It’s that time again. I’m back with my October 2023 TBR list. I feel like my October reading will be very harried. There are a lot of amazing new releases this month. And while it’s possible I could read all of my October ARCs this month, I forgot about a couple of library holds that I don’t want to push back. Plus I really want to make progress on HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD (finally). And on the side I have SFINCS novellas to read. So, I’ll do my best while giving myself some grace with ARC publication dates. Now, let’s look at what I put on my October 2023 TBR list.
Priority Reads
Kissing Kosher by Jean Meltzer: This is a library hold for me that has a holds list. So I’ll need to read it this month. I like baking and I want to incorporate more Jewish authors into my reading, plus the synopsis looks interesting, so I decided to give this one a go. Plus it’s a rivals-to-lovers romance, which is close enough to the enemies-to-lovers trope for me.
House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas: I have wanted to read this for quite some time now. But with all of the ARCs I just never got around to it. It’s high time to read it now between book 3 coming out in January and all of the spoilers on Instagram. I’ve heard it’s pretty slow for most of the book, so I’m bracing myself.
A Season of Monstrous Conceptions by Lina Rather: I am oddly intrigued by this book, which is an ARC. It’s described as “…an eldritch historical fantasy of midwifery, monstrosity, and the rending of the world…” At 160 pages I think I can make quick work of this. I just hope the writing isn’t “stuffy” considering it’s compared to THE ESSEX SERPENT.
The Words of Kings and Prophets by Shauna Lawless: The UK release date was in September, but the US one was October 3. I really hope I can get to this ARC and amazing second installment of the Gael Song series. It’s a historical fantasy set in 1000 A.D. Ireland with strong female leads and Celtic mythology.
Hopeful Reads
LIQUID SNAKES by Stephen Kearse: I’ve actually already started this because I thought it would have a holds list. But as of right now I can renew it three times, so I relegated it to a “hopeful read” in October. In all reality, though, I’ll probably finish it this month. The tagline is “What if toxic pollutants traveled up the socioeconomic ladder rather than down it? A Black biochemist provides an answer in this wildly original novel of pollution, poison, and dark pleasure.”
Making It So by Patrick Stewart: I’m pretty excited about this one since I’ve been watching Star Trek since I was in middle school, or possibly younger. This is another library hold, so it may or may not become available for me to read in October. Currently I’m in the middle of watching Picard, so the timing for this memoir is perfect.
What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez: This is an ARC. While I’d love to be able to read it by the publication date (October 31), I have to prioritize. October is a super stacked month of new releases. I have library holds I can’t ignore. And I really want to get through a good portion of HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD. So if I get to this book, great, but if not, I won’t beat myself up over it. It looks super interesting though: “The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in What the River Knows, Isabel Ibañez’s lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt and filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.“
Are any of these books also on your October 2023 TBR list?
I’m definitely making the decisions of “which ARCs am I okay being late on?” So hard to balance reading “older” books with all the amazing new releases coming out!
Sometimes that kind of decision must be made! Which reminds me…I forgot to put Two Twisted Crowns on here. That might be relegated to November even though I really want to read that one!
I’m hoping to read A Season of Monstrous Conceptions too, I’ve loved Rather’s other books.
I’m not familiar with Rather’s other works. Hopefully I like this one and then I can check out her backlist.
I need to prioritize Crescent City. I really want to read the books before book 3 comes out. What The River Knows is also on my TBR! I’m really looking forward to it.
Oh I’m so glad I’m not the only one who hasn’t read CC! They’re SUCH chonkers. But it must be done. I don’t want to be caught hiding from the storm of spoilers on the internet like I had to do with Fourth Wing.