Top Ten Tuesday: Debuts I Recently Discovered Exist

I used to participate in Top Ten Tuesday when I first started blogging and it was a wonderful way to meet fellow bloggers! I thought with coming back from a hiatus, and a bit of a lack of inspiration on my part, participating again would be a great idea. So, every Tuesday (if the topic interests me) I’ll be sharing a Top Ten Tuesday post. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl! Make sure to check out her page explaining everything you need to know, including future topics. 

This week’s topic is all about 2023 debuts! This is pretty self-explanatory but also…I have no idea what is releasing if I’m being honest. I’m so out of the loop with new and upcoming books. I’m still in a 2021 mindset when I was buying all the new releases. And those books still feel super new to me because I haven’t even read them. However, this topic was a great chance for me to look into what the heck was coming out this year. I was able to gather up 10 books that seem mildly interesting to me. But to say I’m super stoked about all of them, like going-to-go-preorder-now type of stoked, would be exaggerating. So, here are 10 debut books that seem cool and I will probabaly end up reading if I ever catch up with some of my backlist titles. I know, I’m a riot.

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MIDNIGHT STRIKES by Zeba Shahnaz

“In this explosive fantasy debut with a time-loop twist, a provincial girl must work with a roguish prince to stop an attack on the royal family and escape a nightmarish curse that forces them to relive the same night again and again.“

[Goodreads]

While reliving the same day over and over again isn’t an entirely unique concept (hello, Groundhog Day, Before I Fall, Loop, Happy Death Day, Palm Springs, Edge of Tomorrow, really the list goes on forever), I’ve never actually read a book featuring it. Yes, some of those titles I listed are based on books, I’ve just never read them. And I certainly haven’t seen a fantasy version of the trope. I also love any fantasy that has a basic chick working with royalty to solve problems. They usually fall in love. I love that shit.

THE SURVIVING SKY by Kritika H. Rao

“This Hindu philosophy-inspired debut science fantasy follows a husband and wife racing to save their living city—and their troubled marriage—high above a jungle world besieged by cataclysmic storms.”

[Goodreads]

I absolutely adore the cover for this one. It sounds both interesting and boring, though. I love the concept of the world, so I’m super intrigued on how the world building will go. But I’m also not thrilled about the exploration of their marriage? That sounds kind of dull. I’ll probably end up giving the audiobook a chance.

THE WRITING RETREAT by Julia Bartz

“The Plot meets Please Join Us in this psychological suspense debut about a young author at an exclusive writer’s retreat that descends into a nightmare.”

[Goodreads]

I don’t know what The Plot or Please Join Us is but I really like the play on a writer’s retreat going horribly wrong. Is it just me or has there been an uptick in those types of retreats whether its author or influencer related? This feels like the perfect claustrophobic read for us readers/writers. I actually already picked this one as my February BOTM so I’m excited to get to it (before NaNoWriMo too, because you know, themes).

GODKILLER by Hannah Kaner

“Kissen kills gods for a living, and she enjoys it. That is until she finds a god she cannot kill: Skediceth, god of white lies, who is connected to a little noble girl on the run. Elogast fought in the god war, and helped purge the city of a thousand shrines before laying down his sword. A mysterious request from the King sends him racing back to the city he destroyed. On the way he meets a godkiller, a little girl and a littler god, who cannot find out about his quest.”

[Goodreads]

Not going to lie, I just really like this cover. Although, the summary isn’t hurting its case. It sounds like a fun twist on the witch hunter type stories I’ve read so often.

SEVEN FACELESS SAINTS by M.K. Lobb 

“Discover what’s lurking in the shadows in this dark fantasy debut with a murder-mystery twist, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kerri Maniscalco.”

[Goodreads]

The cover of this one gives me some serious Nevernight vibes and that is all it took to sell me on this. Then I read it’s a murder mystery / dark fantasy? Ok, sold, done, I need no more selling. I’m getting it. I will say I’ve seen mixed reviews on this one, but I’m still going to give it a try even if only to have that beautiful cover grace my shelves.

ASCENSION by Nicholas Binge

“A mind-bending speculative thriller in which the sudden appearance of a mountain in the middle of the Pacific Ocean leads a group of scientists to a series of jaw-dropping revelations that challenge the notion of what it means to be human.”

[Goodreads]

This one is technically not a debut but it’s only his second novel so I thought I’d include it anyways. It gives me The Anomaly vibes, which if you haven’t read and enjoy those claustrophobic mind-benders, you should. Anyway, this sounds like another one of those books that will mess with you psychologically. I’ll take it. 

SPICE ROAD by Maiya Ibrahim 

“The first book in an epic fantasy series set in an Arabian-inspired land with secret spice magic. Raised to protect her nation from the monsters lurking in the sands, sixteen-year-old Imani must fight to find her brother, whose betrayal is now the country’s greatest threat.”

[Goodreads]

I already bought this one because I saw nothing, literally nothing, but good things about it. Plus, I love the cover. I took some photos of it for bookstagram and if this isn’t one of the most photogenic books I’ve ever seen, I don’t know what is. 

BURLINGTON by Heather Dixon

“A fresh take on belonging, obsession and schoolyard politics, Burlington is a suspenseful debut novel that explores the exclusive world of wealthy mothers and demonstrates how privilege can come at a devastating price.”

[Goodreads]

Look, I’m a mom now. So, anything that is about the “mommy culture” appeals to me. I won’t deny that so many things in-person and online make me feel like there are mommy-cliques. I might be like Mae…feeling like a bit of an outcast and just happy to be included. I’m definitely looking forward to this mystery.

TO KILL A SHADOW by Katherine Quinn

“Katherine Quinn’s YA debut TO KILL A SHADOW, a romantic High Fantasy pitched as Stephen King’s The Mist meets the Night’s Watch from Game of Thrones, in which a warrior recruit ventures into a monster-filled mist to free the cursed sun goddess and bring light back to the kingdom– led by the handsome young commander whose secrets may doom them all.”

[Goodreads]

I have to admit that this kind of sounds a bit corny, but I’m here for it because it’s marketed for fans of The Mist and the Night’s Watch. I’ll just lower my expectations a tad (as I would with any comparison to ASOIAF [or are they specifically referencing the show? It’s all confusing now]).

THE LAST TALE OF THE FLOWER BRIDE by Roshani Chokshi 

“A sumptuous, gothic-infused story about a marriage that is unraveled by dark secrets, a friendship cursed to end in tragedy, and the danger of believing in fairy tales–the breathtaking adult debut from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi.”

[Goodreads]

This is definitely not a debut but I needed a 10th book. I actually haven’t read anything by this author, so let me just pretend it’s a debut. I chose this as my add-on for BOTM so I’ll hopefully get to it soon. NGL, the summary is a bit confusing and long-winded to me, but I’m going to give it a shot.

Does anyone else have a hard time actually providing commentary for every book they include on these lists? Sometimes I just don’t have much to say other than I want to read this. Anyways, are any of these on your radar? What are some debuts you’re looking forward to?

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