2025 Rule One Book Reviews Book of The Year

12/15/2025

2025 Book of the Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Rule One Book Reviews!

I'm happy to announce "This Burdened Clay" by Thomas Norford is the Rule One Book Reviews Novel of the Year for 2025. It won this by having the highest review recommendation of all the books reviewed this year, STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. I wish I had a prize or a fancy sticker he could slap on his cover. Maybe next year. My hearty congratulations will have to suffice.

Thank you to all the readers who visited Rule One Book Reviews (ROBR) in its inaugural year. I'd also like to thank the authors for writing the novels I've enjoyed so much. ROBR's first organic review debuted 7 August, with Dragons in the Dungeons. We've posted one review a month since then, plus one special review. In the 6 months since I've been posting ROBR's readership has gone from about 3 viewers a day to about 50. Some of the books below have seen measurable spikes in Amazon reviews and sales since the review debuted. Is that attributable to their review here on ROBR? I don't know, but I'd like to think it is. There is only one way to find out - post more reviews.

I plan to review twelve novels in 2026, plus at least two Special Reviews. The first review o 2026 will be "All The King's Bastards" by G. Lawrence, which will be posted in January. Also expect another round of review candidates early in the new year.

In the meantime, I've provided a list of the year's reviews, as well as all the current review candidate books that will carry over to 2026. Please browse the titles and maybe you'll find a book or maybe one that might make a good Christmas gift for that special reader in your life.

2025 Book Reviews Recap

August 2025 RECOMMENDED

September 2025 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

October 2025 RECOMMENDED.

November 2025 RECOMMENDED.

2025 RULE ONE BOOK OF THE YEAR. December 2025 STRONGLY RECOMMENDED

Special Review HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Special Reviews Scheduled for 2026

I'm officially "fan-boying" these two authors. I've picked up more of their books and plan to read and review them in the coming year as "Special Reviews" - dates TBD. Special Reviews are above and beyond the regular review line-up. I'm reading another Susana Imaginario book because she scratches my mythology itch. I'm reading the sequel to Richard Massie's The Cube because the first novel built a fantasy world and characters so compelling I have to return.