BEST OF 2022: Adult Genre Fiction

Emma says, "Cozy, gothic mystery with a hint of romance and ghosty business. A fake spiritualist gets handed a get out of jail free card with strings attached - she has to hold a seance for a dead bride. Was she murdered, or did she kill herself? And are ghosts real? Lots of spooky stuff, but pretty light and no gore."

Ginger says, "Fantastical 40s noir, with a lesbian P.I., magic, demons and angels, and perfect vintage touches."

tee says, "There is literally nothing about this book that I would change. When an orc with chronic back pain decides to retire from adventuring to open a coffee shop, so begins the next chapter of her life, which we are fortunate enough to bear witness to. The characters are quirky and lovable and imperfect, the conflict is just enough to keep the story moving, and the baked goods sound so good I found my mouth watering more than once."

From Amber: "A feminist fairy tale with something for everyone, including a reluctant fairy godmother, a strapping former knight, and a chicken possessed by a demon."

Emma says, "Dark fantasy where the monsters eat books to survive but the Big Monsters eat brains. Lots of cool fairytale analogies and mother-son relationship dynamics. Queer representation, too!"

Ginger says, "The story follows Alex as she grows up in the aftermath of the Mass Dragoning of 1955, when she lost an aunt whom she's no longer allowed to speak of - since the Mass Dragoning affected only American women, it quickly picked up the semi-taboo status of other women’s issues. Despite the magical nature of the central premise, the novel itself is focused on the mundane - only the nature of the family secrets is magical. Alex is taught by adults to keep everything close to her chest - especially the fact that her beloved baby sister used to be her cousin. The author leans hard into the unfortunate lesson that some grown-ups are less concerned with kids' interior lives and well-being than with how that child's behavior reflects on the adult amongst other adults."

From Amber: "A hilarious sapphic romance about taking chances and opening your heart."