2023 was a record-breaker for me. I read a full 100 books and so many of them were amazing.
While I read more new releases this year than I have in years past, I’m still making my way through a TBR list that’s several years long, so not every book I read was released in 2023. That said, that doesn’t mean they were any less amazing, so I’ve decided to focus on the best books I read this year as opposed to the best releases.
I am often focused on fantasy, but this year I branched out and read books from almost every genre. I also doubled down on different authors, finishing out collections from some of my favourites and discovering new ones that I loved.
I’m convinced there’s never been a better time to be a reader. There are so many amazing titles hitting shelves every day, and I’m so proud of how many of them I got to this year. Without further ado, here are all of my favourite books read in 2023 (in chronological order from when I read them, January through December):
Best Books Read in 2023
The Poppy War trilogy by R.F. Kuang
This epic military fantasy by Rebecca Kuang is a classic for a reason. It was full of action, had fascinating historical parallels, and was emotionally devastating. Kuang is one of the strongest writers I read this year, everything she produces is just absolute dynamite. I can’t recommend this series enough if you’re into epic or military fantasy and feel like being destroyed. You can catch my full reviews for each book here:
The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Charkaborty
This trilogy (with a bonus fourth book of extras) is probably my favourite trilogy ever. Charkaborty paints this gorgeous universe set partially in long-past Cairo and partially in a mythical city full of magic, political intrigue, and djinns. Her characters are brutally flawed and endearing and the crescendo of the plot was so epic that I was gasping. This series is my Roman empire. I think about it almost every day.
I technically read the City of Brass in 2022 but finished the rest of the series in 2023. All reviews for each book can be found here:
- The City of Brass Review
- The Kingdom of Copper Review
- The Empire of Gold Review
- The River of Silver Review
Selected Works of The Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti
I often describe The Zodiac Academy books as fantasy soap operas because they’re outrageously dramatic, insanely spicy, and have wild plots, but my goodness they’re SO entertaining. It’s a long series that I’ve yet to finish, and not every book has been 5 stars, but these are the ones that I felt were:
- The Awakening (ZA 1) Review
- Ruthless Fae (ZA 2) Review
- The Reckoning (ZA 3) Review
- Fated Throne (ZA 6) Review
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
Hell Bent is the second book in the Alex Stern series and it was utter perfection. Bardugo’s dark academia contemporary fantasy with an incredible anti-hero FMC set on an Ivy League backdrop is just so engrossing that I couldn’t put this series down. I loved Hell Bent and felt it was a fantastic follow-up. The full review is here:
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
This was my second Emily Henry novel and while I’m not typically a romance reader, I loved this so much. I loved the extremely slow friends-to-lovers execution, I loved how quirky the characters were, and I loved the work that each had to do to be ready for the other. This book had me completely hooked. The full review is here:
Shadow and Bone Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
What an epic trilogy. I loved the first book the most out of all three, but as a whole, the story was fantastic the whole way through. Bardugo’s Grishaverse is so well thought out and has so many layers that it was unsurprising to me that she was able to accomplish multiple spin-offs from this universe. I loved the magic and the characters and read all three books in a week.
The Celestial Kingdom Duology by Sue Lynn Tan
I picked up Daughter of the Moon Goddess on a bit of a whim because a) it was on sale and b) it was pretty, and it became one of my favourite series of the year. Tan created such a beautiful universe steeped in Chinese mythology with a slow-burn romance that had me swooning and an epically strong FMC. This duology holds a special place in my heart and I can’t wait for Tales of the Celestial Kingdom to release in 2024.
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Charkraborty
If you’re noticing a trend of Charkaborty appearing on this list, it’s because 2023 was the year I became obsessed with her writing. She’s quickly become one of my favourite authors. The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi was powerful for many reasons, not least of which being that the FMC is a middle-aged pirate and mother. In a genre that almost exclusively seems to feature 18-year-old women, it was a breath of fresh air to get a heroine who I felt represented to many. Plus, the story is epic and Charkaborty weaved the perfect amount of humour throughout. I’d read anything she wrote at this point but this series is shaping up to be a favourite of mine.
The Plated Prisoner Series by Raven Kennedy
I enjoyed the first book, Gild, in the Plated Prisoner series, but it’s in book two that Kennedy picks up steam. Glint saw a lot of the potential established in book one’s retelling of the tale of King Midas come to fruition and I was turning pages well into the night, desperate to know what happened next.
Not every book in this series has been a full 5-stars for me, but it’s a strong series as a whole. The books I most loved (so far as the final book has yet to be released) include:
Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
I felt like this was the novel that demonstrated that Kuang can write anything. A contemporary fiction/thriller-like novel about a horrendous white woman stealing the works of her dead Asian colleague was as stressful as it was repulsive, but all in a way that you couldn’t look away from. I devoured this book and felt like it touched on an incredible number of important themes.
Six of Crows Duology by Leigh Bardugo
Another clear theme on my list this year: if Leigh Bardugo writes it, I’m going to read (and love) it. Six of Crows is so legendary it has its own fandom beyond Shadow and Bone and I completely understand why. The character work was incredible, the stakes were high, and the plot twists had my head spinning. I loved both of these books.
Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
I picked this audiobook up on a whim and it ended up being one of my favourite reads of the year. Between the hunger-inducing recipes, Tucci’s signature wit, and a huge amount of relatability (particularly if you’re also a member of an outspoken Italian family), I couldn’t stop listening to this book. It’s one of the few non-fiction pieces to make my list this year.
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
This is one of those books that’s supremely difficult to listen to but also has an important story to tell. The way that McCurdy chose to tell the story from the perspective she had at the time of her tales instead of with the insight she now has into them was so powerful and made her trauma feel that much more significant. Another fantastic non-fiction book.
The Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros
I remember when Fourth Wing was released, the hype was so huge that I didn’t pick it up right away. I was worried about being disappointed so I waited a little while and then, before I knew it, it was impossible to get your hands on a copy of it at all. When I finally did, I regretted waiting so long because this story completely sucked me in and wouldn’t let go.
I liked Fourth Wing and Iron Flame for very different reasons. Fourth Wing was incredibly accessible romantasy—the world-building was basic and understandable, the romance was a little more forward, and I loved how much representation there was across the characters (chronic illness, BIPOC, hearing loss, etc). Not to mention telepathic dragons, which was just outrageously fun. It felt like the kind of accessible fantasy that is easy for everyone to love, like ACOTAR, which even non-fantasy readers like.
What I loved about Iron Flame was that it took a major twist and became a real, epic fantasy, which happens to be my jam. The world-building got a lot more intricate, there were so many subplots, the dragons got sassier, and the romance, while still prevalent, took a little more of a backseat to the action-packed plot. I was so obsessed with Iron Flame that I swear I didn’t come up for air for a full week until it was done.
The Empyrean series is probably my favourite series of the year for the sheer entertainment. I’ve read a lot of amazing books this year, but none have kept me as utterly entranced from start to finish as this one has.
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
This book took my breath away. Ross has such a poetic, lyrical style of writing that I was emotionally invested in the characters from the very start. It also has one of the most beautiful romances that I think I’ve read all year and one of the more gut-wrenching conclusions. The second book in this duology is one of my most anticipated reads of December, but releases so late that I’m not expecting to finish this calendar year. That said, I won’t be surprised if it becomes one of my favourite reads of 2024.
Masters of Death by Olivie Blake
This was a gorgeous, unique, weird and lovely book that somehow had me simultaneously tearing up and laughing out loud, while also philosophizing about life and God and the afterlife. Blake is such a unique writer, there’s no one else who pulls together a story like she does, and no matter what the content is, she’s typically a knockout for me.
The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
This might be the best debut that I read all year. From the very first chapter, The Jasad Heir had a binge-able quality to it that I find I’m always chasing. It was an impeccable romantasy with an epic origin story and some unique magic. Also, the ending was so explosive I was gasping. I loved this book, it’s actually in my top 2 favourites of 2023.
Starter Villain by John Scalzi
One of the most fun books I read this year. A ridiculously entertaining premise that involves an unsuspecting nephew of a rich supervillain inheriting his dead uncle’s villain empire, Starter Villain had a humour that was almost akin to Douglas Adams and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. I laughed the whole way through this one.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
If you’d have asked me before I read this book if a story about a sentient octopus could make me cry I’d have laughed, but alas, I was proven wrong. This book was so incredibly heartfelt and the rotating POVs, including that of Marcellus the octopus, was fantastic.
One For My Enemy by Olivie Blake
A Romeo and Juliet retelling involving a criminal fantasy setting that gutted me. Once again, Blake’s writing just seared directly to my soul. I was writing down quotes from this one as I went because it was equal parts heart-shattering and utterly romantic.
The Fragile Threads of Power by VE Schwab
I’d read an article that said that Schwab hoped that Threads would “feel like coming home” and I think she accomplished this. Returning to Red London so many years after the close of the original Shades of Magic series was so special, and yet also felt like a completely new and unique story. I loved this one as much as I’d hoped I would and can’t wait to read what comes next.
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
Again, I don’t read a ton of romance, but for both Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood, I’m willing to make an exception. Hazelwood writes about women in STEM falling in love and the unique setting makes the more traditional tropes she uses pop. I love that her FMCs are strong and smart and unwilling to make themselves smaller for the men around them.
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid
This was a hauntingly, melancholic, beautiful fantasy novel about the cruelty of what it can mean to be a woman who isn’t believed. Reid’s depictions of depression were so unfailingly accurate that there were times I had to step back from this book and breathe despite the fantasy setting. I loved this one, it broke my heart and mended it at the same time.
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
This young adult fiction novel is so far outside my usual reading preferences that I probably wouldn’t have picked it up if I hadn’t needed an audiobook for a long drive immediately, but it blew me away. A gorgeous and heartwrenching story of love, loss, grief, and friendship, as well as the pain of the American dream.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
I regret keeping this book on my TBR for so long because it was outstanding. A dystopian, sci-fi book set on Mars, with a writing style that sometimes feels a bit like Frank Herbert or William Golding but with contemporary twists. This was such an incredible premise and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here
The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater
I read this as an ARC and loved it. The Victorian gothic fantasy setting, the wit that the characters carried about with them, the intricate plot and the way the story felt part historical, part ethereal and magic-filled all combined into an enthralling story. A really solid start to a fantasy series.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
I didn’t think the prequel could live up to the original Hunger Games series but for me, it did. Collins made a notoriously repulsive villain somewhat human, and the history that provided context to the rest of the Hunger Games series added even more to an already thoroughly intricate universe. I loved this book, I was simultaneously rooting for, and repulsed by, Snow.
The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
Another ARC and this one doesn’t release until the end of January 2024, but I can’t recommend picking it up enough. It was a thoroughly unique fantasy that felt like a wild, exhilarating ride from start to finish. It was a perfect winter fantasy with a lot of bookish elements that I think readers will appreciate.
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
A gripping, gothic, horror-like fantasy with a dark tone and a mystery I was eager to figure out. Harrow is a fantastic writer, so the setting, the characters, the depth of feeling and the symbolism all felt that much more poignant. Snuck this one in towards the end of the year, but absolutely loved it.
A full review for this one is still to come!
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
If you’ve ever experienced the grief of losing a loved one, I feel like this book will feel resonant. Didion’s exploration of how she processed the unthinkable trauma of losing a husband and a daughter suddenly found in critical care is so relatable at times that it’s hard to think past the grief. I enjoyed this book, it was cathartic in some ways to read about another’s experience visceral grief experience.
A full review on this book is also still to come.So those are my favourite reads of 2023! Any of your favourites listed here?
forests and fiction 