Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Paranormal Payback, a collection of short stories edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie L. Hughes, which is out now!

In this short story collection, our heroes get what’s due to them—with a supernatural flair.

But the injustices that have been holding them back might cost them more than they realized. . . . 

In “Mister Petty,” a brand-new Dresden Files story from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher, a woman hires Goodman Grey to get back at her cheating husband. She’s about to find out that Grey isn’t your ordinary detective—he’s a professional monster. And he’s going to balance the scales.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, “Dying Isn’t Just for the Young” follows an elderly widow reckoning with family scheming to take away her independence in a world infected by a disease of vampirism.

New York Times bestselling author Faith Hunter’s “Razors and Revenge” finds the vampire bounty hunter Shiloh awaiting her judgement at the hands of the Dark Queen, fresh off a brutal werewolf attack and the loss of a dear friend. But Shiloh’s not just a vampire anymore—and the wolfish instincts growing inside her are howling for blood.

And Kim Harrison takes us to the #1 New York Times bestselling series of the Hollows in her story “Dog-eared.” The demon Algaliarept makes a bargain with the dangerously insane Newt, the last female demon, to punish an arrogant wizard for abusing his precious magical texts—but how ruthless is Al willing to be to get his petty vengeance?

ALSO INCLUDES STORIES BY Jennifer Blackstream * Maurice Broaddus * Delilah S. Dawson * Kevin Hearne * Tanya Huff * Kerrie L. Hughes * R. L. King * R.R. Virdi

EXCERPT
DYING ISN’T JUST FOR THE YOUNG by Holly Black

Excerpted from the diary of Beryl Finch. Published with the permission of Nora Lee Amin, executor of Ms. Finch’s literary estate.

March 3, 2004

I sat by Nigel’s bedside at Mount Sinai Hospital all today, his papery hand in mine. His lungs were bad for years, then got much worse overnight. When he inhaled, I could hear them crackle, as though someone were wadding up a piece of wax paper. When he exhaled, there was a sound like a dog pouncing on a squeak toy. I told him we were going home in just a few more days.

Our marriage has always been full of polite lies, but this might be the final one.

March 4, 2004

“Beryl,” Nigel wheezed tonight, awake and conscious enough to want to talk. “What would you do differently if you had a chance to live your life over again?”

A dangerous question. Before I could even begin to answer it, he cut me off, his gaze on the screen above us.

“That can’t be real, can it?”

The news anchor was desperately trying to explain some outbreak of a new disease in Springfield, Massachusetts. There’s a Springfield in every state, isn’t there? Wasn’t that some kind of joke on The Simpsons?

Going Cold, they called the illness, because chilly skin is an early symptom. Another is wanting to bite people. That’s how they think it spreads, like rabies.

The night nurse believes it has something to do with drugs. There was that whole thing with people becoming like zombies from doing something—snorting? smoking?—bath salts, so maybe she has a point.

I went and looked online and it wasn’t really bath salts, but some kind of drug nicknamed “bath salts,” which is very confusing. I feel foolish, but in my defense, in my day when people said they were sniffing glue, they were actually, for real, sniffing glue.

March 7, 2004

No new insight into Nigel’s condition, but the news is full of this Cold thing. They’re saying infected people die, but somehow don’t stay dead. The president of the United States addressed the nation using words like “undead” and “vampires” with complete seriousness.

Nigel and I watched together, then he dozed off again. Nigel was always a force of nature. It seems impossible to me that he can’t find a way to wriggle out of death when he’s managed to wriggle out of a bankruptcy, two heart attacks, and at least three scathing reviews of his plays in The New York Times.

The world is upside down and ridiculous, and I want to stomp my feet like a child until it stops.

March 23, 2004

I am left with the news as my companion most nights in the hospital.

The infection seems to be spreading. The National Guard is in Springfield, but instead of helping, they’re erecting a barricade around the outside. It’s awful. There are people inside taking video of what’s happening in there, and there is so much terror and heartbreak. And blood. There’s a lot of blood.

Although I shouldn’t admit it, the screams on the screen are still preferable to the bagpipes of Nigel’s lungs. That’s one of the terrible paradoxes of humanity. The suffering of one person can be inexpressibly painful to us, while we can feel so much less than we should about the collective suffering of thousands.

Nurses and doctors come through the hospital room and try to reassure us that the outbreak of whatever-it-really-was can be contained and will certainly never make it to New York. They prescribe new medicine for Nigel and reassure us about that too. Oh, and one of the doctors finally explained how this Cold thing works. If you’re bitten by a vampire (yes, they’re calling them that officially now), you become infected, your temperature drops, and you crave blood. Biting someone in that infected state doesn’t spread the infection—but it’s the trigger for the infected person to die and then be reborn as a vampire (again, yes, really, a vampire, like Dracula or Sesame Street’s Count). Then they can spread the Cold.

There is a growing belief that the body can shake off the infection, though, if blood is unavailable for long enough. Maybe there is a way to stem the tide of horror after all. Despite the efforts to wall off Springfield, new cases were discovered in Texas and Seattle just this week. Someone has to do something, and soon.

April 3, 2004

Alarm bells rang through the hospital tonight.

Nigel woke up disoriented, and while I was trying to quiet him down, a nurse rushed into the room and locked the door behind her.

“Get down,” she said.

I am ashamed to say that I just stared at her. It was only when she hit the floor that I understood and slowly got to my knees. At my age that’s not easy.

“What’s going on?” Nigel complained.

“One of them got loose,” the nurse said. “Shhhhh.”

“What are you talking about? What got loose?” I demanded, trying out all the possibilities running through my head. A lion. A serial killer. One of the monsters from the television.

Nigel began coughing.

I could see the tension in the nurse’s expression. She clearly wanted to tell him to stop but was enough of a professional to understand that would be useless. He couldn’t.

“One of the infected ones,” she told me, now that quiet was off the table.

“Why would one be here?” I hissed at her.

She made a gesture of exasperation. “Because some of them have money. A lot of money. They put her in a coma and—”

I heard the crash of a door opening so hard it hit the wall. Footsteps. Our doorknob turned before catching on the lock. I caught my breath. Nigel coughed harder, tears leaking out of his eyes. His hand covered his mouth, trying to muffle the sound. The nurse moved toward the attached bathroom, and I could tell that bitch was clearly planning on locking herself inside if our door opened.

From “Dying Isn’t Just for the Young” by Holly Black copyright 2026 by Holly Black from PARANORMAL PAYBACK edited by Jim Butcher and Kerry Hughes with permission of Ace, an imprint of Penguin Random House copyright 2026 by Jim Butcher and Kerry Hughes

The post Read An Excerpt From ‘Paranormal Payback’ edited by Jim Butcher and Kerrie L. Hughes appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Jim! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I’m Jim, and I’m basically a lifelong nerd who has somehow conned a great many people into paying me to write down the conversations of my imaginary friends.  If it’s a fantasy or science fiction movie, I’ve likely seen it, and if it’s a similar media intellectual property that started in the 70s, 80s or 90s, I’ve probably loved it.

My hobbies include playing guitar quite badly, live action role play, martial arts, weightlifting, reading books about history and feeling very knowledgeable when I probably shouldn’t, the wide world of cryptid and paranormal encounters, the occasional trip to the pistol range, and random, super-intense obsessions with specific video games.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I wrote my first fantasy story in fifth grade, where video game characters had invaded the real world, but I made a beginner’s classic mistake in the ending, and had the main character wake up, and it was all a dream.

My teacher refused to accept that ending or grade me until I rewrote it, and read the redone version to the class.

It was all downhill from there.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
• The one that made you want to become an author: Watchers, by Dean Koontz
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Black Company, by Glen Cook

Twelve Months is the 18^th(!) installment in your Dresden Files series and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Dresden the man, not wizard.

For those who haven’t picked up the series, what can readers expect?

I sold the series with a pretty simple elevator pitch:  “Dirty Harry Potter.”

It’s lead character is Harry Dresden, a wisecracking professional wizard operating out of the city of Chicago in a world where ghouls, ghosts, werewolves and vampires exist in the shadows of modern society.

And for those who have, what’s to come in Twelve Months?

The aftermath of the Battle of Chicago is a pretty brutal landscape.  The city’s technology has been blasted back into the nineteenth century by supernatural war, and Chicagoans struggle to survive as they attempt to pick up the pieces.

Harry Dresden, beset by loss and grief and an accumulated lifetime of various flavors of trauma, has been beaten into the dirt by supernatural conflict, and has got to pick himself up again—and he’s got to do it in a hurry, before his friends and allies suffer or his enemies come to destroy him.

He finds himself dealing with unexpected new allies, not all of whom necessarily have his best interests in mind, and must face an escalating series of local problems while struggling to find a way to save his brother’s life.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?

There are a couple of new characters I really enjoyed writing, and getting to explore some of Harry’s long-time frenemies, Lara and Mab, in more detail was a hoot.

Will we see Dresden back on a screen any time in the future?

It is certainly a possibility!  I’ve always been in favor of another attempt at jumping media, and I am quite hopeful that we’ll see a return to one screen or another—only this time, I hope to have a bit more influence on the final product.

Storm Front, the first book in the series, marked your debut 26 years ago. What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned as a writer between then and now?

Writing is a marathon.  Don’t wear yourself out trying to sprint through something.  A steady, gentler pace will get you a lot further than a mad sprint for productivity.

Keep things simple.  Practice the fundamentals of writing craft.  Make sure to thank the people who help you.

And remember.  In the end, you work for the reader, not the publisher.

Lastly, what’s next for you?

I’m already a third of the way through the next Dresden title, “Mirror, Mirror.”

Will you be picking up Twelve Months? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Jim Butcher, Author of ‘Twelve Months’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Get ready to be whisked away with a new fantasy or sci-fi read because we’ve rounded up 72 upcoming reads that will be hitting shelves between January and June this year! From epic fantasy and speculative fiction, to space adventures and fantasy with more than a dash of romance, there’s something for every type SFF reader out there!

This year sees new releases from the likes of Jim Butcher, Isabel Ibañez, Kate Golden, Ava Reid, TJ Klune, Mike Chen, James S.A. Corey, Veronica Roth, RJ Barker, Shannon Chakraborty, Martha Wells, Sunyi Dean, Brandon Sanderson, and many more, plus some extremely exciting debuts!

You’ll be sure to find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other 2026 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Romance, and Young Adult lists!

JANUARY 2026 FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOKS

The Starseekers by Nicole Glover

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Indiana Jones meets Hidden Figures in this brand-new stand-alone historical fantasy set in the world of The Conductors, in which the space race of the mid-20th century will be determined by magic…if not murder.

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, has always managed to save the day—but, in this powerful entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files, can he save himself?

Way of the Walker by Salinee Goldenberg

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Return to the Thai-inspired world of Suyoram in this vicious follow up to 2024’s The Last Phi Hunter, exploring mythology, colonialism, and feminine rage. A perfect read for fans of Iron Widow and The Sword of Kaigen.

City of Others by Jared Poon

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Dive into a world where magic lies hidden just below the surface in this charming urban fantasy full of workplace found family, queer romance, and supernatural creatures straight out of Southeast Asian lore, from debut author Jared Poon. 

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
#1 New York Times bestselling author Isabel Ibañez makes her adult debut with a gorgeous, historical, and romantic fantasy perfect for fans of One Dark Window and Ever After. A lush tale full of enemies-to-lovers tension, whimsical magic, villain romance, and slow-burn desire, set in an enchanted, perilous Florence where forbidden power could ignite a war.

Enchanting The Fae Queen by Stephanie Burgis

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Stephanie Burgis delivers another irreverent, sparkling, and sexy installment in the Queens of Villainy series, where a seductive fae queen meets her unexpected match in the enemy empire’s valiant general.

We Who Have No Gods by Liza Anderson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In a world of witches, a human woman must hunt or be hunted in this explosive gothic dark academia fantasy filled with war-bent rivals, guarded secrets, and simmering chemistry.

Godstorm by Solitaire Townsend

Publisher | Amazon | Waterstones | Goodreads
Fast-paced and highly original, Godstorm transports the reader to a vivid, alternative Roman Empire, which has evolved into an oil-worshiping global superpower fueled by petrol, domination and greed.

Detour by Jeff Rake and Rob Hart

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A space shuttle flight crew discovers that the Earth they’ve returned to is not the home they left behind in the first book of this emotional, mind-bending thriller series from the creator of the hit Netflix show Manifest and the bestselling author of The Warehouse.

Ballad of the Bone Road by A.C. Wise

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In the glittering city of Port Astor, where fae roads criss-cross human highways and ghosts whisper to the living, nothing is ever as it seems. This utterly original dark fantasy tale of faith and fanaticism, doomed love and desperate bargains is perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Ava Reid.

The Twice-Wanted Witch by Katie Hallahan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Six months after slaying an Archdemon, McKenna Ellerbeck is overworked and sidelined by the Council. When her friend faces trial and her ex goes missing amid demon plots and secrets, McKenna must uncover the truth and choose between power and justice.

The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
When you lose your way in life, the Elsewhere Express just might find you. Step on board the train that may take you to your life’s purpose in this wistful, Ghibli-esque fantasy from the bestselling author of Water Moon.

FEBRUARY 2026 FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOKS

The Fox Hunt by Caitlin Breeze

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Dive into the dark underbelly of England’s most ancient university, where behind closed doors a circle of privileged students enter into a dark pagan ritual–one that holds tantalizing power and comes at a terrible price.​

Strange Animals by Jarod K. Anderson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An ordinary man discovers a hidden world of supernatural creatures—and an unexpected home—in this enchanting contemporary fantasy debut.

Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A man must fight for his planet against impossible odds when gamers from Earth attempt to remotely annihilate it in this epic, fast-paced novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit Dungeon Crawler Carl.

A Day of Breath by Darby Cox

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A dark and imaginative coming of age adventure filled with demons and religious conspiracy, A Day of Breath is a perfect read for fans of Naomi Novik and N.K. Jemisin.

The Gods Must Burn by T.R. Moore

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A disgraced war hero is transformed into the Wolf God, protector of the Forest God, and must earn her trust in this healing dark fantasy for fans of The Wolf and the Woodsman and Princess Mononoke.

The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Debut author Cameron Sullivan tears the heart out of history with this darkly entertaining retelling of the hunt for the Beast of Gévaudan. Lifting the veil on the hidden world behind our own, it reimagines the story of Europe, from Imperial Rome to Saint Jehanne d’Arc, the madness of Gilles de Rais and the first flickers of the French Revolution.

Half City by Kate Golden

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
When a lone demon hunter is recruited by a reformed demon to enroll at a private school for hunters like herself, she will reckon with secrets from her deceased father’s past, her mixed feelings for a man she’s been taught to hate, and a series of mysterious attacks that threatens the lives of every student at Harker Academy.

The Apple and the Pearl by Rym Kechacha

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A richly atmospheric fantasy set across one day, as a ballet troupe of lost souls perform an ancient dance for the faerie realms, knowing they could be snatched away by their audience of faerie princes, imps and sprites at any moment.

Nightshade and Oak by Molly O’Neill

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An Iron Age goddess must grapple with becoming human in this delightful historical fantasy of myth and magic from the author of the instant hit Greenteeth.

The Vanishing Bookstore by Helen Phifer

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Readers will lose themselves in the mesmerising magic of this absorbing and utterly unputdownable page-turner, perfect for fans of Weyward, The Lost Apothecary and Practical Magic.

The Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox by Katrina Kwan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the author of The Last Dragon of the East comes a sweeping fantasy adventure with a dash of romance between a nine-tailed fox and the demon-hunter who captures her, banished to the underworld together and forced to form a reluctant alliance in order to escape the circles of Hell.

The Misheard World by Aliya Whiteley

Amazon | Goodreads
An interrogation of a famed spy by a military agent reveals deeper secrets about the beginnings of the war—and about the world itself—in the latest groundbreaking novel from the Arthur C. Clarke Award-nominated Aliya Whiteley.

MARCH 2026 FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOKS

The First Step by Tao Wong

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In a spectacular world of immortals, spirit beasts, and mystical martial arts, the young farmer Wu Ying’s life will be changed forever when he is unexpectedly invited to join an elite school of cultivation.

The Ascension of Souls by Bronte-Marie Wesson

Publisher | Amazon | Goodreads
The first in the Broken Cycle trilogy, The Ascension of Souls is an epic fantasy with intricate worldbuilding, complex characters, political schemes and a unique magic system.

Innamorata by Ava Reid

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A visionary and atmospheric gothic fantasy about necromancy, vengeance, and soul-consuming love, the first in a duology from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning and Lady Macbeth.

Voidverse by Damien Ober

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Dune meets Wool in this high-octane quest through the void, where two eternal forces are about to collide in an epic showdown.

The Fountain by Casey Scieszka

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Blending the spectacular with the everyday in a tale filled with humor and warmth, The Fountain explores what gives life meaning and how our understandings of our histories shape—and cage—us.

The Fox and the Devil by Kiersten White

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An obsession with a beautiful serial killer entangles a vampire hunter’s daughter in an immortal sapphic romance in this enthralling gothic fantasy from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lucy Undying.

Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
When a magical hotel appears smack-dab in the middle of the most unmagical of worlds, the last thing the residents expect is to fall in love.

The Book of Fallen Leaves by A.S. Tamaki

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Shogun meets Game of Thrones in the blockbuster epic fantasy event of the year.  A. S. Tamaki weaves a powerful tale of ambition, vengeance and sacrifice in this masterful fantasy retelling of an ancient Samurai saga, packed with memorable characters, stunning worldbuilding and epic adventure.

Aicha by Soraya Bouazzaoui

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads|
Aicha is the story of Morocco’s warrior goddess, her strange magic, fierce rebellion, and devastating romance. Soraya Bouazzaoui weaves an epic tale of female rage and hidden myths, perfect for fans of The City of Brass and The Stardust Thief.

No Man’s Land by Richard K. Morgan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A compelling standalone dark fantasy set in a gritty post-WWI Britain that has been overrun by the fae, from the award-winning author of Altered Carbon.

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A breathtaking reimagining of Cinderella, as told through the eyes of its iconic “evil” stepmother, revealing a propulsive love story about the lengths a mother will go to for her children.

The Library of Amorlin by Kalyn Josephson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A brilliant con artist and a secretive librarian collide in New York Times bestselling author Kalyn Josephson’s enchanting adult fantasy debut packed with twists, tricks, slowburn romantic tension, and magical creatures — perfect for fans of S.A. MacLean, Mai Corland, and K.A. Linde.

APRIL 2026 FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOKS

The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The Subtle Art of Folding Space, is the exhilarating debut science fiction novel from Nebula and Hugo Award-winning author John Chu channels unhinged physics, generational trauma, and the comfort of really good dim sum. This isn’t your usual jaunt through quantum physics.

An Arcane Study of Stars by Sydney J. Shields

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From Sydney J. Shields, the breakout author of The Honey Witch, comes An Arcane Study of Stars, a historical dark academia fantasy filled with ancient secret societies, a swoon-worthy rivals-to-lovers romance, and dangerous deals made after dark. Perfect for fans of The Atlas Six and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

The Lighthouse at the End of the World by Philip A. Suggars

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Enter a London like no other in this fast-paced, captivating fantasy novel filled with warring gods, alternate realities and a working class kid caught in the middle of it all, perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab and Genevieve Cogman.

We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A heart-wrenching standalone novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, We Burned So Bright follows an elder gay couple on an end-of-the-world road-trip.

The Tricky Business of Faerie Bargains by Reena McCarty

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A former changeling must return to the land of the Fae to right a bargain that’s gone terribly wrong in this delightful cozy fantasy debut packed full of charm, adventure, romance and heart.

Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A cursed princess must discover what her heart truly longs for in this charmingly cozy romantic fantasy for everyone who’s ever lost – or found – themselves in a bookshop.

Witch Queen Rising by Savannah Stephens

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A reclusive witch who fled the burden of her bloodline rises to be the greatest among them in this lush and haunting fantasy debut.

The Language of Liars by S. L. Huang

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Training to infiltrate the Star Eaters, Ro believes empathy will transform him rather than make him an imposter. Ignoring his elders’ warnings, he fails to realise that understanding an alien species may come at a devastating cost.

The Photonic Effect by Mike Chen

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A starship captain and her crew face conspiracies and betrayals as they clash with various factions of a galactic civil war in a thrilling space adventure by New York Times bestselling author Mike Chen.

The Faith of Beasts by James S.A. Corey

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
James S. A. Corey’s Expanse series has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide and has been translated into more than 23 languages, establishing itself as a modern masterwork of science fiction. Now, the Hugo-award winning author returns with the second volume in their New York Times bestselling and critically acclaimed space opera trilogy, The Captive’s War. 

The Radiant Dark by Alexandra Oliva

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Arrival meets Wild Dark Shore in this captivating novel that follows a family over fifty years—a bold and compassionate exploration of the universe around us and what it truly means to be human.

What We Are Seeking by Cameron Reed

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From Cameron Reed, the acclaimed author of The Fortunate Fall, comes a soaring novel of queer hope and transformation, perfect for readers of Ann Leckie and Amal El-Mohtar.

MAY 2026 FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOKS

The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A battle-worn corporate samurai undertakes one last mission on a merciless planet where death is always a mere breath away, in this standalone dystopian epic from the author of the modern fantasy classic Jade City. 

The Franchise by Thomas Elrod

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Game of Thrones meets The Truman Show in this epic tale of a Hollywood-owned fantasy world where nothing is quite as it seems to the people who live and die at the studio’s whim.

Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An epic, romantic dystopian fantasy begins in Seek the Traitor’s Son, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth.

Mortedant’s Peril by RJ Barker

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In a city of ancient automata, strange spirits, and sleeping gods, a cleric of death finds his own life on the line in this vividly imagined fantasy murder mystery from the acclaimed author of The Bone Ships and Age of Assassins.

Absence by Andrew Dana Hudson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this gripping, moving, and genre-blending speculative debut, the world is unraveling from an epidemic of human vanishing. Two rookie agents from the Bureau of Depopulation Affairs are dispatched to small-town Kansas to investigate a woman who claims to have returned from Spontaneous Human Absence, offering answers that could change everything.

Palaces of the Crow by Ray Nayler

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In Ray Nayler’s speculative novel of the recent past, four young teens caught between Nazis and the Red Army survive winter in the woods with the help of a flock of highly intelligent crows with a magnificent secret of their own to protect.

Magician by Tracy Lynne Oliver

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A dark magic debut novel featuring the Boy who becomes the Magician and the villainous Mother whose sadism might end it all—for fans of Our Share of Night and The Changeling.

A Curse of Beasts and Magic by Jeaniene Frost

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
New York Times bestselling author of The Night Huntress series Jeaniene Frost returns with a brand-new series! It’s Beauty and the Beast meets The Witcher, except Beauty IS the Beast, and he’s the Warden keeping mythical beings in check in our world and beyond.

The Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
New York Times bestselling author Shannon Chakraborty sets sail into the second adventure of pirate Amina al-Sirafi as her quest to track down magical artifacts brings her to the island lair of a sorceress whose woven enchantments are impossible to flee.

Platform Decay by Martha Wells

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Everyone’s favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment of Martha Wells’ bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.

The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the USA Today bestselling author of The Book Eaters comes The Girl with a Thousand Faces, a stunning Gothic tale set in a historical Hong Kong that meshes ancient myths and local legends into a haunting story of ghosts, grief, and women who will not forgive.

Death’s Daughter by S.A. Barnes

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Perfect for fans of Ninth House, Nightshade, and Neon Gods, Death’s Daughter is a dark, spicy and deliciously autumnal contemporary romantic fantasy in a dark academia setting, in which the only daughter of Death is named his successor, making her both a powerful ally and a massive target, all while she tries to make it through her final year at college . . .

JUNE 2026 FANTASY & SCI-FI BOOKS

Heaven’s Graveyard by Grace Curtis

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the Sunday Times-bestselling author of Floating Hotel and Idolfire comes a science fantasy tale of history and myth, magic and mystery, perfect for fans of Shelley Parker-Chan and A. K. Larkwood.

The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
With her country’s future and her own life at stake, an orphaned duchess must journey into a world of myth and there discover a power that may be her salvation—or her demise—in this enchanting new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the Winternight Trilogy and The Warm Hands of Ghosts.

Songs of the Dead by Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A London rocker is faced with a life-or-death choice when he realizes that a powerful society of magic wielders are the only ones keeping London safe in this deft contemporary fantasy cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson with author and musician Peter Orullian.

Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Doppelgängers, corporate intrigue, heartbreak, betrayal, and the harsh permanence of the border: Sublimation is a thrilling and provocative debut for fans of Severance that asks what you’d sacrifice for a different life from award-winning author Isabel J. Kim.

The Winged Game by Sophie Kim

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Fantasy meets sports romance in this sizzling slow-burn novel in which the disgraced star of a brutal magical sport must team up with the rival who destroyed her career, from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The God and the Gumiho.

The Reimagining of Thornwood House by Jaleigh Johnson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A witch and her young ward discover a magical, walking house and learn the true meaning of home in this cozy, enchanting novel from New York Times bestselling author Jaleigh Johnson.

A Dance of Burning Blades by M. H. Ayinde

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
War rages on in the second heart-pounding novel in M. H. Ayinde’s relentless epic fantasy series The Invoker Trilogy, a sweeping epic of revenge and rebellion set in a richly drawn world of warring clans and ancestor magic.

The Jellyfish Problem by Tessa Yang

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A marine biologist makes the discovery of a lifetime when called to rescue the inhabitants of a small Maine island being menaced by a giant, glowing jellyfish in this richly imagined, wholly original debut.

Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the Hugo award-winning author Naomi Kritzer comes a tense portrait of a future we desperately hope to escape.

The Traveler by Joseph Eckert

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The Traveler is the story of a reluctant time-traveler and his son, and the bond between them that even millennia cannot break. An adventure full of heartbreak, hope, and futures beyond imagination.

The Sixth Nik by Daniel Kraus

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A startling hybrid of the Alien franchise and Ender’s Game, The Sixth Nik is the first sci-fi novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Whalefall and Angel Down.

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K England

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
STARDEW VALLEY meets STUDIO GHIBLI in a charming cozy fantasy about healing, redemption, and the subtle magic of simple living. Perfect for fans of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea and The Spellshop. Welcome home, weary traveler.

What new fantasy and sci-fi book releases are you looking forward to picking up this year? Any from this list? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases To Devour In 2026 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

2026, here we go! With the new year just around the corner, it’s time to start focusing on something that really matters… NEW! BOOK! RELEASES!  We’ve rounded up some highly anticipated  books from a range of genres releasing between the months of January and June 2026.

So far the year promises new releases from Jennifer Niven, Jennette McCurdy, Jim Butcher, Heather Fawcett, Kerri Maniscalco, Edward Ashton, T. Kingfisher, Richard K. Morgan, Rainbow Rowell, TJ Klune, Katherine Center, Julie Murphy, Katherine Arden, Melissa Albert, and many more, plus some dazzling debuts!

You’ll find quite a few exciting new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other January to June 2026 lists, which we’ll be releasing over the next month! This article will also get updated with those links so you can easily find them, including our Anticipated Romance Reads, Anticipated Fantasy and Sci-Fi Books and Anticipated YA Reads… We apologise in advance to your TBR pile and wallet!

JANUARY 2026 BOOK RELEASES

Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Funny, big-hearted, and deeply moving, Meet the Newmans is a rich family story about the dual lives we lead. Because even when our lives aren’t televised weekly, we all have a behind-the-scenes.

The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six and In Five Years—a beautiful, powerful, and transportive new novel about a music executive desperately trying to bring a rock band back from the brink, from bestselling author Ashley Winstead.

The Poet Empress by Shen Tao

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Debut author Shen Tao introduces readers to the lush, deadly world of The Poet Empress, a sweeping, epic and intimate fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent & the Wings of Night, The Song of Achilles and She Who Became the Sun.

Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of I’m Glad My Mom Died comes a sad, funny, thrilling novel about sex, consumerism, class, desire, loneliness, the internet, rage, intimacy, power, and the (oftentimes misguided) lengths we’ll go to in order to get what we want.

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
My Husband’s Wife is a tangled web of deception, obsession, and mystery that will keep you guessing until the last page. Prepare yourself for the ultimate mind-bending marriage thriller and step inside Spyglass – if you dare – to experience a story where nothing is as it seems.

If All the Stars Go Dark by S. G. Prince

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An out-of-this-world queer space opera (aka: sci-fi with magic) complete with a murder mystery, a prison break, and heist during which time the fate of the universe may or may not hang in the balance – and made even more exciting by the swoon worthy will-they-won’t-they romance.

Twelve Months by Jim Butcher

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, has always managed to save the day—but, in this powerful entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files, can he save himself?

Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of First Lie Wins, a tense, feverish thriller about two women’s lives that are forever intertwined when a murder threatens to expose them both.

Last First Kiss by Julian Winters

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Sparks fly in this second chance m/m rom com when an unlucky-in-love event planner realizes the man-of-honor at the high profile wedding he’s planning is the same man who broke his heart.

A War of Wyverns by S. F. Williamson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Rebellion happens in the shadows. In the sequel to the New York Times bestseller A Language of Dragons, language is the greatest weapon in a war between humans and dragons—and one translator has the power to change the world. 

Vigil by George Saunders

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
An electric novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling, Booker Prize–winning author of Lincoln in the Bardo, taking place at the bedside of an oil company CEO in the twilight hours of his life as he is ferried from this world into the next.

Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily R. Austin

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A luminous new novel following a librarian who comes back to work after a mental breakdown only to confront book-banning crusaders in an empowering story of grief, love, and the power of libraries.

FEBRUARY 2026 BOOK RELEASES

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A woman who runs a cat rescue in 1920s Montreal turns to a grouchy but charming wizard to help save the shelter in this heartwarming cozy fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of the Emily Wilde series.

The Girls Before by Kate Alice Marshall

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the bestselling author of What Lies in the Woods, No One Can Know, and A Killing Cold, a new novel about a search & rescue expert, a kidnapped woman, and the lost girls who haunt them both.

Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Cleopatra tells her own story in this evocative and sensuous historical epic from the bestselling and award-winning author of Faebound and The Final Strife.

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn comes a gorgeously written fantastical adventure which poses the question: Have you ever wished you could live inside a book? Welcome to the Astral Library, where books are not just objects, but doors to new worlds, new lives, and new futures.

Game, Set, Match by Jennifer Iacopelli

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
She’s a tennis superstar on the rise. He’s the bad boy champ who broke her heart. When they meet on the court, their competition is hot—but their chemistry is even hotter.

Throne of Nightmares by Kerri Maniscalco

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this action-packed standalone fantasy romance from New York Times bestselling sensation Kerri Maniscalco, a book of dangerous magic draws two readers into a perilous quest to find it—and their own happy ending.

It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Two families at a secluded lake resort are at the center of a chilling crime in this twisty thriller from the bestselling author of Local Woman Missing.

Stolen Midnights by Katherine Quinn

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
This magical new YA romantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of To Kill a Shadow will steal your heart. Set in Andalay, a world where the ruling Fates bestow gifts among the favored, a thief must join forces with the palace darling after he unwittingly steals a necklace with the power to change everything.

After The Fall by Edward Ashton

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Part alien invasion story, part buddy comedy, and part workplace satire, After The Fall by Edward Ashton, author of Mickey7 (inspiration for the film Mickey 17), asks an important question: would humans really make great pets?

Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the New York Times bestselling co-author of Illuminae and Aurora Rising comes a high-stakes, high-chemistry, sci-fi romp about a stowaway girl and the richest boy in the galaxy, racing the clock to outwit a gang of mercenaries.

How To Kill A Guy In Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A humorous, swoony, and downright terrifying slasher rom-com in which a cinephile gets caught in the middle of a murder spree at a speed-dating event and must use her encyclopedic knowledge of the romance and horror genres to make it as a real-life Final Girl.

Half City by Kate Golden

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Crescent City meets Buffy, the Vampire Slayer in the first installment of a pulse-pounding dark academia fantasy series from USA Today bestselling author Kate Golden.

MARCH 2026 BOOK RELEASES

The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Say You’ll Remember Me comes a beautiful, compelling novel that revels in laughter, friendship, and the messy choices life can throw our way.

Bloom by Robbie Couch

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the New York Times bestselling author of If I See You Again Tomorrow comes a delightful and heartwarming novel about family, love, grief, and one precocious houseplant, that reminds us of the beauty of living a life in full Bloom.

Strangers In The Villa by Robyn Harding

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the international bestselling author of The Drowning Woman, a psychological thriller about a couple rocked by infidelity who moves to a villa in Spain’s Costa Brava to rebuild their relationship, only to welcome a pair of visitors who have no intention of leaving.  

Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Something darker than the devil stalks the North Carolina woods in Wolf Worm, a new gothic masterpiece from New York Times bestselling author T. Kingfisher

The Ascension of Souls by Bronte-Marie Wesson

Publisher | Amazon | Goodreads
The first in the Broken Cycle trilogy, The Ascension of Souls is an epic fantasy with intricate worldbuilding, complex characters, political schemes and a unique magic system.

A Spell For Saints and Sinners by Emily Carpenter

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Like a gender-flipped You but dripping with Southern Gothic atmosphere, a young psychic on the verge of losing everything becomes obsessed with a wealthy, beautiful heiress in this clever, darkly atmospheric novel of psychological suspense set amid the lush, moss-draped beauty of Savannah.

Thirty Love by Tom Vellner

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Things heat up on and off the court for two tennis rivals in this steamy debut gay sports rom-com, perfect for fans of TJ Alexander and Casey McQuiston.

Wretch by Eric LaRocca

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From rising horror star and award-winning author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke comes a nightmarish, haunting, tech-Gothic thrill ride about sorrow, memory, and the unabashed complexity of love as a transgressive act.

No Man’s Land by Richard K. Morgan

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A compelling standalone dark fantasy set in a gritty post-WWI Britain that has been overrun by the fae, from the award-winning author of Altered Carbon.

One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Two teen boys grapple with identity and accountability and set off a ripple effect within their community after a school assembly is disrupted by a shouted slur.

Vow of Eternal Night by Lily Crozier

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A gothic romantasy Beauty and the Beast retelling about a vampire prince and the captive bride who will do anything to break his curse – for fans of Naomi Novik, Heather Fawcett and Howl’s Moving Castle.

The Fourth Wife by Linda Hamilton

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas meets “Sister Wives” in a deliciously chilling, darkly romantic, historical gothic horror with a feminist slant, as a young Mormon woman is haunted by a malevolent presence in the decrepit Salt Lake City mansion she shares with her new husband and his other wives…

APRIL 2026 BOOK RELEASES

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Fans of Agatha Christie’s locked-room mysteries and modern tales like Knives Out will fall for The Ending Writes Itself, which masterfully blends classic mystery elements with genre-bending tropes. Crafted with razor-sharp wit and a meta twist, this satirical take on the publishing world ensures readers will hang on every word, right up to its breathtaking finale.

Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
#1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell returns with a breathtakingly honest novel about a woman who lost everything — and isn’t sure she wants it back.

Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In this lyrical, wildly inventive horror novel interwoven with Japanese mythology, two people living centuries apart discover a door between their worlds.

The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer and rising star Tamara Moss comes a twisty thrill-ride, filled with sabotage, betrayal, and puzzles to die for.

American Fantasy by Emma Straub

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From New York Times bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow, an irresistible story about what happens when your teenage fantasy comes true after you’re already an adult.

We Burned So Bright by T.J. Klune

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A heart-wrenching standalone novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, We Burned So Bright follows an elder gay couple on an end-of-the-world road-trip.

Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
New York Times bestselling author Xochitl Gonzalez delivers a captivating story about a young woman whose life becomes ensnared in her glamorous neighbor’s secret past, laying bare the mounting tensions at play in a rapidly gentrifying, early 2000’s Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The Subtle Art of Folding Space, is the exhilarating debut science fiction novel from Nebula and Hugo Award-winning author John Chu channels unhinged physics, generational trauma, and the comfort of really good dim sum. This isn’t your usual jaunt through quantum physics.

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Told with Sally Hepworth’s twists, humor, charm, and heart, MAD MABEL is novel that weaves past and present together–through the power of justice and redemption, and all the way to its stunning conclusion.

Odessa by Gabrielle Sher

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
In a powerfully imagined Russia at the height of the pogroms, a grief-stricken family turns to ancient magic to bring their daughter back from the grave.

Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A sweeping debut inspired by the Chinese folk practice of necromancy, Deathly Fates is perfect for fans of Descendant of the Crane, The Bone Shard Daughter, and A Magic Steeped in Poison.

How to Fake It in Society by KJ Charles

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Bridgerton meets The Goldfinch in How to Fake It in Society, a stunning queer romance by rising genre star KJ Charles.

MAY 2026 BOOK RELEASES

The Shippers by Katherine Center

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
No one does summer romance quite like Katherine Center. THE SHIPPERS will take readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets . . . and true love rediscovered.

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Twisty, high-concept, and emotionally charged, this novel is an utterly compelling story of the hunt for a serial killer. But it’s also a heartfelt―and heartrending―novel about fate, innocence lost, and two souls who find that sometimes being broken is the only way for the light to get in. The Anniversary reaffirms Finlay as one of the leading thriller writers today.

Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Best friends have one week in paradise to fix their friendship or fall apart in this heart-stopping, utterly romantic new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and One Golden Summer.

The Midnight Train by Matt Haig

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
When your life flashes before your eyes, where would you stop? A magical, time-travelling love story, from the world of The Midnight Library.

Student Union by Julie Murphy

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From #1 New York Times–bestselling author Julie Murphy comes a sexy rom com about a college marriage of convenience that goes way beyond chemistry 101…The first in a trilogy of romance novels that follows a group of girls as they navigate love, friendship, and new adulthood, this is perfect for fans of Elle Kennedy and Hannah Grace.

Young World by Soman Chainani

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the New York Times bestselling author of the School for Good and Evil series comes a renegade thriller, about a teenager elected President of the United States, sparking a global revolution of young leaders—until one of them is murdered and he’s the prime suspect.

The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A battle-worn corporate samurai undertakes one last mission on a merciless planet where death is always a mere breath away, in this standalone dystopian epic from the author of the modern fantasy classic Jade City. 

The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A bookseller must escape the infamously haunted library that holds her darkest secrets, but with a murderer in her tour group, escaping alive is not as simple as it seems, in this twisty locked-room thriller from bestselling author of You Are Fatally Invited.

Bone of My Bone by Johanna van Veen

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Bram Stoker Award–nominee and USA Today bestseller Johanna van Veen unveils a sapphic folk-horror tour de force―perfect for fans of The VVitch and The Salt Grows Heavy. A skull’s grin is eternal…

The Dorians by Nick Cutter

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
On a remote island in the Canadian wilderness, five elderly volunteers from different walks of life are given a tantalizing offer: to stall their biological clocks or even reverse them, restoring their lost youth. 

We Dance Upon Demons by Vaishnavi Patel

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi, a galvanizing stand-alone contemporary fantasy following a burnt-out reproductive health care worker as she fights back against escalating attacks on her clinic and the malevolent forces in hot pursuit of her newly acquired power.

The House of Now and Then by Edward Underhill

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the author of The In-Between Bookstore, the sweet, unforgettable story of a trans man in his thirties who books a Cape Cod cottage for one lonely summer—only to have its magic bring him visitors from the past and romance where he least expects it, perfect for fans of TJ Klune and Ashley Poston.

JUNE 2026 BOOK RELEASES

The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The new head gardener at the enchanting Lilymoor House stumbles upon a secret garden . . . with a mysterious man trapped inside, in the next magical novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Sounds Like Love and The Seven Year Slip.

The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
With her country’s future and her own life at stake, an orphaned duchess must journey into a world of myth and there discover a power that may be her salvation—or her demise—in this enchanting historical fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale.

The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the award-winning New York Times and Indie bestselling author of Ace of Spades comes a mystery about five teen geniuses, their billionaire father, and the aftermath of his murder―perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying, Holly Jackson, and How to Get Away with Murder!

Whistler by Ann Patchett

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The acclaimed, prize-winning #1 New York Times bestselling writer returns with a moving, luminous novel that reminds us of the sweetness and impermanence of life and the power of connection to defy time.

This Immortal Heart by Jennifer Saint

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The epic, captivating tale of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who must reconcile her mind and heart when she is drawn against all odds to Ares, the god of war, from the internationally bestselling author of Ariadne and Hera.

Shadow Reaper by Lynette Noni

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A young reaper hunter must conspire with her enemy to uproot the ancient evil that threatens her world in this heart-pounding romantic fantasy from the bestselling author of The Prison Healer.

The Children by Melissa Albert

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
The haunting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Melissa Albert, in which the estranged adult children of a legendary author, written into their dead mother’s beloved fantasy series, must contend with the vine-like creep of legacy, memory, and magic

You Won’t Forget Me by Mazey Eddings

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
Cubby Clark is spiralling—her band is broken, her ex is famous, and inspiration is gone. As tabloids spin a love triangle and a summer tour amplifies tensions, Cubby and her best friend Darcy must confront buried feelings or risk losing each other and the music they love.

Dearly Departed by Chip Pons

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A Hades-inspired gay rom-com, in which the former god of the Underworld turned grumpy funeral director must find a loophole in the Immortal Retirement Act that banished him to Earth, until the florist next door who sees life in full bloom begins to unravel all his carefully laid plans.

The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
From the author of The Bright Years, the story of April and Leo, a couple on the brink of collapse. When their house goes up in flames, family secrets and thorny histories emerge as they are forced to decide what is worth salvaging.

There’s Only One Sin in Hollywood by Rasheed Newson

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A cinematic, razor-sharp novel following a backlot fixer’s daring investigation into the suspicious death of a closeted Black actor within the glamorous world of Hollywood, from the bestselling author of My Government Means to Kill Me.

Songs of the Dead by Brandon Sanderson and Peter Orullian

Publisher | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Goodreads
A London rocker is faced with a life-or-death choice when he realizes that a powerful society of magic wielders are the only ones keeping London safe in this deft contemporary fantasy cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson with author and musician Peter Orullian.

What new book releases are you looking forward to picking up this year? Tell us in the comments below! And be sure to check back later in the year for our August to December picks!

The post Anticipated Book Releases Hitting Shelves In 2026 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Well read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Jim Butcher’s The Olympian Affair, which is out November 7th.

For centuries the Cinder Spires have safeguarded humanity, rising far above the deadly surface world. Within their halls, aristocratic houses rule, developing scientific marvels and building fleets of airships for defense and trade.

Now, the Spires hover on the brink of open war.

Everyone knows it’s coming. The guns of the great airship fleets that control the skies between the last bastions of humanity will soon speak in anger, and Spire Albion stands alone against the overwhelming might of Spire Aurora’s Armada and its new secret weapon–one capable of destroying the populations of entire Spires.

A trading summit at Spire Olympia provides an opportunity for the Spirearch, Lord Albion, to secure alliances that will shape the outcomes of the war, and to that end he dispatches privateer Captain Francis Madison Grimm and the crew of the AMS Predator to bolster the Spirearch’s diplomatic agents.

It will take daring, skill, and no small amount of showmanship to convince the world to stand with Spire Albion–assuming that it is not already too late.

Chapter 1

AMS Predator, Colony Spire Dependence

Captain Francis Madison Grimm, commander, AMS Predator, strode down the length of the deck, doing what an airship’s captain all too often found a necessary duty-waiting calmly. The ship’s crew had gone to general quarters in predawn, nearly eight hours before, with breaks for no more than two men at a time, and those only for biological necessity.

Mists hovered thickly over the ship, for it was barely more than a thousand feet above the lithosophere-that elevation where the growing things of the hellish surface world reached out branches, tendrils, and various other structures that could threaten a ship’s physical integrity. Grimm could scarcely see from one end of Predator to the other, much less what might be happening to the armed away team of the Spirearch’s Guard currently deployed to the colony Spire below.

Grimm climbed the steep ladder to the bridge and strode over to where the ship’s pilot, Mister Kettle, leaned easily back against the pilot’s brace, his wrists draped over the ship’s steering grips, fingers hanging loosely. He was relaxed despite the hours of waiting. Kettle was a brawny, bearded veteran aeronaut. The skin around his eyes was permanently a bit lighter than the rest of his face where his goggles had shielded him from the glare of the light of the open sky far above. His forearms looked like ham hocks, and he wore his fleece-lined cold-weather aeronaut’s coat unbuttoned and open in the warmth at this altitude. Sweat had run tracks down his face and neck.

“Skip,” Kettle drawled easily as Grimm approached. “We should have seen or heard something from the team by now.”

In response, Grimm calmly, deliberately removed his pocket watch from where it resided in his waistcoat, and he consulted its face before polishing it, closing it, and returning it to its pocket. “They’re barely outside the mission window, Mister Kettle,” Grimm said. “I think we shall not wail and gnash our teeth quite yet.”

“Aye, Skip,” Kettle replied. “But beggin’ the captain’s pardon, I’d be happier if Sir Benedict had sent up a rocket by now.”

“I’m sure if Sir Benedict had need of us, he would have done so,” Grimm replied. “Meanwhile, I’ll not leave us sitting fat and happy on an unguarded docking platform. Any Auroran who ran a patrol past it would blow us to splinters.”

“If they could see us in this soup,” Kettle growled. A boarding ax, his weapon of choice in most ship actions, hung from a loop on his belt, and on his left hand he wore a gauntlet-a cage of copper wire wrapped around a heavy leather bracer and connected by straps and wires to the heavy leather strap that held the weapon crystal against his palm. “If the enemy comes close enough to see us in this, we’ll be biting one another’s noses off before anyone can aim a cannon.”

There was a sudden hiss, followed by a swift trilling sound that seemed to embrace a rapid series of sharp clicks in its volume. Something flashed by in the mist off the ship’s prow, a lean, sleek mass almost five yards long supported by an impossibly fine-looking webwork of glittering wings. Its body trailed a pair of long, fine talons beneath it.

Kettle’s breath exploded out of him in a huff of surprise, and his gauntlet came up so he could track the creature’s path as it glided by through the mist-and was gone.

Other trills echoed those of the first creature, somewhere out of sight, hauntingly sourceless in the endless grey.

“That’s the fourth time that one’s come by,” Kettle said, his voice pitched low. “And I’ve seen half a dozen more, one of them even bigger. Skip, if we’re down this low when it gets dark, we’ll lose a dozen men to mistsharks.”

“We’ll be back in the aerosphere in time to see the sun set,” Grimm assured him. “XO to the bridge, if you please, Mister Kettle.”

“Aye, sir,” Kettle replied firmly. He leaned over to one side to swing a copper-clad speaking tube to within range of his mouth so that he could bawl, “First officer to the bridge!”

In less than half a minute, there were firm boot steps on the main deck and then the sounds of the XO coming up the staircase to the bridge, at the prow of the ship, where the pilot could see the most sky around the vessel. Predator was a light, armed transport outfitted a little more heavily than the average Aetherium Fleet destroyer. Swift and agile, she was equipped with both an etheric web and wind sails for running outside the main etheric currents-and her guns could speak with an authority that could have challenged the batteries of a minor colony Spire like Dependence. Even now her own guns were trained down in the general direction of the colony, and they had been for hours, their crews waiting suspended in a state between fear for their lives and utter boredom.

Grimm noted several members of the gun crews nervously tracking the XO’s progress with their eyes instead of doing their duty, and he scowled them back down to their posts as the heir of the House of Lancaster came clomping up the stairs, her boots striking the deck beneath her far more sharply than was strictly necessary.

Gwendolyn Margaret Elizabeth Lancaster was a petite woman who had acquitted herself ably in a trade where few females tried their hands-yet were always about in small numbers. Granted, most of them were warriorborn and outcasts from society in the first place, but Gwen had thrown herself into the work with a will, starting two years ago, after Predator’s role in the capture of the Itasca, the storied Auroran battlecruiser now rechristened the Belligerent in a clear signal to her former masters of Fleet’s intentions toward Spire Aurora.

Miss Lancaster wore an aeronaut’s leathers that matched Grimm’s own. The pattern was based upon the Fleet officer’s uniform but rendered in black leather with silver skull-motif fittings rather than the dark blue and gold of the Fleet. The garments made her look like something out of a melodrama-and she had, in fact, been portrayed as a melodramatic heroine of Spire Albion in a number of productions about the opening conflict of the current struggle.

One that hovered precariously upon the brink of open war.

Miss Lancaster attained the bridge, came to attention, and snapped off a proper Fleet salute to Grimm. As per usual, there were smears of engine grease upon one of her cheeks-even after her elevation into the illustrious ranks of the aeronaut officers’ corps of Albion, she was frequently to be found arguing with the chief of engineering, Journeyman, over Predator’s systems. “Captain. We’ve had reports of mistsharks circling the ship from all quarters now, and the ship’s glass makes it less than an hour to sundown.”

“I’m aware,” Grimm said calmly. “I’m going to consult with the etherealist, XO. Take the conn.”

Lancaster braced to attention. “Aye, Captain, I have the conn.”

Kettle glanced back at them both with naked skepticism.

“Problem, Mister Kettle?” Gwen asked.

“No, ma’am,” Kettle drawled. “It’s just that every time you’re on the conn, things seem to get interesting, Miss Lancaster, ma’am.”

“I beg your pardon, Mister Kettle,” Gwen said sweetly. “But what exactly are you saying?”

“Just saying we didn’t have to go in on those pirates at three to one, ma’am,” Kettle said. “We might have tried another way.”

“I said, ‘Take me down their throats, so I can blow their guts out,’ and that’s precisely what we did,” Gwen replied firmly.

“Usually, it’s ships what got all that armor that do such things, ma’am,” Kettle retorted. “Since if the pirates had been a bit faster to get back to their guns, or the shroud had failed, we’d have been blown to tiny glowing pieces at that range.”

“But they weren’t faster, and it didn’t fail,” Gwen said. “And we all made out like bandits on the salvage of the two that didn’t explode, and here you are complaining.”

Kettle looked back and grinned. He’d added more gold teeth in the past few years, one of them set with a tiny lumin crystal that glowed like a star, and the gold hoop in one ear had gained a red gemstone the size of a baby’s eye. “There, now you sound like a proper officer, ma’am.”

“Eyes out, tongues in,” Grimm said, giving Kettle a glance. “If the away team has encountered the enemy and been unable to signal us, then the enemy could know of our presence and could be in the process of hunting for us. Let’s not make it easy for them.”

Lancaster frowned. “Do you think that’s what’s happened, Captain?”

“It is one possibility,” Grimm said, and lowered his voice pointedly. “One easily enough ensured against, eh?” He put a finger to his lips and climbed down from the bridge.

The temperature had dropped noticeably, and through the mists, the quality of light had become warmer as the sun headed for the horizon. Night would not be far away, and the ship would need another thousand yards of sky beneath her to climb up out of the regions where the aerial predators of the surface world cruised. That distance would carry them out of range of the signal rockets of the away team. Grimm would be willing to leave the team overnight if he could be assured of their safety, but the communication would have to happen before night fell. Otherwise, he’d have to assume that nothing had gone terribly wrong.

And that was an assumption that Grimm would rather not make.

He knocked at the door of the passenger cabin, waited a beat, and then opened it enough to say, “Miss Folly, a moment of your time?”

“Oh, yes, do tell the captain he is welcome, of course,” came a young woman’s rather breathless voice. “Please, tell him to come in.”

Grimm opened the door to find the table in the little cabin set for tea for two. One of the seats was empty, though the teacup before it had been filled and prepared. In the seat opposite was the ship’s etherealist, dutifully wearing her safety straps, which were attached to the chair, which was itself secured to the ship’s deck.

She wore an odd mishmash of clothing: a quilted buckskin Piker jacket with merry-colored holiday trim over several layers of tunics of Atlantean silks in various unlikely colors, and a hooped, petticoated skirt without an overdress. Her hair had been divided into two halves starting at the part in the center of her head. One side had been dyed with a flat black ink of some kind, and the other bleached almost white. Both sides had been drawn back into a braid that formed complicated whirls of light, dark, and shadow. Between the asymmetry of her colored hair and her different-colored eyes-one pale blue, the other apple green-it was enough to make her direct gaze disconcerting to those who did not know her.

“Miss Folly,” Grimm said, “I have come to a quandary, and I wonder if you might help me resolve it.”

After listening to Grimm’s words, Folly straightened in her chair, then turned to address a jar of small, expended lumin crystals sitting on the table next to the teapot. “Of course. Tell the captain I am at his service.” Folly smiled at the empty seat across the table. “I do beg you to forgive this interruption- Oh, so very kind.”

Grimm drew up cautiously, looking from Folly to the empty seat and back. Etherealists were well-known for their uniquely unstable personalities, but Grimm had seen enough to know that Miss Folly’s madness had a great deal of method to it, and he was not prepared to discount her strangeness as simple oddity. “Am I interrupting? I do beg your pardon . . . um . . .”

Folly smiled and shook her head. “Please let the captain know that I’m taking tea with Predator this afternoon. She seemed so tense and to need someone to talk to.”

Grimm saw no evidence of anyone in the chair, but that didn’t mean that the etherealist was out of her mind-or at least, no more so than at any other given time. Before now, Folly had certainly coaxed performances out of the ship that seemed to indicate that the vessel was more than merely the sum of her parts-that business with the ship’s shroud withstanding the broadsides of three enemy vessels, for example. And no airship captain, no matter how educated or refined, could entirely escape the superstition of shipboard life. All in all, he found it wiser never to disrespect Miss Folly’s oddness. “As always,” he said, “please convey to her my ongoing gratitude and admiration.”

“The captain knows perfectly well that Predator is entirely sensible of his feelings and supports his command,” Folly replied, her tone fondly reproving. “But she’s worried that the men haven’t had a proper meal and that there are several mistsharks coming far too close to the ventral lookouts as shadows lengthen.”

Which was information Miss Folly should have had no way of knowing, Grimm mused. The quiet words passed up the line to officers would not have reached this cabin, and the door had been shut all day. And yet somehow the young woman knew what was happening around the ship. Her awareness should have seemed damned unnatural, but after two years’ worth of her regular presence aboard, he tended to regard such matters much as he did the effectiveness of the ship’s grapevines-word would get around regardless of what anyone wished. It just so happened that in Miss Folly’s particular case, the only other apparent participant in her grapevine was the ship herself.

“Part of my problem,” he assured her. “I need to know if the ship can show us anything of the shore party. We can’t remain at this altitude for much longer, and we should have heard from them by now.”

Folly put down her teacup with a sharp clink. “Oh, goodness. That is worrisome.” She turned to the chair across from her and leaned forward, speaking in a confidential murmur. Then she paused and tilted her head as if listening to a similarly pitched reply. Then she addressed the jar of crystals again. “Please tell the captain that Predator will be able to display significant sources of etheric power to him-the weapons crystals of the shore party’s gauntlets, for example. She will show them to you as sources of red light upon the inside of the ship’s shroud as she has before.”

“Excellent, Miss Folly,” Grimm said. “Thank you.”

Running with Predator’s shroud up would put wear on her core etheric systems, but the additional knowledge to be gained by the vision those same systems could offer (with Miss Folly’s assistance) was priceless.

Excerpted from The Olympian Affair by Jim Butcher. Copyright © 2023 by Jim Butcher. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

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After the last two years, readers are thoroughly enjoying jumping into a fantasy or sci-fi novel to escape the world, so 2022 holds many exciting books to look forward to! From new releases from the likes of Seanan McGuire, Tara Sim, John Scalzi, Jennifer Saint, Jonathan Maberry, and more, to those releasing their debut novel, there’s really something for everyone within this round up!

Read on to discover fantasy and sci-fi books releasing between the months of January and June and tell us in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any of them!

JANUARY

Engines of Empire by R. S. Ford
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This epic fantasy tells the tales of clashing Guilds, magic-fueled machines, intrigue and revolution—and the one family that stands between an empire’s salvation or destruction.

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
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For fans of Cloud Atlas and Station Eleven––Follow a cast of intricately linked characters over hundreds of years as humanity struggles to rebuild itself in the aftermath of a climate plague

Seven Mercies by Laura Lam and Elizabeth May
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The second book in a feminist space opera duology that follows the team of seven rebels who will free the galaxy from the ruthless Tholosian Empire–or die trying.

The Amber Crown by Jacey Bedford
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In this new epic fantasy, three societal outcasts must work together to fulfill the orders of a dead king’s ghost or risk their nation falling to a tyrant

Where The Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire
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Welcome to the Whitethorn Institute. The first step is always admitting you need help, and you’ve already taken that step by requesting a transfer into our company.

Servant Mage by Kate Elliott
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In Kate Elliott’s Servant Mage, a lowly fire mage finds herself entangled in an empire-spanning conspiracy on her way to discovering her true power.

Obsidian by Sarah J. Daley
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Defying those who think her an abomination, Shade wears her tattoos openly and carries obsidian blades at her hips. For years, she has protected the outcast clans who wander the blighted Wastes, but the land is growing more unstable and her blades are no longer enough.

The Starless Crown by James Rollins
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An alliance embarks on a dangerous journey to uncover the secrets of the distant past and save their world in this captivating, deeply visionary adventure from #1 New York Times bestselling thriller-master James Rollins.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
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A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e , in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm and sets her on a dangerous path—where choices come with deadly consequences, and she risks losing more than her heart.

Battle of the Linguist Mages by Scotto Moore
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In modern day Los Angeles, a shadowy faction led by the Governor of California develops the arcane art of combat linguistics, planting the seeds of a future totalitarian empire in Scotto Moore’s Battle of the Linguist Mages.

Light Years From Home by Mike Chen
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The perfect combination of action, imagination and heart, Light Years from Home is a touching drama about a challenge as difficult as saving the galaxy: making peace with your family…and yourself.

The Unfamiliar Garden by Benjamin Percy
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FEBRUARY

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
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House of Earth and Blood meets The Witch’s Heart in Rebecca Ross’s brilliant first adult fantasy, set on the magical isle of Cadence where two childhood enemies must team up to discover why girls are going missing from their clan.

Last Exit by Max Gladstone
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Fresh from winning the Hugo and Nebula Awards, Max Gladstone weaves elements of American myth—the muscle car, the open road, the white-hatted cowboy—into Last Exit, a deeply emotional tale where his characters must find their own truths if they are to survive.

Clean Air by Sarah Blake
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Suspenseful and startling, but also written with a wry, observant humor, Clean Air is the second novel from poet Sarah Blake, author of the award-winning literary debut Naamah. It will appeal to readers of The Need, The Leftovers, and Fever Dream as it probes motherhood, grief, control, and choice.

Dead Collections by Isaac Fellman
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A whirlwind romance between an eccentric archivist and a grieving widow explores what it means to be at home in your own body in this clever, humorous, and heartfelt novel.

Scorpica: The Five Queendoms by G.R. Macallister
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A centuries-long peace is shattered in a matriarchal society when a decade passes without a single girl being born in this sweeping epic fantasy that’s perfect for fans of Robin Hobb and Circe.

The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart
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At once a dazzlingly time-twisting murder mystery and a story about grief, memory, and what it means to—literally—come face-to-face with our ghosts, The Paradox Hotel is another unforgettable speculative thrill ride from acclaimed author Rob Hart.

The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
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From a major new debut author in epic fantasy comes the first book in a trilogy where action, intrigue, and magic collide. The Justice of Kings introduces an unforgettable protagonist destined to become a fantasy icon: Sir Konrad Vonvalt, an Emperor’s Justice, who is a detective, judge, and executioner all in one. But these are dangerous times to be a Justice…. 

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes
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Titanic meets The Shining in S.A. Barnes’ Dead Silence, a SF horror novel in which a woman and her crew board a decades-lost luxury cruiser and find the wreckage of a nightmare that hasn’t yet ended.

Redwood and Wildfire by Andrea Hairston
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Andrea Hairston’s alternate history adventure, Redwood and Wildfire, is the winner of the Otherwise Award and the Carl Brandon Kindred Award.

Reclaim the Stars: 17 Tales Across Realms & Space
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Reclaim the Stars is a collection of bestselling and acclaimed YA authors that take the Latin American diaspora to places fantastical and out of this world. Authors include Daniel José Older, Yamile Saied Méndez, Anna-Marie McLemore, Mark Oshiro, Romina Garber, David Bowles, Lilliam Rivera, Claribel Ortega, Isabel Ibañez, Sara Faring, Maya Motayne, Nina Moreno, Vita Ayala, J.C. Cervantes, Circe Moskowitz, Linda Nieves Pérez, and Zoraida Córdova. 

Hunt the Stars by Jessie Mihalik
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The critically acclaimed author of Polaris Rising takes readers on an exciting journey with the start of her brand-new series about a female bounty hunter and the man who is her sworn enemy.

Mickey7 by Edward Ashton
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The Martian meets Dark Matter in Edward Ashton’s high concept science fiction thriller, in which Mickey7, an “expendable,” refuses to let his replacement clone Mickey8 take his place.

MARCH

The Bone Orchard by Sara A. Mueller
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Sara A. Mueller’s The Bone Orchard is a fascinating whodunit set in a lush, gothic world of secrets and magic–where a dying emperor charges his favorite concubine with solving his own murder, and preventing the culprit, which undoubtedly is one of his three terrible sons, from taking control of an empire.

The City of Dusk by Tara Sim
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Set in a gorgeous world of bone and shadow magic, of vengeful gods and defiant chosen ones, The City of Dusk is the first in a dark epic fantasy trilogy that follows the four heirs of four noble houses—each gifted with a divine power—as they form a tenuous alliance to keep their kingdom from descending into a realm-shattering war.

The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories: A Collection of Chinese Science Fiction and Fantasy in Translation
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From an award-winning team of authors, editors, and translators comes a groundbreaking short story collection that explores the expanse of Chinese science fiction and fantasy.

Comeuppance Served Cold by Marion Deeds
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A respected magus and city leader intent on criminalizing Seattle’s most vulnerable magickers hires a young woman as a lady’s companion to curb his rebellious daughter’s outrageous behavior.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin
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Judy I. Lin’s sweeping debut A Magic Steeped in Poison, first in a duology, is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo.

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
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From the critically acclaimed author of The Book of M, a highly imaginative thriller about a young woman who discovers that a strange map in her deceased father’s belongings holds an incredible, deadly secret—one that will lead her on an extraordinary adventure and to the truth about her family’s dark history. 

The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
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The Kaiju Preservation Society is John Scalzi’s first standalone adventure since the conclusion of his New York Times bestselling Interdependency trilogy.

Kundo Wakes Up by Saad Hossain
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In this standalone follow-up to the fan favorite The Gurkha and the Lord of Tuesday Saad Z. Hossain continues to mix futurism with fable, and shows how strange our lives might become.

Until the Last of Me by Sylvain Neuvel
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A darkly satirical thriller, as seen through the eyes of the women who sacrifice all to make progress possible and the men who are determined to stop them.

Edgewood by Kristen Ciccarelli
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Haunting and romantic, Kristen Ciccarelli’s Edgewood is an exciting novel from a bold, unforgettable voice in fantasy.

Wild and Wicked Things by Francesca May
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In the aftermath of World War I, a naive woman is swept into a glittering world filled with dark magic, romance, and murder in this lush and decadent debut.

The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book four in her Blood and Ash series.

APRIL

God of Neverland by Gama Ray Martinez
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In this magical re-imagining of J. M. Barrie’s classic tale, Michael Darling—the youngest of the Darling siblings and former Lost Boy, now all grown up—must return to the life he left behind to save Neverland from the brink of collapse and keep humanity safe from magical and mythological threats, as well as answer the ultimate question: Where is Peter Pan?

In a Garden Burning Gold by Rory Power
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Twins imbued with incredible magic and near-immortality will do anything to keep their family safe—even if it tears the siblings apart—in the first book of a mythic epic fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls.

The Blood Trials by N.E. Davenport
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Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. E. Davenport’s fast-paced, action-packed debut kicks off a duology of loyalty and rebellion, in which a young Black woman must survive deadly trials in a racist and misogynistic society to become an elite warrior.

Aspects by John M. Ford
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In the years before his unexpected death, John M. Ford wrote a novel of fantasy and magic unlike any other. Politics and abdicated kings, swords and sorcerous machine guns, divination and ancient empires―finally, Aspects is here.

Spear by Nicola Griffith
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The legendary author of Hild returns with an unforgettable hero and a queer Arthurian masterpiece for the modern era. Nicola Griffith’s Spear is a spellbinding vision of the Camelot we’ve longed for, a Camelot that belongs to us all.

Flint and Mirror by John Crowley
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From award-winning author John Crowley comes a novel that masterfully blends history and magic in Flint and Mirror.

Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse
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Return to The Meridian with New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Roanhorse’s sequel to the most critically hailed epic fantasy of 2020 Black Sun—finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Lambda, and Locus awards.

The Discord of Gods by Jenn Lyons
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The Discord of Gods marks the epic conclusion to Jenn Lyons’s Chorus of Dragons series, closing out the saga that began with The Ruin of Kings, for fans of Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss.

The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe
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In The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer, singer-songwriter, actor, fashion icon, activist, and worldwide superstar Janelle Monáe brings to the written page the Afrofuturistic world of one of her critically acclaimed albums, exploring how different threads of liberation—queerness, race, gender plurality, and love—become tangled with future possibilities of memory and time in such a totalitarian landscape…and what the costs might be when trying to unravel and weave them into freedoms.

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
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With her signature mix of the grim and the delightful, award-winning author T. Kingfisher takes the old bones of fantasy and fairytale and makes them into something entirely new in this enchanting adventure.

Saint Death’s Daughter by C.S.E. Cooney
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Perfect for fans of Gideon the Ninth and The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Saint Death’s Daughter is the first novel in a new trilogy about love, coming-of-age and strangeness.

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
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A stunning debut from a powerful new voice, Kaikeyi reimagines the life of the infamous queen from the Indian epic the Ramayana, weaving a tale of fate, family, courage, and heartbreak—of an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come.

MAY

Elektra by Jennifer Saint
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A spellbinding reimagining of the story of Elektra, one of Greek mythology’s most infamous heroines, from Jennifer Saint, the author of the beloved international bestseller, Ariadne.

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
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Two warriors shepherd an ancient god across a broken land to end the tyrannical reign of a royal family in this new epic fantasy from the author of The Vanished Birds.

Kagen the Damned by Jonathan Maberry
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The Witcher meets Game of Thrones in New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry’s brilliant new fantasy series, Kagen the Damned.

Seasonal Fears by Seanan McGuire
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From New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire, Seasonal Fears is the extraordinary companion novel to Middlegame.

Under Fortunate Stars by Ren Hutchings
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Under Fortunate Stars is a modern, progressive homage to classic space opera stories, with flawed heroes and time travel.

All the Seas of the World by Guy Gavriel Kay
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Returning triumphantly to the brilliantly evoked near-Renaissance world of A Brightness Long Ago and Children of Earth and Sky, international bestselling author Guy Gavriel Kay deploys his signature ‘quarter turn to the fantastic’ to tell a story of vengeance, power, and love.  

The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R.M. Romero
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With spellbinding verse prose, R.M. Romero channels the spirit of myth into a brilliantly original tale, inspired by her experiences restoring Jewish cemeteries in Eastern Europe.

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
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Heroic Hearts edited by Jim Butcher & Kerrie Hughes
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An all-star urban fantasy collection featuring short stories from #1 New York Times bestselling authors Jim Butcher, Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris, Kelley Armstrong, and more . . .

The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
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Inspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights, The Stardust Thief weaves the gripping tale of a legendary smuggler, a cowardly prince, and a dangerous quest across the desert to find a legendary, magical lamp.

Second Spear by Kerstin Hall
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Kerstin Hall’s Second Spear is the thrilling follow-up to the Nommo Award finalist, The Border Keeper.

A Game of Retribution by Scarlett St. Clair
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Become enchanted by the fantasy world of gods and mortals in bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair’s reimagined New Greece. Readers are “hopelessly addicted” to the story of Hades and Persephone told from Hades’s point of view.

JUNE

Rise of the Snake Goddess by Jenny Elder Moke
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Samantha Knox is back for another adventure in this 1920s female-driven mystery-adventure series!

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
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From highly acclaimed bestselling author Ava Reid comes a gothic horror retelling of The Juniper Tree, set in another time and place within the world of The Wolf and the Woodsman, where a young witch seeks to discover her identity and escape the domination of her wizard father, perfect for fans of Shirley Jackson and Catherynne M. Valente.

For the Throne by Hannah F. Whitten
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Red’s sister Neve is trapped in a mysterious land of twisted roots, lost gods, and mountains made of bone, and the only clues to her rescue are a magic mirror and a dark prince who wants to bring the whole thing crumbling down. 

In the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan
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From Brian McClellan, author of The Powder Mage, comes In the Shadow of Lightning, a brand-new epic fantasy where magic is a finite resource—and it’s running out.

The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings
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In a fantastical version of New Orleans where music is magic, a battle for the city’s soul brews between two young mages, a vengeful wraith, and one powerful song in this vibrant and imaginative debut. 

A Mirror Mended by Alix E. Harrow
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A Mirror Mended is the next installment in USA Today bestselling author Alix E. Harrow’s Fractured Fables series.

Ordinary Monsters by J.M. Miro
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A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
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The Goblin Emperor meets “Magnificent Century” in Alexandra Rowland’s A Taste of Gold and Iron, where a queer central romance unfolds in a fantasy world reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire.

Wrath Goddess Sing by Maya Deane
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Drawing on ancient texts and modern archeology to reveal the trans woman’s story hidden underneath the well-known myths of The Iliad, Maya Deane’s Wrath Goddess Sing weaves a compelling, pitilessly beautiful vision of Achilles’ vanished world, perfect for fans of Song of Achilles and the Inheritance trilogy.

Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs
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Mercy Thompson, car mechanic and shapeshifter, must face her greatest fears in this chilling entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.

The City Inside by Samit Basu
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The City Inside, a near-future epic by the internationally celebrated Samit Basu, pulls no punches as it comes for your anxieties about society, government, the environment, and our world at large—yet never loses sight of the hopeful potential of the future.

Locklands by Robert Jackson Bennett
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A god wages war—using all of humanity as its pawns—in the unforgettable conclusion to the Founders trilogy.

What 2022 fantasy and sci-fi book releases are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases To Devour In 2022 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Faithless Hawk by Margaret Owen
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Kings become outcasts and lovers become foes in the thrilling sequel to Margaret Owen’s The Merciful Crow.

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
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A young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut.

Shielded by KayLynn Flanders
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For fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Furyborn comes a thrilling new fantasy about a kingdom ravaged by war, and the princess who might be the key to saving not only those closest to her, but the kingdom itself, if she reveals the very secret that could destroy her.

Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis
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The alternate history first contact adventure Axiom’s End is an extraordinary debut from Hugo finalist and video essayist Lindsay Ellis.

Trouble the Saints by Alaya Dawn Johnson
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The dangerous magic of The Night Circus meets the powerful historical exploration of The Underground Railroad in this timely and unsettling novel, set against the darkly glamorous backdrop of New York City at the dawn of WWII.

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor (An Absolutely Remarkable Thing #2) by Hank Green
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A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor is the bold and brilliant follow-up to An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. It’s a fast-paced adventure that is also a biting social commentary, asking hard, urgent questions. How will we live online? What powers over our lives are we giving away for free? Who has the right to change the world forever? And how do we find comfort in an increasingly isolated world?

A Peculiar Peril (Misadventures of Jonathan Lambshead #1) by Jeff VanderMeer
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An epic about three friends on a quest to protect the world from a threat as unknowable as it is terrifying.

Quantum Shadows by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
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Bestselling author of The Mongrel Mage, L. E. Modesitt, Jr’s Quantum Shadows blends science fiction, myth, and legend in an adventure that pits old gods and new against one another in a far future world.

Scarlet Odyssey (Scarlet Odyssey #1) by C.T. Rwizi
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Magic is women’s work; war is men’s. But in the coming battle, none of that will matter.

Peace Talks (The Dresden Files, #16) by Jim Butcher
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When the Supernatural nations of the world meet up to negotiate an end to ongoing hostilities, Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, joins the White Council’s security team to make sure the talks stay civil. But can he succeed, when dark political manipulations threaten the very existence of Chicago—and all he holds dear?

Ghost Wood Song by Erica Waters
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Sawkill Girls meets Beautiful Creatures in this lush and eerie debut, where the boundary between reality and nightmares is as thin as the veil between the living and the dead. 

Ashes of the Sun (Burningblade & Silvereye #1) by Django Wexler
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Long ago, a magical war destroyed an empire, and a new one was built in its ashes. But still the old grudges simmer, and two siblings will fight on opposite sides to save their world, in the start of Django Wexler’s new epic fantasy trilogy.

Will you be picking up any of these books? Tell us in the comments below!

The post July 2020 Book Releases: Fantasy & Sci-Fi appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Peace Talks by Jim Butcher
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Harry Dresden is back and ready for action, in the new entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dresden Files series. When the Supernatural nations of the world meet up to negotiate an end to ongoing hostilities, Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, joins the White Council’s security team to make sure the talks stay civil. But can he succeed, when dark political manipulations threaten the very existence of Chicago–and all he holds dear?

The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty
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The final chapter in the bestselling, critically acclaimed Daevabad Trilogy, in which a con-woman and an idealistic djinn prince join forces to save a magical kingdom from a devastating civil war.

Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks
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The #1 bestselling author of World War Z takes on the Bigfoot legend with a tale that blurs the lines between human and beast–and asks what we are capable of in the face of the unimaginable.

Afterland by Lauren Beukes
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Children of Men meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this “bowstring-taut, visceral, and incredibly timely” thriller about how far a mother will go to protect her son from a hostile world transformed by the absence of men.

The Year of the Witching by Alexis Henderson
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A young woman living in a rigid, puritanical society discovers dark powers within herself in this stunning, feminist fantasy debut.

To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
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This epic novel follows Kira Navárez, who, during a routine survey mission on an uncolonized planet, finds an alien relic that thrusts her into the wonders and the nightmares of first contact. Epic space battles for the fate of humanity take her to the farthest reaches of the galaxy and, in the process, transform not only her, but the entire course of history.

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
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Harrow the Ninth, the sequel to the sensational, USA today best-selling novel Gideon the Ninth, turns a galaxy inside out as one necromancer struggles to survive the wreckage of herself aboard the Emperor’s haunted space station.

Axiom’s End by Lindsay Ellis
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The alternate history first contact adventure Axiom’s End is an extraordinary debut from Hugo finalist and video essayist Lindsay Ellis.

Blue Ticket by Sophie Mackintosh
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From the author of the Man Booker Prize longlisted novel The Water Cure comes another mesmerizing, refracted vision of our society In a world where women can’t have it all, don’t underestimate the relief of a decision being taken away from you.

The Mother Code by Carole Stivers
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In a future that could be our own, The Mother Code explores what truly makes us human–and the tenuous nature of the boundaries between us and the machines we create.

Will you be picking up any of these books? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Summer 2020’s Most Anticipated SFF Books, According To Goodreads Members appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Books these days are either surrounded by hype, or they’re just…not. The presence of book community on social media sites as Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube have led to a lot more popularity around books and reading culture, and we all fall victim to buying stacks on stacks of fresh reads because they’ve been so prevalent on every one of our social media platforms. So, I took the time to compile a list of mostly fantasy (some sci-fi) books that whilst not “underrated” in the normal sense of the world, are perhaps a bit older, and may have been left largely untouched by the hype-trains we are all so familiar with.

Either way, if you’re looking for a new book, or even if you’re not, and you haven’t read these guys, give them a go!

1. Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Yes, this is definitely a rather bias choice, because it’s my favourite book of all time. But Finnikin of the Rock is amazing, and I definitely don’t see enough people talking about it. Finnikin and his guardian, Sir Topher, have not seen their beloved homeland of Lumatere for ten years. Not since the dark days when the royal family was brutally murdered and the kingdom put under a terrible curse. But after a prophetic dream, Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young woman with an incredible claim; the heir to Lumatere is alive, and she knows how to bring them home.

This book is about lost people, the bonds between family and friends, and what happens to populations when they’re left without a home. It’s moving, funny, and full of action and romance, and I think everyone should read it.

2. Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher

The first book in the Codex Alera series, we are introduced to the world of Alera, where for a thousand years, the people have been united against the aggressive and threatening races that inhabit the world, using their unique bond with the furies: elementals of earth, air, fire, water, and metal. Following young boy, Tavi, who lives in a village far away from danger and politics, but who has a few struggles of his own. At 15, Tavi cannot Furycraft, but one night, after he saves a slave in a storm, he is thrust into a destiny far greater than he could have ever imagined.

Furies of Calderon is full of magic, and absolutely enchanting characters. Written as an experiment in what would happen if you combined Pokemon with the Holy Roman Empire, it’s a wild ride from start to finish.

3. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan

It’s hard to describe The Eye of the World without giving too much away, but the first book in Robert Jordan’s epic Wheel of Time series sees farm boy Rand, along with a few friends, whisked away from the village they’ve lived all their lives by Moiraine, the mysterious Aes Sedai. What follows is the beginning of an epic adventure full of magic and set in an absolute masterpiece of a world that will leave you on the edge of your seat and desperate for the next book. “What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.”

4. Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

Okay, I’m breaking my own rule here, because this book is definitely sci-fi, not fantasy. But given that these genres get lumped together in bookstores, I’m lumping them together here as well. One of the newer releases on this list, and an Anastasia-inspired story to boot, Heart of Iron is the tale of Ana. A young girl is found floating in space many years ago by the Captain of an outlawed spaceship, with no memory of her past, and an android by her side. Now seventeen, Ana is desperate to find a way to fix D09, her android best friend, who keeps glitching uncontrollably. As she embarks on this reckless quest with a spoiled Ironblood boy by her side, they battle to keep themselves alive, but what they uncover in a lost corner of the universe will change all their lives completely. And Ana is faced with a terrible decision: to save the boy she loves, or protect the kingdom that wanted her dead.

Now, I’m not going to say that the romance in this book isn’t more than a bit cheesy, but space pirates! Adventure! Lost Princesses! Who wouldn’t want to give this a go?

5. Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Our second novel by Jim Butcher on this list, and urban fantasy this time! Meet Harry Dresden: a sarcastic PI and police consultant, and… wizard. Consulting on a grisly double murder for the Chicago P.D, Harry finds himself hunting for a mage who isn’t afraid to use black magic to get what he wants. And perhaps worse, he’s hunting for a mage who knows his name, and is hunting him right back.

Now tell me that you don’t want to read about a wisecracking wizard-for-hire with the most rotten luck imaginable?

6. Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

Alright, now I’ll be honest with you here, I haven’t actually read this one myself. But, it’s on my TBR and I’m planning on starting it after I finish off my current read, so I’m putting it on here! Plus, the reviews on Goodreads seem fairly controversial, so it counts.

For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he’s grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly – and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint, the city’s most (in)famous assassin. But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins’ world of dangerous politics and strange magics – and cultivate a flair for death.

7. Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind

Once again living up to the expectation that fantasy series are both incredibly amazing, and incredibly long, and not to be confused with its poor TV adaptation Legend of the Seeker, Wizard’s First Rule is the first book in the Sword of Truth series.

In the aftermath of his father’s brutal murder, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher’s forest sanctuary seeking help. Swept into a world he knows nothing about, and ripe with magic, danger, and politics- Richard and Kahlan find themselves battling to survive… and to not fall in love. “This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend”.

8. The Gift by Alison Croggon

This one follows a fairly familiar fantasy trope, with main character Maerad living as a slave in an unforgiving mountain settlement. However, unbeknown to her, Maerad possess a gift that marks her a member of the School of Pellinor. It’s only after she is noticed and rescued by Cadvan, a Bard of Lirigon, that she starts of the quest to uncover the true secrets of her destiny. Maerad and Cadvan set out on a perilous quest against dark forces which threaten to overtake the world.

The Gift (also released as “The Naming”) is told almost as a historical retelling, with the author including lore and notes on ‘historical’ texts during her appendices at the end of the novel. This book follows an incredibly well-worn plot, and somehow, here I am recommending it to you; why? Because of the characters. Cadvan and Maerad are noble, and flawed, and a little messed up. They carry the plot beautifully as they attempt to open themselves up to each other enough to work to defeat the darkness that is threatening their world.

9. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Such a true sci-fi classic that I don’t even know where to begin in describing it to you, but I’ll give it a go. Seconds before Earth is set to be destroyed to make way for an intergalactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect; out of work actor, researcher for ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ and alien. What follows is the journey through space with a few other interstellar travellers, including a chronically depressed robot, the president of the galaxy, and a girl Arthur hit on at a bar one time.

Douglas Adams writes some of the most quotable and laugh out loud lines of all time (big claim, but I stand by it), and if you only read one book on this list, make it this one. It’s funny, and a little bit existential and all around amazing.

10. Legend by David Gemmell

This is quite possibly the oldest book on this list, first published in 1984 and follows the legend of Druss, the barbarian. His prowess in battle led him to become a living legend, and the stories of him have been told countless times over the land. But he is old, and spends his time in solitude in his mountain lair, awaiting the arrival of his old enemy, Death. But the Drenai fortress of Dros Delnoch is losing the battle against barbarians of the Nadir, and Druss reluctantly agrees to leave retirement to help. But can he live up to his own legend?

This book is hailed by many as a classic in the heroic fantasy genre, and to be honest, it reads a bit like a classic. However, it also embraces themes like honour, loyalty and redemption, and it starts with a very drunk and very reluctant hero getting into a bit of mischief, so what’s not to love?

And there you have it guys! Surely there’s something on here that you haven’t heard of or that interests you, so why not add to your overflowing TBR and give one of these books a go?

Have you read any? Or would you add any others? Tell us your thoughts below in the comments!

The post 10 Underrated Fantasy & Sci-Fi Books appeared first on The Nerd Daily.