Healy, Christy. Unbound. Blackstone. Jan. 2024. 350p. ISBN 9798212613835. pap. $16.99. FANTASY

DEBUT Rozlyn’s earliest memories are riddled with the horror wrought by the Beast of Connacht. Her people are at its mercy—and only she can end the violence. If she marries for love, the curse of the Beast will end. But as the line of suitors grows at her doorstep, so does Rozlyn’s power, a magic so intoxicating that she cannot imagine life without it. When Jamie arrives with talents of his own, Rozlyn finds herself grappling with unexpected feelings. But will love be enough to forgive him once secrets older than time begin to unfurl? Steeped in Irish folklore and mythology, Healy’s tale grabs readers by the hand, guiding them on a journey filled with delicious, gut-wrenching twists and turns. This character-driven story unfolds by dancing between the past and present, allowing deep secrets and ironies to reveal themselves in surprising ways. VERDICT Healy’s debut is an excellent read for anyone who has an appetite for fairy tales, folklore, monsters, and stories with women protagonists who stand firmly rooted in their own strength.—Amira Walker

Lemming, Kimberly. That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon. Orbit. (Mead Mishaps, Bk. 1). Jan. 2024. 288p. ISBN 9780316570275. pap. $18.99. FANTASY

DEBUT Spice trader Cinnamon doesn’t want to go on adventures because they lead to dangerous situations such as her sister Cherry getting devoured by a river monster. But Cin’s mishap with way too much mead results in a hangover and her rescue of a devilishly handsome demon who is not so demonic after all, leading her to the knowledge that the divine being her people follow isn’t really a goddess. It will be up to her, her demon mate, and the friends they rescue along the way to save their people from this evil monster masquerading as a goddess. The first book in the “Mead Mishaps” series, previously self-published, throws its heroine into the arms of a demon-shaped cinnamon roll of a hero and sends them on a quest to save the world from a power-hungry monster. VERDICT This a serious fantasy quest that doesn’t take itself so seriously and is perfect for readers who love Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne, but who wish that the romances at the heart of those cozy fantasies had been considerably more explicit.—Marlene Harris

Mooring, Meredith. Redsight. Solaris. Feb. 2024. 400p. ISBN 9781786189387. $26.99. SF

DEBUT In Mooring’s debut novel, blind initiate Korinna risks being “recycled” if she can’t prove her worth to the Red Priestesses and the Empire. In clear callbacks to well-loved classic science fiction, galactic politics and religious interstellar navigational skills take center stage alongside powerful religious prophesies. Much like life on the Navitas, important plot points and worldbuilding alternate between frequent repetition and required leaps of faith. Pacing and plot prove to be more important than character development, though love and trauma are Korinna’s compass through the schemes of the galaxy’s most powerful women. The entire novel is coated with an aesthetic of pain, as blood and injury empower Red Priestess magic. This can lead to a few gruesome scenes, but alongside morally gray characters, this places the novel firmly with the current trend for blockbusters with a shadowy vibe. Despite the cruelness of her galaxy, Mooring takes special care with inclusivity. Blindness is not a barrier, and racism and homophobia don’t seem to exist in the diverse society. VERDICT Recommended for lovers of goth-tinged speculative fiction like Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir and The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling.—Matthew Galloway

Sagas, L.M. Cascade Failure. Tor. (Ambit’s Run, Bk. 1). Mar. 2024. 416p. ISBN 9781250871251. pap. $17.99. SF

DEBUT Accused of desertion, Jal just wants to get home and clear his name. Instead he runs into the Ambit, crewed by Eoan, Nash, and Saint, whom he parted with on bad terms. Before Saint can drag Jal in to face justice, the Ambit picks up a distress signal from a hacker, Anke, trapped on a dead planet. Intergalactic megacorporation the Trust has been cutting costs by sabotaging terraformed worlds that have outlived their usefulness. Anke needs help to take the Trust’s Deadworld Code down. But can the crew of the Ambit trust each other? This book will appeal to fans of Becky Chambers’s The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet who enjoy heartfelt sci-fi featuring a tightknit crew but are looking for a grittier plot. The Deadworld Code leaves behind eerie, barren landscapes that the characters race through to undo corporate sabotage while evading other factions with their own agendas. Jal and Saint’s history hangs between them, lacing the story with themes of betrayal and how far people will go for forgiveness—or revenge. VERDICT Sagas’s debut combines galactic and personal stakes in an entertaining series starter that leaves plenty of space for future adventures.—Erin Niederberger