Most Anticipated Debut Novels of 2023

Today's Top Ten Tuesday topic is a "freebie" so I'm taking this opportunity to share the 2023 debut novels that I am most excited to read. Please check them out and let me know if any of these are on your radar!

Bad Cree by Jessica Johns - "In this gripping debut tinged with supernatural horror, a young Cree woman's dreams lead her on a perilous journey of self-discovery that ultimately forces her to confront the toll of a legacy of violence on her family, her community and the land they call home."

The Hunter by Jennifer Herrera - "A riveting atmospheric suspense debut that explores the dark side of a small town and asks: How can we uncover the truth when we are lying to ourselves?"

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."

Weyward by Emilia Hart - "Weyward is a stunning debut novel about gender and control – about the long echoes of male violence through the centuries. But more than that, it is a celebration of nature, female power and breaking free."

Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova - "A “wholly unique” and “uncompromising” literary horror debut about a boy who transforms into a monster, a monster who tries to be a man, and the people who love him in every form he takes - Eric LaRocca

Turtles of the Midnight Moon by Maria Jose Fitzgerald - "A heart-pounding mystery with a hint of magic, María José Fitzgerald’s debut novel explores the power of friendship, community, and compassion to unite all living creatures."

American Mermaid by Julia Langbein - "A brilliantly funny and razor-tongued debut which follows a writer lured to Los Angeles to adapt her feminist mermaid novel into a big-budget action film, who believes her heroine has come to life to take revenge for Hollywood's violations"

Chlorine by Jade Song - "In the vein of The Pisces and The Vegetarian, Chlorine is a debut novel that blurs the line between a literary coming-of-age narrative and a dark unsettling horror tale, told from an adult perspective on the trials and tribulations of growing up in a society that puts pressure on young women and their bodies... a powerful, relevant novel of immigration, sapphic longing, and fierce, defiant becoming."

House of Cotton by Monica Brashears - "Sharp as a belted knife, this sly social commentary cuts straight to the bone, revealing the aftermath of the American plantation and what it means to be poor, Black, and a woman in the God fearing south."

The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown - "Ness Brown's The Scourge Between Stars is a tense, claustrophobic sci-fi/horror blend set aboard a doomed generation ship harboring something terrible within its walls."

Chrysalis by Anna Metcalfe - "A spellbinding gem of a novel, this provocative debut follows a young woman whose bizarre metamorphosis poses vital questions about our modern, online existence."

The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei - "Yume Kitasei's The Deep Sky is an enthralling sci-fi thriller debut about a mission into deep space that begins with a lethal explosion that leaves the survivors questioning the loyalty of the crew."

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Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.