The End of Year Book Tag: 2023

Quick Take: Explore my End of Year Book Tag, diving into unread gems on my shelves, and my 2023 TBR priorities, including a book I’ve owned for ten years!

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I decided to post my End of Year Book Tag a bit earlier this year since so many of the Booktubers I follow have posted theirs. (Also, there are only six weeks left in 2023, which is mind-boggling to think about.) I love doing this tag because I feel like I’m rediscovering my excitement for all these books that have been sitting on my shelves unread. However, for this year, I’m also considering what books I do not want still sitting on my TBR shelf in the new year?

As always, there are six questions in the End of Year Book Tag. I go out of my way to not duplicate books (that way, there are more books on this list!), even though most of these books could fulfil most of these questions. Similar to last year, I’ve also reflected on whether I read the books I mentioned in my previous year’s tag. Click here to read my End of Year Book Tag: 2022!

The End of Year Book Tag was created by YouTuber and poet Ariel Bissett to reflect on all the books readers need and aspire to read before the year is over.

Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

It feels like I started and stopped so many books this year, but upon reflection, there are only five books that I put down that I hope to finish before the end of the year (which is an improvement from last year)!

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I’ve been reading Frankenstein since the end of October, and I’m only halfway through this ~200-page novel. I’m hoping including this book in this tag will encourage me to prioritize it when I have free time.

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
Seeing that The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi was long-listed in the Goodreads Best Fantasy category reignited my interest! I love the premise that the protagonist is a grown woman – she’s a mom and has life experience. Plus, it’s a pirate adventure!

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I know if I finish Demon Copperhead that it’ll be a contender for my favourite book of 2023. The writing is fantastic, and the character building is amazing – every character seems like a real-life person. I just get very anxious when stories get sad, and this book gets sad.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
Now, the 2nd book in the Finlay Donovan series was the only book in this list that I was considering permanently DNFing. I don’t love the protagonist, plus I’ve read 25%, and the plot hasn’t pulled me in. I’m hoping it was just my mood and that I’ll like it now that I’ve taken a break.

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I got 19% of the way into The Fifth Season before I put it down. I was really interested in the story, but I wasn’t in the mood for a high fantasy at the time. I’m hoping now that winter is coming, which is the season I read most of my fantasy novels, I’ll finally be in the mood to pick up this 5-star prediction.

Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

I feel like these three books are perfect autumnal transition reads. They’re all fantasy books that I plan to read over the next six weeks. Also, I like how the fantasy element varies in intensity across these books.

Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
Considering One Dark Window was on my End of Year Book Tag: 2022 for this prompt, I think it makes perfect sense to include the conclusion to that duology in this list: Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
So many of the BookTubers I follow recommend Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fearies for their End of Year Book Tag question. Apparently, this cozy fantasy takes place over the winter, making now the perfect time to read it! Also, I love rivals to lovers romances.

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I’ve included Ordinary Monsters in a past TBR but never got around to it. Coincidently, I think this was for the best since a historical fantasy with X-Men-like magic perfectly fits the end-of-fall/beginning-of-winter atmosphere.

Is there a new release you’re still waiting for?

Surprisingly, I have a few new releases that are coming out towards the end of November and in December. Last year, I only had one anticipated release I was still waiting for.

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I adored Olivia Atwater’s Half a Soul, so I’m super excited to start her new series with The Witchwood Knot. This book releases on November 28th and is also a historical romance with fae and a capable heroine!

The Wickedness of a Highlander by Elisa Braden ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I cannot believe that I somehow missed the announcement that The Wickedness of a Highlander will be released on December 26th! This series was my favourite historical romance series of 2022, so I’m pumped to finally get the next installement in this series.

Sable Peak by Deveney Perry ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
When I learned that Sable Peak is a romance that uses the unrequited love trope, I felt hesitant to pick it up. But it’s the last book in The Edens series, and I’m committed to finishing a few series before 2023 is over! This book releases December 7th.

The Mystery Guest by Nina Prose ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
While I didn’t love the first book in this cozy mystery series, The Maid, I’m excited to read this next installment, The Mystery Guest, now that the characters have been established. I’m also looking forward to reading about Molly now that she’s Head Maid! This book releases on November 28th!

What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

When I made the selections for this question, I based it off the following question: which books do I not want to bring into 2023? Since I want to finish a few series before the new year, two of these books are the final book in the series.

Beneath the Keep by Erika Johansen ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
While Beneath the Keep is a prequel to The Queen of the Tearling series, it’s the last book in this world and the only one I haven’t read! I’m excited to dig into the past of one of the most significant supporting characters from the series, and finally read this book that has been on my TBR since 2021.

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
At this point it’s shameful I haven’t read Clockwork Princess, the conclusion to the final book in The Infernal Devices series. I’ve owned this book for ten years (yes, I bought it when it came out in 2013), and never even thought to read it. (Obviously, my toxic trait is my stubborn refusal to finish beloved series.)

Godkiller by Hannah Kaner ❃ Add on Goodreads and The StoryGraph
I’ve heard such great things about Godkiller – it’s a short fantasy and has a really strong found family trope. I’ve decided to make this book a priority because the second book in the series comes out in February 2024.

Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favourite book of the year?

Have you already started making reading plans for 2024?

Yes! I just updated my Upcoming Releases page, which now includes many of the books I’m anticipating in the new year. I’m also pretty confident that I’m going to keep my Goodreads Challenge for 2024 the same at 365 books.

I’ve also been thinking about changing up my diverse reading challenge. Instead of doing my usual BINGO card, I’ve been thinking of joining the Diversity Across Genres Reading Challenge in 2024. This challenge is hosted by Bookstagrammers Rebecca (@booksonadventures) and Sam (@reading.and.roaming).

Before you go, read last year’s book tag!

The End of Year Book Tag: 2022