The Yearly Wrap-Up & 2025 Reading List

 

(39 books | 7,452 pgs)

01.) The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Novel, 487 pgs) | 5/5

02.) At the Mountains of Madness (for Beginning Readers) by RJ Ivankovic (Novel, 142 pgs) | 5/5

03.) Mothmeister: Sinister and Spiritual Post-Mortem Fairy Tales by Mothmeister (Art, 272 pgs) | 5/5

04.) House of Rot by Danger Slater (Novel, 122 pgs) | 2/5

05.) The Genocide House by Robert Kloss (Novel, 266 pgs) | 2/5

06.) Rare, Fine and Limited by Mike Flanagan (Novella, 78 pgs) | 4/5

07.) Francis Bacon, by Martin Hammer (Phaidon Focus) (Art, 144 pgs) | 4/5

08.) We Live Inside Your Eyes by Kealan Patrick Burke (Stories, 277 pgs)| 2/5

09.) Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica (Novel, 209 pgs) | 4/5

10.) At Dark, I Become Loathsome by Eric LaRocca (Novel, 227 pgs) | 3/5

11.) Inscrutable Cities by Julian K. Jarboe (Game Manual, 82 pgs) | 5/5

12.) We Were Called Specimens: An Oral Archive of Deity Marjorie (Stories, 139 pgs) | 3/5

13.) Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird by Agustina Bazeterrica (Stories, 154 pgs) | 2/5

14.) The Wolf Wants Answers by Joshua Mohr (Novel, 236 pgs) | 4/5

15.) Storyforge: Advanced Writing Prompts for Seasoned Storytellers, Book 1 (Workbook, 100 pgs) | 0/5

16.) Storyforge: Advanced Writing Prompts for Seasoned Storytellers, Book 2 (Workbook, 100 pgs) | 0/5

17.) Alfred Hitchock & the Three Investigators #20: The Mystery of Monster Mountain by MV Carey (Young Adult, 172 pgs) | 3/5

18.) Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca (Stories, 281 pgs) | 2/5

19.) Alfred Hitchock & the Three Investigators #21: The Secret of the Haunted Mirror by MV Carey (Young Adult, 172 pgs) | 3/5

20.) Alfred Hitchock & the Three Investigators #22: The Mystery of the Dead Man's Riddle by William Arden (Young Adult, 145 pgs) | 3/5

21.) You Should Have Left by Daniel Kehlmann (Novella, 128 pgs) | 2/5

22.) Strange Houses by Uketsu (Novel, 208 pags) | 4/5

23.) Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones (Novella, 108 pgs) | 3/5

24.) The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw (Novella, 106 pgs) | 3/5

25.) Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix (Novel, 248 pgs) | 3.5/5

26.) Strange Pictures by Uketsu (Novel, 236 pgs) | 3/5

27.) A Path Through the Forest by Alisha Galvan (Stories, 179 pgs) | 2.5/5

28.) I Found a Lost Hallway in a Dying Mall (Novel, 160 pgs) | 3/5

29.) Things We Lost in the Fire by Mariana Enriquez (Stories, 192 pgs) | 3/5

30.) The Divine Farce by Michael S.A. Graziano (Novella, 125 pgs) | 5/5

31.) Dreamlives of Debris by Lance Olsen (Novel, 296 pgs) | 3/5

32.) The Unworthy by Agustina Bazeterrica (Novel, 175 pgs) | 5/5

33.) Scorch Atlas by Blake Butler (Stories, 152 pgs) | 5/5

34.) The Archive of Alternate Endings by Lindsey Drager (Novel, 159 pgs) | 4/5

35.) Death My Own Way by Michael S.A. Graziano (Novella, 130 pgs) | 3/5

36.) The Goth House Experiment by S.J. Sindu (Stories, 209 pgs) | 3/5

37.) Uncertain Sons and Other Stories by Thomas Ha (Stories, 284 pgs) | 4/5

38.) Dead Inside by Chandler Morrison (Novel, 168 pgs) | 2/5

39.) Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware (Graphic Novel, 384 pgs) | 3/5

*

I read fewer than half of the amount of books I wanted to read this year, but that's fine. I made massive life changes and massive creative strides, both in all the ways that needed to happen. 

The beginning of the year had me struggling with some lingering health issues, some due to work, some due to diet, some due to the nature of the world. Because I only have control over two of those three, I changed up my diet considerably and eventually quit a job that was exacerbating those lingering health issues. Unfortunately, I have less control over the stupidity of the world than I'd like, so...much of that remains a constantly burning fire that smarter people than I are able to put out. 

I began work at a new agency here in town at the beginning of December. I was excited to work there as their book of work was very KC/midwest-centric and, after my first month I continue to be enthused by the work and the people that do it. It's a fun office and I hope I get to stick around for a good long while. My contract will end at the end of January, and I've been asked to interview for the full position. No idea when that will happen, but I feel that bodes well for a longer stay. 

On the creative front, I spent as much of my unemployed time working on the next two books. MASSIVE productivity on the second book (.corpsegod) though significantly less productivity on the first (An Atlas of Bone & Sorrow). Both continue to be very top of mind, however, and I'd love to see AAoB&S published by next summer if possible, by the end of the year at the very latest. I'll simply need to spend more time on several of the stories to make that a feasible option. 

Both front covers have been created, but I will probably start working on the back covers and the spines this month, purely just to have them ready to go once both the writing and editing are done. The writing of .corpsegod remains fun and enthusiastic while the writing of An Atlas of Bone & Sorrow remains perpetually tough to return to since so much of it is very personal on a number of levels. 

I really love what both books are becoming, however. I hope others feel the same when they eventually become available for public consumption. 

*  

The year was not a good one - not for me personally and not for a number of people in my circle. I hope 2026 brings a new and refreshed zest for life and all it entails for those of us who've been looking for the signs. I hope the deficiencies of our lives become less so; I hope the year brings about the successes needed for those who lose heart easily. 

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