Stephanie Iken, Attorney at Law

In 2025, I read 56 books. I read some full-length novels, some children’s books, and tons of audiobooks. After finishing law school, my “reading muscle” was ready to work, and I was able to dive into fiction, which I avoided for many years.

This one of the most enjoyable reading years I’ve had in a very long time.

There is no particular order to these books. These books were not all published last year, but they were books I read last year that I particularly enjoyed.

Tress of the Emerald Sea

Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Year: 2023
Genres: Fantasy, Adventure

Plot:
An ordinary young woman leaves her isolated island home and embarks on a perilous journey across a strange and magical world to save someone she loves.

Tropes:

• Quest Adventure
• Ordinary Person, Extraordinary Journey
• Devotion and Loyalty
• Whimsical Fantasy
• Clever Narrator
• Soft Romance

Review:
Think Princess Bride, but told from the perspective of a female main character that doesn’t just wait around for her lover to return. She goes and finds him. Sanderson wrote this book for his wife, and the love and warmth comes through in the writing. This book was absolutely hilarious and made me want to read more of Brandon Sanderson’s longer works. Hopefully in 2026 I can finish Way of Kings.

Quicksilver

Author: Callie Hart
Publisher: Bloom Books
Publication Year: 2024
Genres: Fantasy Romance

Plot:
A woman is trapped by the Fae into making weapons for them. Never trust the Fae.

Tropes:

• Enemies to Lovers
• Fae
• Vampires
• Gods and Mythology
• Magic
• Sprites
• Companion Animal
• Fated Lovers

Review:
If you get a chance to experience the full cast audiobook, it is worth the listen. Callie Hart’s writing is top tier. The characters are awesome and well developed. I was fully engaged in this story and the world. I love the Sprites. They remind me of Dobby from Harry Potter, though this book was nothing like Harry Potter in any way (and definitely a completely different target audience). The ending took a turn I was not expecting, and I was thrilled. The next book in the series in already out, and I can’t wait to read it.

Daisy Jones & the Six

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Year: 2019
Genres: Historical Fiction, Music

Plot:
The rise and fall of a fictional 1970s rock band is told through interviews with band members and those closest to them.

Tropes:

• Oral History Format
• Music Industry Drama
• Found Family
• Creative Tension
• Love and Ambition
• Fame and Its Cost

Review:
This book stood out for how real its characters felt. The interview format took a moment to settle into, but once it did, it was fun to hear the different perspectives. The story showed what’s it’s like to have ambition, creativity, and emotional conflict without romanticizing the cost of fame. From what I have gathered, it is very loosely based on Fleetwood Mac.

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

Author: Sangu Mandanna
Publisher: Berkley Books
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Occult, Supernatural, Witches

Plot:
A solitary witch finds herself pulled into an unexpected community while helping teach magic to a group of children.

Tropes:

• Cozy Fantasy
• Found Family
• Slow Burn Romance
• Hidden Magic
• Teaching and Mentorship
• Healing and Belonging

Review:
This was one of the coziest reads of the year. I still get warm and fuzzy when I think about it. It felt like coming home after a long year away. The lost soul in me felt recognized in this story. The main characters meshed well together in a way that felt comforting and wholesome. I walked away from this novel feeling more hopeful about life in general. It is definitely worth a re-read.

Mirror in the Sky: The Life and Music of Stevie Nicks

Author: Simon Morrison
Publisher: University of California Press
Publication Year: 2024
Genres: Biography, Music

Plot:
An exploration of Stevie Nicks’ life, and music, with an emphasis on her songwriting.

Themes and Tropes:

• Artist Biography
• Creative Process
• Musical Evolution
• Feminine Power in Music
• Myth and Persona
• Legacy and Influence

Review:
I enjoyed learning about one of my favorite musicians. Her name is Stephanie (like me!). Before I started reading, a lot of the reviews critiqued this book for being too focused on music theory. As an amateur musician, I particularly enjoyed that part of it, but I could see how others may not. This book was more focused on her music craftsmanship than on being a biography, though it definitely talked about her life as well. Excellent read.