Five-Star Reads of 2022

It seems that 2022 is officially . . . *checks notes* . . . over? Huh. Well, I guess we all know what time it is now, right?

No, I’m not talking about party time (which should be passed by now, as New Year’s was days ago, so it’s time to wrap it up!). I don’t even mean resolution time (though you do you on that regard). What I mean is that it’s time to share our favorite reads in the past year! Okay, and probably add a couple dozen books to our TBR and maybe weep over all the books that we somehow weren’t able to get to in 2022. But that’s just all par for the course, am I right?

Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is favorite books of 2022, so brace your TBRs, folks. A lot of really good books are coming, and I cannot be held responsible for any that may accidentally trip and fall onto your TBR.

I somehow managed to read a whopping 150 books in 2022, despite attending grad school and having more responsibility at work? Part of it is my fully embracing audiobooks, and part is due to my resolution to read more manga and graphic novels. Either way, that’s quite a few potential five-star books, so I apologize ahead of time for the length of this list.

Middle Grade Reads

The Weeping Tide

Barclay and his friends must save an island city from the Legendary Beast of the Sea in this exciting second book in the Wilderlore series, perfect for fans of Nevermoor and How to Train Your Dragon.

Something is wrong at the Sea. The weeping tide, a carnivorous algae bloom, is eating up all the fish. Beasts are terrorizing the nearby Elsewheres. And Lochmordra, the Legendary Beast, is rising at random and swallowing ships whole.

Barclay’s teacher, the famous Guardian Keeper Runa Rasgar, has been summoned to investigate, and as her apprentice, Barclay gets to join too. But Runa’s nemesis has also been called to the Sea, and he’s brought apprentices of his own. When the not-so friendly competition between them grows fierce, it’s Barclay—the only one from the Elsewheres—who can’t seem to keep up.

The key to stopping Lochmordra lies in his mythical home, but as the flood of the weeping tide encroaches, time is running out to find it. If the rival groups can’t cast aside old grudges and learn to work together, soon the Sea will be destroyed completely. And all the while Barclay must ask himself: is there truly a place for him in the Wilderlands?

💯 Sequel to The Accidental Apprentice, which was also a fantastic read.
🐾 Pokemon-esque creatures that bond with and fight alongside humans.
💧 A vast, rich world filled with danger and wonder.
💡Soul-searching and trying to find one’s place in a world that’s bigger than it seems.
👥 A squad that’s hecka fun to adventure with.

Read Review

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Pahua and the Soul Stealer

Pahua Moua has a bit of a reputation for being a weirdo. A lonely eleven-year-old Hmong girl with the unique ability to see spirits, she spends her summer days babysitting her little brother and playing with her best friend, a cat spirit no one else can see.

One day Pahua accidentally untethers an angry spirit from the haunted bridge in her neighborhood–whoops. When her brother suddenly falls sick and can’t be awoken, Pahua fears that the bridge spirit has stolen his soul. She returns to the scene of the crime with her aunt’s old shaman tools, hoping to confront the spirit and demand her brother’s return. Instead, she summons a demon.

Thankfully, a warrior shaman with a bit of an attitude problem shows up at the last minute and saves her butt. With the help of this guide, Pahua will have to find her way through the spirit worlds and rescue her brother’s soul before it’s too late. Little does she know she’ll have her own discoveries to make along the way. . .

👥 Rick Riordan-esque fantasy but with diverse characters!
🐲 Hmong-based mythology and creatures.
👀 Fast-paced, highly addictive fantasy.
🏯 A Spirit Realm that’s both interesting and intense.
🐾 Creatures that you definitely don’t want to meet in a dark alley.
😼 Super cute, super sarcastic cat demon sidekick.

Read Review

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Wingbearer

Zuli is extraordinary–she just doesn’t realize it yet. Raised by mystical bird spirits in the branches of the Great Tree, she’s never ventured beyond this safe haven. She’s never had to. Until now.

When a sinister force threatens the life-giving magic of the tree, Zuli, along with her guardian owl, Frowly, must get to the root of it. So begins an adventure bigger than anything Zuli could’ve ever imagined–one that will bring her, along with some newfound friends, face-to-face with an ancient dragon, the so-called Witch-Queen, and most surprisingly of all: her true identity.

✍️ Stunning artwork that’ll sweep you into a whole new world.
👥 A diverse fantasy world filled with magic (and danger!).
🦉 Super cute mythology that centers around birds.
🪄 A compelling world filled with magic, mystery, and adventure.
🐉 DRAGONS!

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Last Gate of the Emperor

An Afrofuturist adventure about a mythical Ethiopian empire. Sci-fi and fantasy combine in this journey to the stars.

Yared Heywat lives an isolated life in Addis Prime — a hardscrabble city with rundown tech, lots of rules, and not much to do. His worrywart Uncle Moti and bionic lioness Besa are his only family… and his only friends.

Often in trouble for his thrill-seeking antics and smart mouth, those same qualities make Yared a star player of the underground augmented reality game, The Hunt for Kaleb’s Obelisk. But when a change in the game rules prompts Yared to log in with his real name, it triggers an attack that rocks the city. In the chaos, Uncle Moti disappears.

Suddenly, all the stories Yared’s uncle told him as a young boy are coming to life, of kingdoms in the sky and city-razing monsters. And somehow Yared is at the center of them.

Together with Besa and the Ibis — a game rival turned reluctant ally — Yared must search for his uncle… and answers to his place in a forgotten, galaxy-spanning war.

🚀 Fast-paced action and adventure set in space.
😂 Hilarious commentary and a sarcastic narrator.
🎮 Super relatable 12-year-old that enjoys gaming.
🤖 Very cute, endearing AI characters.
👥 Found family and squad vibes.

Read Review

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Secret of the Shadow Beasts

In Brannland, terrifying beasts called Umbrae roam freely once the sun sets, so venomous that a single bite will kill a full-grown adult–and lately, with each day that passes, their population seems to double. The only people who can destroy them are immune children like Nora, who are recruited at the age of seven to leave their families behind and begin training at a retrofitted castle called Noye’s Hill. But despite her immunity, Nora’s father refused to let her go. Now, years after his death by Umbra attack, Nora is twelve, and sees her mother almost killed by the monsters too. That’s when Nora decides it’s time for her to join the battle. Once she arrives at Noye’s Hill, though, she and her new friends are left with more questions than answers: Where are the Umbrae coming from? Could the government be covering up the true reason their population has whirled out of control? And was Nora’s father, the peaceful, big-hearted man who refused to let Nora fight, in on the treacherous secret?

👥 Diverse characters working together as a team to save the world
🐈‍⬛ Dark shadow creatures that need to be defeated
🔎 An interesting (and dangerous) mystery that needs to be solved
👥 Super healthy squad dynamics and support

Read Review

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Egypt’s Fire

After twelve-year-old John Boarhog’s mom dies, the last thing he wants is to be schlepped off to the Jersey Home for Boys, where kids are forced to make skinny jeans for hipsters and are fed nothing but kale. Instead, he makes himself a snug home in the ceiling of the New York Museum of Natural History, where he reads anything he get his hands on and explores the artifacts afterhours.

But when a rare Egyptian ruby—the highlight of the museum’s new exhibit—goes missing, John is accused of the crime. That is until the unpredictable Inspector Toadius McGee sweeps in to wrestle control of the case, certain that the true culprit is a notorious criminal he’s been tracking for years.

John quickly becomes the Watson to Toadius’s Holmes as they race from Broadway to back alleys to a speak-easy that only serves root beer. And along the way, John uncovers secrets about his own past, including that he’s a lot more involved in this web of endearing ne’er-do-wells than he ever could have imagined.

A love letter to classic middle grade, Egypt’s Fire introduces a remarkable new duo that will steal your heart as surely as it leaves you begging for their next grand adventure.

🤠 Fast-paced action adventure
🕵 Character modeled after Sherlock Holmes, but for a middle grade audience
😂 Funny scenes with larger-than-life characters
🔎 A crime-solving duo that will absolutely win your heart
👥 A charming and adorable found family

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Hooky

When Dani and Dorian missed the bus to magic school, they never thought they’d wind up declared traitors to their own kind! Now, thanks to a series of mishaps, they are being chased by powerful magic families seeking the prophesied King of Witches and royals searching for missing princes.

But they aren’t alone. With a local troublemaker, a princess, and a teacher who can see the future on their side, they might just be able to clear their names…but can they heal their torn kingdom?

🪄 Interesting world filled with witches and magic (and also humans and tension).
👥 Super cute squad of characters (including adorable sibling bonds!)
🔎 Compelling mystery that’ll keep you guessing.
🔮 Dark prophecies that may or may not come true.
💗 Adorable budding romances/crushes.

Young Adult Reads

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it.

But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn’t so sure. When she chooses the case as the topic for her final year project, she starts to uncover secrets that someone in town desperately wants to stay hidden. And if the real killer is still out there, how far will they go to keep Pip from the truth?

🔪 Perfect for fans of murder mysteries, true crime, and crime podcasts.
👀 Lots of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
💥 Danger around every. Freaking. Corner.
💖 Sweet teen romance (you know, despite the murder).
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Super cute blended family dynamics.

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All of Us Villains

The Blood Moon rises. The Blood Veil falls. The Tournament begins.

Every generation, at the coming of the Blood Moon, seven families in the remote city of Ilvernath each name a champion to compete in a tournament to the death.

The prize? Exclusive control over a secret wellspring of high magick, the most powerful resource in the world―one thought long depleted.

But this year a scandalous tell-all book has exposed the tournament and thrust the seven new champions into the worldwide spotlight. The book also granted them valuable information previous champions never had―insight into the other families’ strategies, secrets, and weaknesses. And most important, it gave them a choice: accept their fate or rewrite their legacy.

Either way, this is a story that must be penned in blood.

🔪 Lots of cutthroat, dastardly villains. (Duh!)
👀 So. Many. Plot. Twists. Ahhhh!
💫 Unique, interesting (and sometimes scary) magic.
💥 All-out fight for survival.
💀 Trust no one. Everyone has an ulterior motive.

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We Are Not Free

We Are Not Free, is the collective account of a tight-knit group of young Nisei, second-generation Japanese American citizens, whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II.

Fourteen teens who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco.
Fourteen teens who form a community and a family, as interconnected as they are conflicted.
Fourteen teens whose lives are turned upside down when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry are removed from their homes and forced into desolate incarceration camps.
In a world that seems determined to hate them, these young Nisei must rally together as racism and injustice threaten to pull them apart.

😭 Historical fiction that will tear your heart out and stomp it into the ground.
👥 Utterly adorable squad that you can’t help but root for.
🖤 Thoughtful exploration into a time in history that is sometimes overlooked (and crucial to remember).
👁 Eye-opening accounts based on real experiences during World War II.

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Little Thieves

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful, kind princess who was betrothed to the prince of a faraway kingdom. When she set off for her new home, her mother gave her a maid for a companion on the journey.

But instead of serving the princess, the wicked maid stole her place.

For a year the true princess toiled away like a common goose girl, while the wicked maid lived high in the palace, fooling the kingdom. But the truth came out. The princess took back her name, her crown, and her husband, and the imposter died for her crimes.

Then one day, the wicked maid…

…told her own story.

👸 Badass women unapologetically taking charge of their own lives.
💗 Super cute romance that’s so sweet, you’ll need to see the dentist.
👀 So many plot twists and convoluted plots.
🪄 Dark world filled with danger and magic.

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City of Nightmares

Gotham meets Strange the Dreamer in this thrilling young adult fantasy about a cowardly girl who finds herself at the center of a criminal syndicate conspiracy, in a city where crooked politicians and sinister cults reign and dreaming means waking up as your worst nightmare.

Ever since her sister became a man-eating spider and slaughtered her way through town, nineteen-year-old Ness has been terrified—terrified of some other Nightmare murdering her, and terrified of ending up like her sister. Because in Newham, the city that never sleeps, dreaming means waking up as your worst fear.

Whether that means becoming a Nightmare that’s monstrous only in appearance, to transforming into a twisted, unrecognizable creature that terrorizes the city, no one is safe. Ness will do anything to avoid becoming another victim, even if that means lying low among the Friends of the Restful Soul, a questionable organization that may or may not be a cult.

But being a member of maybe-cult has a price. In order to prove herself, Ness cons her way into what’s supposed to be a simple job for the organization—only for it to blow up in her face. Literally. Tangled up in the aftermath of an explosive assassination, now Ness and the only other survivor—a Nightmare boy who Ness suspects is planning to eat her—must find their way back to Newham and uncover the sinister truth behind the attack, even as the horrors of her past loom ominously near.

💀 A dark, dystopian world full of nightmares . . . literally.
💥 Explosions and other fun (and unexpected) plot twists.
👥 Super cute squad of characters.
🧛 All sorts of paranormal and less-than-human creatures.

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Gleanings

There are still countless tales of the Scythedom to tell. Centuries passed between the Thunderhead cradling humanity and Scythe Goddard trying to turn it upside down. For years humans lived in a world without hunger, disease, or death with Scythes as the living instruments of population control.

Neal Shusterman—along with collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofía Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman—returns to the world throughout the timeline of the Arc of a Scythe series. Discover secrets and histories of characters you’ve followed for three volumes and meet new heroes, new foes, and some figures in between.

🌐 More time in the post-mortality Arc of a Scythe world
☠️ Unique and interesting gleaning styles
👤 More depth to known characters
⚔️ A whole new look at the Scythedom

Read Review

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Six Crimson Cranes

A princess in exile, a shapeshifting dragon, six enchanted cranes, and an unspeakable curse… Drawing from ‘The Wild Swans’ and East Asian folklore, this breathtakingly original fantasy from the author of Spin the Dawn is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo or Tomi Adeyemi.

Shiori’anma, the only princess of Kiata, has a secret. Forbidden magic runs through her veins. Normally she conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother.

A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one: for with every word that escapes her lips, one of her brothers will die.

Penniless, voiceless, and alone, Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. And she must embrace the magic she’s been taught all her life to forswear–no matter what the cost.

🪄 Fairy tales mixed with East Asian mythology
💖 Slow burn, sweet romances
👥 Adorable sibling bonds
📖 Retellings/remixes of common fairy tale tropes
👸 Badass women who can save the day
🐉 Magic and mayhem and maybe a dragon or two

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Adult Reads

You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories about Racism

Now a writer and performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers and host of The Amber Ruffin Show, Amber Ruffin lives in New York, where she is no one’s First Black Friend and everyone is, as she puts it, “stark raving normal.” But Amber’s sister Lacey? She’s still living in their home state of Nebraska, and trust us, you’ll never believe what happened to Lacey.

From racist donut shops to strangers putting their whole hand in her hair, from being mistaken for a prostitute to being mistaken for Harriet Tubman, Lacey is a lightning rod for hilariously ridiculous yet all-too-real anecdotes. She’s the perfect mix of polite, beautiful, petite, and Black that apparently makes people think “I can say whatever I want to this woman.” And now, Amber and Lacey share these entertainingly horrifying stories through their laugh-out-loud sisterly banter. Painfully relatable or shockingly eye-opening (depending on how often you have personally been followed by security at department stores), this book tackles modern-day racism with the perfect balance of levity and gravity.

👥 Undeniable chemistry between these two funny, strong Black women.
👂Highly recommended as an audiobook (which the authors voice!).
😂 Humorous take on a rather serious situation.
❌ Sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek (yet thoughtful) exploration of a heavy topic.

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Locke & Key

Locke & Key tells of Keyhouse, an unlikely New England mansion, with fantastic doors that transform all who dare to walk through them. Home to a hate-filled and relentless creature that will not rest until it forces open the most terrible door of them all…

✍️ Horror graphic novel that’s not for the faint of heart.
🔑 Super interesting mystery surrounding keys and a spooky house.
🪄 Super cool powers that I’m low-key jealous that I don’t have.
👀 Plot that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.

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The Part About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True

Sure, you think you know the story of the fearsome red dragon, Dragonia. How it terrorized the village of Skendrick until a brave band of heroes answered the noble villagers’ call for aid. How nothing could stop those courageous souls from facing down the dragon. How they emerged victorious and laden with treasure.

But, even in a world filled with epic adventures and tales of derring-do, where dragons, goblins, and unlicensed prestidigitators run amok, legendary heroes don’t always know what they’re doing. Sometimes they’re clueless. Sometimes beleaguered townsfolk are more hapless than helpless. And orcs? They’re not always assholes, and sometimes they don’t actually want to eat your children.

Heloise the Bard, Erithea’s most renowned storyteller (at least, to hear her tell it), is here to set the record straight. See, it turns out adventuring isn’t easy, and true heroism is as rare as an articulate villager.

Having spent decades propagating this particular myth (which, incidentally, she wrote), she’s finally able to tell the real story—for which she just so happened to have a front-row seat.

Welcome to Erithea. I hope you brought a change of undergarments—things are going to get messy.

👤 A sarcastic narrator who is both reliable and unreliable at the same time.
🐉 Dragons! Well . . . mostly.
🎲 A D&D roleplaying-esque story gone awry.
😂 Lots and lots of humor!
💥 All sorts of unexpected challenges and outcomes.
📖 Feels like the Vox Machina series or Critical Role.

Read Review

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A Sh*tload of Crazy Powers

Teagan Frost has enough sh*t to deal with, between her job as a telekinetic government operative and a certain pair of siblings who have returned from the dead to wreak havoc with their powers. But little does she know, things are about to get even more crazy…

Teagan might have survived the flash flood of the century, but now she’s trapped in a hotel by a bunch of gun-toting maniacs. And to make matters worse, her powers have mysteriously disappeared. Faced with certain death at every turn, Teagan will need to use every resource she has to stop a plot that could destroy Los Angeles – maybe even the entire world.

Full of imagination, wit and random sh*t flying though the air, this insane new Frost Files adventure will blow your tiny mind.

💥 Explosions, booms, bangs, and generally just stuff being destroyed.
👥 Terribly sarcastic narrators who own their sarcasm and humor.
🥷 Non-stop, high-stakes action.
🪄 Superpowers!
👥 A squad of characters that are equally messed up but perfect together.

Read Review

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Broken (In the Best Possible Way)

As Jenny Lawson’s hundreds of thousands of fans know, she suffers from depression. In Broken, Jenny brings readers along on her mental and physical health journey, offering heartbreaking and hilarious anecdotes along the way.

With people experiencing anxiety and depression now more than ever, Jenny humanizes what we all face in an all-too-real way, reassuring us that we’re not alone and making us laugh while doing it. From the business ideas that she wants to pitch to Shark Tank to the reason why Jenny can never go back to the post office, Broken leaves nothing to the imagination in the most satisfying way. And of course, Jenny’s long-suffering husband Victor―the Ricky to Jenny’s Lucille Ball―is present throughout.

A treat for Jenny Lawson’s already existing fans, and destined to convert new ones, Broken is a beacon of hope and a wellspring of laughter when we all need it most.

🎧 Nonfiction memoir that is the perfect audiobook listen/read.
👥 Hilarious stories about very flawed, very relatable people.
🧠 Honest, raw exploration of mental health and disabilities.

Manga Reads

Case Closed

Ghastly beheadings, bloody murders, and cold-hearted child abduction cases—

Precocious high school student Jimmy Kudo uses his keen powers of observation and astute intuition to solve mysteries that have left law enforcement officials baffled. Hot on the trail of a suspect, Jimmy is accosted from behind and fed a strange chemical which physically transforms him into a grade schooler! Taking on the pseudonym Conan Edogawa, he attempts to track down the people that did this to him. But until he finds a cure for his bizarre condition, Jimmy continues to help the police solve their toughest cases.

Can you crack the case before Conan does?

🔎 A tiny, contained mystery in each volume, plus an overarching one.
🕵 Really tests your brain and observational skills to figure out whodunnit.
👥 Super cute cast of characters that will steal your heart.
😂 Plenty of laughs and comedy.

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A Gentle Noble’s Vacation Recommendation

When Lizel mysteriously finds himself in a city that bears odd similarities to his own but clearly isn’t, he quickly comes to terms with the unlikely truth: this is an entirely different world. Even so, laid-back Lizel isn’t the type to panic. He immediately sets out to learn more about this strange place, and to help him do so, hires a seasoned adventurer named Gil as his tour guide and protector.

Until he’s able to find a way home, Lizel figures this is a perfect opportunity to explore a new way of life adventuring as part of a guild. After all, he’s sure he’ll go home eventually… might as well enjoy the otherworldly vacation for now!

🪄 World filled with magic and adventure.
🧙 Utterly charming interactions between characters and heroes.
👥 Interesting characters with curious backstories.
💖 Charming adventure meets slice of life that’ll give you warm fuzzies.

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Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun

To the eyes of classmate Chiyo Sakura, high school student Umetarou Nozaki–brawny of build and brusque of tongue–is a dreamboat! When Chiyo finally works up the courage to tell Nozaki how she feels about him, she knows rejection is on the table…but getting recruited as a mangaka’s assistant?! Never in a million years! As Chiyo quickly discovers, Nozaki-kun, the boy of Chiyo’s dreams, is a manga artist…a hugely popular shoujo manga artist, that is! But for someone who makes a living drawing sweet girly romances, Nozaki-kun is a little slow on the uptake when it comes to matters of the heart in reality. And so Chiyo’s daily life of manga making and heartache begins!

😂 Lots of silly laughs and humor.
✏️ Slice of life about a high school mangaka.
👥 A cast of very interesting, very different (and larger than life) characters.
💕 Sweet (and funny) budding crushes and romances.

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