Today, a quartet of publicists and marketers from the Tor family of imprints (Tor Books, Tordotcom Publishing, Tor Teen, Nightfire, and Forge) took to Crowdcast to give readers a preview of what’s coming to bookshelves next year. From a new Murderbot tale to Nghi Vo’s take on an American classic to not just one but two books from Charlie Jane Anders, there’s a lot to look forward to reading in 2021. You can watch the panel here, or read the highlights below!
Publicist Lauren Anesta, marketing manager Isa Caban, publicist Libby Collins, and marketing manager Rachel Taylor took turns enthusing about next year’s list, with highlights from January to August—here’s a month by month breakdown!
JANUARY
The year starts off right with a new book from the brilliant and award-winning Nnedi Okorafor, whose Remote Control Anesta calls “really a brilliant work by a master of the genre.”
FEBRUARY
If you haven’t heard yet about Everina Maxwell’s Winter’s Orbit, you will soon; Taylor says it has everything a fanfic lover could want. A History of What Comes Next, a new “darkly satirical” science fiction novel from Sylvain Neuvel (Sleeping Giants), kicks off a new series. Taylor says Sarah Gailey’s The Echo Wife asks the (eerie and disconcerting) question, “What would you do if your husband was cheating on you—with you?”
MARCH
Arkady Martine returns with A Desolation Called Peace, the sequel to A Memory Called Empire, which Anesta says is “somehow even better” than the acclaimed first book.
APRIL
Elżbieta Cherezińska’s The Widow Queen is historical fiction from an author Collins says is the Ken Follett of Poland—her first novel to be translated into English. K.M. Szpara follows Docile with First, Become Ashes, which Caban calls “a riveting tale that will make you question what is real and what is magical.” Marina Lostetter takes her first foray into fantasy with the series-starting The Helm of Midnight, which Collins called “Hannibal meets Mistborn with the tension and terror of Jack the Ripper meeting the skillful worldbuilding of epic fantasy.”
Charlie Jane Anders makes her YA debut with Victories Greater Than Death, which Caban says is perfect for fans of Star Wars, Steven Universe, and Doctor Who. “Imagine the soldiers of the Night Watch from Game of Thrones faced with the high-stakes politicking and interstellar action of The Expanse” is how Collins described J.S. Dewes’ The Last Watch, which kicks off the Divide Series. Our beloved Murderbot is back in Fugitive Telemetry, which is a Murderbot murder mystery, a “delightful procedural” according to Anesta. Naomi Kritzer returns to CatNet in Chaos on CatNet, the sequel to the YA novel Catfishing on CatNet.
MAY
For those who just need a minute, there’s Joe Pera’s A Bathroom Book for People Not Pooping or Peeing But Using the Bathroom as an Escape. Ring Shout author P. Djeli Clark returns to his alternate Cairo universe with A Master of Djinn, which Anesta says is the author at “his absolute best.” With The House of Always, Jenn Lyons is already to the fourth book in her A Course of Dragons epic fantasy series; Cabal says it’s got “delicious power plays and plenty of dragons.” Christopher Buehlman’s The Blacktongue Thief is set in a world of goblin wars—and assassins who kill their targets with deadly tattoos. Nightfire welcomes Silvia Moreno-Garcia to their list with new editions of The Beautiful Ones and Certain Dark Things (August).
JUNE
Anesta says T.I. Huchu’s The Library of the Dead—the first book in the Edinburgh Nights series—is perfect for fans of Stranger Things and The Sixth Sense. In The Chosen and the Beautiful, Nghi Vo reinvents The Great Gatsby as a coming-of-age tale about a queer, Asian-American Jordan Baker. Bethany C. Morrow returns to the world of her YA novel A Song Below Water with the all-new tale, A Chorus Rises, about a teen siren facing an awful online backlash. In Susan Dennard’s Witchshadow, war has come to the Witchlands. (Updates may be coming on the adaptation of the Witchlands books; keep an eye on the author’s social media for those!) Kerstin Hall’s Star Eater “has everything,” says Collins: “come for the cannibal nuns and stay for the downfall of hereditary power”
JULY
Brian Staveley returns to the world of the Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne with an new series, starting with The Empire’s Ruin. Sarah Henning continues her Kingdoms of Sand and Sky YA series with The Queen Will Betray You. Poet and memoirist Lucinda Roy steps into speculative fiction with The Freedom Race, which is set in the aftermath of a civil war known as the Sequel. With A Psalm for the Wild-Built, Becky Chambers kicks off her new Monk and Robot series, which Anesta calls “a book for seekers of small comforts.” T.J. Klune’s Flash Fire is a sequel to The Extraordinaries, and is a queer coming-of-age story about a teen fanboy and the heroes he loves. “Mulan meets The Song of Achilles” in Shelley Parker-Chan’s She Who Became the Sun, and Collins says the novel is just as incredible as that mashup sounds: “It will rip your heart out and put it back”
AUGUST
Charlotte Nicole Davis finishes up the Good Luck Girls duology with The Sisters of Reckoning. Shannon Price’s The Endless Skies is a standalone epic YA fantasy about a young magical fighter who discovers her world isn’t what it seems. Elayne Audrey Becker’s Forestborn is the start of a new YA series about a young shapeshifter who is also a spy. And last in this list but certainly not least, Charlie Jane Anders collects her excellent writing advice in Never Say You Can’t Survive: How to Get Through Hard Times By Making Up Stories, which you can read selections from here!
If you would like a full transcript of the panel, it can be found below!
(0:00): Isa Caban: Hi everyone and welcome to Tor’s Calling All Book Lovers Event, where we will be giving you a sneak peek of our incredible books coming this winter and next Summer. My name is Isa Caban. I’m one of the marketing managers at Tor, predominantly working on Tor Teen which is our YA imprint. I also do School and Library; I work on educator and librarian initiatives for both our adult and YA titles, as well. Um, some of the fun facts about me: I’m a big fan of music and I have a deep love of film scores, which I enjoy listening to while I work and read at home. I also am a big fan of horror films, uh, I’ve watched a fair amount of them in quarantine, so if you’re looking for a recommendation on what to watch next, that’s definitely one of my specialties. Uh, and now I will toss it off to my amazing fellow presenters, so they can introduce themselves to you.
(0:50): Libby Collins: Hi everyone! I’m Libby Collins. I’m a publicist at TDA working mostly on, um, Tor and Forge titles on the adult side. Um, I have purchased more than 20 plants during quarantine, so I’m doing great. Some of them are behind me, I love them all. Um, I also love sad books that make me cry and my cat Dennis, who may make an appearance in this video.
(1:16): Lauren Anesta: Hi there! My name is Lauren, I am also a publicist at TDA and I work on mostly Tor & Tordotcom titles. Uh, I’m your resident expert on cozy British murder mysteries, and I’m always here to talk about Star Trek and your favorite Star Trek captains.
(1:34): Rachel Taylor: Hi, I’m Rachel! I’m a marketing manager at Tor; I run the fun digital side of marketing. And my fun fact is that John Scalzi once reviewed me as “one of the best social media people ever,” so I will sit on that forever. So for our first slide, we are walking in a WinTOR Wonderland this season!
(1:58): Rachel Taylor: Uh, we’re thrilled to present some of our recommended Science Fiction and Fantasy holiday gifts for the 2020 season. From space adventures to girls who live forever, we know you’ll find the perfect gift for the bookworm in your life on this list.
(2:17): Lauren Anesta: And let’s kick off the 2021 list! Um, first up here is Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor! Okorafor is the award-winning and bestselling author of Binti and many other books, and here she’s written a gorgeous Africanfuturist story about a Ghanaian girl who becomes a bringer of death after finding a glowing green seed in a meteor shower. I love this book: it’s got a powerful and complex female protagonist, and Nnedi’s worldbuilding of a near-future Africa is incredible. This is, really, a brilliant work by a master of the genre, and I think it’s a must-read for both adult and young adult readers.
(2:56): Rachel Taylor: So, In case y’all didn’t know, space is gay! We are thrilled to bring Winter’s Orbit, Everina Maxwell’s romantic and gut wrenching debut on February 2, 2021. Ancillary Justice meets Red, White, and Royal Blue in this trope-tastically epic space adventure. This book has everything a fan fic lover could want: Arranged Marriage, There Was Only One Bed, We Must Huddle Together For Warmth to Survive in the Cold (if you can’t tell, I’m very excited about this book.) And, if you pre-order now, you can share in our excitement and get one of our exclusive Space is Gay enamel pins. Check out our Twitter for more information on how you can get your pin now.
(3:43): Isa Caban: Who’s ready for a space race with aliens? I sure am. A History of What Comes Next by Sylvain Neuvel is an action-packed sci-fi epic that provides a darkly satirical look at 1940’s rocketry and follows two warring families as they face-off across history. This is perfect for fans of Andy Weir and any dads out there who can’t resist a great spy thriller. A History of What Comes Next releases February 2nd.
(4:11): Rachel Taylor: You’ve probably heard of Sarah Gailey by now, if not from their hot debut Magic for Liars that came out last year, then from their incredible Tordotcom Publishing novellas, such as Upright Women Wanted and River of Teeth. Gailey is back with another incredible story, this time asking the question: what would you do if your husband was cheating on you…with you? Renowned scientist Evelyn Caldwell is known for her incredible work in genetic replicas and cloning, but drama unfolds when her husband Nathan steals her research to cheat on her with her own clone. A confrontation leads to murder in Sarah’s suspenseful new novel, on sale-on sale everywhere this February.
(4:57): Lauren Anesta: If you are even remotely a fan of space opera, then Arkady Martine’s incredible series has to be next on your TBR. In the first book in the series, A Memory Called Empire, an ambassador from a station on the edge of known space has to find a way to survive in the capital of a galactic empire where everyone seems to want her dead.
It’s got political conspiracies, diplomacy, high stakes assassination attempts, characters that you’re begging to just kiss already, and the sequel is, somehow, even better. You have a mysterious and dangerous alien armada lurking on the edges of space. No one can talk to them, no one can destroy them, and so our favorite ambassador is brought in to communicate with this hostile enemy.
(5:38): Libby Collins: Elżbieta Cherezińska is an award-winning and bestselling Polish author, and The Widow Queen is her first novel to be translated into English. Um, El is really the Polish Ken Follett, so from this novel you can expect nothing less than rich, epic, historical fiction. It tells the story of Swietoslawa, she is the daughter of the great duke of Poland, and her father basically views her as an opportunity on which to expand his empire through marriage but she refuses to play the part. This is based on a real woman who history forgot until now, and it’s gripping – full of family, love, and war.
(6:28): Isa Caban: In his follow-up to Docile, author K. M. Szpara brings readers a new fantastic standalone adventure in First, Become Ashes—this is a riveting tale that will make you question what is real and what is magical. Lark has spent his life in preparation for a righteous quest: to rid the world of monsters. But his world turns upside down when a series of unexpected and devastating events reveals that monsters aren’t real, magic does not exist, and the pain Lark has endured has been for nothing. This immersive page-turner deals with themes of self-discovery, romance, and the search for truth. First, Become Ashes releases April 6th.
(7:09): Libby Collins: Marina Lostetter is making her first, very exciting foray into fantasy with The Helm of Midnight, which is the first book in her new Five Penalties trilogy. It tells the deliciously dark story of a legendary serial killer who stalks the streets by way of a death mask. Um, The Helm of Midnight is Hannibal meets Mistborn with the tension and terror of Jack the Ripper meeting the skillful worldbuilding of epic fantasy. The novel is bloody, ambitious, and awesome, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat so keep an eye out for it this April.
(7:52): Isa Caban: 2021 is an epic year for author Charlie Jane Anders. She has not one, but two exciting new titles coming in-in the new year from Tor Teen and Tordotcom, so you’ll definitely be seeing much more of Charlie Jane later on in this presentation. But first up, we have her incredible YA debut, Victories Greater Than Death. Buckle up your seatbelt for this thrilling sci-fi adventure set against an intergalactic war—perfect for fans of Star Wars, Steven Universe, and Doctor Who. This is already a beloved favorite of countless YA authors such as Holly Black, Veronica Roth, and Amie Kaufman—just to name a few. And I’m personally obsessed with this cast of queer best friends and heroes trying to save the galaxy together. I also can’t wait for readers to meet the character of Yatto—a non-binary alien with a heart of gold—who’s my personal fave. They’re very cool and I just wish I could be BFFs with them in real life. Part space adventure and part action-comedy—ditch your reality with this perfect escapist read when it releases on April 13th.
(8:58): Rachel Taylor: Imagine the soldiers of the Night Watch from Game of Thrones, faced with the high stakes pol- uh, politicking and interstellar action of The Expanse, and you begin to touch on the first entry in The Divide series. Author JS Dewes—a cinematographer and screenwriter by trade—uses her flair for the dramatic to stack twist after twist, compounded by epic space-battles fought by uniquely compelling characters. Get ready to join this epic space adventure on April 20th… 20th, 2021.
(9:30): Lauren Anesta: More space, and it’s a Murderbot murder mystery! We all love Murderbot. Our favorite SecUnit is back in this novella that takes place between Exit Strategy and Network Effect. And you heard me right, Murderbot discovers a body on Preservation Station, and what follows is a delightful procedural, if Murderbot was both the grumpiest and most endearing detective of all time. As usual, Murderbot would really just rather not (but would also die for its friends, if it could admit it had them). If you’ve never read the Murderbot Diaries, they offer a seriously fun and heartfelt escapist treat that’s been comforting me all throughout quarantine, and I recommend every single one of them. Who can’t identify with a bot who would simply prefer to be watching Netflix?
(10:18): Libby Collins: I would die for Murderbot, I’m not exaggerating. Uh, anyway! Catfishing on CatNet made a huge splash when it debuted last year, landing on several “best of the year” lists. It’s the thought-provoking near future YA thriller that explores timely issues of online privacy, Artificial Intelligence, and the frightening power of social media, and the paperback reprint is coming out the same day as the sequel. Chaos on CatNet is the sequel, and it continues Naomi Kritzer’s CatNet series, this time using AI to catch a mysterious entity that’s been hacking social networks to instigate real-world paranoia and violence.
(11:00): Libby Collins: Joe Pera, um, is a standup comedian and the creator, writer, and star of the Adult Swim series Joe Pera Talks With You. To know Joe Pera is to love him, I promise, so if you’re not familiar with his gentle, endearing, and heartwarming comedy, just pause this and go find a YouTube clip really quick. I am so excited that we’re bringing his warmhearted comedic stylings to the page in A Bathroom Book for People Not Pooping or Peeing But Using the Bathroom as an Escape. This book is an illustrated guide for those who may need a second away from the party to gather their thoughts in the bathroom. We’ve all been there, I think. Uh, A Bathroom Book and its accompanying illustrations, by Joe Bennett, feel like the warm hug that you sometimes just need before you head back out to the party.
(11:48): Rachel Taylor: Get ready, Murderinos! The paperback of #1 New York Times beststeller… bestseller Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered is hitting shelves near you this spring! Get ready for more funny, feminist advice for survival—both to help you not get murdered and to also just, you know, get a job, work through your personal stuff and maybe pay your bills and have some friends along the way.
(12:15): Lauren Anesta: So I may be biased, but I think P. Djèlí Clark is one of the most talented writers in the genre. His horror novella Ring Shout just published in October and it is a gut-punch of a horror story that asks “what if the KKK were very literal monsters?” And we just found out that it’s being adapted into a TV show, and I am very excited about it! Next spring, Clark continues his radical reimagination of history in his debut novel, A Master of Djinn. A Master of Djinn is set in Cairo in 1912. Agent Fatma is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, but she’s no rookie, and she’s been called in to solve a murder that might have global repercussions. This is Clark at his absolute best; it’s a clever and funny mystery, with characters both human and supernatural in a fully realized steampunk Cairo. So, if you love historical fiction or any of P. Djeli Clark’s past work, you will love this.
(13:15): Isa Caban: The House of Always is the fourth epic fantasy in Jen Lyon’s A Chorus of Dragons series, which began with her very beloved debut novel, The Ruin of Kings. This series is in the vein of works by Brandon Sanderson and George R.R. Martin. In fact, if you are a die-hard fan of Game of Thrones and have not checked out this series, all I have to say is how dare you? You’ve got delicious power plays and plenty of dragons. What more do you really need people?! There’s absolutely no better time to be catching up on this immersive and captivating saga. Make sure to check out The House of Always when it releases May 11th!
(13:53): Libby Collins: I am very excited about The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman, which is set in the world of goblin wars, stag-sized battle ravens, and assassins who kill with deadly tattoos. There is lock-picking, knife-fighting, wall-scaling, fall-breaking, lie-weaving, trap-making, and some magic, so it’s fast paced, action packed, and as much fun as that sounds like it would be. Um, some folks in-house have said this is the “coolest epic fantasy world they’ve ever seen,” and we all work at Tor, so it’s safe to assume we are familiar with a lot of epic fantasy worlds.
(14:34): Lauren Anesta: The Library of the Dead. This one is perfect for fans of Stranger Things and the Sixth Sense. It’s a novel about a tough Scottish teenager named Ropa who makes a living sending messages between the living and the dead. When children start to go missing, Ropa dives headfirst into this seedy, underbelly of Edinburgh, only to discover a hidden cult library, unexpected allies, and there’s much more to this city than meets the eye. Ropa is a smart and strong-willed teen girl and she’ll need to call the magic of her ancestral home, Zimbabwe, as well as her modern Scottish pragmatism to hunt down clues in this world of dangerous secrets. This is the first in The Edinburgh Night series, so there’s much more to come in this exciting new world.
(15:20): Lauren Anesta: The Chosen and the Beautiful! Which I cannot stop talking about. Nghi Vo is a genius, and she reinvents the American canon in this magical version of The Great Gatsby. She’s reframed the story, um, as a coming-of-age tale told from the perspective of a queer, Asian-American Jordan Baker. In Vo’s version of Jazz-Age New York, the rich are doing deals with demons, and at Gatsby’s you’ll find parties where it’s always five minutes to midnight and everything drips with money and magic. Jordan, as a queer, immigrant woman, must navigate life in this dangerous world where just being herself could doom her, and find her own magic. Vo’s prose is delicious and if you loved the magic of The Night Circus, the seedy Jazz-Age parties of Babylon Berlin, and gorgeous historical fantasy like The Queen of the Night, you’ll be as obsessed with this book as I am.
(16:16): Isa Caban: Bestselling author Bethany C. Morrow returns to the magical universe of A Song Below Water in this highly-anticipated follow-up to her captivating debut fantasy. A Chorus Rises is an all-new tale that follows Naema Bradshaw as she uncovers the true power of Eloko magic when faced with the threat of online radicalism against sirens.
Morrow’s YA debut A Song Below Water became an instant national bestseller upon its release this past summer—receiving countless praise from notable YA authors including Jason Reynolds who calls the novel “beautiful and brilliant.” Filled with Black Girl Magic, fierce sirens, and also a hot gargoyle that is sure to become your new book bae, the paperback edition of A Song Below Water releases next Summer along with A Chorus Rises on June 1st.
(17:04): Libby Collins: 2021 is going to be a very exciting year for the Den-Nerds out there! I know you’ve all been patiently waiting for the highly-anticipated next installment of the New York Times bestselling Witchlands saga, and that wait will finally be over next June. In Witchshadow, war has come to the Witchlands and nothing will be the same again. This action-packed next chapter in the series is told from the perspective of fan-favorite, Threadwitch Iseult, who must choose on which side of the shadows her destiny will lie. In anticipation of the arrival of Witchshadow, there’s no better time for longtime fans and new readers alike to collect and catch-up on the series—now with these beautiful bold new covers. And keep an eye out for the paperback edition of Sightwitch—releasing this January. It’s a standalone illustrated Witchlands novella that tells the story of Sightwitch Ryber, and it’s full of Easter eggs for Witchlands fans. So this tale of sisterhood, secrets, and dark magic is not to be missed in the new year. And I know a lot of fans are waiting for news on the series adaptation for TV, so stay tuned on Susan’s social media for updates on that front.
(18:18): Lauren Anesta: Star Eater! This is a stunning high fantasy novel with a Gaslamp touch that slides effortlessly into horror. Elfreda Raughn—bureaucrat, priestess, and practitioner of cannibalistic magic—will avoid pregnancy if it kills her, and one way or another, it will kill her. Elfreda must question the power she was born into to choose her own fate. Star Eater has everything! It’s got doomed romance, spies, opulent parties, supernatural curses, a grim Sisterhood of cannibal nuns, and even giant cats. I also just 100% believe this universe would make an incredible D&D campaign setting, fully playable as is. The worldbuilding is that good and that detailed. So come for the cannibal nuns, stay for the downfall of hereditary power.
(19:11): Rachel Taylor: Brian Stavely is bringing back the critically acclaimed world of the Unhewn Throne with the start of a bold new epic fantasy series! The Annurian Empire is disintegrating and the ranks of the elite Kettral warriors have been decimated from within, and the kenta gates are closed. In order to save the empire, one of the surviving Kettral, Gwenna, must voyage beyond the edge of the world–but time is running out. Mark your calendars and get ready for The Empire’s Ruin, on sale everywhere July 6, 2021.
(19:44): Isa Caban: Author Sarah Henning is back with the enthralling sequel to The Princess Will Save You—a fantasy series perfect for fans of The Princess Bride. In The Queen Will Betray You, Princess Amarande and her irresistible stable boy Luca face insurmountable odds in the fight for their kingdom and their love. See the next chapter to Amarande and Luca’s story unfold in The Queen Will Betray You, out July 6th along with the paperback edition of The Princess Will Save You.
(20:15): Libby Collins: You may recognize Lucinda Roy’s name from one of her many accomplishments as a poet, a memoirist, or even from an appearance on Oprah. But The Freedom Race is her first foray into speculative fiction, and I am so glad she’s made it over to this genre. Lucinda’s background comes together with beautiful, gut-wrenching prose combined with a futuristic setting in the aftermath of a cataclysmic civil war known as the Sequel. This is a slave narrative of subjugation, resistance, revolution, and hope.
(20:50): Lauren Anesta: Becky Chambers made her mark on SFF with the Wayfarer series, where her joyous, heart-warming style of space opera won over fans and won her a Hugo Award. In this first entry to the Monk & Robot series, we meet Sibling Dex, a tea monk, and a robot named Mosscap. The funny thing is, it’s been centuries since the robots of Earth walked into the wilderness en masse, fading into legend. Now, it seems they’ve come to check in. What follows in this novella is essentially an odd couple road trip, with lots and lots of tea. This book is sweet, it’s funny, and it’s a book for seekers of small comforts and I think we could all use a little comfort right now.
(21:32): Rachel Taylor: Some people are extraordinary, and some are just extra. Lambda Literary Award-winning author TJ Klune’s YA series, The Extraordinaries, tells a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves. While Nick Bell may not be extraordinary, his status as the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom universe is still something. When he finally meets his favorite superhero, Nick becomes set on making himself more extraordinary, even if his best friend and crush of his life doesn’t necessarily approve. Watch out for the paperback edition of The Extraordinaries and its sequel, Flash Fire, flying into shelves near you in Ju- in July.
(22:15): Libby Collins: I could talk about this book forever, but I’m gonna do my best to keep it succinct. Um, She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan is Mulan meets The Song of Achilles, and it really is as incredible good as that mashup sounds like it would be. It’s an alternate history about the origins of the rise of the Ming Dynasty, starring a genderqueer main character, Zhu, who steals her brother’s identity and his fate of greatness to make her own way in 14th century China. It really has everything; there’s page-turning action, incredible slow-burn romance, war, intrigue, and literally everything in between. Um, and it will rip your heart out and put it back so let’s all just comfort each other this summer after we read it.
(23:04): Isa Caban: Prepare yourself for queer, badass cowgirl energy in Charlotte Nicole Davis’ thrilling conclusion to their Good Luck Girls duology. Set in an alternate Wild West, The Sisters of Reckoning is a fantasy adventure featuring a diverse cast of female outlaws on the run from human and inhuman forces. Along the way, these young and fearless women will forge friendships, overcome tremendous loss, and encounter unexpected love. This incredible series is getting a brand-new illustrated look in 2021—making it an exciting time for new readers to dive into this harrowing journey of revenge, freedom, and justice. The Sisters of Reckoning releases on August 10th and as you wait for the sequel, check out the new paperback edition of The Good Luck Girls, releasing on January 5th.
(23:53): Lauren Anesta: For those of you out there who can’t wait for the release of the next Wonder Woman movie, this YA fantasy is for you. Next summer, author Shannon Price introduces readers to a young shapeshifting warrior who will risk everything to save her beloved floating city when disaster strikes. Inspired by classic Greek history, with amazing action sequences, romance, and tons of female badass action, this is a YA novel not to be missed.
(24:23): Rachel Taylor: And we’re on to the second book from Charlie Jane Anders this year. We are so excited to have this new book from her. Um, Never Say You Can’t Survive is a departure from her other works–a nonfiction how-to book about the craft of storytelling, filled with memoir, personal anecdote, and insight about how to flourish during even the most difficult of times. Get ready to add this book to your TBR shelf this August.
(24:53): Isa Caban: To be born of the forest is a gift and a curse. Forestborn, from debut author Elayne Audrey Becker, is the launch of a new fantasy series with a timeless feel, for fans of Melissa Albert and Emily Duncan. Readers will follow shapeshifter Rora as she sets off on an epic quest through a dangerous forest in hopes of saving her kingdom from a magical illness. Crafted with lyrical prose and gripping twists, Forestborn releases on August 31st.
(25:25): Libby Collins: I know we’ve been talking about, uh, new releases that we all can’t wait for but I also wanted to highlight some really exciting paperback reprints that we have coming in 2021.
(25:35): Libby Collins: Um, Remembrance is Rita Woods’s debut novel, and it’s the genre-defying book about four women across time and space who are all connected by a hidden stop on the underground railroad.
(25:45): Libby Collins: We’ve got The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood. Um, this is an epic debut adult fantasy novel that tells the fresh new story of a young orc priestess who turns away from her destiny as a sacrifice to topple an empire as a thief, spy, and assassin.
(26:03): Libby Collins: And there’s By Force Alone by Lavie Tidhar. Um, You may be familiar with Arthurian legend, but I can promise you you’ve never seen King Arthur like this. Tidhar turns his searing eye on the myth of King Arthur, and every single character in this well-known story is recast in the vein of a Scorsese film. All of these are so much fun and we can’t wait for paperback versions in 2021.
(26:30): Lauren Anesta: We also wanted to highlight this new horror audio collection from our horror imprint, Nightfire, which has 27 short stories that are sure to keep you up at night. This collection includes stories by Daniel M. Lavery, Seanan McGuire, T. Kingfisher, Cassandra Khaw, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and so many more. So, be on the lookout for this, and um, Horror fans, we’ll also be announcing Nightfire’s Fall 2021 list soon, so stay tuned.
(27:00): Rachel Taylor: Okay, you may have heard of a little book called Mexican Gothic, frequently touted as one of the best books of the year and a frequent flyer on the New York Times bestseller list. We are so excited to bring author Silvia Moreno-Garcia into the Tor family with two spectacular reads.
(27:17): Rachel Taylor: Certain Dark Things is a pulse-pounding neo-noir that reimagines vampire lore where vampires, humans, cops, and criminals collide in the dark streets of Mexico.
(27:27): Rachel Taylor: We are also thrilled to publish the stunning repackaging of The Beautiful Ones, a charming tale of love and betrayal, and the struggle between conformity and passion, set in a world where scandal is a razor-sharp weapon. This book is perfect for people who don’t want complicated magic systems but still like fantasy themes, and also has a happily ever after ending, which I think we all need after the year 2020. Check out both of these books coming next year.
(28:00): Isa Caban: And that is a wrap, everyone! We hope you’ve enjoyed our preview event! You can follow us on social to keep updated on all of our new and upcoming releases. Thank you so much for your time and we’ll see you in the new year! Happy holidays everyone!
