1 - Nicholas Eames I wanted to like this story, just couldn't handle the constant references to getting the band back together. The humour just missed the mark for me. I think I prefer my fantasy a bit more serious.

The Memory of Trees - F. G. Cottam So this was a great book, really atmospheric - not really scary, just the right kind of darkness. Went and got a ton of his other works as a result, although I think this is still my favorite.

The Lazarus Prophecy - F.G. Cottam Listened to this immediately after the memory of trees. Not really my favorite subject matter, but still a good enjoyable story.

Rise: Scarlet City - Part II: An Audible Original Drama - Rebecca Gablé I really enjoyed these - generally audibles own dramas have been excellent, and this one was a really good choice of source material to adapt. Most of the characters were pretty unlikable unfortunately. Still loved the flavour of the story.

Mortal Engines: Mortal Engines, Book 1 - Philip Reeve I wanted to read the book before the film, now I'm not interested in seeing the film. I really hated this, I can't understand why people were raving about it so much. Just so many problems with the story.

The Wolf's Hour - Robert R. McCammo Very campy ww2 with werewolves thriller. I think someone on here recommended it, I wouldn't. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't very good either.

Alien: Sea of Sorrows: An Audible Original Drama - James A. Moore, Dirk Maggs I will listen to anything produced by Dirk Maggs, he's a legend. These alien adaptations have been really enjoyable and very well put together. Again audibles own productions are excellent and really worth your time.

Empire: Scarlet City - Part III: An Audible Original Drama - Rebecca Gablé Glad the series is over, as I said before, I wasn't a fan of any of the characters - but I loved the setting and ambiance.

Sourdough - Robin Sloan Was really looking forward to this book, loved the previous story by Robin Sloan - however this one was really damned wierd. Stayed with me a fair amount of time. I also really like sourdough now. Maybe subliminal programming.

The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant - Drew Hayes I didn't do well with this. Really wanted to like it, but the humour wasn't very good and the story was very predictable.

One Way - S. J. Morden Was ok, nothing special. I've seen there is a sequel out - but I'm not that excited to listen to it. Felt like it was written as a result of the popularity of the martian. Wouldn't recommend.

The Colony - F.G. Cottam Another good enjoyable FG Cottam story. This one is the first in a bigger series. Love it.

Brodmaw Bay - F.G. Cottam I think my second favorite story by FG Cottam. Love the setting, and the way it gets deeper and darker. Love it.

Six Stories - Matt Wesolowski This was interesting, I've got the next book by the author - but not psyched myself up to listen to it yet, I think I need to be travelling and in the right mood for this one.

Wicked Game - Matt Johnson Standard fair thriller, nothing really stood out of this one.

Traitor's Blade: The Greatcoats, Book 1 - Sebastien de Castell I loved this, I know there are more in the series, but I'm savoring them for another time. Every now and then I need to pass the time waiting for other books, and I'll use these to escape that wait.

The Witch's Daughter: Shadow Chronicles, Book 1 - Paula Brackston I wanted to like this, but the main character is just so dumb. Really frustrating. Shame

Rogue Male - Geoffrey Household So this is more like it. This is brilliant, how a hunter becomes the hunted. Great story, really gripping. Has aged amazingly well. Basically a pre-cursor to James Bond.

The Grey Bastards: The Lot Lands - Jonathan French Really enjoyed this, lots of hype around it - but for good reasons.

The Greatest Knight - Elizabeth Chadwick This started well, but ended up being very dry and monotonous.

Strange Practice: A Dr Greta Helsing Novel - Vivian Shaw Urban fantasy is hard to do. This was trying way too hard. I might return to this universe sometime, but not for a while.

Cursed: An Alex Verus Novel - Benedict Jacka Really didnt get into this - again bad urban fantasy.

Passenger 23: An Audible Original Drama - Sebastian Fitzek Was trying hard to like this, but I just didnt care about any of the characters very much.

Slow Horses: Slough House, Book 1 - Mick Herron So this was a pleasant suprise. It's a really hard book to get into, I found it hard to distinguish between chapters, characters and times - but once it all fell into place in my head it was great. Suffers from unreliable narrator from a story perspective though, so it's hard to keep up at times. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

Painting the Sand - Kim Hughes Didn't enjoy this one - standard ex mil bio.

Horus Rising: The Horus Heresy, Book 1 - Dan Abnett Wanted to get back into the GW universe - and this is the start of an epic.

The Talon of Horus: Warhammer 40,000: Black Legion, Book 1 - Aaron Dembski-Bowden Not as good as Dan Abnett - but still enjoyable.

Dark Imperium: Warhammer 40,000 - Guy Haley A bit too wishy washy for me.

The Blackhouse: The Lewis Trilogy, Book 1 - Peter May Loved this, really atmospheric. Devoured this on a recommendation from a friend.

The Lewis Man - Peter May Immediately started the sequel after finishing the blackhouse. It's a bit of a change, and not so bad.

Lies Sleeping: Rivers of London, Book 7 - Ben Aaronovitch Love it. This is urban fantasy done right.

Apache - Ed Macy Another typical ex mil bio. Again a recommendation from here, wasn't very good.

The Blackthorn Key - Kevin Sands Listened to this on 2 long car journeys with my boys. Very enjoyable and a bit gross (in a good way)