Median Recap
These are a few of my favorite books (that I've read in the first half of 2025).
There was a time, in the distant past, when I was quite the voracious reader - capable of devouring a 400+ page novel in about two days. I have always loved books and reading, but my enthusiasm has definitely waned somewhat over the decades. At my lowest point I’m pretty sure I was reading no more than one or two books a year.
It seems, however, that I’ve spent the last couple of years slowly coming out of my self-imposed drought, as I find myself once again with an insatiable desire to read, read, read. To wit: I had the realization just the other day that I’ve already finished more books halfway through 2025 than I did throughout the entirety of 2024 (which itself was a banner year for me, having read a grand total of five or six novels). If I can keep up my current pace, I’ll likely end up reading somewhere between ten and twenty books this year.
I’m not entirely sure what’s sparked this sudden resurgence of my long-lost, inner bookworm. What I do know is that the usual pastimes of playing video games and watching TV are mildly less appealing with each passing day, so books are once again becoming my hobby of choice.
So, with all that preamble out of the way, let’s get to the point of this Post: Out of the seven books I’ve read thus far in 2025, the ones below are my favorites. It’s important to note these chosen few are listed in the order that I finished them - not most favorite to least favorite, or vice versa.
Ravenheart - David Gemmell (2001)
It’s no secret that David Gemmell is my favorite fantasy author. That being said, there are still several novels of his floating around out there that I’ve yet to read, and I made it my mission near the end of last year to finally finish his Celtic flavored Rigante novels. While this third book (out of four) is not my favorite in the series - that would be Midnight Falcon, which I read in 2024 - it nevertheless perfectly captures everything that Gemmell does best: swashbuckling and colorful heroes, villains that are equal parts tragic and loathsome, doomed romance, and bone-crunching action.
The Highwayman Kennedy Thornwick - (2024)
I’m not sure that I could definitively say this is the coolest ever title for a novel, but it’s certainly in the running. Even if it possessed a lesser moniker, this is still one of the best books I’ve read in years. The characters in this irreverent, rollicking tale are so vivid and well-defined that I was constantly startled when the dynamic prose reminded me this story is written in the third person, rather than the first person perspective I inevitably found myself visualizing. The effortless manner in which this seamless verisimilitude is achieved should be the subject of much scholarly debate in the years to come.
I’ve no idea if Ms. Kuznak would ever be inclined to write a sequel, but I would certainly be inclined to frolic along with these lively characters as they embark upon further misadventures.
The Virtues of War - Steven Pressfield (2004)
In my estimation, nobody inhabits the ancient world and its complicated, fabled warriors better than Steven Pressfield. The Virtues of War is no exception. Chronicled by none other than Alexander the Great - contending with his army’s mutiny during an arduous campaign through India - the sweeping narrative recounts the awe-inspiring achievements of a legendary figure’s storied existence. Epic in scope, yet intensely personal at the same time, this is undoubtedly one of the finest historical fiction novels by one of the genre’s finest authors.
Fun fact: Steven Pressfield and David Gemmell are (were?) fans of each other’s stories.
Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton (1990)
Michael Crichton has long been one of my favorite authors, so it would be reasonable to assume that I’d long ago read what is arguably his most popular book, right?
Wrong.
It was only at the urging of a fellow Substacker (he knows who he is) that I finally made reading Jurassic Park a priority, and I’m sure glad that I did. The first half of the novel is an exercise in nail-biting suspense, as the stakes are clearly laid out, and all the pieces are meticulously put into place; while the intense second half is a series of breathless and terrifying encounters when the characters must contend with the horrors of modern science (hmm…). Put simply, if you’re a fan of the seemingly incessant parade of Jurassic Park movies, you owe it to yourself to read the book that started it all.
What I’m Currently Reading
The Lions of Al-Rassan by Guy Gavriel Kay (many thanks for this recommendation,
)In the Giant’s Shadow by
(one of Substack’s finest)
High Priority List
Medicine Woman by
The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
Son of the Black Sword by Larry Correia
A Dance With Dragons by G.R.R.M. (spare me the sarcastic comments: I’ve read the rest of the series, and it’s long past time to finish it out, as it were)
The Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The Burning Land by Bernard Cornwell
The Aos Si’s Gift by
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I've had my eye on Lisa's Highwayman novel for some time. All of her books seemed like they'd appeal to me, but that one in particular keeps catching my attention. I think it's time I put in the order.
Jurassic Park - Brilliant
Ravenheart - Outstanding. As is all Gemmell
Not read the others but will check them out
Dragonbone Chair - Only got to page 320 (looking at my copy now) so would be interested to hear once you’ve read it if it’s worth going back to
My reading has also picked up this year but out of the 4 books I’ve read, 3 weren’t the best so we’ll see how i get on with the next one
Might have to do a similar article once I read something actually semi decent 👍🏼😁