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Fantasy and Science Fiction January 2023
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| Màgòdiz by Gabe CalderónIn a world... where war has wiped out most of the human population, those who remain live under the oppressive rule of the Madjideye and their brutal Enforcers.
Meet: storyteller A'tugwewinu, sole survivor of the Andwánikádjigan people, who mourns her murdered lover, Bèl; firekeeper Shkitagen and his partner, healer Nitawesi, who seek sanctuary; and Riordan Streetking, hunted by Elite Enforcer H-09761.
About the author: novelist and poet Gabe Calderón's work has appeared in the Lambda Literary Award-winning anthology Love After the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction. |
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| The Stars Undying by Emery RobinWhat happens: To seize the throne from her sister, Altagracia Caviro Patramata, would-be ruler of Szayet, forges an alliance with military commander Matheus Ceirran of the Ceian Empire.
Why you might like it: Full of intrigue, this space opera is the 1st installment of the Empire Without End series, which draws inspiration from the reign of Cleopatra.
For fans of: Kate Elliott's Unconquerable Sun. |
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| The Djinn Falls in Love and Other Stories by Mahvesh Murad and Jared Shurin (editors)Contains: 22 stories about djinn by an all-star lineup of speculative fiction authors.
Contributors include: Amal El-Mohtar, Neil Gaiman, Saad Z. Hossain, Usman T. Malik, Nnedi Okorafor, K.J. Parker, Sami Shah, Kamila Shamsie, and Neon Yang.
You might also like: Saad Z. Hossain's Djinn City. |
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| A Fire Endless by Rebecca RossWhat it is: the sequel to A River Enchanted and the conclusion to the Elements of Cadence duology.
Read it for: well-drawn characters, both familiar and new; a magical island setting inspired by Scotland; and an inventive twist on Celtic folklore.
You might also like: Charles de Lint's Jack of Kinrowan novels. |
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| Age of Ash by Daniel AbrahamWhat it's about: In the ancient city of Kithamar, street thief Alys searches for her brother's murderer.
Read it for: sympathetic characters, immersive world-building, and a slowly unfurling mystery.
Series alert: Age of Ash marks the opening installment of the Kithamar series. |
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| The Blood Trials by N.E. DavenportWhat happens: Determined to avenge her grandfather's assassination at the hands of the Republic of Mareen's ruling Tribunal, Black warrior-in-training Ikenna pledges herself to the Praetorian Trials, a brutal initiation rite with a very low survival rate.
Is it for you? Blood and gore abound in this opening installment of the Blood Gift duology.
For fans of: the strong-willed fighters and blood-soaked vengeance quests of Pierce Brown's Red Rising saga or Evan Winter's The Burning series. |
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| The Outside by Ada HoffmannStarring: Dr. Yasira Shien, branded a heretic by the Gods after the reactor she invented warps reality and destroys a space station.
Why you might like it: This trilogy opener, which blends space opera and cosmic horror, introduces an autistic heroine and takes place in a universe ruled by superintelligent AI and their post-human angels.
For fans of: Yoon Ha Lee's Machineries of Empire series, beginning with Ninefox Gambit. |
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| Northern Wrath by Thilde Kold HoldtWhat it is: the opening installment of the Hanged God trilogy, a historical grimdark fantasy inspired by Norse mythology.
Read it for: a well-drawn ensemble cast; a detailed Viking Age setting; fiery, gore-drenched raids and battles; and a slow but steady march towards Ragnarok.
For fans of: John Gwynne's Bloodsworn saga. |
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| Shards of Earth by Adrian TchaikovskyWhat it's about: A century after the alien Architects destroy Earth, genetically modified supersoldier Idris Telemmier joins the crew of the salvage ship Vulture God and discovers a derelict craft containing some dangerous and in-demand cargo.
Series alert: Shards of Earth kicks off the Final Architecture series, which continues with Eyes of the Void.
Book buzz: This "dazzlingly suspenseful space opera" (Publishers Weekly) won the 2022 BSFA Award for Best Novel. |
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For personalized reading recommendations from Durham County librarians, try My Next 5! Simply complete an online form to tell us a little about what genres, books, and authors you like (or dislike). A DCL librarian will review your submission and reply with a list of the next five books you should read -- all ages of readers welcome!
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Want to keep up-to-date on new books at the library? on everything from Horror to Home & Garden!
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NoveList Plus is a comprehensive database of fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages, including recommendations, articles, and lists for your fiction and nonfiction needs. DCL cardholders can access NoveList Plus from any computer.
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Check out the library's top ten checkouts! Lists include top tens for adult fiction and nonfiction, movies, young adults fiction, picture books and kids' fiction.
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