Maude’s Book Club 2025 First three main book picks
Maude’s Book Club launched last year, and our 2024 slate was filled with wonderful books. Over the past year, the MBC community has voted on the books we wanted to read, most of which have been winners!
For the first three months of 2025, Maude Garrett and book club members have chosen the novels sitting on their TBR. If you are an ACOTAR fan, missed Light Bringer this year, or want to dive into Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive, you should come and join us in 2025!
When MBC starts a series and ends up loving the book, the community is always excited to continue reading together. The first three main book picks of 2025 are all sequels we’ve grown to love.
Become a book club member here!
January:
LIGHT BRINGER BY PIERCE BROWN
The Reaper is a legend, more myth than man: the savior of worlds, the leader of the Rising, the breaker of chains.
But the Reaper is also Darrow, born of the red soil of Mars: a husband, a father, a friend.
The worlds once needed the Reaper. But now they need Darrow. Because after the dark age will come a new age: of light, of victory, of hope.
Goodreads Nominee for Readers' Favorite Science Fiction (2023)
FEBRUARY:
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's actions and learn what she can about the invading king threatening to bring her land to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit. One slip could bring doom not only for Feyre, but for everything-and everyone-she holds dear.
As war bears down upon them all, Feyre endeavors to take her place amongst the High Fae of the land, balancing her struggle to master her powers-both magical and political-and her love for her court and family. Amidst these struggles, Feyre and Rhysand must decide whom to trust amongst the cunning and lethal High Lords, and hunt for allies in unexpected places.
Goodreads Winner for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2017)
MARCH:
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
Expected by his enemies to die the miserable death of a military slave, Kaladin survived to be given command of the royal bodyguards, a controversial first for a low-status "darkeyes." Now he must protect the king and Dalinar from every common peril as well as the distinctly uncommon threat of the Assassin, all while secretly struggling to master remarkable new powers that are somehow linked to his honorspren, Syl.
The Assassin, Szeth, is active again, murdering rulers all over the world of Roshar, using his baffling powers to thwart every bodyguard and elude all pursuers. Among his prime targets is Highprince Dalinar, widely considered the power behind the Alethi throne. His leading role in the war would seem reason enough, but the Assassin's master has much deeper motives.
Brilliant but troubled Shallan strives along a parallel path. Despite being broken in ways she refuses to acknowledge, she bears a terrible burden: to somehow prevent the return of the legendary Voidbringers and the civilization-ending Desolation that will follow. The secrets she needs can be found at the Shattered Plains, but just arriving there proves more difficult than she could have imagined.
Meanwhile, at the heart of the Shattered Plains, the Parshendi are making an epochal decision. Hard pressed by years of Alethi attacks, their numbers ever shrinking, they are convinced by their war leader, Eshonai, to risk everything on a desperate gamble with the very supernatural forces they once fled. The possible consequences for Parshendi and humans alike, indeed, for Roshar itself, are as dangerous as they are incalculable.
Goodreads Nominee for Readers' Favorite Fantasy (2014)
