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Kelley’s debut might draw comparisons to Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, but this powerfully queer story will stand tall in its own right on any shelf.
PREMIUM
A Spell for Change
Jarvis (A Portrait in Shadow) offers a heftier version of Paul Cornell’s “Witches of Lychford” series, exploring witchcraft in the United States similarly to Ami McKay’s The Witches of New York or Alix E. Harrow’s The Once and Future Witches.
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A Line You Have Traced
Dunnett’s time-hopping novel, reminiscent of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas, is a good example of character-driven literary sci-fi.
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Strange New World
Quickly paced with engaging characters, the final volume of Shaw’s quartet (after Grave Importance) brings to close a unique supernatural series focused on medical care for otherworldly beings.
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The Vengeance
Readers who enjoyed Shawn Carpenter’s The Price of Redemption for its swashbuckling and Genevieve Cogman’s Scarlet for its sanguinary take on vampires meddling with history and politics will be fascinated by the latest from Newman (Atlas Alone).
Kelley’s debut might draw comparisons to Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, but this powerfully queer story will stand tall in its own right on any shelf.
This must-buy novel from Langmead (Calypso) and Whiteley (Three Eight One) feels like a cousin to Trip Galey’s A Market of Dreams and Destiny and Aimee Pokwatka’s Self-Portrait with Nothing, offering readers a mug of cocoa from one hand and a cool glass of lemonade from the other.
The scope of Jackson’s debut is breathtaking, from gripping suspense to serene contemplation to the scientific presentation of articles of history and imagination. Highly recommended for those who seek to understand the past and reimagine the future.
The novel’s setting is reminiscent of the historical fantasy of P. Djèlí Clark, whose work, along with that of Nnedi Okorafor and Moses Ose Utomi, would be an excellent read-alike for Onyebuchi’s highly recommended hardboiled fantasy mystery.
PREMIUM
The Sword Triumphant
A powerful epic fantasy finale, perhaps the trilogy’s strongest installment.
This mixture of mystery, SF, and historical fiction is highly recommended for readers who love intricately blended genre stories that ask big questions. Those who fell hard for Rivers Solomon’s The Deep or Leslye Penelope’s Daughter of the Merciful Deep will find a kindred story here.
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The Memory Collectors
Those who love time travel stories will enjoy the way Meserve’s (The Space Between) novel dives deeply into the human factors behind grief, guilt, loss, and starting over.
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The Last Vigilant
With warmongering, political intrigue, and themes of standing up for the weak, this marks the start of a compelling fantasy series that is perfect for fans of David Dalglish and Justin Lee Anderson.
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Alchemy and a Cup of Tea
An excellent ending to a defining series of warmth-filled romantasy.
Full of humor and relatable parenting moments, this is a must-read for those who grew up loving stories of magical schools and are looking for a new fantasy world.
Herman’s (Bleeding Hearts) delightful secondary characters and humorous tone bring this subversive, queer fairy tale retelling to life.
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The Gentleman and His Vowsmith
Ide’s (Between the Dragons and Their Wrath, writing as Devin Madson) Regency-era fantasy is a perfect choice for readers who enjoy gothic settings, locked-room mysteries, and queer historical romance.
PREMIUM
The Incandescent
Recommended for readers of dark academia, Tesh’s sophomore novel (after Some Desperate Glory) is an intriguing contemporary fantasy.
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One Way Witch
A coming-into-power story that will be highly appreciated by She Who Knows readers or anyone looking for more set in the world of Who Fears Death, recently optioned by HBO. Also a good pick for fans of Tobi Ogundiran and Suyi Davies Okungbowa.
Yang’s (The Genesis of Misery) emotion-laden novella will be a hit with fans of dragons and slow-burn romantasy. Readers of Aliette de Bodard and the “Singing Hills Cycle” series by Nghi Vo will especially enjoy Yang’s prose.
This is a wild adventure through history, art, and literature for Moore’s many fans and those who enjoy historical fiction with a side of fantasy and wry humor. Highly recommended.
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The Baby Dragon Cafe
Qureshi (If I Loved You Less) launches a cozy romantasy series that will have readers wanting to curl up with their own warm drink while they enjoy this heartwarming story.
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The Way
Though Groner describes a gritty world ravaged by disease, he nonetheless offers plenty of hope and recognizes the potential for healing. A beautifully woven tale of survival and humanity at its best.
Armitage’s ability to manifest Clarke’s (Piranesi) subtle ridicule of her characters makes this faux-scholarly fantasy a joyful and comforting listen.
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The Teller of Small Fortunes
Leong’s novel is a gentle, comforting listen, enhanced with endearing characters and well-tailored narration. Share with fans of Travis Baldree’s Legends and Lattes.
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This World Is Not Yours
A potent blend of sci-fi, horror, and thriller, where the planetary danger is but a garnish for a love so strong it hurts.
A strong entry from Clarke with a superb narrator in Ortiz makes this a highly recommended choice for any audiobook collection, especially where high-octane fantasy tales are popular.
PREMIUM
The Shiver Tree
Fans craving a sweeping fantasy heavily inspired by classic Dungeons & Dragons will feel right at home in Searcy’s debut novel, which is reminiscent of Sariah Wilson’s A Tribute of Fire and A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney.
This book will find a listenership anywhere fantasy is popular and, of course, anywhere the rest of the series has connected with its audience.
PREMIUM
The Sapling Cage
The renewed interest in Tamora Pierce’s “Alanna” series will have fans old and new flocking to this adventure-filled, emotionally rich fantasy.
PREMIUM
Run
Listeners will not be able to stop until the end, needing to know if Jack’s run will be worth it. A fast-paced, exciting audio enhanced by excellent narration.
This is an epic as clever and magnificent as its mythic namesake. A must-buy for all fantasy collections.
A relentless and beautifully balanced romantasy/legal thriller, offering blood and hope in equal measures. Recommended for fans of any of the genres it borrows from.
As enchanting as Barnard’s debut, this retelling of Irish mythology is a compelling exploration of transformation, mortality, and the delicate balance between humankind and the divine.
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Advocate
A quick pace, witty characters, and conspiracy twists will bring readers along for this fast ride of a fantasy that concludes the appealing “Warden” series (following Necrobane).
The morally gray, villainous characters in these stories are sure to find their way into readers’ hearts.
PREMIUM
Onyx Storm (Standard Edition)
While Yarros’s legion of fans will still thrill over each new development for Violet and Xaden, this entry is not as swoony as the first two books in the “Empyrean” series, and the precipitous cliffhanger ending wears thin.
Mary’s story is a dangerous and delightful adventure that turns the bigotry and misogyny of Victorian England on its head as she takes charge of her own life and rescues everyone with the help of her friends. Highly recommended for readers caught up in the recent trend of feminist retellings of well-known tales.
Mary’s story is a dangerous and delightful adventure that turns the bigotry and misogyny of Victorian England on its head as she takes charge of her own life and rescues everyone with the help of her friends. Murphy’s (Women Up to No Good) latest is highly recommended for readers caught up in the recent trend of feminist retellings of well-known tales.
PREMIUM
The Tainted Khan
Matharu’s sequel to Dragon Rider is filled with action, intrigue, and commitment to family, friends, and land.
This Holmes and Watson–like investigative duo are compelling to follow, and the truly epic fantasy world where the series is set, with its falling empire, corrupt politics, and magic pharmacopeia engineered from monster blood, takes the familiarity of mystery and creates a truly fantastic fever-dream of a world and a story.
PREMIUM
Forged for Destiny
This engaging high fantasy from Knighton (The Executioner’s Blade) offers an inventive take on the classic chosen-one trope while weaving in themes of loyalty, loss, and the rebellious power of books and knowledge. Perfect for fans of Raymond E. Feist.
This is a rare anthology in which every story shines. A must have for anyone who loves speculative fiction.
PREMIUM
Notes from a Regicide
Fellman (The Two Doctors Górski) writes a literary sci-fi novel about trans identity that will appeal to fans of Charlie Jane Anders or Izzy Wasserstein’s These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart and those who were fascinated with the play on histories and identities in T. Kingfisher’s “Sworn Soldier” series.
A relentless and beautifully balanced romantasy/legal thriller, offering blood and hope in equal measures. Recommended for fans of any of the genres it borrows from.
Fans will be clamoring for the series’ next book. A grimmer tone and lots of heat will appeal to fans of the morally gray protagonists of Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas.
PREMIUM
The Wind Weaver
Johnson’s (Bad Luck Charm) series launch is an action-packed romantasy with an engaging plot but a disappointing romance.
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A Fate Forged in Fire
While the novel’s premise and many beloved tropes will draw romantasy readers in and keep them till the end, the worldbuilding and character development are lacking.
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The Serpent Called Mercy
Readers looking for a clever and determined fantasy heroine motivated by platonic devotion will find much to enjoy in Lau’s debut.
YA author Griffin (Other Words for Smoke) makes her adult debut with a queer take on Little Shop of Horrors that offers a unique narrator, a celebration of dying malls, and all the facets of love and desire. Fans of John Wiswell’s Someone You Can Build a Nest In should pick this up.
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Don’t Sleep with the Dead
Vo once again vividly brings to life the world of Jazz Age New York City, intertwined with magic, devils, and ghosts of the past.
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House of Blight
The first in Martineau’s (Shadows of the Lost) gothic fantasy duology is filled with unique magic, romance, and intrigue. Strong characters, rich worldbuilding, and mounting tension make this a delightful read.
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Where the Axe Is Buried
Thought-provoking in the extreme, Nayler’s (The Tusks of Extinction) sci-fi cyberthriller will trap fans of technothrillers in its web.
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A Touch of Shadows
Originally self-published by Thorne (The Water Witch) and now picked up by a Big Five publisher, this steamy romantasy series starter is perfect for fans of slow-building and mysterious magic and will leave readers hungry for the next installment.
PREMIUM
Homegrown Magic
Full of flirty dialogue, strong conflict, and a heartwarming love story, this book feels like drinking a warm cup of tea and is perfect for fans of cozy queer romantasy.
The slow burn of the sapphic romance and the inch-by-inch growth of a relationship from contempt to reliance to love make this a story to savor, while the epic walking tour of the dead empire blends ancient history with fantasy in ways that will remind readers of Guy Gavriel Kay’s epic historical fantasy. Highly recommended for epic romantasy and historical fantasy fans who love a slow burn and the bitterest of bittersweet endings.
PREMIUM
The Book That Held Her Heart
Lawrence offers the final gut-wrenching book in his “Library Trilogy” (after The Book That Broke the World) with a storyline about the beginning of the Holocaust driving home the power of books to hold the past, present, and future.
Once again Abdullah deftly conjures magic. The middle book in Abdullah’s adventure is no less thrilling or expansively conceived than the first.
PREMIUM
Asunder
With expansive worldbuilding, an intriguing magic system, and a character-driven story, Hall’s latest will make fantasy fans craving horror feel at home.
PREMIUM
Full Speed to a Crash Landing
Listeners will enjoy this lively space heist brimming with action, drama, politics, and a dash of romance. “Across the Universe” series author Revis’s first installment in her “Chaotic Orbits” series will leave listeners eager for more.
PREMIUM
Bringer of Dust
Grim but not bleak, with a deliberate emphasis on compassion, this second in a series shines.
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A Sorceress Comes To Call
Excellent narrative performances keep listeners engrossed in this somber, psychological fairy tale retelling. Good listening for those looking for character-focused fantasies who don’t mind a slower pace and somber themes. For a similar experience, check out Ava Reid’s Juniper & Thorn.
Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
This delightfully magical historical fantasy combines creatures out of folklore (including the lake-dwelling monster Jenny) with a desperate quest, a sad tale of magic leaving the world, and a soul-quaking battle between quiet good and vast evil, all set in a beautiful story of sisterhood and found family among the most disparate of creatures.
El-Mohtar’s solo debut is a heart-wrenching fairy tale about the bonds of love and family. It’s a murder ballad in book form that will linger long after the final page is turned.
PREMIUM
Firebird
Cross (“Stay a Spell” series) mixes royal debauchery, political machinations, and hot sex in her new epic romantasy, a sort of mash-up of TV’s Rome and House of the Dragon. For fans of Carissa Broadbent, Rebecca Yarros, and Sarah J. Maas.
PREMIUM
Emberclaw
Lam concludes the duology that began with Dragonfall in this action-filled novel with the highest of stakes. A delightful dragon story.
Fans of Mary Robinette Kowal’s The Spare Man and Grace Curtis’s Floating Hotel will love this opening entry in a new space-cruise SF mystery series from Waite (The Hellion’s Waltz).
Osworth (We Are Watching Eliza Bright) offers a joyously queer urban fantasy about finding power, identity, and family at any age. Perfect for fans of Shaun Hamill’s The Dissonance or Annalee Newitz’s The Future of Another Timeline.
Qin’s delightful debut is full of witty, snarky characters in a fantastical Calgary; a good pick for urban fantasy readers.
PREMIUM
Once Was Willem
An original and expertly written medieval fantasy that’s perfect for fans of RJ Barker, Sebastien de Castell, and Katherine Kurtz and also touches upon the emotional and heartbreaking themes found in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
This delightfully magical historical fantasy combines creatures out of folklore (including the lake-dwelling monster Jenny) with a desperate quest, a sad tale of magic leaving the world, and a soul-quaking battle between quiet good and vast evil, all set in a beautiful story of sisterhood and found family among the most disparate of creatures. Readers who love the creatures, magic, and mythic settings of T. Kingfisher’s Thornhedge and Nicola Griffith’s Spear will find something similar and beautiful in O’Neill’s debut.
Kennington’s gripping debut romantasy starts with the risky, disobedient act of a princess, follows with an abduction, and keeps the action going until the blood-soaked end, leaving readers eager for more from the novel’s pair of doomed lovers.
El-Mohtar’s solo debut (after cowriting This Is How You Lose the Time War with Max Gladstone) is a heart-wrenching fairy tale about the bonds of love and family. It’s a murder ballad in book form that will linger long after the final page is turned.
Readers who are enthralled with the new cozy fantasy trend or love a cozy mystery will be delighted with Celehar and his latest investigation.
PREMIUM
The Prince Without Sorrow
A taut, character-focused first installment in an epic fantasy series that promises a refreshing look at survival and empire.
PREMIUM
The Mercy of Gods
A somber, steady tale of alien empire and resistance from within that sets up a promising trilogy.
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a short but cinematic story of witchcraft and womanhood. Recommended for fans of Deborah Harkness and Freya Marske.
PREMIUM
Signal to Noise
While Moreno-Garcia’s debut is somewhat uneven, it is well executed in audio. Expect this to be warmly received by the author’s many fans and those seeking a fantasy-laced historical fiction hearkening back to the days of LPs.
PREMIUM
Daughter of Chaos
Webb debuts with a reimagining of Greek mythology that is engaging, despite its pacing issues.
PREMIUM
The Watermark
Mills’s (The Fragments of My Father) latest is a creative, genre-hopping literary journey.
PREMIUM
The Sea Eternal
Robin writes another queer space opera (a sequel to The Stars Undying) that showcases complex characters inspired by ancient history and set in the stars. This science-fiction interpretation of Mark Antony and Cleopatra’s relationship is woven together in a tight plot of false gods, technology, and legacy.
PREMIUM
Chaos
The space opera’s mercantile empire setting creates plenty of rapacious villains and provides endless backdrops for the never-ending chaos, while the madcap romance is perfect for readers of Valerie Valdes, K.B. Wagers, Rachel Bach, or Cat Rambo, this time with elements of Martha Wells’s “Murderbot Diaries” series.
PREMIUM
Cold Iron Task
The third outing for Butcher’s troubled magical protagonist (after Long Past Dues) continues to provide answers and also ask more questions. Solid action and quippy dialogue will keep readers engaged for the long haul.
PREMIUM
One Level Down
Readers fascinated with the pocket worlds of Brenda Peynado’s Time’s Agent or the costly approach to poorly placed colonies in Edward Ashton’s Mickey7 will find much to ponder in Thompson’s (The Word) adult fiction debut.
PREMIUM
The Antlered King
Gordon offers a striking sequel to her dark fantasy debut, The Gilded Crown.
PREMIUM
The Gilded Crown
With strong voice acting, this dark fantasy debut is sure to be well-received by fans of books like Adalyn Grace’s “Belladonna” trilogy. Listeners will be eager for more from this talented writer.
PREMIUM
Chaos Terminal
An unpredictable and uproarious tale, sure to please both mystery and sci-fi fans.
O’Brien’s fiction debut is a highly intriguing vision of the near future that examines the role of memory in a functional aspect, which also underscores the utility of forgetting: “Funes the Memorious” by Jorge Luis Borges meets Total Recall by Philip K. Dick, with a wry narration that balances the grim reality.
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