Ranking The 17 New Series I Began in 2023

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Lots of great series here, Mike, and I'm deeply honored that The Edan Trilogy is among them! Also, I'm delighted that you will be continuing the trilogy after The Way of Edan, and I hope you'll agree with the majority of readers that each book improves on the previous one. My very best wishes to you for all your reading journeys!

[@mikesbookreviews]

You know I will read them! Thanks again for sending them and congrats on the early success.

[@RyanCahillAuthor]

Mike, your support for the series this year has been something special. Thank you for giving it so much time and I hope I can do you right with the last few books!

[@mikesbookreviews]

I look forward to it!

[@tiananesbitt7156]

@@mikesbookreviewsHad Becky Chambers ever amused you?

[@akellerhouse83]

If you didn't like Children of Time, i wouldn't bother with the rest in that series. Adrian Tchaikovsky has written SO MANY other amazing books that you can discover, and many of them are stand-alones. I would just move on to something else.

[@mikesbookreviews]

That's what I'm hearing.

[@mattjones4415]

Cant thank you enough for introducing me to the Bound and the Broken this year. I am an avid follower of Ryan now and cannot wait for what he does next in the series

[@mikesbookreviews]

My pleasure!

[@FKDotFitzgerald]

I’m 1/5 of the way through Of War and Ruin. How does Cahill level-up his writing so much with each book? It’s insanely good.

[@jellevanbreugel325]

50 pages in or so, loving it so far

[@RTH140]

I read Lonesome Dove this year on your recommendation. That book subverted nearly every single one of my expectations… all of my predictions of where characters would be at the end of the story were wrong 😂 I appreciate the overall melancholy tone of the third act, and he wrote the characters very well. Probably won’t read it again, but I’m glad I read it at least once!

[@mfbobyle6771]

You should check out Troy Trilogy by David Gemmell. It’s my favorite historical fiction books ever. Superb stuff.

[@PetrikLeo]

Oh yesss, take a look at the number one spot. Great ranking and list, Mike! :) Also, I WILL be reading Matthew Corbett series for sure. The latest in 2025. Love McCammon's books so much.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I thought you'd approve.

[@Stickitrigit.the3rd]

The passage is such a great series! I hope you change your mind and give it another chance!

[@dpeady78]

Same, I really enjoyed book 1

[@jaishans]

It would be nice if you kept the image of the series you are discussing on the screen as you’re talking about it.. instead of showing it for just a few seconds..

[@BrianBell7]

I'm excited to take your advice and read The Last War trilogy. And yes, the Edan trilogy, for me at least, improved at every book.

[@EatWithBadlands]

Yup, the first 1/3 of the passage is some of the best writing I’ve experienced. The middle third is “Meh”. And the last third is decent. I’d give it a 6.5/10 total score just cus the first 250 pages were incredible.

[@tanbad369]

Instantly lost me when you disrespected Children of Time….. how could you say that’s boring?? Watching animal planet is boring, but personifying the spiders was so amazing. The rest of this video makes sense now. Your taste is just bland like unseasoned chicken.

[@Ejacula]

The Bound and Broken is great! I just started The Echoes Saga by Philip C Quaintrell and it’s very Bound and Broken. Check that one out

[@IbbyMelbourne]

I was today years old when I learned that there were sequels to the giver

[@BaldBookTuber]

Kind words are appreciated sir, and so excited to see you continue on the Corbett journey.

[@mikesbookreviews]

You and me both!

[@AWalleye]

It's always great to have a long list of series!! My #1 HAS to be The Legends of the First Empire by Michael J. Sullivan! I started it and finished it this year! The scope of the series just blew my mind! I loved all the varying character arcs!

[@Smlmusic2650]

I just finished "Lonesome Dove" and yes, of course I loved it. I have all the prequels and sequel and plan to read them all ASAP.

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

Can’t wait to try the Last War and Bound and the Broken! Also pub order is def not the way to go with Drenai. The second published book The King Beyond the Gate is a sequel to Legend a couple hundred years later, so there’s no character continuity and it feels like the publisher just pushed him to follow up on Legend’s success with a very similar book (which is indeed what happened), and it’s just worse in pretty much every way. It kinda halted my momentum with the series, but I definitely intend to go back to the Druss prequels to continue the tale.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Not sure where I will go with Gemmell next. But I'll definitely read him some more.

[@spatha08]

I just finished The Last War due to your reviews and it was my favorite read of the year. I am the type of reader who doesn't read a series back to back I always read something in between. Right now I am using a reread of The Dresden files for this. With the Last War I was rushing through the filler novels to get back to it. I need more Mike Shackle to read.

[@pizza6464]

The Bound & the Broken has become among my top 5 series I have ever read. I just love everything about it.

[@kosmo723]

It might be useful to have a picture of the book cover on the side of the screen whilst your talking so I can look at that whilst listening to your description. In case I missed you say it earlier Thanks :)

[@tomjoyce7037]

I absolutely loved the Last War trilogy and I devoured it in a few weeks. It also coincided with the Broken Binding editions being released which meant, of course, I HAD to buy them too. I also read the Expanse books this year which were awesome and I started my Sanderson journey with Mistborn era 1 and Stormlight books 1, 2 and 2.5.

[@craiglooney8220]

Yep, I couldn't agree more. The Bound and the Broken isn't just the best series I read this year, it's one of the best series ever written. Of War and Ruin is my book of the year, and it's not even close.

[@MrTurtleMob]

I agreed with you on you Adrian Tchaikovsky. For Sci-fi try the Deathstalker series by Simon R Green. It’s just fun.

[@mandyhuybregts3235]

I started Gemmell chronologically. So i understand the story better. It does kind of help. And i want the books by Ryan Cahill. I am just waiting for the Broken Binding to introduce heavy shipments so i can order them all at once. I am not from Amerika, so it would costs me way too much now. But i hope they will do it somewher ein 2024 so i can gift myself the book from vacation money hahaha

[@mikesbookreviews]

That shipping to the U.S. is a killer.

[@benconlin3557]

I’m with you on The Bound and the Broken. Finished Of War of Ruin last night and loved it. The only thing with self pub is that books like this don’t get the publicity they deserve, this is in the same tier as my favourites like ASOIAF, First Law etc. It was only from you praising it so highly that I started it in September and so glad I did

[@kingzzz6509]

Some of the best series that I started this year were Red Rising and The Faithful and the Fallen. I started The Wheel of Time at the end of last year, so unfortunately I can’t say that one.

[@jaredschmidt8440]

So how does Of War and Ruin compare to Lonesome Dove? You said Cahill’s third book was one of the best you read this year. Did you mean in terms of fantasy reads or reads in general?

[@jaredschmidt8440]

Thanks for another great episode, Mike! And thank you for responding to some of my comments! Makes the experience that much better!

[@mikesbookreviews]

I mean it was one of the best books I read this year. That isn’t bound by genre.

[@jaredschmidt8440]

I totally understand. The context helps. I’m trying to gun through a lot of your recommended reads. So far, very satisfied (Boy’s Life was INCREDIBLE). I’m just trying to gauge the hype-train on some of these recommends. I may have to tackle it for my 2025 TBR. I still have to read Red Rising, Suneater, Farseer, The Expanse-so happy to hear how much you liked that one. Leviathan Wakes will be in my next 3 TBR books. Anyway, love the channel. I watch as many as I can on my lunch breaks. Perfect use of time. Let’s get to 125k!

[@JARHuygebaert]

First priority for me in 2024: finishing all the novels, novella's and short stories by Christopher Ruocchio :)

[@mikesbookreviews]

A good priority.

[@yourboiquanis9686]

Hey Idk if you have a patron or somewhere I could possibly donate to the channel, I am also dumb so lmk or send me a link

[@mikesbookreviews]

The link is in the description. But you can go right here: www.patreon.com/MikesBookReviews Thanks for asking!

[@gryftkin]

And I thought I read a lot... :D

[@Kellen81]

Thanks for a great year of reads! Happy to see Matthew Corbett making this list even this early on. I look forward to your takes on the rest of the series.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Happy new year!

[@jch5150]

Can you please include the book covers as you discuss the book.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I put the titles on screen and links to every book in the description. Not sure why a book cover is needed.

[@Gamin-yyd]

Mike read chaing gang all stars

[@roberts5394]

Love the t shirt 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@DanExploresBooks]

The Giver is an amazing series. I have read the 4 books several times. Do book 2 at least before deciding. It really is my favorite series in q lot of ways and continues in great ways. I think people dont continue because they dont always know about it. Again, i would suggest to try book 2 at least.

[@dinocollins720]

Fantastic video! Thank you!

[@lindafletcher1628]

Historical fiction series....there are so many good ones...Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series, Alexander Kents Bolitho, Dudley Popes Ramage series, MM Kaye s novels about India under the Raj, Dorothy Dunnett's 6 book Checkmate series which is absolutely awesome,

[@gryftkin]

Also, I've had a quote from Wolf's Hour on my auto-signatures for years. “Truth is like fire, Mikhail. It either heals or it destroys. But it never-never-leaves what it touches unchanged.”

[@aysseralwan]

Yah boys, we got 'im. He likes One Piece🎉🤣

[@mikesbookreviews]

🏴‍☠️

[@ciarankelly6650]

Huge fan of Adrian Tchaikovsky but if you didnt like Children of Time you are not gonna like the rest of the series. Instead I would recommend giving another of his works a go. I recommend Dogs of War and its sequel Bear Head. Completely different to Children of Time but still very good and imaginative

[@danebrooks4931]

Can you keep the book name up and maybe a cover while you talk about it?

[@mikesbookreviews]

Title cards are flashed and the links to each one are in the description. I feel this should be enough.

[@kyleboon11]

Everyone said Licanius was the next Wheel of Time, which I never really understood. The Bound and The Broken definitely has strong Wheel of Time vibes though, in the best possible way. Of Darkness and Light didn't start off in the best way for me. I think diving immediately into a hundred pages of action was too much for me, but by the end I really loved it. And the reveal at the end had me wanting to pick up Of War and Ruin immediately.

[@DavidArcuri]

I picked up "We are the Dead" a couple days ago from one of your last videos and I'm very glad I did! Thank you! And a recommendation from me: check out the Garrett P.I. books by Glen Cook.

[@Speed202]

I'm not a big fan of most slice of life if I dont feel there is a pay off when reading. If I go 124 and ask myself, "where this is going," then I start to worry. On another note, ive just finished Snowbound and it was great. You are right, Blake C just keeps bringing the hits. I'm in the middle of Red Rising now, based on your recommendation and im enjoying it.

[@Rogue_VI]

I just started Book of the Ancestor and I am really enjoying it. I didn't care for Red Queen's War so I was wary of reading more Lawrence, but lots of people said Book of the Ancestor was better and I agree so far. I loved Children of Time. I liked both threads in the story.

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I kept debating with Children of Time myself and I decided to let it go. The hard science was a bit much and I haven't been excited to pick it up. I prefer the lighter science fiction that feels like it blurs the line between Scifi and fantasy.

[@fletch44]

I completely disagree on The Passage, the shifting gears part in the middle I know exactly what you’re talking about but it didn’t bother me at all. The characters that you know and like do return at a certain point. I just don’t get the hatred for that middle shift in the book, I mean I do get it but geez get over it people lol.

[@derricklafayette7922]

I read The Ferryman by Cronin, and I finished it, but it did shift gears after the first act. It gets convoluted toward the end, too. Kinda goes downhill, and the dialogue is a little stiff. I heard The Passage was his first big hit. But yeah, ON PAPER, the blurb and description were phenomenal, only to basically disappoint me in the end.

[@mosselyn5081]

I started Book 1 of The Bound and the Broken recently, based on this channel, and I have to say, so far I am disappointed. I like the story OK, but I find the writing to be pretty awful. Weak character development, lots of details that don't add to the story meaningfully, and just a general lack of tautness. Like it needs a good edit. I'm on the fence whether or not to pick up the next book. For those who enjoyed it, do you feel that the writing gets better as the series develops?

[@marcusnyahoe]

Hey Mike. Great video and some food for thought on my next series. On Adrain Tchaikovsky, if you liked Expanse then the Final Architecture series may be more up your alley.

[@grantarnold704]

Where would Kingsbridge have ranked? I've got The Pillars of the Earth (at least) in my 2024 plans.

[@გიორგიგელაძე-მ4ნ]

Always suprised when abercrombie fans say they do not like books with no plot

[@mikesbookreviews]

Better to just say it than live with the fear of it.

[@giants8585]

War and Ruin is one of the best books I read in the past few years. It went from a very good series to me to potentially an all-timer. Some of the that was laid out in book 1 to come to have such satisfying payoff in book 3 was something I wasnt suspecting at all from Ryan. I took all of his work as a very straight forward approach. No twists or shocks. I was real worried at first, I had never seen an author's books vary in size like his. I chalked it up to being self-pub. Starting the series I was so worried about the size of War and Ruin, had me thinking "oh goodness self-pub needs professional editors" but somehow someway he absolutely smashed it. Can't wait for Empires and Dust!

[@ChrisJohnson-pr9jq]

Actually prefer the shadows of the apt series by Adrian Tchaikovsky over children trilogy, and I love my sci-fi. But feel his more fantasy style novels are much more fun and engaging.it's definitely worth checking out 🤘

[@Talking_Story]

Welcome to Corbett! I will finish Last War in January and could not agree more! Plan to pick up Bound and Broken in '24.

[@nflower33]

I read the first book in the children trilogy and did not continue. I did read The Last Watch by J.S.Dewes and read the second book The Exiled Fleet and will be reading the third one when it comes out. It’s a highly enjoyable well paced sci-fi series. I finished The Expanse this month and loved it.

[@andybarker8787]

I enjoyed children of time but found the second one excruciating. His fantasy series Shadows of the Apt is great though.

[@esmayrosalyne]

Yes yes yes, give us all the BatB love!! I re-read the entire series in January this year (in prep for OWAR) and already want to re-read it all again, haha. And I am so happy that One Piece has been such a pleasant surprise and fun bonding experience with your son. That's so precious! Hope you find many more new faves in 2024!

[@judgementofkira8966]

Not sure if you ever read Scott Sigler, But he's one of my fav authors. Infected trilogy is amazing, especially the first two books.

[@blacknbluecollarreader]

Lots of amazing series here. Just want to throw some appreciation your way. I started Dark Tower AND The Last War this year due specifically to your recommendation.........they are amazing!!! Thank you Sir.

[@formulaeternal]

Great video. Thank you

[@mikesbookreviews]

Glad you liked it!

[@KyleMcGee4772]

Great video as usual.i just finished up Riyria revelations and Rage of dragons/fire of vengeance lately and trying to decide what to try next,should i do farseer trilogy,faithful and fallen or something else lol?

[@fogle429]

The new lighting works well, friend. Very easy on the eyes!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Good to hear!

[@DoNotLookDown]

One Piece has made me cry more than anything else so I'm glad you are recognizing that it's a lot more complex and deep than it's goofy art style portrays. Must protect Oda at all costs.

[@jellevanbreugel325]

Keep telling you, The Jerusalem Man trilogy by Gemmell will be right up your alley!

[@Supperbeta]

Great video, Mike. Could you keep the book titles on screen more time while you talk about them? I got lost a couple of times.

[@andrew4437]

Tchaikovskys Dogs of War is the better book than Children of Time. At least to me.

[@JuanMartinez-ib7mz]

I'm just going ahead and predict Bound and the Broken is number 1! 😂

[@JohnDoe-xf9ly]

You love anything about king arthur you shoukd read the king arthur books by m.k. hume She is a great writter and deserves to be mentioned and more love

[@lauragfg]

I know you are doing different things with the lights lately, Mike. So I gotta tell you that this light is my favourite so far!!😊

[@ramulus694]

I personally think, out of the Children series, book 3 the final book is written in the most engaging way, so maybe you would really love that one. In my opinion all three are amazing books and I love the purely scientific ideas on the page, I am satisfied where you are clearly not with this series. But I do think there is value in you continuing this series.

[@jamesellis1635]

You do realize Enders Game is like 90% a training book 😂

[@deelak2329]

Oh dude I absolutely LOVED streets of Laredo. It's so good

[@shawnlinnehan7349]

I have The Passage as one of my favorite books ever. Read it three times and the series. I like it better than Swan Song or The Stand.

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Wow I’d not realised how many series you started this year 😅

[@jthespiceoflife]

So first great list I hope to read some of these you mention. However, I have read 2 B. Crouch books (upgrade and Recursion) both good storytelling but his endings have been very disappointing. So thank you for the recommendation but I don’t know if I’ll continue his work unless I’m convinced otherwise. I am starting the expanse thanks to you and I’m loving it so far so thank you. Lonesome dove, shogun and Dune are my big picks for next year so thank you for that.

[@jeffreybeasley8448]

Dark Matter, and Run are better than upgrade and recursion

[@popsiclepunk2112]

What should I start with for The Bound and the Broken?

[@laurenduke300]

The lighting looks pretty cool on this one.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thank you!

[@ozkantd]

I finished Of Darkness And Light just last night! Can't wait to bring this chonker of a book Of War And Ruin with me to Christmas break!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Oh man, enjoy!

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Yeah, the opening story and engaging prose for The Passage by Justin Cronin is very Stephen King-esque who had given it a magical kudos!!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Wish it had kept that speed the whole book.

[@dubhmoore575]

Hay Mike, Love the t-shirt! Also video so good, I had to watch it twice..🤠🥳😎

[@mikesbookreviews]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@tgibridays]

Loving the lighting. I'm a sucker for colored lights (which is funny cause I don't have any in my house haha).

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks so much! I wasn't sure how folks would feel about the green.

[@adamdemars8729]

I did the same thing with the Passage. My barber is a massive stephen king fan like me and swore I'd love this. I couldn't get into at all. Big disappointment

[@mikesbookreviews]

The first half very much felt Kingish. Then it fell off a cliff.

[@logan-ex2dc]

Great list Mike! Any chance grace or kings will make your tbr in 2024??

[@mikesbookreviews]

Most likely not. 2024 is packed already.

[@tiffanyrich6652]

I got the novella from Mr. Cahill’s website. I liked it so much I ordered hard copies of the first 3 books and can’t wait to continue with the series.

[@TheReadingVagabond]

Me too! Novella was great, just waiting for my books to come in

[@Іван-ш2б]

I've just ordered Lonesome Dove and can't wait to start reading it. Thanks for your recommendations!

[@mikesbookreviews]

My pleasure. I know you'll love it!

[@TysonPJ]

I suggest you don’t continue with children of time. I liked it, not as much as the first but I don’t think it’s your thing.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

I'm always distrustful of other people telling me or others not to read content they're possibly interested on or have mentioned on their own as sovereign people, and adults. I definitely would not push comment onto somebody else but moreso tell another adult person to moreso not even continue content they have begun, 📚 books or movies 🎬...

[@davidgould3297]

Best t shirt yet. But then I’m biased.

[@michaelkibble740]

The Fall is the best for me and I hope to get more Precy to read too

[@BenLaSoul908]

Can't wait for you to read Streets of Laredo. one of the best books I read this year as well, along with boys life

[@mikesbookreviews]

Can't wait!

[@Paul_McSeol]

Right there with you on The Passage. Lives the first part of but then when the time jump happens I slowly lost interest. Lonesome Dove is amazing. The followups are great but don’t hit the same highs to my mind. Thanks, Mike!

[@mikesbookreviews]

You bet!

[@Paul_McSeol]

I really need to spell check these before I post. Yeesh.

[@samm8190]

This is a great video idea!!!! Also the new lighting looks absolutely fantastic.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thank you!!

[@philippburnett6045]

Course will of many is on it. Didn’t you say you didn’t like children of time?

[@mikesbookreviews]

I literally talk about it in this video.

[@philippburnett6045]

@@mikesbookreviews noted

[@mixedmattaphors]

You sound like freakin' Petrik, with those Numbers .

[@mikesbookreviews]

Nah, Petrik would have finished them all not just started them ha ha

[@mixedmattaphors]

@@mikesbookreviews Haha, that's his secret, I guess. Oh, wait, never mind, yes. He would have finished them, all, lol.

[@totallysick88able]

I just finished Children of Time as well and basically share your opinion. I liked the human side but the evolution side felt like homework. I didn’t hate the book, but I probably won’t continue with the series.

[@asdfasdf5695]

I just finished Of Blood & Fire. It's very standard, but the writing was better than what I'd expect from a debut novelist. I'm very eager to continue.

[@derekd.4156]

To me I gave that book a 3.5/5, then then next were 4.5 to 5/5s. The increase in quality was insane from the first book

[@asdfasdf5695]

@@derekd.4156 That's what I'm counting on!

[@popsiclepunk2112]

I’m almost finished with A Game Of Thrones (I’ve never seen the show so everything is new to me) and I love it SO MUCH!! I cant wait to continue with Clash of Kings!!!! Thanks for convincing me to read it lol!!

[@alynam82]

Just got the Matthew Corbett book of short stories released a month or so ago, looking forward to that. Probably my favorite series going. Also, I'm 💯 with you on Lonesome Dove. I plan to pick up Streets of Laredo in Feb or March.

[@mikesbookreviews]

It's so good!

[@talkamardesh7562]

Hierarchy should be Top 3 easy