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Fantasy and Science Fiction August 2023 |
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| Immortal Longings by Chloe GongWhat it's about: As they compete in a tournament based on body jumping, the destinies of princess-in-hiding Calla Tuoleimi, exiled nobleman Anton Makusa, and Crown Prince August Shenzhi intertwine.
Series alert: Inspired by Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, this bloodsoaked Battle Royale-themed fantasy by the author of the Secret Shanghai novels kicks off the Flesh and False Gods series.
For fans of: speculative Shakespeare retellings such as Emery Robin's The Stars Undying, or the high-stakes competitions of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games books. |
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| The Jasad Heir by Sara HashemWhat it's about: Having spent half of her young life in hiding, Sylvia (née Essiya), the exiled queen of Jasad, must now avenge her family and secure her freedom by competing to become the Nizahl Champion in the Alcahal, a series of three trials.
For fans of: the strong female characters and political intrigue of Saara El-Arifi's The Ending Fire trilogy, C.L. Clark's Magic of the Lost series, or Tasha Suri's The Burning Kingdom series. |
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The Will of the Many
by James Islington
What it's about: To destroy the empire that executed his family, Vis Telimus infiltrates the elite Catenan Academy, a school that leeches away peoples' Will—drive, strength and focus—and gives it to those in power, keeping his identity a secret from the Hierarchy to survive.
Series alert: Set in a cutthroat world reminiscent of the Roman Empire, this dark academia fantasy draws you into the world of The Hierarchy series.
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On Earth as it Is on Television
by Emily Jane
What it's about: A tale of first contact follows a range of characters as they question their place in the universe and what it means to be human when spaceships arrive at Earth and then depart just as suddenly
For fans of: Humorously offbeat Science Fiction in the vein of Douglas Adams and readers who always suspected that cats may be the dominant species.
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| Emergent Properties by Aimee OgdenWhat happens: AI reporter Scorn awakens to discover that ze has a ten-day gap in zir memory, forcing zem to reconstruct the sequence of events ze was investigating.
Why you might like it: This noir-inflected novella by the author of Sun Daughters, Sea Daughters offers a sardonic lead and an intricately plotted mystery.
You might also like: Yume Kitasei's The Deep Sky, Mur Lafferty's Six Wakes, or Victor Manibo's The Sleepless. |
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| Nophek Gloss by Essa HansenWhat happens: After his planet is destroyed, vengeance-obsessed teen Caiden finds sanctuary aboard a sentient spaceship and learns about the multiverse from its crew of human and xenid (alien) passengers.
What does the title mean? In the world of the Graven series, "nophek gloss" is a valuable animal-derived substance that powers spaceships.
For fans of: the sentient ships of Peter F. Hamilton's Night's Dawn trilogy, the found families of Becky Chambers' Wayfarers series, the motley crew of TV's Firefly, and the expansive world-building of Mass Effect. |
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| The Library of the Dead by T.L. HuchuWelcome to: contemporary Edinburgh, where a sinister someone or something is sucking the souls out of the city’s children.
I see dead people: Ropa, a cynical high school dropout who works as a “ghostalker” conveying messages from the dead to the living, agrees to explore the city’s underground in search of the evil entity.
Reviewers say: “Expertly blending elements of Zimbabwean and Scottish culture, Huchu’s occult thriller is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking” (Publishers Weekly). |
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| She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-ChanMeet: Zhu Chongba, the family's 8th-born, destined for greatness in Mongol-ruled 14th-century China; and his nameless sister, fated to become nothing.
Twist! After her brother’s untimely death, the young woman boldly claims his identity and fate for herself, joining a monastery and subsequently the rebel army.
Series alert: She Who Became the Sun is the 1st book in the Radiant Emperor duology, which concludes with He Who Drowned the World. |
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| To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher PaoliniWhat it's about: During a survey mission to the moon Adrasteia, xenobiologist Kira Navárez uncovers an alien artifact with the power to alter the future of humanity.
Series alert: To Sleep in a Sea of Stars marks the opening installment of the Fractalverse series; while you wait for book 2, check out Fractal Noise, a prequel set in the same world.
For fans of: Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space novels, Adrian Tchaikovsky's The Final Architecture series. |
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Wheaton Public Library | 225 N. Cross Street | Wheaton, IL 60187 | 630-668-1374 | wheatonlibrary.org
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