Related
As in previous years, this 41st collection in the series successfully showcases future voices representing the vast spectrum of the speculative fiction genre, from strange new worlds to grim and eldritch old ones, from the past to the future and oscillating in between.
PREMIUM
Bad Witches
Akumiah’s witchy fantasy debut introduces an intricate and intriguing world. Engaging characters and a cliffhanger ending will have listeners eager for more.
PREMIUM
The God and the Gwisin
This sequel to The God and the Gumiho brings a semblance of K-drama to the page with amusing side characters, good pacing, and mythological romance.
This is an utterly charming and absolutely delightful slow-burn romantasy, featuring a bumbling beta hero, a strong heroine, and an enemies-to-lovers romance that is sweet with heat. Romantasy readers will love this one.
PREMIUM
Realm of Thieves
Halle’s (The Royals Upstairs) first in a new action-packed, sexy thrill ride is perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros and Jennifer L. Armentrout.
PREMIUM
Death on the Caldera
This debut novel takes Agatha Christie’s classic Murder on the Orient Express, sets it in a gas-lamp fantasy world of magic versus alchemical chemistry, and layers on desperate secrets and literal earthshaking lies into a breakneck fantasy/mystery thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
PREMIUM
In the Veins of the Drowning
Cassidy’s outstanding debut offers a slow-burning tender romance in a grim world that escalates to a bonfire before a cliffhanger ending.
Readers who loved the first book, and anyone who adores an antihero with a heart of gold and a brain filled with terrible one-liners is going to swoon over Dark Lord Davi’s surprising but well-earned happy ending.
PREMIUM
The Knight and the Moth
Gillig (Two Twisted Crowns) excels at creating an eerie world, rife with creepy legends and macabre creatures, sure to please any fan of gothic fantasy; it’s a perfect setting for the love-to-hate-you romance between Six and Myndacious. Excellent for fans of Deborah Harkness, Sarah A. Parker, or Leigh Bardugo.
Darkshire (Once Upon a Tome: The Misadventures of a Rare Bookseller) makes his fiction debut with this humorous fantasy novel that every library needs.
PREMIUM
The Nightshade God
The final volume of “The Nightshade Crown” trilogy (after The Hemlock Queen) is another opulent and romantic dark fantasy. With its fast pace, delicious love triangle, and high stakes, readers will devour this book.
Safrey (Against All Obstacles) offers a delightful feminist take on the continuing lives of protagonists after the traditional fairy tale has ended. Sharp characters and a twisting plot create an empowering and enchanting tale inspired by iconic princesses.
PREMIUM
Heir of Light
Fans of Sagara’s long-running “Chronicles of Elantra” epic fantasy series, especially those who began Robin’s journey in Shards of Glass, will be thrilled to see him through to the climactic finish of the “Academia Chronicles” duology. Robin’s quick and intensive introduction to the halls of power gives new readers a starting point for entry, while fans will enjoy experiencing it all again, including the old friends and new enemies that make this series such a rich and intricately woven fantasy tapestry.
Rousing seafaring adventure, combined with contemplative musings on life wrapped around a compelling romance make this a fascinating tale that is difficult to put down; the combination of dire ecological challenges and imaginative future discovery combine in this very engrossing read from Weed (A Field Guide to Murder & Fly Fishing).
In the third heartfelt entry of the delightful “Hart and Mercy” series (following The Undermining of Twyla and Frank), Bannen brings readers back to Eternity a decade after the events in the last installment to dive deeper into the mythology surrounding the old and new gods. Hand this romance/fantasy to readers who enjoy unconventional main characters, opposites-attract romances, and novels that explore complicated family relationships.
The latest entry in Bear’s “White Space” series (following Machine) showcases her smart and introspective command of space opera. Well-developed characters highlight not only the big ideas of artificial intelligence, xenophobia, and data preservation but family dynamics and scientific rivalries.
PREMIUM
Written on the Dark
In addition to being a profound meditation on history, identity, and the human condition, this novel stands as a testament to Kay’s unparalleled storytelling.
In Older’s latest series entry, the further exploration of the colony’s academic scene will delight readers of dark academia, and the mystery will enthrall those looking for more sci-fi/mystery blends, while Mossa and Pleiti’s relationship is a delight for sapphic romance readers.
Elliott’s (The Keeper’s Six) fantastic first in a new duology is filled with rich worldbuilding, political intrigue, and themes of class and family secrets. Readers will anxiously await the second book in the series, which arrives later this year.
PREMIUM
A Far Better Thing
With intricate character work and a seamless blend of history, literature, and imagination, this novel crafts a tale as vivid and textured as the classic that inspired it.
This is an utterly charming and absolutely delightful slow-burn romantasy, featuring a bumbling beta hero (much like in Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis), a strong heroine, and an enemies-to-lovers romance that is sweet with heat. Romantasy readers will love this one.
This utterly engrossing novel melds the fascinatingly unexpected alien environments of Sue Burke’s Semiosis or Wendy Wagner’s An Oath of Dogs seamlessly with the joy for science embedded in Andy Weir’s The Martian.
PREMIUM
The Nightward
The action is intense, and the critique of power dynamics is sharp, but it’s the emotional weight of the characters’ struggles that leaves a lasting impression. Fans of myth-infused fantasy and character-driven epics will find this an unforgettable listening experience.
Fans of Jungeun Yun’s Marigold Mind Laundry and Park Seolyeon’s A Magical Girl Retires must check this novel out.
PREMIUM
Circular Motion
A grimly compelling view of the future that imagines technological improvements in a fresh way; recommended for fans of stories about dystopian futures.
PREMIUM
Last Chance To Save the World
Those who love SF romantic mystery romps such as the space romances from Constance Fay and Valerie Valdes will be happy to go along for Revis’s ride.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
PREMIUM
The Crimson Crown
Walters’s (Misrule) slow-burn fantasy introduces a lush world and offers a captivating portrait of a young witch destined for villainy. Share with fans of fairy-tale retellings and those who enjoyed Marianne Gordon’s The Gilded Crown.
This is a must-listen for fans of Novik’s novels and those who appreciate new takes on fantasy and folk tales. With wide-ranging genres, appealing characters, and beautifully described settings, this collection offers something for every listener.
Kelley’s debut might draw comparisons to Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, but this powerfully queer story will stand tall in its own right on any shelf.
Short but packing an emotional punch, McGuire’s latest is a wonderful entry into her world of wayward children.
A sparkling mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Murder She Wrote, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
PREMIUM
Annie Bot
An intriguing story imagining an unsettling future and providing a glimpse into the insidious dangers of toxic relationships and the importance of knowing oneself.
PREMIUM
North Is the Night
Listeners may debate how successful the ratio of romantasy to epic fantasy is, but all can admit that Rath’s (“Jacksonville Rays” series) latest is impressive.
PREMIUM
Toto
The perfect listen for fans of Wicked and other novels that retell well-known stories from different perspectives.
PREMIUM
We Shall Be Monsters
A bewitching and eerie fairy tale, sure to entice listeners eager for scenes of witches and curses, monsters and magic, and fae and heroes. Fans of Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden will want to take note.
A tragedy in the truest sense and a testament to women’s rage and power. Fans of Madeline Miller and Natalie Haynes won’t want to miss this.
PREMIUM
The Spice Gate
Srivatsa offers a lushly described yet fast-paced debut fantasy, recommended for fans of Roger Zelazny’s Lord of Light or Tasha Suri’s “The Burning Kingdoms” series.
PREMIUM
Vilest Things
Listeners should prepare for the heavy lift of numerous characters and a slow-paced beginning but will ultimately be pleased with Yi’s strong pacing, spot-on sarcastic banter, and delivery of a tenacious heroine.
PREMIUM
This Will Be Fun
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a witty, whimsical fantasy and reunion rom-com mashup. Recommended for fans of Sarah Beth Durst, Travis Baldree, and Rebecca Thorne.
PREMIUM
All the Water in the World
Caffall takes her inspiration from the archivists and curators who stayed behind in Iraq, Leningrad, and other areas in wartime to preserve art and antiquities. All this, including Wong’s narration, makes for a heart-wrenching and all-too-imaginable scenario. Highly recommended for fans of Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven.
PREMIUM
The Black Bird Oracle
Fans of Harkness’s beloved series will be well satisfied with this beautifully built world and its ever-growing characters.
PREMIUM
The Serpent and the Wolf
Listeners who enjoy romantasies such as Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass or political intrigue like O.O. Sangoyomi’s Masquerade will devour Robinson’s heady debut.
A roller-coaster ride of a story, full of mystery and insight, recommended for fans of the author as well as Christopher Moore and Carl Hiaasen.
PREMIUM
The Price of Everything
The combination of climate apocalypse and political side effects, layered in levels of intrigue and mystery and leavened by romance, makes for an engrossing novel from McGoran (Dust Up).
PREMIUM
Batman: Resurrection
This entertaining yet brooding journey to a ’90s-era Gotham City will pull in fans of Burton’s Batman and others who enjoy the superhero genre.
PREMIUM
A Spell for Change
Jarvis (A Portrait in Shadow) offers a heftier version of Paul Cornell’s “Witches of Lychford” series, exploring witchcraft in the United States similarly to Ami McKay’s The Witches of New York or Alix E. Harrow’s The Once and Future Witches.
PREMIUM
A Line You Have Traced
Dunnett’s time-hopping novel, reminiscent of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas, is a good example of character-driven literary sci-fi.
PREMIUM
Strange New World
Quickly paced with engaging characters, the final volume of Shaw’s quartet (after Grave Importance) brings to close a unique supernatural series focused on medical care for otherworldly beings.
PREMIUM
The Vengeance
Readers who enjoyed Shawn Carpenter’s The Price of Redemption for its swashbuckling and Genevieve Cogman’s Scarlet for its sanguinary take on vampires meddling with history and politics will be fascinated by the latest from Newman (Atlas Alone).
Kelley’s debut might draw comparisons to Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water, but this powerfully queer story will stand tall in its own right on any shelf.
This must-buy novel from Langmead (Calypso) and Whiteley (Three Eight One) feels like a cousin to Trip Galey’s A Market of Dreams and Destiny and Aimee Pokwatka’s Self-Portrait with Nothing, offering readers a mug of cocoa from one hand and a cool glass of lemonade from the other.
The scope of Jackson’s debut is breathtaking, from gripping suspense to serene contemplation to the scientific presentation of articles of history and imagination. Highly recommended for those who seek to understand the past and reimagine the future.
The novel’s setting is reminiscent of the historical fantasy of P. Djèlí Clark, whose work, along with that of Nnedi Okorafor and Moses Ose Utomi, would be an excellent read-alike for Onyebuchi’s highly recommended hardboiled fantasy mystery.
PREMIUM
The Sword Triumphant
A powerful epic fantasy finale, perhaps the trilogy’s strongest installment.
This mixture of mystery, SF, and historical fiction is highly recommended for readers who love intricately blended genre stories that ask big questions. Those who fell hard for Rivers Solomon’s The Deep or Leslye Penelope’s Daughter of the Merciful Deep will find a kindred story here.
PREMIUM
The Memory Collectors
Those who love time travel stories will enjoy the way Meserve’s (The Space Between) novel dives deeply into the human factors behind grief, guilt, loss, and starting over.
PREMIUM
The Last Vigilant
With warmongering, political intrigue, and themes of standing up for the weak, this marks the start of a compelling fantasy series that is perfect for fans of David Dalglish and Justin Lee Anderson.
PREMIUM
Alchemy and a Cup of Tea
An excellent ending to a defining series of warmth-filled romantasy.
Full of humor and relatable parenting moments, this is a must-read for those who grew up loving stories of magical schools and are looking for a new fantasy world.
Herman’s (Bleeding Hearts) delightful secondary characters and humorous tone bring this subversive, queer fairy tale retelling to life.
PREMIUM
The Gentleman and His Vowsmith
Ide’s (Between the Dragons and Their Wrath, writing as Devin Madson) Regency-era fantasy is a perfect choice for readers who enjoy gothic settings, locked-room mysteries, and queer historical romance.
PREMIUM
The Incandescent
Recommended for readers of dark academia, Tesh’s sophomore novel (after Some Desperate Glory) is an intriguing contemporary fantasy.
PREMIUM
One Way Witch
A coming-into-power story that will be highly appreciated by She Who Knows readers or anyone looking for more set in the world of Who Fears Death, recently optioned by HBO. Also a good pick for fans of Tobi Ogundiran and Suyi Davies Okungbowa.
Yang’s (The Genesis of Misery) emotion-laden novella will be a hit with fans of dragons and slow-burn romantasy. Readers of Aliette de Bodard and the “Singing Hills Cycle” series by Nghi Vo will especially enjoy Yang’s prose.
This is a wild adventure through history, art, and literature for Moore’s many fans and those who enjoy historical fiction with a side of fantasy and wry humor. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
The Baby Dragon Cafe
Qureshi (If I Loved You Less) launches a cozy romantasy series that will have readers wanting to curl up with their own warm drink while they enjoy this heartwarming story.
PREMIUM
The Way
Though Groner describes a gritty world ravaged by disease, he nonetheless offers plenty of hope and recognizes the potential for healing. A beautifully woven tale of survival and humanity at its best.
Armitage’s ability to manifest Clarke’s (Piranesi) subtle ridicule of her characters makes this faux-scholarly fantasy a joyful and comforting listen.
PREMIUM
The Teller of Small Fortunes
Leong’s novel is a gentle, comforting listen, enhanced with endearing characters and well-tailored narration. Share with fans of Travis Baldree’s Legends and Lattes.
PREMIUM
This World Is Not Yours
A potent blend of sci-fi, horror, and thriller, where the planetary danger is but a garnish for a love so strong it hurts.
A strong entry from Clarke with a superb narrator in Ortiz makes this a highly recommended choice for any audiobook collection, especially where high-octane fantasy tales are popular.
PREMIUM
The Shiver Tree
Fans craving a sweeping fantasy heavily inspired by classic Dungeons & Dragons will feel right at home in Searcy’s debut novel, which is reminiscent of Sariah Wilson’s A Tribute of Fire and A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney.
This book will find a listenership anywhere fantasy is popular and, of course, anywhere the rest of the series has connected with its audience.
PREMIUM
The Sapling Cage
The renewed interest in Tamora Pierce’s “Alanna” series will have fans old and new flocking to this adventure-filled, emotionally rich fantasy.
PREMIUM
Run
Listeners will not be able to stop until the end, needing to know if Jack’s run will be worth it. A fast-paced, exciting audio enhanced by excellent narration.
This is an epic as clever and magnificent as its mythic namesake. A must-buy for all fantasy collections.
A relentless and beautifully balanced romantasy/legal thriller, offering blood and hope in equal measures. Recommended for fans of any of the genres it borrows from.
As enchanting as Barnard’s debut, this retelling of Irish mythology is a compelling exploration of transformation, mortality, and the delicate balance between humankind and the divine.
PREMIUM
Advocate
A quick pace, witty characters, and conspiracy twists will bring readers along for this fast ride of a fantasy that concludes the appealing “Warden” series (following Necrobane).
The morally gray, villainous characters in these stories are sure to find their way into readers’ hearts.
PREMIUM
Onyx Storm (Standard Edition)
While Yarros’s legion of fans will still thrill over each new development for Violet and Xaden, this entry is not as swoony as the first two books in the “Empyrean” series, and the precipitous cliffhanger ending wears thin.
Mary’s story is a dangerous and delightful adventure that turns the bigotry and misogyny of Victorian England on its head as she takes charge of her own life and rescues everyone with the help of her friends. Highly recommended for readers caught up in the recent trend of feminist retellings of well-known tales.
PREMIUM
A Fate Forged in Fire
While the novel’s premise and many beloved tropes will draw romantasy readers in and keep them till the end, the worldbuilding and character development are lacking.
PREMIUM
The Serpent Called Mercy
Readers looking for a clever and determined fantasy heroine motivated by platonic devotion will find much to enjoy in Lau’s debut.
YA author Griffin (Other Words for Smoke) makes her adult debut with a queer take on Little Shop of Horrors that offers a unique narrator, a celebration of dying malls, and all the facets of love and desire. Fans of John Wiswell’s Someone You Can Build a Nest In should pick this up.
PREMIUM
Don’t Sleep with the Dead
Vo once again vividly brings to life the world of Jazz Age New York City, intertwined with magic, devils, and ghosts of the past.
PREMIUM
House of Blight
The first in Martineau’s (Shadows of the Lost) gothic fantasy duology is filled with unique magic, romance, and intrigue. Strong characters, rich worldbuilding, and mounting tension make this a delightful read.
PREMIUM
Where the Axe Is Buried
Thought-provoking in the extreme, Nayler’s (The Tusks of Extinction) sci-fi cyberthriller will trap fans of technothrillers in its web.
PREMIUM
A Touch of Shadows
Originally self-published by Thorne (The Water Witch) and now picked up by a Big Five publisher, this steamy romantasy series starter is perfect for fans of slow-building and mysterious magic and will leave readers hungry for the next installment.
PREMIUM
Homegrown Magic
Full of flirty dialogue, strong conflict, and a heartwarming love story, this book feels like drinking a warm cup of tea and is perfect for fans of cozy queer romantasy.
The slow burn of the sapphic romance and the inch-by-inch growth of a relationship from contempt to reliance to love make this a story to savor, while the epic walking tour of the dead empire blends ancient history with fantasy in ways that will remind readers of Guy Gavriel Kay’s epic historical fantasy. Highly recommended for epic romantasy and historical fantasy fans who love a slow burn and the bitterest of bittersweet endings.
PREMIUM
The Book That Held Her Heart
Lawrence offers the final gut-wrenching book in his “Library Trilogy” (after The Book That Broke the World) with a storyline about the beginning of the Holocaust driving home the power of books to hold the past, present, and future.
articles
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? LOG IN
We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? LOG IN
Thank you for visiting.
We’ve noticed you are using a private browser. To continue, please log in or create an account.
