|
Fantasy and Science Fiction January 2021
|
|
|
|
| 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. |
|
| 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). |
|
| Crosshairs by Catherine HernandezIn a world... where environmental disaster presents a white supremacist regime of "True Canadians" with a useful pretext for sending "Others" to labor camps, Jamaican Filipino drag artist Kay becomes a fugitive before joining the resistance alongside newfound allies.
Is it for you? With its detailed depictions of state-sanctioned violence against Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA, and disabled people, this dystopian novel presents a bleak and unflinching look at oppression. |
|
| The Sol Majestic by Ferrett SteinmetzStarring: itinerant teen philosopher Kenna, whose answer to the question "Why do you love food?" wins him a life-changing free dinner at The Sol Majestic, the galaxy's most renowned restaurant.
What happens: Kenna bonds with the staff, falls in love with a cute boy, escapes his parents' toxic belief system, and confronts a deep moral quandary while working to save the place he's come to call home.
Read it for: a heartwarming coming-of-age story, the diverse members of Kenna's found family, and mouthwatering descriptions of food. |
|
| 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. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
Cherry Hill Public Library 1100 Kings Highway North Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08034 856-667-0300www.chplnj.org |
|
|
|