Favorite Reads of 2023

I am guilty of not having kept up with my blog. Guilty of not keeping up with a lot lately. Some days and months I have a hard time balancing motherhood, writing, and just being myself. One thing, no matter what’s going on in my life, I read. If it’s 4am and I cannot sleep, I am reading. I am a reader of in-between spaces, waiting, and procrastination. That being said, I don’t get large chances to read everything. A large portion of what I read didn’t come out in 2023.

These lists are not in any order and I have provided one sentence thoughts on each that might or might not entice you to read them. I have not linked physical books. If a short story is available online it has been linked.

Novels/Novellas:

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison Has been on my shelf since 2016 and shame on me for taking so long to read it. I now have the other books in this world.

Semiosis by Sue Burke Another long shelf sitter and shame on me.

Nocturne by Alyssa Wees I love dark, gothic romantic tales.

Girl at War by Sara Nović Made me cry in a grocery store.

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black Yes. I am here for a good time.

A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher And people say cozy horror isn’t a thing.

Out of Body by Jeffrey Ford We did a lot of cleaning house together.

Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky Thank you for the recommendation. Fear the spider.

The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland Vampires will always live rent free in this heart

Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie Reads like a wonderful movie. We’re all in.

The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery I read and write spec fiction and this might be my strangest read of 2023.

The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer Blown away by dialog. Seriously.

You Let Me In by Camilla Bruce Beautiful horror, just pay no attention to the body parts hanging in the trees.

Short Stories/Flash:

Natalya by Puloma Ghosh Cut into some lovely horror

Power is Love in the Devil’s Eyes by Dafydd McKimm I like fish.

Evidence by Grace Shuyi I relatable on a level that popped my socks off.

The Air Will Catch Us by Rajiv Moté For the atmosphere.

Ghosts Can Be Boyfriends Too by Daniel Zomparelli Confidence!

Thank Mother for Your Life by Mary G Thompson Lives in my head and comes to remind me of it in quiet moments.

The Changing Dust by James Bennett We love a historic setting that gives us mystery.

Moth Girl by Anna Madden Read with my first cup of coffee in the morning and was ready to write the things.