Before we end the year, take time to appreciate these literary works of creative minds that graced 2023. Discover the books that have won the hearts and minds of readers over the past year.

The Will of the Many by James Islington

'The Will of the Many' centers on the story of Vis, the last living member of a royal family from an island brutally colonized by the Catenan Republic, also known as The Hierarchy. He escaped by fleeing to the streets and living as an orphan, trying to make ends meet without being discovered. However, when a senator of the Republic, Telimus, finds him and notices his surprisingly robust education and physical stamina, he is recruited for an insane scheme: infiltrate the elite school of the Republic. Despite their willingness to work together when eating up foreigners, they hate one another. Thus, Vis sneaks into the most heavily scrutinized school in the Republic, which is the training grounds of the elite Catenan children.

Vis, while pursuing his own plans of vengeance against those who tore up his family and homeland, must juggle various identities and clients with different goals. 

The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions by Jonathan Rosen

This non-fiction book is Jonathan Rosen's brilliant and heartbreaking account of an American tragedy. It is a tale about the bonds of friends, family, and communities; the allure of utopian solutions; and the prospect of intellectual success. Rosen's true crime book was dubbed 'immensely emotional and unforgettably haunting.' 'The Best Minds' is an extreme version of a story tragically familiar to many.

The Fraud by Zadie Smith

Zadie Smith's searingly original sixth novel, 'The Fraud,' is her first foray into historical fiction. 'The Fraud,' based on a celebrated 19th-century criminal trial in which the defendant was accused of impersonating a nobleman, offers a vast, acute panoply of London and the English countryside.

The narrative revolves around William Ainsworth, a verbose author, and Eliza Touchet, his cousin's widow and housekeeper. Initially hinting at a Victorian comedy of manners, the novel takes a dramatic turn, introducing Andrew Bogle, a formerly enslaved person and key witness in a controversial trial of fraudulent identity that captivated England in 1873. As Bogle reveals his past, the dark history of England's involvement in the slave trade emerges, vividly exposing the brutal realities of plantations steeped in misery and blood. 

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Fire Weather: A True Story From a Hotter World by John Vaillant

John Vaillant takes us back to the intense wildfires that devoured Fort McMurray in 2016 as the readers picture this real-life thriller unfolding in the heart of the Canadian province of Alberta. However, this is not just about a city in flames.

'Fire Weather' is not your typical story; it is a historical journey into the rise of the fossil fuel industry, narrating Canadian wildfires featuring a cast of characters ranging from brave firefighters and dedicated oil workers to sharp-witted meteorologists and meticulous insurance assessors. However, the true central character is the uncontrollable fire, a formidable force of nature.

When John Vaillant's 'Fire Weather' came out in the US last summer, Canadian wildfires became a temporary American obsession. Skies in the northeastern United States turned orange, hazy, and hazardous due to more than 400 infernos in Canada's vast boreal forests in early June. With this, New York City's air quality became the worst in the world.

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

'Birnam Wood' combines Shakespearean drama, Austenian wit, and a deep exploration of human identity. The story unfolds in the aftermath of a landslide closing the Korowai Pass in New Zealand, isolating the town of Thorndike. Birnam Wood, a guerrilla gardening collective known for its criminal and philanthropic activities, sees an opportunity to occupy Thorndike's farm for financial stability. However, American billionaire Robert Lemoine has his own plans for the property, intending to build an end-times bunker. The narrative explores the consequences of well-intended actions and delves into the human instinct for survival.

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