The best books of 2023

This list is part of the best books of 2023.

Join 1,707 readers and share your 3 favorite reads of the year.

My favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of I Was Anastasia

Ken Czech Why did I love this book?

The author does a masterful job of intertwining the lives of Princess Anastasia of Russia and Anna Anderson, the woman who claimed to be the murdered princess.

What makes this so interesting is her description of Anastasia's life from the demise of the Romanov family in 1917 to her death in 1918 while describing Anna's life from 1970 backward to the circumstances leading to her impersonation.

Even though I am familiar with Anastasia's life and cruel death, I thought this was a unique approach, and it kept me going until the very last page.

By Ariel Lawhon,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked I Was Anastasia as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An enthralling feat of historical suspense that unravels the extraordinary twists and turns in Anna Anderson's fifty-year battle to be recognized as Anastasia Romanov. Is she the Russian Grand Duchess or the thief of another woman's legacy?

Countless others have rendered their verdict. Now it is your turn.

Russia, July 17, 1918: Under direct orders from Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik secret police force Anastasia Romanov, along with the entire imperial family, into a damp basement in Siberia, where they face a merciless firing squad. None survive. At least that is what the executioners have always claimed.…


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My 2nd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Ridgeline

Ken Czech Why did I love this book?

In this novel of the American West, the author describes the details surrounding the Fetterman Massacre.

What struck me the most was the discord that infiltrated the US Army leadership and how it affected both the soldiers' performance in the field and the growing hostility by indigenous folk against the invaders of their homeland.

This is not a cowboy/Indian historical western but more an indictment against poor leadership and greed. I thought the author's interpretation of the principal historical characters was both compelling and evokes anger.  

By Michael Punke,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Ridgeline as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'An exciting, vividly-imagined reconstruction of an extraordinary moment in the history of the American West' Ian McGuire, bestselling author of THE NORTH WATER and INCREDIBLE BODIES

'A highly compelling page turner; you won't be able to put it down' Philipp Meyer, author of THE SON and AMERICAN RUST

The thrilling, long-awaited return of the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Revenant

In 1866, with the country barely recovered from the Civil War, new war breaks out on the western frontier - a clash of cultures between a young, ambitious nation and the Native tribes who have lived on…


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My 3rd favorite read in 2023…

Book cover of Sword of Kings

Ken Czech Why did I love this book?

This is a continuation of Cornwell's incredible saga of Uhtred of Bebbanburg and the birth of England more than a millennia ago.

If you've never read a Cornwell book, be prepared for a gritty, bloody, and historically accurate description of life and death in that savage era. The Uhtred of this novel has grown older and wiser over the years but finds himself entangled in the intrigues and battles of the royal families.

I've read every one of the titles in this series.

By Bernard Cornwell,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sword of Kings as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An oath of loyalty. Two warring kings. A destiny he didn't choose...

England is in turmoil as Vikings and Saxons battle for territory. Rumours build about the fatal sickness of the King, and the country awaits an heir.

A violent clash at sea forces the warrior lord Uhtred to lead his men from his Northumbrian fortress to London and plunge into the eye of the storm. For two kings claim the empty throne, and a new kingdom cannot be born without bloodshed.

Uhtred's sword will leave one king dead and the other victorious. But sometimes it is hard to know…


Don‘t forget about my book 😀

Kiss of Frost and Flame

By Ken Czech,

Book cover of Kiss of Frost and Flame

What is my book about?

Siberia 1581. When Umey, a young outcast woman, stumbles on a ravaged village, she uncovers a plot that threatens to devastate her beloved homeland.

It's furs—soft gold—the invading Cossacks crave, and the greediest of them is Yermak, the man who saved her life and raised her. Armed with fearsome muskets, the Cossacks plunge deeper into the Siberian forest, crushing the tribal folk who stand in their way.

Although prejudices are arrayed against her, Umey emerges as a tribal leader, albeit a reluctant one. She and Alexey, a Russian soldier who has seen too much war, are soon caught in an unfolding crucible of destruction where their courage and incipient love will be tested in a final collision with Yermak and his horde.