A.J.’s Completely Random Book Awards: 2025

I had a lot of fun with this silly awards post last year, so I decided to do it again. As of this writing, I’ve read 58 books this year, but not all of them are listed below (the post would be way too long!)

My criteria for choosing books for this list is simple: I enjoyed the book (it was either a 4 or 5 star read), and it had something really noteworthy or unusual I wanted to highlight. It might be a character, a theme, or even the physical book itself, but I think all of these books are worth reading and should get a little more attention.

So, here we go…

Best Fictional Pet:

Dog (from Partial Function by J.C.M. Berne)

While Dog is a non-speaking character, he’s also the best comedic relief you could ask for and a fantastic companion to the book’s main character. And Dog certainly knows how to make his opinions known, especially when it comes to a defeated enemy.

Best Grim Reaper Boyfriend:

Vic (from Redneck Revenant by David R. Slayton)

While not the book’s main character, Vic is a fixture in the story. His role as Grim Reaper was established early in the series (book 1, I believe), but he’s not the creepy, undead sort of reaper you see in pop culture. No, Vic’s still very much alive, and he’s the best partner Adam could ask for.

Best Cinnamon Roll Character:

Soleil (from An Ambitious Woman and her Very Normal Pet by Lily Greene)

Soleil won this award hands-down. I didn’t even have to consider other characters for this award category this year. He’s a drider; a half-human, half-spider creature with a somewhat terrifying appearance, but the absolute sweetest demeanor. Everything about this book was cozy and fun, but Soleil was probably my favorite part.

Best Mythological Retelling:

Daedalus is Dead by Seamus Sullivan

The title says it all: Daedalus is dead. And he’s expected to pay for his transgressions in the afterlife, which means confronting old foes like the king of Minos and the Minotaur, while he tries to learn the true fate of his son. I love stories based on mythology, and this one has such a unique twist to it.

Best Redemption Arc:

Abi (from Nothing Ever Ends by Darby Harn)

Nothing Ever Ends is book 3 in the series, and Abi has been part of the story from the start. When I learned book 3 was her book, I wasn’t sure how much I’d like it, particularly after what she did in pervious books. But Abi redeemed herself in a big way, and I think her story might just be my favorite of the set.

Best Underwater Setting:

This Gilded Abyss by Rebecca Thorne

Most of the book is set on a deep sea transport barge, and when things start to go bad, they go really bad. I liked how the author incorporated things like water pressure and the danger of resurfacing too quickly into the story, which added another layer of danger to the zombie-like plague the passengers and crew are succumbing to.

Biggest “Oh, WTF is going to happen next?” Moment:

A Pack of Wolves by P.L. Stuart

There’s a moment toward the end of this book that was stunning with all it implied for the rest of the series. Some foreshadowing about that event came from earlier books in the series, but I never expected it to go down quite like it did. I think books 6 and 7 in The Drowned Kingdom Saga are shaping up to have some epic battles…

Chonkiest Book of the Year:

Obsidian: Revelation by Sienna Frost

(This one also wins for prettiest interior artwork!)

While this was the longest book I read in 2025, it didn’t feel that long. Both books in this series are so well done, and buying a physical copy is well worth the money. Not only is the cover artwork stunning, but the physical copies include artwork at the beginning of every chapter. I love this story and the world the author has created.

Coolest Fantasy Weapon:

Everleigh’s scythe (from Protocol of Valor by Timothy Wolff)

Protocol of Valor could also take an award for the reappearance of a most infuriating villain, but seriously, who else has a scythe when the character isn’t a grim reaper? It wins the coolest weapon award. This novella is also a great introduction to the author’s Legacy of Boulom series.

Cutest Capybara:

Mrs. Covington (from Mrs. Covington’s by K.R.R. Lockhaven)

Mrs. Covington’s is a bar named after a capybara, who is not only the bar’s mascot, but one of its permanent residents. This was a cute, cozy fantasy with some treasure hunting involved – and of course, a couple capybaras.

Goofiest Dragon:

Vincent (from River in the Galaxy and Outer Universe by Natalie Kelda)

The dragons in this series are so interesting. They’re incredibly long-lived, but with that expansive lifespan, their memories become muddled after a while. Vincent’s is downright terrible. He vacillates between aggression and benevolence when confronted with humans, and he likes the main character, Merlon, well enough – when he remembers who Merlon is.

Most Creative String of Swearing:

Neenah LeFleur (in Lady Drakeslayer by Bill Adams)

There is a sizeable cast of characters in The Divine Godsqueen Coda, but none are as colorful or flamboyant as the dashing Neenah LeFleur. She’s a ship captain with a loyal crew and a has a talent for creating some of the most unique and entertaining lines of expletives I’ve seen in a long time.

Most Fascinating Magic System:

The Light of Kasaban by Thomas Howard Riley

This book features a hard magic system with structured rules, yet every magic-user has their own unique abilities. The main character can bend light, a useful skill for concealment, but her magic is utterly useless in a fight. Yet she finds ways to survive in a city that would see her executed simply for existing, and she helps others with magic to live and grow too. One of the more interesting pieces of this magic system was that those with magic had to use it or risk some adverse effects, which made abstaining to survive a non-option.

Most Mercurial Character:

Dorillian (from The Walled City by L.L. Stephens)

Dorillian Sordaneon has been one of my favorite characters in this series since the beginning. He’s arrogant, but he also knows exactly what he’s capable of. He can go from aloof or infuriating, to endearing (especially when he’s around children.) And as a projective empath, anyone in his vicinity can pick up on his mood swings.

Most Terrifying Birds:

Violence & Vigilance by David T. List

Violence & Vigilance begins in a gladiatorial arena. As the main character and her group of warriors enter the fighting pit, they all reach up to tap a sign hanging about the door: “Don’t feed the birds.” While the birds aren’t a huge part of the book, the memory of what they represent is. They’re used to “clean up” the arena after death matches conclude. And they’re not small birds, either. Yep, terrifying.

Most Unsettling Book I Read:

The Price of a Beating Heart by Deon Ashleigh

This was a book I picked up after the author sought me out for a review. I didn’t know what I was getting into when I said yes, or what to expect from the book until I started reading. If you have a weak stomach when it comes to the topic of cannibalism, you’ll probably want to pass on this book. It’s not for the faint of heart. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

Scariest Microbes:

Symbiote by Michael Nayak

Extremophile microbes are fascinating. They’ve adapted to some of the harshest environments on our planet. So, imagine an extremophile evolved to withstand the Antarctic winter, throw in some clandestine organizations determined to use it as a weapon, and an outbreak on the South Pole that may or may not be an accident, and you have Symbiote. If you like the X-Files, I think you’ll like this book.

Wildest Timelines:

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Timelines was plural for this award with good reason. Dark Matter explores the many universes theory, and the main character even gets to visit a few of those alternate realities. Some are pleasant. Some are dangerous, if not downright deadly. But in all of them, there’s a thread of history that goes back to the world he’s from. He just has to figure out how to get back.

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Thanks for reading my 2025 random book awards, and I hope you’ll find something from the above list that’s worth adding to your TBR!