The Best Of 2023

Welcome back to another Quill to Live year-end book roundup. 2023 has been a somewhat quiet year for science fiction and fantasy after the raucous explosion that was 2022. The reviewers got together this week, had some cocoa, and discussed all our top picks from the year. After much debate, we made a list of the stand-out picks that each of us thinks deserves year-end recognition. We managed to whittle the list down to 20 picks this year, with a clear standout winning author being Adrian Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky managed to get a record three spots on the 20-entry list, all for books from different series/projects. The reviewers of The Quill To Live read about 100 newly published books this year, which is lower than usual, but we have been trying to dig into older recommendations for you fine folks. As always, in order to get this list out promptly before the end of the year, we have rolled December 2022 into this list, and December 2023 will roll into 2024’s list. Without further ado, let’s dive into the best stories of 2023. Thank you all for joining us once again in this annual QTL tradition.

20) The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft – Likely driven by my increasing age, I find myself with more and more desire to read fantasy stories about older established protagonists. Bonus points if they are in loving committed relationships. The Hexologists scratches both those itches. Part puzzle, part love letter, every page is bursting with fun, novelty, and romance. It is a joy to read from the moment you start until the second you close the back cover. Its fast pace and clear premise allow you to immerse yourself in the story with little friction, and Bancroft’s bright characters shine like lighthouses of personality leading you from exciting set piece to set piece. This was a fabulous start to a brand-new series by an established writer, and it shows how he has grown as an author.

You can find our full review here

19) Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo – This book made me want to hide from the world so I could devour it whole. Hell Bent drives us deeper into the dark as Alex’s past comes back to haunt her with a vengeance. Love or hate her, she is a compelling character who continues to disrupt the privileged and wealthy worlds that are determined to hold her down. The book has all of the same great strengths of book one, but with a more pessimistic and tense atmosphere, adding lots of stress and a strained vibe to everything. Quite frankly, everything is going to shit, and the hellhounds are closing in on Alex Stern.

You can find our full review here

18) Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky – The first of our 2023 Tchaikovsky trifecta. Tchaikovsky has done an incredible job continuing to iterate and breathe life into a book idea that I thought had reached its end. Memory continues on the saga of finding really cool animals, imagining what society would look like if it evolved from these subjects instead of apes, and then lighting that society on fire (sometimes metaphorically, sometimes literally). As with both Children of Time and Children of Ruin, the result is a messy thought experiment with some surprising results. It has become increasingly obvious to me that Tchaikovsky has built a playground with this series that has an established world rife with mysteries for exploring and he can use it as a whiteboard for any number of ideas. I sincerely hope that more of these books keep coming because every single one is a delightful surprise. It never gets old.

You can find our full review here

17) The Traitor by Anthony Ryan – The Traitor finishes a story arc that stands out to me in the sea of fantasy genre sameness. It reads like watching someone leave a cult repeatedly only to find themselves in a nested larger cult, with a side of political machinations that feels right at home in the narrative. As always, Ryan’s prose and action scenes are a cut above the rest. The Traitor gives us some enormous martial conflicts and no one can put you in the mud, grime, and misery of the battlefield like Ryan can. The vibes and atmosphere of this book are immaculate in their ability to induce anxiety in me. I would argue that The Covenant of Steel as a whole is one of the most stressful reading experiences I have had. With this finale, the series has easily become Ryan’s best work so far. 

You can find our full review here

16) Tsalmoth by Steven Brust – Brust continues to deliver quality books in the Vlad Taltos saga thirty years down the road from when it began. We have only a few more books left in the series before the finale and it is beyond impressive that they are still hitting as hard as they do. Vlad is such an interesting character, never feeling like a blank slate or a  reader insert. He has a coherence and a consistency that is rare in fiction like this, but still constantly demonstrates noticeable growth in each of his adventures. Tsalmoth is a bear of a book, a warm teddy from one angle, and a muscled beast from another. It feels like the perfect lighter story to read before we move to the endgame of the series. While it doesn’t have the bulky lore of a bear who wrote a thesis during hibernation, its claws can still do some damage… emotionally. With stunning writing and fun character moments, Tsalmoth is an emotional read from start to finish and continues to reaffirm my love of this classic fantasy series. 

You can find our full review here

15) I Keep My Exoskeletons To Myself by Marisa Crane – Crane’s debut is a personal journey through a dystopian nightmare. Kris’ life is made harder by her second shadow, a reminder of a past crime that haunts her both spiritually and materially. Exoskeletons is a painful journey that is made tangible through Crane’s incredible writing. Their prose does the work of feeling like a standard diary riddled with personal revelations that feel perfectly worded at the moment. The characters feel like real people, with equally human interactions that chiseled at my stone heart. It’s a grounded story that doesn’t forget the bleak world it exists in, while not shying away from its moments of radical joy. It’s beautifully told and I won’t forget it anytime soon. 

You can find our full review here

14) Furious Heaven by Kate Elliott –  Elliott’s sequel to Unconquerable Sun is a rollicking ride that rarely lets up, even in its more deliberate chapters. Elliott expands on her already immense world, setting up historical dynasties that all have their own internal workings. Large space battles that span several solar systems populate the text, detailing the marathon that would be a space campaign. Elliott also nails her characters, giving them internal voices that allow them to question what feels like destiny to others. It’s a lovingly crafted novel that uses its time to maximum effect and expands on what made its predecessor great while setting up a finale that’s likely to be as beautiful and destructive as a supernova. 

You can find our full review here

13) Lord Of A Shattered Land by Howard Andrew Jones – One of the few books I didn’t manage to review before this list went live, Lord Of A Shattered Land is a classic sword and sorcery with a twist. Told like a collection of short story vignettes, this powerful story evokes classic greats of Fantasy fame like Gemmel and Sapkowski and binds them into something wholly new and original. With themes focusing on refugees, loss of culture, and legacy, the book reads like a love letter on the power of perseverance. The short story format allows Jones to pack a huge amount of power into the book with big emotional reveals every 50 pages and a throughline that builds to a huge crescendo by the end of the book. Simultaneously old and new, Lord Of A Shattered Land was memorable all the way through.

You can find our full review here

12) He Who Drowned The World by Shelley Parker-Chan – Parker-Chan closes her duology in a fun, but darkly ruthless novel that explores the nature of fate and power. The characters are dynamic, pushing beyond the lessons they gleaned from the first book, and finding new ways to bond or push each other away. Everyone’s ambitions are poised to clash spectacularly and Parker-Chan never disappoints in their execution of every conflict, be it battle or verbal sparring. Parker-Chan has a knack not only for accelerating the timeline but also for knowing when to soak in particular scenes to allow for the catharsis or anxiety to truly set in. It feels legendary in scope, while deeply personal in its characterizations. A perfect conclusion to an already magnificent story.  

You can find our full review here (soon)

11) The Water Outlaws by S.L. Huang – This standalone is an inspiring and brutal tale of heroes, anti-heroes, and villains all fighting for their version of justice. I was swept away by The Water Outlaws’ shifting tides of loyalty and the complicated web of tributaries that marks each character’s unique path. Huang adds a dash of magic and incredibly high stakes to tell a compelling tale about a fringe group with competing morals and a common goal. The main characters are put in impossible situations, and the consequences of their actions are even harder to navigate. With great pacing and several interesting POVs, I encourage you to answer the bandits’ rallying cry and pick up their story.

You can find our full review here

10) Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson – The Year of Sanderson kicked off on January 1, 2023, with Tress of the Emerald Sea. It set the bar for quality in the year to come (which included three other Sanderson releases, two of which we also loved). Tress started the year strong with plenty of charm and wit (wink). Sanderson’s tale, inspired by The Princess Bride and chock-full of connective Cosmere tissue, gave us a strong woman protagonist and a lighthearted air. Tress easily made our top list for these reasons and many more. But if you want to know what those reasons are…well, you’ve gotta read it. 

You can find our full review here

9) Under My Skin by K.J. Parker – I debated for a while if this belonged on this list or as our top spot on the novella list coming later this month. Yet, the interwoven themes of snake oil and misdirection throughout this interconnected set of stories in the same world do add up to more than their parts. This ever-delivering collection is 700 pages of hard-hitting short fiction that gives you the goods on every single page. And best yet, there isn’t a single bad story in here. These stories are populated by con men who believe their cons, good kings of dubious intent, magicians who don’t do magic, and messiahs who don’t offer redemption. In each of these stories, nothing is what it seems and everything will surprise you. It’s a special kind of magic box that keeps appearing bigger on the inside as you find hidden latch after hidden latch. This is Parker at their best as this collection of shorts is knockout punch after punch just grinding your psyche into the mat.

You can find our full review here

8) Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward – Ward does it again with this twisty meta-novel about the nature of nostalgia and the ownership of stories. Using her knack for digging into the foundational bones of horror, she crafts a harrowing story about being haunted and trapped by one’s past. Reveals are cleverly understated, allowing the distance to elicit dread and terror. She avoids placing the reader in direct danger too often, letting the pot boil while you are distracted by chopping the vegetables. It’s definitely my favorite of her novels as she lets it dig into your soul before ripping it out whole cloth in the final pages. If you need a fantastic horror that questions the role of nostalgia, Ward has you covered. 

You can find our full review here

7) Lords of Uncreation by Adrian Tchaikovsky – The second of three Tchaikovsky books on this list and the one with the highest bar to reach. I had just gotten used to The Final Architecture filling the giant space opera-shaped hole in my heart, and then Tchaikovsky goes and gets all three parts of the trilogy out in record time. Lords of Uncreation makes it three for three that this series made it into our top books of the year and good god did AT stick the landing. This book has big ideas, bigger set pieces, and endings to powerful character arcs. The Final Architecture feels like one of his projects with the biggest scope, and it is really exciting to see Tchaikovsky try to work on a bigger scale when all of his novels already tend to be big-picture. With the central themes being about diaspora and refugees, it feels painfully poignant with current events and it has helped me sort through my own thoughts and feelings while providing a larger window for empathy. 

You can find our full review here

6) The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi – This story was mysterious, magical, and horrifying. But mostly it made me wistful and sad as a grown woman now shackled to the realities of adulthood. The majority of Flower Bride exists within that beautiful, blissful glow surrounding adolescence. It’s the time of life when responsibilities have not quite set in, where the most structure we are forced to endure centers around school. The way Chokshi shaped this story and complemented it with her next-level prose is the reason this book is haunting me like a ghost I can’t shake. The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is like a gift from the fae. It was unexpected, dazzling in its grandeur, and dripping in blood. It was an addicting story and one of the best I’ve read this year, and I encourage you to unravel the layered mysteries that Chokshi packaged up for you.

You can find our full review here

5) Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare – If you’re new to Cassandra Clare or consider yourself an avid Shadowhunter fan, you will have an incredible time with Sword Catcher. Clare expertly builds her brand-new world and entraps you in it with characters that I would literally do anything for. Whether it’s out of duty or for love, Kel and Lin bend and break the rules all the while becoming entangled in the prophesized downfall of Castellane. Indulge in the deep, meaningful, and painful relationships set against a backdrop of a kingdom folding under internal and external forces. And if that isn’t enough for you, Castellane has plenty of secrets and a dash of political intrigue. This book was several years in the making, and the love and care in this story can be seen on every page and in every interaction. 

You can find our full review here

4) Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh – Some Desperate Glory is certainly one of the most unique, thoughtful, and exciting books I have read this year. It is a messy story that uses YA vibes to hide horrifying content that is anything but young adult. Glory is a Pandora’s box that, once open, gives new insights into how war and capitalism are evil with a robust cast of interesting characters who all go on fabulous journeys of self-reflection. It is a strange and brilliant reversal of many classic first-contact tropes with a deep dive into how propaganda can warp your perception of reality. It’s a vivid anti-war story about how conflict often has no good outcomes no matter how perfectly you roll the dice. All of this package is contained in a single standalone novel with pacing the speed of a jet engine and prose that helps impacts pierce through you. There are new ideas here, and they are interesting, and it is worth your time to think about them.

You can find our full review here

3) The Surviving Sky by Kritika H. Rao – Rao’s debut is a lush and vibrant jungle that captures the essence of a world turned against humanity, and humanity that has splintered itself. Rao paints a vivid portrait of a world that should be a paradise but is hostile to humanity’s meddling. She writes about deep and broken people as they try to repair fissures of their own making. She knows how to portray the secret language that people have after knowing each other so long while being distant enough that translations are breaking down. The plot moves quickly, showing off Rao’s ability to craft a detailed world even as it crumbles down around the characters. It’s a brutal book that goes into the unhealed wounds people inflict on each other, and the world, over years of neglect, familiarity, and misunderstanding. Rao deftly combines the human with the non-human elements, making the themes feel explored holistically, instead of separating them. Broken bonds take time and effort to understand and repair, and more fraying is likely to occur even during reconciliation. The Surviving Sky is an incredible debut that you should not miss. 

You can find our full review here

2) The Will of the Many by James Islington – A beautiful jeweled spider sitting in a web of silk worth more than its weight in gold, The Will of the Many is absolutely everything I want from a book and more. A book so good that I invented an elaborate end-of-year tradition to make the other reviewers read it. The Will of the Many is the tip of a fathomless iceberg that already looks gorgeous above the waterline. A story about a spy trying to survive multiple masters with competing agendas in a world where magic is tied to government representation. This book has everything I want: magical schools, a world full of mystery, an intricately connected plot with countless threads, a fabulous protagonist, brilliant supporting characters, delicious themes, and endless potential. Islington rose to SFF fame with his Licanius trilogy which proved to be so well plotted that every single loose end became a mesmerizing tapestry. This time Islington has started his series with a sleeper hit that outpaces its competition on its own. And, judging by Islington’s history, the series is only going to get better as more of it comes out. Look me in the eyes, this is a Quill to Live MUST-READ.

You can find our full review here

1) City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky – You know, sometimes it’s really hard to be a fan of an author, especially someone like Adrian Tchaikovsky. The man is prolific and has appeared on our best-of lists since, well probably forever, often more than once. This year is no different, but there was one book of his that exemplifies everything that makes his stories feel so unique and exciting, both in the subject material and his approach. City of Last Chances is Tchaikovsky at the top of his game, pushing his talents to their breaking point. He throws you right into a pot on the edge of boiling over, mixing in sharp characterization, vivid cultures, and centuries of history. This is a story of revolution and the people stoking its fire. Personalities and ideologies clash as factions poke and prod at vulnerabilities looking for their moment to play their hand. Everything within the story moves with a chaotically blinding speed as Tchaikovsky writes almost every chapter from a unique perspective while leaving breadcrumbs for the reader to pick up so they don’t get lost in the churn. It’s a rollercoaster ride in the truest sense, building up the first drop, before throwing the reader through a series of loops, swoops, twists, ups and downs. There are incredible moments of triumph smashing against stretches of pain, sorrow, and despair. Tchaikovsky put all of his skills to use to make one of his most compelling novels yet, and it was a blast. Go check it out.

You can find our full review here

-A note from the QTL team. Happy 2023, and we wish you the best of all holidays from our families to yours. We typically do not ask our readers for assistance in promoting our work, but as we spend an enormous amount of time working on our end-of-year wrap-up, shares, and posts of this list are greatly appreciated. We hope you had a wonderful 2023 and we look forward to showing you our new list next year!