Books100 Best Sci-fi & Fantasy Books of 2018: The Ultimate List

100 Best Sci-fi & Fantasy Books of 2018: The Ultimate List

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Looking for the best sci-fi and fantasy books of 2018? We’ve got you covered.

Below, you’ll find a list of the best sci-fi and fantasy books of 2018:


January Sci-fi/Fantasy Books:

Saga Volume 8 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staplesupcoming sci-fi books 2018

Release Date: January 2
Publisher: Image Comics
Pages: 152 (paperback)

The 8th collection of Vaughan’s and Staples’s epic space opera graphic novel picks up from where we last saw our heroes. After the devastating events of the War for Phang, Hazel, Marko, and Alana must dust themselves off and head to new horizons and worlds at the edge of the universe.

Each volume of Saga has proven to be more volatile and dramatic than the last, and Volume 8 should be no different. Staples’s artwork creates a stunning harmony with Vaughan’s characters and worlds, and this collaboration has only grown stronger with each issue.

Let’s hope that this vibrant and ambitious series still has a long way to go!

Buy it here.


The Cruel Prince (Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black

new fantasy books 2018

Release Date: January 2
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 384 (hardcover)

With The Cruel Prince, Holly Black begins what is sure to be an enthralling and vividly imagined fantasy trilogy.

Jude was only seven years old when her parents were killed and her sisters were taken to live in the High Court of Faerie. A decade later, Jude wants to join them, though many of the cruel fey despise humans like her. Prince Cardan, the youngest son of the High King, is particularly vile.

In order to join the High Court, Jude must stand up to Prince Cardan. In doing so, she enters a world of politics and treachery. Jude must take great risks and forge an alliance to save her sisters, but civil war looms over the Courts of Faerie, threatening to plunge everything into violence.

Holly Black’s charming style and imagination are sure to please both new fans and old in this new trilogy, and that’s why it’s one of our most anticipated fantasy books coming out in 2018.

Buy it here.


Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children #3) by Seanan McGuirenew sci-fi books 2018

Release Date: January 9
Publisher: Tor.com
Pages: 176 (hardcover)

This standalone fantasy for all ages takes readers back to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children, a boarding school for children who have been on fantastic adventures and need to be reacclimated to reality.

When Rini finds herself at the Home for Wayward Children, she learns that her mother died before Rini was even born. Not only does Rini have a world to save, but she also has to resolve the paradox of her own existence.

In a world without magic, contradicting Reality is a dangerous thing. Rini must work with her fellow students to bring her mother back before Reality ensures that they both disappear forever.

Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children series began with the Hugo- and Nebula-Award-winning Every Heart a Doorway and can be read in any order. However, connections between books will reward observant readers.

Buy it here.


Shroud of Eternity (Nicci Chronicles #2)  by Terry Goodkind

new fantasy books 2018

Release Date: January 9
Publisher: Tor Books
Page Count: 528 (hardcover)

Goodkind’s Shroud of Eternity is the second volume of his latest series from the world of Sword of Truth, following the sorceress Nicci and the prophet Nathan.

With Nathan’s powers lost, Nicci, Nathan, and Bannon must push Norukai slavers out of Renda Bay. They will need Nathan’s magic back, for the fate of the world hangs on this mission.

Following the guidance of the witch Red’s prophecy, they travel to the city hidden behind time, Ildakar. On this journey, they encounter a genetically modified monster and a massive petrified army. Yet more terrors wait for them in the Shroud of Eternity.

For longtime fans of the Sword of Truth as well as newcomers, Shroud of Eternity is sure to be filled with more adventures from two of Goodkind’s most beloved characters.

Buy it here.


Dark State (Empire Games #2) by Charles Stross

most anticipated sci-fi books 2018

Release Date: January 9
Publisher: Tor Books
Page Count: 352 (hardcover)

British sci-fi legend and Hugo winner Charles Stross brings us the sequel to Empire Games. Like this first book, Dark State takes place in Stross’s brilliant alternate-reality The Merchant Princes series.

Nuclear war between two alternate realities is imminent. Commissioner Miriam Burgeson must try to take out a political player in order to stop the impending destruction.

Stross’s alternate reality universe imagines complex interactions between wildly different timelines and worlds, featuring characters with the rare ability to teleport from one timeline to the other. This latest trilogy is a great place to enter his intricate, multi-genre world.

Buy it here.


Binti: The Night Masquerade (the Binti trilogy #3) by Ndedi Okorafor

most anticipated fantasy books 2018

Release Date: January 16
Publisher: Tor.com
Page Length: 208 (paperback)

In the final volume of Ndedi Okorafor’s Hugo- and Nebula-Award-winning Binti trilogy, Binti returns to her home planet to find an ancient rivalry between the Khoush and the violent Meduse resurfacing.

Binti and her friend Mwinyi must convince their people that war is not the solution, but they are opposed by the elders.

The Binti trilogy is an ambitious series packed into three novellas. It won’t take long to get caught up on the story so far before the third book releases!

Buy it here.


Iron Gold (Red Rising #4) by Pierce Brown

new fantasy books 2018

Release Date: January 16
Publisher: Del Rey
Page Count: 624 (hardcover)

Following the success of #1 New York Times Bestseller Morningstar, Pierce Brown continues the story of Darrow, now the weary leader of an army he created in a world thrust into an unintended war.

Iron Gold marks the beginning of a new epic saga in the world of Red Rising. Early reviews of Iron Gold have been overwhelmingly positive. For those new to the series, the first trilogy is a lightning-paced story of war and retribution in a complicated science fiction future — this is the perfect time to dive into the series.

Buy it here.


Senlin Ascends (The Tower of Babel #1) by Josiah Bancroft

new sci-fi books 2018

Release Date: January 16
Publisher: Orbit
Page Count: 448 (paperback)

Josiah Bancroft’s debut novel, Senlin Ascends, follows schoolteacher Thomas Senlin and his wife Marya on their honeymoon to the Tower of Babel. But this is no biblical Babel — this massive tower is inhabited by millions of people and is made up of several “ringdoms,” each with their own government and societal norms.

Thomas and Marya aren’t at the tower for two hours before becoming separated, and Thomas soon learns that the chances of finding someone in the Tower are slim. Thomas, however, is loyal to a fault and not easily discouraged, and so we follow him on his journey up the Tower to find his wife, if she’s still alive.

Senlin Ascends was originally self-published, but was recently picked up by Orbit for publication. Thomas Senlin is a fantastic protagonist for his cold logic and endless optimism, despite the cruelty and failure he endures in his journey. Bancroft’s writing is beautiful without being flowery, and his worldbuilding makes an otherwise ridiculous premise feel immersive and vivid. The sequel, The Arm of the Sphinx, releases on March 13, and the third and final volume may be released in 2018 as well.

Buy it here.


The Sky is Yours by Chandler Klang Smith

science fiction 2018

Release Date: January 23
Publisher: Hogarth
Page Count: 464 (hardcover)

In what is sure to be one of the boldest debut novels of next year, Chandler Klang Smith has created a dystopian city on Empire Island where a pair of dragons constantly lurk in the sky.

When things become dangerous and unstable, three denizens of the futuristic metropolis seek refuge together as they make their way toward the center of the city. Threats of corruption, cults, and worse lurk in the streets and in themselves.

This powerfully human story of survival will give us a look at a bizarre and mysterious setting. It isn’t often that a premise as unusual as this comes along, and when you pair that with the fact that its title sounds like the name of a 007 film, it’s one of our most anticipated new sci-fi books of 2018.

Buy it here.


The King of Bones and Ashes (Witches of New Orleans #1) by J. D. Horn

new fantasy books 2018

Release Date: January 23
Publisher: 47North
Page Count: 352

This first book in a new trilogy from J. D. Horn introduces Alice Marin, who has just been released from an asylum after being placed there by her family. She’s a witch, and she finds the world quickly losing its magic, threatening to destroy an entire world of witches. Witches throughout New Orleans are disappearing mysteriously, and Alice is determined to understand why and save magic before it vanishes completely.

Buy it here.

Or Read it With a Kindle Unlimited Subscription


Reign the Earth (The Elementae #1) by A. C. Gaughen

new fantasy books 2018

Release Date: January 30
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Page Count: 448 (hardcover)

This new series from A. C. Gaughen introduces Shalia, who has surrendered her freedom to become Queen of the Bone Lands. In her domain, the Elementae (individuals who possess the powers of the elements) are distrusted and are often subjected to torture.

Things get tricky when Shalia learns that she herself is an Elementae who can command the earth. Her husband despises the Elementae, and her brother is at the head of a rebellion — Shalia must make an impossible choice that can only lead to a sacrifice.

Buy it here.


February 2018 Sci-fi/Fantasy Books:

Into the Fire (Vatta’s Peace #2) by Elizabeth Moon

into the fire 2018

Release Date: February 6
Publisher: Del Rey
Page Count: 480 pages

Science fiction genius Elizabeth Moon’s newest series, Vatta’s Peace, marks her return after a ten year hiatus. The second book in the series, Into the Fire, follows Kylara Vatta as she leads a team of crash survivors on an arctic island. While there, they discover a strange base that holds secrets about a strange organization, the planets government, and Ky’s own family.

It’s fantastic news that Moon is writing again, and this latest series is a great place to start if you’ve never read her before.

Buy it here.


Gunpowder Moon by David Pedreira

Gunpowder moon

Release Date: February 13
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Page Count: 304 pages

In 2072, the moon’s helium-3 is a valuable resource in the effort to save a dying Earth. After a bomb kills a miner, the moon becomes more dangerous than it already was. Caden Dechert runs the U.S. mining operation on the moon, and he is determined to figure out who is responsible for the attack. During his investigation, Dechert uncovers a secret that threatens to spark war on the moon and endanger the planet.

Don’t miss out on this political space thriller.

Buy it here.


The Armored Saint (The Sacred Throne #1) by Myke Cole

best new fantasy 2018

Release Date: February 20
Publisher: Tor.com
Page Count: 208 (hardcover)

Myke Cole (author of The Shadow Ops series) is making his first step into epic fantasy, and we couldn’t be more excited.

The Armored Saint introduces a world where magic is forbidden by the Order because, simply put, any magic use risks opening a portal to hell. One girl, Heloise, knows firsthand what evils the Order is capable of and dares to oppose them.

Epic fantasy doesn’t have to be long — just epic. With The Armored Saint coming in just over 200 pages, it’s sure to be a powder keg of action, which is why it”s one of our most anticipated new fantasy books of 2018.

Buy it here.

A Time of Dread (Of Blood and Bone #1) by John Gwynne

new fantasy books 2018

Release Date: February 20
Publisher: Orbit
Page Count: 512 (paperback)

From the world of The Faithful and the Fallen quartet comes a new series, Of Blood and Bone.

The Ben-Elim are warrior angels who once defeated by a demon army and now rule over the Banished Lands. Their rule is harsh, and there are signs that the demons may be gaining strength.

A trapper named Drem finds corpses affected by dark magic, while Riv, a young and frenetic soldier from the south, discovers a schism within the Ben-Elim.

These two characters hold powerful knowledge that may affect the future of the Banished Lands. Dark forces are gathering, and an ancient conflict is just on the horizon.

John Gwynne is sure to recapture the magic of his fantastic world with a fresh cast of characters in this new saga, and that’s why this is one of our most anticipated fantasy books of 2018.

Buy it here.


Fire and Bone (Otherborn #1) by Rachel A. Marks

new fantasy books 2018

Release Date: February 20
Publisher: Skyscape
Page Count: 414

Sage is eighteen and homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. When she and her friend Ziggy are invited to a party with the promise of food and a hot shower, Sage discovers a world of gods and goddesses — the Otherworld. On top of that, Sage herself is apparently the daughter of a Celtic goddess. Sage must quickly find her footing in a world of magic, alliances, and glamour.

Buy it here.


March 2018 Sci-fi/Fantasy Books:

Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha #1) by Tomi Adeyemi

new fantasy books 2018

Release Date: March 6
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Page Count: 544 (hardcover)

Children of Blood and Bone, the debut novel from 23-year-old Tomi Adeyemi, is going to be a big one.

In Orïsha, magic was once everywhere. Zélie Adebola remembers a day when magic was a part of everyday life, but those days are past.

Now, she has one chance to bring magic back. With the aid of a princess turned against her own monarchy, Zélie will overcome a world of danger and spirits while learning to master her own powers.

This highly anticipated debut is also being adapted for film. Here’s to hoping it’s the next big thing!

Buy it here.


Good Guys by Stephen Brust

new sci-fi books 2018

Release Date: March 6
Publisher: Tor Books
Page Count: 320 (hardcover)

Stephen Brust (known for the Vlad Taltos series) has a new standalone coming next spring, and it sounds like a blast.

Donovan is shot multiple times by a cop for being black — but it doesn’t kill him, because he is unusual.

After this experience, he is revived by The Foundation, an organization that trains individuals with unique abilities. The Foundation is highly secretive, yet they pay their employees minimum wage. There’s something off about this society for people with powers.

Don’t miss out on the first standalone from Brust in two decades.

Buy it here.


Lake Silence (The Others #6) by Anne Bishop

upcoming fantasy books 2018

Release Date: March 6
Publisher: Ace
Page Count: 416 (hardcover)

Set in the same world as The Others, Anne Bishop introduces divorcee Vicki DeVine, who owns a resort in Lake Silence. Though the town is filled with humans, it is not controlled by them — the Others (vampires and other paranormal beings) are in charge.

When a dead body is found by a tenant, Vicki finds herself the primary suspect, even though the conditions of the murder suggest that no human could have been responsible. Things get dangerous quickly as Vicki and her friends seek answers in dangerous places.

Fans of Bishop’s The Others series are sure to enjoy this standalone novel, and new fans will find it to be a great introduction to Bishop’s fantastic world.

Buy it here.


American Gods Volume 1 (Graphic novel) by Neil Gaiman, Craig Russell, and Scott Hampton

new american gods book

Release Date: March 13
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Page Count: 208 (hardcover)

That’s right — Neil Gaiman’s American Gods is being adapted as a graphic novel. The Starz adaptation has already done the book justice, but a graphic novel adaptation of the classic American(ish) fantasy is just as exciting.

There will be three volumes in total in beautiful hardcover editions.

Buy it here.


The Feed by Nick Clark Windo

new sci-fi books 2018

Release Date: March 13
Publisher: William Morrow
Page Count: 336 (hardcover)

What would happen if every thought, emotion, and idea were instantaneously shared through a massive international network? What would a global society built upon this look like? And what would happen if this network vanished?

That is exactly what happens in Nick Clark Windo’s close-to-home sci-fi, The Feed. Kate and Tom had kept their use of the Feed to a minimum while it existed — but when their six-year-old daughter vanishes in a world suddenly disconnected, they must use whatever means and resources they can to find her.

The world is filled with disease and danger overnight, and people change when their lives are changed in such a fundamental way. Don’t miss out on this terrifying, near-future sci-fi tale of family, humanity, and massive change.

Buy it here.


April 2018 Fantasy/Sci-Fi Books:

Grey Sister (Book of the Ancestor #2) by Mark Lawrence

new mark lawrence book 2018

Release Date: April 3
Publisher: Ace
Page Count: 432 (hardcover)

The bestselling author of Prince of Thorns Mark Lawrence brings us the sequel to Red Sister, once again following the life of Nona Grey.

In the Convent of Sweet Mercy, Nona must decide which order to dedicate her life to. Will her life be one of devotion and study, or one of killing?

The girl with a bloody past must find her own way in a complicated world that threatens to pull her apart.

Lawrence is sure to deliver with this follow-up to fan-favorite Red Sister.

Buy it here.


The School for Psychics (The School for Psychics #1) by K. C. Archer

new sci-fi books 2018

Release Date: April 3
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Page Count: 368 (paperback)

This debut novel introduces a world much like our own, but with an underworld of people with special abilities.

Twenty-eight-year-old Teddy Cannon is one of those people, but it takes her some time to figure this out. She has always had a keen sense of the thoughts and emotions of other people. Only when a tip from a mysterious stranger sends her to the School for Psychics does she begin to understand herself.

The story features a cast of characters with a variety of supernatural abilities in a world steeped in mystery and darkness. If Archer can pull of the “Harry-Potter-for-adults” trick, this new series might end up right next to Lev Grossman’s Magicians trilogy on the shelf.

Buy it here.


Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller

new sci-fi books 2018

Release Date: April 17
Publisher: Ecco
Page Count: 336 (hardcover)

In Blackfish City, A self-sustaining floating city in the Arctic Circle is home to thousands of people. Though it is filled with engineering marvels and a tenacious population, Blackfish City is beginning to crumble. When a strange woman riding an orca arrives in the city, she sets in motion a desperate resistance to save the city from itself.

Though Miller takes on some of the bigger issues faced by the world, he also examines his characters and their personal struggles intimately. Blackfish City is sure to be a captivating examination of struggles small and large in a frighteningly plausible future.

Buy it here.

Head On (Lock In #2) by John Scalzi

Release Date: April 17
Publisher: Tor Books
Page Count: 336 (Hardcover)

Sci-fi legend John Scalzi returns to the world of Lock In with a standalone story of the dangerous world of technology-driven sports. Hilketa is a high-stakes game in which players attempt to decapitate one another and carry their opponent’s severed head through the goalposts. It’s brutal and violent — but the players remain safe while their “threeps”, highly agile robot bodies, do the fighting for them. It’s hugely popular, and large fortunes are exchanged over the sport.

The sport takes a dark turn when a star athlete is killed. Two investigators are called in to examine the crime, and they find themselves pulled into the dark world of the massively popular sport of Hilketa.

With a premise like that, it will be hard to stay away from this near-future crime thriller.

Buy it here.


May Books:

Only Human (The Themis Files #3) by Sylvain Neuvel

Release Date: May 1
Publisher: Del Rey
Page Count: 352

The Themis Files trilogy comes to a close with Only Human, picking up 10 years after the cliffhanger ending to Waking Gods, following in the series’ tradition of time skips.

The Themis Files began with Rose Franklin’s discovery of a massive metal hand buried in South Dakota. She and her team discovered the scattered parts that were assembled to create the mysterious robot Themis. Twenty years later, Dr. Rose Franklin, returns to an Earth in danger after spending ten years on another world.

Neuvel tells this ambitious sci-fi saga through several interviews, which allows him to capture events on a global scale and from a variety of perspectives. Despite this, he still manages to create memorable characters and a narrative full of powerful moments.

Buy it here.


Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries #2) by Martha Wells

Release Date: May 8
Publisher: Tor
Page Count: 160 (hardcover)

Murderbot earned its name in a massacre that it can’t recall with much clarity. It knows that it can be lethal, and in order to discover the answers to its past, Murderbot returns to the mining facility where it lost control.

Martha Wells is sure to deliver another sci-fi adventure filled with moral dilemmas… and killing.

Buy it here.


Wrath of Empire (Gods of Blood and Powder #2) by Brian McClellan

Release Date: May 15
Publisher: Orbit
Page Count: 656 (hardcover)

Set in the same world as his bestselling Powder Mage trilogy, this follow up to Sins of Empire presents a young country in a state of unrest and chaos. Our heroes, Lady Flint, Michel Bravis, and Ben Syke, are battling threats to their county on all sides.

McClellan’s Powder Mage books introduced an unusual “flintlock fantasy” setting that feels fresh and fast-paced compared to a more traditional medieval world. If you’re a fan of Brandon Sanderson’s worldbuilding and magic systems, don’t skip McClellan’s latest fantasy series.

Buy it here.


June 2018 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books:

A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes #4) by Sabaa Tahir

Release Date: June 12
Publisher: Razorbill
Page Count: 464 (hardcover)

The fantasy genre needs more ancient Rome, and Sabaa Tahir’s bestselling An Ember in the Ashes quartet delivers.

The third installment in the series brings us back to the Empire, threatened by an inevitable war.

While Helene Aquilla and Emperor Marcus desperately try to support a fragile Empire, Laia of Serra is in the East fighting the real threat — the Nightbringer. And Elias Veturius has surrendered his freedom to become Soul Catcher, but this decision may have consequences for all of humanity.

With this stakes higher than ever, A Reaper at the Gates will be an explosive installment in Tahir’s critically acclaimed series.

Buy it here.


Starless by Jacqueline Carey

Release Date: June 12
Publisher: Tor
Page Count: 592 (hardcover)

From legendary fantasy author Jacqueline Carey comes a standalone adventure set in a new world.

Starless introduces a world of royalty, astronomical events, prophecies, and evil gods. At the center of it is Khai, who is tasked with protecting the princess Zariya, who was born at the exact same moment as Khai. The court of the Sun-Blessed is a menagerie of intrigue and danger, and Khai must act carefully to protect his soul’s twin.

With destruction looming, Khai and Zariya must trust unlikely allies before a great evil spreads across the world.

The fantasy genre could use more epic standalones. If anyone can pull it off, it’s Jacqueline Carey.

Buy it here.


July 2018 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books:

The Calculating Stars (The Lady Astronaut #1) by Mary Robinette Kowal

Release Date: July 3
Publisher: Tor Books
Page Count: 384 (paperback)

Set in the same world as her Hugo-Award-winning Novella, The Lady Astronaut of Mars, Mary Robinette Kowal invokes the retro style of Ray Bradbury in this historical space sci-fi.

When a meteorite wipes out Washington D.C. in 1952, the U.S. government (for obvious reasons) collapses and Earth becomes a dangerous place to live. The space race takes on a new meaning as humanity desperately tries to find a new home, looking to nearby celestial bodies.

Elma York is a mathematician and pilot who wants nothing more than to become the first Lady Astronaut. Societal norms would prefer if she didn’t, but Elma is highly qualified and highly determined.

The Lady Astronaut series is a departure for Kowal (known for her Glamourist Histories novels), but her skilled writing and memorable characters are sure to make it an exciting ride.

Did I say Lady Astronaut series? Yes, I did — the second novel comes out less than two months later, on August 23. If you want to get a headstart, you can find the award-winning short that inspired the series here.

Buy The Calculating Stars here.


Age of War (Legends of the First Empire #3) by Michael J. Sullivan

new post apocalyptic books 2018

Release Date: July 3
Publisher: Del Rey
Page Count: 448 (hardcover)

Michael J. Sullivan (author of Riyria Revelations) is known for writing a series in its entirety before publishing the first novel, and he’s done it again with his Legends of the First Empire series. This allows him to flesh his ideas out before publishing, and you don’t have to worry about the series going unfinished.

His latest series takes place thousands of years before the events of Riyria Revelations. This third installment is due in May, and the next one won’t be far off.

Buy it here.


Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Release Date: July 10
Publisher: Del Rey
Page Count: 256 (hardcover)

Naomi Novik (author of Uprooted) brings us another retelling, this time drawing from the tale of Rumpelstiltskin to create a fresh story.

Miryem’s father has lent out most of his wealth and his wife’s dowry, and Miyrem takes it upon herself to collect her family’s money. She discovers that she has a knack for this, but her talent draws unwanted attention and soon finds herself in a dangerous predicament.

Novik’s Uprooted was wonderfully written and imagined, and I’m sure Spinning Silver will be no different.

Buy it here.


Record of a Spaceborn Few (Wayfarers #3) by Becky Chambers

Release Date: July 24
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Page Count: 400 (paperback)

Becky Chambers knows how to come up with a book title! Following The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and A Closed and Common Orbit, this book takes us  back to the Galactic Commons for another standalone novel.

The Exodus Fleet is the craft that carried humanity out of our solar system and into the Milky Way. It was the home to many generations, though the original adventurers never made contact with any of the aliens in the galaxy. Their descendants did, however, and some even chose to remain on the vessel that carried humankind away from Earth.

Record of a Spaceborn Few is the story of several individuals who call the Exodus Fleet their home and their reasons for staying, or leaving, the Exodus Fleet.

Chambers has created a massive, diverse, and thriving galaxy filled with wonderful characters and stories. Don’t miss out on the next installment in her Wayfarers series.

Buy it here.


August 2018 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Books:

Catwoman: Soulstealer (DC Icons 3#) by Sarah J. Maas

Release date: August 7
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384 (hardcover)

The third book in the bestselling DC Icons series comes from Sarah J. Maas, the author behind the massively popular Throne of Glass series.

Selina Kyle is a slum dweller turned wealthy, now undercover as Holly Vanderhees in a Gotham City without Batman.

After teaming up with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, she becomes an infamous thief who catches the attention of Batwing, also known as Luke Fox.

Selina comes to know Luke Fox as her neighbor while eluding Batwing at night, all while she strives to pull off a major heist.

Buy it here


Relic by Alan Dean Foster

Release date: August 14
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 320 (hardcover)

A standalone from Alan Dean Foster envisions a post-human universe, save one man: Ruslan.

Humanity’s reach was vast, spanning many stars, but biological warfare ultimately put an end to human civilization.

Ruslan is alone and aimless after being rescued from his home planet by the alien race known as the Myssari. After spending his days as a sightseeing attraction for the aliens, they offer him a chance to go on a great mission: find humanity’s home planet, Earth. If it really exists.

This hope-filled space journey sounds like it could offer an unusual look at humanity in a dark and distant galaxy.

Buy it here


The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark

Release date: August 21
Publisher: Tor.com
Pages: 112 (hardcover)

Alternate-Civil-War-era Louisiana brings orisha, airships, and super weapons to an America both alien and familiar.

Creeper has valuable information about a weapon referred to as the Black God’s Drums by a Haitian scientist—she hopes this intel will be enough to get her aboard the airship the Midnight Robber.

Things get out of hand quickly once Creeper finds her way onto the Midnight Robber, and she and the crew find themselves on a mission to stop the Black God’s Drums from completely destroying New Orleans.

On top of all this, Creeper hears the voice of Oya, orisha of wind and storms, in her mind.

There’s a lot packed into this novella from a great new voice in sci-fi.

Buy it here


Foundryside: A Novel (The Founders Trilogy #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett

Release date: August 21
Publisher: Crown
Pages: 512 (hardcover)

Robert Jackson Bennett, author of City of Stairs, is embarking on a dark and deeply new magical trilogy with Foundryside.

Sancia Grado, an experienced thief with her share of tricks up her sleeve, has been

tasked with stealing something more important than she could imagine.

The capitalist city of Tevanne is wired and fueled by magic. Sentient objects, created by wealthy Merchant Houses, are ubiquitous. If the Merchant Houses came into possession of the very object Sancia steals, they could potentially change the rules of reality for the worse.

It doesn’t take long for Sancia to become a target, and if she wants to survive, she won’t be able to emerge unchanged.

Jackson has proven his ability to create a great story within the confines of one magical city before—and hopefully he can create something just as uniquely mysterious in Foundryside.

Buy it here


The Fated Sky (Lady Astronaut #2) by Mary Robinette Kowal

Release date: August 21
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 384

Just this July we saw the release of The Calculating Stars, Mary Robinette Kowal’s first Lady Astronaut book. The sequel is coming out a month later in August.

The Fated Sky continues the story of Elma York—now a famous Lady Astonaut—and her ambitions to be a part of humankind’s journey to Mars.

This alternate history series imagines an Earth in the mid 20th century, shortly after an asteroid destroyed parts of the U. S. and turned the planet into an increasingly inhospitable place for humans. The only option is to look to the stars out not just curiosity but necessity and survival.

Elma would love to be chosen by the Aerospace Coalition to be on the mission to Mars. But she would have to put her hopes of starting a family on hold, and with the Civil Rights movement taking flight, there are questions about how everyone will treat each other when they colonize Mars.

Kowal’s award-winning story, “Lady Astronaut of Mars,” created a bold vision of a very different past; hopefully The Fated Sky isn’t the last we see of Elma York.

Buy it here


Night Flights by Philip Reeve, Illustrated by Ian McQue

Release date: August 28
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 192 (hardcover

With the Peter-Jackson-produced film adaptation of Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines due in December, the release of Night Flights has great timing.

This illustrated book is a collection of stories following Anna Fang, an aviatrix in a war-torn world where mobile “traction” cities hunt each other down. After Anna’s home city was eaten (as these mobile cities tend to do to one another) by the predator city of Arkhangel, she was enslaved and sent to work in its deep gut. But she is tenacious and cunning, and freedom is within view.

Anna Fang is one of the most beloved and complicated characters from the world of Mortal Engines, and the three stories in this collection offer to answer some questions about the woman who will become a powerful leader and dangerous terrorist.

Ian McQue’s stellar cover art and illustrations bring flavor to an already brilliant world.

Buy it here


Mirror Gate (The Harbinger Series #2) by Jeff Wheeler

Release date: August 28
Publisher: 47North
Pages: 348 (paperback)

Jeff Wheeler’s rapid fire The Harbinger series is getting its second installment in August, with a third book due in November.

Mirror Gate picks up from the first book with Princess Sera Fitzempress continuing her struggle to master magic, known as the Mysteries. Her success is crucial; with the emperor dead, she will need to be cunning and powerful to outmaneuver the one other person eyeing the throne: her father.

Mastering the Mysteries isn’t easy. Learning this powerful magic isn’t easy, and it’s usually reserved for those with money and proper training. But for Cettie, a waif from the earthbound people below the sky manors, this magic comes naturally. This power brings great opportunity, as well as great enemies.

Only by working together can Cettie and Sera navigate two sides of a society on the brink of war.

Buy it here


Bloody Rose (The Band #2) by Nicholas Eames

Release Date: August 28
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 560 (paperback)

This standalone fantasy is set in the same world as Nicholas Eames’ rowdy and hilarious Kings of the Wyld from 2017.

In a world where mercenaries are essentially rock stars, Tam Ashford is a bartender at the local pub who is tired of listening to other people’s stories of adventure.

When the world’s most renowned mercenary band gives Tam the chance to escape, she seizes it, leaving behind her humdrum life for one of danger, adventure, and glory.

Eames’s fast-paced and comedic style are an absolute blast. Don’t miss out on another rockin’ adventure from the world of Kings of the Wyld.

Buy it here


The Fall of Gondolin by J.R.R. Tolkien (Illustrated by Alan Lee and Edited by Christopher Tolkien)

Release date: August 30
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Pages: 304 (hardcover)

The latest posthumous release from J.R.R. Tolkien and edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien, is a full-length version of the story previously included in The Silmarillion with illustrations by Alan Lee.

This story includes pieces of Tolkien’s earliest known writings on Middle-Earth, which explores the struggle between the great powers of Morgoth and Ulmo. Morgoth is the first Dark Lord of Middle-Earth and has a massive army at his command, while Ulmo controls the seas who helped in the formation of the world.

The hidden city of Gondolin is ruled by Turgon King of Gondolin and coveted by Morgoth. Tuor, a man and cousin of Túrin, comes to the city with the aid of Ulmo just before the tragic fall of Gondolin.

For Tolkien collectors, Lee’s artwork and Christopher Tolkien’s skill full research and editing make this a must-have that will look great on the shelf.

Buy it here

September Books

Hidden Sun (Shadowlands #1) by Jaine Fenn

Release Date: September 4
Publisher: Angry Robot
Pages: 448 (paperback)

British science fiction writer Jaine Fenn introduces her Shadowlands duology with Hidden Sun, a mystery set in a strange world of light and darkness.

The many shadowlands divide the light of the skyland. The shadowland of Shen is home to Rhia Harlyn, a noble with an unladylike interest in science and a brother gone missing.

A strange murder case remains open, and due to its suspicious timing, Rhia partners with the search team en route to the mysterious skylands. There, she will meet powerful and complicated characters as she searches for her brother—or learns the truth of his fate.

Buy it here


Two Dark Reigns (Three Dark Crowns #3) by Kendare Blake

Release Date: September 4
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 464 (hardcover)

With one of this year’s biggest YA releases, Kendare Blake continues her Three Dark Crowns series with Two Dark Reigns, the penultimate book in the quartet.

Now that Queen Katharine finally has the crown she has wanted for so long, things are getting complicated. Her rule isn’t as firm as it could be—her sisters may not actually be dead, and a strange specter has appeared on the mainland and may be the legendary Blue Queen with an ominous message.

Meanwhile, the powerful naturalist Jules is gathering a rebel force to challenge Katharine’s rule. And the Blue Queen may be behind this development.

Return to Fennbirn with this story of a kingdom in chaos as threats approach from every direction.

Buy it here


Port of Shadows (The Chronicles of the Black Company #1.5) by Glen Cook

Release date: September 11
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 400 (hardcover)

The soldiers of the Black Company don’t ask questions, they get paid. But being “The Lady’s favored” is attracting the wrong kind of attention and has put a target on their backs, and the Company’s historian, Croaker, has the biggest target of all.

The one person who was taken into The Lady’s Tower and returned unchanged has earned the special interest of the court of sorcerers known as The Ten Who Were Taken. Now, he and the company are being asked to seek the aid of their newest member, Mischievous Rain, to break a rebel army. However, Croaker doesn’t trust any of the Taken, especially not ones that look so much like The Lady and her sister…

Buy it here


The Golden Tower (Magisterium #5) by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

Release Date: September 11
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 256 (hardcover)

Two of YA fantasy’s biggest authors, Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, are finishing their epic Magisterium series with The Golden Tower.

The  ancient mage Constantine Madden achieved immortality by living inside the young Callum Hunt. Callum has been through a lot, from studying magic in Magisterium for four years to conquering the armies of chaos. Now, at the end of his training, Callum is closer than ever to vanquishing evil. But it will take everything he’s learned to take on this foe.

Hopefully Clare and Black can bring this high-stakes series to a solid close.

Buy it here


Worldshaper (Worldshapers #1) by Edward Willett

Release Date: September 18
Publisher: DAW
Pages: 368 (paperback)

Shawna Keys’s world is perfect. She has everything she could want, between her pottery studio and her incredible partner.

Her perfect world is ruined in a single day when her best friend is killed—and no one can remember that her friend ever existed except for Shawna and a stranger who claims to have answers.

Shawna’s world was as ideal as it was because someone designed it. It was a Shaped world, created to be without flaws. In the Labyrinth of Shaped worlds, someone is destroying them one by one. Shawna’s world is already lost, but there are countless other worlds that can still be saved if she acts quickly and seeks the Lady in the center of the Labyrinth.

Edward Willett is known for his fantastic worlds—and in this new series with literal worldbuilding as its premise, we’ll see more of his worlds than ever before.

Buy it here


Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson

Release Date: September 18
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 352 (hardcover)

Brandon Sanderson’s Legion novellas are collected in one place for the first time in Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds. Included is Lies of the Beholder, the latest and final installment.

Though he’s best known for his Cosmere fantasy series like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive, Sanderson has proven himself a versatile and talented storyteller. Legion is yet another example of his skills in characters and innovation.

Stephen Leeds is an unparalleled genius, but he’s also accompanied by several hallucinatory personalities. Each hallucination manifests as an expert in a particular field, lending advice to Stephen as he combats terrorist organizations and tries to understand his strange condition.

For longtime fans of Legion and newcomers to the series, this is bound to be a great c0llection with one of Sanderon’s classic explosive finales.

Buy it here


Barren (Demon Cycle #5.5) by Peter V. Brett

Release Date: September 25
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Pages: 144 (paperback)

Peter V. Brett revisits his Demon Cycle series with this prequel novella, following Selia Square, also known as Barren.

Demons have long threatened a humanity with no way to fight, until the rediscovery of combat wards. In Tibbet’s Brook, old rivalries and clans pose another threat.

Selia does what she can to maintain order in Tibbet’s Brook, but when a mind demon threatens her people, it’s not easy to unite everyone against a common foe. Selia’s history in the community is complicated, and only by understanding her own past can she do what she must to save her people.

This prequel story gives fans of the Demon Cycle series another glimpse of this beloved fantasy world.

Buy it here


Vengeful (The Villains #2) by V. E. Schwab

Release Date: September 28
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 480 pages (hardcover)

In the long-awaited sequel to Vicious, Schwab takes a different turn with the story by introducing a new protagonist: Marcella Riggins.

There’s a new and powerful force in the city of Merit, and she’s doing everything she can to conquer the city. Marcella is a loner, but she intends to use the rivalry of Victor Vale and Eli Ever as fuel for her schemes. Combine this with her ability to turn people into ash, and it’s clear that a new force is on the rise.

Schwab has a lot of books in the works, but Vengeful is easily her biggest upcoming title.

Buy it here

October Books

October brings a healthy mix of sci-fi and fantasy, featuring some classic authors and some modern-day pioneers. If you’re in the mood for grand space operas or kingdoms at war, this just might be your month.

Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea Cycle gets a gorgeous illustrated edition with artwork by Charles Vess, and Terry Brooks explores a new genre with his sci-fi adventure, Street Freaks. And Steven Erikson has an interesting take on humanity’s first contact with aliens and how this event might change the planet.

The bestselling YA fantasy series Throne of Glass concludes with Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas, and Saga gets its ninth volume of star-hopping action. And we finally have the follow up to Seth Dickinson’s The Traitor Baru Cormorant.

It’s a sequel-heavy month without a doubt, but that just means you should catch up on these series if you haven’t already.

Here’s the list:

Street Freaks by Terry Brooks

Release date: October 2
Publisher: Grimm Oak Press
Page count: 384 (hardcover)

Better known for his epic fantasy like The Sword of Shannara, Terry Brooks is venturing into sci-fi with this futuristic thriller.

Ashton Collins has a mysterious video message from his father. “Go into the Red Zone. Go to Street Freaks.” The Red Zone is at the center of sprawling Los Angeles—it’s a place he has never been permitted to go to before. If he finds Street Freaks, Ash may answer questions about who his father was, and maybe learn a bit about himself in the process.

Street Freaks promises a dark and plausible future of megacities and omnipotent corporations, with one of the masters of fantasy behind the wheel.

Buy it here


Saga Volume 9 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Release date: October 2
Publisher: Image Comics
Page count: 152 (paperback)

The universe’s most unusual and stressed-out family continues their search for solace in the ninth volume of Saga.

This star-hopping space opera follows parents Marko and Alana, a bi-species couple that a galaxy at war won’t leave alone. With them is their daughter, Hazel, who narrates the comics as the family tries to hold everything together and scrape by, all while avoiding assassins, slavers, and dangerous creatures.

If you’re new to the series, there’s plenty of story to catch up on, but with Staples’s cinematic artwork and Vaughan’s imaginative writing, it won’t take you long to get up to speed.

Buy it here


The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2018, edited by N. K. Jemisin and John Joseph Adams

Release date: October 2
Publisher: Mariner Books
Page count: 384 (paperback)

N. K. Jemisin, who recently became the first author to win the Hugo Award three consecutive years, is the guest editor of this year’s collection of notable works from American pioneers of the genre.

Jemisin is bound to bring her craving for the unusual and the experimental in this year’s collection. If you enjoy short fiction or just want to keep a finger on the pulse of SF/F, this collection is a must-have.

Buy it here


A Map of Days (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #4) by Ransom Riggs

Release date: October 2
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Page count: 496 (hardcover)

Ransom Riggs continues his best-selling series of mysterious gifted children with A Map of Days.

From the publisher:

Having defeated the monstrous threat that nearly destroyed the peculiar world, Jacob Portman is back where his story began, in Florida. Except now Miss Peregrine, Emma, and their peculiar friends are with him, and doing their best to blend in. But carefree days of beach visits and normalling lessons are soon interrupted by a discovery—a subterranean bunker that belonged to Jacob’s grandfather, Abe.

Clues to Abe’s double-life as a peculiar operative start to emerge, secrets long hidden in plain sight. And Jacob begins to learn about the dangerous legacy he has inherited—truths that were part of him long before he walked into Miss Peregrine’s time loop.

Now, the stakes are higher than ever as Jacob and his friends are thrust into the untamed landscape of American peculiardom—a world with few ymbrynes, or rules—that none of them understand. New wonders, and dangers, await in this brilliant next chapter for Miss Peregrine’s peculiar children. Their story is again illustrated by haunting vintage photographs, now with the striking addition of full-color images interspersed throughout for this all-new, multi-era American adventure.

Buy it here


Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer #2) by Laini Taylor

Release date: October 2
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Page count: 528 (hardcover)

Laini Taylor’s follow-up to the bestselling Strange the Dreamer revisits Lazlo and Sarai after the events that changed their lives and their relationship irreversibly.

Lazlo Strange is wrestling with his recently discovered abilities, and Sarai, after a deal with the revenge-bent GodSpawn Minya, is a ghost. This has complicated their lives a bit.

Minya has vowed to destroy the lost city of Weep, and Lazlo must decide between saving the city or Sarai. And while Sarai feels useless in her new form, she has only begun to discover who she really is.

This sequel promises to once again push characters to new limits to discover themselves and further unravel the mysteries of a world once filled with gods.

Buy it here


The Consuming Fire (The Interdependency #2) by John Scalzi

Release date: October 16
Publisher: Tor Books
Page count: 320 (hardcover)

Hugo Award winner and sci-fi master John Scalzi is quickly following up his 2017 The Collapsing Empire with another sweeping space opera.

The second book in the Interdependency series begins with an empire on the brink of disaster. The Flow, the technology that allows for rapid travel through space, is falling apart, rendering parts of the galaxy splintered and fragile. If the Flow vanishes completely, civilization will struggle to survive.

With civil war drawing near and all aspects of society in a fractious state, Emprox Grayland II must quash the theories that the Flow’s collapse is a myth while gathering her allies to oppose rising political dissidents.

The scope of The Consuming Fire is ambitious but ambitious is what Scalzi does best.

Buy it here


Rejoice, A Knife to the Heart by Steven Erikson

Release date: October 16
Publisher: Promontory Press Inc.
Page count: 460 (hardcover)

Steven Erikson, best known for his Malazan Book of the Fallen high fantasy series, ventures into the unknown with this unusual first contact story.

The Intervention begins when sci-fi writer Samantha August vanishes in a ray of light. She is transported to a ship in orbit above Earth, where she learns about the Intervention Delegation, an alien committee that seeks to preserve earth as a viable habitat. The result is a new Earth in which crime, war, and aggression are rendered impossible.

Erikson’s limitless imagination and empathetic storytelling are bound to make Rejoice, A Knife to the Heart a memorable and thought-provoking sci-fi tale.

Buy it here


Kingdom of Ash (A Throne of Glass #7) by Sarah J. Maas

Release date: October 23
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Page count: 992 (hardcover)

In what is bound to be one of 2018’s biggest YA releases, Sarah J. Mass concludes her high fantasy series Throne of Glass with this high-stakes finale.

After doing everything within her power to save her people, Aelin Galathynius is faced with yet another trial as she is tortured by the Queen of the Fae while trapped in an iron coffin for months.

Meanwhile, Aedion and Lysandra are the only ones left to protect Terrasen from Erawan’s armies. Rowan is doing everything he can to find and rescue Aelin before it’s too late. The world is on the precipice of disaster before a final fight for freedom.

These characters have come far from their roots in the beginning of the series, and Kingdom of Ash promises to cement their fates, for better or worse, in a thrilling conclusion.

Buy it here


Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson

Release date: October 23
Publisher: Orbit
Page count: 464 (hardcover)

Kim Stanley Robinson, best known for his Mars trilogy, takes a smaller leap into the future than he’s accustomed to in Red Moon.

Thirty years from the present day, the moon has been colonized, and Fred Fredericks is making his first visit to put in a communications system. Shortly after he lands, he witnesses a murder and must do what he can to protect himself without drawing undue attention.

Ta Shu, a reporter, is also on his first visit—and it doesn’t take him long to learn that the moon harbors dangers for anyone.

Chan Qi, daughter of the Minister of  Finance, attempts to leave the moon and return to China, but there are much larger events in motion on a small rock burdened with economic and political significance.

Buy it here


The Books of Earthsea: The Complete Illustrated Edition by Ursula K. Le Guin and Illustrated by Charles Vess

Release date: October 30
Publisher: Saga Press
Page count: 1,008 (hardcover)

A new hardcover collection of Ursula K. Le Guin’s classic Earthsea Cycle gathers all of her Earthsea works in one tome for the first time.

Charles Vess, known for his imaginative style and intricate details, brings over 50 illustrations that will capture Le Guin’s vision in a new way.

The Earthsea books and stories remain one of fantasy’s most empathetic and powerful; this is the ultimate Earthsea collection.

Buy it here


The Monster Baru Cormorant (The Masquerade #2) by Seth Dickinson

Publisher: Tor Books
Release Date: October 30 (expected)

The sequel to the outstanding The Traitor Baru Cormorant is finally here. Seth Dickinson’s debut novel follows Baru Cormorant, a young woman whose people have nearly been destroyed by the Empire of Masks. Rich in intrigue and worldbuilding, this powerful novel stands well on its own, but the sequel is more than welcome.

Baru Cormorant is a lord in the empire she despises. Her best hope of destroying it is by remaining on the inside, leading her foes to doom, and hopefully sparking all-out war. But her mind is racked by a wound that muddies her own thoughts and beliefs.

She has a chance to destroy the Masquerade, but only if she can figure out who she is.

Buy it here

November

The Subjugate by Amanda Bridgeman

Release date: November 6
Publisher: Angry Robot
Page count: 400 (paperback)

What if criminals could be corrected not through imprisonment but through neurological tampering?

This is the question asked in The Subjugate, in which a series of murders have occurred in a deeply religious town filled with Serenes—criminals whose minds have been altered to make them calm and passive. Salvi Brentt and Mitch Grenville are two detectives on the case, and the list of suspects is long in this dark town.

Bridgeman’s morally complex premise is intriguing, showing a lot of promise for this low-sci-fi mystery.

Buy it here


Breach by W. L. Goodwater (Cold War Magic #1)

Release date: November 6
Publisher: Ace
Page count: 368 (paperback)

W. L. Goodwater’s debut novel launches a series imagining an alternate Cold War history in which the Berlin wall is made of arcane magic created by the Soviets.

Ten years after the wall’s creation, it is failing. Chaos has been held at bay, and years of espionage may soon turn into something more magical. While the East and West are poised in Berlin, a magician named Karen is sent by the American Office of Magical Research and Development to study the wall and possibly repair it.

This task is more difficult than expected, and tensions are high as an isolated city in the middle of a global conflict.

Goodwater’s magical alternate history premise is a bold one that aims to take a unique look at a fascinating part of the Cold War.

Buy it here


How to Fracture a Fairy Tale by Jane Yolen

Release date: November 6
Publisher: Tachyon Publications
Page count: 320 (paperback)

Jane Yolen follows up her acclaimed 2017 collection The Emerald Circus with another retelling of classic stories through a new lens.

In this story collection, Yolen promises to once again break down familiar tales. She’ll explore straw spinners under scrutiny from the law, bridges that are lonely without trolls, and more. These stories are accompanied by a poem and a note by the author further exploring these refurbished and reimagined tales.

Yolen has long been a major voice in children’s literature, and this story collection offers a chance to meld fairy tales with fantasy with the same brilliance of The Emerald Circus.

Buy it here


Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

Release date: November 6
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Page count: 528 (hardcover)

The latest from the writing machine known as Brandon Sanderson is the first in a new YA sci-fi series.

Skyward introduces Spensa, a young woman born in a world under constant attack. She longs to become a pilot, but going to flight school may not be easy—her father was killed shortly after abandoning his mission. Nonetheless, Spensa is determined to achieve her dream and defend the home that she loves. There isn’t much of the human race left, but the fight is continuing. When Spensa makes a discovery in a strange cave, her luck may be due for a change.

This is a non-Cosmere book from Sanderson, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be epic. Sci-fi is not his normal genre, but this only makes this new series more intriguing. The best part about Skyward? According to Sanderson’s website, he’s already finished the first draft of book 2.

Sanderson has been releasing the first several chapters of Skyward on his Instagram page. When an author is advertising the release of their book with the book itself, you know it’s going to be good.

Buy it here


Archenemies (Renegades #2) by Marissa Meyer

Release date: November 6
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Page count: 496 (hardcover)

Marissa Meyer’s Archenemies is the second book in the Renegades trilogy, continuing the complicated story of Nova, a young woman with dangerous powers who is bent on revenge against the renegades.

She is living a double life. Some know her as “Insomnia”, a member of the heroic Renegades who patrol and protect Gatlon City. She works alongside a Renegade named Adrian (or “Sketch”), and their confusing feelings for each other are making Nova question herself and her mission.

As “Nightmare,” Nova works for what she truly believes in—destroying the Renegades who have wronged her.

Morality is complicated in Gatlon City, and being a hero is no simple task.

Meyer succeeded in bringing superheroes to the format of fiction in Renegades, and there’s no doubt she can pull it off again in Archenemies.

Buy it here


The Winter Road by Adrian Selby

Release date: November 13
Publisher: Orbit
Page Count: 496 (paperback)

Following his 2016 debut, Snakewood, Adrian Selby returns with The Winter Road, a grimdark story of the taming of a dangerous place.

The Circle is a massive region of warfare and wilderness, currently under the control of a rising warlord and a deadly clan. The people of the Circle are helpless against the brutal hordes.

To Teyr Amondsen, a former soldier, the Circle is the place she once called home. She has returned, along with a team of mercenaries, to build a road that crosses the Circle and conquers its dangers and its oppressors.

This premise sounds like it will lend well to Selby’s intense and brutal style, once again promising to put readers in a world of bloody battles and hard choices.

Buy it here


Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri

Release date: November 13
Publisher: Orbit
Page count: 496 (paperback)

Another promising debut for November—Tasha Suri brings bits of Mughal India to a new and fresh fantasy setting in Empire of Sand.

The Amrithi are outcasts; nomads descended of desert spirits, they are coveted and persecuted throughout the Empire for the power in their blood. Mehr is the illegitimate daughter of an imperial governor and an exiled Amrithi mother she can barely remember, but whose face and magic she has inherited. Unbeknownst to her, she can manipulate the dreams of the gods to alter the face of the world.

When Mehr’s power comes to the attention of the Emperor’s most feared mystics, she is coerced into their service, as they are determined to harness her magic for the glory of the Empire. She must use every ounce of will, subtlety, and power she possesses to resist the mystics’ cruel agenda — and should she fail, the gods themselves may awaken seeking vengeance…

Buy it here


Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin

Release date: November 20
Publisher: Bantam
Page count: 736 (hardcover)

In the first of a two-book history of the Targaryens (named Fire & Blood), Martin offers a thorough look at Westeros throughout some of its most interesting periods.

Including over 80 illustrations by Doug Wheatley, this dazzling book might not complete any A Song of Ice and Fire fans’ collections, but it will certainly look nice on the shelf.

Fire & Blood opens with the creation of the Iron Throne and follows the Targaryens who strove to hold it. Readers will get a look at a Westeros in the time of dragons, and many of the most fascinating parts of the Targaryens’ story will be explored in never-before-seen content.

Buy it here


How Long ‘til Black Future Month? by N. K. Jemisin

Release date: November 27
Publisher: Orbit
Page count: 416 (hardcover)

N. K. Jemisin broke a record when she won the Hugo award for the third consecutive year in 2018, earning her one win for “Best Novel” for each of her Broken Earth trilogy books. She is one of the most prominent and experimental voices in fantasy, and she’s clearly not going anywhere.

In a new collection of short stories, Jemisin explores narratives that ask difficult questions through bizarre and intriguing premises:

Dragons and hateful spirits haunt the flooded streets of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In a parallel universe, a utopian society watches our world, trying to learn from our mistakes. A black mother in the Jim Crow South must save her daughter from a fey offering impossible promises. And in the Hugo award-nominated short story “The City Born Great,” a young street kid fights to give birth to an old metropolis’s soul.

If you’ve never read Jemisin before, this may be a great place to start.

Buy it here

December

Splintered Suns (Humanity’s Fire #5) by Michael Cobley

Release date: December 4
Publisher: Orbit
Page count: 528 (paperback)

The latest installment in Michael Cobley’s Humanity’s Fire series is a standalone that combines genres and promises to invert expectations.

Pyke and his team, tasked with what appeared to be a simple heist, expect to break into a museum on a desert planet to find a tracking device that will locate a long-lost ship on the planet’s surface.

They have competition, however—a nemesis of Pyke’s, Raven Kaligara. On top of that, the museum has concealed the tracking device in a bio-engineered vault, and the ship in question is massive, ancient, and quite possibly holding the key to the secrets of an ancient civilization.

The stakes are high in this story of a heist gone wrong in a brilliantly imagined space-opera setting.

Buy it here


Stronger, Faster, and More Beautiful by Arwen Elys Dayton

Release date: December 4
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Page count: 384 (hardcover)

From the publisher:

For fans of television shows Black Mirror and Westworld, this compelling, mind-bending novel is a twisted look into the future, exploring the lengths we’ll go to remake ourselves into the perfect human specimen and what it means to be human at all.

The future is curious.

STRONGER

Today our bodies define us. We color our hair; tattoo our skin; pierce our ears, brows, noses. We lift weights, run miles, break records. We are flesh and blood and bone.

FASTER

Tomorrow has different rules. The future is no longer about who we are–it’s about who we want to be. If you can dream it, you can be it. Science will make us smarter, healthier, flawless in every way. Our future is boundless.

MORE BEAUTIFUL

This is a story that begins tomorrow. It’s a story about us. It’s a story about who comes after us. And it’s a story about perfection. Because perfection has a way of getting ugly.

Buy it here


Queen of Air and Darkness (The Dark Artifices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Release date: December 4
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Page count: 912 (hardcover)

Cassandra Clare returns to urban fantasy with the final installment in The Dark Artifices trilogy, which pits the Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs against her greatest challenges yet.

The world of the Shadowhunters is in more danger than ever before, and it may be due to the forbidden love of Emma and Julian. Warlocks are plagued by a mysterious disease, and several members of the Blackthorn family are headed to Los Angeles to discover its cause. Emma and Julian must go to Faerie to find the Black Volume of the Dead—but a dark secret awaits them in the Court that may change the future of the Shadowhunters forever. However, they’re racing against the power of their magical bond—the parabatai—which threatens to punish them for their love and destroy them before they have a chance to save the world of the Shadowhunters.

Buy it here


Of Blood and Bone (Chronicles of the One #2) by Nora Roberts

Release Date: December 4
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Page count: 464 (hardcover)

Nora Roberts continues her post-apocalyptic-meets-urban-fantasy series  Chronicles of the One series with Of Blood and Bone, which picks up several years after the first volume.

The world has had a few years to adjust to the changes brought on by the Doom, a sickness that wiped out much of humanity and brought civilization to its knees. People are building new lives and new families. Magick has taken the place of technology, and those who wield it hold an edge in surviving in this new, violent world.

Fallon doesn’t remember the world before, the world that her parents watched crumble. She is fortunate enough to be gifted, but as she approaches thirteen, she is about to learn that she is The One. She is in danger because of her gift, and she must learn to heal, fight, and control her power from the ancient Mallick.

This coming-of-age story continues Robert’s epic series that blends sci-fi and fantasy in a world turned upside down.

Buy it here


The Fork, the Witch, and the Worm: Tales from Alagaësia (Volume 1: Eragon) by Christopher Paolini

Release date: December 31
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Page count: 288 (hardcover)

It’s been a long time since we visited Alagaësia, but Christopher Paolini is returning with this story collection that follows Eragon’s adventures after the events of Inheritance.

Eragon has been searching for the ideal location to train the next generation of dragon riders for a year. This is no easy task. He’ll have to create a new dragonhold, protect dragon eggs, and deal with those who would impede his efforts.

With original art by the author and a look at the upcoming memoir of Angela the herbalist, written by Angela Paolini, this is a book that fans of the Inheritance Cycle won’t want to miss. This definitely won’t be the last we see of Alagaësia.

Buy it here


Siege of Stone (Sister of Darkness: The Nicci Chronicles #3) by Terry Goodkind

Release date: December 31
Publisher: Tor
Page count: 560 (hardcover)

The sorceress Nicci is up against a challenge that will test her wits and her powers as an ancient threat draws nearer to the protected city of Ildakar.

Set in the same world as his Sword of Truth series, Terry Goodkind pairs Nicci with the wizard Nathan Rahl and Bannon the swordsman for the third installment in this new series.

After a revolution that freed the slaves of Ildakar and overthrew the Wizard Council, the ancient army of General Utros, once petrified fifteen centuries prior, is on the move again. Wizard Commander Maxim has removed the spell that turned the massive army into stone, and the city of Ildakar is once again under siege.

The Old World and the land of D’Hara are in danger, and Nicci is the only one who stands a chance at stopping a powerful ancient adversary.

Buy it here


Kingdom of Needle and Bone by Mira Grant

Release date: December 31
Publisher: Subterranean
Page count: 128 (hardcover)

Mira Grant (also known as Seanan McGuire) explores moral dilemmas in an effort to save humanity from a deadly disease in this novella, illustrated by Julie Dillon.

Modern medicine has led humanity to view disease as a thing from history books. Vaccinations and antibiotics have succeeded in preventing widespread disease and have led to longevity, quality of life, and prosperity. But this is an illusion, and it is shattered when Morris’s disease begins wiping people out by the millions. Dr. Isabella Gauley has a connection with the disease’s origin—her niece was the first to fall ill.

With more people dying every day, the solution is one that many would find abhorrent. Isabella knows what has to be done, and she knows how she will be judged.

Buy it here

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Bobby Bernstein
Bobby is the Co-Owner of Nerd Much?. He's the former Games Editor and current Shopping Editor at Heavy.com, former Editor in Chief of Den of Geek, and former bylines at HiConsumption, Slickdeals, Gamedeveloper.com, and more! He is also on Opencritic. He has been writing about nerdy stuff on the web for over 10 years. The best way to reach him is on Twitter.

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