Favourite Books of 2023

2023 has been another amazing reading year for me! I feel soo grateful to have had the opportunity to read and review soo many fantastic books, and discover tons of new (and exceptionally talented) authors.

There were soo many in fact, that trying to compile a list of all my faves has been next to impossible! Fortunately (though it did take a long while), I did finally manage to whittle this roundup down to just 12 books.

So without further ado, here is a roundup of my favourite reads of 2023.

Dazzling by Chikodili Emelumadu

This was one of the first books I read in 2023 and it's still just as vivid in my memory as when I first finished it!

The magical realism, complex character development and viscerally detailed worldbuilding (steeped in Nigerian mythology) was incredible especially when it came to the uncanny intensity and horror-esque elements of the prose (which is gorgeous by the way.)

If you enjoy contemporary fantasy or speculative fiction, then I definitely recommend checking this out.

Godkiller By Hannah Kaner

Another fantasy I absolutely devoured this year! Full of gods,demons, disillusioned knights and god killing mercenaries (with hearts of gold) I was thoroughly ensnared by this action packed, whirlwind of a book. (There's also some pretty incredible LGBTQ+ and disability rep too!)

Exhilaratingly atmospheric, threaded with uncertainty and packed with a ragtag, group of found family-esque (and endearing) characters —anyone as obsessed with vividly descriptive lore and worldbuilding as I am, is bound to enjoy this. Especially if you love Geralt (from The Witcher) or Lyra and Pan (from His Dark Materials.)

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

It should come as no surprise that the spinoff to one of my all time fave series—by my all time favourite author was gonna make the list!

Set years after the events of Queen of Nothing, and following Prince Oak and the former Queen of The Court of Teeth, Suren. It is told solely from Suren’s POV which and delves into the details of Suren’s childhood both before, during and immediately after her time with Lord Jarel and Lady Nore in the Court of Teeth. Something I found really fascinating, given we learn very little about Suren in the original series.

I loved delving back into this world full of whimsy and magic—though of a slightly darker tone than what we previously saw in The Folk of The Air series. However, I did feel it suited the story (and Suren’s character arc) perfectly.

Definitely a must read for Holly Black Fans looking for their Fae-based fantasy fix!

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

This thought-provoking and well researched exploration into the flawed inner workings of the publishing industry had me in a literal chokehold!

R.F. Kuang’s satirical take on racism, white privilege & cultural appropriation was definitely a standout read for me this year —and even more relevant now than when first released (especially if you’ve been following any of the book or author related news for the past few months.

If you love Contemporary Literature then I highly recommend picking this up, but be warned you’re probably gonna despise protagonist June (and rightfully so!) However, the train-wreck that is her life (and the ever escalating controversies she finds herself at the centre of) will almost certainly have you just as enthralled as I was!

Girl, Goddess, Queen by Bea Fitzgerald

If you’ve been following my reviews for a while then you’ll know I’m an absolute sucker for Greek myth retellings, especially any involving Hades and Persephone. And Bea Fitzgerald’s swoon-worthy, bold and utterly refreshing take was no exception!

I loved seeing a fierce and assertive Persephone, willing to take on the might of Olympus for the right to RULE HELL … by marrying (the adorably introverted cinnamon roll that is) Hades of course.

Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington

I’ve been really getting into YA Thrillers this year so was absolutely blown away by Joelle Wellington’s dark, satirical and utterly addictive debut. It reads like The Hunger Games and Squid Game had a baby with The Selection —with uber rich, Mean Girl-style contestants who’ll do literally anything to win and I was absolutely obsessed!

Exploring themes such as privilege, racism, female rage and class— anyone who loves their thrillers brutal, bloody and incredibly fast paced should definitely check this out!

A Witch’s Guide To Fake Dating A Demon & A Demon’s Guide To Wooing A Witch by Sarah Hawley

Sarah Hawley released not one but TWO books in her Glimmer Falls series this year and I absolutely loved them both!

They’re humorously whimsical and sizzlingly swoon-worthy in the best way! The characters were all phenomenally complex and the banter and sass was fabulous.

If you loved Melissa Joan Hart’s Sabrina and wonder what a grownup reboot (made solely for Rom-com loving adults) would look like, then this series is definitely for you!

The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston

No one does heartfelt, magical realism quite like Ashley Poston! Having loved The Dead Romantics soo much last year, I was eager to read her newest release and it did not disappoint!

The whimsy and poignancy conveyed in its P.S. I Love You meets The Lake House-style premise was amazing. And I loved how Poston manages to explore the many facets of grief and loss (without losing any of the plot’s quirkiness) whilst also capturing a nuanced and beautifully immersive glimpse into Clementine’s emotional journey.

Catch Your Death by Ravena Guron

Ravena Guron’s second YA Thriller was another of my faves this year. Masterfully executed and beautifully compulsive, my Cluedo loving heart was utterly impressed with this locked room murder mystery.

The classic whodunnit-style format (where pretty much every character is a suspect) was exceptionally well done. With intricately crafted plot twists, and secrets around every corner and a cast packed full of morally ambiguous characters —I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin

I’m a huge fan of Mahurin's Serpent & Dove series so was beyond excited for a spin off. And though I wasn’t a huge fan of Célie in the original series, I absolutely loved her character growth and the complex emotional journey she embarks on.

It’s centred around vampires so the prose was lush and gorgeously atmospheric— and I fell head of heels for Celie’s smouldering vampire love interest. Definitely a must read for vampire loving Mahurin fans, just be sure to read the Serpent & Dove series if you want to get the most enjoyment.

One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

A gorgeously lush and atmospheric, gothic fantasy with Guillermo Del Toro meets Tim Burton vibes which unsurprisingly, I absolutely loved!

I was initially intrigued by the premise: a girl with a monster trapped in her head, on a quest to save her town, Blunder, from the dark magic that’s slowly begun to infect it.

But it was the unique, card-based magic system (and richly detailed lore) of this beautifully eerie, Sleepy Hollow-esque setting paired with an engaging (and morally ambiguous) cast of characters (especially the darkly humorous, rhyme obsessed nightmare) that really made this one of my faves of the year.

The Last Tale of The Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

2023 has been a year of lush, atmospheric dark fairytales and The Last Tale of The Flower Bride was definitely my favourite by far!

The prose and world-building was gorgeously lush— in a haunting, House of Hollow meets Mexican Gothic way that utterly ensnared me. The decision to not give a name to our first (and only male) protagonist (who is referred to only as The Bridegroom) felt like it harkened back to the early gothic/ horror genre and brought a delicious aura of mystery and unease to the plot—which I literally ATE up!

It also worked perfectly with the hauntingly lyrical prose and descriptions that weaved a sinister sensualness into very scene. I know not everyone is a fan of this type of prose, but Roshani Chokshi’s darker, intricate and ethereal overtones felt like an homage to traditional fairytales which added a fabulously unnerving sense of foreboding that made this such an unputdownable read.

Books to look out for in 2024:

These next two books aren't released until 2024 but I was fortunate enough to read early copies and genuiney loved them both. So much in fact that I couldn't wait to share them with you, so here are the books you definitely need to look out for in 2024.

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

A gorgeously immersive, fantasy debut about the complicated but heartfelt bond between sisters, Faron and Elara  which captured my heart just as much as it did my imagination. Did I mention it also has dragons?!

Set within a post-war, Jamaican inspired world, where the newly independent island (San Erie) is still recovering from the war with their former oppressors—and the colonial legacy left in their wake.  An action packed and powerful read that’s released in January — I urge all fantasy lovers to add this to your TBRs, it’s one you really don’t want to miss!

Thirteen Ways To Kill Lullabelle Rock by Maud Woolf

The Black Mirror-esque love child of Orphan Black, The Island and The Terminator, Maud Woolf’s satirical Sci-Fi debut was a cleverly crafted and deliciously compulsive read exploring identity, ethics, self awareness and the complicated nuances of human nature that I found thoroughly compelling.

Taking place over the course of three days and set in a futuristic world where the rich create clones (called Portraits) to ease their overly packed schedules and do all the tasks they can’t be bothered to. If they have the money, the portraits can do and be anything their clients want. The only rule: the person whose DNA created the portrait is the only one who can kill them…as can another version of that portrait.

Which is where 13th and final portrait of Lulabelle comes in. Her primary purpose is to track down the other Lulabelle’s and kill them, one by one.

I'm not usually a very big Sci-Fi reader but this was a phenomenally entertaining and thought provoking read that I think has a lot of relevancy to our current society. Black Mirror or Satirical Sci-Fi lovers definitely need to keep an eye out for this one, which is also out January 2024.

And that’s it—those are my favourite books of 2023. So, what books have you read and loved this year? Have any of these made your list? Let me know in the comments below