Stars Align: Some of the Best SciFi Romances of 2023 by Keri Kruspe

 

As the year draws to a close, I was curious to find out what some of the best SciFi romances that came out in 2023 (besides mine, of course!).

To do that, I did what any enterprising writer does these days, I asked ChatGPT. I was happy to get a small comprehensive list from it along with the common threads the genre offers its avid readers. It did state it couldn’t find anything from Amazon to include in the list. Pity. But I suppose we’ll muddle through without it.              

The other thing it outline was how the genre blossomed in 2023. With stories that not only weaved adventures in the vastness of space but included the depths of what the human heart goes through. While some SciFi romances seem to only dive into the erotic, (human meets alien and they immediately get busy in the bedroom…ho hum), others offer readers an escape from the mundane to the extraordinary. This year's selection of sci-fi romance books are not just narratives; they also offer deep emotional human experiences.

Before we dive into the list, let’s check out what these stories have in common.

Commonalities

Strong Female Protagonists: My favorite. No wussies here! Most of these novels feature a strong, complex female lead who is central to the narrative.

World-Building: Rich and detailed world-building is a crucial element. Its why we read these types of stories in the first place. Visualizing what this new galactic civilization looks like is one of the first things I do when I am creating a series. I ask myself, what does the galaxy/planet/civilization/aliens look like? How do they interact with humans? To keep things straight (like species/planets/cities/proper names), I have a “Writer’s Bible” handy for of all my series.

Political and Social Intrigue: The plots must involve political maneuvering or social issues for us to relate to the story. It also adds depth to the romantic adventure.

Romance Amidst Adversity: Those of us who read any type of romance know it’s the adversity in the story (along with Happy Ever After) that brings us back time and again. When these romantic elements are woven into an otherworldly theme, it can help boost the conflict between the protagonists.

Diversity and Inclusivity: You’ve got to admit there’s a plethora of diverse characters along with inclusive themes that reflect a broader spectrum of experiences and identities in this type of romance story. Also, some of the best science fiction themes have foundations in our every day lives (like the Terminator series - to AI or not to AI… that is the question…)

What Books did ChatGPT Come Up With?

ChatGPT told me that the titles it lists have been highly rated and mentioned across several online sources.  Let’s dive in and see what it came up with:

Powell’s Books:

A Day of Fallen Night and To Shape a Dragon’s Breath. Each feature strong female characters, political intrigue and rich world-building. Bookships & Bonedust offers a cozy fantasy with a touch of romance and humor, while Witch King and System Collapse both delve into epic fantasy with hyper-competent protagonists that deal with personal and geopolitical challenges.

Bestviewrevies:

These folks compile customer ratings that fit the criteria. They mention I Married a Naga and Choosing Theo: The Clecanian Series Book 1 among their top rated scifi romance novels. They also include Fated Blades: The Story of Two Women’s Survival Guides and Ensnared: An Alien Romance Trilogy. They cite each of these have strong narratives along with romantic elements.

Ereads.com:

Here they list Touched by an Alien, Shards of Honor, Grim, Claimed, and Born of Night as some of the best science fiction romance books. Unfortunately, it doesn’t specify that the books were from 2023 or not.

Some of My Favorites of 2023

Here’s where I confess I’m an avid reader. As my family can tell you, I’ve been one my whole life, so going back and remembering what I read this last year made me do a little research. While it was hard to choose, I finally came up with five that I really enjoyed.

Here goes!

Xiveri Mates (books 1-3) by Elizabeth Stephens

Possessed by the Alien King (6 books) by Krista Luna

Raider Warlords of the Vandor Series by Tana Stone

The Marauder Series by Athena Storm

The Kalquor Universe Series by Tracy St. John

Now that 2024 is right around the corner, I can’t wait to see what happens in this genre. As for me, I have a novella coming out on Valentines Day (Lok’s Love) as well as book one of a new series (Alien Legacy Brotherhood) coming out in April (just finished the first draft last month).

I’m proud of us who are passionate about the blend of science fiction with romance and love to share what we’ve read where we can. And, since it’s the season of giving, I’m offering you a FREE short story that I’ve included in my newsletter this month. Just click this Bookfunnel link and you’ll get A Spybots Christmas – available until the end of December.

In closing, just know how much I appreciate those of you who’ve read and commented on my articles in 2023. Fair warning… I plan on continuing my observations as we boldly go into 2024!

Until we meet again... I wish you all a joyful and romantic holiday season!