It's December, and that means that it's time for those lists highlighting those books that we have particularly enjoyed or that have impacted us more; and 2023 has been especially prolific in reading terms for me.

Consider that this list has no particular order, as I feel ordering them numerically would be quite unfair; I can't simply choose a book and call it THE BEST taking in account how eclectic my read has been.

Let's go!

This Too Shall Burn, by Cat Rector

A feminist proposal by Cat Rector, a book that will leave you full of anger, but really cathartic at the same time.

However Many Must Die, by Phil Williams

A fantasy inspired by the WWI, an excellent start to a series, and a book full of emotion, which will make you end loving the characters.

Candy Cain Kills, by Brian McAuley

A perfect festive proposal, that mixes the horror of a slasher with the joyful character of Christmas. A really really fun book, trust me.

No Port in a Storm, by Cal Black

The second instalment on the Legends & Legacies series was even better than the first one, transporting us with Millie to Amelior and exploring survivors' guilt.

These Burning Stars, by Bethany Jacobs

An excellent space opera depicting a complex political empire, whose foundations are threatened by a coin that might unveil secrets about its atrocious past. A masterclass on writing characters.

A Woman of the Sword, by Anna Smith Spark

Smith Spark's prose combined with an excellent story about the difficulties of motherhood, all through the eyes of a warrior.

Through Dreams So Dark, by Angela Boord

An ambitious portal fantasy, with an incomparable setting; more reasons of why Angela Boord is one of my favourite authors.

The Wicked and The Willing, by Lianyu Tan

Steamy, F/F, vampires; a really intense novel that takes Gothic horror to another level (and you can choose the ending).

Mothtown, by Caroline Hardaker

A really unique sci-fi horror, a story about grief and identity; it's weird, but its weirdness is partly why it's so good.

World Running Down, by Al Hess

The traditionally published debut of Al Hess; an excellent novel about the efforts of becoming what really are. Cozy and gay.

Panacea, by Alex Robins

Greek mythology reimagined to tell an epic and dark story; a series that I will definitely continue reading.

Winter Harvest, by Ioanna Papadopoulou

A reimagining of Demeter's myths by a Greek author; a story that explores motherhood and grief.

The Bloody Chorus, by John Marco

The return to fantasy of John Marco, and one of my favourite books of the year; loved the cast and the nautical themes.

Dark Woods, Deep Water, by Jelena Dunato

A Slavic horror proposal by an author with a ton of potential; probably one of my favourite settings.

Poisoned Empire, by Elyse Thomson

A feral Cinderella, and a really fun story that keeps you hooked until the end; a series that will have me as a fan for a long time.

Him, by Geoff Ryman

A re-imagination of Jesus' life, a FTM story in which Maryam struggles to accept the real nature of his son.

 The Children of the Black Moon, by Joseph John Lee

Historical inspired fantasy is one of my favourite genres, and Joseph John Lee's series is definitely all of what I expect, with an extra addition of emotional damage.

Seeds of War, by Joao Silva

An excellent grimdark debut, a character-driven story which excels at creating compelling stakes.

The Many Shades of Midnight, by C.M. Debell

A fantasy whose plot is a perfect reflection of real world; really interested if Debell continues exploring this world.

Salt in the Wound, by Benjamin Aeveryn

Arthurian re-imagining in a post-apocalyptic world; a plot that remembers at points to Kill Bill, and characters that stay with you after finishing.

Boys in the Valley, by Philip Fracassi

Possession horror mixed with the dangers of isolation; excellent execution that only makes me more eager to continue reading Fracassi.

The Folly, by Gemma Amor

More isolation horror, a flawless execution combined with an excellent use of Gothic horror tropes.

Your Blood and Bones, by J. Patricia Anderson

A dark fairy-tale like novella, excellent at making us care of the characters.

The Words of Kings and Prophets, by Shauna Lawless

An excellent second instalment of this Irish historical inspired fantasy, a consolidation over what we had in the first book.

The Wretched Spy, by Eli Hinze

Mesopotamian inspired fantasy, the characters you've loved in the first book and the set-up for a third book that promises to be epic.

Merciless Waters, by Rae Knowles

Sapphic horror seems to be a recurrent theme on this list, and Knowles can't be missed; a novella which you will be thinking about days after finishing it.

Shadows of Nyn'Dira, by H.C. Newell

Third instalment of this series, and the consolidation of H.C. Newell as an author to take in account when writing dark fantasy.

Honestly, it has been an excellent year of reading, and choosing this list has been extremely difficult (I feel I've left out many titles that I loved); so I can just ask for a 2024 as good as 2023.

Cheers!