Can you believe 2023 is already here? There are so many things to look forward to this new year, and of course one of them is all the great books coming our way! Check out eight of 2023’s young adult books that we’re most excited about.
January 3
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel and set out on a plan for revenge. Meanwhile, Suren, the child queen of the Court of Teeth and the only one with power over her mother, has fled. Hidden in the human world, she lives in the woods and releases mortals from their foolish bargains made with the Folk. When Prince Oak, heir of Elfhame, saves her from danger, Suren comes face to face with someone she resented for years. Once betrothed to be married, the two must learn to trust each other if they are to successfully confront the horrors they left behind,
Holly Black’s return to the world of Elfhame is one of the very first young adult books coming out in 2023, and I know I’m not alone in my excitement.
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Unseelie by Ivelisse Housman
Seelie and her twin sister Isole may look alike, but Seelie finds it more challenging to fit in. She is a changeling left in the human world as an infant, and the appearance of unpredictable magic makes things even more difficult. When the sisters are caught up in a heist gone wrong, they find themselves deep in a mystery that may change things for humans and fae alike.
With an autistic main character and a swoony, high-energy plot, Unseelie is a great start to a new fairy-centered duology.
February 7
Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb
After the military murders her father, Rossana Lacertosa is willing to do anything to take down the system. As a disciple of the saint of Patience, she embraces her powers and joins the rebellion against the Ombrazian state. She’s even willing to face Damian, the boy that broke her heart. When a murderer appears in Ombrazia and the body count climbs, Roz and Damian must form an uneasy alliance. Will they be able to band together and save their city from evil?
Set in an alternate version of Italy, Seven Faceless Saints is a fantasy debut young adult fans will surely enjoy. It features a lovers-to-enemies (to reluctant partners) plot, detailed world-building and some very cool magic.
February 21
Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah
The town of Bishop is practically famous. People know it for its windstorms, its sunflowers and its missing women. When three more women disappear in one night, no one is surprised. Two years later, the daughters of these women hold a memorial where disaster strikes. The wind kicks up a terrible secret, and soon the girls begin questioning everything they thought they knew about themselves and their home.
As soon as I saw the cover, I knew Where Darkness Blooms would easily make it to my most anticipated young adult books of 2023 list. The spooky atmosphere and messy real characters make for a great read.
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April 4
Blood Debts by Terry J. Benton-Walker
Thirty years after a brutal murder, lynching and massacre, Clement and Cristina Trudeau mourn their father while caring for their sick mother. The twins are heirs to a magical family thrust from their throne. When they realize their mother isn’t actually sick, but cursed, they fear someone will come for them next. While the twins used to be best friends, now they barely speak and so they must find a way to trust each other again if they want to return their family to its former power.
Blood Debts is getting a lot of buzz from publisher TorTeen, so keep an eye out for its release later in 2023! Terry J. Benton-Walker successfully blends genres in his debut, so this is perfect for fantasy lovers looking for a bit of mystery.
April 18
The Cherished by Patricia Ward
Jo never thought her grandmother would name her in her will – let alone leave her the house, her land and a mysterious letter with increasingly strange demands. When Jo arrives, the tenants are strange, something dark lives in the shack behind the house and terrible delusions fill her days. But if her grandmother’s letter is to be believed, Jo is meant to be here, and she may never leave.
The Cherished sounds perfect for fans of Rory Power and Melissa Albert. This young adult debut is spooky and, like Where Darkness Blooms, has a great cover that makes beautiful things terrifying.
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May 7
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose
When fifteen-year-old Anequs finds and bonds with a dragon egg, her people are delighted. No one has seen a dragon for generations, but everyone knows the tales of the days when dragons lived among them. But the Anglish conquerors have different opinions on how dragons should be raised and who gets to do it. While Anequs doesn’t meet any of their requirements, they reluctantly allow her to enroll in a proper Anglish school. If she can’t meet their expectations, her dragon will be killed.
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath has everything I’m looking for and then some. It centers on a queer, poly, Indigenous character, has dragon riding in an academic setting and focuses on dismantling colonialism. What more could you ask for in a young adult fantasy?
June 27
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
Zara Jones believes in magic. Otherwise, she has to believe that her sister was murdered by a serial killer. She’ll do whatever it takes to bring her sister back from the dead. Jude Wolf is cursed. She may be rich, but her soul is slowly dying and monstrous creatures taunt her at night. Emery Bryne may be the solution to both girls’ problems. The daughter of a witch, she helps women in desperate situations – if they’re willing to sacrifice a piece of their souls. But as other magic users turn up dead, the girls must trust each other or wind up the next victims.
I loved Krystal Sutherland’s 2021 book House of Hollow, so I have high hopes for The Invocations. This one doesn’t come out for a while, but I can’t wait for a new contemporary fantasy thriller.
Obviously, there are so many more new young adult books coming out in 2023. Which are you most looking forward to? Let us know below, and keep an eye out for more bookish news and reviews.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/best-queer-young-adult-books-2022/
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