By VANESSA SKILDUM

As an avid reader, my New Year’s resolution was to read more books than I bought this year. At this point, I have successfully stuck to it and ended up reading 87 books. In doing so there have been a couple that have particularly stuck out. Here are my top reads of 2023.

Divine Rivals By Rebecca Ross 

A young adult historical fantasy that made me feel too many emotions. It follows Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt. They are rival journalists who are vying for the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette. The gods are fighting again and Iris’ brother has been missing from the front lines. To cope she writes letters on her typewriter and slips them under her wardrobe. They just so happen to land in the hands of Roman, who writes back anonymously. A connection forms between the two of them that follows them to the front lines of the war. 

I fell instantly in love with the main characters. They felt real and complete. Their motives were clear and I liked seeing into each of their heads through their perspectives. Ross does an annoyingly good job of providing the information right when you need to know it. The slow burn enemies to lovers was artistically done in a way that was important to the plot, but there was a plot outside of it as well. This is the first book in the duology. The Sequel, Ruthless Vows, is available for preorder.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

A self-help book to help you become just a little better every day. The book focuses on how to build good systems to keep you accountable for creating, keeping, or breaking habits. Clear’s goals are to teach you how to make time for new habits, overcome the lack of motivation and willpower, get back on track when you fall of course, help create an environment built for success, and more. He provides methods, figures, charts, and stories from all sorts of people all to help explain and motivate you to build better habits. 

As someone who tends to get overwhelmed by the big picture of change, this book did a good job of breaking everything down into parts. It was very easy to understand and helped me see ways to implement new strategies in my life. It gives you the tools you need to lay a good foundation of habits, so you can build the routines and habits that will help you improve in a way that’s achievable for the everyday human. 

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson

A young adult fantasy book that had me invested from the first page. Our first main character, Jase Bellenger, has just taken over the very powerful Ballenger empire. Nearby kingdoms recognize the strength that the Ballengers have over their land. However, the new queen has set in motion changes that threaten the Ballenger dynasty. On the other side Kazi, a former street thief, who now works for the queen is sent on a mission to investigate transgressions against new settlements. Their paths cross and unexpected events throw wrenches in both of their plans but draw them into a game of cat and mouse as they both work to fulfill their missions.

I read this at the very beginning of the year and it has still stuck with me. I grew very attached to the characters. The main characters were both strong and hard-headed but in a loveable way. Pearson gives us very insightful looks into their thought processes which I appreciated immensely. The plot was action-packed and intense. I genuinely have no bad things to say about this book. A warning that this book takes place in the same universe as the Remnant Chronicles, a trilogy also by Pearson. I loved all of them as well and I recommend you read those three before this one as some characters do overlap. 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 

A historical fiction book that follows the life of Chemist Elizabeth Zott in the early 1960’s. It shows her struggles with her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute except for one, Calvin Evans who falls in love with her mind. Fast forward Elizabeth is now a single mother and a star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Her cooking show isn’t just about how to make convenient dinners for the tired housewife. It dares those women to change the status quo. 

Strap in for an emotional roller coaster. I felt every range of emotions from outrage to grief to bursting out laughing. Elizabeth is such a complex character and one that we get to see through a nonlinear timeline. The book also jumps perspectives artistically. Some even from the perspective of her beloved dog six-thirty. Each perspective adds something to the story. It never drags on. This book surprised me in many ways, and each one was better than the next. 

Masters of Death by Olivia Blake 

A paranormal fantasy that will keep you on your toes. Fox D’Mora is many things from a fake medium to stubborn, but most importantly he is the godson of Death. Viola Marek, a vampire and real estate agent, has a ghost problem. The house she is trying to sell is haunted by a ghost who cannot remember how he died. Vi goes to Fox for help and in the process, Fox gets involved in a rather unique quest. An angel, reaper, demon, and a mix of other creators all help Fox and Vi discover a bundle of truths they weren’t quite ready for. 

My mind was blown reading this. This is one of those novels that just makes you sit back and wonder how the author came up with this idea. It was so intricate, and a lot of little puzzle pieces came together through the nonlinear timeline. I loved the dynamic between Fox and Death. The archangels, Rafiel and Gabriel, were the perfect comedic relief. 

Featured Image Credit: Marmalade and Mustardseed