Hi, Max! Welcome back! How has the past 18 months been since we last spoke for the release of Wicked Problems?

…. Well, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but it’s been a weird 18 months for the old US of A. But setting aside all that…. Speaking for myself and my family, there’s been a lot of work and a lot of love and a bit of health stuff, and, in general, doing the best we can for one another and for those around us. And getting ready for the release of Dead Hand Rule!

Dead Hand Rule is the third installment in your Craft Wars series and it’s out October 28^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Wild Times At Wizard Davos!

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

Necromantic skullduggery, high finance, politics, romance, banter, smart people making relatable mistakes, and, to paraphrase a Craig Ferguson bit—folks desperately trying to secure a triumph for intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism. The Craft Wars are set in a postindustrial world of supernatural feats and great horror, not unlike our own (only the wizardry and eldritch horror are a bit more visible); now that world is under threat, and its great powers are trying to come together to respond. One could wish they were a bit more effective.

And for those who have, what’s to come in Dead Hand Rule?

Tara and the King in Red have called a summit in Alt Coulumb, trying to get the world’s great powers on side to confront Dawn, and the skazzerai threat approaching across the stars. But each of the world’s great powers has their own strategy—and their own sense of who they want left standing when the chips are down. Can all these people come together to pull out a win? Well: maybe!

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

So many. The conference setting was a wonderful occasion to answer longstanding questions and feature side characters from other books (or who have been mentioned prominently but never appeared). I’ve always loved Bob Dylan’s big storytelling / milieu songs, like Black Diamond Bay, these pileups of plot and character, and I set up Dead Hand Rule to evoke that sort of feeling. We get to see Belladonna Albrecht and Elayne Kevarian; the King in Red visits Alt Coulumb’s Broadway; Abelard tries to step up as a political player; Tara has alma mater feelings; Cat experiences an unexpected reunion… I could keep going.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing this installment? How did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge on a creative level was also an opportunity: initially this book and Wicked Problems were all one long, long, long book. Dividing them left me with a version of Dead Hand Rule that needed more—but I’d felt that need while writing it, too, so the chance to really let the book stretch its legs and find its pace was a relief.

On a schedule level, parenting plus a bit of health stuff meant that I kept having to put the book down for weeks at a time—not always a bad thing, since it gives the ideas more room to breathe. But, on the flip side, sometimes you come back to a book and find you’re a slightly different person than you were when you left it…

What’s the best and worst writing advice you’ve received?

The best writing advice I’ve received was also some of the earliest: don’t throw away your work. Every bit of writing matters. You never know what will catch fire, or inspire you on revisit—and also, keeping your writing around gets you in the habit of taking it seriously. Not everything’s meant for prime time, of course, or for posting-on-main, but if you keep your work around, you’d be surprised how it grows and changes when you’re not paying attention.

I’m reluctant to call any writing advice the worst, because I don’t want some well-meaning teacher to feel bad, and even “bad” advice can be the springboard to good advice. But I do think that any writing advice that uses absolutes is likely to be better honored in the breach than the observance, as the Danish guy says. If someone’s saying “ALWAYS do this” or “NEVER do that” or “all stories MUST work in this other way,” if you take them too seriously you’re giving away your own powers of discernment and discovery and judgment—and without those, what are we doing here but typing?

What’s next for you?

A couple things I can’t talk about—and finishing the draft of the next, and last, Craft novel!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I’ve been burning through the One Piece manga. Adrien Tchaikovsky’s Lords of Uncreation is a master class in how you end a trilogy. Dryer’s English felt like aloe for my writer-soul. Isabel Kim’s Sublimation was sharp and gripping. And I really dug Paul Fisher’s biography of John Singer Sargent, The Grand Affair. As for what books I’m looking forward to picking up: always the next one! Thought be on the lookout for John Chu’s Subtle Art of Folding Space and Laura Cranehill’s Wife-Shaped Bodies, both of which I had a chance to read pre-pub and really enjoyed.

Will you be picking up Dead Hand Rule? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Max Gladstone, Author of ‘Dead Hand Rule’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

I’m an author, game designer, screenwriter, and parent; in spare time (what’s that?) I cook, I fiddle, I run, I daydream about the indie ttrpg campaigns I’m going to run for friends when we all have time, and at the moment I’m playing a LITTLE too much Slay the Spire.

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

Before I can remember—literally! I apparently woke my parents up when I was three to show them a story I had written about a kid being kidnapped through his window by pirates in a flying ship. Actually I should revisit that one. Sounds awesome.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Nate the Great! The world’s best detective, and a fantastic example of noir voice. I’d put the trash can page of NATE THE GREAT GOES UNDERCOVER up as one of the all time hardboiled detective passages. Also possible that the honor goes to the borderline terrifying Frog and Toad story “Shivers,” the one about The Old Dark Frog who eats up little Frog children…
• The one that made you want to become an author: Roger Zelazny’s Lord of Light and Robin McKinley’s The Hero and the Crown, tie game. Taut, tremendous classic novels of the genre. They could be read by everyone and still under-read.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Outside of my next book? Probably Dorothy Dunnett’s Lymond Chronicles. Master classes in perspective, tension, scope, drama, sheer storytelling. Dunnett is a secret aquifer drawn upon by a host of fantasists, myself included. 

Wicked Problems is the second installment in your Craft Wars series and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Adventure, Intrigue, Squid, Wizard Law!

What can readers expect in the sequel?

A desperate attempt to combat the [REDACTED] by [REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED], leading to [REDACTED]!

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

It would spoil too much to answer this question fully, but I think I can say that I love big reveals, and I love it when characters get to spend time with their mothers.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing?

Oh, just parenting a kiddo through the COVID pandemic, waking up at four a.m. to write the book longhand since my brain got twisted whenever I touched a computer, little things like that!

What’s next for you?

A bit of travel, a bit of rest—and writing the last book in the series.

Lastly, are there any book releases that you’re looking forward to picking up this year?

Vajra Chandrasekara’s RAKESFALL for sure, and I’ve already read it but Sung-Il Kim’s BLOOD OF THE OLD GODS is a live one, with wizard-powered reactors, giant mechs, chained dragons, the grinding machines of empire—definitely give that a look if you like my work.

Will you be picking up Wicked Problems? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Max Gladstone, Author of ‘Wicked Problems’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you’re ready to escape 2024 for a little while, then look no further than these upcoming January to June 2024 fantasy and science fiction book releases! With releases from the likes of Sarah J. Maas, Mike Chen, ST. Gibson, Micaiah Johnson, Hannah Kaner, Taran Matharu, P. Djèlí Clark, Hannah Whitten, Veronica Roth, and many more, along with some very exciting debut novels!

Read on to discover some wonderful new reads within this list and be sure to check out our other 2024 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, our Swoonworthy Romance, and Anticipated YA lists!

JANUARY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Sons of Darkness by Gourav Mohanty

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
An epic reimagining of the Mahabharata and a blend of House of the Dragon meets Succession.

House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In this sexy, breathtaking sequel to the #1 bestsellers House of Earth and Blood and House of Sky and Breath, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City series reaches new heights as Bryce and Hunt’s world is brought to the brink of collapse-with its future resting on their shoulders.

The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Told through the eyes of a murdered scientist whose consciousness has been implanted in a resurrected wooly mammoth and this story speaks to the folly of forcing nature down an unnatural path.

Mislaid In Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Portals and danger, and a girl who can find both in the next book in the Hugo and Nebula Award–Winning Wayward Children series from Seanan McGuire.

Unbound by Christy Healy

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For fans of Hannah Whitten and Rebecca Ross, Unbound is a gender-bent reimagining of the classic tale of a monstrous beast and the beauty determined to tame it, set against the lush backdrop of Irish mythology and folklore.

The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Slip into a lush world of magic, stardust, and monsters in this spellbinding contemporary fantasy from debut author Georgia Summers.

The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

Goodreads | Amazon | Bookshop.org
A love letter to Black readers of science-fantasy, The Principle of Moments is a symphonic, centuries-spanning adventure – unmissable for fans of the spacefaring found family of Becky Chambers, the alternate London of V. E. Schwab, and the virtuosic climate-craft of N. K. Jemisin.

Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Two elven sisters become imprisoned in the intoxicating world of the fae, where danger and love lie in wait. Faebound is the first book in an enchanting new trilogy from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Final Strife.

A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
It’s an average Thursday for Carter Cho… until the particle accelerator explodes and sends him back in time. Carter continuously relives the week never making it to Friday. Lonely and in need of help, he manages to pull Mariana into the time loop, and together they must find a way to finally reach the end of the week.

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must uncover their secrets before it’s too late, in this heartwarming, enchanting second installment of the Emily Wilde series.

The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Atlas Complex marks the much-anticipated, heart-shattering conclusion in Olivie Blake’s trilogy that began with the New York Times bestselling phenomenon, The Atlas Six.

Exordia by Seth Dickinson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Michael Crichton meets Marvel’s Venom in award-winning author Seth Dickinson’s science fiction debut

FEBRUARY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Redsight by Meredith Mooring

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

An imaginative new space opera for fans of Gideon the Ninth filled with sapphic romance, space pirates, a blind witch and powerful priestesses.

A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A shield maiden blessed by the gods battles to unite a nation under a power-hungry king—while also fighting her growing desire for his fiery son—in this Norse-inspired fantasy romance from the bestselling author of The Bridge Kingdom series.

Fathomfolk by Eliza Chan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Revolution is brewing in the semi-submerged city of Tiankawi, between humans and the fathomfolk who live in its waters. This gloriously imaginative debut fantasy, inspired by East Asian mythology and ocean folk tales, is a novel of magic, rebellion and change.

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A Holmes and Watson–style detective duo take the stage in this fantasy with a mystery twist, from the Edgar-winning, multiple Hugo-nominated Robert Jackson Bennett.

The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A magically gifted con artist must gather her estranged mother’s old crew for a once-in-a-lifetime heist, from the New York Times bestselling author of Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds.

The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A debut novel full of magic, adventure, and romance, The Book of Doors opens up a thrilling world of contemporary fantasy for readers of The Midnight Library, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, The Night Circus, and any modern story that mixes the wonder of the unknown with just a tinge of darkness.

Medea by Eilish Quin

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Discover the full story of the sorceress Medea, one of the most reviled and maligned women of Greek antiquity, in this propulsive and evocative debut in the tradition of Circe, Elektra, and Stone Blind.

Exit Black by Joe Pitkin

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Die Hard meets The Martian–with a dash of Knives Out–in this action-packed sci-fi thriller.

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Sumptuous and addictive, An Education in Malice is a dark academia tale of blood, secrets and insatiable hungers from S.T. Gibson, author of the cult hit A Dowry of Blood. 

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Epic in scope and full of singular, unforgettable characters, The Fox Wife is a stunning novel about old loves and second chances, the depths of maternal love, and ancient folktales that may very well be true.

The Trials of Empire by Richard Swan

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The third novel in Richard Swan’s acclaimed epic fantasy trilogy triumphantly concludes the tale of Sir Konrad Vonvalt, an Emperor’s Justice – a detective, judge and executioner all in one. 

The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For fans of David Mitchell, Ruth Ozeki, and Kazuo Ishiguro, an elegant and exhilarating literary speculative novel about an isolated town neighbored by its own past and future, and a young girl who spots two elderly visitors from across the border: the grieving parents of the boy she loves.

MARCH 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Three Kinds of Lucky by Kim Harrison

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Luck is its own kind of magic, in this first book in an electrifying new contemporary fantasy series from the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Hollows novels.

A Touch of Chaos by Scarlett St. Clair

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The gods are at war in the highly-anticipated final installment of the Hades and Persephone story, from bestselling author Scarlett St. Clair

Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Faced with a coming apocalypse, a woman must reckon with her past to solve a series of sudden and inexplicable deaths in a searing sci-fi thriller from the Compton Crook Award–winning author of The Space Between Worlds.

Sunbringer by Hannah Kaner

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Return to the world of Godkiller in this thrilling sequel to the #1 internationally bestselling fantasy debut, where Kissen and her companions must navigate lands of gods and demons to unravel a dark truth at the heart of their world.

A Feather So Black by Lyra Selene

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Set in a world of perilous magic and moonlit forests, this seductive romantic fantasy tells the story of a defiant changeling, her cursed sister, and the dangerous fae lord she must defeat to save her family.

The Mars House by Natasha Pulley

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A compulsively readable queer sci-fi novel about a marriage of convenience between a Mars politician and an Earth refugee.

The Emperor and the Endless Palace by Justinian Huang

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
An unpredictable roller coaster of a debut novel, The Emperor and the Endless Palace is a genre-bending romantasy that challenges everything we think we know about true love.

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Woods All Black is equal parts historical horror, trans romance, and blood-soaked revenge, all set in 1920s Appalachia,

Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
This cozy debut science fiction novel tells a story of misfits, rebels, found family—and a mystery that spans the stars.

Jumpnauts by Hao Jingfang

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the Hugo Award­–winning author of Folding Beijing comes a gripping science fiction thriller in which three unlikely allies attempt a desperate mission of first contact with a mysterious alien race before more militaristic minds can take matters into their own hands.

Baby X by Kira Peikoff

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

When any biological matter can be used to create life, stolen celebrity DNA sells to the highest bidder–or the craziest stalker–in this propulsive thriller. With a vivid imagining of the future, Gattaca meets Black Mirror in Kira Peikoff’s Baby X.

Cascade Failure by L.M. Sagas

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
L. M. Sagas’s debut, Cascade Failure, is a high-octane, sci-fi adventure blending J. S. Dewes’s Divide series with Firefly. It features a fierce, messy, chaotic space family, vibrant worlds, and an exploration of the many ways to be―and not to be―human.

APRIL 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Discover a rich world of magic, warriors, and dragons, in which a fearless orphan and an ambitious handmaiden flee from the empire that would imprison them, with a dream to return to their homelands and a determination that’s unbreakable…

A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Once a young woman uncovers a dark secret about her neighbor and his mysterious new wife, she’ll have to fight to keep herself—and the woman she loves—safe in this stunning queer reimagining of the classic folktale “The Selkie Wife.”

A View from the Stars by Cixin Liu

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A View From The Stars features a range of short works from the past three decades of New York Times bestselling author Cixin Liu’s prolific career, putting his nonfiction essays and short stories side-by-side for the first time.

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Nebula and Alex Award winner P. Djèlí Clark introduces a brand-new world and a fantastical city full of gods and assassins.

Wicked Problems by Max Gladstone

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Gods and lawyers battle for the soul of the world in the action-packed second volume of Max Gladstone’s Craft Wars, an epic fantasy like no other.

Play of Shadows by Sebastien de Castell

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Swordplay, magic, intrigue and friendships stronger than iron: the first book in a new swashbuckling fantasy series by the bestselling author of The Greatcoats.

Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Discover this creepy, charming monster-slaying fantasy romance, which is Beauty and the Beast meets The Shape of Water by the Nebula-award winning author of Open House on Haunted Hill.

The Monstrous Misses Mai by Van Hoang

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A determined young woman in 1950s Los Angeles walks a darker city than she ever imagined in a spellbinding novel about the power to make dreams come true―whatever the sacrifice.

The Redemption of Morgan Bright by Chris Panatier

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the subversive voice behind The Phlebotomist comes a story that combines the uncanny atmosphere of Don’t Worry Darling with the narrative twists of The Last House on Needless Street.

Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A crew must try to survive on an ancient, abandoned planet in the latest space horror novel from S.A. Barnes, acclaimed author of Dead Silence.

The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain by Sofia Samatar

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Celebrated author Sofia Samatar presents a mystical, revolutionary space adventure for the exhausted dreamer in this brilliant science fiction novella tackling the carceral state and violence embedded in the ivory tower while embodying the legacy of Ursula K. Le Guin.

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah F. Whitten

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In the second installment of New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten’s lush romantic epic fantasy series, the glittering and dangerous world of the Sainted King’s royal court is upended when Prince Bastian seizes control and a mysterious dark force begins to take over.

MAY 2024 BOOK RELEASES

The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Honey Witch of Innisfree can never find true love. That is her curse to bear. But when a young woman who doesn’t believe in magic arrives on her island, sparks fly in this deliciously sweet debut novel of magic, hope, and love overcoming all.

The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Maddileh’s tale contains a rich history of dragons, ill-fated knights, scheming squires, and sapphic love, with deceptions and double-crosses that will keep you guessing right up to its dramatic conclusion. Ultimately, The Fireborne Blade is about the roles we refuse to accept, and of the place we make for ourselves in the world.

Road to Ruin by Hana Lee

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
An electrifying, gritty fantasy from debut author Hana Lee that takes a royal messenger on a high-speed chase across a climate-ravaged wasteland, featuring motorcycles, monsters, and magic.

The Deer and the Dragon by Piper C.J.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Fantasy author Marlow has been haunted by what she believes is a figure of her imagination: a mysterious and alluring man she calls Caliban. But when Caliban disappears, her quest to find him throws her into the very world of gods, demons, and monsters her books have been based on for years.

Kavithri by Aman J. Bedi

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A vibrant, action-packed and empowering South Asian fantasy epic. An underdog story like no other – Kavithri will remind you of fantasy heroes like Arya Stark, Fang Runin or Gideon the Ninth.

Evocation by S.T. Gibson

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Evocation kicks off the Summoner’s Circle series, and follows David, a psychic medium and hotshot lawyer, who must team up with his sorcerer ex-boyfriend and the ex’s witch wife to break a family curse. Forced proximity, magic lessons, and polyamory ensure, all against the moody backdrop of Boston. 

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Step into a city where monsters feast on human emotions, knights split their souls to make their weapons, and witches always take more than they give.

Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A powerful reimagining of the story of Ganga, goddess of the river, and her doomed mortal son, from Vaishnavi Patel, author of the instant New York Times bestseller Kaikeyi.

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Groundhog Day meets Guardians of the Galaxy in Django Wexler’s laugh-out-loud fantasy tale about a young woman who, tired of defending humanity from the Dark Lord, decides to become the Dark Lord herself.

Lost Ark Dreaming by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The brutally engineered class divisions of Snowpiercer meets Rivers Solomon’s The Deep in this high-octane post-climate disaster novella written by Nommo Award-winning author Suyi Davies Okungbowa

Escape Velocity by Victor Manibo

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A twisty new near-future genre-bending thriller: Knives Out in space with a Parasite twist. A decades-old murder looms over the glamorous clientele of a high-end space hotel . . . while an unforeseen threat percolates in the service corridors. The guests are about to experience the hospitality they deserve.

A House Like an Accordion by Audrey Burges

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A woman searches for her missing father in order to reconcile the many strange and fantastical secrets of her past before she loses herself completely in this deeply profound and magical novel by Audrey Burges.

JUNE 2024 BOOK RELEASES

Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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.

Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Witcher meets Naomi Novik in this fast-paced fantasy rooted in Slavic folklore, from an assured new voice in genre fiction.

The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
In her breathtaking debut—part space odyssey, part sapphic rom-com—Emily Hamilton weaves a suspenseful, charming, and irresistibly joyous tale of fierce friendship, improbable love, and wonder as vast as the universe itself.

Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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.

Lady Eve’s Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Hearts will race and anti-grav boots will fly in this sapphic sci-fi rom-com, perfect for fans of Winter’s Orbit and The Red Scholar’s Wake, Lady Eve’s Last Con.

The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the acclaimed author of The Deep Sky comes a thrilling anti-colonial space heist to save an alien civilization.

Daughter of Calamity by Rosalie M. Lin

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Genres collide in this dark and atmospheric reimagining of 1930s Shanghai for fans of Nghi Vo and S. A. Chakraborty.

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Murderbot meets Redshirts in a delightfully humorous tale of robotic murder from the Hugo-nominated author of Elder Race and Children of Time.

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From the author of A Taste of Gold and Iron – Our Flag Means Death meets Six of Crows as a merry band of misfits attempts to get away with treason on the high seas.

Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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 Knife and the Serpent by Tim Pratt

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
From Hugo Award winning author Tim Pratt comes a new, high-concept space opera, exploring technology, family and the price we pay to follow our destiny, perfect for fans of Peter F. Hamilton and Adrian Tchaikovsky.

The Afterlife of Mal Caldera by Nadi Reed Perez

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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.

What SFF books are you looking forward to releasing in 2024? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Devour These Anticipated 2024 Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

FEBRUARY

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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

Under Fortunate Stars by Ren Hutchings
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Heroic Hearts edited by Jim Butcher & Kerrie Hughes
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Samantha Knox is back for another adventure in this 1920s female-driven mystery-adventure series!

Juniper & Thorn by Ava Reid
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

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.

Today, we’re granting the spotlight to the most delicious of tropes: enemies-to-lovers. Because we all know the rule…opposites always attract…especially if they initially hate each other’s guts. From sweet to steamy work rivals, and to bitter enemies, we have got you covered with this list!

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Vying for the promotion of a lifetime, co-workers and enemies-for-life Lucy and Joshua begin to walk a fine line between love and hate as their games to annoy each other turn into more. Thorne’s debut is going to be adapted into a movie, so the time to dive into this delicious and delightful workplace comedy is now!

Beach Read by Emily Henry
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters – and each other.

Kiss My Cupcake by Helena Hunting
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Blaire Calloway has planned every Instagram-worthy moment of her cupcake and cocktails shop launch down to the tiniest detail. What she didn’t plan on? Ronan Knight and his old-school sports bar next door opening on the very same day. As two neighborhood shop owners battle for business, they prove opposites attract in this sweet and savory romcom.

Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Meet Melody Joo, a fierce woman who gets her dream job as a video game producer – only to be stuck with an infuriating – yet devilishly handsome – intern that makes her question all her morals after a mass troll attack online changes everything.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

On the quieter, more pensive side of the enemies-to-lovers spectrum, we have an unlikely correspondence between two rival agents hellbent on securing the best possible future for their warring factions. What begins as a taunt grows into something epic that could change the course of history.

Work for It by Talia Hibbert
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Filled with angst and steamy goodness, follow this small-town story featuring a cynical city boy and a gruff, soft-hearted farmer as they bridge their differences and the distance between them.

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Nothing interferes with Shane Hollander’s game on the ice —definitely not the sexy rival he loves to hate. Except Ilya Rozanov might be more than just the handsome, rugged boy on the other team – he might be even playing for Shane’s, if you catch my drift. Warning: There are scenes so steamy in here, you’ll probably need to fan yourself – while wondering how these two ice hockey gods don’t melt the damn playing field.

Dear Enemy by Kristen Callihan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

As kids, they hated each other. Macon Saint was beautiful, but despite his name, Delilah knew he was the devil. That he dated her slightly evil sister, Samantha, was no picnic either. When they broke up, it was a dream come true: Delilah never had to see him again. Ten years later, her old enemy sends a text and sets a slew of events into action that will shatter their world.

Face Offs and Cheap Shots by Eden Finley and Saxon James
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

No one does enemies-to-lovers like this author duo does. When carefree and careless Beck surprisingly vies for the captain spot of their university’s hockey team – a spot that hard-working, stubborn Jacobs already had in the bag – pucks…and sparks fly.

Do you have any recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Romance Book Recommendations: Enemies to Lovers Trope appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Welcome to the most beautiful month of the year, Pride Month! Usually, this month is packed with parades, events and festivals, but due to all of us #stay(ing)athome, Pride will have to find a way to take place online even more than the years before. But we are not The Nerd Daily for nothing, after all; we specialise in making the online world as welcoming, engaging, and inclusive as possible!

Let’s make this month as colourful as we can! To help you kick off, we present you: The LGBTQ+ Literary Alphabet. We will take each letter (and as many of the letters from the ‘+’ category as we can) and will recommend you some fantastically diverse books that are simply perfect for a good pride month read. 

And we’ll start right here! Our letter today is: L as in Lesbian. We’ve divided our bookish recommendations into genres, so that every single one of you bookworms can find a book that fits your tastes and reading habits! From adult and YA, all the way to middle-grade fiction, we’ve got you covered!

Happy reading!

Adult Fiction

Carol by Patricia Highsmith | Goodreads

Patricia Highsmith’s story of romantic obsession may be one of the most important, but still largely unrecognized, novels of the twentieth century. First published in 1952 and touted as “the novel of a love that society forbids,” the book soon became a cult classic.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters | Goodreads

With dreams of paying back the kindness of her adopted family, Sue agrees to a plan. Once in, however, Sue begins to pity her helpless mark and care for Maud Lilly in unexpected ways, but no one and nothing is as it seems in this Dickensian novel of thrills and reversals.

The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin | Goodreads

Even in the darkest of times, you cannot bury the truth . . . A debut historical novel that will appeal to fans of Sarah Waters and The Silent Companions.

Disobedience by Naomi Alderman | Goodreads

Steeped in Jewish philosophy and teachings, Disobedience is a perceptive and thoughtful exploration of the laws and practices that have governed Judaism for centuries, and continue to hold sway today. Throughout the novel, Alderman retells stories from the Torah — Judaism’s fundamental source — and the interplay between these tales and the struggles of the novel’s unique characters wields enormous power and wisdom, and will surely move readers to tears.

Young Adult Fiction

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth | Goodreads

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.

Juliet Takes A Breath by Gabby Rivera | Goodreads

A gutsy, queer YA coming-of-age story perfect for fans of The Poet X, Roxanne Gay and Feminists Don’t Wear Pink.

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan | Goodreads

Leila has made it most of the way through Armstead Academy without having a crush on anyone, which is a relief. As an Iranian-American, she’s different enough; if word got out that Leila liked girls, life would be twice as hard. But when beautiful new girl Saskia shows up, Leila starts to take risks she never thought she would. As she carefully confides in trusted friends about Saskia’s confusing signals, Leila begins to figure out that all her classmates are more complicated than they first appear to be, and some are keeping surprising secrets of their own.

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth | Goodreads

Two girls embark on a summer of montage-worthy dates (with a few strings attached) in this hilarious and heartfelt lesbian rom-com that’s perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Jenny Han.

Fantasy & Sci-Fi

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon | Goodreads

From the internationally bestselling author of The Bone Season, a trailblazing, epic high fantasy about a world on the brink of war with dragons – and the women who must lead the fight to save it.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone | Goodreads

Co-written by two award-winning writers, THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR is an epic love story spanning time and space.

The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave | Goodreads

Gothic, intoxicating, feminist and romantic – this is the breathtakingly imagined untold story of the brides of Dracula, by bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave in her much-anticipated YA debut.

Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron | Goodreads

This fresh take on a classic story will make readers question the tales they’ve been told, and root for girls to break down the constructs of the world around them.

Classics & Poetry 

The Color Purple by Alice Walker | Goodreads

A powerful cultural touchstone of modern American literature, The Color Purple depicts the lives of African American women in early twentieth-century rural Georgia. Deeply compassionate and beautifully imagined, Alice Walker’s epic carries readers on a spirit-affirming journey towards redemption and love.

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu | Goodreads

A classic Victorian vampire novella, which influenced Bram Stoker’s later treatment of the vampire mythos in Dracula. Secret fans of the fantastic YouTube adaptation of this novella may find themselves drawn in even further by the original novella that started it all.

Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown | Goodreads

Bawdy and moving, the ultimate word-of-mouth bestseller, Rubyfruit Jungle is about growing up a lesbian in America–and living happily ever after.

Middle-Grade Fiction

In The Role of Brie Hutchens by Nicole Melleby | Goodreads

An own-voices LGBTQ novel from the acclaimed author of Hurricane Season, about eighth-grader Brie, who learns how to be true to herself and to her relationships with family, friends, and faith.

The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake | Goodreads

Twelve-year-old Sunny St. James navigates heart surgery, reconnections with a lost mother, first kisses, and emerging feelings for another girl.

Kenzie Kickstarts a Team by Kit Rosewater | Goodreads

A highly illustrated middle-grade series that celebrates new friendships, first crushes, and getting out of your comfort zone

Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake | Goodreads

In the wake of a destructive tornado, one girl develops feelings for another in this stunning, tender novel about emerging identity, perfect for fans of The Thing About Jellyfish.

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

The post LGBTQ+ Alphabet Recommendations: L for Lesbian Fiction appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Godserfs Trilogy by N. S. Dolkart
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

While the LGBTQIA+ storylines don’t really appear until the second book, they’re worth waiting for. Though I love stories about falling in love, I also really appreciate the chance to see established and/or married queer people thriving. This series has both, and also a supportive environment for a trans child. Each successive book is better than the one before, culminating in an amazing capstone novel full of humour and heart.

Sisters of the Vast Black by Lina Rather
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Nuns on an interstellar mission of mercy uncover a conspiracy, and even though that’s plenty for a brief novella, there’s also a quiet and beautiful romance. Thoughtful and brave, this story isn’t about religion vs. government, but truly about good vs. evil.

The Raven and the Reindeer by T. Kingfisher
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This is not the “Snow Queen” you remember: it’s better. Gerta sets out to rescue her friend Kay from a magical and mysterious lady, but she has no idea what to expect. Fortunately, a talking raven, a robber girl, and the mystic strength of the reindeer are there to help her. Kingfisher always finds ways to make you laugh, cry, and sigh, and this is one of her best.

The Deep by Rivers Solomon
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Yetu is the historian for her mermaid kindred, the living repository of memories so awful that they threaten the peaceful life they have built below the sea. For the mermaids were born from pregnant women thrown from slave ships, heirs to unspeakable trauma. But the intensity of those memories is slowly driving Yetu to despair. She must discover the will to put her own needs before those of the community, and also find a way to let memories of love speak louder than horror. Also, Yetu is implied to be on the spectrum (and not because she’s a mermaid, or any other dehumanising reason like that. She just happens to have particular sensitivities and neurological differences), which is extra cool.

The Name of All Things by Jenn Lyons
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Janel is a paragon of Disaster Bisexuals, and a genderqueer queen to boot. (Well, technically she’s a count.) She’s stronger than ten fighters combined, can talk to horses, and she doesn’t need any fridging to motivate her. She’s plenty motivated on her own to save her homeland, her friends, and maybe her world. Note, though, that this is the second book in the Chorus of Dragons series and you really need to read the first one, which is somewhat less queer.

Armed in Her Fashion by Kate Heartfield
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This is a very well-researched book, except for the parts that are entirely fabricated. Like for instance the Beast of Hell emerging from the earth and recruiting soldiers, all of whom are transformed into strange chimeras. But Claude, a transman and a soldier, doesn’t want to be anything other than what he is. He’s part of a larger cast of colourful characters

The Merro Tree by Katie Waitman
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

This book was way ahead of its time in its depiction of a beautiful pansexual, polyamorous relationship between two men of different species. It’s still extremely timely in its defense of the arts, too.

The Tiger’s Daughter by K. Arsenault Rivera
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The love between Shizuka and Shefali is truly epic. Their relationship defies demons, overthrows empires, and transcends legends.

Full Fathom Five by Max Gladstone
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Kai’s job is to create and monitor gods for profit. Yeah, no big, just manipulating the fabric of the universe while she’s also contemplating issues of colonialism and her relationships. She also happens to be a transwoman. Badass.

City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Humans on January have always lived on the edge of a knife, existing on the non-rotational planet in the thin band of dusk between the frozen night side and the boiling sun side. Sophie lives on an even thinner edge, a queer girl in a city of endless rules, expected to stay in line and produce babies. But her love, her curiosity, and her tenacity leads her to other cities, to other paths, and ultimately to a magnificent and transformative revelation.

Honorable Mentions

Because this is SFF, dead doesn’t always mean forever. The following are books in which a queer person technically dies, but gets better. I won’t reveal who dies, but please be aware that slight spoilers follow.

Down Among the Sticks and Bones and Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Even among the many wonders of the Wayward Children series, Jack and Alexis’s love is something special. Death (and various other forms of Gothic mayhem) is more of a challenge than an absolute to a mad scientist like Jack, and thank goodness for that. Also, Jack’s OCD is treated with respect and thoughtful research.

The Nevernight Chronicles by Jay Kristoff
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In a series overflowing with blood and murder it’s still surprising and tragic when this particular character dies. But adherents to the goddess of murder don’t play by the same rules, fortunately for all of us who love queer love.

The Shadow Quartet by Lila Bowen
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Rhett is a bisexual transman of colour in the Wild West, a time and place made even more unforgiving by the presence of monsters. Gorgons, shapeshifters, vampires and more stalk the towns and deserts, and Rhett is charged with hunting the bad ones down. His journeys are action-packed adventures, but also full of self-discovery and moments of tenderness.

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The queer death is a bit more permanent in this one, but there is some form of endurance beyond the grave. And in a trilogy about necromancers that’s already broken all the rules, I suspect we’ve not seen the last of quite a number of characters.

Breath of the Sun by Isaac R. Fellman
Goodreads | Amazon

This won the Lambda this year for LGBTQ SFF/Horror, and I want to make everyone read it immediately. However, it’s important to note that there is a queer death in it, and it is not reversed, although it happens before the book begins. I thought it was worth including, though, because there are other deep and meaningful queer relationships, and because there’s so much peace and joy that our queer narrator discovers for herself.

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post John Doesn’t Die At The End: SFF Without Queer Death appeared first on The Nerd Daily.