Have you ever been so excited about a book, you’re actually kind of nervous to start it?
That’s been happening to me a lot lately. One of the weird things about loving books and having a bird’s-eye view of publishing timelines is that I hear about things way in advance—but only whispers of a thing, rumors and snippets and buzzwords that sit like a drop of honey on the tip of my tongue. Sometimes I’m left waiting an entire year for the rest of it, sometimes even longer. It’s an agonizing process that drives me, a person who gets incredibly excited about books, into madness. By the time the book actually gets into my hands, I’ve hyped myself up to the point where I’m anxious, my hands are shaking, and I’m screaming into my pillow just from the first page. Is this normal? Maybe not. Maybe you ought to be worried about me. Lord knows what I’m going to be like by the time the next Nghi Vo novel comes out.
The problem stems from the fact that I really let books into my heart. I think there are a lot of people who enjoy reading, but read very casually—the emotions stay at the surface, and they’re just in it for a good time, not a long time. I, however, have a soft heart that yearns and aches and weeps, a childlike wonder inside me that is still wondering when I’m going to pass through a doorway into another realm (or, these days, the more adult version, which involves a sexy fae princess coming to seek me out, but let’s not get into all that now). I know I am deeply affected by the stories I read, which means opening a new book that I’m hopeful about, a book that I believe will fit me just right, is like being on a first date and knowing you’re going to fall in love with the person sitting across from you. It’s like teetering at the edge of that cliff. I know the fall is going to be beautiful, that I’ll see wonderful things, get to know wonderful people—but the moments before I let myself go are intense. Oddly enough, I look forward to this feeling, but it also means I procrastinate starting books that I believe might mean a lot to me. It is never about worrying the book might be bad. It’s always about worrying the book will be so good that I won’t be able to handle it emotionally. But the big feelings are always worth it.
That’s what makes writing this list twice a year so difficult, but also so much fun. I love sharing these stories with you, and I can only hope that you’ll be just as excited about them as I am.
Let’s dig into it.
There are a couple of major releases you might already know about, but let’s make sure these babies are on your calendar, okay? We ARE getting something new from Patrick Rothfuss, which is an insane sentence to type, and it’s a novella set in the Kingkiller universe called The Narrow Road Between Desires (November 14, DAW). Christopher Paolini’s Fractal Noise came out in May, and later this year he returns to the world of Eragon with Murtagh, a dragon riding spin-off (November 7, Knopf Books for Young Readers). The third of Brandon Sanderson’s secret projects comes in the shape of Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, a Cosmere novel (October 3, Tor Books), and John Scalzi’s latest, Starter Villain, will be out in the fall (September 19, Tor Books). We’re also getting a new Jim Butcher, the next entry in the Cinder Spires fantasy series, called The Olympian Affair (November 7, Ace), and two new ones from Nnedi Okorafor—a duology that begins with Shadow Speaker (September 26, DAW) and ends with Like Thunder (November 28, DAW). The new Cory Doctorow, Lost Cause is out in the fall (November 14, Tor Books), as is the next T. Kingfisher, a fairy-tale fantasy titled Thornhedge (August 15, Tor Books). Olivie Blake’s Masters of Death is all set to be your end-of-summer beach read (August 8, Tor Books). Plus, we’ve got Jacqueline Carey returning to the world of Kushiel’s Dart from a new POV in Cassiel’s Servant (August 1, Tor Books), and Nicola Griffith’s sequel to fan favorite Hild, entitled Menewood (October 3, MCD)—which I’m including here because there’s so much love for Nicola Griffith in the SFF space even though Hild isn’t technically speculative. Both Cassandra Clare and Garth Nix are making their adult debuts this year, with Sword Catcher (October 10, Del Rey) and Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz: Stories of the Witch Knight and the Puppet Sorcerer (August 22, Harper Voyager) respectively. And to round it all out, we’ve got a new Murderbot, System Collapse (November 14, Tordotcom) to pair with the updated reissue of Martha Wells’ fantasy epic City of Bones (September 5, Tordotcom).
If the book you’re anticipating the most this season is the next in your favorite SFF series, you’re in luck my friend! This fall, we’ll see the release of Bookshops & Bonedust, the follow up to Travis Baldree’s smash hit cozy fantasy (November 7, Tor Books); a new entry in Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series called Light Bringer (July 25, Del Rey); T. L. Huchu’s third Edinburgh Nights book The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle (August 29, Tor Books); the second in M. J. Kuhn’s Tales of Thamorr series, Thick as Thieves (July 25, Gallery/Saga); Wesley Chu’s The Art of Destiny, the next in his War Arts Saga (September 26, Del Rey); the hotly anticipated sequel to She Who Became the Sun from Shelley Parker Chan, He Who Drowned the World (August 22, Tor Books); the second in Cat Rambo’s The Disco Space Opera series, Devil’s Gun (August 29, Tor Books); Warrior of the Wind, the next in Suyi Davies Okungbowa’s epic Nameless Republic series (November 21, Orbit); Maurice Broaddus’ next space opera, Breath of Oblivion, volume 2 of the Astra Black series (October 17, Tor Books); Traitor of Redwinter, the followup to Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald (October 24, Tor Books); and the next Tithenai romance from Foz Meadows, All the Hidden Paths (December 5, Tor Books). On the YA side, we’re got the next in Adalyn Grace’s dark romantic fantasy series, Foxglove (August 22, Little, Brown BYR); Erin A. Craig’s next one in the Sisters of Salt series, House of Roots and Ruins (July 25, Delacorte); Never A Hero, Vanessa Len’s follow up to Only a Monster (August 29, HarperTeen); the sequel to Foul Lady Fortune from Chloe Gong, Foul Heart Huntsman (September 26, Margaret K. McElderry Books); the next in Omar Epps and Clarence A. Haynes’ urban fantasy series, Nubia: The Reckoning (September 26, Delacorte); plus a new entry into the Daughter of the Pirate King universe from Tricia Levenseller titled Vengeance of the Pirate Queen (November 7, Feiwel & Friends), and the next Dragonlance Destinies book from Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Dragons of Fate (August 1, Random House Worlds). We’ll get to read Under the Smokestrewn Sky, which will be the last one from Seanan McGuire writing as A. Deborah Baker (October 17, Tordotcom), plus L.L. McKinney completes the Nightmareverse with A Crown So Cursed (September 19, Feiwel & Friends), and Freya Marske rounds out the Last Binding trilogy with A Power Unbound (November 7, Tordotcom).
Please also note that while I raved about S.L. Huang’s The Water Outlaws in the first half of the year, the publication date has moved to August 22, so make sure you snag that when it shows up at your local indie bookstore.
Here are 30 more books to look forward to in the latter half of 2023.
The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (July 11, Tordotcom)
First of all let me say, the prose in this book is absolutely insane. Lyrically, The Saint of Bright Doors is this year’s Light From Uncommon Stars. Chandrasekera’s efforts here are mind-blowing, the words come to pull you away on the wind, let you drift easily into a world of devils, prophetic cults, and unwanted destinies. Fetter is raised by Mother-of-Glory to kill his father, a maybe-prophet-maybe-cult leader called The Perfect and Kind (the vibes here are very The Library at Mount Char), but eventually grows up and moves to the city to live a (somewhat) normal life. What he finds there is a support group for the unchosen—others like him who abandoned their fates or had more powerful siblings and are now learning how to live in the real world. There is also political upheaval, refugees that need help, and romance to be had. Where Fetter’s world was once small and pointed, it is now full and chaotic. He learns to become a full person within it. This book is an experience—if you’re looking for a simple A to B to C plot with familiar stock characters, you won’t find it here. The Saint of Bright Doors is otherworldly in every sense of the word, and you’ll need to let yourself go there completely. But the returns are exquisite.
The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa (July 11, Saga)
If you want one surefire way to get me to read a book, tell me that the characters are tea drinkers. As an always-tea-never-coffee person, I feel SEEN I feel VALIDATED I feel REPRESENTED by Enitan, who wants nothing more than to quit her day job and become a full-time tea specialist. She’s growing her own little plants and tending to the leaves, which just seems like an ideal way to spend your time if you ask me. Unfortunately, the cottagecore vibes get all fucked up when Enitan’s sibling, Xiang, gets kidnapped—and when Enitan runs to find help from Ajana, her ex-lover/the governor of her city, Ajana turns up dead the next day and Enitan is left on her own. The only opportunity to make it off her small, provincial planet to investigate the whereabouts of her sister pulls her deep into political turmoil between two warring empires. The Splinter in the Sky is an ambitious space opera—a little bit Star Wars, a little bit Studio Ghibli (there is lots more tea)—with Kemi Ashing-Giwa poised to become an exciting new player on the SFF scene. Get in on the ground floor of her career—it’s only going to go up from here.
Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle (July 18, Nightfire)
You can imagine the shriek of joy I made when I heard Nightfire had acquired a horror novel by Chuck Tingle—who, if you’re unfamiliar, is the two-time Hugo Award-nominated, karate-gi-wearing, weird-satirical-erotica-writing king of the internet and grand buckaroo. I simply cannot imagine what the inside of Chuck’s brain (and hard drive) must look like, between this novel and all the iconic poundings that made him famous, but I sure am glad he exists on this planet and is writing for us all. Chuck, through all of the humor and spicy content and now horror, seeks to prove that love is real, and that love can save us. Camp Damascus is a queer horror novel that unpacks the cruelty of conversion camps and that particular brand of religious fervor that actively harms people who are different under the guise of godliness. The titular Camp Damascus boasts a 100% success rate. You can imagine what it takes to keep that success rate going, and you can imagine what the folks of the Kingdom of the Pine do to their children to avoid having them sent there. When strange things start happening to Rose Darling (actual strange things, not just her being gay and autistic, cuz those things aren’t strange at all), she is set on a path to discover the terrible truths behind her ultra-religious upbringing, and through it all, find connection and community. It is genuinely horrifying—those with religious trauma should proceed with caution. It is also beautiful and affirming. Chuck Tingle is a very special writer and a very special human being, and I do hope this book finds its way to the readers that need it most. And also every reader everywhere. Cuz you all need it. Do you hear me? You need it. Because I said so and I’m right.
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (July 18, Del Rey)
Make no mistake, Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a titan of this industry. She has been steadily publishing banger after banger, and slowly gaining more and more attention as she goes. Silver Nitrate is her latest, a horror novel set in the film industry, that follows three friends as they come into contact with a famed Mexican horror film director. Abel Urueta is old now, but has one project yet unfinished—a masterpiece film that he believes to be cursed, and perhaps the only way to get away from the curse is to finish the film. Urueta recruits the three young people into helping, and at first, they believe the curse to be broken—but whatever magic was in that original film has long since twisted and broken free of its original intention, and all involved are doomed to face horrors, dark magic, ghosts from their past, and more. Moreno-Garcia shows brilliant expertise when it comes to referencing Mexican cinema and popular culture, as well as creating her now signature spooky atmosphere. While the cursed piece of media (films, books, songs, etc) is a staple of the horror genre, Silver Nitrate takes the idea and runs head-first into darker, more vicious places, with Moreno-Garcia’s genre-blending style shining all the way through. Grab popcorn, sure, but you might want to keep the lights on for this one.
The Sun and The Void by Gabriela Romero Lacruz (July 25, Orbit)
Prepare yourself, you’re about to discover a book so good and so intricate, you’ll want to forget all your stale old fantasy series—actually, you know what? I’m not going to do this book the disservice of comparing it to what’s come before. The Sun and The Void feels like such a fresh breath of air, a full world entirely of its own. We begin with Reina, a be-tailed nozariel, who is on her search for her estranged grandmother only to be attacked and left for dead by vicious monsters on the way. She’s rescued and brought to the palace, fortunate that her grandmother is the only person capable of healing her. Meanwhile in another kingdom, Eva, part-valco and concealing her antlers, is on her own search for estranged family, all while trying to hide her aptitude for magic. Inspired by the landscape and mythology of Venezuela, this book deals with complex family dynamics and the experience of being mixed-race and living on the margins. There’s love, there’s danger, there’s a fantasy world so big you’ll get lost in it. In my opinion, this is the epic fantasy book of the season. I have been waiting for this one for a very long time, and it was everything I dreamed of and more.
Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi (August 8, DAW)
Just personally I think there should be more succubi in contemporary speculative fiction, just for me. Because I absolutely fell in love with Nneoma. (It’s impossible not to, the powerful and extremely hot succubus who made herself a man to eat people’s souls with. Can I be her? I want to be her.) The man is, of course, not exactly a man. Shigidi is a former nightmare god, turned incubus at her hand, and now he and Nneoma spend their days as freelance spirit entities fucking and eating humans. Which is the dream. Unfortunately this dream life gets derailed when the lovers are tasked with retrieving a stolen totem, which contains the power of an orisha. Failing to complete the task means almost certain death. Success means a new chance at life, with protection and freedom they have long been without. Of course they say yes, and what follows is a fast-paced rollercoaster ride filled with angry gods, old debts, dark magic, and revenge. This book has everything you could ever ask for, including a reverse Indiana Jones situation (!!!) and a global adventure that is both sexy and dramatic. Wole Talabi has been a star of short fiction for some time now and a favorite of speculative fiction insiders, and his debut novel does not disappoint.
More Perfect by Temi Oh (August 15, Saga)
If you’ve been paying attention to media at all lately, you might be thinking a lot about A.I., social media, and how freakishly accessible the internet makes people nowadays. I am an extremely online person, always have been, and even I am starting to rethink just how much I share with the digital world. In Temi Oh’s More Perfect, her first novel since 2019’s fan favorite Do You Dream of Terra-Two?, the internet is directly implanted into the brain, connecting people to The Pulse, or the Panopticon. It stores your memories and allows you to watch the memories of others, it allows you access to all the world’s information, connects you to others without the need for physical speech, and more. Moremi is a young teenager who has just gotten the implant and finds herself thrilled by the possibilities—but when a massive flood destroys London, she is unable to find her Pulse-less mother despite all the other information in her head. Orpheus is a young boy when we meet him (you guessed it, we ARE in a retelling), living with his father on a remote island where they are disconnected and hiding from the authorities—but is captured and forced to have the Pulse implanted. More Perfect is a deeply character-driven dystopia that explores memory, connection, and controlling the narrative, with vibes sort of like V for Vendetta mixed with Inception.
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas (August 15, Berkley)
You cannot imagine the ring of joy I feel at the sight of the words “Latinx” and “vampires” together. Do you feel it too? It’s exquisite. Now, I have to warn you, the vampires of this book are not sexy vampires—they are vicious creatures, there’s some real body horror in here. But that doesn’t make them any less exciting. Our story begins with Nena and Néstor, childhood sweethearts living on her father’s ranch. When Nena is attacked late one night, Néstor believes her dead and flees. They each grow up, apart from each other—Nena on the ranch, learning to become a curandera like her abuela, and Néstor working other ranches—both of them working hard for the future they dream of, both of them trying to prove themselves. They’re brought back together when the Yanquís come to invade the territory—bringing disease and vampires along with them. Vampires of El Norte is a sweet, slow burn romance over a brutal tale of colonialism and violence.
The Blue, Beautiful World by Karen Lord (August 29, Del Rey)
Dr. Karen Lord is one of our greatest, and in her latest novel, The Blue Beautiful World, she shows us exactly why that is. Dr. Lord is looking at the big picture here. This is not simply a cli-fi book, it is not simply a first contact story, nor is it just a space opera. It is all of these things, it is so much more than these things. We follow Owen, a mega popstar with an uncanny ability to draw a crowd and make people fall in love with him—he is described as being the “hometown hero” of every city, because he sings in every language and appears to be everywhere at once. What exactly happens during his shows is anyone’s guess, but he seems to have the world in his hands, as if by some ultra-human force. Owen and his team find themselves at the center of intergalactic attention, and Owen’s abilities might be the key to helping humanity. The Blue, Beautiful World is tied to others in Dr. Lord’s Cygnus Beta but stands alone brilliantly, with fully fleshed-out characters that you’ll become more and more invested in as the story unravels—the story zooms out to galaxy level and deals heavily with A.I. and cutting-edge technology, but its cornerstone is the relationships between characters and their individual growth throughout. In the way that all great speculative fiction is, it is a story about what makes us human, and how the connections we form with each other are vital to our survival, and it’s told in the most exquisite prose.
Where Peace is Lost by Valerie Valdes (August 29, Harper Voyager)
If you’ve not been reading Valerie Valdes, you’ve been missing out. Valdes is queen of the bold, exciting space romp, and Where Peace is Lost is a new stand-alone novel, coming off of the back of her Chilling Effect series. Where Peace is Lost is the perfect combination of drama and adventure—we follow Kel, who has been living in recluse after a traumatic war experience. When an enemy war machine appears on the isolated outlier planet Kel has made home, she finds herself unable to stay out of it. At a town meeting, the mysterious (read: very sus) Captain Vyse and her partner proclaim they’ve got something to deactivate the war machine–for a fee—and Kel plus her young friend Lunna volunteer (sort of) to join them as local guides. But the further they go, the more it looks like Kel’s past is catching up with her, which might put everyone in danger. Kel’s “I’m too old for this shit” attitude pairs perfectly with Lunna’s naive go-getter spirit, and all of the characters come beautifully alive over the course of the novel. Where Peace is Lost is a high-octane story that you will absolutely fly through because you’re simply having too much fun to stop.
The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma (August 29, Orbit)
I’m not gonna lie to you, I was totally surprised to open this book and find there are sci-fi elements to this story! It’s a brilliant blend of sci-fi and fantasy, which in my personal opinion, more books need to do. Good thing The Phoenix King is here to say GENRE IS FAKE, and the only thing that matters is a great plot and characters to love. In this one, we follow Elena, who is set to ascend the throne of Ravence, following her father Leo, a power-hungry man with the ability to wield the holy Eternal Fire. Elena is young, idealistic, yet terrified of her upcoming coronation because she cannot yet withstand the Fire. On the other side of the kingdom, the skilled assassin Yassen Knight comes to meet with his old friend Samson, who has grown from a small-time thief to an independent militant leader—whose forces are hired to help protect the realm, a deal to be solidified by a marriage between Samson and Elena. This is only the beginning of the intricate political intrigue of this book—there are assassination plots, a prophecy that tells of a powerful new prophet, potential war from neighboring kingdoms, and more. And never does the prophecy-giving holy fire feel out of place next to holo communicators, magic and religion and technology are woven seamlessly together to create a world that feels like a fresh sandbox to play in. The Phoenix King is one for the readers who like intense, imaginative worldbuilding and a dynamic plot.
The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White (September 5, Peachtree Teen)
Just so you know going in, this is an intense one. As all good horror does, The Spirit Bears Its Teeth will make you feel both uncomfortable and emotional, with its beating heart being the trans experience and the pain of becoming yourself in a world that wants you to be something different. Silas is a young boy with violet eyes—a unique trait of those who can communicate with spirits. The Royal Speaker Society, of which Silas’ family is a part, is an all-male order of spirit workers with some very fucked up rules. Girls with violet eyes are married off to men (married off young, I might add) in the hopes of producing male children with the gift, and any woman who dares attempt to practice spirit work is put to death. When Silas dresses in masculine clothing and pretends to be someone else in order to receive the Speaker seal that will allow him to go off into the world on his own and avoid an arranged marriage, he is discovered and sent to Braxton’s Finishing School and Sanitorium, a place where young women are sent to be “fixed”. You can imagine what that means, and the horrors that have been done to the students there. You’ll recognize from the first instant this is a character with autism—there are very relatable moments where he struggles with sensory processing and communication—and I do want to warn you that Silas goes through a lot of shit. There’s quite a bit of deadnaming and physical violence. But it’s also about being determined to live the life you dream of, and finding tenderness amongst all of the terrors of the world. The Spirit Bears Its Teeth will horrify you and hold you, and is a completely unforgettable reading experience.
Rouge by Mona Awad (September 12, Simon & Schuster)
Full honesty—this is the only one on this list I haven’t been able to actually read yet, and normally I would hesitate to recommend something without having gone through at least a little bit of it myself first, but I will never hesitate to shove Mona Awad into your hands. She is a writer of unbelievable talent, who exposes the darkness behind modern womanhood in a way that is both bloody and saccharine. 2019’s Bunny is a personal favorite of mine (the first book which prompted me to e-mail a publicist my favorite question, are they actual witches or do they just kill a dude—the answer was: both), and Rouge looks like it’s about to take that vibe to the next level. Described as a gothic Snow White that takes on the beauty and wellness industry (complete with a creepy cult and creepy mirrors), I can only imagine the unhinged depths to which this book will take us. Mona Awad, I will read everything you ever write. The more fucked up, the better.
A Hundred Vicious Turns by Lee Paige O’Brien (September 12, Amulet Books)
There’s a certain sub-sub genre of fantasy novel, typically YA but not exclusively, written by largely queer and trans authors who grew up reading That Series and are now wielding their own magic. Themes like friendship, stepping into ones own power, and loving the library shine through, and there are clear narrative wrongs being righted. Now, I don’t know if this is Lee Paige O’Brien’s intention, but it sure does feel that way—and with great success, honestly. A Hundred Vicious Turns caught my heart immediately. We follow Rat as they begin their studies at Bellamy Arts, an academy for magic, following a tumultuous summer. You see, Rat has a knack for finding hidden doorways and passages, some of which lead to other worlds. And someone from another world is trying to come after them. Rat now has to fear for their safety and deal with the fact their ex-best friend, Harker, is also at Bellamy this year—the same Harker was with them when they found the thing that is now chasing them. It’s an emotional thriller following these friends-to-enemies-to who knows what, with dark magic and lost secrets. If you’re looking for a book to get deeply fucking obsessed with, it’s this one.
Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer Armentrout (September 12, Bramble)
As a young girl, Lis—an orphan with psychic intuition—had an encounter with the Hyhborn that both scared her and intrigued her (read: he’s hot). Now as a young woman, she is getting ready to attend the Feasts for the first time (a celebration that may or may not involve an orgy) when she finds herself rescuing the same Hyhborn man who rescued her from her abuser all those years ago. You know, the one with the strange eyes, the one she felt so connected to, the one she thinks of as hers. Fall of Ruin and Wrath is the first offering from Tor Publishing Group’s new romance imprint, Bramble, and it does not disappoint on either the romance side or the speculative side. I’m not a huge category romance reader, granted, so some of the tropes and plot beats still surprise me. But I was completely captivated and delighted by the equal blend of fantasy and sexy tension. The world of this book is very stratified, but even amongst the background of political upheaval and class warfare, love and connection can be found. And we all need that reminder every now and then.
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner (September 12, Harper Voyager)
Are you ready to be transported? Are you ready for some Wheel of Time level worldbuilding? Are you ready for a bisexual with a sword?? Of course you are. You’re a Tor.com reader, you’re always ready for queer ladies with swords. Our girl Kissen’s family was favored by the sea god—an idyllic life, for a time, until followers of the fire god killed her family. She was the only one to survive. Now, after the god wars and the King’s ruling that outlawed worship, Kissen spends her days hunting the remaining gods for the realm and flirting with hot barmaids. She is in the midst of flirting with said barmaid when Inara, a noble girl, seeks her out with a problem — a small god of white lies is attached to her (it’s giving Lyra and Pan), and they cannot be separated. Thus begins a quest (naturally) to find a way to help Inara and her god separate without harming either one of them. Along with former-knight-current-baker (and also possibly love of my life) Elo (who also has some weird romantic tension with the king), Kissen and her new crew set out across a country marked by war and divided politically. Look, are we doing a hero’s journey here? You bet. But do I care that it’s kinda tropey? No I do not, because it’s fun and intricate, and feels like a fresh take on high fantasy. Plus, we get detailed descriptions of food and clothing, which fantasy can never have too much of. Godkiller is an adult novel but will appeal to fantasy fans of all ages—put it on your shelf next to The Unspoken Name and The Queen’s Thief series.
The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu (September 12, Solaris)
I love it when a book starts off with a murder, honestly—and in Em X. Liu’s The Death I Gave Him, that murder kicks off a tense, emotional series of events that will keep you flipping pages. Hayden Lichfield’s father is dead, his body left on the floor of their laboratory. The lab immediately goes into lockdown mode, and everyone trapped inside is a possible murder suspect. Before anyone can get to it, Hayden scrambles to preserve his father’s work—the Sisyphus formula that might be the key to immortality. Together with Horatio, the lab’s (incredibly charming) A.I. and Hayden’s closest confidant, Hayden’s got to hide the secret formula from his father’s assailant, whoever that might be, and navigate all the complex personal relationships. Liu has written a propulsive locked room Hamlet retelling with clever sci-fi elements and vibrant characters, deep emotional resonance, and incredible twists and turns. If you like drama and big emotions, you won’t be able to put this one down.
Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian (September 19, Nightfire)
So, you don’t need to know this about me, but I am deep into a Western kick right now. I’ve been gobbling up speculative westerns like nobody’s business, so I sure as shootin’ had Red Rabbit on my list. It’s an incredibly atmospheric novel, almost like you can feel the dust kicked up by your horse from the very first page. There is a witch living outside Riddle Kansas. The witch Sadie Grace has been—apparently—causing trouble with the crops and making children sick enough to die. Now it’s easy to believe that these men are accusing a woman of being a witch simply because they don’t like her or because she lives alone, because that’s what men do, but Sadie Grace is, in fact, a witch. She’s just not doing the things they’re accusing her of doing. When a bounty is put out for her capture, many come to answer—including a man named Old Tom who claims to be a witch hunter. But Old Tom’s failed attempt to kill the witch from afar brings together an unlikely group of people: traveling cowboys Moses Burke and Ned Hemingway, and Rose Nettles, who is living alone on a farm after her husband’s death. Along with a child called Rabbit (whose gender is somewhat up for debate), the group of them make their way across the west, encountering all kinds of horrors and dangerous strangers on the way. There isn’t any other way to phrase this so please forgive me for saying the vibes are impeccable—Red Rabbit is a completely immersive experience. With a perfect blend of weirdness, carnage, and unlikely friendships, this is an absolute riot of a book.
A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid (September 19, Harper Teen)
Around this time last year I was sitting in a restaurant alone, with a glass of wine, reading Juniper & Thorn. I remember being unable to control my face as I reacted to the prose and plot of Ava Reid’s last novel—and being so aware that people around me were noticing. But it’s impossible not to have a full reaction to Reid’s work. Her writing is, simply, breathtaking—evocative, poetic, so good it’ll snatch your soul right out of your body—and she has quickly become one of my favorite authors. So much so that I was genuinely nervous to start this because I knew I was going to feel so many things. I am the definition of “screaming, crying, throwing up” about this book. A Study in Drowning is what I’m going to call an elevated dark academia—because while it is very much about academia (and get this, they aren’t humanities students!!!) and the psychology of obsessive scholarship, it is so much more than that. Vibes-wise, it’s definitely more on the Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell side of things than the Secret History side, but is as much about fairy kings as it is about trauma and sexism and taking control of one’s narrative. Reid does not shy away from darkness in her work, and to great effect—the depth of emotion in this novel is so deeply effecting that you, too, might find yourself unable to control your reactions. Approach with an open heart—let it be broken, let it be mended again.
The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab (September 26, Tor Books)
Magic has returned to White London. And so we return to the worlds of V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series, set some years after the first trilogy and introducing a new set of characters amongst old favorites. I found the Shades of Magic series at exactly the right time in my life—I devoured the series, imprinted hard on Lila Bard (she is my girl, I love her, would take a dart in the eye for her), and spent all my money that summer on the rest of Schwab’s back catalogue. Her work is, in no insignificant way, the reason why I have this job and am writing this to you today. But that’s not why you should read this book. You should read this because Schwab is a one-of-a-kind storyteller. The worlds are immersive, the characters are witty and bold and sexy and lovable even when they’re being idiots. This new installment deals with magic and power—who has it, who it’s being taken from, and how it’s affecting the new generations—with new characters to enrich the story alongside our familiar favorites. It is Schwab at her best. Be ready to fall in love all over again.
Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig (September 26, Del Rey)
Listen, I am an apple bitch. Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I get excited for apple season the way others get excited for the return of the pumpkin spice latte—I fill my fridge with them, I consume little else for the few months when apples are in peak season. So you best believe that I am here for Chuck Wendig’s horror novel about people going absolutely feral for apples. And the apple is such a key figure in our shared cultural knowledge—poison apples, tempting apples, sinful apples—it’s no wonder that the citizens of Harrow become transfixed with these luscious, near-black, extremely haunted apples from the Paxton family’s orchard. It’s a miracle for the struggling farm, but of course, there is darkness under this cottagecore dream. Black River Orchard, at its core (I’m clever), is the story of a farm, the story of a family, the story of a town. It is an expansive novel that will thrill you and disgust you. And I won’t judge you if you leave it still craving an apple.
The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu (October 3, Tordotcom Publishing)
Just be warned, you are about to fall in love with a robot monkey. His name is Bador, he’s the brother of political rebel Lina, and he’s got eyemojis that change with his mood and a bot companion of his own who serves as our narrator. Lina, Bador, and Moku are in Shantiport, a once-great city turned surveillance state ruled by the Tiger Clan after several eras of political turnover, fighting to liberate the people from oppressive rule. Basu sets up a world in which one hero is not the be all and end all of the story—Lina’s parents were involved in the resistance, and not only is there a vast network of people involved, but the entanglement she gets into feels like part of their legacy. Lina is on the hunt for a ring that may help her in the fight against the Tiger Clan. Her plan is to befriend the Not-prince Juiful and seek an invitation to the palace so she can snoop around there, which she successfully obtains. Meanwhile, Bador is getting into trouble, which eventually leads them to the discovery of the wish granting Jinn-bot. The story is complicated by political turmoil and the possibility of a dying planet, but the heart of it is the central three characters, all of whom are brilliantly unique, beautifully messy, and wonderfully brave. The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport is just fucking delightful from start to finish. Also, Bador wants to fight in a bot tournament. Also I love him.
The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker (October 3, Inkyard)
In a world where the rich get richer (literally, they’re eating gold nuggets to stay young forever), and the poor are left to die, Zilan and her cousins will resort to practically anything to survive—including raising the dead. Until they’re able to pass the exams that will allow them to seek work with the government, Zilan’s alchemical skills are putting food on the table, and the dead back in their loved ones’ arms. Of course, she won’t have to do that any more if she becomes a royal alchemist, following in her father’s footsteps, but passing the exams and finding a place amongst the elite won’t be easy. Never mind the fact that the royals are keeping a close eye on her for an impossible task. In The Scarlet Alchemist, Kylie Lee Baker creates a world where science is magic and class disparity has become violent. Baker pulls from the real history of alchemists during the Tang dynasty as the basis for this, which means there’s lots of details that are heightened through fantasy elements—and it is, quite simply, very cool. But the centerpiece here is the ambitious Zilan, whose no-bullshit attitude and determination to better her circumstances leads her into some deep, twisty palace intrigue. Yet she’s brilliant throughout, and you can’t help but root for her. The Scarlet Alchemist is one to pick up if you love an immersive atmosphere and smart authorial choices that will leave you turning pages until the very end.
Starling House by Alix E. Harrow (October 3, Tor Books)
The town of Eden is, like many impoverished American towns, marked by decay. So too is the once grand Starling House that sits back from the road, now cloaked in mystery, vines, and known only by its intricate gated fence. Opal dreams about the house—despite having no connection to it beyond a favored childhood book by E. Starling—and it might just be calling to her. When she is offered a job cleaning the house, she takes it, both because of her interest in the house (and its “Boo Radley-ish” guardian, Arthur Starling, with his special sword) and because it’s paying her enough to send her brother to a good school. The latest from Alix E. Harrow is a gothic wonderland, fitting somewhere in-between The Hazel Wood and Coraline, complete with footnotes (!!!) and a dash of inside publishing jokes (a longtime Tor.com friend makes a little cameo). This book has so many things I love: fairy tales, a sentient house, a hidden world, weird happenings, dark secrets—things I know you’ll love too. It’s a contemporary southern gothic fantasy coming just in time for spooky season that feels both familiar and deeply unsettling.
Beholder by Ryan La Sala (October 3, PUSH)
Athan has the Sight, which allows him to see things others can’t. When he goes into a bathroom at a party, the Sight activates in a mirror—and something comes to attack the partygoers. Something dark and violent has taken ahold of them, and it’s searching for Athan. He steps out to find bodies, artfully arranged bodies, and believes he has brought this on somehow. Events have begun whether he likes it or not, events that involve his family and perhaps the entirety of New York City. Ryan La Sala’s Beholder starts off with a bang and does not let up. The mystery twists and turns, taking you on a fast-paced rollercoaster—complete with a cute mysterious boy who goes all, “come with me if you want to live”. It is also a very New York novel, a horrific ode to this town and all its shitty landlords and pretentious art dudes and many ancient secrets. If this hasn’t sold you, I will also tell you that this book has THE. SALTIEST. DEDICATION PAGE. OF ALL TIME. It is truly a work of art.
Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle (October 3, Margaret K. McElderry)
“Do not go down to the caves,” the students of Aldryn College for Lunar Magics are warned. “Remember those who have drowned”. Emory’s best friend Romie was amongst the group of students who died in the mysterious Dovermere caves last term, and now Emory is left alone to navigate the choppy social waters of their magical school. Not only that, but she still has no idea what Romie and her new, more talented friends were attempting to do in the caves that night. When the body of one of the drowned students washes up on shore during a start of term party, it kicks off a series of events involving Emory’s magic, Romie’s studious brother, and a lost story about drowned gods and trickster spirits that might just solve the mystery behind the drownings. Curious Tides is a magical dark academia with a unique magic system with its own mythology, evocative of a world much bigger than the school on which this story is centered (and extremely good library content). Lacelle has written a poetic story about harnessing one’s power, dark forbidden magic, and complicated relationships that feels very much like Victoria Lee’s A Lesson in Vengeance and Novik’s Scholomance series.
The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw & Richard Kadrey (October 3, Nightfire)
Let’s get down to it: This shit is gruesome. There is plenty of gore and body horror and weird shit to keep all you sickos satisfied, if that’s what you’re into. And listen, I live in New York, I have seen some pretty disgusting stuff. But this book pulls no punches. When the least cringe thing is your protagonist walking barefoot through the Village, you know you’ve got something interesting on your hands. Julie is a freelance demon hunter, taking on jobs that involve a lot of blood and guts. Meanwhile, her ex, Tyler, is a corporate douchebag (read: a sell out) for a company serving a tentacle-y cosmic entity. When said entity tasks Tyler (the douchebag) with an assignment that will surely kill him, of course he tries to outsource the work to Julie. What follows is a mess—literally, I mean, within the context of the story. It’s gross. Fun! But gross. Gross to a point that demands respect. Khaw and Kadrey are a powerful team of genre-blending mad geniuses, and The Dead Take the A Train is a gore-covered cake for horror lovers.
Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind by Molly McGhee (October 17, Astra House)
Full disclosure: I am friends with the author of this book, but that doesn’t negate the fact that it’s incredible, and doesn’t negate the fact that I had to offer to seduce someone in exchange for a copy of it. Jonathan Abernathy is a novel very much of its time—a critique of capitalism, unfair working conditions, the debt cycle, and all the ways the American financial system harms the people working so hard within it. With devastatingly stark prose, McGhee places the titular Jonathan Abernathy at the bottom of the financial food chain—riddled with debt and unable to work himself out of it. This brings him to Archival Office 508, a branch of the government forgiveness program in which recruited workers (one of which Jonathan becomes) work as dream auditors, venturing into the sleeping minds of white-collar workers to remove anxiety. In exchange for creating a more dedicated, clear-minded work force, auditors get incremental loan forgiveness. You can imagine what spending night after night watching anxiety dreams is like. Throughout all this, Jonathan still has to try to be a person, which as a lot of us know, is incredibly difficult under the circumstances. This is not an escapist novel. This is a look-our-problems-in-the-face novel. McGhee’s work here is not to be ignored, with inventive prose that perfectly captures the feeling of trying to keep trying even when capitalism makes you feel worthless. I am in awe, and will be first in line for everything she writes after this.
Jewel Box by E. Lily Yu (October 24, Erewhon)
A man asks an angel to bring him to America to see the son he hasn’t seen in three years. A streetlamp lights up for a pretty boy. Wasps make intricately detailed maps on the inside of their hives. Just in general I think people should be reading more short story collections, especially weird ones, and Jewel Box should be at the top of everyone’s list. E Lily Yu is absolutely a writer to watch, a master storyteller who is poised to become a force to be reckoned with. She follows 2021’s On Fragile Waves with a collection of stories that are wondrous and surreal, but also filled with a much needed sweetness. Each story shines, with Yu’s stark prose perfectly suited to these magical realist tales. Read one as a treat. Read the whole thing in one sitting. However you like to consume story collections, make sure you spend time with this one.
Sun of Blood and Ruin by Mariely Lares (November 7, Harper Voyager)
Mariely Lares, you had me at “speculative Zorro retelling”. And listen, a Zorro story, by nature, has got to be anti-colonialist—Zorro is a vigilante, after all, fighting to protect the native people of early California from Spanish colonialists. Sun of Blood and Ruin absolutely shoves this in your face. Here, our Zorro is Leonora, aka Pantera—a powerful assassin who uses tonalli (a magical life force) and her sword to strike fear into the hearts of the Spanish nobles seeking to wipe out indigenous cultures. The Spanish have outlawed witchcraft in addition to their efforts to erase native languages and religions, which means the people of New Spain (Mexico) are suffering. Outside of the mask, Leonora is the daughter of a powerful family being forced into an engagement with the Spanish prince. It’s not easy to keep up her charade, and of course with all the political turmoil, her carefully constructed personas start to blur. But Leonora is a determined, capable heroine driven by the love for her culture, so it won’t be easy to stop Pantera from fighting for the people. Sun of Blood and Ruin is an exciting adventure with plenty of swordplay and magic, but is also a beautiful love letter to pre-colonialist Mesoamerican cultures.
