I have not only read fantasy in 2023 but also a few other books in various genres. Among them are some outstanding works of fiction, insightful non-fiction books, and beautiful poetry.
Here is my selection of the best ones I have read in 2023. Maybe some of them will appeal to you and find their way onto your reading list for 2024.
7: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
This is a wonderful retelling of the old and ancient Norse mythology, told with a lot of humour and a captivating style of prose. Gaiman clearly demonstrates his talent for storytelling in this collection of stories. This retelling also shows how the stories of Christianity and the stories of the bible are mostly copied as well as deeply rooted in Norse mythology. The ones about the goddess Freya and, of course, everyone’s favourite, Loki, are the funniest and most enchanting ones.
6: Metazoa by Peter Godfrey-Smith
Metazoa is Godfrey-Smith’s sequel to Other Minds, which appears later down the list. This one is a brilliant follow-up to his first non-fiction work.
This book details the evolution of consciousness and how and where it can be found within the animal kingdom. The science and research portrayed in this book are absolutely brilliant and make us understand the world.
Godfrey-Smith dismantles stereotypes and a long-time misconception of animals. They do not only have a highly developed consciousness but are also extremely intelligent, showing the reader that humans are not the epitome of evolution but merely a stop along a never-ending path of life.
5: Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith
This non-fiction book is pure science porn and tells the story of the evolution of cephalopods, or, to be precise, octopus. As mentioned earlier, Metazoa, is the follow-up book to Other Minds. As smart as toddlers, some scientists consider them even smarter, move in a three-dimensional world, also known as the ocean.
This, among other things, is why their brains work so differently from ours, yet the way they are conscious of their surroundings, solve problems and live their lives is not unlike the way we are. Even more astounding is the fact that cephalopods are invertebrates. Intelligent life and consciousness are found everywhere and anywhere. Humans are not at the peak of evolution and the book also confronts the reader with the very important issue that intelligent life is not superior to other life forms but rather simply another way to survive in nature. When you read this book, it will change your view of the world.
4: The Rise and Reign of Mammals by Steve Brusatte
A few years ago, the amazing palaeontologist Steve Brusatte published The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs and now he is back with The Rise and Reign of Mammals. In this non-fiction book, he doesn’t focus on the well-known monsters of the past, the dinosaurs, but on a less-known story, which is, however, as exciting and important: the story of mammals, our story.
He shows the reader how modern mammals evolved, featuring apes and humans as well. With lovely anecdotes of discovering mammal fossils and giving us an insight into the astounding work of palaeontologists, Brusatte once again convinces with a wonderful story of evolution, the journey from a distant past with many surprises into a time that stands at the beginning of another mass extinction. Readers will understand our world and where we come from in a profound and well-researched scientific way.
3: The Princess Saves Herself in This One (Poetry Trilogy) by Amanda Lovelace
The Princess Saves Herself in this one, The Witch Doesn’t Burn in this one and The Mermaid’s Voice Returns in this one are a poetry trilogy that can be read in any order. Lovelace manages to dismantle, take apart and bring back together the most well-known fairy tales and their archetypes, creating a beautiful and nuanced narrative about trauma, love, mental health, anger, despair, and hope.
While I usually don’t read poetry, I am so happy that I stumbled upon this trilogy, which truly is absolutely gorgeous and ahead of its time.
2: The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
This non-fiction, autobiographical work encompasses so many important themes and is written in an enormously clever way. Themes included are motherhood, being non-binary, feminism, patriarchy, and so much more. It tells the story of a young couple that goes through many changes in life; one of them is getting their first child.
At the same time, it is speckled with quotes and references from academics, feeding the reader with thoughtful insight on all the big themes discussed in the book. I recommend this masterpiece of non-fiction on every level.
1: Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson
Last year, I recommended reading Open Waters Nelson’s debut novel and I am delighted to say that his second novel was even better! This is a generational novel about Ghanaian immigrants coming to the UK, encountering a world that does not accept them.
Set over the course of three summers, it is a triumphant novel, bringing together themes such as family, racism, generational issues and traumas, the parent-child relationship and, of course, love. Nelson continues to astound the reader with unparalleled prose, creating a deep and insightful story.
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