2025’s Best & Worst Reads + What You Want Me to Write Next

As 2025 draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the books that shaped my year—some brilliant, some… less so. Here are my top hits and misses, with thoughts on why they resonated (or didn’t). I’d love your input too—take the quick survey at the end for what you’d like from me in 2026.

The Best of 2025

• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee – Epic family saga across generations. Echoes of empire and resilience that inspired parts of Onesimus.
• The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen – Masterful on identity and war. Reviewed it here.
• A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold. Witty space opera with heart. Pure joy. Reviewed it here.
• Autonomous by Annalee Newitz. Sharp sci-fi on AI and ownership. Fueled ideas for Mortals As They Walk. Reviewed it here.
• System Collapse by Martha Wells. A rogue AI robot with a personality—one of my favorite series (and an Apple TV+ series.) Reviewed it here.
  

These reads reminded me why I write: to explore faith, freedom, and the human condition in worlds both ancient and future.

Your Turn

What should I focus on next? Sneak peeks from Seven Planets? More historical deep-dives like Onesimus? Reader’s choice short story?

Take the 2-minute survey below. Results in January’s post—and the top idea gets a free chapter excerpt for everyone.