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Fantasy and Science Fiction January 2021
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| King of the Rising by Kacen CallenderThe setting: the islands of Hans Lollik, a Caribbean-inspired archipelago colonized by the white Scandinavian-esque Fjern, whose wealth and power depend on the continued enslavement of the Black islanders.
The protagonist: Løren Jannik, a formerly enslaved young man determined to use his kraft (magic) to liberate his people.
What sets it apart: This thought-provoking sequel to The Queen of the Conquered eschews a straightforward narrative of good triumphing over evil in favor of a nuanced examination of colonial systems of oppression. |
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| Ready Player Two by Ernest ClineWhat it is: the long-awaited sequel to Ready Player One, as steeped in geek lore and 1980s pop culture nostalgia as its predecessor.
The situation: After winning the treasure hunt that his hero, eccentric tech titan James Halliday, hid in the virtual world of OASIS, Wade Watts now holds the keys to the kingdom -- and is about to embark on another quest that will reveal more of Halliday's secrets.
Reviewers say: Fans of the first book "will enjoy revisiting old friends and meeting new ones" (Booklist). |
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Dune 1 : The Graphic Novel by Brian HerbertDune, Frank Herbert's epic science-fiction masterpiece set in the far future amidst a sprawling feudal interstellar society, tells the story of Paul Atreides as he and his family accept control of the desert planet Arrakis. A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism, and politics, Dune is a powerful, fantastical tale that takes an unprecedented look into our universe, and is transformed by the graphic novel format. In the first volume of a three-book trilogy encompassing the original novel, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's adaptation retains the story's integrity, and Raúl Allén and Patricia Martín's magnificent illustrations, along with cover art by Bill Sienkiewicz, bring the book to life for a new generation of readers.
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The Stiehl assassin by Terry BrooksAfter the New York Times best-selling author's The Black Elfstone and The Skaar Invasion comes the next chapter in the Fall of Shannara, a saga more than four decades in the making. The Skaar have arrived in the Four Lands, determined to stop at nothing less than all-out conquest. They badly need a new home, but peaceful coexistence is not a concept they have ever understood. An advance force under the command of the mercurial princess Ajin has already established a foothold, but now the full Skaar army is on the march and woe betide any who stand in its way.
But perhaps the Skaar victory is not quite the foregone conclusion everyone assumes. The Druid Drisker Arc has freed both himself and Paranor from their involuntary exile. Drisker's student, Tarsha Kaynin, has been reunited with Dar, chief defender of what is left of the Druid order, and is learning to control her powerful wishsong magic. If they can only survive Tarsha's brother, Tavo, and the Druid who betrayed Drisker Arc, they might stand a chance of defeating the Skaar. But that is a very big if . . . as Tavo now carries the Stiehl, one of the most powerful weapons in all the Four Lands and is hellbent on taking his revenge on everyone he feels has wronged him.
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| The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen ChoWhat happens: After bandits cause Guet Imm to lose her job at a coffeehouse, the nun-turned-waitress decides to join their crew, and discovers that there's more to her new companions than meets the eye.
Why you might like it: This lyrical wuxia-inspired novella by the author of the Sorcerer Royal series boasts a likable queer cast, a layered plot, and a humorous yet moving depiction of a chosen family in wartime.
You might also like: S.L. Huang's Burning Roses or Nghi Vo's The Empress of Salt and Fortune. |
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The awakening by Nora RobertsAn anxious young woman mired in student debt and working a hated job uses hidden funds to visit Ireland, where she uncovers truths about vivid dreams compelling her to embrace her destiny in a fantastical alternate world.
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Spellbreaker
by Charlie N. Holmberg
Born with illegal spell-breaking powers in a world where corrupt wizards advance the causes of the wealthy, Elise supports underground resistance efforts before striking an unlikely bargain with a elite magical student. Original.
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The Ickabog by J. K. RowlingTwo best friends from the fantastical culinary kingdom of Cornucopia embark on an adventure to uncover the truth about a mystical Marshland monster that is believed to be responsible for the disappearances of livestock and children.
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| Chilling Effect by Valerie ValdesWhat it's about: Captain Eva Innocente of La Sirena Negra and her crew must take on dangerous secret missions to raise the ransom money to save Eva's sister, Mari, from crime syndicate The Fridge.
For fans of: the appealing characters in Becky Chambers' The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet; the spacefaring capers of Mike Brooks' Keiko novels.
Series alert: Chilling Effect is the 1st in the same-named series, followed by Prime Deceptions. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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