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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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
PREMIUM
The Wood at Midwinter
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell nods towards Jane Austen, but this short story leans towards the Brontës. Clarke’s many fans will not be disappointed, other than in the story’s brevity.
PREMIUM
Elusive
Cogman furthers the creation of this alternate history and tells a pulse-pounding tale of spies and swashbuckling that will thrill readers of Gail Carriger, Kim Newman, and the author’s own “Invisible Library” series, leaving them breathless in anticipation of the final volume in the trilogy.
PREMIUM
Candle & Crow
This follow-up to Paper & Blood is a rewarding ending to the quirky trilogy, best read in order. Readers of Benedict Jacka or Stephen Blackmoore might enjoy.
PREMIUM
Rewitched
As the weather turns cooler, readers can count on being warmly led through this gentle witchy journey of self-worth.
PREMIUM
Buried Deep and Other Stories
Fantasy, folk tales, and skillful storytelling come together in this delightful collection.
Readers who can’t resist that world-weary voice, enjoy SF/mystery capers such as Suzanne Palmer’s “Finder Chronicles” and the soldier stories of John Scalzi’s “Old Man’s War” series, or simply like their military SF with multiple twists will be thrilled by Butler’s latest misbegotten adventure.
PREMIUM
Witch Queen of Redwinter
The final volume of “The Redwinter Chronicles,” after Traitor of Redwinter, is an epic adventure across war-ravaged lands, where friendship is tested and twisted, and the fate of all lies in the hands of a few. Readers of George R.R. Martin might enjoy this series.
PREMIUM
A Pirate’s Life for Tea
As was true with the first in the delightful “Tomes & Tea” series, the pleasures of this novel are centered in the relationships and the ethics Key and Rain advance.
The follow-up to The House in the Cerulean Sea is another heart-wrenching tale of being perceived as different, finding acceptance, and having a place in the world. Fans of Seanan McGuire’s “Wayward Children” series or the writings of Alix E. Harrow will especially want to pick up this duology for its emotional themes and Klune’s bittersweet prose.
PREMIUM
Bull Moon Rising
A patently silly premise develops into a sincerely crafted, explicit romantasy.
PREMIUM
The City in Glass
Vo’s (The Brides of High Hill) latest takes the lyrical, mystical, otherworldly, and frequently contentious relationship between the demon and the angel and creates the kind of push-pull duality of This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, then adds a splash of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens to tell a romantic story about two beings on opposite sides of an eternal conflict who find common ground but never peace.
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.
PREMIUM
The Last Dragon of the East
Kwan (Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love) offers a low-heat, medium-violence romantasy based on Chinese folklore.
Clever, empathetic characters, an unusual world, and a rapidly paced story that keeps readers guessing will delight fans of Caruso’s (The Ivory Tomb) and create new ones.
With bells, whistles, and dynamic, perfectly timed narration, this audiobook original makes full use of its medium. Fans of military aviation thrillers such as Dale Brown’s Eagle Station will be over the moon.
PREMIUM
Someone You Can Build a Nest In
A grimly funny blend of fantasy, romance, and horror, perfect for fans of Christopher Moore.
PREMIUM
The Relentless Legion
The conclusion to “The Divide Series,” after The Exiled Fleet, maintains the action-packed pace and universe-wide setting of the previous books, while keeping the personal connection between the characters at the core of the story. Place this trilogy in the hands of readers who like the “Expanse” series by James S.A. Corey.
PREMIUM
Fangs So Bright & Deadly
Recommended for readers who like their urban fantasy to explore new magic or paranormal romance readers looking for something magical in their happy-ever-afters.
With a descriptive narrative and fantastic characters, Pearson expertly draws readers into the world of Elfhame. Great for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Heather Fawcett.
Hiiragi’s thoughtful English-language debut will send readers searching through their minds to excavate the forgotten moments that define them even now.
Clever, empathetic characters, an unusual world, and a rapidly paced story that keeps readers guessing will delight fans of Caruso’s (The Ivory Tomb) and create new ones.
Marked by Harkness’s deft evocations and appreciation of learning, this is a book to treasure. The portentous ending, rife with new story threads and threats, will leave readers hoping that she doesn’t wait another six years to continue the series.
PREMIUM
Oil and Dust
With a postapocalyptic setting and characters on their own personal quests, Fairleigh delivers a debut novel that will appeal to fans of Becky Chambers’s “Monk & Robot” series and Katherine Addison’s “Cemeteries of Amalo” books.
PREMIUM
Charcoal and Smoke
The third book in Fairleigh’s “The Elemental Artist” series (after Graphite and Turbulence) is an emotional story of family, friendship, and connection. Readers will be intrigued by the postapocalyptic setting and what has been left behind.
PREMIUM
Exodus: The Archimedes Engine
This hefty tome is the first of two novels set in the world of the Exodus video game, for which Hamilton (The Saints of Salvation) is a creative consultant. As a result, it’s easy to imagine this epic space opera as an immersive gaming experience, and many of the author’s strengths shine through. It’s full of heroics and fast-paced action, interplanetary intrigue, and the innovative exploration of futuristic technologies and their societal impacts.
PREMIUM
Graphite and Turbulence
The follow-up to Fairleigh’s Oil and Dust continues to focus on family, both found and by blood, along with facing revivals of patterns from the past, namely religion. The unique landscape and societal setups are richly detailed and immersive.
PREMIUM
An Academy for Liars
Henderson (House of Hunger) brings dark academia back to its roots with an incisive look at the inhumanity people enact to gain power.
PREMIUM
The Gods Below
In this series launch full of rich worldbuilding and invested characters, Stewart (The Bone Shard War) creates a story of families broken and reformed, magic, and the capriciousness of gods.
SFF highlights include dystopian fiction, a West African–based epic fantasy, a queer fantasy set in the Appalachian mountains, and a novel of vampires, werewolves and sorcerers; plus a list of forthcoming series titles.
PREMIUM
Lucy Undying: A Dracula Novel
A great option for vampire fans looking for a woman protagonist, as well as for readers looking for a unique journey through time.
Take the deadly mystery and vicious academic politics of The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older, stir in the magic and the romance of the “Emily Wilde” series by Heather Fawcett (but make it sapphic), add several drops of the political shenanigans of epic fantasy, and stir with a sharp, prickly thorn of a main character to get this fraught enemies-to-lovers fantasy. YA author Saft’s (A Fragile Enchantment) adult debut is highly recommended.
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.
Soria’s newest book will wrap readers into a cozy world that they won’t want to leave. This fantasy romance is sure to enrapture readers looking for an atmospheric and lovable read, much like Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett.
PC Cast reimagines famous warrior queen Boudicca, and Samantha Sotto Yambao writes a cozy romance fantasy; plus exciting series installments from Mai Corland, Melissa Blair, and Rebecca Yarros.
Explore the near present and the far future in spectacular works of rational imagination and inquiry.
PREMIUM
Valley
The final installment in “The Glacian Trilogy” (after Chasm) is a worthy conclusion, intricate and surprising, and arguably the best in the series. Recommend to fantasy and romantasy readers who enjoy books with resilient heroines, such as Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
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.
PREMIUM
Pride and Prejudice in Space
Lampley’s (The Onyx Vial) adult debut is an eye-catching creation that will charm Austen lovers and fans of soft sci-fi romance.
PREMIUM
What We Sacrifice for Magic
Readers who enjoyed the witchy cross-generational squabbles in Hazel Beck’s “Witchlore” series, lovers of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic, and anyone who adored the setting and the family dynamics of The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal but wished it had a touch of magic will fall hard for DeWerd’s debut, a coming-of-age and coming-into-power story about sacrifice and sisterhood.
PREMIUM
Dark Space
This clever science-fiction novel is a perfect choice for readers looking for a perilous adventure with a dash of coziness.
PREMIUM
New Adventures in Space Opera
SF readers used to seeing space opera as multi-doorstop series will find a lot to love in this collection of skillful short works in a popular subgenre. Fans of the featured authors will love seeing their favorites’ work in shorter forms.
An expansive fantasy full of vivid descriptions and a large cast of characters. Recommended for readers who enjoy lush worlds where some aspects of the plot remain gauzy like the shadows lingering throughout this book.
Take the deadly mystery and vicious academic politics of The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older, stir in the magic and the romance of the “Emily Wilde” series by Heather Fawcett (but make it sapphic), add several drops of the political shenanigans of epic fantasy, and stir with a sharp, prickly thorn of a main character to get this fraught enemies-to-lovers fantasy. YA author Saft’s (A Fragile Enchantment) adult debut is highly recommended.
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