I’ve been debating whether or not to do one of those summaries of the Best of 2007 lists. Since I’ve not read a large number of books that came out in 2007, it doesn’t seem fair to pick the best of 2007 and my favorite books of 2007 doesn’t seem like it would be all that useful since I’ve read about 7 books published in that year. (Although if anyone is curious, my favorites of the few I did read were The Name of The Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and Flesh and Spirit by Carol Berg followed by Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch. Currently, I’m reading Joe Abercrombie’s debut The Blade Itself which has potential to be better than any of those since I’m a fan of sardonic, well-written characters so it may dethrone them.)

So instead I’ve chosen the stories I read in 2007 that are the most memorable to me – the types that kept me thinking about them long after putting the book down.

Wraeththu by Storm Constantine

Yes, I cheated and put all the books together – the copies of the books I have are all contained in an omnibus called Wraeththu anyway so it’s not quite cheating. This series may not be for everyone, but the lyrical quality of the prose, the uniqueness of the story, and the unforgettable characters made it easily my favorite story I read in 2007.

Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay

This is a story of politics and love that portrayed both the “good” guys and the “bad” guy, showing the “bad” guy in a light that made you feel like he might not be so horrible after all, particularly since he had a motive for the main reason a lot of people did not like him other than being pure evil. Gorgeous prose, gray characters, and an ending haunting in its sadness made this one memorable.

The Rise of Endymion by Dan Simmons

If you look at this book in relation to the previous Hyperion books, it is filled with flaws and inconsistencies. However, if you just focus on the story and try to forget it was the last book in a series, this is an excellent bittersweet story about a Messiah, her teachings, and her relationship with her first disciple.

Lords of Rainbow by Vera Nazarian

This book had a few flaws, but it was amazing considering that it was only the author’s second novel and convinced me that Vera Nazarian is a name to watch out for. Well-written, poetic prose, a convincing female protagonist, excellent world-building, and well-developed main characters made me realize I must immediately read any future novels by this author!