Summer 2023 Reading Recommendations
Summer is here again and these are my reading recommendations for the 2023 holiday season. There are links to my full reviews if the summary catches your interest! Find out below which book was my favourite read of the past 12 months.
The Last of the Atalanteans by PL Stuart
The second instalment of The Drowned Kingdom Saga by PL Stuart is full of ambitious world building and political intrigue. PL Stuart has set up an amazing world of incredible depth. This series is excellent, which leads me on to the next book …
Lord and King by PL Stuart
I think the third novel in the saga marks a step change, and Lord and King really delivers on every level. With its epic, sweeping storyline, vast world, varied characters and dynamic politics, The Drowned Kingdom Saga is like a tightly plotted Game of Thrones.
I can’t wait for the next instalment, A Lion’s Pride, which is due out in 2024.
Ancillary Justice by Anne Leckie
Leckie makes brilliant use of the sci-fi genre in a novel that lives up to the hype. Still fresh and thought-provoking a decade on from publication.
Quenched in Blood by Sean Crow
A superb fusion of sci-fi and fantasy, about a group of Norse gunrunners known as Valhalla Steel. Having been driven out of their native Norway by the magical race known as the Fae, Valhalla Steel have fallen on hard times and are seeking to rebuild themselves in America, carving out a place for themselves in the sprawling Twilight City.
The Crew by Sadir S Samir
Samir’s irreverent and hilarious novel, the first in a planned series called The God Dust Saga, gives a fresh spin on the fantasy genre. A mash up of styles, blending the Marvel Universe with an Arabian-inspired fantasy world, the sense of humour running through this book might not be to everyone’s taste. However, I had a great time with this and I think this is an impressive debut.
The Return of King Arthur Trilogy by Jacob Sannox
This modern day retelling of the legend of King Arthur is an amazing achievement and I’ve devoured all three books in the past year. I loved how the characters evolved as the series progressed, with the plot always moving in unexpected directions. Explore my reviews below for my detailed thoughts on a series everyone should be reading:
Burn Red Skies by Kerstin Espinosa Rosero
A fantastic debut by one of my fellow SPFBO7 finalists. Rosero’s writing is rich and descriptive. Great world building, varied characters you really care about, a distinctive magic system and dragons all come together to make this a compelling read.
Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks
I enjoyed re-reading this brilliant sci-fi novel, coming back to it 20 years after last turning the pages. Hugely influential on my own writing, Use of Weapons is an unforgettable novel, and I also featured this in one of my Influences blog posts earlier this year.
Paranormal in the Peaks: Weird Tales of Argana Zeit Volume 1 by Owain Oakwood
These cosy paranormal mysteries are a series of short stories featuring the outlandish adventures of Argana Zeit, a paranormal investigator. Set in the Derbyshire Peak District these stories come with a strong sense of place and an entertaining cast of characters.
Two more collections now beckon and I understand a novel is also in the works.
Haggis MacBrawn's (a shade) Darker Secret by Karen McCompostine
After reading the first book in Karen McCompostine’s The Edible Highlander Series, Haggis MacBrawn’s Dishy Secret, it was only a matter of time before I felt compelled to investigate the sequel. McCompostine has invented her own literary sub-genre – edible shifter romance. Having done so, where could this lead? Was it possible for her to improve upon the original? I can confirm I learned the answer to both questions in Haggis MacBrawn’s (a shade) Darker Secret.
Daughter of Eden by Chris Beckett
This trilogy is one of my favourite sci-fi series of all time. Daughter of Eden is a masterful, compelling piece of character-driven storytelling, and the power stories possess over people is central in this third and final novel in the series. Beckett’s novel is outstanding but one book managed to pip this one as my favourite of the past 12 months.
Never Die by Rob J Hayes
In Never Die, the first in a series of standalone novels set in the Mortal Techniques universe, Rob J Hayes creates a spectacular Wuxia inspired world. The plot is perfectly executed and the characters and their sense of found family really shine, making this my favourite book of the last 12 months. Yes, this even nudges out Daughter of Eden! It really is that good.
