If you missed the second of my 2026 book recommendations events with the Ashland Public Library last night, you can watch the video on Youtube here. While last year’s program focused on both fantasy and science fiction, I’m primarily focusing on fantasy book recommendations this year. (But if you’re looking for more science fiction books this year, Elizabeth Bear has you covered!)
This time, I highlighted the following:
- A Song of Legends Lost by M. H. Ayinde, an epic science fantasy novel with complex worldbuilding mysteries and several main characters from a variety of backgrounds
- A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan, a fictional memoir about a woman who became a famous dragon naturalist when this had been a male-only field in her culture
- Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey, an epic fantasy novel set in an alternate historical version of our world (also the first book in one of my absolute favorite series)
- Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri, a high fantasy novel about choice and connection with magic based on Indian classical dance and Hinduism (and one of my favorite books released in the last decade or so)
These book recommendation events are quarterly half-hour long discussions taking place on Zoom on the third Thursday of the month, and the next book chat will be from 6:30 to 7:00 ET on August 20. You can register for the next virtual book recommendations event here.
