Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends Book of Night by Holly Black, the first foray by the successful YA author into fantasy for more mature readers.

Pile by the Bed reviews Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda, a debut novel that uses the concept of vampirism in the context of a millennial coming of age story.

Pile by the Bed reviews Here Goes Nothing by Steve Toltz – a black comedy tackling the afterlife and a range of current social issues.

Pile by the Bed reviews The LAst Adventure of Constance Verity by A Lee Martinez the first in a trilogy of tongue-in-cheek fantasy/ science fiction adventure stories currently being made into a film with Awkwafina in the lead role.

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends One Foot in the Fade, the third book in Luke Arnold’s fantasy meets hard boiled gumshoe Fetch Philips series.

Pile by the Bed reviews Amongst Our Weapons the ninth novel in Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London series.

Pile by the Bed reviews The Leviathan by Rosie Andrews, a gothic horror debut set during the English civil war.

Pile by the Bed reviews Jade Legacy the final epic book in Fonda Lee’s Godfather meets martial arts fantasy Geenbone Saga. Recommended.

Pile byt the Bed reviews The Hood, the second book in Lavie Tidhar’s Anti-matter of Britain Quartet this one deconstructing the legend of Robin Hood and his gang.

Pile by the Bed reviews Age of Ash by Daniel Abraham, first in a trilogy exploring the fantasy city of Kithamar.

Pile by the Bed reviews The Book of Sand by Theo Clare a fantasy quest set in a desert world with strange links back to our own.

Pile by the Bed reviews This Charming Man by CK McDonnell the comic urban fantasy sequel to The Stranger Times

It was a tough choice but here are Pile by the Bed’s top 5 books of 2021 and five honourable mentions.

Pile by the Bed’s top 5 (actually 6) fantasy novels of 2021 and four honourable mentions

Pile by the Bed reviews Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong, conclusion to her 1920s Shanghai set, Shakespeare inspired These Violent Delights.

Pile by the Bed reviews The Escapement by Lavie Tidhar a new wierd fantasy with Western styling.

Pile by the Bed reviews Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia a Mexican vampire novel that does new and interesting things with the genre.

Pile by the Bed reviews The Pariah by Anthony Ryan – the start of a new Game of Thrnoes-style fantasy series.

Pile by the Bed reviews and recommends Shelley Parker-Chan’s debut She Who Became the Sun – the first in her Radiant Emperor Duology set in slightly fantasy version of 14th Century China.

Pile by the Bed reviews Hades, Argentina by Daniel Loedel a magical realist trip back into the dark days of Argentine military rule.