Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. The official topic for this week’s Top Ten Tuesday was to list books with one-word titles, however, I am going to do two separate lists here that continue my theme of recapping the first half of 2023. I have already published one list tonight that looked at which books from the first half of 2023 that I still need to read, however, I will also be highlighting the best pre-2023 novels that I read in the first half of the year.
I have had a lot of fun recapping some of the best recent books and audiobooks released in the first half of 2023 in previous weeks, but I also need to talk about some of the books that came out before 2023 that I also read this year. I am a big fan of going back and checking out older series and books, and there are so many excellent pre-2023 novels that I haven’t had a chance to read before. This has been particularly true recently, as I have spent a lot of time this year pouring through novels and audiobooks with a variety of older release dates and featuring them in my Throwback Thursday posts. I honestly might have enjoyed too many of these older books, as I am way behind in my 2023 readings at the moment, but I think it was more than worth it as there were some exceptional reads there, including a bunch that got five-star ratings from me. Due to the sheer number of pre-2023 books I have already read this year, as well as their amazing quality, I felt that it would be interesting to do a list highlighting them now.
To come up with this list I had a look at all the novels I read this year that had their initial release before 2023. This list includes a range of pre-2023 releases, including quite a few that I had been meaning to read for a while. I was eventually able to cull this down to a workable Top Ten list, with a descent honourable mentions section. Due to my current obsession, this list is extremely Warhammer 40,000 heavy, which I’m fine with because they are awesome books, so I apologise in advance if some of my choices are a little predictable. I also decided to cheat a little by combining a few series together into a single list entry, although that was mainly done to add a little variety to the post. Still this honestly reflects the best pre-2023 novels I read throughout the year, so let us see what made the cut.
Honourable Mentions
Caves of Ice by Sandy Mitchell
Top Ten List:
Eisenhorn trilogy by Dan Abnett
Let us start with the outstanding Eisenhorn books by Dan Abnett, which are some of the seminal pieces of Warhammer 40,000 fiction. Following a passionate Inquisitor as he attempts to destroy insidious alien and Chaos threats inside the Imperium of Man, the Eisenhorn books are a fantastic thriller and science fiction blend that prove to be highly addictive, especially as they also detail the protagonist’s own gradual personal corruption. Made up of Xenos, Malleus and Hereticus, all three of these books really lived up to the hype and got easy five-star ratings from me.
Dead Beat, Proven Guilty and White Night by Jim Butcher
I have been having a lot of fun diving back into the iconic Dresden Files urban fantasy series this year, especially after how epic the series has been in the past. I managed to get through three books in the series this year with Dead Beat, Proven Guilty and White Night, and each one was more compelling than the last. This is easily one of the best fantasy series out there and I cannot recommend each of these books enough, especially as they all got five-star ratings from me.
Ghostmaker, Necropolis, Honour Guard and The Guns of Tanith by Dan Abnett
In addition to his Eisenhorn novels, Dan Abnett is probably best known for his military fiction focused Warhammer 40,000 series, the Gaunt’s Ghosts books. Following a doomed regiment as they traverse from bloody battleground to bloody battleground, the Gaunt’s Ghosts books are considered one of the backbones of the Warhammer 40,000 fiction and I have been making a real effort to dive into the series this year. I have managed to read four books from this series so far in 2023, including Ghostmaker, Necropolis, Honour Guard and The Guns of Tanith, and each has proven to be exciting and addictive in its own way. Each of these books are outstanding reads, although my favourite is probably Necropolis, mainly because it was set around a massive siege, and I cannot wait to dive even further into this series in the future.
The Infinite and the Divine by Robert Rath
Perhaps one of the best pre-2023 Warhammer 40,000 novels I read this year was The Infinite and the Divine by Robert Rath, who is one of the best current authors of Warhammer fiction. Following two ancient Necron lords as they fight for control of a mysterious artefact, The Infinite and the Divine is a brilliant read that perfectly combines backstabbing treachery and humour with the dark Warhammer 40,000 universe. This book essentially showcases a petty feud between two immortals that lasts millennia and destroys entire worlds, and it is something glorious to behold. Easily one of the best Warhammer 40,000 novels I have so far had the pleasure of reading, this book comes very highly recommended to all fans of the franchise.
One of my favourite sub-series of Warhammer fiction are the Warhammer Crime books. Set in a corrupt Warhammer 40,000 city, the Warhammer Crime books detail several unique crime fiction narratives that make full use of the unique setting. I have read several Warhammer Crime books in 2023, but the one I want to highlight first is the fun and entertaining Flesh and Steel by Guy Haley. Essentially an odd couple buddy cop story, Flesh and Steel sees a wealthy by lonely officer and a cyborg investigator team up to solve a very unique murder with deadly consequences. This was a very impressive read that helped cement my love for the entire Warhammer Crime sub-series.
I have been deeply enjoying the works of the brilliant Adrian Tchaikovsky this year, and I made the effort to go back and read his 2022 novella, Ogres, when I had a chance. Set in a deadly world where humans are enslaved by ogre overlords, Ogres follows a bold human who finally fights back against his oppressors with dark consequences. A complex and quick novella with an insanely good and complex plot, Ogres will have you guessing to the very end and I am very glad I made the effort to read it this year.
Another outstanding older Warhammer Crime book I enjoyed in early 2023 was the dark read, Grim Repast by Marc Collins. Set out as a classic noir mystery, Grim Repast follows a damaged cop as he attempts to stop a crazed serial killer, only to find himself a suspect in the crimes. This is one of the more intense Warhammer novels I have read, and I liked the grim feel and complex characters that Collins featured. A brilliant addition to a very unique sub-series.
For the Emperor by Sandy Mitchell
From dark mystery to absolute fun, another pre-2023 novel I checked out this year was the classic Warhammer 40,000 read, For the Emperor by Sandy Mitchell. The first book in the fan favourite Ciaphas Cain series, For the Emperor introduces the reader to the titular character, a legendary hero of the Imperium, who is secretly a coward with terrible luck and great survival instincts. Outrageously funny, especially as Cain finds so many different ways to try and avoid danger, only for his plans to backfire continuously, this is an outstanding read, especially in its audiobook format.
The final older Warhammer Crime book I check out in 2023 was Bloodlines by acclaimed author Chris Wraight. Probably one of the more straightforward crime fiction reads in this series, Bloodlines follows a tired, veteran cop as he attempts to unravel the mystery surrounding a high-profile disappearance and a looming gang war. A very addictive read, you will come away from Bloodlines with a great appreciation for just how good a crime story in the grim Warhammer 40,000 universe can be.
The last pre-2023 novel that I want to highlight on this list is the powerful 13th Legion by leading Warhammer fiction author Gav Thorpe. Essentially The Dirty Dozen in space, 13th Legion is a classic Warhammer 40,000 novel that follows a condemned penal legion as they fight for survival and a potential pardon. Intense, dark and very fun, 13th Legion was an epic book and I have a lot of love for the outstanding series it sets up.
And that is the end of this list. As you can see I have managed to check out a bunch of epic pre-2023 novels in the first half of this year. Each of the above were exceptional and fun reads and I would strongly recommend them, especially if you are in the mood for some fun fantasy or science fiction adventures. I look forward to reading more older books in 2023, although I should probably slow down a little and check out my recent releases. However, I imagine it I will probably continue several of these series, especially the Dresden Files and Gaunt’s Ghosts books, so be prepared to see more Throwback Thursday posts featuring. Make sure to check out my other recent lists about the first half of 2023, especially my other Top Ten Tuesday post tonight, and let me know what cool older books you have already checked out this year.
The Unseen Library 