I started and didn’t finish so many books in 2023, that if stacked together the tower would be taller than I am. There were a few highlights, however, so I thought I’d list them here in case anyone else was interested.
The following novels aren’t all a 5 out of 5 but they were good enough for me to stick with them until the end.
Arcane Rising (The Darkland Druids Book 1) by Nicole R Taylor
It’s a standard paranormal romance with a magical heroine whose parents are dead, and she meets her brooding love interest.
Summary:
Elspeth Quarrie embarks on a quest across the world to discover her unknown Scottish heritage.
Landing in Edinburgh, she doesn’t count on her first day being full of creepy graveyards, several attempted abductions, and nightmarish creatures hiding behind human faces. She meets a handsome stranger to reveal she’s a Druid. Elspeth must learn to harness her powers because all Druids are being hunted by dak creatures called Chimeras.
Inker and Crown (Guilds of Ilbrea Book 1) by Megan O’Russell
It’s a fantasy novel with five too many characters and storylines. The book is disjointed and confusing, but when it focused on Adrial, the map maker, it was at least interesting. There are some vague references to hidden magic, but most of the plot revolves around an uprising in the city by the angry masses.
Summary:
In Ilbrea, the Guilds are the ruling class. The Guilds offer glory. No one has worked harder to find their scrap of glory than Adrial Ayres, a map maker. The lower classes or non-Guild masses are angry and feel abused. Adrial can’t face the dangers of the city alone.
A sailor with a taste for adventure.
A soldier whose heart has been claimed.
A beauty they will never suspect.
A map maker with secrets of their own.
An inker who will change Adrial’s life forever.
Fake It ‘Til You Make It by Louisa Masters
It’s a gay romance between a rich geek and a shy, rich geek. There’s no will they/won’t they. It’s obvious that they will fall instantly in bed love from the start. Overall, the storyline is sweet.
Summary:
Tech billionaire Michael Jones became the rags-to-riches phenomenon of the century, but there is just one person who can crack his cool façade. One person who turns him into an incoherent, bumbling mess: James Jennings.
The sophisticated older brother of Michael’s best friend, James has been the center of Michael’s fantasies from the moment they met. But can a suave, successful, wealthy businessman want someone who’s just faking his way through life?
Voyageurs: Gay Romance by Keira Andrews
It’s a historical gay romance between a fussy white Englishman and a rugged Native American man. Overall, the storyline was sweet, and it held my interest more than Fake It ‘Til You Make It, but a part of me didn’t believe that these two fellas would actually fall in love.
Summary:
It’s 1793, and Simon Cavendish needs to get to his station at Fort Charlotte, a fur-trading outpost in the untamed Canadian wild. The fort is only accessible by canoe, and there’s just one man daring enough to take him on the perilous, thousand-mile journey from Montreal this late in the summer.
Young Christian Smith, the son of an Ojibwe mother and absent English father, is desperate for money to strike out on his own, so he agrees to take clueless Simon deep into the wild. As they travel endless lakes and rivers, they butt heads.
An attraction sparks between Simon and Christian.
Everkin (Kindred) by Donna Grant
It’s a romance fantasy novella. I honestly didn’t like this book, but the storyline kept me hate reading which is better than DNF-ing, I guess. Edra & Radnar are hollow, one-dimensional characters and the plot is thin and just serves to bring them together. I normally wouldn’t bother posting this on my blog, but I can understand why a fan of romantic fantasy would like this book. It was just not to my tastes.
Summary:
Edra is a natural-born witch. She broke her lover’s heart when she ran away, seven years ago in order to stay out of the clutches of an evil Coven. She’s been running ever since. Edra never planned on running into Radnar once again. Chance threw them together, and now her soul mate is not about to let her run from him again. And the Coven knows it. His love is the one thing they can use to break Edra, and finally force her to join them for good.
The Dragonslayer’s Sword: The Dragonslayer Series: Book One of Four by Resa Nelson
It’s a typical fantasy novel with dragons and swords. The main character, Astrid, is a bit dumb, but still likable. I felt for her as she struggled through loss and slavery.
Summary:
In the medieval Northlands, a dangerous family seeks power. They slaughter all who get in their way. Astrid doesn’t know she holds the key to this power. She’s just a blacksmith who makes swords for dragon slayers. But Astrid has a dark secret. A dragon once chewed her up and spit her out. She hides the old scars covering her body through shapeshifting. But the time for hiding is over.
The Crystal Eye: An Epic Fantasy Saga (The Crystalline Saga Book 1) by Blake R. Wolfe
Yes, this is another fantasy novel with dragons but, it was the best book I read last year. Just read this story. Dusk is a slave who escapes and goes on one Hell of an adventure. The pacing is fast, and the story was a joy to read.
Summary:
Dusk, an oppressed miner under noble tyranny, unearths the ancient remains of the dragon king, clutching the all-powerful Crystal Eye. Concealing this artifact, Dusk seizes his momentous chance, embarking on a daring escape from the depths of the mines. Yet, one fateful night, assaulted by marauders, the crystal awakens, engulfing them in infernal flames, reducing them to mere ashes. In that pivotal instant, the world witnesses the resurgence of magic, and a wicked sorcerer fixates his gaze upon Dusk.
Can Dusk elude the kingdom’s borders in a race against time?
The Elysian Prophecy (The Deian Chronicles Book 1) by Vivien Reis
This YA Urban Fantasy was a bit of a slog to get through. Overall, the story was engaging, but so much could have been cut from this novel to make the pacing better. The sister & brother main characters were typical Urban Fantasy leads who have hidden magical powers. The love story between Abigail and her boring, brooding, love interest was a total dud.
Summary:
When a violent attack leaves their father in the hospital, Abigail and Benjamin Cole discover there’s more to their family history than mental illness.
What were your favorite books in 2023?
I hope you liked this month’s blog post. The books in my urban fantasy series are available on Amazon. Please let me know your thoughts by liking, commenting, and/or subscribing. Also, you can join my mailing list by clicking here.
stacy benedict 