I would like to nominate A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine.
It's a fantastic entry into the genre. Interesting future human cultures. The world feels very fleshed out and unlike anything I have read before. It plays with the concept of what an "alien" even is.
My buddy's and I have started reading through stormlight together. I put it off for years but I have been really enjoying it. Already mostly done with book two.