P.L.'s Top Indie & Top Traditionally Published Book for 2022

Happy New Year everyone, welcome to 2023, and my first post of the year! 
 
May you all have a safe and prosperous 2023!
 
It's always hard to choose "top books of the year" from so many fantastic books that I read in 2022. However, every reader has individual tastes, and when one makes a top book list, one needs to remember that someone else's top list will be completely different. Thus, these lists can be useful in helping guide readers towards a variety of books that perhaps they might not have otherwise discovered. 
 
Additionally, I want to state here that I believe books are books, whether self-published or traditionally published. The manner in which a book is published has no bearing whatsoever on how well it is written. I only separate my top traditionally published book from my top self-published book in order to let more than one book share the spotlight! 
 
I love reading fantasy and science fiction books. There are some fantastic books out there in those categories. I had the privilege of reading some of these books, and posting reviews of what I thought of them on Goodreads. If you haven’t read these books, and if you don’t know about these authors, you’re definitely missing out! Let’s celebrate some awesome books! There are so many incredible books that are not listed in this post!
 
My top indie book of the year was a book I simply cannot stop thinking about, and the debut novel of a breakout author who has taken the indie book community by storm, with the success of his first book. It's an amazing tale of prophecy, intrigue, betrayal, and found family. I can't recommend it enough, and am eager to see where this author will take his series next.
 
My top traditionally published book of the year was by an iconic writer whose body of work spans approximately five decades! In my estimation, and the opinion of many others, she is one of the greatest fantasy writers - EVER. This book of hers that I've chosen is a standalone novel, and one that has had a profound impact on me. It's my favourite standalone fantasy novel of all-time. 
 
I have provided snippets of my reviews of these books accompanying the listing. For the full review, please see the Goodreads links attached!
 
Without further ado, here is the top indie fantasy / sci-fi book, and the top traditionally published fantasy and sci-fi book, that I read between January and December 2022! 
 
Please feel free to comment on this and future blogs and I will be sure to get back to you. Chat soon!
​

P.L.'s Top Indie Book for 2022 - ILLBORN by Daniel T. Jackson

Why is it so good?
 
Jackson spins a marvellous tale of desire, loss, forbidden powers, beatific visions, rife with political and religious intrigue, overcoming and adapting through adversity, facing one's fears, and thrilling action. Jackson skillfully weaves it all together via multiple POVs, each one, that the reader will care about. It’s a mastercraft effort, especially for a first novel. Everything about it resonated with me, and after more than 700 pages I did not want it to end. I wanted more.
 
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4160869099?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
 
P.L.'s Top Traditionally Published Book for 2022 - TO RIDE HELL'S CHASM by Janny Wurts

Why is it so good?
 
In the aspect of prose, no other writer I have ever read writes in a manner that forces you, as the reader, to read EVERY word. It is simply the most lush, most COMPLETE prose one can find anywhere in fantasy, perhaps in literature. I would also submit that Wurts brings the additional skill of being a world-class illustrator of her own books, to the equation. The pictures of the characters on my beautiful copy of To Ride Hell's Chasm, truly bring those characters to life.  "To Ride Hell's Chasm" is to-date my favourite standalone fantasy book and, while I never say never, I don't believe anything is ever going to come close. 
 
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4382880222?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1