Hi friends,
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Today’s theme is: Best Books I Read in 2025 but as I did a series of “best of 2025” in December I decided to tweak the theme and to go with : “Best First Published Works I have read in 2025“.
I didn’t find ten “first published works” that I found remarkable but I still came close! Some will be published in 2026 and were advanced reading copies but I still counted them as I read them in 2025.
The first three (in no particular order) are : The Second Death of Locke by LV Bovalino, Conform by Ariel Sullivan (you HAVE to read that book!) and the Witch Orchard by Archer Sullivan.
Next we have Dire Bound by Sage Sorensen, A Language of Dragons by SF Williamson and The Outcast Mage by Annabel Campbell.
And finally, we have Greenteeth by Molly O’Neil.
Have you read any of these?
Thanks for reading.
Sophie
I keep seeing Dire Bound around and really want to read it, so I’m glad to see you enjoyed it so much! I didn’t love A Language of Dragons, but I think it’s because I struggled to like Vivien as a character.
I get why you would struggle. She wasn’t very loyal to her friend even if she regretted it.
I have not read any of these but they all look great.
They are! LOL
I still need to read Greenteeth. It sounds so good!
It is good!
I have not read any of these. I wonder what my list would look like if I only picked books published in 2025. Hmmmm
Maybe it’s an idea for a post Samantha!
I was just introduced to The Second Death, but seeing it on so many people’s list has me itching to get my hands on it.
I hope you will love it!
I haven’t read any of these, but the Green Teeth one sounds good! Thanks for sharing!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2026/01/03/l-l-l-little-reviews-83-december-2025/
You are welcome Lisa!
I read A Language of Dragons (loved it), and I’m listening to the sequel now.
I can’t wait to read it!
Dire Bound was a 2025 favorite of mine too! (As you already know ;) ) Greenteeth sounds so good too.
I knoooow!
Dire Bound was FABULOUS!
I am so happy that you loved it Caro! That was the reason why I sent it to you!
I may put together a debut list too. Greenteeth was wonderful! And I would love to read The Witch’s Orchard
I think that one would work perfectly for you! The audio is excellent!