Are you ready to be whisked away with a new fantasy or sci-fi read this year? We’ve rounded up 72 upcoming reads that will be hitting shelves between January and June this year, including new releases from Seanan McGuire, Nnedi Okorafor, Edward Ashton, Samantha Shannon, Natasha Pulley, M.R. Carey, Nghi Vo, Tochi Onyebuchi, V.E. Schwab, Tessa Gratton, and many more, along with some exciting debut releases!

Read on to discover new books hitting shelves in the first half of the year and be sure to check out our other 2025 round-ups too, including our Most Anticipated, Romance, Young Adult, and Fiction lists.

JANUARY 2025 SFF BOOK RELEASES

Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

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A young ruler must forge a delicate alliance with the untrustworthy yet magnetic God of War to protect her kingdom in this stunning romantic fantasy filled with dangerous secrets, forbidden magic, and passion, from Sue Lynn Tan, bestselling author of Daughter of the Moon Goddess

North Is the Night by Emily Rath

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Two bold young women defy the gods and mortals, living and dead, in this darkly mythical, Finnish folklore-inspired fantasy duology for readers of T. Kingfisher’s Nettle & Bone, Danielle L. Jensen, Thea Guanzon, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec.

Lightfall by Ed Crocker

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A novel of vampires, werewolves and sorcerers, Lightfall is the stunning debut epic fantasy by Ed Crocker, for fans of Jay Kristoff’s Empire of the Vampire and Richard Swan’s The Justice of Kings

Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao

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A woman inherits a pawnshop where you can sell your regrets, and then embarks on a magical journey when a charming young physicist wanders into the shop, in this dreamlike and enchanting fantasy novel.

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

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Get ready to fly or die in the breathtaking follow-up to Fourth Wing and Iron Flame from #1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.

A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson

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In an alternate London in 1923, one girl accidentally breaks the tenuous truce between dragons and humans in this sweeping debut and epic retelling of Bletchley Park steeped in language, class, and forbidden romance. Perfect for teen fans of Fourth Wing and Babel.

Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire

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Giant turtles, impossible ships, and tidal rivers ridden by a Drowned girl in search of a family in the latest in the bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award-Winning Wayward Children series from Seanan McGuire.

The Outcast Mage by Annabel Campbell

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In this glittering debut fantasy, a mage bereft of her powers must find out if she is destined to save the world or destroy it. Perfect for fans of Andrea Stewart, James Islington, and Samantha Shannon.

The In-Between Bookstore by Edward Underhill

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A poignant and enchanting novel about a magical bookstore that transports a trans man through time and brings him face-to-face with his teenage self, offering him the chance of a lifetime to examine his life and identity to find a new beginning.

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

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In this exhilarating tale by New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor, a disabled Nigerian American woman pens a wildly successful Sci-Fi novel, but as her fame rises, she loses control of the narrative—a surprisingly cutting, yet heartfelt drama about art and love, identity and connection, and, ultimately, what makes us human. This is a story unlike anything you’ve read before.

Daughter of Chaos by A.S. Webb

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Godkiller and The Priory of The Orange Tree meet Netflix’s Kaos in this epic fantasy series set in ancient Greece.

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall

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In the tradition of Station Eleven, a literary thriller set partly on the roof of New York’s Museum of Natural History in a flooded future.

FEBRUARY 2025 SFF BOOK RELEASES

Grave Empire by Richard Swan

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From critically acclaimed author Richard Swan, Grave Empire begins the epic tale of an empire on the verge of industrial revolution, where sorcery and arcane practices are outlawed – and where an ancient prophecy threatens the coming end of days.

The Fourth Consort by Edward Ashton

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Part first contact story, part dark comedy, and part bizarre love triangle, The Fourth Consort asks an important question: how far would you go to survive? And more importantly, how many drinks would you need to go there?

A Dragon of Black Glass by James Rollins

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The third and penultimate book in the New York Times bestselling Moonfall series from thriller-master James Rollins, A Dragon of Black Glass is a tale of relentless adventure and the struggle for survival in a harsh world that hangs by a thread.

Upon a Starlit Tide by Kell Woods

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Upon a Starlit Tide is a dark and enchanting historical fantasy combining elements of “The Little Mermaid” and “Cinderella” into a wholly original tale of love, power, and betrayal.

The Dark Mirror by Samantha Shannon

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The highly anticipated fifth novel in the New York Times bestselling Bone Season series-an epic and spellbinding fantasy from the author of The Priory of the Orange Tree.

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune

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A spine-tingling standalone novel by bestselling author TJ Klune―a supernatural road-trip thriller featuring an extraordinary young girl and her two unlikely protectors on the run from cultists and the government.

Greenteeth by Molly O’Neill

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From an outstanding new voice in cozy fantasy comes Greenteeth, “a joyful, warm-hearted” (H. G. Parry) tale of fae, folklore, and found family, narrated by a charismatic lake-dwelling monster with a voice unlike any other, perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher.

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

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The third installment in the heartwarming and enchanting Emily Wilde series, about a curmudgeonly scholar of folklore and the fae prince she loves

Cursebound by Saara El-Arifi

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They’re no longer prisoners to the fae court, but now two elven sisters are each bound by shackles of the heart—the sequel to the national bestseller Faebound, hailed as “a devastatingly romantic and breathtaking fantasy” (Tasha Suri).

But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo

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The Shape of Water meets Mexican Gothic in this sapphic monster romance novella wrapped in gothic fantasy trappings

Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf by C. L. Clark

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Set in the blockbuster and award-winning universe of League of Legends: Arcane and written by award-winning author C. L. Clark, discover a thrilling epic fantasy novel where Ambessa Medarda truly learns what it means to be a Chosen of the Wolf.

The Witch of Whispervale by R. A. Salvatore

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From the legendary author and creator of Drizzt Do’Urden comes the next installment in the New York Times bestselling DemonWars fantasy series, about the traitorous invasion by the Xoconai of the eastern realms of Corona. However, the heroes of the last war against their demon god may be forgotten, but they are not powerless.

MARCH 2025 SFF BOOK RELEASES

Murder By Memory by Olivia Waite

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Told through Dorothy’s delightfully shrewd POV, this novella is an ode to the cozy mystery taken to the stars with a fresh new sci-fi take. Perfect for fans of the plot-twisty narratives of Dorothy Sayers and Ann Leckie, this well-paced story will leave readers captivated and hungry for the series’s next installment.

Homegrown Magic by Jamie Pacton and Rebecca Podos

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A delightful queer romantic fantasy full of friends-to-lovers chemistry, found family, rival family drama, and cozy garden magic from two acclaimed YA authors making their debut in the adult space.

The Hymn to Dionysus Natasha Pulley

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A timely reimagining of the story of Dionysus-Greek god of ecstasy, revelry, and ruin-and a captivating queer love story for readers of The Song of Achilles and Elektra.

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn

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Practical Magic meets Gone Girl in Ava Morgyn’s next dark, spellbinding novel about a woman who is more than a witch―she’s a hunter.

The Serpent Called Mercy by Roanne Lau

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The Witcher meets Squid Game in this Malaysian Chinese-inspired epic fantasy novel where a debt-ridden slumdog joins an illegal monster-fighting arena for some fast coin, but quickly learns the most dangerous beasts are outside the ring

The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi

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In this riveting science fiction novel from acclaimed author Philip Fracassi, a scientist has unlocked the mysteries of time travel. This is not the story you think you know. And the rules are only the beginning.

A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames

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In the beloved tradition of Howl’s Moving Castle and The House in the Cerulean Sea, a whimsical and unforgettable cozy fantasy about adventure, common sense, and the power of love, as a cheeky butcher’s daughter, a befuddlingly handsome sorcerer, and his clever talking cat unlock magical secrets in the dark heart of their kingdom…

Tea You at the Altar by Rebecca Thorne

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The Princess Bride meets Bookshops and Bonedust in the third book of the Tomes & Tea series, where our favorite lesbian pirates must navigate the ultimate maelstrom–their own wedding!

The Anatomy of Magic by J.C. Cervantes

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A young woman learns to embrace all the messy imperfections of life and love with some help from her magical family in this next novel by New York Times bestselling author J.C. Cervantes.

Malinalli by Veronica Chapa

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An imaginative retelling of the triumphs and sorrows of one of the most controversial and misunderstood women in Mexico’s history and mythology, perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Gods of Jade and Shadow and Zoraida Córdova’s The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina.

Idolfire by Grace Curtis

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A character-driven science-fantasy road trip book with sword fights and a slowburn romance, Idolfire delves into the vastness of history and the terrifying power of organized faith.

Once Was Willem by M. R. Carey

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Presenting an enthrallingly dark medieval fantasy – a fable of twisted folklore, macabre magic and the strangest of found families –  from M. R. Carey, author of the million-copy bestseller, The Girl With All the Gifts.

APRIL 2025 SFF BOOK RELEASES

Where Shadows Meet by Patrice Caldwell

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Set in the aftermath of a war between vampires, humans, and the gods that created them, Patrice Caldwell’s devastatingly romantic fantasy debut, Where Shadows Meet, centers the heart-wrenching pain of loss and the struggle of self-discovery to ask: do we choose our fates, or do our fates choose us?

Don’t Sleep With The Dead by Nghi Vo

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From award-winning author Nghi Vo comes Don’t Sleep with the Dead, a standalone companion novella to The Chosen and the Beautiful, her acclaimed reimagining of The Great Gatsby.

Notes From A Regicide by Isaac Fellman

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Notes from a Regicide is a heartbreaking story of trans self-discovery with a rich relatability and a science-fictional twist from award-winning author Isaac Fellman.

City of All Seasons by Oliver K. Langmead and Aliya Whiteley

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A vibrant and emotional science fantasy about cousins trapped in mirrored worlds – the resplendent and verdant summer city and the ice-carved wastes of the winter city. For fans of Every Heart a Doorway and This is How You Lose the Time War.

A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

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The eccentric detective Ana Dolabra matches wits with a seemingly omniscient adversary in this brilliant fantasy-mystery from the author of The Tainted Cup.

The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson

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From an electrifying new voice in epic fantasy comes The Raven Scholar, a masterfully woven and playfully inventive tale of imperial intrigue, cutthroat competition, and one scholar’s quest to uncover the truth.

House of Blight by Maxym M. Martineau

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The first novel in an eerie, darkly creative, and romantic new gothic fantasy duology from Maxym M. Martineau, for readers of Sarah J. Maas and Rachel Gillig.

The Gods Time Forgot by Kelsie Sheridan Gonzalez

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Irish mythology collides with Gilded Age New York in this sweeping debut enemies-to-lovers historical romantasy, perfect for fans of Outlander and A Fate Inked in Blood.

Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake

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From the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six comes the story of three siblings who, upon the death of their father, are forced to reckon with their long-festering rivalries, dangerous abilities, and the crushing weight of all their unrealized adolescent potential.

Polybius by Collin Armstrong

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Stranger Things meets The Walking Dead in this chilling novel based on the terrifying urban legend about a video game created by the government for psychological warfare.

Where the Axe Is Buried by Ray Nayler

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A cybernetic novel of political intrigue, Where the Axe is Buried combines the story of a near-impossible revolutionary operation with a blistering indictment of the many forms of authoritarianism that suffocate human freedom.

A Palace Near the Wind by Ai Jiang

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From a rising-star author, winner of the both the Bram Stoker® and Nebula Awards, a richly inventive, brutal and beautiful science-fantasy novella. A story of family, loss, oppression and rebellion that will stay with you long after the final page. For readers of Nghi Vo’s The Empress of Salt and Fortune, Neon Yang’s The Black Tides of Heaven and Kritika H. Rao’s The Surviving Sky.

MAY 2025 SFF BOOK RELEASES

Silver Elite by Dani Francis

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In the first book of a sizzling dystopian romance series, psychic gifts are a death sentence and there are rules to survival: Trust no one. Lie to everyone. And whatever you do, don’t fall for your greatest enemy.

The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis

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Two parents and their recently-bitten-werewolf daughter try to fit into a privileged New England society of magic aristocracy. But deadly terrors await them – ancient prophecies, remorseless magical trials, hidden conspiracies and the PTA bake sale.

The Incandescent by Emily Tesh

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Naomi Novik’s Scholomance series meets Plain Bad Heroines in this sapphic dark academia fantasy by instant national and international bestselling author Emily Tesh, winner of the Hugo and World Fantasy Awards.

The Memory Collectors by Dete Meserve

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Four strangers time travel to the past and find themselves stuck on the day all their lives were changed in this stunning speculative mystery from award-winning film and television producer Dete Meserve, perfect for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, Wrong Place Wrong Time and The Paradox Hotel.

Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame by Neon Yang

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With an armored, oath-bound hero reminiscent of The Mandalorian and the Asian-inspired epic fantasy of She Who Became the Sun, Neon Yang’s Brighter than Scale, Swifter than Flame is a stunning queer novella about a dragon hunter finding home with a dragon queen.

Esperance by Adam Oyebanji

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A whip-smart thriller in the vein of Blake Crouch, Andy Weir, and Neal Stephenson, Esperance plumbs the depths of a seemingly impossible crime rooted in racism, intergenerational trauma, and an inhuman concept of justice

A Spell for Change by Nicole Jarvis

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In this sumptuous, atmospheric historical fantasy set in post-World War One Appalachia, three outcasts with misunderstood magical gifts search for their place in the world while battling the dark forces that circle their community.

Anji Kills a King by Evan Leikam

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An unlikely assassin struggles to escape a legendary bounty hunter in this breakneck fantasy debut that will grab you by the throat―perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, R.F. Kuang, and Christopher Buehlman.

Written on the Dark by Guy Gavriel Kay

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From the internationally bestselling author of Tigana, All the Seas of the World, and A Brightness Long Ago comes a sweeping new novel of love and war that brilliantly evokes the drama and turbulence of medieval France.

Harmattan Season by Tochi Onyebuchi

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From the visionary author of Riot Baby and Goliath, Harmattan Season is a gripping fantasy noir in the tradition of Chandler, Hammond, and Christie that will have you by the throat―both dryly funny and unforgettably evocative.

A Letter From the Lonesome Shore by Sylvie Cathrall

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Dive into the charming conclusion to the Sunken Archive duology, a heart-warming magical academia fantasy filled with underwater cities, romance of manners and found family, perfect for fans of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

Behooved by M. Stevenson

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A charming slow-burn romantasy featuring a duty-bound noblewoman with a chronic illness, a prince who would rather be in a library than on a throne, and a magical ride through a world of cozy enchantment

JUNE 2025 SFF BOOK RELEASES

Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by Victoria E. Schwab

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From V. E. Schwab, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue: a new genre-defying novel about immortality and hunger.

A Far Better Thing by H.G. Parry

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Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell meets A Tale of Two Cities in H. G. Parry’s A Far Better Thing, a heart-rending fantasy of faery revenge set during the French Revolution.

House of Frost and Feathers by Lauren Wiesebron

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A touch of The Bear and the Nightingale, a bit of Juniper & Thorn, and a sense of wonder and adventure makes up this lyrical debut fantasy of a young woman in search of a home, and a home in search of people to make it feel lived in.

The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott

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The Witch Roads is an epic fantasy duology, with brutal palace intrigue, a ravenous fungal ghost-plague, an overland journey with a small group of sometimes bickering characters, mysterious magic, ancient echoes of a long-ago war now intruding on the present, and a central love story, set in a new universe.

The Shipwright and the Shroudweaver by Rafael Torrubia

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Scottish debut Rafael Torrubia fuses the folklore of JRR Tolkien with the fire of NK Jemisin in this sprawling epic fantasy duology set in a Napoleonic world on the brink of collapse after an ancient evil strips its people of their names…

The Lady, the Tiger and the Girl Who Loved Death by Helen Marshall

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A young woman is seduced by the glamour of the circus and drawn into a dangerous world of violence, cruelty and revenge. For readers of Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus and Helen Oyeyemi’s Mr Fox.

Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race

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From a major new voice in epic fantasy, Six Wild Crowns is a breathtaking epic fantasy of dragons, courtly intrigue, sapphic yearning, and the wives of Henry VIII as you’ve never seen them before. 

UnWorld by Jayson Greene

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From the author of Once More We Saw Stars, an electrifying debut novel about AI that calls to mind Never Let Me Go and The Candy House’s tantalizing vision of the future.

The Unmapping by Denise S. Robbins

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With themes of climate change, political unrest, and social justice, The Unmapping is a timely and captivating debut.

Wearing the Lion by John Wiswell

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This second novel from Nebula Award-winning John Wiswell brings a humanizing, redemptive touch to the Hercules story in this mythological fantasy for fans of Jennifer Saint and Elodie Harper.

The Mercy Makers by Tessa Gratton

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A talented heretic must decide between the pursuit of forbidden magic, or the ecstasy of forbidden love—either way, her choice will upend the world, in the start of a sweeping, romantic epic fantasy trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Tessa Gratton.

This Princess Kills Monsters by Ry Herman

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A princess with a mostly useless magical talent takes on horrible monsters, a dozen identical masked heroes, and a talking lion in a quest to save a kingdom—and herself—in this affectionate satire of the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale The Twelve Huntsmen.

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

The post Fantasy & Sci-Fi Book Releases To Devour In 2025 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

HBO Max’s new series The Last of Us has been just as big of a smash hit as the 2013 game it’s adapted from. If you’re a fan of the TV show, the game, or you’re just interested in dark, post-apocalyptic stories, here are ten reading recommendations to check out!

Blindness by José Saramago

Like The Last of Us, José Saramago’s 1995 novel Blindness focuses on how the spread of a new disease can break down society and severely alter the way that humans live and interact with one another. In Blindness, a mass epidemic of blindness begins spreading through a city, affecting nearly everyone. If you’re intrigued by the “found family” relationship between Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us, then Blindness is a great book to check out: it follows a group of people who band together and create their own family unit to help navigate their way through the devastation caused by the epidemic.

The Passage by Justin Cronin

The Passage by Justin Cronin is a post-apocalyptic novel from 2010 that focuses on a world that has been infested with vampires (contrary to The Last of Us’s zombies). There are a lot of similarities between The Passage and The Last of Us, most notably their respective focus on a downtrodden, haunted man protecting a young, orphaned girl who may or may not hold the secret to saving the world.

The Children of Men by P.D. James

The Children of Men by P.D. James presents another take on the “disastrous change to human health greatly alters society” story. In this case, humanity becomes infertile. As in The Last of Us, The Children of Men focuses on a main character (Julian) who finds himself reluctantly working with the one person who may be able to save humanity. If Joel is your favourite The Last of Us character and you admire his story arc, then Julian’s tale in The Children of Men may be a great follow up to read.

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

If Ellie is your favourite character from The Last of Us, or you enjoy stories about intelligent children overcoming incredible hardships, then The Girl with All the Gifts is the book for you. M.R. Carey’s 2014 novel follows Melanie, a smart and witty young girl making her way through the zombie apocalypse. Melanie has many similarities to Ellie, and both The Last of Us and The Girl with All the Gifts explore the resilience of children in unimaginably difficult times.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Emily St. John Mandel’s beloved 2014 novel Station Eleven is a great read for those who love the dystopian world of The Last of Us but are looking for something a little more hopeful. While Station Eleven is set in a world decimated by a flu-like virus and hardships abound, there is a sense of hopefulness to be found in this novel, especially through its main characters, a troupe of traveling performers.

World War Z by Max Brooks

If your favourite part of The Last of Us is the examination of human behaviour in a world that’s been flipped upside down, then World War Z is the book for you. Max Brooks’s 2006 horror novel provides a unique perspective on the oft-used zombie trope. Presented as an official chronicle of a fictitious zombie apocalypse, World War Z is told mostly through survivor testimonies and gives a very realistic look at how such an event would impact humanity.

Zone One by Colson Whitehead

The Last of Us is set in a world trying to rebuild after the devastation of a zombie apocalypse. Colson Whitehead’s 2011 novel Zone One follows a similar storyline. If you’re interested in the psychological aspects of the aftermath of great devastation, the struggle for humans to adjust to a brand new world, and the mental anguish that comes with witnessing such devastation, then Zone One is a great follow up to read.

The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell

One of the most interesting aspects of The Last of Us is getting to witness a world torn apart through the eyes of a child who can’t remember a time before the devastation. Alden Bell’s underrated 2010 novel The Reapers Are the Angels also explores this concept. A young girl named Temple must navigate her way through a terrifying world in the hopes of finally finding a sense of peace.

Feed by Mira Grant

Let’s face it: along with zombie apocalypses, there’s usually some sort of corruption. Black market dealings (as in The Last of Us), people profiting off of the devastation, and–as portrayed in Mira Grant’s popular 2010 novel Feed–shady practices that led to the disastrous outbreak. Check out Feed if you want to read about people desperate to see the dark secrets of desolation come to light.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

The Road is for people who like to feel sad. There is not a lot of hope to be found in Cormac McCarthy’s 2006 post-apocalyptic novel about a man and his son making their way through a ravaged America. If you were drawn to The Last of Us because you’re intrigued by stories of ruin and privation and how people survive under these conditions, then The Road is the book for you.

Have you read any books that gave you The Last of Us vibes? Let us know!

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Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan
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In her dramatic follow-up to Wicked Saints, the first book in her Something Dark and Holy trilogy, Emily A. Duncan paints a Gothic, icy world where shadows whisper, and no one is who they seem, with a shocking ending that will leave you breathless.

Looking Glass by Christina Henry
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In four new novellas, Christina Henry returns to the world of Alice and Red Queen, where magic runs as freely as secrets and blood.

Master Class by Christina Dalcher
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From the critically-acclaimed author of the international bestseller VOX comes a suspenseful new novel that examines a disturbing near future where harsh realities follow from unreachable standards.

The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey
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The first in a gripping new trilogy, The Book of Koli charts the journey of one unforgettable young boy struggling to find his place in a chilling post-apocalyptic world. Perfect for readers of Station Eleven and Annihilation.

Empire City by Matt Gallagher
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The author of Youngblood returns with this bold and provocative novel following a group of super-powered soldiers and civilians as they navigate an imperial America on the precipice of a major upheaval—for fans of The Fortress of Solitude and The Plot Against America.

The Glass Magician by Caroline Stevermer
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A gilded menagerie rules a Gilded Age: Bears and Bulls are not only real, but dominate humanity in The Glass Magician, an amazing historical fantasy by Caroline Stevermer.

Repo Virtual by Corey J. White
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Corey J. White’s debut novel Repo Virtual blurs the lines between the real and virtual in an action-packed cyberpunk heist story.

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

Get ready to escape 2020 with its upcoming fantasy and sci-fi book releases! While there’s many, many exciting new books being released this year, we’ve picked a few titles that are releasing between January and June this year!

There’s plenty of favourites authors releasing new books, including Sarah J. Maas, Mark Lawrence, Veronica Roth, Max Brooks, Sarah Gailey, Yoon Ha Lee, and Tamsyn Muir, along with debut authors releasing their first novels!

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below if you are looking forward to any of them!

The post Must-Have 2020 Fantasy + Sci-Fi Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

You think you know Alice in Wonderland? Think again. The stories within these pages will take you on journey through all the different facets of Lewis Carroll’s famous creation, from the historical, the horrific, the contemporary to the spiritual. Get ready to fall down the rabbit hole – or step through the looking glass, whichever you prefer – and prepare to see Wonderland, and indeed Alice, as you’ve likely not seen them before.

Originally published in 1865, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (known first as Alice’s Adventures Under Ground) and his follow-up, Through the Looking-Glass, and what Alice Found There (published 1871), has been inspiring people for over 150 years. The first literary spin-offs began appearing as early as 1895 and have carried on to this day with titles such as Christina Henry’s The Chronicles of Alice. And of course the works inspired by it aren’t confined just to literature. Film adaptations started with the silent films of the early 1900s and have grown to include Disney’s beloved 1951 animated adaptation, Jan Svankmajer’s surrealist masterpiece, Alice (1988), and, most recently, Tim Burton’s interpretations. Alice-inspired media has even moved beyond film and literature, with American McGee’s brilliantly dark and twisted video games, Alice and its sequel Madness Returns, and many other references across the spectrum of pop-culture.

Now Titan Books have released Wonderland, an anthology of 18 never before seen stories inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, brought together by award-winning writer and editors Paul Kane and Marie O’Regan, from some of the best names in fantasy and horror.

We begin with Robert Shearman’s ‘Wonders Never Cease’, a story about change, beginning with the idea that “If Alice wouldn’t change, then something else would have to change in her place” before linking Alice’s journey to the journey we all share. ‘There Were No Birds to Fly’ by M.R. Carey portrays a sci-fi/horror tinged look at two of Wonderland’s more famous residents. ‘The White Queen’s Pawn’ by Genevieve Cogman adds elements of the spy genre before revealing a supernatural sting in the tail. Cavan Scott’s occasionally gory ‘Dream Girl’ sees Wonderland and its residents slowly disappearing. The Dream Girl is apparently to blame, but is everything as it seems?

In Juliet Marillier’s tale, ‘Good Dog, Alice!’, Dorothea’s Great Uncle Bartholomew doesn’t want her to name her new dog Alice as, according to him, all those named Alice are prone to “all manner of wild escapades.” But, for Dorothea, Alice the dog’s curiosity may turn out to be a good thing. Jonathan Green’s ‘The Hunting of the Jabberwock’ sees a knight arrive to hunt the titular beast, only to uncover a nefarious scheme. In George Mann’s ‘About Time’, Lucy found Wonderland as a child and it became her haven. Now she’s a teenager however, she feels it’s time to put childish things behind her but soon finds that this is not as easy as it seems. In ‘Smoke ‘em if You Got ‘em’, Angela Slatter transports Alice to the Wild West.

Rio Youers’ ‘Vanished Summer Glory’ is a poignant tale that looks at grief and its effect on the imagination. Catriona Ward’s ‘Black Kitty’ is a wonderfully peculiar, and surprisingly emotional, “tail” of a pair of twin sisters, a magic mirror and a certain cat. Laura Mauro’s ‘Night Parade’ takes influence from Japanese folklore. L.L. McKinney has already released a contemporary Alice retelling in the form of her debut novel A Blade So Black, and her story, ‘What Makes a Monster’, is set within this same world, bringing an even darker twist to mythology surrounding Jack the Ripper. In ‘The White Queen’s Dictum’ by James Lovegrove, two strangers meet in a motorway service station, one of whom is an investigator of the paranormal, only the paranormal may turn out to be closer than he thinks.

‘Temp Work’ by Lilith Saintcrow adds flavours of science-fiction – particularly cyberpunk – and corporate intrigue. ‘Eat Me, Drink Me’ by Alison Littlewood is an unnervingly woozy tale of a young woman about to be married, who thinks how much easier it would be to be her pet rabbit. ‘How I Comes to be the Treacle Queen’ by Cat Rambo has prose as poetically viscous as the treacle being mined. And ‘Six Impossible Things’ by Mark Chadbourn looks at the creation of imaginary worlds and the effects this can have on those who inspire them. The collection is bookended by Jane Yolen’s two poems, ‘Alice in Armour’ and ‘Revolution in Wonder’, acting as an opening and closing curtain.

As with any short-story collection, particularly those where the stories are all written by different authors, there is a wide variety of genres and styles, and not all of them will have the same impact (though of course your mileage may vary as to which ones). But these are all written by solid names within the genre and the quality is consistently high. An interesting addition to the canon of Alice inspired literature as well as an appealing short story collection in its own right.

Wonderland is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

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

Synopsis | Goodreads

From the greatest names in fantasy and horror comes an anthology of stories inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Join Alice as she is thrown into the whirlwind of Wonderland, in an anthology that bends the traditional notions of Lewis Carroll’s classic novel. Contributors include the bestselling M.R. Carey, Genevieve Cogman, Catriona Ward, Rio Youers and L.L. McKinney.

Within these pages you’ll find myriad approaches to Alice, from horror to historical. There’s even a Wild West tale from Angela Slatter, poetry, and a story by Laura Mauro which presents us with a Japanese folklore-inspired Wonderland.

Alison Littlewood, Cavan Scott and Catriona Ward make the more outlandish elements their own, while James Lovegrove instead draws on the supernatural. Cat Rambo takes us to a part of Wonderland we haven’t seen before and Lilith Saintcrow gives the legend a science-fiction spin. The nightmarish reaches of the imagination are the breeding ground for M.R. Carey’s visions, while Robert Shearman, George Mann, Rio Youers and Mark Chadbourn’s tales have a deep-seated emotional core which will shock, surprise and tug on the heart-strings.

So, it’s time now to go down the rabbit hole, or through the looking-glass or… But no, wait. By picking up this book and starting to read it you’re already there, can’t you see?

The post Review: Wonderland, An Anthology appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

If you’re the typical Stranger Things fan and already binged season 3, but needing to fill the demogorgon-sized hole until the next season, OverDrive has your solution! They have an excellent collection of books for fans who can’t get enough of the supernatural, ’80s-themed series. Readers can access all books for free through their local library via the Libby App!

What’s the Libby App you ask? You can borrow thousands of ebooks and audiobooks from local libraries, instantly, for free, using just the device in your hand!

Read on to discover some books that you Stranger Things nerds will love!

Notes from the Upside Down by Guy Adams
OverDrive | Goodreads

Entertaining, informative, and perfect for fans of eighties pop culture, Notes from the Upside Down is the Big Mac of unofficial guides to Stranger Things—super-sized and special sauce included.

Suspicious Minds by Gwenda Bond
OverDrive | Goodreads

If you think you know the truth behind Eleven’s mother, prepare to have your mind turned Upside Down in the first official Stranger Things novel.

Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero
OverDrive | Goodreads

A mad scientist’s concoction of H. P. Lovecraft, teen detectives, and a love of Americana, Edgar Cantero’s Meddling Kids is a story filled with rich horror, thrilling twists, outright hilarity, and surprising poignancy.

The Boys of Summer by Richard Cox
OverDrive | Goodreads

Both a haunting coming-of-age story set in North Texas against the backdrop of a deadly tornado, and a character-driven, deeply-affecting supernatural thriller.

My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
OverDrive | Goodreads

An unholy hybrid of Beaches and The Exorcist that blends teen angst, adolescent drama, unspeakable horrors, and a mix of ’80s pop songs into a pulse-pounding supernatural thriller.

Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody
OverDrive | Goodreads

A darkly irresistible new fantasy set in the infamous Gomorrah Festival, a travelling carnival of debauchery that caters to the strangest of dreams and desires.

The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
OverDrive | Goodreads

The Bram Stoker Award-winning author of A Head Full of Ghosts adds an inventive twist to the home invasion horror story in a heart-palpitating novel of psychological suspense that recalls Stephen King’s Misery, Ruth Ware’s In a Dark, Dark Wood, and Jack Ketchum’s cult hit The Girl Next Door.

Chills by Mary SanGiovanni
OverDrive | Goodreads

True Detective meets H.P. Lovecraft in this chilling novel of murder, mystery, and slow-mounting dread from acclaimed author Mary SanGiovanni….

The Door to December by Dean Koontz
OverDrive | Goodreads

The #1 New York Times bestselling author delivers a truly suspenseful novel of a mother who must save her daughter from a threat she can hardly understand. What happened to nine-year-old Melanie during the six years she was subjected to terrifying experiments? And what is the unstoppable power that she can unleash from behind the “Door to December”?

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
OverDrive | Goodreads

Few novels have endured in the heart and memory as has Ray Bradbury’s unparalleled literary masterpiece Something Wicked This Way Comes. Scary and suspenseful, it is a timeless classic in the American canon.

The Good House by Tananarive Due
OverDrive | Goodreads

A thrilling exploration of secrets, lies, and divine inspiration, The Good House will haunt readers long after its chilling conclusion.

House of Furies by Madeleine Roux
OverDrive | Goodreads

Featuring stunning interior illustrations from artist Iris Compiet, plus photo-collages that bring the story to chilling life, House of Furies invites readers to a world where the line between monsters and men is ghostly thin.

The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
OverDrive | Goodreads

A spine-tingling tale rooted in Caribbean folklore that will have readers holding their breath as they fly through its pages.

The End of the World Running Club by Adrian J. Walker
OverDrive | Goodreads

This powerful post-apocalyptic thriller pits reluctant father Edgar Hill in a race against time to get back to his wife and children. When the sky begins to fall and he finds himself alone, his best hope is to run – or risk losing what he loves forever.

The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
OverDrive | Goodreads

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

The post 15 Books To Read If You Love ‘Stranger Things’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This intriguingly disturbing and brilliant novel has all the tendencies to make one go crazy. The story revolves around two characters, and we are introduced to Liz, a single mother of two. She is a lovely caring person who is struggling with her income to keep her and her children’s life together. The only child support she has is from her abusive ex-husband who is far from being helpful. But one day, when her ex-husband assaults her, she fights back. Another side of her comes out with such rage and frustration that even she didn’t know she had.

Then we meet Fran. A high school kid, who suffered a horrifying abduction nearly 10 years ago and still bears the mental scars from the experience. Her trauma caused her to begin to hallucinate. She looks for comfort in her imaginary fox friend, Lady Jinx. Her only emotional support is her single father and therapist, but sometimes the pain gets too much to handle.

Their life gets intertwined when Fran meets Liz’s son. How they struggle with themselves will keep you on the edge of your seat. With each page the suspense keeps accelerating and you cannot put the book down until you finish it. It’s a devouring tale of a single mother and a teenager, who you’d be rooting for from the very beginning. A complete psychological thriller, where the author messes with your head and makes you wonder about the demons that live within us.

Someone Like Me is now available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Have you read Someone Like Me? Or will you be checking it out? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

SHE LOOKS LIKE ME. SHE SOUNDS LIKE ME. NOW SHE’S TRYING TO TAKE MY PLACE.

Liz Kendall wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’s a gentle woman devoted to bringing up her kids in the right way, no matter how hard times get.

But there’s another side to Liz—one which is dark and malicious. A version of her who will do anything to get her way, no matter how extreme or violent.

And when this other side of her takes control, the consequences are devastating.

The only way Liz can save herself and her family is if she can find out where this new alter-ego has come from, and how she can stop it.

The post Review: Someone Like Me by M.R. Carey appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

From the screenplay of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, penned by the magnificent JK Rowling, to a new novel by George R.R. Martin, which follows the Targaryens centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones. Then there’s Skyward, a sci-fi novel by Brandon Sanderson, and a magical fantasy in Natasha Ngan’s Girls of Paper and Fire.

Read on to discover our picks and tell us in the comments below which one you will be checking out!

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Defeated, crushed, and driven almost to extinction, the remnants of the human race are trapped on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. Spensa, a teenage girl living among them, longs to be a pilot. When she discovers the wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this dream might be possible—assuming she can repair the ship, navigate flight school, and (perhaps most importantly) persuade the strange machine to help her. Because this ship, uniquely, appears to have a soul.

My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Satire meets slasher in this short, darkly funny hand grenade of a novel about a Nigerian woman whose younger sister has a very inconvenient habit of killing her boyfriends.

Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald – The Original Screenplay by JK Rowling
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

At the end of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald was captured in New York with the help of Newt Scamander. But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escapes custody and sets about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.

River Bodies by Karen Katchur
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

A body just turned up in the small town of Portland, Pennsylvania. The crime is eerily similar to a twenty-year-old cold case: another victim, brutally murdered, found in the Delaware River. Lead detective Parker Reed is intent on connecting the two murders, but the locals are on lockdown, revealing nothing.

Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

With all the fire and fury fans have come to expect from internationally bestselling author George R. R. Martin, this is the first volume of the definitive two-part history of the Targaryens in Westeros. Centuries before the events of A Game of Thrones, House Targaryen—the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria—took up residence on Dragonstone. Fire and Blood begins their tale with the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, creator of the Iron Throne, and goes on to recount the generations of Targaryens who fought to hold that iconic seat, all the way up to the civil war that nearly tore their dynasty apart.

Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. After seeing her mother snatched by royal guards a decade ago, the guards are back, and this time it’s Lei they’re after–the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king’s interest. Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king’s consort. But Lei isn’t content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable–she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she’s willing to go for justice and revenge.

Someone Like Me by M.R. Carey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Liz Kendall wouldn’t hurt a fly. She’s a gentle woman devoted to bringing up her kids in the right way, no matter how hard times get. But there’s another side to Liz—one which is dark and malicious. A version of her who will do anything to get her way, no matter how extreme or violent. And when this other side of her takes control, the consequences are devastating. The only way Liz can save herself and her family is if she can find out where this new alter-ego has come from, and how she can stop it.

How She Died, How I Lived by Mary Crockett
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

On the eve of Kyle’s sentencing a year after Jamie’s death, all the other “chosen ones” are coping in various ways. But our tenacious narrator is full of anger, stuck somewhere between the horrifying past and the unknown future as she tries to piece together why she gets to live, while Jamie is dead. Now she finds herself drawn to Charlie, Jamie’s boyfriend–knowing all the while that their relationship will always be haunted by what-ifs and why-nots. Is hope possible in the face of such violence? Is forgiveness? How do you go on living when you know it could have been you instead?

Those Who Knew by Idra Novey
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

On an unnamed island country ten years after the collapse of a U.S.-supported regime, Lena suspects the powerful senator she was involved with back in her student activist days is taking advantage of a young woman who’s been introducing him at rallies. When the young woman ends up dead, Lena revisits her own fraught history with the senator and the violent incident that ended their relationship. Why didn’t Lena speak up then, and will her family’s support of the former regime still impact her credibility? What if her hunch about this young woman’s death is wrong?

The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

The Moon Sister is the fifth epic story in the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. After the death of her father – Pa Salt, an elusive billionaire who adopted his six daughters from around the globe – Tiggy D’Aplièse, trusting her instincts, moves to the remote wilds of Scotland. There she takes a job doing what she loves; caring for animals on the vast and isolated Kinnaird estate, employed by the enigmatic and troubled Laird, Charlie Kinnaird. From the Scottish Highlands and Spain, to South America and New York, Tiggy follows the trail back to her own exotic but complex past. And under the watchful eye of a gifted gypsy bruja she begins to embrace her own talent for healing.

Amber & Dusk by Lyra Selene
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

Sylvie has always known she deserves more. Out in the permanent twilight of the Dusklands, her guardians called her power to create illusions a curse. But Sylvie knows it gives her a place in Coeur d’Or, the palais of the Amber Empress and her highborn legacies. So Sylvie sets off toward the Amber City and there the empress invites her in only as part of a wicked wager among her powerful courtiers. Sylvie must assume a new name, Mirage, and begin to navigate secretive social circles and deadly games of intrigue in order to claim her spot. Soon it becomes apparent that nothing is as it appears and no one, including her cruel yet captivating sponsor, Sunder, will answer her questions. As Mirage strives to assume what should be her rightful place, she’ll have to consider whether it is worth the price she must pay.

Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

After the end of her marriage, Kate Granger has retreated to her parents’ home on Lake Superior to pull herself together—only to discover the body of a murdered woman washed into the shallows. Tucked in the folds of the woman’s curiously vintage gown is an infant, as cold and at peace as its mother. No one can identify the woman. Except for Kate. She’s seen her before. In her dreams… One hundred years ago, a love story ended in tragedy, its mysteries left unsolved. It’s time for the lake to give up its secrets. As each mystery unravels, it pulls Kate deeper into the eddy of a haunting folktale that has been handed down in whispers over generations. Now, it’s Kate’s turn to listen.

What book are you most excited for this month? Tell us in the comments below!

The post November Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.