BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 2008

89 highest-rated books first published in 2008.

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Why Mistborn: The Hero of Ages is #1

Mistborn: The Hero of Ages (Brandon Sanderson) scores 9.1/10 from 4.2K ratings — 0.5 points ahead of Last Argument of Kings in second place.

The score is a weighted average across 3 independent rating sources. A title with few ratings is pulled toward the category average, so a handful of enthusiastic reviews cannot outrank a book that thousands of readers have judged. Method →

  1. Mistborn: The Hero of Ages
    Mistborn: The Hero of AgesBrandon Sanderson · 2008 Fantasy4.2K ratings
    9.19.1 / 10
  2. Last Argument of Kings
    Last Argument of KingsJoe Abercrombie · 2008 Fantasy1.6K ratings1
    8.68.6 / 10
  3. Toll the Hounds
    Toll the HoundsSteven Erikson · 2008 Fantasy301 ratings
    8.68.6 / 10
  4. The Battle of the Labyrinth
    The Battle of the LabyrinthRick Riordan · 2008 Fantasy2K ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  5. Small Favor
    Small FavorJim Butcher · 2008 Fantasy746 ratings
    8.58.5 / 10
  6. The Graveyard Book
    The Graveyard BookNeil Gaiman · 2008 Fantasy1.6K ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  7. Anathem
    AnathemNeal Stephenson · 2008 Science fiction728 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  8. Princeps' Fury
    Princeps' FuryJim Butcher · 2008 Fantasy391 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  9. House of Suns
    House of SunsAlastair Reynolds · 2008 Science fiction348 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  10. The Last Lecture
    The Last LectureRandy Pausch · 2008 Biography & memoir357 ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  11. The Hunger Games
    The Hunger GamesSuzanne Collins · 2008Filmed 2012 Dystopian9.3K ratings
    8.38.3 / 10
  12. Beyond the Shadows
    Beyond the ShadowsBrent Weeks · 2008 Fantasy499 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  13. Shadow's Edge
    Shadow's EdgeBrent Weeks · 2008 Fantasy559 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  14. The Temporal Void
    The Temporal VoidPeter F. Hamilton · 2008 Science fiction262 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  15. Your Inner Fish
    Your Inner FishNeil H. Shubin · 2008 Popular science97 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  16. Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague
    Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow PlagueBrandon Mull · 2008 Fantasy174 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  17. Shadow Kiss
    Shadow KissRichelle Mead · 2008 Young adult387 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  18. Iron Kissed
    Iron KissedPatricia Briggs · 2008 Fantasy258 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  19. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
    On the Edge of the Dark Sea of DarknessAndrew Peterson · 2008 Fantasy66 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  20. Nation
    NationTerry Pratchett · 2008 Fantasy211 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  21. The Way of Shadows
    The Way of ShadowsBrent Weeks · 2008 Fantasy733 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  22. Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction
    Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's AddictionDavid Sheff · 2008NYT bestseller Biography & memoir86 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  23. Matter
    MatterIain Banks · 2008 Science fiction290 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  24. Chains
    ChainsLaurie Halse Anderson · 2008 Historical fiction51 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  25. Outliers
    OutliersMalcolm Gladwell · 2008NYT bestseller Psychology1.2K ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  26. Victory of Eagles
    Victory of EaglesNaomi Novik · 2008 Fantasy170 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  27. Eclipse
    EclipseErin Hunter · 2008 Fantasy51 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  28. Brisingr
    BrisingrChristopher Paolini · 2008 Fantasy1.4K ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  29. Odd and the Frost Giants
    Odd and the Frost GiantsNeil Gaiman · 2008 Fantasy147 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  30. Raven Rise
    Raven RiseD. J. MacHale · 2008 Fantasy79 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  31. Frostbite
    FrostbiteRichelle Mead · 2008 Fantasy420 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  32. Backup
    BackupJim Butcher · 2008 Fantasy73 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  33. Airman
    AirmanEoin Colfer · 2008 Adventure84 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  34. The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
    The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas FlamelMichael Scott · 2008 Fantasy239 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  35. The Spook's Mistake
    The Spook's MistakeJoseph Delaney · 2008 Fantasy70 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  36. The Knife of Never Letting Go
    The Knife of Never Letting GoPatrick Ness · 2008 Young adult492 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  37. The Likeness
    The LikenessTana French · 2008 Crime & mystery295 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  38. The Gypsy Morph
    The Gypsy MorphTerry Brooks · 2008 Fantasy58 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  39. Superior Saturday
    Superior SaturdayGarth Nix · 2008 Fantasy91 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  40. Wrath of a Mad God
    Wrath of a Mad GodRaymond E. Feist · 2008 Fantasy77 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  41. Armageddon in Retrospect
    Armageddon in RetrospectKurt Vonnegut · 2008 Essays53 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  42. When You Are Engulfed in Flames
    When You Are Engulfed in FlamesDavid Sedaris · 2008 Humour359 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  43. House of Many Ways
    House of Many WaysDiana Wynne Jones · 2008 Fantasy175 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  44. The Ascent of Money
    The Ascent of MoneyNiall Ferguson · 2008 History98 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  45. Little Brother
    Little BrotherCory Doctorow · 2008 Dystopian500 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  46. Cry Wolf
    Cry WolfPatricia Briggs · 2008 Fantasy170 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  47. Fractured
    FracturedKarin Slaughter · 2008 Crime & mystery103 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  48. Victory Conditions
    Victory ConditionsElizabeth Moon · 2008 Science fiction64 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  49. Graceling
    GracelingKristin Cashore · 2008 Young adult748 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  50. Once Upon a Time in the North
    Once Upon a Time in the NorthPhilip Pullman · 2008 Fantasy81 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  51. Divine Justice
    Divine JusticeDavid Baldacci · 2008 Crime & mystery75 ratings
    7.87.8 / 10
  52. Lavinia
    LaviniaUrsula K. Le Guin · 2008 Fantasy70 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  53. Duma Key
    Duma KeyStephen King · 2008 Horror357 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  54. Salvation of a Saint
    Salvation of a SaintKeigo Higashino · 2008 Crime & mystery86 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  55. Mechanicum
    MechanicumGraham McNeill · 2008 Science fiction67 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  56. Swallowing Darkness
    Swallowing DarknessLaurell K. Hamilton · 2008 Fantasy58 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  57. The Lucky One
    The Lucky OneNicholas Sparks · 2008NYT bestseller Romance90 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  58. The Keepsake
    The KeepsakeTess Gerritsen · 2008 Crime & mystery60 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  59. The Tales of Beedle the Bard
    The Tales of Beedle the BardJ. K. Rowling · 2008 Fantasy993 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  60. Fade Away
    Fade AwayHarlan Coben · 2008 Crime & mystery72 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  61. Unbelievable
    UnbelievableSara Shepard · 2008 Young adult91 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  62. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
    Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last StrawJeff Kinney · 2008 Children’s books271 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  63. The Absent One
    The Absent OneJussi Adler-Olsen · 2008 Crime & mystery99 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  64. Odd Hours
    Odd HoursDean Koontz · 2008 Thriller132 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  65. Wake
    WakeRobert J. Sawyer · 2008 Science fiction82 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  66. The Diamond of Darkhold
    The Diamond of DarkholdJeanne DuPrau · 2008 Fantasy88 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  67. The Summoning
    The SummoningKelley Armstrong · 2008 Horror202 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  68. City of Ashes
    City of AshesCassandra Clare · 2008 Fantasy1.2K ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  69. From Dead to Worse
    From Dead to WorseCharlaine Harris · 2008 Fantasy294 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  70. 7th Heaven
    7th HeavenJames Patterson · 2008 Thriller59 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  71. A Lion Among Men
    A Lion Among MenGregory Maguire · 2008 Fantasy59 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  72. Nudge
    NudgeRichard Thaler · 2008 Business294 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  73. Ender in Exile
    Ender in ExileOrson Scott Card · 2008 Science fiction316 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  74. Plum Lucky
    Plum LuckyJanet Evanovich · 2008 Crime & mystery53 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  75. Zoe's Tale
    Zoe's TaleJohn Scalzi · 2008 Science fiction507 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  76. Hold Tight
    Hold TightHarlan Coben · 2008Filmed 2022 Thriller78 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  77. Nothing to Lose
    Nothing to LoseLee Child · 2008 Thriller240 ratings
    7.57.5 / 10
  78. The Maze of Bones
    The Maze of BonesRick Riordan · 2008 Adventure180 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  79. Untamed
    UntamedKristin Cast · 2008 Fantasy254 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  80. Chosen
    ChosenKristin Cast · 2008 Fantasy278 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  81. Just After Sunset
    Just After SunsetStephen King · 2008 Horror187 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  82. Sundays at Tiffany's
    Sundays at Tiffany'sJames Patterson · 2008 Romance50 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  83. Evernight
    EvernightClaudia Gray · 2008 Fantasy78 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  84. The Host
    The HostStephenie Meyer · 2008NYT bestseller Science fiction801 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  85. The Final Warning
    The Final WarningJames Patterson · 2008 Young adult109 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10
  86. Paper Towns
    Paper TownsJohn Green · 2008Filmed 2015 Crime & mystery1.4K ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  87. Blood Noir
    Blood NoirLaurell K. Hamilton · 2008 Horror77 ratings
    7.17.1 / 10
  88. Snuff
    SnuffChuck Palahniuk · 2008 Humour190 ratings
    7.07.0 / 10
  89. Breaking Dawn
    Breaking DawnStephenie Meyer · 2008 Young adult1.9K ratings
    6.46.4 / 10

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