My 2023 in Books

I am aware that this blog has been dead for far too long. One of my goals is to resurrect it this year, starting with this recap of all the books I read in 2023! I will do my best to post links below to Goodreads, where you can find purchase links as well, so you can check these books out more easily. I will also include a mini-review of the books. Books marked with an asterisk are those I would definitely read again.

WARNING: honest thoughts, squealing, and fangirling lie ahead. Thoughts may sometimes be ranting or incomprehensible. You have been warned.

Without further ado…

Books Read 2023

Mariel of Redwall by Brian Jacques* 1/3/23

Loved continuing the Redwall series with this feisty main character!

Yours, Constance by Emily Hayse* 1/4/23

This book was everything I wanted from The Great Gatsby and more. I am blown away by everything Emily Hayse writes, and this book was phenomenal. In fact, I read it twice this year. If you love the 1920’s jazz age, Irish faery lore, and the beauty and hardship of relationships, check this one out.

Salamandastron by Brian Jacques* 1/8/23

A fantastic tale of badgers and courage amid the familiar landscape of Redwall.

Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques* 1/14/23

Beautiful—if heartwrenching—tale in the Redwall series.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke* 1/15/23

My first time reading this trilogy, though I had read a similar series on Wattpad years ago and loved it and wanted to reread it, but as it wasn’t on Wattpad anymore, I got this from the library. Wasn’t completely sold on it, but it was fascinating and I wanted to continue the series.

Night of Teeth by Nathaniel Luscombe* 1/16/23

I had the privilege of editing this short story. A fascinating sci-fi tale.

Inkspell by Cornelia Funke* 1/26/23

I’m glad I stuck with this series, because this book was INTENSE but also AMAZING.

Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke* 1/31/23

Absolutely fantastic finish to this trilogy. Loved every minute of it and look forward to rereading again!

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson 2/2/23

For a Phantom of the Opera retelling, I had high hopes. None of them were met. The writing was very weak and in some places sloppy, and the concept was very twisted and sometimes just downright lame. It’s a good comp for my own retelling, but definitely not something I’d ever reread again. I was very disappointed.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater* 2/9/23

I had seen so many people love this book that I finally picked it up. And loved every. Single. Moment. This ended up being my favorite book of the year and I read it twice. Absolutely phenomenal. A masterpiece. It needs to be made into a film ASAP.

What the Throne Fears by Bryn Shutt* 2/14/23

I had the privilege of editing this short story. I love everything Bryn Shutt writes, especially when LUCA DRAKE appears. Love that boi to pieces. Must be protected at all costs. *narrows eyes at author*

We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal 2/16/23

Finally finished this desert fantasy duology. Loved the concept, it had its good moments, but most of the time I find the author’s style far too purple-prosey for my taste. I had a lot of fun making fun of it at times. (Pun intended). And the romance got a bit too steamy for my taste. Glad I finally finished it, but I definitely wasn’t the right reader for it.

A Name Long Buried by C.M. Banschbach* 2/19/23

Another duology finished this year! This was another desert fantasy, but more of a Western dystopian apocalyptic tale. Simply smashing, and I loved returning to the world Banschbach created.

The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi 2/20/23

Another series I had decided to finish in 2023. This one was fantastic and I enjoyed it the most out of all three books. That said, I don’t plan on rereading them due to the content getting out of hand at times, particularly the language. Use your libraries, folks! They save you so much money you might waste otherwise if you don’t like the book.

A Redwall’s Winter Tale by Brian Jacques* 2/21/23

A very sweet, endearing tale set during a Redwall Abbey winter. Lovely illustrations as well.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo* 2/21/23

I read this for the Write for Life bookclub and was amazed at how good it was. The story was for children, but still had a very deep message and touching themes.

The Bronzed Beasts by Roshani Chokshi 2/25/23

The final conclusion to The Gilded Wolves trilogy. Everything I had liked in the first two books became twisted and messed up in this book. I was very disappointed. The pacing felt totally off and the ending disturbed me. Definitely not a trilogy I’m going to read again. The concept is interesting, but the content and everything else is not worth it to read twice.

Every Moment Holy Volume I by Douglas McKelvey* 3/4/23

A book of liturgies. Absolutely wonderful and perfect for personal as well as congregational use. It’s helped me so much in my personal prayer life and encouraged my faith.

The Bellmaker by Brian Jacques* 3/4/23

Loved this Redwall installment! Made me cry at the end.

Illuminare by Bryn Shutt* 3/7/23

This one of my favorite self-published fantasy stories ever, and also in my Top Ten Books of all time. Set in a Renaissance-inspired Europe fantasy, this New Adult tale is full of mystery, intrigue, beautiful prose, achingly written themes, endearing characters, and a wondrous telling of light vs. darkness. I will never shut up about it.

Dawnsong by Bryn Shutt* 3/7/23

This novella is the sequel to Illuminare and is a sweet romance budding between two of my favorite characters. Very precious beans.

Sea Among Stars compiled by Nathaniel Luscombe* 3/10/23

I had the priviledge to not only be featured in this anthology of fantasy and sci-fi ocean-inspired stories, but also was the editor for most of them. From space sirens to space elves to Irish faery folk to robots and more, this is a nice collection of indie authors and their stories.

Outcast of Redwall by Brian Jacques* 3/11/23

I have mixed feelings because I did enjoy this book, but it felt different compared to the other Redwall stories, and the main character (according to the title and blurb) doesn’t really appear until 2/3rds of the way through.

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis 3/13/23

Read this for my church’s book study. Lots of food for thought and very interesting concepts, as is usual for Lewis.

The Pianist by Wladyslaw Szpilman* 3/14/23

I was familiar with the film of this story, but the book was just as powerful (if not more so). If you enjoy autobiographies, stories of endurance, and/or WWII, check this one out.

Yours, Constance by Emily Hayse* 3/28/23

Reread. 😀 Loved it just as much this time around.

Star of Hope by Brigitte Cromey* 3/29/23

Mixed feelings about this one. Younger me would have absolutely loved this. Older me enjoyed, but it could have done with better editing. Still found myself thinking about it for weeks afterward though.

The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He 4/3/23

Heard a lot of good things. Read a lot of bad things. The technology was interesting and the plot was intricate enough that simply reading the ending wouldn’t answer my questions. I slogged through because it felt too similar to events in 2020 and the content kept getting worse and worse. The ending was completely up to the reader’s interpretation, which made me furious to have forced myself to finish this only for it to not actually end. I’m still salty about it. (If you couldn’t tell…) Definitely an example of sci-fi that I didn’t like.

The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz* 4/10/23

I tend to avoid historical romance because it’s either cheesy, stupid, or raunchy, but this was none of those things. It was beautifully detailed, set during a fascinating era, and was a delightful read from start to finish.

Shadow Ender by Haylie Hanson* 4/11/23

Loved getting to conclude this sci-fi trilogy. It was a page turner all the way through and I was thrilled to get to spend time with these characters again.

Beowulf by Rosemary Sutcliff* 4/12/23

I’ve loved everything I’ve read from Sutcliff, and this Beowulf adaptation was no exception.

Bravely by Maggie Stiefvater* 4/15/23

I loved this book, but I could tell that there was a struggle between Disney’s requirement of something fitting Brave (as this was the sequel) and suiting Maggie’s style. It clashed often, but the heart of the story was fascinating and what Brave should have been. Plus, Scottish fantasy!

Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer* 4/18/23

This was my first time reading anything from this author and I loved her style so much! It gave me hope in fairytale retellings again. Loved the prose and the story it told.

Every Moment Holy Volume II by Douglas McKelvey* 4/21/23

This was a very sobering but timely collection of liturgies. Both encouraging and thought-provoking.

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim* 4/22/23

A very wholesome, cozy classic.

This Will Not Last by Laurel Jean* 4/22/23

A lovely collection of faith-filled poetry. I only wish the poems had been longer or there had been more of them.

Clarion Hope by Laurel Luehmann* 4/24/23

A sequel poetry collection, lots of hope and redemptive themes.

A Thieving Curse by Selina R. Gonzalez* 4/27/23

A hilarious but touching Beauty and the Beast retelling.

Eleanor: Crown Jewel of Aquitaine by Kristiana Gregory* 4/27/23

Loved the Royal Diaries series as a kid and still find them education and interesting as an adult. This one about the count’s daughter of France who became queen at 15 was a fascinating account.

Lady of Palenque: Flower of Bacal by Anna Kirwan 4/28/23

Another Royal Diaries story. I liked it, but found it rather dull compared to the others in the series. This may have been due to culture it was written about. There was very little action happening at all.

Between Two Worlds by Cheyenne van Langevelde* 5/3/23

I’m allowed to read and enjoy my own book, right?

Pearls of Lutra by Brian Jacques* 5/8/23

Loved this Redwall tale! A fascinating cursed-treasure hunt.

Beneath the Haunting Sea by Joanna Ruth Meyer* 5/10/23

This was everything I could have wanted in an ocean fantasy and more. It reminded me of one of my own stories. The world-building, the setting, the prose, the characters, all of it impeccable.

The Beduin’s Gazelle by Frances Temple 5/12/23

A Middle-eastern story. My sister loved it. I was very unimpressed. The prose seemed a bit ridiculous and I couldn’t connect with any of the characters.

The Long Patrol by Brian Jacques* 5/17/23

Another favorite in the Redwall series. Had a lot of Tolkien vibes as well.

Beyond the Shadowed Earth by Joanna Ruth Meyer 5/26/23

My deepest apologies, but I’m not a fan of stories centered around a villain I grew to despise. I couldn’t see this character actually getting a redemption arc and since I couldn’t sympathize with her at all (if anything, good riddance!), I struggled to like this story. Wasn’t my cup of tea, especially compared to the previous book, Beneath the Haunting Sea.

A Nefarious Plot by Steve Deace* 5/26/23

A friend suggested this as a buddy read, and as a modern-day type of The Screwtape Letters, I found it very insightful and informative. Didn’t care for the flippant way it spoke about God, though, and it didn’t make sense in light of the Bible.

Victoria: May Blossom of Britannia by Anna Kirwan 5/28/23

Another Royal Diaries book. This one was enjoyable, though I’m not sure I’d pick it up again.

The Girl Who Could See by Kara Swanson* 5/29/23

Fascinating portal sci-fi. Not bad for a debut, though it did have some developmental issues.

Marlfox by Brian Jacques* 6/3/23

A delightful story in the Redwall series. Loved the trio main characters, reminded me a lot of my own trio in one of my series. I also loved the song Song sings towards the end.

The City of Stone and Sorrow by S.D. Howard* 6/7/23

I am biased as the copyeditor for this, but this sequel to The City of Snow & Stars was even better than the prequel. Loved every moment of it, and many of the passages and quotes spoke to me deeply, meeting me in places I didn’t know I needed to be met. An epic gritty Christian fantasy for sure!

Unearth the Tides by Alissa Zavalianos 6/9/23

I wanted to love this book. But to me as a reader, I was very disappointed, which is tragic to me as I can see her potential. There were major developmental problems, and inconsistencies in the story and prose made it hard for me to stay focused. I also haven’t read the original 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, of which this is a retelling, which could be why I didn’t enjoy it that much. I prefer her debut novel much better! (The Earth Treader is a lovely fantasy tale that has major RPG vibes).

Southpaw by Tabby R.H.* 6/16/23

Tabby’s writing shows so much potential and I enjoyed reading her debut, even if it was outside my usual reading genre. I wish it had been better edited, though, as there were some developmental issues and proofreading errors everywhere, but I was still able to enjoy the story.

Wind Daughter by Joanna Ruth Meyer* 6/18/23

This was one of those rare books where I felt 100% SEEN in the pages. Lovely, lovely tale of empathy and kindness.

The Hollow Star by Penny Kearney* 6/19/23

Enjoyed this novella very much. Reminded me of old faery lore and myths.

The Legend of Luke by Brian Jacques* 6/25/23

Very sad, touching tale in the Redwall series.

Of Deeds Most Valiant by Sarah K.L. Wilson* 7/5/23

Indian Jones meets a medieval monastery with a cursed quest and paladins fighting for survival, and two of them for a future together. (One of said paladins was a refreshing change from girl-in-armor trope who had weaknesses). Absolutely epic tale and I loved every minute of it!

Lord Brocktree by Brian Jacques* 7/22/23

A Redwall tale talking about the most famous-est of all badgers? Yes please!

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell* 7/24/23

This was my first time reading this classic and I found it quiet but bittersweet and full of detail.

Our Divine Mischief by Hanna C. Howard* 7/27/23

Another amazing Scottish fantasy. This book has my heart. I related so much to Hew especially.

Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton* 7/28/23

A friend recommended this, and I found it very insightful. There was a lot of good things to be mulled over when reading.

The Legend of Tawhiri by J.E. Purrazzi 7/29/23

Another bookclub read. It had potential and I enjoyed the warm, tropical setting, but I found myself a bit bored with the story.

Taggerung by Brian Jacques* 8/8/23

Another wonderful Redwall tale. Taggerung is an absolute bean.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater* 8/9/23

A reread. Loved it just as much the second time!

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien* 8/20/23

It had been a long time since I last read this trilogy. Reading it again felt like I was a young tween, the story as magical and new and mysterious as ever. Very much felt like I was “old enough for fairytales again”.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo* 8/20/23

A splendid tale.

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien* 9/1/23

While TTT remains my least favorite in the trilogy, I did find parts to really love in it, particularly between Éomer and Aragorn, and Faramir and Frodo and Sam.

Within the Walls by S.D. Howard and Veronika Childs* 9/8/23

A short story that takes place in the Cities of Wintenaeth universe. I found it well-done and interesting despite its shortness.

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien* 9/11/23

This book was amazing and so much better than I had remembered!

Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan* 9/12/23

I remember reading this historical fiction story ages ago, but it was just as good as I remembered it.

A Bond of Briars by Erin Phillips* 9/21/23

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023, and I found the retelling of Ruth a very intriguing one. I did feel that the romance could have been better developed and the rest of the world seemed kind of empty aside from immediate scenes, but I liked it.

Dìlseachd ~ A Stolen Crown by Cheyenne van Langevelde* 10/1/23

I wrote my books initially for me, so it’s only natural I read them and enjoy them. 😛

Triss by Brian Jacques* 10/5/23

A feisty tale of courage in the Redwall series.

The Home Beautiful by J.R. Miller* 10/13/23

A very convicting book. Everyone should read it, especially those who want to create a home of their own one day.

Loamhedge by Brian Jacques* 10/15/23

This book was very bittersweet, even for a Redwall tale! “We’ve lived one summer too long…”

Maeve’s Lambs by S.D. Howard and Beth Spurlock* 10/17/23

Another short story in the Cities of Wintenaeth series. A tale of hospitality, Christmas, and the evils of human trafficking (told in a very delicate way).

The Serpent Never Sleeps by Scott O’Dell* 10/18/23

A fascinating tale about Jamestown!

The Road to Damietta by Scott O’Dell* 10/20/23

This book haunts me. It’s about St. Francis of Assissi, but told from a heartbreaking perspective. Still gives me the feels just thinking about it.

Never Fire by Brianna De Man* 10/21/23

A tale of fire and finding your identity. It’s unfortunately only on Wattpad, but was just as good as I remembered it being.

Dracula by Bram Stoker* 10/27/23

A beautiful story of courage and light vs. darkness. The Christian themes were inspiring and this is definitely a classic I’ll read again.

Look for Yellow by Anna Barroso 10/27/23

A poetry collection about finding hope and joy amid despair and anxiety. A lot of the poems seemed too self-centered to me, and leaning more on how miserable the narrator feels instead of focusing on Christ who is our hope and comfort. I understand the struggles, certainly, but since it was supposed to be of how a Christian deals with it, I found it not what it promised to be.

The Stars Weep Too compiled by Alex Silvius* 10/27/23

I am biased since I was published in this poetry collection, but I loved so many of the other poems in here as well from other talented authors!

Moon Soul by Nathaniel Luscombe* 11/2/23

A cozy sci-fi tale about finding your purpose in life, and also that it’s okay and good to set boundaries in your life. One of my most anticipated reads for 2024! (I got to read an eARC and loved it).

Discerning Truth by Dr. Jason Lisle 11/4/23

This would be a good resource for a science or logic class. I didn’t glean anything from it, but it was a graduation gift. I am sure it would be helpful for others who plan on debating evolutionists.

Rakkety Tam by Brian Jacques* 11/5/23

The first Redwall book I ever bought and finally read. Loved the two Scottish squirrels; Tam was so charming!

Titan by Brian McBride 11/10/23

I had MAJOR issues with this book, particularly content, though the pacing just felt super repetitive and didn’t really go anywhere considering how long it was. Plus the author’s treatment of authors who disagree with him made it difficult to separate the art from the artist so to speak. I enjoyed the first book in this series, but not continuing after this one.

Kill the Dawn by Emily Hayse* 11/17/23

A Hamlet retelling? Yes! I love everything Hayse writes, and this was so beautiful and amazing and absolutely gutted me. I would have liked to see more of this story, but understand she was under limits for word count. (Which is sad to me…would have loved to see this world expanded).

Illuminare by Bryn Shutt* 11/29/23

A reread! Simply smashing.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling* 12/2/23

My first time reading this series and it was a hoot. Would have liked a clearer distinction between good and evil in this book, but enjoyed it muchly otherwise.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling* 12/3/23

The lines between good and evil were much sharper in this book and I found the tale quite delightful, particularly the scenes with the Weasley family.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling* 12/5/23

This one is probably my favorite in the series. All my favorite characters are present and alive, and it was so much fun. (Especially all the Quidditch scenes, which were mostly omitted from the films, RIP Oliver Wood).

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling* 12/9/23

This book was FAR more interesting that the film, especially with the Quidditch World Cup, and then all the other scenes happening that made it intriguing that were missed completely. Quite a fun read!

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling* 12/16/23

This was my second favorite in this series. The Weasley twins are an absolute hoot and I loved all their shenanigans. Plus, the scene with Harry and Dumbledore at the end was very powerful.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling* 12/19/23

This was fascinating, with plenty of hilarious moments even though the story itself was getting darker and sadder as a whole. I LOVED the scene on the Astronomy Tower near the end. Gives me chills just thinking about it.

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie 12/22/23

This was my first time reading an Agatha Christie book. (It was for bookclub). The constantly switching POVs, particularly during dialogue sequences, made it challenging to follow, but I wasn’t too far off guessing who the murderer was. The pacing was well done, though, I’ll say that. Very masterful.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling* 12/25/23

An epic, bittersweet conclusion. Loved the themes of resurrection particularly. “The last enemy to be destroyed is death”, 1 Corinthians 15:26. Beautifully written. (Though I deny one character’s death to be canon, and I have a whole theory to prove it :P)

A Curse for Christmas by Anna Christine 12/29/23

A cute, wholesome Christmas fantasy romance. Very sweet, though I’m not the right audience for it.

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Well, there you have it. I read far too many books that this post has been long delayed, but it finally is here and complete.

Have you read any of these books? Any of them sound interesting to you? Let me know in the comments!