I did really well with my priority reads last month, so I’ll try to keep this trend going with respect to my December 2023 TBR List. I do still have some backlogged ARCs that I need to get to. (In fact, I started one at the end of November.) So most of my December 2023 TBR List priority reads will be ARCs. Regardless, let me know if any of the books below are also on your TBR for December!

Priority Reads

TWO TWISTED CROWNS by Rachel Gillig: This is the sequel and finale to ONE DARK WINDOW. It hit shelves last month, so I’m playing catch up here. I started this one in November and aim to have my review up this month.

THE WORDS OF KINGS AND PROPHETS by Shauna Lawless: This book follows THE CHILDREN OF GODS AND FIGHTING MEN, which incorporates Viking and Celtic historical events and mythology. I loved the first book. This is yet another ARC I fell behind on.

MAKING IT SO by Patrick Stewart: This is a library book with a waitlist, so I need to read it sooner rather than later. As you might be able to tell by the cover, this is Stewart’s autobiography/memoir. I’m only about 100 pages in and enjoying it so far. However, this is a slower read for me, either because it uses proper sentence structure, so it’s not as quick to read; or because I’m not terribly invested (yet) in the lead up to his theatre background. Truthfully, I’m waiting to get to the bits about Star Trek.

HOUSE OF SKY AND BREATH by Sarah J. Maas: This is the second installment of the Crescent City series. While I don’t plan to finish this chonk on December, I do want to make some progress on it. My goal is to finish it before the third book comes out at the end of January.

THE FIRETONGUE HEIR by Elyse Thomson: I plan to read this novella for the SFINCS competition. Round 1 ends December 15, so I can fit in at least one more novella. Team Behind the Musings had 20 novellas to read between judges. So if I read at least one more, then I’ll have scored 11 of 20. If I can fit in one more besides this one, I will.

Hopeful Reads

WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS by Isabel Ibañez: This ARC was in my “hopeful reads” last month. But there’s only one of me and I work full time. So, unfortunately, I have to relegate it to this category. If I can get to it, I will. But no promises.

HIM by Geoff Ryman: This is an early December ARC, but I received it via email rather than NetGalley, so I don’t feel as much pressure to bend over backwards to read it on time. The premise of this sounds so interesting. “An extraordinary science-fiction novel about identity, divinity and alternate reality – the story of the son of God.” Only the son of God was born as the daughter of Maryam. So I expect there will be, at a minimum, some gender role flipping of some sort or a trans character. I haven’t read it yet, but I guess I’ll find out later!

There is also (always) a possibility for mood reading that may push aside these “hopeful reads.” But since I have so much to choose from, I won’t make myself choose now. Again, do let me know if any of these are on your December 2023 TBR List. Or, if none are, what do you hope to read this month?