My name is Kazza K,
and I have some excellent books for you in my Books of the Year: 2025 today.

(^Thanks, Book of Mormon.^)

Once upon a time, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I used to keep notes in notepads of all the good books I read. These days, I review at On Top Down Under Reviews. For most of that time I’ve been reading gay romance (mm) or LGBTQ genre fiction. This year I spread my wings into the romantasy world, and I also jumped back into some dark contemporary romance. I’m still reading books that interest me in gay romance but it’s nice to have a change of scenery. I’ll be honest, I knew I needed a new lease on my reading life. There’s only so many times one bed, two men or grumpy/sunshine can be read. Congrats to Rachel Reid and her success with Heated Rivalry but sport romance books do nothing for me either. I needed the ability to switch between genres. So the revitalisation began! 

Reading new-to-me authors and under a wider romance umbrella has given me a melange of tropes to choose from, including some plucky young women and the shadow daddies that fight alongside them. Fae-vamp hybrids. Deadly monster migrations. More than ever, I want a lot of world building and plot. Really addictive characters are necessary, and I predominantly want organic sex, not just sex for the sake of it. Whether it’s cops and serial killers, serial killers with serial killers, pining and teenage assassins, cities underground ruled by fascists, necromancers and their precogs, or dragons with attitude that took me on a ride or die adventure, all of the above made 2025 a great reading year.  

If I write an in depth review on this blog it’s because that book made me feel. I want to share that experience. The audio/books on my BOTY are the ones that spoke to me the most in 2025. This post is me wanting to recognise my personal favourites of the current year as a thank you to the authors who put them out into the world for our enjoyment.

Recently, I’ve had a few authors ask if I’m on Instagram. I am, but only to look at quirky, funny, or social commentary reels, and to DM friends. I don’t post reviews on there. I already review here, Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter, BookSky, Facebook, and Audible. That’ll do me. There’s a good reason many review sites, on any platform, struggle to last. I can assure you they’re incredibly time consuming ventures, but I’m happy, for just on fourteen years now, that we’re still loving books enough to be able to keep-on-keeping-on. 

Also, thank you to the people who subscribe to our blog and other readers who pop on here and check out our reviews. I hope you find a book or two you love from this list below. Cheers to you all! 

And last but not least, a big shoutout to my blog partner and friend in crime, Cindi. She makes books, this blog, my life a better place to be because I get to share it all with her.  

My favourites for 2025-

1. The book cover takes you to Amazon or Audible.
2. The book title takes you to my review.
3. The author’s name takes you to their author page: 

Onyx Storm (The Empyrean, #3) by Rebecca Yarros – e-book & audiobook. Romantasy, Dragons. Addictive MCs. Lightning Wielder. Shadow Wielder. Epic Adventure. 

“We live by the Codex—” I try again.
“I live by you. When have I ever given a fuck about the Codex or the Code of Conduct?” He cradles my face and leans down, resting his forehead against mine. “I am yours and you are mine, and there’s no law or rule in this world or the next that will change that.”

Bear in mind that this is book 3 of a series that cannot be read as a standalone. There are two more books still to come. It’s also going to be made into a TV series. 

I am an unabashed, huge fangirl of this wonderfully addictive series. I love the main characters – General Sorrengail’s daughter, Violet, who was never meant to be a dragon rider but proved she can do whatever she must to survive, and the ‘rebellion’ leader’s son and formidable shadow-wielder, Xaden Riorson. The secondary characters are memorable as well. Violet’s friendship group are an important part of the books, as is Violet’s older sister Mira’s punch first and ask questions later attitude. There is emotional connection everywhere I turn in these pages – I’m still recovering from a particular scene in the first book.

The dragons are fantastic and one of Violet’s dragons, Tairn, is to the point – love that – with loyalty for days! I generally only buy romantasy audiobooks that have dual narration. This series does not provide that, although Xaden gets a chapter at the end courtesy of Teddy Hamilton. The audiobooks are so good. It’s Rebecca Soler who makes them such a living, breathing experience. She is a powerhouse narrator, I couldn’t imagine this series narrated any other way by any other person. If you’re thinking about this series, start at the beginning with Fourth Wing. I’ve re-listened to the three books in this series multiple times. Absolutely addictive romantasy reading.

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Brimstone (Fae & Alchemy, #2)  Callie Hart – audiobook. Romantasy. Fae Shadow Wielder, Fae-Vampire Hybrid, Gods, & More. 

“I know how a dagger works, Fisher.” Most couples flirted by making eyes at each other or complimenting each other’s outfits. We did it by discussing how best to murder our enemies. A smile ached at the corners of my mouth, begging to be unleashed . . .

You need to have read Quicksilver before Brimstone. This isn’t a standalone book it’s book #2 of a series with more books to come. 

Brimstone builds off the back of book #1, Quicksilver, adding more to certain character’s identities and their backstory while introducing characters talked about previously on page. It’s set within a Fae world with other paranormal beings, like vampires, gods, and more. Saeris started her journey in the slums of the desert of Zilvaren as human, ending up in the Fae realm of Yvelia, and the vampiric Ammontraíeth, just to mention a few of the places visited. Saeris has grown into an alchemist, a mate to Kingfisher of the Ajun Gate, she’s now a hybrid Fae/vampire and the queen of the Sanasrothian Court. The world building is beautifully drawn, the writing lovely. There is action, bloodshed, threats, and the ending is an epic WTF?!  The fantasy elements are not same-same as others in the romantasy world. The MCs and their friends are well worth the epic journey. There’s over 1,300 pages between books 1 & 2. The audiobooks have the best production value, and the narrators, Stella Bloom and Anthony Palmini, are very, very good at bringing the MCs and the cast to life. Multidimensional romantasy reading.  

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A Simple Mistake (Deadly Mistakes, #1) – Alice Winters – audiobook. Gay Romance. Cop with Serial Killer.  

“Why?” Gabriel asks. His voice shakes just a bit. “Why would you do this?”
“Because I had to. He had to die, Gabriel.” He butchered his entire family and walked out of the court with a smile on his face. Guess who’s smiling now?” I ask with a grin. 

This is book #1 of a series but wraps up nicely by the end. I’ve also listened to book #2, A Forgotten Mistake, another very good book.

It’s taken me a while to warm to Alice Winters writing but I’ve become a quiet fan of hers just recently. It’s built off the back of the Deadly Mistake series. I loved this audiobook. Greg Boudreaux always value adds to anything he narrates. He’s  pitch perfect in this and the second book, A Forgotten Mistake. Liam and Gabriel felt so real with Boudreaux voicing them. I love the concept of two cops, one who’s by the book and everyone’s favourite detective – Gabriel – and his partner, a serial killer – Liam – who blackmails his colleagues and gives them absolute grief. Except Gabriel. He’d burn the world down for his Gabriel. There is also a battle of wills between Liam and Lucille Pawl, Gabriel’s cat, aka LucyFur. It’s a running gag and it never grew old. It made me laugh. Every. Time. This book has darker moments but there’s plenty of humour as well. I’ve re-listened to A Simple Mistake several times this year. It’s the year of the fictional serial killer for me. Absurdist, fun, grey shades, I love this series.   

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How to Flirt With a Hellhound (Hellhounds of Paradise Falls, #1) – Shannon Mae – audiobook. Gay PNR Romance 

Yesterday Toby had been asking his PA how many fingers a person could lose before they bled to death. I put on safety glasses, picked up the handheld saw, and went to work to find out the answer to his question.

Toby, a dark paranormal romance writer who is often lost in plotting, falls for his newish sexy “serial killer” neighbour, Dexter. Yes, the neighbour named himself after the show – in How to Flirt with a Hellhound. I’d never read Shannon Mae prior to this audiobook, but this was a blast. It was funny and also had some darker edges to it. Dex does kill people with bad souls. Toby is clueless about people’ing which is fine because Dex is also awkward around humans but for different reasons. He’s a Hellhound. There are some really random moments in this book, like when Toby, Q and Cassius have an exchange at the coffee shop that was so weird it had me laughing in the middle of the night when I first read it. It was good the third time around as well. Dex gives Toby solid writing material and tips on death and dismemberment, and then some sex scenes of their own adds some extra flavour, all while Toby finds Dex totally ‘swoonworthy.’ The narration of Iggy Toma and Alexander Cendese fit the characters perfectly. If you like funny PNR with an edge, here it is.   

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Tourist Season (Seasons of Carnage Trilogy, #1) – Brynne Weaver.– audiobook – Contemporary Multi-Serial Killer Romance.

I don’t know what it is he wants from me yet, but he’s obviously unhinged and dangerous as fuck. But so am I. And this is my town.

Just know that this is book 1 of a trilogy with book 2 due out in 2026.

Two serial killers find murder, gore, carnage, and connection  in this delightfully diabolical book that is perfectly narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Robert Hatchet.  

One serial killer comes to another’s town to murder her because she caused him emotional and physical pain via a hit and run. For four years she’s been at the top of his hit list. But Harper is living with and taking care of another serial killer who has early stage Alzheimer’s, and she continues his legacy. What happens when two serial killers aren’t going to let the other one bump them off, and they both develop feelings?  Tourist Season is dark, deviously funny, and everything you’d expect from a dark contemporary romance. Great writing, I had so much fun with this book because Weaver has such an affinity with her characters.

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Shield of Sparrows (Shield of Sparrows, #1) ) – Devney Perry– e-book. Romantasy. Monsters and More.   

“The prince has slain seven female creatures on your behalf, per your request, King Cross. If he demands a bride prize, it must be paid. And for that, the bride is of his choosing.”

This is book #1 of a trilogy and the next two aren’t out yet. This book has been optioned for a movie. No surprise to me as it lends itself to being on the big screen.    

The Turan and the (religious) Voster play a last minute marriage switcheroo on the King of Quentis in Shield of Sparrows. Odessa isn’t trained to be a dagger wielding, spying and lying character. She’s all about books and some quiet little rebellions. Her half-sister is the one who’s been trained to kick arse and spy almost since birth. Mae’s the one who’s supposed to be the next Sparrow. But the king and Odessa are in for a shock when the guests choose the girl they want, a powerplay. Not supposed to happen. There’s nothing Odessa can do but go along. Of course, daddy pressures her to still fulfill what was to be Mae’s role and all without any training. Odessa must succeed before the horrific migration of the Crux. Hard to do when the monsters in Turan are being more aggressive in an organised way. And the Turan people? They don’t trust lightly. If a true slow burn romantasy is your thing, one with excellent world building and monsters, then this could be your jam.   

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Everything That Kills Me – Barbara Elsborg – e-book. Gay Contemporary Standalone Romance, Coming of Age, Teenage Assassin. 

Suddenly, Zeph was who he needed to see. Zeph would remind him of the teenage boy he was, not a deadly weapon.  

I pretty much always have a Barbara Elsborg book on my BOTY list. This has a lot of what I like – boys to men who are friends first but more feelings become involved. Then they are split up for but they never forget one another. Theirs is a connection that never loses its spark, and when they get a chance to meet up time and again they fall into one another like no time has passed. One of them wants to work for the government, the other one is an assassin from age sixteen onwards. Definitely not government sanctioned work. It was hard to see how this one could work out but BE didn’t let me down. Lots of emotions, trade mark humour, sweet with a sharpness, definite longing, and some action all make Everything That Kills Me one of my books of 2025.    

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The Big Adios: Necromancers (Paranormal Problems, #3) H L Day e-book. Gay PNR Romance

When my visions hit, they ranged in intensity from only a tickle to something that burrowed into my skull. Anything linked to Calisto never deviated from excruciatingly painful. Like it was my body’s way of ensuring I got the message and couldn’t choose to ignore it.

This is the third book in a series, and while you could read it as a standalone, the prior two books have characters who make appearances here. There’s also a primary arc throughout the books that lead into The Big Adios. This book brings a precog and a necromancer together. Even though they work in the same office, Calisto has never met Asher before, but they collide in a big way at the beginning of this book. Asher knows it’s preordained to look after Calisto and that he’s his mate, something Calisto doesn’t believe in. It’s a reoccurring theme throughout this series – one knows who their mate is, the other doesn’t know or believe. Asher has moments where he sees things regarding events that haven’t even started. Protecting Calisto means a dead man who has been in Calisto’s life from a very young age as well as Calisto’s big and loud family joining him. This is a good read that wraps up the necromancer side of things. I believe that Day may be going to write about other paranormal investigations. I really hope so because this is such an enjoyable, different series. 

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Valley of Secrets (Death’s Embrace, #4) H L Moore– e-book. Queer Spec Fic/Fantasy 

Grace pressed her lips together. “One way or another, I intend to reclaim my throne. I don’t know how yet, but I’ll- I’ll figure it out.”

This is book #4 in a series that you need to start at the beginning.

There was so much that transpired between Heart of Dust, book #1, and Valley of Secrets. So much happened at the end of Throne of Lies, book, #3, leaving the main characters scattered around Iole City or the Violet Valley. Some are dead. People are unsure of who is and isn’t alive. Nathaniel and Doran are trying to find their way back to one another – hopefully that’s possible – and Doran is concerned about his daughter, Grace. Tsa Lien has a big backstory. There is also the ongoing arc about Embrace, a fictional substance that many want to get their hands on and on the one who can make it. The entire series is named after it. While this series has a romance within it, it’s more built on plot, world, and character development. If you enjoy spec-fic with good queer rep, then this is so worth diving into.