Shadow's Master

Keeping up the same action-packed pace as the rest of the trilogy, Shadow's Master is an excellent conclusion to a great series. While things wrap up nicely (for the most part), it didn't feel like such a perfect wrap-up, more like a transition to the next stage and I really liked that.

Echoes of the Past

If you're ready for a different kind of urban fantasy, this is just for you. If you're ready for action-packed fun and your jokes are often accused of being perfect for a junior high kid, this series is perfect. The Demon Squad series is my favorite urban fantasy series for good reason and Echoes of the Past is a worthy installment.

The Wind Through the Keyhole

As someone who considers Wizard and Glass one of his all-time favorite books (inside and outside of the Dark Tower universe), I love me a good flashback. Not everyone does and I'll even admit that I thought this book would be a tale of the Ka-tet, not another flashback within a flashback. I'd still recommend this to fans of the Dark Tower and even non-readers alike.

This Dark Earth

All in all, if you're going to read a zombie book, you should read This Dark Earth . Once you start, you won't be able to put it down anyway, so start now.

The Tainted City

One of the best reads this year as well as last, Courtney Schafer has delivered again. Not only with engaging characters and compelling plot, but with something new and diverse that I can't wait to come back to in The Labyrinth of Flame , book three in The Shattered Sigil Trilogy .

King of Thorns

Lawrence has created a series that challenges your perceptions and manages to be compulsively readable. The Broken Empire trilogy is an experience to say the least. I couldn't put it down and that's partly because I couldn't look away. King of Thorns takes the anti-hero to a whole new level, one who gives Logan Ninefingers of Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy a run for his money.

Shadow Ops: Control Point

Myke Cole is an author to watch and Shadow Ops: Control Point is possibly the best debut of the year [it was very close]. I know it's early yet, but I couldn't put this book down and that goes a long way for me.

Kings of the Morning

Paul Kearney has created a history that is epic in every sense of the word and t his trilogy is military fantasy at its best. It's so easy to get sucked in, this series was made for multiple readings and the stories are just as thrilling as those of the 300 Spartans at the Hot Gate. You come to see people doing the impossible and that's what you get.

Red Country

Some people may be put off by a bit of a slow start, but once you reach the halfway point you will have a decidedly difficult time putting the book down. This was a great reminder that I need to read more Abercrombie and soon. Red Country manages not only to be a stellar fantasy, but ranks with the best of the western genre as well. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid eat your heart out.

The Troupe

Bennett not only writes about magic, but his writing itself is imbued with magic and a bit of humor and even a little darkness. To be mentioned in the same breathe as Neil Gaiman would be no stretch of the imagination. The Troupe may just be the best book of 2012. [and it was!]

Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous

If you're looking for a great Halloween read, it would be hard to find better. If you're looking for an excellent anthology in general, you've found it. Fading Light is easily one of the best anthologies I've ever read, second only to Songs of the Dying Earth

The Hollow City

Scourge of the Betrayer

One day I'll lighten up on the use of parentheses, but that day is not today!The following are my top 10 New Releases of 2012. This may not be the first during this season of list-posting, so be prepared for at least one more list displaying my top reads regardless of publishing year. Which, to be honest, is really just another way to cheat and add more books to lists. Don't blame me, I can't tell you enough how good of a reading year I've had. This is not really a bad problem here.10.(Shadow Saga #3) by Jon Sprunk ( review ) [ interview 9.(Demon Squad #4) by Tim Marquitz ( review 8.(Dark Tower #4.5) by Stephen King ( review 7.by John Hornor Jacobs ( review 6.(Shattered Sigil #2) by Courtney Schafer ( review ) [ interview 5.(Broken Empire #2) by Mark Lawrence ( review 4.(Shadow Ops #1) by Myke Cole ( review 3.(Macht #3) by Paul Kearney ( review 2.by Joe Abercrombie ( review 1.by Robert Jackson Bennett ( review , Edited by Tim Marquitz ( review by Dan Wells ( review (Bloodsounder's Arc #1) by Jeff Salyards ( review EDIT: I don't know why I didn't link my reviews to these Honorable Mentions, so here they are.