My Top 10 (or 15) Favorite Books So Far (SFF, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Post-Apocolyptic)

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro
02:18 - Honorable Mentions
07:24 - Number 10
08:30 - Number 9
09:46 - Number 8
12:23 - Number 7
14:23 - Number 6
15:57 - Number 5
17:46 - Number 4
20:56 - Number 3
23:24 - Number 2
25:54 - Number 1
28:10 - Outro and I’m still holding the number 1 book

Books Mentioned (out of order):

Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Ashes of Man by Christopher Ruocchio
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Sword and Citadel by Gene Wolfe
Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie
Imperium by Robert Harris
Dune by Frank Herbert
Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
The Stand by Stephen King

Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R Tolkien
Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield
True Believer/Savage Son by Jack Carr
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Golden Son by Pierce Brown
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

Other books mentioned:
Assassins Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Please note, I haven’t read everything on earth. And although I am ranking these reads, each can be slotted in and out of any position on any given day. I just love dang good stories! Leave down below your favorites and we can chat about it. It can help me get suggestions on what more to read.

I’m currently reading Riven Earth by Zammar Ahmer—which could totally have been on this list with where I currently am.

My Current Project—Watch my weekly updates for more on my writing and process on the road to self publishing.

Mercy: Tears of the Fallen—Book One in a four part Duology.

My Book Blurb:

Once a hero, Alevist Lightseeker gave everything to keep the world from ending, but mysterious forces felt it wasn’t enough, so they took a part of him he could never get back.

As an Exile, Erevayn struggles with alcoholism against his strong desire for vengeance. Guided by an old minstrel, he finds a path he wasn’t expecting, revealing secrets he couldn’t have uncovered alone, only to be pulled from his path of vengeance for something more; a prophecy putting the weight of the world on his shoulders. But is it truly his shoulders the burden should fall on?

Maetlynd nearly fell, all nearly died, but hero’s persevered. The Tear’s fell, demigod’s died. And maybe the enemy never returned back to that land no mortal could go. Maybe the enemy never returned to Mercy.

I’ve pulled heavy inspiration from Elden Ring and Malazan—hoping to deliver on the massive scope of an ever delivering world of story. Tad Williams and Joe Abercrombie were also huge influences to my writing.

A tentative release is July, 2025. Stay tuned for a cover reveal at the start of the new year!

My Cousins Music:
Keith Pearsall on streaming platforms
Channel: @kpyankfan48