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The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
Richly detailed worldbuilding and inspiration from the Persephone myth all lend to a layered, immersive storyline in Sangoyomi’s debut.
PREMIUM
Dreadful
Silly but earnest, this cozy fantasy will appeal to fans of TJ Klune and Travis Baldree.
Dragon, witches, and myths abound this month, and there's even a Pride and Prejudice retelling set in space.
Ranging from cozy to dangerous these romances set in fantasy worlds offer magical artifacts, swordsmen, pirates, and life-and-death choices.
In Chandrasekera’s newest, the characters’ journey through fantastical worlds across millennia is reminiscent of This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. Recommended for fans of ambitious speculative fiction that tackles systems of oppression in fresh ways.
PREMIUM
Running Close to the Wind
Rowland (A Taste of Iron and Gold) dials up the humor, innuendo, and laugh-out-loud escapades in this pirate novel. Fans of the show Our Flag Means Death should definitely take a look.
PREMIUM
In the Shadow of the Fall
In Ogundiran’s (Jackal, Jackal) West African–based epic fantasy, the first in a duology, Ashâke learns the truths of her world and becomes a linchpin in the coming conflict between gods and godslayers. A sure hit for fans of Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Moses Ose Utomi, and N.K. Jemisin.
Readers who were caught up in the political shenanigans, hopeless battles, and pyrrhic victories of Brian McClellan’s In the Shadow of Lightning or Daniel Abraham’s Age of Ash will be enthralled, while those who like their grimdark fantasy to trip over into horror will find similarities between the characters of Galva and Alex Easton from T. Kingfisher’s What Feasts at Night.
PREMIUM
The Spice Gate
This is a sweeping, smart, and heartfelt tale that is perfect for readers who enjoy action-packed epic fantasy about family, survival, and the steadfast strength of the oppressed.
Highly recommended for readers who can’t resist a story featuring brave knights, stalwart queens, and magic.
Saintcrow’s attention to detail and fantastical worldbuilding, inspired by Norse Viking legends and places, merits her series’ comparison to classic epic fantasies like J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” and Robert Jordan’s “Wheel of Time.”
PREMIUM
In Our Stars
Campbell asks powerful questions about the way social structures collapse and how the loudest voices take advantage, all in a pulse-pounding adventure about saving the world and staying one step ahead of the forces that would destroy it.
This prequel to Her Majesty’s Royal Coven leans into the real history of Anne Boleyn and creates a delightful origin story for the series.
PREMIUM
Blood Jade
The follow-up to Ebony Gate continues to build a delightful world of family magic, Japanese culture and diaspora, and strong ties of loyalty and friendship.
Bannen brings readers back to Tanria (after The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy) in another charming romantasy full of humor and adventure.
In Chandrasekera’s (The Saint of Bright Doors) newest, the characters’ journey through fantastical worlds across millennia is reminiscent of This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. Recommended for fans of ambitious speculative fiction that tackles systems of oppression in fresh ways.
PREMIUM
Moonbound
The depth of ideas in Sloan’s excellent new book will entice readers who enjoyed James S.A. Corey’s “Expanse” series.
This fascinating debut nestles in the intersection between T. Kingfisher’s whimsicality and Premee Mohamed’s far-too-local old gods.
PREMIUM
We Speak Through the Mountain
Readers of hopepunk that asks difficult questions will find plenty to think about in Mohamed’s follow-up to The Annual Migration of Clouds.
An alluring exploration of relationships through a fantastical lens that may appeal to those who enjoyed Cassandra Khaw’s The Salt Grows Heavy or Kelly Barnhill’s The Crane Husband.
PREMIUM
Treacle Walker
Garner’s latest evokes Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy with the joining of philosophy and childhood perspectives.
PREMIUM
Salt & Broom
Fans of magical retellings will delight in Jane’s newfound powers in this blend of witchy gothic romance and supernatural cozy mystery. Share with listeners who enjoyed the similar setting and mystery in B.R. Myers’s A Dreadful Splendor.
PREMIUM
I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons
A high fantasy that’s also cozy, the latest from Beagle (The Way Home; The Last Unicorn) is recommended for fans of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust and Travis Baldree’s Bookshops & Bonedust.
PREMIUM
The Night Ends with Fire
Song’s (An Echo in the City) poetic prose brings together cardinal spirits, a flawed protagonist, and a plot inspired by the legend of Mulan.
PREMIUM
The Unrelenting Earth
A great pick for fans of Martha Wells or those who enjoy inventive sci-fi fantasy with emotional stakes.
Richly detailed worldbuilding and inspiration from the Persephone myth all lend to a layered, immersive storyline in Sangoyomi’s debut.
PREMIUM
Gravity Lost
The second entry in the “Ambit’s Run” series is perfect for readers who want a cozy sci-fi that doesn’t sacrifice an exciting plot.
PREMIUM
Daughter of Calamity
While Lin’s debut starts slowly, historical fantasy enthusiasts will be delighted by the worldbuilding.
Check out these starred fantasy debuts about a Trans-Siberian luxury train, an underwater humanity, a department store that sells dreams, and a hotheaded hero with nothing to lose.
Naomi Novik visits favorite and new settings in a collection of short stories, while Chloe Gong, TJ Klune, J.M. Miro, and Ehigbor Okosun have sequels; plus forthcoming series titles.
A thoughtful and compelling story about one robot’s journey through their own version of Dante’s circles of hell, complete with all the other hells they’d rather never have imagined.
PREMIUM
The Coven
This previously self-published title by Woods (What Lurks Between the Fates) is highly recommended for those who delight in anti-heroes, carnal hate sex, and danger around every corner. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Armentrout, Carissa Broadbent, and anyone who loves the trend of romantasy in an academic setting like Rebecca Yarros’s “Empyrean” series.
This excellent series installment will leave listeners desperate to find out what Emily’s up to next.
PREMIUM
All the Hidden Paths
Recommended for listeners seeking a lush LGBTQIA+ fantasy and those who enjoy excellent worldbuilding with sumptuous descriptions of fashion and food. Political thriller enthusiasts may also enjoy the tricky byzantine plotting.
PREMIUM
Iron Flame
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an intense, exhilarating epic fantasy. Not suitable as a stand-alone; the series is slated to be a quintet, so resolution will be deferred. Recommended for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Terry Brooks.
PREMIUM
The Future
Alderman’s The Power, which was recently made into a popular television series, continues to attract attention; libraries should expect high demand for this twisty and emotionally resonant vision of the future.
PREMIUM
Thornhedge
With a running time of fewer than four hours, this is perfect for short road trips. Recommend to faerie and folk tale fans who enjoyed Seanan McGuire’s “Wayward Children” series or Kell Woods’s After the Forest.
PREMIUM
Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead
A must for fans of the lighter side of grimdark and morally gray characters like Shannack from Christopher Buehlman’s The Blacktongue Thief.
PREMIUM
Yours for the Taking
While some listeners might wish for more robust characterizations, this speculative look at the cost of capitalist feminism intrigues. For fans of Brey Willows’s Chosen.
PREMIUM
The Shadow Speaker
Lyrical, emotive narration enhances a compelling coming-of-age novel, the first in a duology perfect for any audio fantasy collection.
PREMIUM
System Collapse
This audio will appeal to listeners seeking an immersive, engaging sci-fi series with short, fast-paced installments; as a continuation of the Network Effect storyline, this is not ideal as a stand-alone. Recommended for fans of Ann Leckie, Andy Weir, and Iain Banks.
With notes of cosmic horror and fantasy, Rather’s haunting tale inscribes the struggles of people on the margins seeking stability while discovering their talents and self-worth.
PREMIUM
The Oxygen Farmer
A fast-paced, wry SF thriller sure to please diehard sci-fi fans and those new to the genre. Share with readers of Arthur C. Clarke and Andy Weir.
PREMIUM
An Inheritance of Magic
Watt’s narration will leave listeners anticipating the next installment of Stephen’s story. Purchase for fans of Jacka’s works and where urban fantasy is popular.
PREMIUM
Space Holes: First Transmission
This space romp will have listeners laughing at a robust cast and familiar workplace ridiculousness. Recommend not only for fans of “The Murderbot Diaries” series but for anyone who has dealt with inane corporate regulations.
PREMIUM
The Fragile Threads of Power
Schwab’s well-spun series starter delivers, offering favorite characters for fans and fresh storylines to entice new listeners.
PREMIUM
And Put Away Childish Things
A great listen for anyone who enjoyed Lev Grossman’s The Magicians or Seanan McGuire’s Every Heart a Doorway and who understands that the worlds next to ours may be filled with darkness.
PREMIUM
Touched
With this quick but impactful listen, Edgar Award–winning Mosley offers existential musings about humanity’s purpose mixed with piercing commentary about societal ills.
PREMIUM
The Hanging City
Bentley’s expressive and entertaining narration provides a captivating look into the underground world of Cagmar and its inhabitants. Holmberg’s (Heir of Uncertain Magic) latest is a winner for fans of intricately plotted fantasy in the vein of Trent Jamieson’s The Stone Road.
PREMIUM
Prophet
A twisty sci-fi plot paves the way for slow-burn romance in this uniquely told collaboration.
PREMIUM
The Longest Autumn
Much like a leaf falling through the autumn air, Avery’s book is beautiful on its surface but unable to maintain a straight path.
Mohamed’s haunting novella will check the boxes for fans seeking horror, fantasy, and dystopian worlds. Recommended for fans of Mia V. Moss’s Mai Tais for the Lost and C.L. Polk’s Even Though I Knew the End.
PREMIUM
We Are the Crisis
Perhaps the most striking part of Turnbull’s novel is its relevance to the current political climate, making it the perfect choice for listeners who enjoy speculative fiction that bravely tackles real-world issues.
PREMIUM
The Narrow Road Between Desires
Fans of fairy tales with a grown-up spin and Rothfuss’s other works will enjoy this audiobook that requires a smaller time investment than most fantasy novels.
PREMIUM
The Stardust Grail
Kitasei (The Deep Sky) writes an emotional roller coaster of a space quest, highlighting friendship, family, and the ostracism of those believed to be different. The prose is as intimate as the universe is wide.
A surprisingly thoughtful and compelling story from Tchaikovsky (Lords of Uncreation) about one robot’s journey through their own version of Dante’s circles of hell, complete with all the other hells they’d rather never have imagined. Readers who love a good postapocalyptic hell ride, AI-centered adventures, and robot/human companion stories, such as A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers, will appreciate.
Readers will want to savor the delightful letters that make up this cozy fantasy set in academia and an underwater world. Recommend to fans of Malka Older’s “Mossa and Pleiti” series.
There’s never a dull moment in this instantly absorbing debut that offers effortless escapism. Perfect for fans of the “Mistborn” series by Brandon Sanderson.
PREMIUM
Escape Velocity
Manibo (The Sleepless) pens a novel full of twists and turns, with broad appeal. Sci-fi, dystopian, and mystery fans will all find something to enjoy, while the posh setting and elite players give an unexpected air of palace intrigue that could rival Game of Thrones.
PREMIUM
The Stars Too Fondly
This delightful debut is a space odyssey with just enough mystery and romance to keep readers thoroughly entertained.
PREMIUM
Foul Days
Fans of folklore-infused fantasy with a romantic subplot and sassy, independent main characters will blissfully devour the coming duology.
PREMIUM
Red Side Story
The sequel to Fforde’s Shades of Grey continues to flesh out the inflexible society of the Colortocracy and Eddie’s pursuit to discover the truths about his world. The satirical dystopian setting and memorable characters highlight Fforde’s skill with worldbuilding and dialogue.
Metaphysical and philosophical, this novella from Samatar (The White Mosque) combines space adventure with an examination of the carceral state, here set in academia, that will leave readers with much to think about. This will appeal to readers who were fascinated by the stultifying caste systems of Medusa Uploaded by Emily Devenport and Braking Day by Adam Oyebanji and the rot of academe in The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older.
Wexler’s (Emperor of Ruin) latest is a wild ride of fake it ’til you make it, full of high adventure and low chuckles every step of the way.
Roanhorse’s world of the Meridian (last seen in the series entry Fevered Star) is a powerful tale of gods, power, and the way people seek to claim both. The exquisite storytelling doesn’t release readers until the final page is turned.
PREMIUM
Ocean’s Godori
Cho’s debut is a quick read with a spark of romance and a cliffhanger that will frustrate some readers but leave others excited for what happens next.
Every single bit as much fun and adventurous as the author’s debut, this sequel offers a terrific enemies-to-lovers romance, an utterly stunning heel-turn betrayal, and a heartfelt story about blending found families and birth families and never assuming that what one sees is anything like the truth. Featuring a well-developed mercantile empire-type space opera setting, this is highly recommended for fans of the space romances of Valerie Valdes, K.B. Wagers, Rachel Bach, and Cat Rambo.
A partially submerged Nigeria and a world at the edge of apocalypse, being destroyed by climate disasters and corporate greed, are settings for these starred climate fiction novels.
James A Corey, Raymond E. Feist, and Nalo Hopkinson start new series runs, while T. Kingfisher and Nnedi Okorafor offer new stand-alones.
This romantic fantasy has a great balance of grimness and humor that will appeal to fans of T. Kingfisher’s fantasy titles.
This wildly surprising caper fantasy from Clark will keep readers on the edge of their seats working out who “dunit,” and how and why, as they explore the gritty underbelly of this world of living contracts, dead gods, and legal necromancy, reminiscent of Max Gladstone’s “Craft Sequence” and “Craft Wars” series. This will appeal to all lovers of urban fantasy.
Cook (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic) offers a fine idyll through a fabulistic world that’s an appealing read for cozy fantasy fans.
PREMIUM
Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons
Author Tieri (Multiversity: Harley Quinn Screws Up the DCU) and illustrator Miranda (We Live: Coming of Age) spin a thrilling adventure featuring the world-renowned King of the Monsters.
Author Sebela (Crowded Vol. 1) and illustrator Laming (Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Omnibus) present a riveting science fiction thriller examining how hope can inspire heroism, or become an excuse for monstrousness, in the face of desperation.
PREMIUM
Army of One, Vol. 1
Despite an overabundance of exposition and worldbuilding, this is an intriguing initial offering from Lee (Hope Falls) in an ongoing sci-fi adventure, starring a charismatic queer teenager.
PREMIUM
Void Rivals, Vol. 1
Kirkman (Firepower) and illustrators De Felici (Oblivion Song Compendium) and Lopes craft a fantastic space opera centered on a fascinatingly complex pair of protagonists.
Not a particularly great starting point for new readers, but so packed with magnificent action and trippy notions about human nature that even the uninitiated are likely to find something to enjoy in this operatic science fiction epic.
PREMIUM
The Day Tripper
Goodhand’s (Man Down) adult debut is a compelling look at the way decisions, good and bad, build up over time to create a life. Recommended for fans of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and readers who enjoy time-travel narratives.
This complete volume of Leckie’s short stories will be much appreciated by her fans, particularly as the “Imperial Radch” universe is award-winning and popular; the volume’s new story set there should be a welcome addition to that world.
This cross between Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler and Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono deserves a place in every library.
PREMIUM
Sunbringer
The second book in the “Fallen Gods” series delves more deeply into Godkiller’s characters and world, with human vs. divine battles and a found family that will appeal to fans of The Witcher.
PREMIUM
When Among Crows
Roth’s (Arch-Conspirator) novella is filled with Polish folklore, imaginative storytelling, and depictions of how family forms people but doesn’t have to define them. Fans of contemporary fairy tales and fantastical stories should pick this one up.
PREMIUM
The Fireborne Blade
Recommended for readers who love to see a familiar tale turned on its head so hard that the entire story becomes different and even more fascinating.
A highly recommended entry in Vo’s series, one where the familiar erupts in surprise, a shower of blood, and all the horrors of Cassandra Khaw’s Nothing But Blackened Teeth, leaving Chih with yet another fascinating tale to tell.
This wildly surprising caper fantasy from Clark (A Master of Djinn) will keep readers on the edge of their seats working out who “dunit,” and how and why, as they explore the gritty underbelly of this world of living contracts, dead gods, and legal necromancy, reminiscent of Max Gladstone’s “Craft Sequence” and “Craft Wars” series. This will appeal to all lovers of urban fantasy.
PREMIUM
Necrobane
The sequel to Ford’s Warden is a delightful epic fantasy, filled with strong worldbuilding and a great cast of characters.
Highly recommended for readers who fell in love with Remy and his journey in Silver Under Nightfall. Also suggest Chupeco’s duology to anyone who loves fantasy filled with courtly glitter, epic betrayals, and bloody battles with friends and monsters alike.
Mills’s debut novel is complex and haunting, filled with beautiful prose and timely themes of political and religious upheaval and personal journeys.
PREMIUM
The Bound Worlds
The last of O’Keefe’s “Devoured Worlds” trilogy, following The Fractured Dark, brings as much action and as many thought-provoking character arcs as the previous books.
PREMIUM
The Gilded Crown
A beautiful fantasy full of quests, court intrigue, and star-crossed lovers, Gordon’s debut is the first of a duology, recommended for fans of Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree.
PREMIUM
Welcome to Forever
Tavares’s (A Fractured Infinity) worldbuilding is complex and fascinating in this kaleidoscope of a novel. The high-stakes science fiction is sharp and tragic, hopeful and thrilling.
Wiswell’s debut is the ultimate monster slayer story, if the monster is just a misunderstood creature searching for love. This romantic fantasy has a great balance of grimness and humor that will appeal to fans of T. Kingfisher’s fantasy titles.
PREMIUM
Relics of Ruin
The strengths of the first book continue in the second of Evans’s “Books of the Usurper” series, with sophisticated prose, a richly detailed world, a clandestine and conspiratorial atmosphere, and fascinating elemental magic. Great for fans of Richard Swan.
Bardugo (Hell Bent) masterfully weaves magical realism with historical fiction and romance, which makes this book impossible to put down. Great for fans of Rebecca Ross, Heather Fawcett, and Holly Black.
PREMIUM
The Book That Broke the World
This is a wonderfully immersive fantasy whose meta message, about the power of books to change the world, is not to be missed.
Okungbowa (Warrior of the Wind) offers readers an amazing, character-driven story set in a vivid, dystopian world.
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas is the top holds title of the week. LibraryReads and Library Journal offer read-alikes for patrons waiting to read this buzziest book.
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