I finished my last book of 2025 today, so hey, here's the final tierlist for the full year!
I recalibrated by rating system this year, dropping everything by one letter grade since it was silly to have four S ranks and A+ is perfectly fine for 5/5.
Each tier is in the order I read them this year, with series first.
(series breakdowns, further thoughts, and last year's tierlist below the cut)
When I read the first two books in 2023, I retroactively gave them what is now B+, because despite strongly enjoying them I acknowledged they weren't particularly deep. This year proved the lie to that assessment; this series isn't the best or most original fantasy ever, and has a few glaring issues here and there, but it is far stronger on reread than I anticipated. I may not be well inside the target demographic, but this is likely my favorite currently ongoing fantasy series (EDIT: with the caveat that A Song of Ice and Fire and The Kingkiller Chronicle are basically over to me).
The Inheritance Cycle:
A: Brisingr* [3] / Inheritance* [4]
A-: Eragon* [1] / Eldest* [2] / The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm* [4.5] / Murtagh [4.6]
This was one of my favorite series growing up, and its ratings are definitely inflated by the fact, but there are certain things about it that I enjoy more than any other series. I wouldn't recommend it to any of my adult friends, but the latter half of the series holds up better than most people give it credit for (even if the decade-later follow up in Murtagh is weaker than expected).
Republic Commando:
A: Order 66 [4]
A-: Hard Contact [1] / Triple Zero [2] / True Colors [3] / 501st [5]
While I'm not particularly tuned in to the communities, nearly everything I've heard about Karen Traviss from both fans of Halo and fans of Star Wars was disparaging; since she wrote my favorite novels in the entire Halo canon, I took a risk on her here, and it definitely worked out. These aren't the strongest novels ever, and they meet an unfortunately abrupt end due to canon upheavel, but they're a damn good time either way.
The Wess'har Wars:
B+: Crossing the Line [2] / The World Before [3] / Matriarch [4] / Ally [5] / Judge [6]
B: City of Pearl [1]
As the only non-IP series I've read from Karen Traviss, this series is a bit disappointing in comparison, but still quite good for not relying on an existing framework. Setting aside, Traviss is just as strong as ever with original characters, which makes me confident I would at least somewhat enjoy anything else she'd written.
The Foundation Trilogy:
B+: Foundation* [1] / Foundation and Empire* [2] / Second Foundation* [3]
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
B: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* [1] / The Restaurant at the End of the Universe* [2] / Life, the Universe, and Everything* [3] / So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish* [4]
B-: Mostly Harmless* [5]
Mistborn: Era One:
A+: Mistborn [1]
A: The Well of Ascension [2]/ The Hero of Ages [3]
A-: Secret History [3.5]
This series was the start to my foray into Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere, and it began with an absolute bang; while there are novels i personally enjoyed more, Mistborn (AKA The Final Empire) is likely the best traditional fantasy novel I've ever read, and Vin (in all three novels) is maybe my favorite protagonist of anything ever. I did think the series declined as it went on, but it still finished at an appreciably high level, and I'd strongly recommend it to anyone.
Mistborn: Era Two:
B+: The Alloy of Law [1] / Shadows of Self [2] / The Bands of Mourning [3] / The Lost Metal [4]
This series was something of a letdown compared to the bombastic Era One, likely due to the fact Sanderson hadn't originally planned its existence, but in context of the greater Cosmere it's still a satisfying read, even if many (but not all) of its best moments are direct follow ups to the first Era. It could definitely stand to be better, but at least leaves me excited for Era Three.
The Stormlight Archive:
A: Wind and Truth [5]
A-: The Way of Kings [1] / Words of Radiance [2] / Oathbringer [3] / Rhythm of War [4]
B: Edgedancer [2.5] / Dawnshard [3.5]
As a counterpoint to Era One of Mistborn, this series took a while to truly grab me, but only got better as it went on. In multiple ways, it feels like the main series of the Cosmere; I didn't personally enjoy any of the novels in The Stormlight Archive as much as any of the novels in Era One, but I think it's fair to say this series is stronger — even if it's only halfway through.
My tierlist for 2024:
A+: The Kingkiller Chronicle x2.10 (Patrick Rothfuss)
Halo: Kilo-Five x3 (Karen Traviss)
The Enderverse x11 (Orson Scott Card)
Halo: Divine Wind (Troy Denning)
A: The Licanius Trilogy x3 (James Islington)
The Sky on Fire (Jenn Lyons)
Halo: Last Light (Troy Denning)
Halo: Retribution (Troy Denning)
A-: Sun Eater x7.25 (Christopher Ruocchio)
The Green Bone Saga x3 (Fonda Lee)
Shadows of the Short Days (Alexander dan Vilhjálmsson)
B: Good Omens (Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett)
Ascension (Nicholas Binge)
City of Bones (Martha Wells)
Wakers (Orson Scott Card)
The Will of the Many (James Islington)
This Is How You Lose the Time War (Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone)
B-: The Lady Astronaut x3 (Mary Robinette Kowal)
The Complete Sherlock Holmes x9 (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The Jewel of Seven Stars (Bram Stoker)
The Stand (Stephen King)
The Warden (Daniel M. Ford)
C+: Imperial Radch x3 (Ann Leckie)
Silo x3.5 (Hugh Howey)
Dracula (Bram Stoker)
The Blade Itself (Joe Abercrombie)
The Godfather (Mario Puzo)
Halo: Hunters in the Dark (Peter David)
C: The Complete Tales and Poems of (Edgar Allen Poe)
Dracula's Guest & Other Stories (Bram Stoker)
Five Broken Blades (Mai Corland)
C-: State of Fear (Michael Crichton)
D+: The Grace of Kings (Ken Liu)
The Magus (John Fowles)
