Escape thru Fiction - Reading List 2023
Posted: Sun May 28, 2023 6:51 pm
You know, I always love connecting with those who are readers and lovers of reading.
I figured that maybe it would be nice to have a reading list of what we are working on reading, what we've read, and things that we love/hate. Give some awesome inspiration for others looking to have a read.
I read a lot of Indie books, but have picked up some trad pub too. So mine will be a mix.
Please feel free to join with your read/to read lists too!! What's your reading list? (feel free to steal my setup if you want)
I'll have my list of what I've read, genre, and anything interesting about it. I'll be updating by replying to this original posts. Feel free to add and reply to yours or mine or questions!! I've been big into reading lately and want to share that with those who are interested.
I'm a ver voracious and fast reader at times. So I'll probably check in once a month with updates rather than weekly or daily - etc. Please feel free to yoink books for your own TBR.
★★★★★ - Phenomenal Read - Made me feel shit
★★★★ - Fantastic Read - Loved it and would read more
★★★ - It was alright but felt lacking in some way (usually character or plot)
★ - DNF (this is rare)
I will also be using these labels for identifying authors/stories that are minority groups being rep'd:
LGBTQA+ (Queer)
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color)
MPH Rep (Mental/Physical Health Representiation)
Completed Reads
Adult Fantasy - Action/Adventure
★★★★★ - One Dark Window [GrimDark Fantasy] - Rachel Gillig
This one was damn good, with the world so very complex with it's lore. Magic is infection and costly
Check Content Warnings - https://rachelgillig.com/2022/05/23/one ... -warnings/
★★★ - Spice Road [Arabian Inspired Fantasy w/ Djinn] - Maiya Ibrahim
It was good... but it didn't wow me. I felt like the characters could be stronger. I still want to read sequels
BIPOC Author & Book is BIPOC Perspective - Arabian
★★★★ - A Widow's Web (Nightbane Series #1) - B. J. Rysewyk
It is very good and worldbuilding strong. It was harder to get into the story with the FMC, but that's personal preference.
There are spicy scenes, but it's not the focus of the story
★★★★ - An Ember's Shadow (Nightbane Series #2) - B. J. Rysewyk
Release is Coming, I am a reader for this book.
MPH Rep - Severe Trauma, PTSD
Adult Fantasy - Romance
★★★★★ - Fourth Wing (Empyrean #1) - Rebecca Yarros
This is top favorite 2023. Hands down. I cannot stop loving this story.
There are spicy scenes. Dragons. I mean come on.
MPH Rep - EDS/Hypermobile, POC MMC, and Queerness is Normalized.
Adult Paranormal Romance
★★★★★ - Masked - M. Greenhill
This was originally Wattpad book, but phenomenal paranormal thriller
★★★★★ - The Blood of the Covenant (Anthology)
I've read the prequel: Her Vicious Beasts by E.P Bali. I'm so excited to read the first book when it comes out. The take on the shifter society is incredible amazing. I have yet to read the other stories because they were not in my taste to read at the time.
Science Fiction & Fantasy
★★★★★ - Dune - Frank Herbert (3 books + sequels)
I will always love this book, it's so complex with it's political and cultural things.
Warning: Features Death, Eugenics, Religious & Political Heavy
Dystopian & Apocalyptic
★★★★★ - The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
This was so close to the movies, it's not funny. It was excellent reading this for the first time.
Check Warnings, you prob already know them. Child Death, Fight to the Death etc.
18+ NSFW Reads
★★★ - Arrival (Curse of the Pirate Kings #1) - Minerva Kayden
This book was disappointing to me. The smut is there.. but I am so let down by the potential for worldbuilding that is just let go. It focuses so much more on the smut with a very plot flimsy driven reason for it.
CW: Dub-Con, Rough Scenes
To Be Read
Fantasy & Romantasy
☆ Silver in the Bone - Alexandra Bracken
☆ Iron Widow - Xiran Jay Zhao [Queer & BiPOC]
☆ A Day in the Fallen Night & Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon (QUEER)
☆ The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - Shannon Chakraborty
☆ Grishaverse (Shadow/Bone, Six of Crows, King of Scars) - Leigh Bardugo
☆ Red Queen Series - Victoria Aveyard
☆ An Ember in the Ashes Series
☆ Plated Prisoner Series - Raven Kennedy
☆ To Shape a Dragon's Breath - Moniquill Blackgoose (BIPOC)
☆ Dragonfall - L. R. Lam
☆ The Poison Heart (duo) - Bayron (BIPOC)
☆ The Gilded Ones - Namina Forna (BIPOC)
☆ Kingdom of Souls - Rena barron (BIPOC)
☆ Nightbirds - Kate Armstrong
☆ Crier's War (WLW Queer) - Nina Varela
☆ The mask of Mirrors - M.A. Carrick (Queer)
☆ A Touch of War - Nicole Velasquez (Nov. 7 2023)
☆ The Deep - Rovers Solomon (BIPOC story)
Paranormal & Paranormal Romance
☆ Nightborn - S.J. Sanders (Current Read)
☆ Court of the Vampire Queen - Katee Robert (Current Read)
☆ Mercy Thompson Series - Patricia Briggs [BIPOC FMC]
☆ Not Even Bones - Schaeffer
☆ Demons in my Bed - Britt Andrews (Why Choose Dark Para)
☆ Bone Season Series - Samantha Shannon (reread 1-3 to read the others)
☆ Year of the Reaper - Makiia Lucier (BIPOC)
Dark Romance - CHECK TWs
☆ Dear Darkness Series - Leah Steele (Dark Romance/Serial Killer FMC)
☆ Revelations - Rebecca Rathe
Historical Based
☆ Homecoming - Kate Morton
☆ The Diamond Eye - Kate Quinn
Dystopian
☆ Catching Fire, Mokingjay, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - Suzanne Collins
☆ Darkest Minds Series - Alexandra Bracken
☆ The Blood Trials - N.E. Davenport
Action/Adventure
☆ The Recovery Agent - Janet Evanovich
☆ The Sacrifice - Rin Chupeco (BIPOC)
Science Fiction
☆ Seven Devils - L. R. Lam [Queer]
☆ Dune Messiah & Children of Dune - Frank Herbert
Thriller & Mystery
☆ Stone Maidens - Lloyd Richards
I figured that maybe it would be nice to have a reading list of what we are working on reading, what we've read, and things that we love/hate. Give some awesome inspiration for others looking to have a read.
I read a lot of Indie books, but have picked up some trad pub too. So mine will be a mix.
Please feel free to join with your read/to read lists too!! What's your reading list? (feel free to steal my setup if you want)
I'll have my list of what I've read, genre, and anything interesting about it. I'll be updating by replying to this original posts. Feel free to add and reply to yours or mine or questions!! I've been big into reading lately and want to share that with those who are interested.
I'm a ver voracious and fast reader at times. So I'll probably check in once a month with updates rather than weekly or daily - etc. Please feel free to yoink books for your own TBR.
★★★★★ - Phenomenal Read - Made me feel shit
★★★★ - Fantastic Read - Loved it and would read more
★★★ - It was alright but felt lacking in some way (usually character or plot)
★ - DNF (this is rare)
I will also be using these labels for identifying authors/stories that are minority groups being rep'd:
LGBTQA+ (Queer)
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color)
MPH Rep (Mental/Physical Health Representiation)
Completed Reads
Adult Fantasy - Action/Adventure
★★★★★ - One Dark Window [GrimDark Fantasy] - Rachel Gillig
This one was damn good, with the world so very complex with it's lore. Magic is infection and costly
Check Content Warnings - https://rachelgillig.com/2022/05/23/one ... -warnings/
★★★ - Spice Road [Arabian Inspired Fantasy w/ Djinn] - Maiya Ibrahim
It was good... but it didn't wow me. I felt like the characters could be stronger. I still want to read sequels
BIPOC Author & Book is BIPOC Perspective - Arabian
★★★★ - A Widow's Web (Nightbane Series #1) - B. J. Rysewyk
It is very good and worldbuilding strong. It was harder to get into the story with the FMC, but that's personal preference.
There are spicy scenes, but it's not the focus of the story
★★★★ - An Ember's Shadow (Nightbane Series #2) - B. J. Rysewyk
Release is Coming, I am a reader for this book.
MPH Rep - Severe Trauma, PTSD
Adult Fantasy - Romance
★★★★★ - Fourth Wing (Empyrean #1) - Rebecca Yarros
This is top favorite 2023. Hands down. I cannot stop loving this story.
There are spicy scenes. Dragons. I mean come on.
MPH Rep - EDS/Hypermobile, POC MMC, and Queerness is Normalized.
Adult Paranormal Romance
★★★★★ - Masked - M. Greenhill
This was originally Wattpad book, but phenomenal paranormal thriller
★★★★★ - The Blood of the Covenant (Anthology)
I've read the prequel: Her Vicious Beasts by E.P Bali. I'm so excited to read the first book when it comes out. The take on the shifter society is incredible amazing. I have yet to read the other stories because they were not in my taste to read at the time.
Science Fiction & Fantasy
★★★★★ - Dune - Frank Herbert (3 books + sequels)
I will always love this book, it's so complex with it's political and cultural things.
Warning: Features Death, Eugenics, Religious & Political Heavy
Dystopian & Apocalyptic
★★★★★ - The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
This was so close to the movies, it's not funny. It was excellent reading this for the first time.
Check Warnings, you prob already know them. Child Death, Fight to the Death etc.
18+ NSFW Reads
★★★ - Arrival (Curse of the Pirate Kings #1) - Minerva Kayden
This book was disappointing to me. The smut is there.. but I am so let down by the potential for worldbuilding that is just let go. It focuses so much more on the smut with a very plot flimsy driven reason for it.
CW: Dub-Con, Rough Scenes
To Be Read
Fantasy & Romantasy
☆ Silver in the Bone - Alexandra Bracken
☆ Iron Widow - Xiran Jay Zhao [Queer & BiPOC]
☆ A Day in the Fallen Night & Priory of the Orange Tree - Samantha Shannon (QUEER)
☆ The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi - Shannon Chakraborty
☆ Grishaverse (Shadow/Bone, Six of Crows, King of Scars) - Leigh Bardugo
☆ Red Queen Series - Victoria Aveyard
☆ An Ember in the Ashes Series
☆ Plated Prisoner Series - Raven Kennedy
☆ To Shape a Dragon's Breath - Moniquill Blackgoose (BIPOC)
☆ Dragonfall - L. R. Lam
☆ The Poison Heart (duo) - Bayron (BIPOC)
☆ The Gilded Ones - Namina Forna (BIPOC)
☆ Kingdom of Souls - Rena barron (BIPOC)
☆ Nightbirds - Kate Armstrong
☆ Crier's War (WLW Queer) - Nina Varela
☆ The mask of Mirrors - M.A. Carrick (Queer)
☆ A Touch of War - Nicole Velasquez (Nov. 7 2023)
☆ The Deep - Rovers Solomon (BIPOC story)
Paranormal & Paranormal Romance
☆ Nightborn - S.J. Sanders (Current Read)
☆ Court of the Vampire Queen - Katee Robert (Current Read)
☆ Mercy Thompson Series - Patricia Briggs [BIPOC FMC]
☆ Not Even Bones - Schaeffer
☆ Demons in my Bed - Britt Andrews (Why Choose Dark Para)
☆ Bone Season Series - Samantha Shannon (reread 1-3 to read the others)
☆ Year of the Reaper - Makiia Lucier (BIPOC)
Dark Romance - CHECK TWs
☆ Dear Darkness Series - Leah Steele (Dark Romance/Serial Killer FMC)
☆ Revelations - Rebecca Rathe
Historical Based
☆ Homecoming - Kate Morton
☆ The Diamond Eye - Kate Quinn
Dystopian
☆ Catching Fire, Mokingjay, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - Suzanne Collins
☆ Darkest Minds Series - Alexandra Bracken
☆ The Blood Trials - N.E. Davenport
Action/Adventure
☆ The Recovery Agent - Janet Evanovich
☆ The Sacrifice - Rin Chupeco (BIPOC)
Science Fiction
☆ Seven Devils - L. R. Lam [Queer]
☆ Dune Messiah & Children of Dune - Frank Herbert
Thriller & Mystery
☆ Stone Maidens - Lloyd Richards