Looking to escape into a good book? We round up 16 new fantasy and sci-fi books hitting shelves this month with new releases from Matthew Ward, Seanan McGuire,  Claire North, and many more!

Read on to discover just a few of our picks and tell us in the comments below if you’re looking forward to any of them!

Lady Eve’s Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow

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Hearts will race and anti-grav boots will fly in this scifi rom-com perfect for fans of WINTER’S ORBIT and THE RED SCHOLAR’S WAKE.

Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba

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In this fiercely imaginative Filipino-inspired fantasy debut, a bisexual nun hiding a goddess-given gift is unwillingly transformed into a lightning rod for her people’s struggle against colonization.

The Fire Within Them by Matthew Ward

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The second book in Matthew Ward’s action-packed trilogy, the Soulfire Saga, The Fire Within Them is set in a world ruled by an immortal king, where souls fuel magic and a supernatural mist known as the Veil threatens to engulf the land. Perfect for fans of John Gwynne and Anthony Ryan.

Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin

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Genres collide in this dark and atmospheric reimagining of 1930s Shanghai for fans of Nghi Vo and S. A. Chakraborty.

The Afterlife of Mal Caldera by Nadi Reed Perez

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By turns irreverently funny and deeply moving, this debut contemporary fantasy is perfect for fans of They Both Die at the End and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei

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From the acclaimed author of The Deep Sky comes a thrilling anti-colonial space heist to save an alien civilization.

Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova

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The Witcher meets Naomi Novik in this fast-paced fantasy rooted in Slavic folklore, from an assured new voice in genre fiction.

Daughter of the Merciful Deep by Leslye Penelope

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A woman journeys into a submerged world of gods and myth to save her home in this powerful historical fantasy that shines a light on the drowned Black towns of the American South. 

The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent

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From the New York Times bestselling author Carissa Broadbent, comes The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King, the gutting second installment of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, full of heartbreak, redemption, blood intrigue and heart-pounding action.

The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks

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For fans of Piranesi and The Midnight Library, a stunning historical fantasy novel set on a grand express train, about a group of passengers on a dangerous journey across a magical landscape

Tidal Creatures by Seanan McGuire

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New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire takes us back to the world of the award-winning Alchemical Journeys series in this action-packed follow-up to Middlegame and Seasonal Fears.

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland

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A queer pirate fantasy standalone adventure by Alexandra Rowland, the author of A Taste of Gold and Iron

Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse

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The interwoven destinies of the people of Meridian will finally be determined in this stunning conclusion to New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Roanhorse’s Between Earth and Sky trilogy.

Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera

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Rakesfall is a groundbreaking, standalone science fiction epic about two souls bound together from here until the ends of time, from the author of The Saint of Bright Doors.

The Last Song of Penelope by Claire North

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The third book in award‑winning author Claire North’s Songs of Penelope Trilogy, a “powerful, fresh, and unflinching” (Jennifer Saint) reimagining that breathes life into ancient myth and gives voice to the women who stand defiant in a world ruled by ruthless men.

Fate of the Sun King by Nisha J. Tuli

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The highly anticipated third installment of the steamy Artefacts of Ouranos series journeys deeper into the glittering fae world as Lor puts both her life and her heart on the line in this enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance.

What June fantasy and sci-fi books are you looking forward to? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Dive Into These New June Fantasy & Scif-Fi Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Legacy of Ash is the first novel in an exciting new series by Matthew Ward. It is an epic fantasy filled with a well developed plot and a large collection of vibrant and interesting characters. This novel is large, coming in at 768 pages for the paperback, and looks a little bit intimidating sitting on the fantasy shelves in the store, so I want to start this review by saying do not let the size of this book deter you! It is completely enchanting and Ward has created such an exciting world it is easy to lose yourself in the action.

This novel follows the standard epic fantasy recipe and has all the familiar ingredients: kings and queens, magic, ethereal beings, and a battle between good and evil, but Ward has presented the traditional with a fresh set of eyes. The magic system introduced in this story is something very special. It has a major presence throughout the whole novel which I found particularly compelling and features goddesses, giant war golem,s and even assassins who disguised themselves as a mass of blackbirds.

Legacy of Ash opens and introduces the reader to groups of characters chapter by chapter. There is almost no world building in these chapters, instead, the reader is thrown directly into the action. Ward does an incredible job at giving the reader just enough information to piece together the plot and become part of the adventure. The Tressian Republic is a complicated place and we discover just how much unrest there is in this world. There is not a singular plot in this story, but as the book progresses each character adds to the overall plot and the small subplots throughout the book, spinning a complex web of intrigue. Soon we learn that old alliances need to be mended and new alliances created in an attempt to protect their freedom and save their world. Our introductions focus on the warring families of Tressia and the heroes that will be the main focus of this epic tale.

Following suit of other books released of late, Legacy of Ash is told from multiple points of view. This is a technique that tends to be hit or miss with readers. In this case, it allows Ward to provide perspective about individual characters allowing the reader to glean the best insight about each character. The further into the book you read, you see how different characters are interconnected through their pasts and the changing perspective really helps the connection breadcrumbs come to the surface.

The first half of the novel is very character driven. There is a detailed Dramatis Personae at the beginning of the book and Ward dedicates the time to ensure each character is given the literary justice they deserve. The only negative I found in this book was that the large cast of characters being introduced so quickly made it somewhat difficult to keep track of who is who. In saying that, each character is important to the story and as the plot progresses we discover that even the minor characters are Wards’ puzzle pieces and have important roles to play later on.

The second half of the novel the plot takes a pivotal turn and the story is turned up to eleven and the reader is gifted with some truly awesome action scenes. The story plays out all the earlier puzzle pieces that Ward set up at the beginning of the book and the story unravels at breakneck speed that provides a viewpoint of all sides of the battle. This holistic representation of each side of war is refreshing as it is common in fantasy novels to present its narrative in a simplistic good versus evil structure and only giving the perspective of one side, normally the good. It was enjoyable to learn the motivations of both sides in this war.

Legacy of Ash is an incredibly enjoyable epic fantasy that takes a refreshing approach to the genre. I am reluctant to compare Legacy of Ash to the A Song of Ice and Fire series for fear of it falling into a cliched pocket, but it is similar in its large main and minor cast and the magic throughout the entire plot. It is important not to be deterred by the size of this primordial tome. It is an immensely enjoyable read that has twists that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Legacy of Ash is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of April 9th 2020.

Will you be picking up Legacy of Ash? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

In this action-packed epic fantasy debut, three heroes scarred by old hatreds must find a way to overcome their pasts if they are to have any chance of saving their crumbling Republic from complete destruction. Perfect for fans of George R. R. Martin, Brent Weeks, and Brandon Sanderson.

A shadow has fallen over the Tressian Republic.

While the armies of the Hadari Empire invade the borderlands, the Republic’s noble families plot against each other, divided by personal ambition.

But as Tressia falls, heroes rise.

Viktor Akadra is the Republic’s champion and conqueror of the rebellious south. A warrior without equal, he also hides a secret that would see him burned as a heretic.

Josiri Trelan would gladly see Viktor condemned to the flames – vengeance for a rebellion crushed and a mother slain. And while Josiri plots fresh insurrection, his sister, Calenne, is determined to escape their tarnished legacy and break the shackles of the past.

As dark days beckon, these three must overcome their differences to save the Republic. Yet decades of bad blood are not easily set aside. Victory – if it comes at all – will command a higher price than they could have imagined.

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