Carmen Macri
Words by Carmen Macri
As we bid farewell to 2023, let’s reflect on the highlights we’ve experienced — be it blockbuster movies, emerging musical talents or, my personal favorite, the ever-expanding catalog of “New York Times” best-selling books.
Achieving a coveted spot on the “New York Times” Best Sellers list requires an author to sell 5,000 or more copies of a book within a single week. Despite the common sight of every novel adorned with a golden “#1” sticker, the mystery behind so many claiming the top spot remains. Nonetheless, what is certain is that 2023 proved to be an exciting year for bookworms. Whether your cup of tea is mystery, romance, fantasy, or sci-fi, odds are, 2023 had a book for you. And if you have been living under a rock, don’t worry — here are your SparkNotes on what was hot this past year.
You might be wondering, “Carmen, what are your credentials to give a 2023 year review in books?” Well, I am so glad you asked. From September to December 2023, I read 38 books. I am pretty qualified in this field if no other.
Let’s get right into it, shall we?
For Fantasy Lovers
“Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
Across the board on “New York Times,” Good Reads, Amazon and Barnes and Noble, the highest-rated, highest-anticipated and highest-sold novel of 2023 was – drumroll please – “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros. Am I surprised? No. This epic romantasy (romance fantasy) novel was the first in the Empyrean series — the second being “Iron Flame” which came out later in the year (voted #2 on “NYT” and #7 on Good Reads).
At Basgiath War College in the fictional country of Navarre, 20-year-old Violet Sorrengail, trained to be a scribe, is unexpectedly thrust into the dangerous Dragon Rider Quadrant by her mother, the college’s commanding general. In the cutthroat “Fourth Wing” section, Violet faces challenging tests, including bonding with a dragon and training for the ongoing war. Her small stature and her mother’s role make her a shining target, particularly for ruthless fellow first-year Jack Barlowe and the vengeful third-year squad leader, Xaden Riorson (the ultimate book boyfriend), who has a personal vendetta against her mother.
Interested in stories about enemies-turned-lovers with a morally gray male lead? Look no further.
“A Fire in the Flesh” (Flesh and Fire #3) by Jennifer Armentrout
This next one has quite a soft spot in my heart and comes as no surprise that it was voted #9 on Good Reads. The third book in the “Flesh and Fire” series is a prequel to the “Blood and Ash” series (my guilty pleasure book) and let me just say: Oh. My. God. For all my smut readers, this is the series for you. Like every other Jennifer Armentrout series, this book falls to the wayside of sex, sex, sex with a dash of dark mystery.
After a betrayal leaves Sera and her love Nyktos (otherwise known as Shadow Daddy, Daddy Nyktos and the love of my life) captive to the false King of the Gods, the only way to prevent a Shadowlands invasion and a War of Primals is to convince Kolis that Sera truly loves him, a challenging task given his erratic nature. The revelations about fate and the true creation of the realms complicate matters. Surviving Kolis is just the beginning. As Sera’s ascension deadline looms, Nyktos is determined to save her, even risking realm destruction in the process (if he wanted to, he would). Their destinies, however, may be beyond their control …
Looking for a badass female lead who falls in love with a primal god of death? You’re welcome.
“Powerless” by Lauren Roberts
This particular book is an unexpected discovery, a bonus edition that, while too recent to feature on prestigious book lists, is truly exceptional. This book being as amazing as it is came as a surprise to me since I found author Lauren Roberts on TikTok with only a modest following. This young author wrote this series when she was only 18 and self-published after dropping out of college at 20 to pursue her dream, and thank GOD that she did because her debut novel, “Powerless,” has me in a chokehold.
“She is the very thing he’s spent his whole life hunting. He is the very thing she’s spent her whole life pretending to be.” – I’m literally on the floor.
In the kingdom of Ilya, only the extraordinary thrive — the empowered Elites gifted with special powers by the Plague. Ordinary people like Paedyn Gray are banished and executed when lacking an ability becomes a crime. Paedyn, surviving in the slums, poses as a psychic to stay alive. When she saves a prince and unwittingly enters the Purging Trials, a competition showcasing Elites’ powers, Paedyn faces challenges. If the Trials or her feelings for the prince don’t pose a threat, her Ordinary status might.
Clearly, I have a type … enemies to lovers … to enemies.
Disclaimer: I am an avid fantasy reader, leaving some to think it’s the only genre I read. But for the sake of this article, here are the other top books of 2023 that I might or might not have read.
For Historic Fiction Readers:
“The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride
The bestselling, National Book Award-winning, Oprah Book Club-picked and Barack Obama favorite, author James McBride, once again, breathes new life into murder mysteries.
In 1972, workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, unearth a skeleton while digging for a new development in Chicken Hill, a neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African-Americans tightly coexist. The intertwined stories of Moshe and Chona Ludlow, residents of Chicken Hill, reveal the struggles of those on the margins of white, Christian America. As secrets unfold about the town’s past, McBride illustrates how love and community sustain even in dark times, emphasizing the resilience of those living in the shadows.
For My Plain Jane Fiction Readers:
“Yellowface” by R.F. Kuang
Rated #1 for fiction on Good Reads, R.F. Kuang, author of the esteemed “Poppy War Series,” created yet another razor-sharp, highly addicting and timely novel.
“Athena Liu is a literary darling, and June Hayward is literally nobody.”
Following Athena’s sudden death, June seizes the chance to claim Athena’s unpublished manuscript as her own under the alias Juniper Song. As June revels in the stolen success, mounting evidence threatens her ill-gotten triumph, forcing her to grapple with ethical dilemmas and reconsider the lengths she’ll go to protect what she believes she deserves.
Against a backdrop of intricate interpersonal dynamics, R.F. Kuang’s “Yellowface” delves into cultural appropriation, social media’s isolating impact, and complex questions of diversity and racism with a captivating first-person narrative.
For Mystery and Thrill Seekers:
“The Housemaid’s Secret” by Freida McFadden
“The Housemaid’s Secret” is the sequel to the absolutely addictive psychological thriller, “The Housemaid.” McFadden is a mastermind who personally enjoys shattering her readers’ minds. The plot twists and storytelling in her novels are something I have yet to come across in any other series.
This captivating story revolves around a hardworking housemaid determined to keep her mysterious past under wraps. The Garrick family, her current employers, becomes her anchor, providing a much-needed sense of normalcy and stability. However, the facade shatters when she stumbles upon the disconcerting sounds of crying and notices bloodstains on Mrs. Garrick’s nightgowns.
This unexpected revelation sends shockwaves through her world, leading her down a path of unforeseen challenges.
For You Sci-Fi Lovers:
“Light Bringer” (Red Rising Saga #6) by Pierce Brown
The Red Rising series has been on my TBR (to be read) list for quite some time. My boyfriend lives and dies by this series, and I feel as though I have already read it with his constant spoilers. That being said, the series as a whole has swept the nation and taken over my entire FYP (for you page).
“Light Bringer” is the sixth in the series, and allegedly, the best, which follows the tale of miner Darrow as he infiltrates the ranks of the elite Golds. Darrow longs to return home after a devastating defeat on Mercury. Facing the threat of Lysander, who aims to restore Gold’s supremacy, Darrow needs the support of loved ones like Virginia, Cassius and Sevro to defend the Republic. His interplanetary journey home unfolds with reunions, new alliances and battlefield clashes.
My 2024 Popular Books to Look Out for (a little biased, fantasy lover, remember?)
“House of Flame and Shadow” (Crescent City #3) by my lord and savior, Sarah J. Maas – Jan 30.
There is no combination of words to accurately describe how excited, nervous and scared I am for Jan. 30. If you do not know about Sarah J. Maas and the insanity that is the “Maas Universe” I don’t have enough magazine space to explain it to you. Long story short, the second Crescent City book, “House of Sky and Breath,” ended with the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers, tying in her other two series (and 15 books). This has been the most anticipated book of the century – and I am not exaggerating.
Bryce Quinlan never imagined leaving Midgard, but now stranded in an unfamiliar world, she’s desperate to return. Her entire life, including family, friends and her mate, is rooted in Midgard. Navigating trust issues, unfamiliar people and a new strange power, she must use her wits to find her way back while her mate, Hunt Athalar, and brother Rhun Danaan are rendered powerless under the Aestri’s control.
“A Fate Inked in Blood” (Saga of the Unfated #1) by Danielle L. Jensen – Feb. 27
In this Norse-inspired fantasy romance, a shield maiden named Freya battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king. Married against her will, Freya dreams of becoming a warrior and seeks revenge on her boorish husband.
Betrayed to the chief by her husband, Freya faces a fight to the death against his son, Bjorn. To survive, she reveals her secret: a drop of a goddess’s blood, granting her magical powers. Prophesied to unite Skaland, Freya is bound by a blood oath, and tasked with training and controlling her magic.
The greatest challenge, however, lies in resisting her forbidden attraction to Bjorn (Am I hearing enemies to lovers??). Succumbing risks not only her destiny but also the fate of the people she swore to protect.
“Reckless” (The Powerless Trilogy #2) by Lauren Roberts – July 4
Another book I cannot wait for. Following the recent release of her debut novel “Powerless,” Roberts wasted no time jumping back into the kingdom of Ilya to give the girls what they want.
In the chaotic kingdom of Ilya, Paedyn Gray survives the Purging Trials, kills the king, and sparks a resistance. Now hunted by Enforcer Kai Azer (my king), loyal to the new king, Paedyn runs from the one she once trusted. Kai pursues her across deadly Scorches and the hostile city of Dor. In a city without Elites, the balance shifts between hunter and hunted, and the clash between duty and desire becomes lethal.
“Born of Blood and Ash” (Flesh and Fire #4) by Jennifer Armentrout – May 7
Armentrout brings her thrilling fantasy novel to a conclusion with her final “Flesh and Fire” book. I don’t know what I am supposed to do after this, simply. The “Flesh and Fire” series is dark, thrilling, sexy and twisted.
“Born of Blood and Ash” follows the almost cataclysmic events that occurred in “A Fire in the Flesh.” Sera and Nyktos escaped Kolis, but at what cost? Will it be enough to save the Shadowlands, Illesium and the mortal realms? When a new Primal of Life rises to challenge the False King of Gods will the primal gods band together to save their realm or watch it burn? If you have read the Blood and Ash series, you already know the answer to this but the suspense is still killing me.
“Knights of Wind and Truth” (The Stormlight Archive #5) by Brandon Sanderson – Dec 6
How Sarah J. Maas is for the girls, Brandon Sanderson is for the boys. (This is a joke, obviously.) The Stormlight Archive saga is an epic fantasy series set in the world of Roshar. It explores the conflicts between nations, magical orders and the consequences of wielding Surges — powerful magical forces.
Knights of Wind and Truth picks up as Dalinar Kholin boldly confronts the malevolent god Odium in a contest of champions, giving the Knights Radiant and the nations of Roshar just 10 days to brace for the impending threat. The destiny of the entire world and, indeed, the vast Cosmere teeters on a precarious balance.
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