Top 10 Reads from BookHookup 2023

 As we step into a New Year, it's the perfect time to look back at the best books (IMO) I read last year. For those looking for their next read, here are Book Hookup's Top 10 recommendations from 2023.

The following list in not in order by most to least favorite. They are actually in reverse order of when I read them.

 1.      Fantasy: Pariah’s Lament by Richie Billing

A fresh coming-of-age fantasy drama rife with fast-paced battles, kings, kingdoms, and medieval-style politics. A new favorite author.

Pariah's Lament review on TikTok

2.      Fantasy: Dream Walker Chronicles (Books 1-3) by Christopher Patterson

The epic nature of this story’s setting, characters, and plot were both engaging and enthralling. I didn’t want it to end. 

 

3.      YA Action/Adventure: There’s No Basketball on Mars by Craig Leener

The protagonist, Lawrence Tuckerman, is a high-functioning autistic teen and the story is told from his POV. The author does a great job of bringing the reader into his head to understand his actions and motivations in this YA action-adventure as he creates a neurodivergent protagonist in Lawrence who is loveable, sensitive, quirky, and a math genius with a dream of manning Earth’s first mission to Mars one day.

No Basketball on Mars review on TikTok

4.      Christian Coming of Age: Nellie’s Gold by Danie Marie

An inspirational coming-of-age story that follows tomboy Nellie Ward from childhood to adulthood as the youngest child of four. The captivating storytelling, gives the reader a fly-on-the-wall experience back to the late 1940s, into the 1950s, in historic Folsom, California, where red-haired, freckle-faced Nellie Ward loves to read books while sitting in her favorite tree. But home life for this Ward family is not picture perfect. Nellie shares a room with her three older brothers, with only a linen curtain hanging between them for privacy. Her Papa is an abusive drunk and her mother is a Christian woman who prays for them all while making home life the best she can.

Nellie's Gold Review 

5.      Christian Historical Romance: An Unlikely Belle by Danie Marie

Well-written characters that are likable but flawed combined with family secrets on the Stirlingshire Estate. Maddy (the protagonist) isn’t ashamed of her humble standing, or her work in the stables with her brother Nate, but her life changes when Elizabeth Stirlingshire, daughter to the Viscount, accepts Maddy as her best friend. Maddy is invited to participate in social events above her standing. Dressed in Elizabeth’s clothing, Maddy fits right in, and soon her dance card is filled with young men who have no idea of who she really is. 

 

6.      Montpelier Tomorrow by Marylee MacDonald: Women’s Literary Fiction

An emotionally charged, heart-wrenching story that grabs you like a riptide and drags you along through the everyday life of Colleen Gallagher, a mom in her mid-50s who was widowed in her 20s as she was expecting her third child. As the story opens, she is working toward retirement. But life takes a turn when she visits her adult daughter, Sandy when her second baby is due. That’s when Colleen learns that her son-in-law, Tony, has been diagnosed with ALS. None of them understands the impact of what this will mean to their future, but it doesn’t take long for the fatal disease to start to steal Tony’s abilities to function. It’s a reminder that a mother’s love can fix everything. I loved MacDonald’s writing style and I recommend this book to people who enjoy Women's Literary Fiction that touches the heart, those who have been affected by ALS, and caregivers currently caring for someone suffering from a devastating disease.

7.      Futuristic Fantasy: Neglected Merge Trilogy by Eve Koguce

These books can be read as stand-alone stories, but knowing the backstory adds depth to this suspenseful fantasy series filled with plenty of drama. Koguce weaves all the plot threads and relationships to a satisfying conclusion. I enjoy her writing style, her world-building, and the personalities of the Winged Ones as they learn to interact with the Wingless and vice versa.

Where David Threw Stones review on TikTok

8.      Historical Paranormal WWII Fiction: Where David Threw Stones: A Haunting WW2 Tale of Courage, Love, and Redemption by Elyse Hoffman

I have read several from this author and haven’t read a bad one yet. Where David Threw Stones is one of those treasured reads I plan to read again. The plot takes place 30 years after WW II and is a blend of historical fiction infused with mystery and suspense merged with fantasy to create a captivating WWII story of the cursed German town of Brennenbach.

 

9.      Emperor by John Fullerton: Action/Adventure Political Mystery

Reads like today’s news behind the news. This thriller takes the reader behind the political curtains in Beijing and Washington, DC, and delves into the world of international espionage and intrigue as events build toward WWIII. The narrative is so authentic and well-researched it reads like a prophetic foretelling of events before they unfold on the world stage. This spy thriller stays with you even after you finish the book. I didn’t see the end coming. Loved it.

10.  Castle Brave by Hawkings Austin: Military Fantasy

Includes well-known fantasy races like elves and dragons and offers new races like the Vanir, Numen, Aesir, and Jotuns. The plot is rich with magic and futuristic tech. Told from a first-person point of view, but not with a single narrator. The reader gets to hear from each member of the squad. Each chapter delivers the story from a single perspective. It feels like a first-person shooter game that lets you get into the heads of the team members, know and understand their tech, weapons, background, what they are up against, and how they feel about it. This first-hand information draws the reader in. Provides an understanding of what motivates them. Know their strengths and weaknesses. It builds an emotional connection and makes you care.

A fun read with stunning artwork for Pre K and early readers

Simon the Sloth by Molly Arbuthnott offers pages of stunning art depicting the story of Simon, a sloth who loves to play the bagpipes. He’s very good at playing the right notes, but he has a problem. He plays so slowly that his music sounds like yowling cats and screeching foxes. If you’ve never heard that fox noise just Google it. Their cries sound like a woman’s high-pitched scream, so the description was perfect for getting the point across that no one wanted to listen to Simon play. 

Book Review: Simon the Sloth

The story follows Simon’s journey around the world as he seeks an answer to this problem, but no matter where he played, he was just too slow. I won’t say more because I don’t do spoilers. This story is a fun read, though I wished it were a little more developed. The artwork is stunning and colorful. Kids will love it because it includes all kinds of details not mentioned in the story which a parent can point out in a teaching moment. I recommend Simon the Sloth as a Pre-K read-aloud story and for early readers. It’s a gentle, sweet story that provides a practical lesson in perseverance and reaching goals on a toddler’s level. I think those who enjoyed The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield, or The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright will love this book. I give it a strong 4 stars.

* * * *

I received a free review copy of this book from Book Tasters and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About Author Molly Arbuthnott

Molly is a teacher, author, editor, and academic from Scotland, UK. She's passionate about the promotion of children’s literature. With a solid understanding of literature and the ability to read, she believes you can take on the world. She has completed an M.A. in Art History and an M.Ed in children's literature. She has gone on to write nine award-winning picture books.

She uses experiences from life as inspiration for her writing. Teaming up with four fantastic illustrators has helped breathe life into the stories. Each story is loosely based on family or friends who have been important in her life whilst also trying to tell stories honestly and gently, singing praise to things we have to celebrate in our world. Teaching children to look out for others, work as a team, and not be afraid of doing the right thing is important. Such lessons might then filter through and be reflected in the way we live in the magical world around us.

 

Unpredictable, suspense-filled, magical fairy tale for young and old

The Magic of Last Resort: Book 6 of The Western Lands and All That Really Matters series by Andrew Einspruch, delivers a satisfactory conclusion to the epic tale of Queen Eloise Gumball III's life from a young adult princess to a crown plonked queen soon to be officially crowned sovereign. 

 

As book six opens, Queen Eloise Gumball III faces the threat of war on her Eastern border, depleted coffers, and an ill-prepared military. On top of that, she and her twin sister are at odds. With all this going on, she considers tapping into the magic of the Star of Whatever, if she can figure out how it works but in the meantime, tries diplomacy. This effort calls together all the former leaders met in the previous books and makes for some interesting negotiations. Especially, since many still consider her young, naïve, and inexperienced.

 

@donnasundblad Magic of Last Resort #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #bookhookup #booktok #books #bookreaders #bookreads ♬ original sound - Donna Sundblad

Book Review: The Magic of Last Resort

Einspruch’s gift to tackle serious situations with elements of humor woven throughout is masterful. He seamlessly unfolds a sequence of cause and effects across the beginning, middle, and end of this fairytale-like story. The worldbuilding of this unique land with talking animals, becomes believable as you get lost in the story with beloved characters both human and not. 

I’ve read all the books in this series, and absolutely loved them. The one exception, for me, is that I was not thrilled with the end of the series. I felt it a little rushed and was disappointed that it didn’t deliver what I’d been hoping for throughout the series. A resolution of Eloise’s relationship with Lorch. At the end, when Eloise goes out to get a breath of fresh air, I thought, this is it! They will finally talk about how they feel toward one another. Even if it is impossible, they can admit it. And in my thinking, if Eloise can find her way out of the Whacking Great Hole, she can find a way to overcome protocol and convince Lorch Lacksneck to become her King. BUT that wasn’t meant to be. The end took another direction that did bring this book to a satisfying conclusion.

I give this whole series 5 stars, including this book. I devoured it in two days but then stopped at 90 percent read. I wanted to savor the end. Saying goodbye to characters I’ve grown to care about is always hard. A type of withdrawal. Even though the end wasn’t what I was hoping for, the book is deliciously unpredictable, well written, and delightfully entertaining. I highly recommend this action-packed, suspense-filled, magical fairy tale for young and old. The Einspruch musical puns made a curtain call at the end which did help ease my self-inflicted disappointment. The entire series is worth picking up. Two thumbs up!

 

Other Western Lands and All That Really Matters books

• The Purple Haze: A Humorous Fantasy Novel (The Western Lands and All That Really Matters Book 1)
• The Star of Whatever: A Humorous Fantasy Novel (The Western Lands and All That Really Matters Book 2)
• The Light Bearer: A Humorous Fantasy Novel (The Western Lands and All That Really Matters Book 3)
  
• The Crown Plonked Queen: A Humorous Fantasy Novel (The Western Lands and All That Really Matters Book 4)
• The Eastie Threat: A Humorous Fantasy Novel (The Western Lands and All That Really Matters Book 5)

I received a free review copy of this book and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

 

 

Action packed YA dystopian fiction

Payback (Lockdownland Book 2) by Michael Botur picks up with the life of 20-year-old Eden Shepherd as she is released from jail early. Her sentence has been suspended for crimes committed during the year-long biodome experiment of book one, Moneyland. As she steps into freedom, she tries to pick up her middle-class life with her daughter, Hope, who was born under the dome and raised by Eden’s Mumshine during her incarceration. All she wants is to get back to normal life. But normal isn’t coming back to her dystopian world where the technological growth of AI has become uncontrollable and irreversible. 

 Eden’s father has given himself over to The Cloud (virtual world) along with half the people she knows. She is determined to rescue her father and bring him home. This one task works as a springboard for the entire plot. When she makes it to the Cloudport, she witnesses the sad reality of the existence of row upon rows of victims of The Cloud. Before they can return home, Eden, her Mumshine, and daughter are trapped within another biodome where Eden’s new arch-enemy is a vengeful father out to make her pay for the death of his child in the first biodome experiment.

Eden hooks up with feral kids who have made a life in the old mall, scrounging for what they need for daily life. As Eden works to find her place in this new social order she searches for a way of escape and quickly runs into trouble with adults who have turned against their children and mindlessly follow the vengeful “Father.”

 

@donnasundblad #Payback #book #booktok #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #blackphoenixbooktour #bookish #dystopianbooks #yabooks ♬ original sound - Donna Sundblad

Book Review: Payback

Payback is the second novel I’ve read featuring Eden Shepherd. There is no dead space in this relevant, action-packed dystopian fiction that shines a light on why we are right to fear things like government mass surveillance or living in virtual reality. Eden Shepherd is a strong female protagonist who continues to grow and build on skills learned in book one, Moneyland. She discovers more about her family history, faces tough decisions, more loss, and the reality that her world is under constant surveillance. But Eden is a fighter. She will resist.

Payback is dark, and often painful as it paints a vision of a totalitarian future, but it also provides a ray of hope in Eden Shepherd who believes she can forge a way to a new beginning with her daughter. It reminds us that we still have a chance to change things for a better world. A future where factions learn to live in unity, democracy restored, and AI’s function is limited. I recommend this book to those who enjoy dystopian fiction like The Hunger Games series or The Maze Runner books. 

I received a copy of this book through Black Phoenix Book Tours and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

About Author Michael Botur

Michael Botur, born 1984, is a writer originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, who now lives in Whangarei with his wife and two kids. He is author of four short story collections and published Moneyland in 2017.

Botur holds a Masters in Creative Writing from AUT University and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism Studies from Massey University, as well as degrees in arts and literacy. He has been making money from creative writing since the age of 21 and was in 2017 proud to be included in the University of Otago collection 'Manifesto Aotearoa: 101 political poems'. Today, he makes his living from writing as a columnist, corporate communications writer, blogger, advertising writer and journalist. He has published creative writing in international literary journals Newfound (US), Weaponizer (UK), The Red Line (UK), Swamp (Aus) and most NZ literary journals including Landfall, Poetry New Zealand, 4th Floor, JAAM and Tākahe. Botur has published journalism in most major NZ newspapers including New Zealand Herald, Herald on Sunday, Sunday Star-Times, as well as many magazines.

Botur has a long history of volunteering, including working with Maori and Pasifika literacy, Youthline, ESOL refugee tutoring, and assisting stroke patients, and in Whangarei is involved in improv theatresports and performance poetry.

Botur’s books include 'Moneyland,' ‘Payback,’ 'LowLife,' 'Spitshine', 'Mean' and 'Hot Bible’ and all available on Amazon.com. Most of Botur's short fiction is offered for free at https://nzshortstories.com/

For information on Michael Botur’s writing services, head to http://www.michaelboturwriter.com/