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Fantasy and Science Fiction May 2019
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| The True Queen by Zen ChoWhat it is: the long-awaited sequel to Sorcerer to the Crown.
Starring: amnesiac sisters Muna and Sakti, who must travel from colonial Malaysia to Regency England (by way of Fairyland) to consult with Sorcerer Royal Prunella about the curse that afflicts them.
For fans of: Mary Robinette Kowal's Glamourist Histories, Caroline Stevermer's A College of Magics books, and Georgette Heyer novels. |
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| The Perfect Assassin by K.A. DooreWhat it's about: Just as 19-year-old Amastan Basbowen completes his five-year apprenticeship, the city of Ghadid outlaws the assassin trade. This leaves Amastan free to investigate when a city leader is murdered.
Why you might like it: This opening installment of the Chronicles of Ghadid series combines mystery, adventure, and light m/m romance.
For fans of: the atmospheric world-building of Tasha Suri's Empire of Sand; the well-developed assassin culture of R.J. Barker's Age of Assassins. |
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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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| New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color by Nisi Shawl (editor)Includes: genre stalwarts such as Tobias S. Buckell and Steven Barnes, as well as rising stars such as Rebecca Roanhorse and Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
About the editor: Nisi Shawl is the co-author of Writing the Other as well as the alternate history novel Everfair.
You might also like: A People's Future of the United States, edited by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams; Octavia's Brood, edited by Adrienne Maree Brown and Walidah Imarisha. |
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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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| 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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The world of all souls : the complete guide to A Discovery of witches, Shadow of night, and The Book of life
by Deborah E. Harkness
In an illustrated guide to the New York Times best-selling All Souls trilogy, the author, a historian, draws together synopses, character bios, maps, recipes and the science behind the creatures, magic and alchemy of the series, all the while sharing the rich sources of inspiration behind her spellbinding novels.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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