2022 Ranked: Books

 20. Mass Effect Andromeda: Nexus Uprising

How do you fail this badly? Mass Effect Andromeda was already a misfire of massive proportions and you would have thought having a novel to add context to it's story would benefit it more than detriment it. Nexus Uprising's only success however is just adding more fuel to this fire.  An over-extended and boring plot, moronic and uninspired characters  and a tone and pacing that drags and drags to an excruciating degree only cements Nexus Uprising as a failure of massive proportions and easily the worst book I've ever read.

19. Release

Release is a story about finding yourself. I rather enjoyed most of my time with this story. It seeks to tackle the difficulties many LGBTQ+ teens face in coming to terms with their sexuality in an environment that is anything but accepting. The supernatural twist in which we follow a dead girl trying to follow the trail that lead to her demise while interesting in concept doesn't feel nearly as compelling when compared to the coming of age narrative set up for Adam Thorn. It's a endearing story for the most part though and I appreciated how mature Patrick Ness is in how he writes these characters.

18. The Long Game (The Inside Story of How The BBC Brought Back Doctor Who)

Paul Hayes' book does a fantastic job in detailing the history of the days in which Doctor Who was seeking a revival after being unceremoniously cancelled in 1989. It spares no expense in detailing all the intrinsic elements of the events that all collaborated towards the rebirth of the sci-fi show. I think while the details are all a reflection of Hayes eagerness to paint a clear picture, the book can't help but waste your time during some chapters, with content that feels redundant and not clearly aligned to the core subject of the book.

17. Doctor Who Time Lord Victorious:  The Knight, The Fool and The Dead

The first book in the multimedia story event called Time Lord Victorious; The Knight, The Fool and The Dead is a really good story written by Steve Cole. It does a fantastic job following the groundwork of 10's darker turn in The Water of Mars  by putting him a situation which challenges his character's motivations and mentality as the last of the Time Lords. It's got a fun cast of characters and a truly entertaining plot which ties in nicely with the inner conflict the 10th Doctor is currently going through.

16. Doctor Who Time Lord Victorious: All Flesh is Grass

All Flesh is Grass continues the story of Time Lord Victorious in a very strong fashion. Una McCormack does a fantastic job taking the narrative elements set up from Steve Cole and using them to outline a three-way dynamic between the 8th, 9th and 10th Doctor wonderfully. I like how it takes the time to highlight how 8 and 9 feel about 10's dark turn and the own compromises they've had to make during their own lifetimes. It's a great story on most accounts and has a lot of fun moments layered all throughout it's page count.

15. Batman Year One

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Batman Year One is a grounded story from the mind of Frank miller which is beautifully illustrated by David Mazzucchelli. It covers the origins of Batman and his definitive relationship with his long time friend Commissioner Gordan. It's gritty writing and art style helps give this story a much more interesting presentation for readers to soak up. I like it's distinct style for the most part though I feel some font choices in the comic made it difficult to read in certain moments.

14. Dragon Age Tevinter Nights

Dragon Age Tevinter Nights is a fantastic anthology book within the world of Dragon Age. Over 15 stories all written by nine writers working at Bioware; this book holds a grand selection of stories for any avid fan to sit down and enjoy. These stories while all separate to one another share a running theme and have great attention to world building and character development. Not every story will hit with the reader but that's always a risk with an anthology series, but for the most part this book really scratches that Dragon Age itch any fan will have

13. The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The first entry in J.R.R Tolkien's legendary Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring does a brilliant job in redefining the whimsical world of The Hobbit into a much more mature and darker landscape for his epic fantasy tale. Tolkien's usual tendency to waffle on during a lot of scenes is still present but it's forgivable in the wake of his astounding world building elements and dramatic sequences layered all throughout the book's four hundred and seven page count.

12. The Hobbit

The Hobbit is the first entry into J.R.R Tolkien's world of Middle Earth. Inspired by his children, The Hobbit follows the escapades of Bilbo Baggins as he joins a company of dwarfs and and a wizard called Gandalf as they venture to re-capture the dwarfs lost home. It's core strength is found in it's creative world and characters. The events of the book feel so imaginative and they are brimming with so much originality. The only negative that can be found in this book is in it's distractive writing style but I am a bit more understanding of that in light of the period it was written in. 

11. The Return of the King

The Return of the King does a fantastic job in culminating the Lord of the Rings trilogy in both a awesome yet emotional format. It puts all of the central characters on their final journeys to cross over and finally destroy the One Ring to save all of Middle Earth. The way Tolkien writes a lot of the larger scales sequences is mesmerising and I would have considered it the best if not for it's uneven pacing near the end which drags out the conclusion a bit too long for my liking.

10. The Two Towers

The bridging entry in J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Two Towers does a fantastic job in capitalising on all the set up from the previous book. It takes the characters and their sub-plots and sets them on their own individual paths, filled with tension and danger. It's a brilliant way to put a more focused perspective on them and flesh them out further all the while setting the foundations for the dramatic conclusion which is set to follow. It even manages to avoid waffling on in a lot of sections unlike the prior books which is a notable positive.  

9. Thrawn 

Thrawn is a brilliant showcase of the titular character's rise to power within the Galactic Empire. It's core strength comes in the form of it's character writing which does a fantastic job of not just fleshing out it's main character but the wider supporting cast alongside him. It's not a completely smooth experience however as it's pacing struggles to keep up with the stories constant time jumps and  varying sub-plots. All in all though it's still a quality read for any Star Wars fan to get into.

8. Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me

Karate Kid is one of of my favourite film franchises me and my brothers watched growing up. Being able to read and understand how the world of Karate Kid impacted it's lead star both on and off-screen was a really fun time. It's a very honest and transparent break down of Ralph Machhio's life and his reflections on the legacy the films bestowed upon him. I love how much detail Ralph shares in the chapters of this book, he's able to break down his life in a very welcoming way for the reader to embed themselves in it. He's also capable of invoking a lot of emotion and weight in his writing which really surprised me. 

7. Heartstopper Volume #1

The first volume of Alice Oseman's Heartstopper series is filled to the brim with heart and charm that is positively infectious. It's kind and endearing narrative about a pair of school boys falling in love with one another is impossible not to adore. It's clever and smartly layered writing is further accompanied by an illustrative style that feels truly inspired and distinct. Heartstopper will easily warm your heart and make you truly happy to know we are working towards a world where a younger generation can be more open with identifying who they truly are.

6. Heartstopper Volume #2

Volume 2 of Heartstopper feels like a really commendable continuation of Charlie and Nick's story. With beautiful illustrations from Alice Oseman, the graphic novel does a fabulous job in further defining the romantic relationship between the two boys while also taking the opportunity to sprinkle in a few more mature themes on top of it. It's a beautiful graphic novel and I continue to believe everyone and anyone should give it a try!

5. Heartstopper Volume #3

Heartstopper Volume 3 reflects a distinct level of quality and maturity in the way Alice Oseman is out to further develop Charlie and Nick's romantic story. I loved this entry for how it took another angle into their relationship and how they want it to be seen in the wake of the prior volume's outcome. There's a really nice attempt to flesh out the secondary characters a lot in this book as well and it manages a wonderful balance in developing everyone's personal stories equally. 

4. The Lies of Locke Lamora

Serving as the first entry in the Gentleman Bastard series, The Lies of Locke Lamora is a impressive introduction to this fantastical world and it's titular character. It's core premise tangles impressively with the overarching world building to tell a captivatingly original tale of adventure. It's a story which handles a influx of emotional in some intriguing fashions thanks to Scott Lynch's competent writing ability. 

3. Batman: The Long Halloween

The Long Halloween feels like a truly definitive entry in the legacy of Batman. It's story is expertly written and paced through multiple engaging volumes. It utilises a plethora of characters to reflect a much more grounded interpretation of Gotham City in order to reflect it's more mature narrative. It's visual style complements the story's tone with a creative use of colour and angles to give it a truly distinct feel.

2. Star Wars Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil 

Lesser Evil is such a satisfying payoff to Grand Admiral Thrawn's origin book series. Timothy Zahn utilises all the narrative cues and world building he established in the prior two books in a massive and compelling finale. It's really impressive just how layered and in-depth the story is with it's character based perspectives and intricate world design. Nothing ever feels wasted or undercooked in this book, every single chapter and memory does a fantastic job in telling you the interesting origins of the Empire's greatest admiral. 

1. Heartstopper Volume #4 

The fourth volume of Alice Oseman's Heartstopper series is easily my favourite. The way it evolves the relationship between Charlie and Nick and takes a more mature direction to look at mental health is really appreciated. Oseman tackles the subject matter with an amazing amount of grace and respect, writing a personal journey which any couple who deals with mental illness can easily relate to.