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Fantasy and Science Fiction May 2019
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The Beast's Heart by Leife ShallcrossWhat it is: A retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in 17th-century France which is told by the Beast himself. What happens: The Beast prowls the dusty hallways of his ruined château with only magical, unseen servants to keep him company--until a weary traveler disturbs his isolation. Bewitched by the man's dreams of his beautiful daughter, the Beast devises a plan to lure her to the château. There, Isabeau courageously exchanges her father's life for her own and agrees to remain with the Beast for a year. But even as their time together weaves its own spell, the Beast finds winning Isabeau's love is only the first impossible step in breaking free from the curse....
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In the Land of the Everliving by Stephen R. LawheadWhat happens: Leaving the safety of the faéry kingdom to defend their people from the barbarian Scálda, Conor and his remaining allies discover that several clan leaders have traitorously switched sides, rendering the sword companions targeted outcasts. About the series: This is the second book in the Eirlandia series. To start at the beginning, check out the debut title, In the Region of the Summer Stars.
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| The Light Brigade by Kameron HurleyIntroducing: Dietz, a stateless "ghoul"-turned-soldier fighting a for-profit war in which troops are deployed to far-off battlefields in the form of particles of light.
For fans of: Joe Haldeman's classic military SF novel The Forever War.
Want a taste? "I didn't think about what would happen after I signed up. Or who I would need to become. I thought the world was simple: good guys and bad guys, citizens and ghouls, corporate patriots and socialist slaves." |
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| A Memory Called Empire by Arkady MartineWhat it's about: Newly appointed ambassador Mahit Dzmare investigates the suspicious death of her predecessor while navigating political intrigue within the expansionist Teixcalaanli Empire.
Why you might like it: This debut by a Byzantine historian boasts an intricately layered, slowly unfolding plot as well as detailed depictions of alien cultures.
For fans of: Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy, Seth Dickinson's Masquerade series, or Katherine Addison's The Goblin Emperor. |
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| The Chaos Function by Jack SkillingsteadWhat happens: On assignment in Syria, American war correspondent Olivia Nikitas comes in contact with an artifact that enables her to change the past, putting her on a collision course with the Society, the self-appointed guardians of this mysterious technology.
For fans of: time travel-themed SF thrillers with apocalyptic overtones such as Tom Sweterlitsch's The Gone World or Alastair Reynolds' Permafrost. |
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Wild Country by Anne BishopWhat it is: A follow-up to Lake Silence finds the human and shape-shifting citizens of Bennett struggling to coexist peacefully before profit-seeking humans and the power-hungry Blackstone Clan force neighbors to choose between uniting or turning on each other. Praise for the author: "Anne Bishop is nothing short of amazing!...The world the Others and the terra indigene inhabit is deadly and nightmare worthy- and yet it captivates me like no other world I've explored."--Fresh Fiction
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| Brief Cases: More Stories from the Dresden Files by Jim ButcherStarring: Chicago wizard-for-hire Harry Dresden and his associates.
Includes: the Lovecraftian "Cold Case," baseball-themed "Curses" (featuring the Chicago Cubs), and "Zoo Day," a novella from the POV of minor characters Maggie and Mouse.
Should you start here? This collection is best for Dresden Files fans who are all caught up on the main series, which begins with Storm Front. |
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| Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin; illustrated by Doug WheatleyWhat it is: Book 1 of a two-volume history of the Targaryens, which recounts how the dragonlord dynasty came to Westeros.
Who it's for: Samwell Tarly, as well as ASOIAF completists interested in the fiery reign of Aegon the Conqueror.
Don't miss: 75 black-and-white illustrations depicting important events in the history of the Seven Kingdoms. |
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| The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss; illustrated by Nate TaylorWhat it is: a companion novella to the Kingkiller Chronicle that focuses on supporting character Auri, who dwells in the labyrinth-like Underthing.
Should you start here? Although Auri's adventures underground don't intersect with series protagonist Kvothe's storyline, newcomers will want to start with The Name of the Wind.
Reviewers say: The Slow Regard of Silent Things is "a charming, lyrical meditation on the meaning of home" (NPR). |
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| Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection by Brandon SandersonWhat it is: a collection of eight stories and one graphic novel excerpt set in the Cosmere -- the universe that contains author Brandon Sanderson's Elantris, Mistborn novels, and the Stormlight Archive series.
Why you might like it: Arcanum Unbounded displays the author's intricate yet expansive world-building and inventive systems of magic.
Reviewers say: "required reading for Sanderson fans" (Publishers Weekly). |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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