readtorambleHello Hello! How are you?
Today I’m bringing you a bit of a different post to usual and it’s one that I haven’t done for over a year.
I’ve been slowly discovering which books will be releasing in 2023, something that makes me both excited and a bit scared (I already have a massive TBR!!) and compiling a list of those I’m most interested in on a special GoodReads shelf.
Keep on reading to find out which first 20 books I’m most looking forward to, all either publishing in 2023, or some already published!
BOOKS PUBLISHED IN JANUARY
Tress of the Emerald Sea (The Cosmere) by Brandon Sanderson
Adult Fantasy — Published 1st of January 2023
I’ve got so many books by Brandon Sanderson on my TBR, and I still haven’t read a single one. I wanted to start with Elantris, his first book and the first of the Cosmere series. This is also a book from that series, or world, but I think it’s mostly a standalone set in this world/universe. It is blurbed as “For everyone who loved the Princess Bride” and I loved both the film and the book, so I definitely need this one in my life. The premise sounds absolutely incredible, filled with fantasy, magic and adventure, so I’ll have to get my hands on it soon!
Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman
YA Fantasy — Published 3rd of January 2023
I wasn’t sure about this one the first time I read the blurb, but having seen it all over Bookstagram and being really intrigued, I’ve decided to add it to my list. The cover is also stunning!!! I don’t usually like books with siblings, but the blurb makes it sound like they are completely different people, and I’m interested in seeing the difference between the two. It is about a heist gone wrong, it’s filled with magic, mystery and secrets about humans and fae. It sounds both unique and like a comforting “good” fantasy, if you know what I mean.
The Villa by Rachel Hawkins
Thriller — Published 3rd of January 2023
OMG I only recently found out that Rachel Hawkins is a pen name used by Erin Sterling, who wrote The Ex Hex. I haven’t finished that one yet but was really enjoying it. And I don’t usually like thrillers (I’m getting into them more now), but something in this blurb just drew me right in. It’s about a villa in which rock stars spent a vacation, their stay putting in motion some things: a platinum album being made, a horror novel being written, and a murder. This sounds a bit more murder mystery than a full on psychological thriller which I’m not a fan of, so I think this has good potential, and I was lured in by the blurb in any case.
A Ruinous Fate (#1 Heartless Fates) by Kaylie Smith
YA Fantasy Romance — Published 3rd of January
This has another absolutely stunning cover. I really like this kind of character illustrations, as I can be weird about people being on covers. It reminds me a lot of some of the beautiful Fairyloot editions, and I am not ashamed to admit that the cover won me over first. And it’s a book about a witch, the second thing that won me over. It also has a really intriguing magic system or world-building, it also has a kind of prophecy about a war that will soon happen and lots of secrets, lots of magic. This one ticks all the boxes, I’ll have to see if I can bribe my fiancé to get it for me as a wedding present, MOUAHAHA!
The Daughters of Izdihar (#1 The Alamaxa Duology) by Hadeer Elsbai
Adult LGBT Fantasy — Published 10th of January
I still don’t know how to pronounce this book’s title, but it has a beautiful cover. The fact that this is a debut but also sounds so complex, intricate and unique is astonishing. I’m loving all these new authors popping up and it makes me happy for the years to come, as I’m sure new amazing and wonderful books will surface. This book is apparently loosely based on Egyptian history, but it is a completely made up world. It is about the fight for women in this world, and discovering elemental magic that sounds so so so so so interesting. I need this in my life as soon as possible!
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries (#1 Emily Wilde) by Heather Fawcett
Adult Fantasy Romance — Published 10th of January 2023
I’ve seen this one all over Book Twitter and Bookstagram, and temptation finally got me. This is about a professor who goes to the “north” to study fae folklore, and instead discovers much more than she bargained for. I love that this also has an element based in academia, I love books which include this. It sounds heartwarming but also enchanting and it seems like it will have a touch of romance, which I personally really enjoy in fantasies. I’ve also heard a lot of good things about it already, so hopefully I enjoy it too.
What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
Thriller — Published 17th of January 2023
Moving on to something a bit darker, I was completely drawn in by the first sentences of the blurb:
“They were eleven when they sent a killer to prison . . . They were heroes . . . but they were liars.”
OMG, doesn’t that just sound so amazing???
I absolutely love the sound of this book. I think it’s going to be chilling, I hope it has lots of plot twists, secrets and reveals, and I’m hoping this will change my mind about the thriller genre!
The Drift by C.J. Tudor
Horror Thriller — Published 19th of January 2023
I’ve been hearing about this author A LOT, but never read any of their books. I think I have at least one other of their books on my GoodReads “Want to Read” shelf though. And this is a much different genre to the previous books on this list as it is a horror thriller. This book is about a virus (for some it might be a bit close to home still with Covid being very present in my lives, but I’m morbid and very fascinated by books with viruses and pandemic, lol). It also seems to have three POVs of people in very different situations, so I’m looking forward to knowing more about it.
BOOKS PUBLISHING IN FEBRUARY
Secretly Yours (#1 A Vine Mess) by Tessa Bailey
Adult Contemporary Romance — Published 7th of February 2023
Tessa Bailey is another author I’ve seen all over Book Twitter and Bookstagram for years and I’ve never picked anything up by her, but I am very tempted to try. I’m not usually a romance reader, but I’m trying to push out of my comfort zone. This has a really cute cover, very girly! This has the enemies to lovers trope which I love in books, and it sounds like it will be both cute and steamy, so I’m willing to give it a try and hopefully find a new favourite romance author.
Seven Faceless Saints (#1) by M. K. Lobb
YA Fantasy Mystery — Published 7th of February 2023
When I first saw this book, it was the cover which drew me in, even though it looks a bit scary. It also kind of reminds me of Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan. It also sounds quite similar. Although this one seems to have a bit of a more complex political and military system. It seems to be a mix of fantasy and mystery, and I’m very intrigued to see how unique this will be, as the blurb makes it sound for an older audience than YA, but I’ll have to see what I make of it.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
Adult Gothic Fantasy — Published 14th of February 2023
The first thing that drew me to this book was the long title, then the cover and then when I saw the author I knew I needed to read it. I read The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi a few years ago and absolutely loved it (it’s also a series I need to continue…). This one is adult gothic fantasy which sounds really good. It sounds very, very similar to Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia which I buddy read with Candyce from The Book Dutchesses last year and did not like at all… But I like this author already so figured I needed to give it a shot.
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
Mystery — To be published 21st of February 2023
This is a bit of a different book since it’s a mystery/thriller, so a bit out of my comfort zone of fantasy! The blurb also makes it feel a little bit out of my comfort zone, but I like that this is about a murder that took place, and the person they raced to convict. I like that this seems to have a bit of a sleuth vibe, in that the main character will probably dive back into her past and try to figure out what went wrong, why, where, how, and especially WHO. I think it’ll be quite interesting, so I’m willing to give it a go.
The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest
Adult Contemporary Romance — To be published 28th of February 2023
I’ve been trying to get into more romance reads this year, and so far I’ve not done too badly, but my TBR is sadly lacking in this department. I love that this book has a bookish main character, that always makes me want to read a book! I also think that this will have some mixed-media with some emails or letters, something I really like in books. I really like the sound of this book, it seems like it will be such a sweet, cute, emotional and maybe steamy read? I’m here for it and it’s one to add to the Romance TBR which needs to grow a bit!
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (#1 Amina al-Sirafi) by S.A. Chakraborty
Adult Historical Fiction Fantasy — To be published 28th of February 2023
Another book with a really long and difficult to pronounce title, but by an author I’ve always wanted to read, and keep putting off! What I specifically like about this book is that it is Adult fantasy historical fiction and the main character is an older woman, so it makes a nice change from all the teenagers, lol. It also includes pirates and rescuing the daughter of an ex-crewmate, who has been kidnapped. This sounds like a fun adventure on the high seas, and I’m looking forward to reading a book where adults are at the centre of fantasy!
BOOKS PUBLISHING IN MARCH
The Foxglove King (#1 The Nightshade Kingdom) by Hannah F. Whitten
Adult Fantasy Romance — To be published 7th of March 2023
I’ve seen so many great things about this author all over the book community in the past year or two, but I’m still yet to try them out for myself. I was so drawn to this stunning cover, it looks so up my alley. This sounds like a really lush, dark and maybe a little creepy YA fantasy romance, about a girl who escaped a cult at 13 and has tried since then to stay out of their clutches and not let them find her. It also has a glittering court, royalty, lots of political intrigue and some kind of pandemic. I love the sound of it and need it in my life soon.
What Have We Done by Alex Finlay
Thriller — To be published 7th of March 2023
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this author before, but as soon as I read the blurb I knew I wanted to give this book and author a chance. This story brings together three people who are apparently hiding a dangerous secret. I usually really like books where characters who were friends a long time ago and suffered some traumatic event together get together years and years later because something weird is happening and they want to figure out what. I think this is going to be a quite dark and hard-hitting read, as it centres a home for parentless teens, but I think I’ll enjoy it.
A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley
Adult Fantasy Romance — To be published 7th of March 2023
Eeeeek!! When I saw this book I was so excited because I adore anything with witches and the fact that this is fantasy romance makes me want to pre-order it right now! This is an enemies to lovers story too, which I really really like, and I’m excited to see how a romance will pan out between a witch and a demon. This is maybe the book I’m most excited about on this list, so I hope I can pick up a copy soon. I think it will be very empowering, funny, cute and I’m ready for this book in my life now!
Flowerheart by Catherine Bakewell
YA Fantasy — To be published 14th of March 2023
This is blurbed as a “standalone YA debut is a stunning cottagecore fantasy romance about a girl with powerful and violent magic, which she must learn to control—or lose everything she loves.” And doesn’t that just sound amazing. I had not even heard about “cottagecore” until a few months ago, but now I’m super intrigued to read a book in this setting/vibe. It gives me Sorcery of Thorns vibes for some reason, but in any case I really want to see where it will go, I have a good feeling about it.
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Cosy Mystery — To be published 14th of March 2023
Another different genre on this list and one I’ve wanted to read more of for months now: cosy mystery!! This one sounds so cute but also really mysterious and intriguing. It reminds me so much of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman which I absolutely adore, especially because of all the characters I feel so connected to. I really hope this book will give me the same vibes, and from the reviews and ratings already available, I have a feeling it’ll be a good read, perfect for a cosy night in front of the fire, or even on my honeymoon in Scotland, with my view of the mountains from my hotel room = *chef’s kiss*.
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
Historical Fiction Mystery — To be published 21st of March 2023
And the final book on my very long list is one that is so up my alley I’m surprised I haven’t already pre-ordered it (trying to stay on the book buying ban wagon and all that!). I still haven’t read The Lost Apothecary, but that one really intrigues me too. This book brings together spirituality, historical fiction, mystery, murderers, ghosts, and strong women. What is not to love I ask you? I can’t wait to get my hands on it!!
So there are all the books that I’m excited for in the first three months of the year. There is a mix, but they are mostly fantasy, so I’ll try to compile some different genres in the second part of this post, going up some time between April and May.
I’m excited for all of these books and hope I can pick some of them up soon… maybe I can bring a few home from my honeymoon in Scotland at the end of March!
That’s all for now, I hope you enjoyed reading this post.
See you soon, stay safe,
Ellie xx