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LJ Andrews starts a new series set in a fantasy Viking world, Danielle Jensen returns with the second in a series, and debuts include the first in a Celtic-inspired duology and a cursed, shapeshifting prince.
Emily Tesh writes a sapphic dark academia fantasy while Tochi Onyebuchi and Adam Oyebanji offer mystery-infused SFF.
Leong’s debut is a delightful cozy fantasy that will appeal to fans of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and A Pirate’s Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne.
Juliette Cross launches a series featuring a dragon shapeshifter, Venessa Vida Kelley debuts with a historical romantasy about a Coney Island merman, and RuNyx offers a twist on the Hades and Persephone myth, set in a dark academia world.
Olivie Blake returns with the story of three telepathically and electrokinetically gifted siblings, and Nghi Vo continues the story of Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby from her acclaimed novel The Chosen and the Beautiful.
Readers who have been swept up in the cozy charm of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee will fall hard for the mix of magical realism, fantasy mystery, and star-crossed romance in this novel.
PREMIUM
The Serpent and the Wolf
With intricate worldbuilding and a unique magic system, Robinson draws readers in and delivers a compelling debut that will captivate fans of Nicola Tyche’s North Queen.
Readers who have been swept up in the cozy charm of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee will fall hard for the mix of magical realism, fantasy mystery, and star-crossed romance in this novel from Sotto Yambao (The Beginning of Always). Highly recommended.
Vaughn’s (Questland) historical fantasy captures both the science and the magic of the natural world, as well as 19th-century sexism. With a unique magic system and engrossing character arcs, this novel will speak to fantasy and lit fic readers alike.
Readers who found the struggle to communicate in Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea will enjoy the equally fraught miscommunications between the minarchs, the “stickmen,” and the humans, while fans of the classic Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Darmok” will find this to be a familiar and similarly complex and heartbreaking tale.
PREMIUM
Twisted Shadows
Will satisfy those looking for more momentum in the series’ central romance as well as fans compelled by the investigation. Second-act revelations will have readers clamoring for the next installment; those new to the series should begin with book one, Liar City.
Lakshminarayan (The Ten Percent Thief) offers an engaging story that dives into themes about the appreciation of food, colonization, and xenophobia and features two morally gray queer women attempting to find their footing with each other.
PREMIUM
At the Fount of Creation
Readers still reeling from the plummet off the edge of the cliff-hanger ending of the first book will be desperate to get their hands on this epic conclusion to the “Guardians of the Gods” duology, while those who have loved the African-inspired epic stories of lies, secrets, and powerful tricksters found in the works of Moses Ose Utomi and Nnedi Okorafor will be thrilled to add Ogundiran to their lists of must-reads.
Even as the character arcs pack emotional punches and the plot builds with intensity, the story is balanced with the humor and wry character introspection Klune (In the Lives of Puppets) is known for. Previously self-published, this reissued stand-alone only solidifies Klune’s reputation for skillful prose and worldbuilding.
Leong’s debut is a delightful cozy fantasy that will appeal to fans of Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and A Pirate’s Life for Tea by Rebecca Thorne.
PREMIUM
How To Steal a Galaxy
Readers who love an old-fashioned heist story, anyone who loves witty, banter-driven romps, and those who have gotten caught up in SF/mystery stories, such as The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal or Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis, will love the fluffy but ultimately dangerous misdirection of this one.
PREMIUM
The Shiver Tree
Searcy’s debut novel is a fun romp that will feel nostalgic to players of Dungeons & Dragons, as it seems to be the first adventure in a larger campaign. This will appeal to readers (teens and up) who love a good fantasy with a mix of humor and interesting worldbuilding.
Highly recommended for readers who love mythological retellings like Madeline Miller’s Circe or those who enjoy tales of fierce women seizing control of their own destiny.
PREMIUM
A Sky of Emerald Stars
This sequel to A River of Golden Bones carries forward its intriguing relationships and high-stakes adventures, along with exploring gender and race in a high-fantasy setting.
PREMIUM
Boudicca
The real history of the red-haired warrior queen is given new life in Cast’s (Out of the Dawn) well-told reimagining and worldbuilding, with prose that allows readers to see both a battle-hardened leader and a mother fighting for those she loves.
PREMIUM
The Wren in the Holly Library
Fans of fairy tales and romantasy will be delighted. Perfect for those who enjoyed the sexy intrigue of Kerri Maniscalco’s Throne of the Fallen.
PREMIUM
All This and More
Despite the thought-provoking premise and outstanding narration, Shepherd’s choose-your-own-adventure novel is somewhat confusing in audio and may be better experienced in print.
Bittersweet, tender, and ruthless, Bradley’s captivating debut examines the personal frictions between people, between global and personal understanding, and within one’s self.
An incandescent, nail-biting adventure set at a flooded American Museum of Natural History and an epic journey through a near-future, ravaged landscape that blends extreme suspense with serene meditation.
Originally self-published and now receiving a special edition with additional content from a big publisher, this debut novel and Book Tok sensation is highly recommended for romantasy lovers, especially fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
A haunting story, interlacing exciting tales of adventure with philosophical musings on the human condition.
PREMIUM
Road to Ruin
Lee creates a literary cocktail that will dance upon the tastebuds of fans of Mad Max, the popular video game Borderlands, and Dungeons & Dragons.
PREMIUM
When Among Crows
A great recommendation for listeners seeking an action-packed fantasy without the romance. Recommend to fans of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods or Cassandra Clare’s “The Shadowhunter Chronicles” series.
This will have listeners believing in a new, inclusive resurgence of the urban fantasy subgenre. Recommended for fans of Laurell K. Hamilton’s “Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter” series.
PREMIUM
The Familiar
Bardugo’s venture into the Spanish Golden Age translates well into audio, emphasizing a deeply seductive and lushly detailed atmosphere that intrigues and delights. Suggest to listeners of romantasy and those who enjoy fantastical elements in historical settings.
PREMIUM
The Lost Story
Shaffer’s (The Wishing Game) second novel presents a marvelous fairy-tale world, channeling the nostalgic wonder of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia. Despite some similarities in the characters’ voices, this enchanting portal story is highly recommended.
Huston’s (Skinner) newest is an excellent listen for those seeking a reality-bending fantasy with a quirky protagonist. Libraries hoping to offer tales that are off the beaten path will want to check this out.
PREMIUM
The Shabti
Supernatural danger and an affirming queer romance set this Depression-era thriller apart. Recommended.
With detailed worldbuilding, a brooding and troubled anti-hero, and a heroine with a strong backbone struggling between duty to family, love, and all mortalkind, this epic, slow-burn romantasy is a page-turner for romance and fantasy fans alike. Highly recommended, with excellent crossover appeal for young adults.
PREMIUM
Loka
This sequel deepens Meru’s extensive worldbuilding and continues to draw on its core themes of what humanity means in a post-human future. However, this is, at heart, a coming-of-age story that will appeal to young adult readers as much as to older fans of Divya’s work.
This new adult romantasy from Peñaranda (A Sword from the Embers) will hold appeal for fans of Kerri Maniscalco’s “Kingdom of the Wicked” series.
This literary prequel warns against current tall tales masquerading as truth and will appeal to fans of Gregory Maguire’s and Ann Claycomb’s repurposed classics.
PREMIUM
Chaotic Apéritifs
Listeners will gobble up this engaging cozy fantasy and eagerly anticipate the next delicious installment in the series. Perfect for foodies and fantasy lovers.
PREMIUM
Dragon Rider
Slow pacing and low character agency contrast against excellent narration and rich prose. A secondary purchase for collections where fantasy audiobooks circulate well.
PREMIUM
Weird Black Girls: Stories
An excellent addition to any collection featuring literary short stories with a twist. Share with patrons seeking socially conscious fiction laced with horror and magical realism in the vein of Courtney Sender’s In Other Lifetimes All I’ve Lost Comes Back to Me.
Crisp scholarly dryness pairs perfectly with barely contained drama and a potent smidge of urban legend horror.
PREMIUM
The Ragpicker
Dane’s expressive latest should strike an emotional chord for fans of stories about survival and humanity after the end.
PREMIUM
A Flame in the North
Saintcrow opens her new “Black Land’s Bane” series with the greatest hits of high fantasy in a narrative paralleling the works of Tolkien to a degree that’s impossible to ignore. Nevertheless, Solveig and Arneoir’s introduction to the battle against the Enemy, not so defeated as they once supposed, will have listeners anxious for the next series installment.
This Ghibli-esque slow-burn fantasy delivers on every promise it offers when it drops Diana Wynne Jones’s Howl’s Moving Castle inside Patricia A. McKillip’s The Forgotten Beasts of Eld.
Fans of Patricia A. McKillip’s The Forgotten Beasts of Eld or Marie Brennan’s Driftwood will be in awe of Berry’s (The Manual of Detection) wonderfully odd ode to language, story, and family.
Fantasy fans and steampunk enthusiasts will enjoy Glover’s astounding, creatively envisioned Prohibition-era United States, where magical and historical events intertwine in a thrilling plot full of adventurous characters.
The moon has turned into cheese in John Scalzi's latest, while Amal El-Mohtar offers a highly anticipated solo novella about two sisters living on the edge of Faerie.
PREMIUM
An Instruction in Shadow
The new magic system introduced in this series, which began with An Inheritance of Magic, continues to fascinate, and the stories will remind readers of classic urban fantasies (such as the “Dresden Files” series from Jim Butcher), as Stephen’s world gets more dangerous and he powers through each setback by learning bigger and better magic and paying a higher price each and every time.
PREMIUM
Exiled by Iron
A great edge-of-the-seat read for fans of complex and highly emotional fantasy romances. Recommend to readers of Naomi Novik and Tomi Adeyemi.
Groner (Exiles) offers a contemplative take on the postapocalyptic genre that leaves room for hope but doesn’t stint on realism. This novel reads like Cormac McCarthy’s The Road meets Robert M. Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; highly recommended.
Wagers’s (The Ghosts of Trappist) stellar fourth outing for their futuristic Near-Earth Orbital Guard is filled with snappy dialogue and vivid worldbuilding. With the found family of Zuma’s Ghost as the foundation of the series, the internal conflicts are just as compelling as the external high-stakes action.
PREMIUM
Bindle Punk Jefe
Readers who were enthralled by Rose Lane’s infiltration of the mob in Prohibition-era Kansas City in the previous book, those who are fascinated by the boundary-blurring Jazz Age (as explored in historical mysteries such as Last Call at the Nightingale by Katharine Schellman), and anyone thrilled by the combination of history, tradition, and magic in Leslye Penelope’s The Monsters We Defy and Nekesa Afia’s Dead Dead Girls won’t be able to turn these pages fast enough.
PREMIUM
The Bloodless Princes
This gender-bent tale of knights and dragons takes the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, turns it into a sapphic romance, and adds a layer of unpacking what has been learned to find the shining truth within, with the bittersweet assistance of one very lonely dragon.
PREMIUM
Breath of Oblivion
Broaddus’s second “Astra Black” book is another sweeping space saga, with a complex story that explores deep themes.
PREMIUM
Under the Oak Tree
This English-language novelization of the popular South Korean webnovel and comic is less successful in this format.
Guanzon’s highly anticipated sequel to The Hurricane Wars is a captivating read from start to finish. The tension between the characters with the mix of political intrigue and magic will be sure to enchant readers.
The setting, the detailed emotive descriptions, and nail-biting adventure are incandescent. This debut novel from Caffall (The Mourner’s Bestiary) is like Peter Heller’s The Dog Stars met Barry Unsworth’s Sacred Hunger, with a focus on the essential nature of community.
Suri’s final volume in her fantastic trilogy, after The Oleander Sword, delivers all of the hope and heartache promised in the series. Exquisite worldbuilding, high-stakes action, emotional arcs, and a love that will stand the test of time create a climactic conclusion to this epic fantasy.
Iversen’s (The Witches at the End of the World) novel will appeal to fans of character-driven historical fantasy with feminist themes and just a touch of magic.
PREMIUM
Toto
Readers will be delighted to discover this unique take on The Wizard of Oz. With modern references, unusual twists, snarky commentary, and some delightful side plots, recommend Hackwith’s (The God of Lost Words) new novel to readers looking for a fun retelling or twisted tale.
PREMIUM
The Nightward
An intriguing magi-tech high-fantasy series opener that paves the way for chaos in the follow-up.
Fantasy fans and steampunk enthusiasts will enjoy Glover’s astounding, creatively envisioned Prohibition-era United States, where magical and historical events intertwine in a thrilling plot full of adventurous characters.
Hopkinson’s stories hold deep messages at their core, yet flow with a dreamlike etherealness, even when they’re nightmares.
PREMIUM
The Last Dangerous Visions
SF readers will be captivated by this collection of works that are either new for this anthology or have been held in unpublished limbo for decades.
PREMIUM
Servant of Earth
While the plot may be a bit predictable for avid readers of new adult fantasy, the stage has been sufficiently set for a series that may have more surprises to offer as it continues.
Parry’s (The Magician’s Daughter) latest will enthrall those who loved the post-WWI high-magic high society of Freya Marske’s “Last Binding” series. Highly recommended for readers looking for an immersive world of power politics, magical societies, and world-shattering consequences.
This Ghibli-esque slow-burn fantasy delivers on every promise it offers when it drops Diana Wynne Jones’s Howl’s Moving Castle inside Patricia A. McKillip’s The Forgotten Beasts of Eld.
PREMIUM
The Mars House
Together, Pulley and de Bourg create a delightful listening experience, balancing a slow-burn romance with clever worldbuilding.
A rollicking novel that doesn’t take itself too seriously, recommended for anyone needing to get lost in a good world, explore their inner demons, and enjoy some serious bloodshed. A needed addition to lighten the mood of any audio fantasy section.
PREMIUM
A Letter to the Luminous Deep
This first installment in Cathrall’s “Sunken Archive” series will leave listeners anxiously awaiting the second book. Share with those who enjoyed Heather Fawcett’s Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
Equal parts meditation on belonging, slowest-burn romance, and cli-fi spy drama make an unstoppable combination.
While this short audiobook grounds magical girls in reality, it is no less magical than the material that inspired it.
PREMIUM
Mal Goes to War
This audiobook transports listeners to a world where learning about war means recognizing its costs. Fans of stories featuring machines becoming more will gladly follow Mal and friends on their journey.
PREMIUM
Grand Tour
Chatsworth’s sequel to The Brass Queen is a rollicking, impeccably described adventure, with alien subplots bringing elements of hard science fiction to the steampunk genre. Series fans and those new to it will be enthralled.
Utterly disorienting yet still emotionally and thematically resonant, Chandrasekera delivers a narrative that will satisfy every fan of the weird.
PREMIUM
Strange Beasts
While the novel’s world is based on well-known Dracula lore, Morris delivers a fresh, unique tale that will delight mystery, fantasy, and horror readers alike. Give it to fans of C.L. Polk, Alix E. Harrow, and T. Kingfisher.
PREMIUM
Rogue Community College
Perfect for fans of TJ Klune and those who enjoy a queer-normative, whimsical world full of witty prose and heartwarming relationships.
Readers looking for a wild romp of a sci-fi caper story, complete with long games, big plans, wild heists, and epically flirtatious banter, are going to fall in love with Ada Lamarr every bit as much as Agent Rian White does in this first of a projected trilogy from Revis (Museum of Magic). Perfect for fans of Valerie Valdes and Constance Fay.
This compelling stand-alone fantasy explores both personal and societal costs of reliance on a dwindling resource.
This title is a crackling cap to the “Witch’s Compendium of Monsters” duology that’s ultimately about found family and the power of asking for help. Perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett and Delilah S. Dawson. Readers will gladly rush back to the grimy streets of Chernograd for more monstrous nights.
PREMIUM
The Cursed
Excellent for readers who prefer steamy romances with an anti-hero they can love to hate. Start with the first installment in “Coven of Bones,” The Coven.
PREMIUM
In the Garden of Monsters
An atmospheric, slow-burning gothic story that will appeal to patient readers who enjoy strong settings and the surreal.
Nail-biting suspense makes for an engaging and compulsively readable intro to yet another ambitious series from this writing team.
Fans of Carmen Maria Machado will find in this debut novelist a new author to follow every bit as voraciously.
PREMIUM
Countess
Palumbo’s debut novella, following the story collection Skin Thief, is a satisfying story of revenge and revolution that stokes the fire in readers.
PREMIUM
Metal from Heaven
Clarke’s (“Scapegracers” series, writing as H.A. Clarke) adult debut, an irreverent queer fantasy novel, will thrill readers and appeal to fans of the “Locked Tomb” series by Tamsyn Muir, while the fusion of technology and magic and clash between industrialists and outlaws is reminiscent of Netflix’s Arcane.
Bestselling Lambda Literary Award winner TJ Klune is the author of The House in the Cerulean Sea and the forthcoming Somewhere Beyond the Sea. He talks with LJ about fighting bigotry, the power of found family, and his future projects, including a book featuring a wandering black hole.
This compelling mix of horror, found family, and intricate mythology will appeal to those who loved Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys and The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin.
PREMIUM
A House Like an Accordion
An audio for listeners seeking an imaginative exploration of a family’s fraught history, set against an intriguing magical backdrop.
PREMIUM
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 40: The Best New SF & Fantasy of the Year
This wide-ranging collection, accessible in one unique volume, is highly recommended for those seeking inventive voices from around the globe. Aspiring writers may also find inspiration for honing their craft and storytelling skills.
PREMIUM
The Last Shield
The novel’s worldbuilding is top-notch, with fantastic descriptions of dangerous druid rites and malevolent forces deep in the castle crypts, making it an enjoyable, if predictable, addition to the fantasy world. Its rather violent take on the genre will appeal to fans of Joe Abercrombie.
PREMIUM
The Diapause
A focus on memory and experience creates an atmospheric pastiche of the future through the successive slices of a life in progress; recommended for the discerning reader.
TJ Klune, bestselling author and Lambda Literary Award winner, delivered a spring 2024 LJ Day of Dialog keynote address on the advent of his forthcoming novel, Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Tor). Kristi Chadwick, LJ's SFF co-columnist introduces Klune.
Readers who fell hard for Hazel Beck’s “Witchlore” series and Ann Aguirre’s “Fix-It Witches” books will be thrilled with these turn-of-the-century sister-witches in Sivinski’s debut.
Aliens invade sci-fi, while fae, folklore, and more feature in fantasy that ranges from cozy to epic.
A big series launch from Stephanie Burgis, who sets her newest in a gas lamp–lit world filled with magic, hags, and ogres; plus several sequels to look forward to.
PREMIUM
The Last Gifts of the Universe
Originally self-published and now picked up by a big publisher, August’s debut is a quick read that will appeal most to fans of character-driven sci-fi, such as the work of Becky Chambers.
PREMIUM
Alien Clay
This engaging book is perfect for those who enjoyed Tchaikovsky’s Cage of Souls and for fans of Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer.
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