5 2023 Book Releases You Should Check Out

With the new year, comes a whole host of new book releases. From Edwardian-era urban fantasy to cleverly meta literary thrillers, here are five soon-to-be-released books you should consider picking up.

1. Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare

Image Source: Cassandra Clare | Follow @cassieclare1 on Instagram

Shadowhunters fans rejoice! After two years of waiting and delays, the much-anticipated finale of the The Last Hours trilogy comes out tomorrow. Chain of Thorns is the latest book in Cassandra Clare’s long-running Shadowhunters Chronicles. If you haven’t already read the previous books in the trilogy, the following paragraph contains spoilers: so be warned!

Set amidst the glittering lights and long shadows of Edwardian England, this novel follows protagonist Cordelia Carstairs as she deals with the consequences of Chain of Iron’s events. Not only has her father been murdered and her marriage-of-convenience to the love of her life destroyed, but she has found her sword bound to the service of the primordial demon, Lilith. Despite fleeing to Paris with a friend to escape her troubles, she soon finds herself returning to a London under demonic siege. Cordelia finds that she has to once again take up arms to defend those she loves. But when her own blade is sworn allegiance to a monster, how can she triumph over one?

Sure to be packed to the brim with all of the action, angst, and drama signature of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, Chain of Thorns releases tomorrow, January 31st. If you're a fan of compelling, fast-paced urban fantasy and haven’t already read any of the books set in this world, definitely give them a shot!

2. The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

Image Source: Roshani Chokshi | Follow @roshanichokshi on Instagram

In what is sure to be a tale equal parts rot and beauty, the latest book by New York Times Bestselling author Roshani Chokshi is an ode to both fairy tales and Gothic horror. The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is Chokshi’s first foray into adult speculative fiction;and, based on the synopsis, seems to be in the vein of time- old tales like Blackbeard and Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca.

This tale begins with the loving marriage of a scholar fascinated by fairy tales to Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada, an heiress of a great fortune, who in exchange for her affections made her husband promise to never ask or look into her past. But her husband’s word is tested when they are forced to return to Indigo’s childhood home, the House of Dreams, and he finds himself drawn into the dusty webs of secrets and lies hidden in the manor’s cupboards and hallways. As he peels back more and more layers, the man finds himself forced to choose between uncovering the truth or preserving his marriage—and even his own life.

Anyone interested in an intriguing story that examines the dichotomy between that which is beautiful and that which is horrific will want to pick up The Last Tale of the Flower Bride as soon as it comes out—ironically enough—on February 14th. Any interested readers should also know, however, that this title is being published by HarperCollins, whose employees have formed a union and are currently striking for a fair contract. More information can be found on the strike and its goals here.

3. In The Lives of Puppets by T.J. Klune

Image Source: T.J. Klune | Follow @tjklunebooks on Instagram

Were you intrigued by our previous article on T.J. Klune? Or perhaps did you read and love The House in the Cerulean Sea and/or Under The Whispering Door? If you answered yes to either of those questions, I have some great news for you: T.J. Klune has a new book coming out soon, In The Lives of Puppets!

Somewhere deep in a strange wood is a house where a family of four lives: an inventor android named Giovanni, a nurse machine with a penchant for sadism, a wholesome little vacuum who loves affection, and a human, Victor Lawson. One day, Victor stumbles upon and repairs an android named Hap and learns that both Hap and Gio once hunted humans. But when Gio is kidnapped and captured, Victor and the rest of his makeshift family must journey out of the woods and into a city so that they may save Gio.

If you’re in need of what is probably a heartwarming, speculative tale about a group of robotic misfits trying to rescue one of their own, then look no further than In the Lives of Puppets which releases on April 25th. If you're a fan of not only T.J. Klune, but found family as a trope then you should definitely pick this up when it comes out!

4. Chasing Pacquiao by Rod Pulido

Image Source: Rod Pulido | Follow @rodpulido on Instagram

Rod Pulido’s debut Chasing Pacquiao welcomes a queer Filipino voice to the YA contemporary scene. As a gay Filipino reader, this book is one that I’ve dreamed of existing and getting to read.

Queer Filipino teen Bobby knows how to keep his head down: living in a conservative Filipino community and attending a school notorious for its violence, being out and proud is out of the question. But when Bobby is outed, he takes up boxing as a means to defend himself after being inspired by his hero: Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao. But when Pacquiao openly spouts homophobic rhetoric, Bobby is forced to confront what it means for his newfound strength.

Coming out on May 2nd, this novel is one that any fans of YA contemporary starring queer BIPOC should look out for. I may be biased, but I think those stories are among the most interesting and compelling to read about.

5. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Image Source: R.F. Kuang | Follow @kuangrf on Instagram

Coming off the heels of releasing her critically-acclaimed, dark academia smash hit Babel, R.F. Kuang is back with yet another scathing and timely story. Departing from her fantasy roots, Yellowface, an aptly-titled literary thriller, tackles the issues of racism, diversity, and the question of who gets to tell what stories in the publishing industry.

Rising literary stars June Hayward and Athena Liu both seemed destined for greatness when their debut novels were published the same year. However, only Athena’s rise is meteoric, and June is left staring up at her friend, propelled into a stardom they should have both shared. But when Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her ripe-for-editing manuscript about Chinese laborers in World War I and publishes it as Juniper Song to critical and commercial success. But soon the cracks in June’s facade begin to emerge, and the question becomes: how much is she willing to do to hold on to the success she feels entitled to?

Releasing on May 16th, Yellowface is sure to be a polarizing read that everyone is going to be talking about. Any interested readers should also know, however, that this title is being published by HarperCollins whose employees have formed a union and are currently striking for a fair contract. More information can be found on the strike and its goals here.

Are any of these releases on your radar? Let us know in the comments below!

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