Fiction Roundup: My Favorite Reads from 2022

I absolutely failed to keep a count of the books I read in 2022, but the ones that I enjoyed the most are still very fresh in my mind - particularly from the world of fiction!

Yes, I spend most of my time reading non-fiction occult and witchcraft books but the first real love of my literary life is the fiction novel. So, when I need an escape and my attention span has a little more stamina than what’s required to binge a new Netflix series, I dive into fantasy, horror, sci-fi, a good mystery/thriller and the occasional illustrated children’s books. This year I added an inspiring story with a healing message about our place in this world alongside birds and beasts…

Here were my favorite fiction books from 2022:

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Alice Hoffman is a god damn gift! One of my favorite authors, she manages to capture the rawness of the human experience while telling stories that gracefully ride the hedge between reality and pure magic. The Practical Magic series is no exception! Now, in The Book of Magic, Kylie and Antonia are all grown up, the Aunts, Frannie and Jet, have reached the end of their road together, and Sally and Gillian take on a supportive role in the quest to save yet another poor soul from the Owens family curse. But this time, maybe for good. This book was an absolute delight but, true to Hoffman’s distinguished style, not without some heartache. That is life. And Alice Hoffman is a master at filling her pages with pure, magical life.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

The secret societies located at Yale University have been shrouded in mystery and steeped in exclusive, upper-crust, even clannish intrigue for over a hundred years. The Ninth House takes you inside this forbidden world and ultimately makes you want to keep your distance. An intriguing tale of the nightmarish pursuits of the Ivy League elite, this story is as shockingly unsettling as it is completely addictive! There’s a sweet satisfaction in our protagonist being an outsider, straight from the “wrong side of the tracks” - especially when she hardballs her way to the bottom of the dark, corrupt and decidedly spooky truth behind the sequestered societies of New Haven, CT.

The Once and Future Witches by Elix E. Harrow

Three estranged sisters with the power of magic are about to embark on a journey of reconciliation, reclaiming and the fight for freedom that starts with the suffrage movement and escalates into a quest to save the magic of the Maiden, Mother and Crone. This is a story that turns the traditional perception of the Maiden, Mother and Crone on its head in the most delightfully thrilling way. I finished with the familiar struggle that comes from having to depart from a world that you’ve been fully immersed in while reading, but was comforted by the satisfaction of having connected with such an formidable collection of complex, fascinating and entirely loveable characters.

The Sundown Motel by Simone St. James

If I ever advise against reading a particular book before bed, or at night, or when alone, it can be taken as the highest of compliments for a story that’s meant to thrill and chill. The Sundown Motel has thrills and chills in spades - bloody spades. Aside from ghosts and unsavory strangers, however, there is a story that is driven by the desire to understand family history and the unwavering quest for the truth. You’re going to read this book is one sitting - and I will be revisiting it again some day soon.

The Ptolemy Project by Kate St. Clair

Perhaps my absolute favorite thing about the Ptolemy Project is that I got to meet the author, Kate St. Clair, and discuss this captivating story with her. Kate is an extremely insightful fellow witch who has achieved much more than an intriguing story with a gripping plot with this exceptional YA novel. What’s truly incredible about her book is how she manages to destigmatize mental illness through her keen character developing skills. This is that story you want everyone to read - and benefit from - once you’ve finished.

Running With Sherman by Christopher McDougall

I have to start off by saying that if it wasn’t for a powerfully persuasive recommendation by Macy Frazier on WBAH, I would never have picked up this book. There is something extremely satisfying about reading and loving a book that is completely outside of your typical interests. There are no witches, no supernatural elements - unless you include the mind-blowing resilience of certain animals and humans - there’s no murder mystery and no conspiracy to uncover. What there is, is an incredibly heart-warming story about one of the most charming creatures I’ve ever encountered in a book and a collection of people who restore your faith in the compassion of humanity. Thereis also a powerful message about the necessary relationship - nay, partnership - between humans and animals and the absolute need for us to reacquaint ourselves with the other species we share this planet with.

The Legend of the Christmas Witch & The Return of the Christmas Witch by Dan Murphy & Aubrey Plaza

What’s not to love here! A Christmas Witch is out there, slumbering in her icy tomb in the South Pole. Once, she would leave curious yuletide gifts for children in the night - and, if that sounds familiar, its because she is the sister of Santa Claus himself! But as Christmas grew in popularity and, with it, Santa Claus, the people turned away from Yuletide and, eventually, came to fear and despise the Christmas Witch. A captivating and bitter-sweet tale with stunning illustrations throughout, The Legend of The Christmas Witch and the follow up, The Return of the Christmas Witch, are absolute treasures!