Iversen, Chelsea. The Peculiar Garden of Harriet Hunt. Sourcebooks Landmark. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781728275819. pbk. 320p. $16.99. FANTASY

Iversen (The Witches at the End of the World) writes a historical fantasy set in 19th-century London. After her cruel father disappears and leaves her with his debts, Harriet is forced to marry to survive. Finding solace in the garden outside her house and yearning to be free, she realizes that the garden contains a strange magic that responds to her.

Korn, Gabrielle. The Shutouts. St. Martin’s. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781250323484. 304p. $29. SCIENCE FICTION

Set in the same world as Korn’s debut novel, Yours for the Taking, this dystopian cli-fi tale examines a dangerous future in the U.S. In 2041, Kelly braves deadly storms and wildfires to get back to her daughter, while 40 years later, Ava and her daughter Brook are running away from a climate-change relief program where they were mistreated.

Lau, Roanne. The Serpent Called Mercy. Astra/DAW. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9780756419448. 368p. $28. FANTASY

Lau debuts with a Malaysian Chinese–inspired epic fantasy. Trying to escape their lives of debt and poverty, friends Lythlet and Desil sign up to be conquessors, arena combatants who fight monsters. Lythlet’s ambitions have unexpected costs, and she will have to decide if sacrificing her honor and friendship is worth a potential life of fame and wealth.

Revis, Beth. How To Steal a Galaxy. (Chaotic Orbits, bk. 2). Astra/DAW. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9780756419486. 192p. $23. SCIENCE FICTION

Bestselling Revis continues her sexy space heist trilogy, after Full Speed to a Crash Landing. A rebel group hires Ada for an undercover mission at a charity gala, while Rian volunteers to work the gala, thinking Ada will be there to steal the rare items up for auction. Turns out, she’s really there to recruit him for the rebels.

White, Alex. Ardent Violet and the Infinite Eye. (The Starmetal Symphony, bk. 2). Orbit. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9780316430609. pbk. 448p. $19.99. SCIENCE FICTION

White (August Kitko and the Mechas from Space) continues their queer space opera trilogy about a band of musicians trying to save humanity from an army of giant space robots. Nonbinary pop star Ardent Violet is hoping to enjoy some time with their new boyfriend August Kitko, but now they are caught up in diplomacy with aliens and the arrival of a powerful AI.

Forthcoming Series Titles

Darwin, Alexander. Blacklight Born. (The Combat Codes, bk. 3). Orbit. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9780316493574. pbk. 464p. $19.99. FANTASY

Evans, Davinia. Rebel Blade. (The Burnished City, bk. 3). Orbit. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9780316398435. pbk. 400p. $19.99. FANTASY

Lackey, Mercedes. Miss Amelia’s List. (Elemental Masters, bk. 17). Astra/DAW. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9780756419097. 336p. $28. FANTASY

Sanderson, Brandon. Wind and Truth. (The Stormlight Archive, bk. 5). Tor. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781250319180. 1,248p. $39.99. FANTASY

Zahn, Timothy. The Icarus Needle. (The Icarus Saga, bk. 5). Baen. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781982193799. 352p. $28. SCIENCE FICTION