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PREMIUM
The Genesis of Misery
An interesting start to this expected trilogy and a definite must-add for science fiction collections.
Hunt’s debut is fun, fast-paced, cutting-edge, and full of epic twists, with a highly accessible writing style. Fans of Andy Weir and Martha Wells will love it.
PREMIUM
The Registration
Lawson delivers a compelling dystopian near-future tale with plenty of meaty subject matter and slightly inconsistent pacing. For readers who enjoy their sci-fi with a side of moral quandary.
Vo’s (The Chosen and the Beautiful; Siren Queen) latest is highly recommended for readers of the previous books in the series and anyone who likes high fantasy inspired by Imperial China or wuxia movies and stories.
Pokwatka’s debut is a unique and well-plotted story with many twists and turns. Recommended for science fiction fans, but it will also appeal to a wider audience.
PREMIUM
Deploying Dragons
Full of thrilling invention and discovery and show-stealing dragons, this one is for every reader who’s ever dreamed of riding or at least training their very own winged beast.
Kowal’s comedy-of-manners SF mystery is a rollicking case of knowing when to throw decorum out the window in order to get results. Highly recommended for fans of the author’s Regency fantasy series “The Glamourist Histories,” as well as anyone who loves a good mystery in an out-of-this-world setting.
Lafferty (Hugo-nominated for Six Wakes) creates a clever and suspenseful sci-fi mystery, with intriguing characters and attentive worldbuilding.
PREMIUM
The Mountain in the Sea
Drawing on decades of experience in overseas service (including time with the United States Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), Nayler infuses his debut novel with fantastic elements grounded in real contemporary topics and tackles moral issues related to artificial and animal intelligence without sacrificing plot or pacing. This is a classic sci-fi thriller that’s easy to read and will have broad appeal for fans of speculative fiction.
PREMIUM
One Dark Window
A finely detailed magical system enriches Gillig’s debut; fantasy readers will enjoy.
Replete with beautiful metaphors and lyrical prose, poet and folklorist Nethercott’s (The Lumberjack’s Dove) debut novel deploys her poetic storytelling powers to spotlight the struggle against oppression. This modern-day fairy tale will ignite greater understanding of an individual’s ability to incite change with the stories they tell.
PREMIUM
Ledge
McEwan, a popular figure on BookTok, has written an ambitious fantasy debut. The plot and worldbuilding are thoroughly fleshed out and make this novel a great start to the “Glacian Trilogy.”
PREMIUM
The Stardust Thief
Abdullah has written a deeply appealing novel infused with enchantment. The audio edition does not uniformly match her achievement, but for readers who prefer to listen to stories, this is one not to miss.
PREMIUM
Lark Ascending
The not-too-distant dystopia of House’s (Southernmost) latest becomes a vehicle for the author to tell a compelling story about a refugee crisis. Because House takes the story out of a contemporary context, readers can more easily empathize with the novel’s refugees rather than focusing on real-world quandaries.
PREMIUM
Notorious Sorcerer
Evans’s debut is a high fantasy full of excellent worldbuilding, with an enjoyable magic system and strong characters.
The latest reveals from the ever-expanding history of McGuire’s world still hold surprises, while previous plot threads are closed off to prepare for the latest cliff-hanger. This action-filled urban fantasy series shows no signs of slowing down.
PREMIUM
Keeper of Enchanted Rooms
Reminiscent of Mary Stewart’s period romances, but with a touch of magic and murder. Holmberg’s fantasy is enjoyable but doesn’t stand out, and the magical system is only cursorily laid out in this series launch.
Bishop’s sci-fi debut is recommended for readers who think Larry Correia’s “Monster Hunter International” series should go intergalactic, those who enjoy stories featuring the people who get the dirty jobs done, and especially anyone who wishes that Martha Wells’s Murderbot would become a superhero.
Lemberg’s first full-length novel in their lauded “Birdverse” (following the novella The Four Profound Weaves) showcases elegant and lyrical prose to create an immersive romantic fantasy.
This story compilation is a must-have in library collections that own Chakraborty’s Hugo-nominated trilogy, as it showcases her amazing characters and lush world one more time.
Gilmore’s immersive prose steeps readers in this wonderfully epic folktale fantasy full of magic and myth.
PREMIUM
Dead Man’s Hand
This debut from Butcher (son of “Dresden Files” novelist Jim Butcher) hits all the right notes for an entertaining urban fantasy series. Readers will want to see what happens next.
The fascinating world and original narrator that Ennes creates in their debut produce a sublime gothic sci-fi tale that grows into a story greater than the sum of its parts.
PREMIUM
Will Do Magic for Small Change
This new edition is recommended for public libraries and readers who have an interest in African history and science fiction and who missed the book when it came out as an indie.
PREMIUM
The Art of Prophecy
Chu’s (The Fall of Io) wry prose and characters are a delightful counterpoint to the physical and emotional demands undertaken by Jian and his allies, while the subplots build a vast panoramic view of this incredible world in the first of a new series.
This epic fantasy about a crew of misfits with just a touch of magic and heartbreaking backstories is a rollicking good time of a read. Readers who fell for Christopher Buehlman’s The Blacktongue Thief are going to be head over heels for Koboldt’s latest.
PREMIUM
Aftermath
This will be popular with fans of Burton’s acting and readers who like their dystopian novels to end on a slightly hopeful note.
Suri’s second volume of the “Burning Kingdoms” trilogy (after The Jasmine Throne) continues an epic tale of love: for family, for power, for country.
PREMIUM
Face
With its slower pace and the many concepts it introduces and leaves unresolved, West’s debut novel will appeal to readers who appreciate philosophical fiction and fans of Scott Westerfeld’s “Uglies” and “Impostors” series.
A fascinating debut with shades of gothic fantasy and contemporary thriller, wrapped in a narrative full of vivid and detailed characters and worldbuilding, and an unusual premise.
Mesa’s debut mixes a bit of Mexican folktale, a chunk of magical realism, and tons of period detail into a page-turning urban fantasy that takes the glitter of Boardwalk Empire and combines it with a story of found family, mob violence, and romance.
PREMIUM
High Times in the Low Parliament
Readers who like their political fantasies and power trips to go down with a spoonful of sugar will eat this up.
Marais’s (If You Want to Make God Laugh) latest is a quirky Golden Girls with wands that explores women’s empowerment, friendship, and loyalty and addresses racial equality, identity, and gender fluidity. A timely, fun modern-day fable about women who refuse to conform.
In Bannen’s (Soulswift) adult debut, the roller coaster of Mercy and Hart’s journey is full of sizzle and emotional turmoil, as well as plenty of sci-fi adventure and humor. Readers will be captivated by the land of Tanria and will want to stay connected with these characters long after the book ends.
Muir’s third entry in “The Locked Tomb” series (after Harrow the Ninth) is as immersive and original as its predecessors.
The delicately interwoven complexity of the story, along with the loving portrait of Firuz and their found family, makes Jamnia’s fantasy puzzler a delight to read. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Katherine Addison’s The Witness for the Dead.
PREMIUM
Dance with the Devil
Rocha has crafted a solid ending for the arcs of Nina, Maya, and Dani, but still leaves room to continue with some of the secondary characters.
Roth’s (Chosen Ones) latest is highly recommended for readers of dystopian fiction, lovers of Philip K. Dick’s thought-police science fiction, and anyone who wants to see how far “If you see something, say something” can be led astray.
PREMIUM
Fault Tolerance
An unusual combination of National Treasure and Star Trek in which a space crew races across a universe filled with an array of different beings.
PREMIUM
Babel; or, The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution
Kuang is a refreshing and essential voice in fiction, and her latest will have wide appeal.
Mandanna’s (Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse) first adult novel is a positively adorable romantic fantasy and a must-buy for all public libraries.
PREMIUM
The Monsters We Defy
This engaging fantasy heist tale, inspired by historical events and people, will please readers who enjoyed C. L. Polk’s “Kingston Cycle” and fans of Penelope (a past winner of the BCALA Self-Publishing EBook Award who also has a title on Time’s list of the “100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time.”
An emotionally gripping, delightful queer fantasy filled with political intrigue, family dynamics, and tender moments that will grab readers’ hearts and minds.
PREMIUM
Eclipse the Moon
A space opera setting, an antagonistic friends-to-lovers romance, and fast-paced action bring some new plot points and nicely set up the last of Mihalik’s trilogy.
Rowland’s (A Choir of Lies) latest continues to showcase their captivating prose, immersive details, and complicated characters.
PREMIUM
Silk Fire
The driven characters, intriguing premise of a matriarchal society where old magic and new technology coexist, and the plot of long-game political schemes are unfortunately weighed down at times by large info dumps and exposition. The main character is heavily self-critical, and the clarity of motivations can be hard to hold.
PREMIUM
Three Miles Down
A pleasure to read with Jerry’s gee-whiz awe, combined with intelligent humor. The nods and winks toward genre standouts from the ’70s add to the verisimilitude and fun for SF fans.
Chambers’s second “Monk and Robot” novella (following A Psalm for the Wild-Built) continues the quiet, contemplative journey through philosophy, nature, and personal experience.
For astronaut wonks and fans of realistic science fiction, Smale’s latest will delight and enthrall.
PREMIUM
The Women Could Fly
Combining the misogynist oppression of The Handmaid’s Tale with the sharp insight and SFnal (science fictional) tone of Octavia Butler, Giddings’s latest is a chilling but all too plausible tale.
PREMIUM
Daughter of the Moon Goddess
Tan’s debut is a bit too long, but is a good fit for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Sabaa Tahir, along with those who like romantic and mythic fantasy retellings.
PREMIUM
The Atlas Six
While steadfast fantasy lovers will be eager for the next installation in this series, others may wish that worldbuilding and action better matched the hype.
PREMIUM
The Liar’s Knot
Recommended for those who enjoy dark fantasy and worldbuilding. Fans of Six of Crows and The Lies of Locke Lamora would also enjoy.
PREMIUM
The Unfamiliar Garden
Although the plot was less than compelling and the characters flawed and unlikable, the story’s premise was distinctive and will be of interest to fans of science fiction.
A fine-tuned science fiction character study that explores such philosophical questions as how our memories, good and bad, affect who we are and how we relate to others.
PREMIUM
Age of Ash
This first in a trilogy from Abraham (The Spider’s War; coauthor of “The Expanse” series) is a must-buy for audio collections where grimdark and epic fantasy are popular, and is a solid choice for other collections because of its cross-genre appeal for mystery and sci-fi fans.
PREMIUM
Goliath
Vividly narrated by multiple voices and told in nonlinear vignettes with prose that alternates between devastatingly concise and arrestingly descriptive, this audiobook will appeal to fans of literary science fiction but may frustrate those looking for a traditionally structured, plot-focused story.
Highly recommend for fans of anime and graphic novels. This fast-paced and surprisingly funny adaptation is a treat for the ears.
PREMIUM
The Paradox Hotel
A great purchase for any library with an active sci-fi listener base, with crossover appeal for thriller and mystery fans.
PREMIUM
Wild and Wicked Things
Featuring queer romance, this enjoyable tale of magic would be a wonderful addition to any collection.
PREMIUM
A River Enchanted
While Ross’s protagonists may need to be wary of seeking mysterious shine beneath the waters, this is one enchanted river listeners can dive confidently into.
PREMIUM
The Extractionist
Unger (Nucleation), a game designer and VR programmer by day, delivers an edge-of-your-seat technothriller with a refreshingly relatable protagonist. While some might find this too jargon-heavy for comfort, cyberpunk fans will love Unger’s scientific knowledge and creativity.
Highly recommended for readers of climate fiction, social engineering sf, and dystopian catastrophe novels.
Fans of John Scalzi’s Lock In and Brandon Sanderson’s Legion will be enthralled with this deft blend of murder mystery and science fiction. In the end, the motives for the crime are all too human, while the means, methods, and opportunities are all firmly part of this futuristic setting. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
A New Clan
The large cast of characters and multiple points of view might be off-putting to those who want to spend all their time with Stephanie and Climbs Quickly, but the story flows smoothly, the already remarkably established world holds wide appeal, and there is plenty of fast-paced drama and trauma. All fans of this crossover YA series will appreciate the ongoing bonds between the humans and treecats.
An impressive first in an expected trilogy, one that hits high notes of several popular themes and trends (found families, classics retold), but offers fresh perspectives as well. It will delight readers who appreciate highly atmospheric books. Share widely, not just with fantasy readers.
The continuation of the adventures of Penric and Desdemona are given room in this story filled with all the adventure, humor, and action Bujold is known for. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
The City Inside
Readers will empathize with Joey’s dilemma and get caught up in the minutiae of her life. The novel’s theme, that the truth does not and cannot set anyone free, is as disturbing as it is thought-provoking.
PREMIUM
Her Majesty’s Royal Coven
Readers who love a big fight between good and evil, who enjoy seeing magic in the everyday world, and those who like their heroine’s journeys to include all facets of heartbreak will savor the cut and thrust of this battle.
PREMIUM
Daughter of Redwinter
McDonald (“Raven’s Mark” trilogy) begins an immersive new fantasy series, good for fans of George R. R. Martin and Brandon Sanderson.
PREMIUM
The Knave of Secrets
This novel’s sleight-of-hand mix of gaming, thievery, secrets, and politics will remind readers fondly of Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora, although Valen’s crew is not quite as loyal or memorable. Fans of politically inspired fantasy will love watching the game.
PREMIUM
The Book of Gothel
Readers who have enjoyed Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked Years” series will find McMyne’s perspective delightful.
This grim but poignant debut showcases a bleak Victorian England, engaging characters, and the desire to belong.
PREMIUM
For the Throne
This lush feminist world may draw inspiration from European fairy tales, but the magic, politics, and relationships are firmly rooted in adult reading. Fans of Naomi Novik and Alix Harrow will enjoy this duology.
Swirsky’s slice-of-life UBI stories present just a few possible effects of this hotly debated topic. Without either political rhetoric or exhortation, these brief glimpses of other lives give readers the chance to see what might be in a world with a social safety net. Highly recommended for readers of political and social science–oriented SF.
PREMIUM
Into the Real
Ringo (There Will Be Dragons) joins with Sherrer (“When the Gods Laughed” series) for this immersive, highly technical near-future sf; perfect for dedicated gamers or for fans of Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One.
PREMIUM
In a Garden Burning Gold
Power (Wilder Girls) constructs a world of magical families with layered secrets.
Luli is a compelling character both on and off the screen in this story that takes the mythmaking of Hollywood and transforms it and her into something transcendent. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Flint and Mirror
Readers searching for the high magic of epic fantasy may be disappointed, but those looking for small magics within a broad scope of history (in a similar vein to the work of Guy Gavriel Kay) will be enthralled by Crowley’s (“The Ægypt Cycle”) alchemy of uncanny magic, ancient science, and tragic history.
PREMIUM
These Prisoning Hills
A succinct but surprisingly intuitive character study. Fans of the movie Pacific Rim or Faith Hunter’s “Junkyard Cats” series will particularly enjoy.
PREMIUM
Time Troopers
There’s nothing hugely remarkable here, but fans of the classic time-travel trope will enjoy.
Chen’s novel is sure to please fans of literary fiction as well as staples of sci-fi TV like The X-Files and Fringe. A worthy addition to any contemporary science fiction audio collection.
PREMIUM
Trouble with the Cursed
“The Hollows” continues its solid supernatural storytelling, and fans will celebrate the return of its sarcastic witch-born demon.
Monáe’s collection speaks to both the sf tradition of mind-control tyranny and the way that the powerful marginalize individuals in order to control the whole. Highly recommended for readers of conspiracy and thought-control sf or of Afrofuturist works by the likes of Octavia Butler, Nalo Hopkinson, N. K. Jemisin, and Nnedi Okorafor.
PREMIUM
Abbott in Darkness
Starts slow but the suspense eventually ramps up with murder, ambush, treachery, and war.
PREMIUM
A Mirror Mended
Readers who love stories that twists narratives into knots will fall for Harrow’s fractured fairy tale where evil discovers the benefits that come of doing good.
This is a story of people who are their own worst enemies as groups fracture, danger ramps up, and options close in. It will appeal to fans of colony ship stories and coming-of-age tales.
PREMIUM
The Memory in the Blood
Van Loan’s conclusion to “The Fall of the Gods” trilogy is a fast-paced ride over high seas, through secret libraries and dark cathedrals, and into the heart of a volatile heroine.
PREMIUM
Rosebud
Cornell’s (Witches of Lychford) thought-experiment novella explores what it means to be human and asks age-old questions (What is down the road less taken? Is it better to be comfortable and complacent or to sacrifice one’s own happiness for the greater good?).
Charlie Hall is every “bad luck and worse trouble” protagonist to ever magic her way into urban fantasy. She’s desperate, she’s profane, she’s fascinating, and she kicks ass and takes names with the best antiheroes of the genre. Her world is gritty and mysterious, the stakes are always high, and the power is always tempting.
An important anthology showcasing compelling voices and perspectives in science fiction and fantasy.
Edward’s third “Tarot Sequence” novel (after The Hanged Man) builds on an intriguing alternate Earth filled with magic and political intrigue. This urban fantasy series is immersive and entertaining.
PREMIUM
Cold as Hell
A weird Western starring a taciturn lone gunman who will remind readers of Andrzej Sapkowski’s Geralt of Rivia.
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