The Leaning Pile of Books
Oct
20
2024

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature in which I highlight books I got over the last week that sound interesting—old or new, bought or received in the mail for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included, along with series information and the publisher’s book description.

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

It’s been a few weeks since the last one of these, but last week brought a couple of book purchases plus another book in the mail. I’m also including an ebook I downloaded a couple of weeks ago but hadn’t covered yet since I was trying to finish a book review I was working on.

I already highlighted one of my book purchases in a post in June, The Mountain Crown by Karin Lowachee. It’s out now and I really wanted a physical copy since it’s one of my favorite 2024 releases (plus I have a hard time reviewing ebooks and I definitely want to write something about this one!). If you missed it, Karin Lowachee did an AMA on r/Fantasy on its release date and had some really interesting things to say about her writing.

There have been a couple of new reviews since the last one of these features:

  • Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel — This reimagining of the Mahabharata focusing on Ganga and her son is one of my favorite 2024 releases. I thought the first-person perspective of the goddess was really well done, and it also tackles some interesting themes and questions.
  • The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean — I had mixed feelings about this cozy fantasy novel about a zookeeper working with magical creatures. I loved the animals, especially the birds, but that was the only part that really worked for me—plus I found the protagonist rather frustrating since she’s often so obviously wrong.

On to the newest additions to the TBR!

Cover of I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle

This novel came out earlier this year (hardcover, ebook, audiobook). The trade paperback is scheduled for publication in May 2025.

The Simon & Schuster website has both a text sample and an excerpt from the audiobook read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett.

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons was on my list of anticipated 2024 speculative fiction releases since it sounds delightful and is written by Peter S. Beagle. When I was trying to narrow down what to buy with The Mountain Crown, it seemed fitting to pick another book with dragons!

 

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Unicorn comes a new novel with equal amounts of power and whimsy in which a loveable cast of characters trapped within their roles of dragon hunter, princess, and more must come together to take their fates into their own hands.

Dragons are common in the backwater kingdom of Bellemontagne, coming in sizes from mouse-like vermin all the way up to castle-smashing monsters. Gaius Aurelius Constantine Heliogabalus Thrax (who would much rather people call him Robert) has recently inherited his deceased dad’s job as a dragon catcher/exterminator, a career he detests with all his heart in part because he likes dragons, feeling a kinship with them, but mainly because his dream has always been the impossible one of transcending his humble origin to someday become a prince’s valet. Needless to say, fate has something rather different in mind…

Cover of Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang

Blood Over Bright Haven by M. L. Wang

This novel, originally self published last year, is coming out in hardcover and audiobook (read by Moira Quirk) on October 29.

The Penguin Random House website has excerpts from both the text and audio editions of Blood Over Bright Haven.

M. L. Wang won the Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) for her novel Sword of Kaigen in 2019, and I’ve also heard great things about this dark academia novel.

 

The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever, in this standalone dark fantasy from the author of The Sword of Kaigen.

The stunning first edition hardcover will feature red stained edges, gold and red foil on the jacket, a full-color endpaper map, and an interior illustration of an in-world magical item

“Powerful, thought-provoking. . . . Fans of R.F. Kuang’s Babel will find much to admire here, from the intricate magic system to the unflinching exploration of societal issues.”—Booklist

For twenty years, Sciona has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry.

When Sciona finally passes the qualifying exam and becomes a highmage, she finds her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues are determined to make her feel unwelcome—and, instead of a qualified lab assistant, they give her a janitor.

What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was not always a janitor. Ten years ago, he was a nomadic hunter who lost his family on their perilous journey from the wild plains to the city. But now he sees the opportunity to understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the privileged in power.

At first, mage and outsider have a fractious relationship. But working together, they uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first.

Cover of Reign & Ruin by J. D. Evans

Reign & Ruin (Mages of the Wheel #1) by J. D. Evans

Reign & Ruin won the Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) in 2021. This is the first book in the fantasy romance series Mages of the Wheel, which also includes:

I’ve heard some good things about this one on r/fantasyromance, and after looking at a sample, I figured I’d give it a try. When we had a power outage a little while ago, I purchased it and put it on my Kindle while I still could just in case I couldn’t read by light later. I haven’t started it yet since the power was only out for a couple hours, but it’s on the TBR now!

 

“All magic is beautiful…and terrible. Do you not see the beauty in yours, or the terror in mine? You can stop a heart, and I can stop your breath.”

She is heir to a Sultanate that once ruled the world. He is an unwanted prince with the power to destroy.

She is order and intellect, a woman fit to rule in a man’s place. He is chaos and violence and will stop at nothing to protect his people.

His magic answers hers with shadow for light. They need each other, but the cost of balance may be too high a price. Magic is dying and the only way to save it is to enlist mages who wield the forbidden power of death, mages cast out centuries ago in a brutal and bloody war.

Now, a new war is coming. Science and machines to replace magic and old religion.

They must find a way to save their people from annihilation and balance the sacred Wheel—but first, they will have to balance their own forbidden passion. His peace for her tempest, his restlessness for her calm…

Night and day, dusk and dawn, the end, and the beginning.

Review of The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean
Oct
10
2024
The Phoenix Keeper
by S. A. MacLean
496pp (Trade Paperback)
My Rating: 5/10
Amazon Rating: 4.3/5
LibraryThing Rating: 3.36/5
Goodreads Rating: 3.98/5
 

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Book Description:

Set in a magical zoo teeming with mythical beasts from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens, The Phoenix Keeper is a fierce joy of a cozy fantasy novel with a soul-restoring queer romance at its heart, for fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Legends and Lattes.

As head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, Aila’s childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There’s just one glaring caveat: her zoo’s breeding program hasn’t functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix heist sabotages the flagship initiative at a neighboring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins.

But saving an entire species from extinction requires more than stellar animal handling skills. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks, mischievous dragons… Aila has no problem wrangling beasts. But mustering the courage to ask for help from the hotshot griffin keeper at the zoo’s most popular exhibit? Virtually impossible.

Especially when that hotshot griffin keeper happens to be her arch-rival from college: Luciana, an annoyingly brooding and insufferable know-it-all with the face of a goddess who’s convinced that Aila’s beloved phoenix would serve their cause better as an active performer rather than as a passive conservation exhibit. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila’s success is no longer merely a matter of keeping her job…

She is the keeper of the phoenix, and the future of a species– and her love life– now rests on her shoulders.

The Phoenix Keeper, S. A. MacLean’s debut novel, was one of my most anticipated 2024 speculative fiction book releases because I loved the idea of a book set in a zoo filled with mythical creatures written by an author with experience in ecology and environmental science. However, I ended up having mixed feelings about it: although I adored everything to do with the animals, I was underwhelmed by the human characters, plot, and writing. Furthermore, main protagonist Aila was my least favorite character who wasn’t a villain.

The story takes place in a contemporary setting in a secondary fantasy world, and although other places are mentioned, it’s mostly confined to the zoo with an occasional foray to another location in the same city (Aila’s apartment, her best friend’s home, her family’s restaurant, etc.). I loved that this was a zoo dedicated to preserving creatures from endangered fantastical species and educating the public about them. It served as a wildlife sanctuary for some varieties of dragons, phoenixes, griffins, and birds, as well as unicorns and a kelpie, and it had animals that were there due to injuries that kept them from being able to survive in the wild, who served as ambassadors for their species. There were also some animal shows for visitors’ entertainment, an issue that caused some tension between Aila and another zookeeper who wanted her phoenix to perform in them. Aila felt that being able to watch the animals existing should be enough for people to take an interest in them, but the performances garnered a lot of attention and were a big factor in visitors wanting to support wildlife.

A clear love for animals shines through The Phoenix Keeper, and its best parts were those centered on the zoo and its inhabitants. These characters were imbued with personality, and although I loved all the animals, I especially adored the mischievous archibird. He had saliva that acted as an adhesive for shiny metal objects, which he built into a tower in an attempt to impress the females of his species, and was overall a menace, stealing items that caught his eye and irritating his keeper (all while being too adorable for her to stay upset with him for very long). As someone who has had impish birds before, I felt S. A. MacLean successfully captured their essence, and this one was easily my favorite character.

Aside from the animals, The Phoenix Keeper didn’t really work for me, though. Aila and her third-person perspective lacked the sort of charm I was hoping to see in a cozy fantasy novel, and neither she nor the prose stood out as compelling to me (even if I did admire her devotion to her animals). Our phoenix keeper is primarily characterized as an awkward, anxious introvert who loves her animals and is knowledgeable about them, would do anything to help them, and works hard on their behalf. She has realistic, relatable struggles as someone dealing with anxiety and a fear of public speaking, but she often feels like an overdone caricature of someone who isn’t great with people considering just how consistently and badly she ends up with her foot in her mouth. Aila is also frustrating because she is infuriatingly wrong so much of the time: she misjudges people and overlooks the obvious a lot, and she gets so wrapped up in her own problems that she doesn’t even notice the struggles of those around her, including those of her supportive best friend. Her main character arc involves learning to get outside of herself, and though it’s not unrealistic that someone would go through something like this, it is a long journey given that Aila is flawed in an annoying, straightforward way rather than in a fascinating, complex way.

The plot mainly focuses on Aila’s work at the zoo, particularly with starting a new phoenix breeding program. Given the rarity of the species, her female Silimalo phoenix does not have a mate, but Aila sees an opportunity to procure one for her after another zoo’s female and young are stolen. Aila has to overcome her fears and anxieties enough to convince others that the best move is transferring the remaining male to her zoo in hopes that he’ll bond with her phoenix, which means rebuilding their long out-of-use facilities—which she can’t do on her own, or even with the help of her best friend, forcing her to enlist the aid of others in the zoo like her nemesis from their college days. I liked the parts that involved the birds themselves, but like the characterization that tied into this plot, the rest of it was a bit simplistic for me. It’s also pretty clear what the climactic scene is going to involve long before it happens, and though predictability doesn’t have to be bad, this wasn’t the type of scene I eagerly anticipated or had fun reading. It was just a relief when Aila finally realized what had been obvious all along, and there were some parts that came across as cheesy to me throughout this sequence.

Though The Phoenix Keeper is described as having a “queer romance at its heart,” those who are primarily reading for the romance might be disappointed by how long it takes to get there. (If you’re looking for stories where queer characters don’t have to deal with obstacles and microaggressions, it does deliver on that front, though.) There isn’t exactly a love triangle, but there are two separate romantic subplots involving a male zookeeper and a female zookeeper. The endgame love story is cute, but there isn’t really a lot of focus on this romance and it’s immediately clear that the other love interest isn’t right for Aila, even setting aside what’s in the book description. I thought the relationship Aila had with her best friend, a trans woman named Tanya who also worked in the zoo, was both more central to the story and better done, even when I was frustrated on Tanya’s behalf.

The Phoenix Keeper is a difficult book for me to summarize and rate: I only finished it because of the zoo and its residents, and though they’re a large part of the book, so are the things I found less appealing such as the main protagonist’s blunt character arc and the novel’s overall lack of finesse. By the end, the aspects that didn’t work for me seemed more prominent, but since I did love the animals, I’m going with a middle-of-the-road rating.

My Rating: 5/10

Where I got my reading copy: Finished copy from the publisher.

Review of Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel
Oct
03
2024
Goddess of the River
by Vaishnavi Patel
416pp (Hardcover)
My Rating: 8.5/10
Amazon Rating: 4.2/5
LibraryThing Rating: 3.71/5
Goodreads Rating: 3.85/5
 

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Goddess of the River is Vaishnavi Patel’s second novel, following her beautifully written reimagining of the story of the vilified titular queen from the Ramayana, Kaikeyi. Like her first novel, this gives a voice to a female character who had an important role but is often overlooked in texts and studies focusing on the original work: this time, by reimagining the story of the river goddess Ganga from the Mahabharata, particularly how being cursed to live as a mortal and a mother affected her, and in turn, impacted the kingdom of Hastinapur.

The novel opens long before the conflict of the Mahabharata, beginning with Ganga’s descent to earth in response to humans’ prayers for water. Bound to an area around a mountaintop by Shiva (also in response to mortals’ prayers when they feared her power would destroy their world), she observed humans and became fond of the company of the eight godlings known as the Vasus.

When the mischievous Vasus are cursed to live as mortals, Ganga’s attempts to intervene on their behalf result in her being cursed along with them: to live a mortal life of her own as their mother. Soon after becoming mortal, Ganga is found by a king, who is strangely eager to marry this random woman he found in a river, and the two are wed.

Once Ganga fulfills the conditions of her curse, she is restored to godhood and returns to her former life like the other godlings—except for the last Vasu. Forced to live as a mortal, her son takes an oath removing himself from the line of succession for the good of his father and kingdom, which eventually results in the war between the two branches of the royal family.

Nearly a third of Goddess of the River focuses solely on Ganga, culminating shortly after the birth of Devavrata, her son who later became known as Bhishma, and her return to godhood. After this, the novel alternates between her first-person perspective and Bhishma’s third-person perspective, as the author wanted “to imagine the interplay between her and her son all the way through the war and how they influenced each other.” Bhishma’s viewpoint begins when he is older, starting by showing the growing rift between the grandnephews who are like grandsons to him, and Ganga’s covers the time from her son’s childhood through the end of the war.

This is beautifully done, combining the sweeping events of an epic with a poignant tale of a goddess who is changed through her time as a mortal and her inability to escape human concerns in large part because of her love for the son who continues to live among them. It also tackles a lot of themes: how everything is connected, how duty and honor may not be the same as justice, the horrors of war, and the necessity of change, to name a few that particularly stood out to me.

Like Vaishnavi Patel’s debut novel, Goddess of the River is a lovely mythic story, and I think this is even a little stronger than her first with more dimensional main characters. In fact, this is one of my two favorite 2024 releases so far, largely because of the goddess’s unique perspective and views on humanity, as well as the novel’s thoughtful exploration of its major themes and focus on knowing and doing what is right.

As much as I love the epic-ness of stories with lots of gods and those aspects of this one, my favorite part was the two main characters at its heart. In particular, I enjoyed how otherworldly Ganga’s viewpoint was as a goddess and a river, despite her ability to experience things relatable to us, like loneliness, rage, sorrow, and love. When she became mortal, she went from being larger than life to contained in a single small form, leaving her baffled at human senses and her sudden inability to hold so many ideas at once. I appreciated her wry observations about humanity and its rules—particularly those that they attributed to the gods though they were, in fact, the inventions of mortals—and how she was transformed throughout the story because she had a mortal life.

Bhishma’s perspective was also wonderfully done, especially because I completely understood both the other characters’ frustration with him for holding so tightly to his vows as well as why he did so. Though he certainly had flaws and made mistakes, he also was truly trying to do what he thought was right, having internalized that he had a responsibility to be dutiful (as a prince) and that he should hold himself to a higher standard than others (as the son of a god). It was tragic that he strove so hard to be fair and impartial when following his heart may have been the best thing he could have done, and personally, I loved this.

The main reason I’m not giving this the highest rating possible is that I would have actually liked a bit more exploration of the big questions being asked and more narrative subtlety since this is a book that lays out what the main characters are thinking and feeling. This is, of course, my preference and I can also understand why it may have been seen as necessary to thoroughly explain Ganga’s views given that she is so different as a goddess and a river. It was also a bit difficult at times to keep track of all the characters involved in the war, but I cared enough to keep going back to the family tree graphic to figure out how everyone fit in so this is a heads up for potential readers rather than something I considered negative, especially since that’s due to my not having more familiarity with the Mahabharata. (Also, for those who want to avoid certain content, there are warnings at the beginning of the book as well as on the author’s post on Goodreads.)

Small quibbles aside, Goddess of the River is an incredible novel that stands out as something different from the recent books I’ve read given its focus on a mother and son as central characters, its truly unique first-person perspective of a goddess, and its inclusion of a variety of themes and questions. It’s one of my 2024 highlights, and I’m excited for Vaishnavi Patel’s next novel (Ten Incarnations of Rebellion).

My Rating: 8.5/10

Where I got my reading copy: Finished copy from the publisher.

Read “Divorcing the Evil Stepmother” by Vaishnavi Patel from Women in SF&F Month 2022

The Leaning Pile of Books
Sep
22
2024

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature in which I highlight books I got over the last week that sound interesting—old or new, bought or received in the mail for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included, along with series information and the publisher’s book description.

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

This should have been featured last weekend, but I didn’t feel up to putting it together due to getting my flu and Covid vaccines the day before. (It wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be based on previous experience, but it still affected my arm for about a day.)

The latest book on my TBR is a retelling and the first book in a romantic fantasy duology.

Cover of The Legend of Meneka by Kritika H. Rao

The Legend of Meneka (The Divine Dancers Duology #1) by Kritika H. Rao

The first book in a new duology by The Surviving Sky author Kritika H. Rao will be released on January 21, 2025 (hardcover, ebook, audiobook).

The Legend of Meneka is a Hindu-inspired romantic fantasy novel reimagining the love story of the titular aspara and Sage Vishwamitra.

 

Kritika H. Rao weaves a luscious, exhilarating fantasy inspired by one of the most famous romances in Hindu mythology— the story of a celestial dancer tasked with seducing a human sage, but when she finds herself falling for her mark, she will be forced to choose between loyalties and being true to herself.

Across the mortal and immortal realms, celestial dancers known as apsaras are revered for their beauty, allure, and enchanting magic. But Meneka knows that is not all they are. Trained as a weapon—a warrior—Meneka despises leaving each of her marks in thrall to her potent illusions. With every seduction Lord Indra, king of heaven, demands of her for his political gain, she craves her freedom more and more.

When a mortal sage’s growing powers threaten Indra’s supremacy in his own realm, Meneka seizes a rare opportunity. She strikes a deal—if she can seduce this dangerous man, Indra will allow her to forgo future missions. But upon meeting the sage, Kaushika, Meneka finds herself captivated by his energy, ignited by his empathy and passion, even though he challenges everything she’s ever known. Can she overthrow the man who is—little by little—stealing her heart, or is Kaushika seducing her instead? As war looms in the skies, Meneka must choose between her duty to protect her home, and the sage who is showing her what true love can mean.

Romantic, spellbinding, and empowering, The Legend of Meneka breathes new life into Hindu mythology to weave a lustrous tale of a woman discovering the cosmic power within herself. Perfect for readers of Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Kaikeyi, and Circe, this first book in the Divine Dancers duology is a completely unputdownable adventure for lovers of romantasy and myth retellings.

The Leaning Pile of Books
Sep
08
2024

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature in which I highlight books I got over the last week that sound interesting—old or new, bought or received in the mail for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included, along with series information and the publisher’s book description.

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

One new book showed up in the mail last week, and it’s one I’m particularly excited about since it was on my list of anticipated 2024 speculative fiction book releases!

Cover of The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean

The Phoenix Keeper by S. A. MacLean

This fantasy romance novel with a zoo filled with magical animals just came out in August (trade paperback, ebook, audiobook).

Orbit’s acquisition announcement for The Phoenix Keeper piqued my interest, describing it as follows:

This effervescent standalone is set in a magical zoo of mythical creatures and follows the academic rivals-to-lovers slow burn romance between socially anxious phoenix keeper Aila and hotshot fan-favorite griffin keeper Luciana.

Perfect for fans of cozy fantasy reads like Legends & Lattes and The Undertaking of Hart & Mercy, The Phoenix Keeper is set in a world teeming with all your favorite mythical beasties, from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens. MacLean has drawn on her formidable decade of experience in researching and teaching ecology and environmental science to weave a story of hope, courage, and conservation that is, at its heart, an ode to queer joy.

I love animals and fantastical animal companions, so I’m rather interested in this novel’s focus on mythical creatures and seeing how the author weaves her experience in ecology and environmental science into it.

 

Set in a magical zoo teeming with mythical beasts from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens, The Phoenix Keeper is a fierce joy of a cozy fantasy novel with a soul-restoring queer romance at its heart, for fans of The House in the Cerulean Sea and Legends and Lattes.

As head phoenix keeper at a world-renowned zoo for magical creatures, Aila’s childhood dream of conserving critically endangered firebirds seems closer than ever. There’s just one glaring caveat: her zoo’s breeding program hasn’t functioned for a decade. When a tragic phoenix heist sabotages the flagship initiative at a neighboring zoo, Aila must prove her derelict facilities are fit to take the reins.

But saving an entire species from extinction requires more than stellar animal handling skills. Carnivorous water horses, tempestuous thunderhawks, mischievous dragons… Aila has no problem wrangling beasts. But mustering the courage to ask for help from the hotshot griffin keeper at the zoo’s most popular exhibit? Virtually impossible.

Especially when that hotshot griffin keeper happens to be her arch-rival from college: Luciana, an annoyingly brooding and insufferable know-it-all with the face of a goddess who’s convinced that Aila’s beloved phoenix would serve their cause better as an active performer rather than as a passive conservation exhibit. With the world watching and the threat of poachers looming, Aila’s success is no longer merely a matter of keeping her job…

She is the keeper of the phoenix, and the future of a species– and her love life– now rests on her shoulders.

The Leaning Pile of Books
Sep
01
2024

The Leaning Pile of Books is a feature in which I highlight books I got over the last week that sound interesting—old or new, bought or received in the mail for review consideration. Since I hope you will find new books you’re interested in reading in these posts, I try to be as informative as possible. If I can find them, links to excerpts, author’s websites, and places where you can find more information on the book are included, along with series information and the publisher’s book description.

Disclosure: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Since I ended up making last-minute plans last weekend and didn’t have time to do a post, this includes books that normally would have been covered then. Last weekend’s post would have highlighted three book purchases, including a couple of books inspired by Greek mythology since I wanted more after reading The Song of Achilles. There are a lot of those to choose from so I bought the two with the beginnings I liked the best from some samples.

The book for this week is one I’ve been excited about for a while. Both this and one of my purchases appeared on my list of anticipated 2024 book releases!

Cover of Mistress of Lies by K. M. Enright

Mistress of Lies (The Age of Blood #1) by K. M. Enright

K. M. Enright’s dark romantic fantasy debut novel came out just a couple of weeks ago (trade paperback, ebook, audiobook). This is the first book in a trilogy.

The publisher has an excerpt from Mistress of Lies.

I’ve wanted to read this ever since seeing the description: “A villainous, bloodthirsty heroine finds herself plunged into the dangerous world of power, politics and murder in the court of the vampire king.” Court politics/power games and villainous characters are very much up my fictional alley, so this sounds excellent to me.

 

A villainous, bloodthirsty heroine finds herself plunged into the dangerous world of power, politics and murder in the court of the vampire king in this dark romantic fantasy debut.

Fate is a cruel mistress.

The daughter of a powerful but disgraced Blood Worker, Shan LeClaire has spent her entire life perfecting her blood magic, building her network of spies, and gathering every scrap of power she could. Now, to protect her brother, she assassinates their father and takes her place at the head of the family. And that is only the start of her revenge.

Samuel Hutchinson is a bastard with a terrible gift. When he stumbles upon the first victim of a magical serial killer, he’s drawn into the world of magic and intrigue he’s worked so hard to avoid – and is pulled deeply into the ravenous and bloodthirsty court of the vampire king.

Tasked by the Eternal King to discover the identity of the killer cutting a bloody swath through the city, Samuel, Shan and mysterious Royal Blood Worker Isaac find themselves growing ever closer to each other. But Shan’s plans are treacherous, and as she lures Samuel into her complicated web of desire, treason and vengeance, he must decide if the good of their nation is worth the cost of his soul.

Fans of From Blood and Ash and Kingdom of the Wicked will devour this decadent, bloodthirsty debut.

Cover of Medea by Eilish Quin

Medea by Eilish Quin

This debut novel reimagining the story of Medea came out earlier this year (hardcover, ebook, audiobook). It will be coming out in trade paperback in January 2025.

The publisher’s website has an excerpt and audio sample from Medea.

I’m partial to myths and retellings, and I was especially interested in this one after reading this interview with Eilish Quin on The Nerd Daily and what she had to say about storytelling:

In my mind, the whole purpose of the retelling as a distinct genre is that it serves as a kind of radical reorientation. Retellings allow historically censored protagonists the space to break free from the contexts and biases which might have previously ensnared them, and permit readers the ability to exalt in novel forms of complexity. Retellings are meant to make us question the reliability of the narrators we are given, and consider the other elements of form which we might normally consume passively. I hope that my Medea makes people think critically about how storytelling, when proliferated in the interest of existing powers of oppression, can compound harm– that by doing something as simple as recentering a traditionally marginalized experience, exhilarating and vivacious narratives can spring up.

 

Discover the full story of the sorceress Medea, one of the most reviled and maligned women of Greek antiquity, in this “haunting, deeply moving” (Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author) debut in the tradition of Circe, Elektra, and Stone Blind.

Among the women of Greek mythology, the witch Medea may be the most despised. Known for the brutal act of killing her own children to exact vengeance on her deceitful husband, Jason, the leader of the Argonauts, Medea has carved out a singularly infamous niche in our histories.

But what if that isn’t the full story?

The daughter of a sea nymph and the granddaughter of a Titan, Medea is a paradox. She is at once rendered compelling by virtue of the divinity that flows through her bloodline and made powerless by the fact of her being a woman. As a child, she intuitively submerges herself in witchcraft and sorcery but soon finds her skills may not be a match for the prophecies that hang over her entire family like a shroud.

As Medea comes into her own as a woman and a witch, she also faces the arrival of the hero Jason, preordained by the gods to be not only her husband but also her lifeline to escape her isolated existence. Medea travels the treacherous seas with the Argonauts, battles demons she has never imagined, and falls in love with the man who may ultimately be her downfall in this fresh and propulsive “must-have” (Library Journal, starred review) read in which you will finally hear Medea’s side of the story through a fresh and feminist lens.

Cover of Ithaca by Claire North

Ithaca (Songs of Penelope #1) by Claire North

The first book in the Songs of Penelope trilogy is out now (hardcover, trade paperback, ebook, audiobook).

The publisher’s website has an excerpt from Ithaca.

This novel is followed by House of Odysseus and The Last Song of Penelope, which was just released in June.

 

From the multi-award-winning author Claire North comes a daring reimagining that breathes life into ancient myth and gives voice to the women who stand defiant in a world ruled by ruthless men. It’s time for the women of Ithaca to tell their tale . . .

“North brings a powerful, fresh, and unflinching voice to ancient myth. Breathtaking.” —Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne

Seventeen years ago, King Odysseus sailed to war with Troy, taking with him every man of fighting age from the island of Ithaca. None of them has returned, and the women of Ithaca have been left behind to run the kingdom.

Penelope was barely into womanhood when she wed Odysseus. While he lived, her position was secure. But now, years on, speculation is mounting that her husband is dead, and suitors are beginning to knock at her door.

No one man is strong enough to claim Odysseus’ empty throne—not yet. But  as everyone waits for the balance of power to tip, Penelope knows that any choice she makes could plunge Ithaca into bloody civil war.

This is the story of Penelope of Ithaca, famed wife of Odysseus, as it has never been told before. Beyond Ithaca’s shores, the whims of gods dictate the wars of men. But on the isle, it is the choices of the abandoned women—and their goddesses—that will change the course of the world.

Cover of The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins

This novel has been out for a few years and can be found in trade paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

The publisher’s website has an excerpt using the “Look Inside” feature.

I’ve heard a lot about this book and how weird it is with a great twist, so I finally decided to get a copy and read it. After finishing it last night, I’m still not entirely sure what to think. Maybe my expectations were just too high since I liked it well enough, but I didn’t love it or think the novel as a whole or the twist was all that amazing.

 

A missing God.
A library with the secrets to the universe.
A woman too busy to notice her heart slipping away.

Carolyn’s not so different from the other people around her. She likes guacamole and cigarettes and steak. She knows how to use a phone. Clothes are a bit tricky, but everyone says nice things about her outfit with the Christmas sweater over the gold bicycle shorts.

After all, she was a normal American herself once.

That was a long time ago, of course. Before her parents died. Before she and the others were taken in by the man they called Father.

In the years since then, Carolyn hasn’t had a chance to get out much. Instead, she and her adopted siblings have been raised according to Father’s ancient customs. They’ve studied the books in his Library and learned some of the secrets of his power. And sometimes, they’ve wondered if their cruel tutor might secretly be God.

Now, Father is missing—perhaps even dead—and the Library that holds his secrets stands unguarded. And with it, control over all of creation.

As Carolyn gathers the tools she needs for the battle to come, fierce competitors for this prize align against her, all of them with powers that far exceed her own.

But Carolyn has accounted for this.

And Carolyn has a plan.

The only trouble is that in the war to make a new God, she’s forgotten to protect the things that make her human.

Populated by an unforgettable cast of characters and propelled by a plot that will shock you again and again, The Library at Mount Char is at once horrifying and hilarious, mind-blowingly alien and heartbreakingly human, sweepingly visionary and nail-bitingly thrilling—and signals the arrival of a major new voice in fantasy.