Chan dials up the political mayhem in her second Drowned World fantasy (after Fathomfolk). Following Kai’s sacrifice at the end of book one, Mira has become Minister of Fathomfolk, the leader of the assorted merfolk living in the half-submerged city-state of Tiankawi. The land-dwellers, meanwhile, struggle to adjust to life with their newfound gills, many becoming even more vehemently prejudiced against Fathomfolk. Mira must quell this growing sentiment before it threatens her people’s place in the city, even as she grieves for Kai. Meanwhile, the shape-shifter Cordelia continues to scheme even after her husband discovers her true identity and banishes her, and the sand god beneath Tiankawi remains enraged over the death of its partner. It’s up to Kai’s sister, Nami, to stop the god from seeking revenge. There’s a pulse-pounding tension in the plotlines of all three heroines, as well as between the townspeople and the Fathomfolk as they work to protect and rebuild their home. Though the story can be dense, readers will be captivated by Tiankawi’s atmospheric, postapocalyptic universe. This keeps the series going strong. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 12/13/2024 | Details & Permalink

Lau’s thrilling fantasy debut sees a pair of impoverished friends putting all their hopes in illegal monster-fighting sponsored by the upper class. Lythlet and her childhood friend Desil become conquessors, competitors in the fights set up by match-master Renveld Dothilos, who brings in monsters from the wild lands to fight in front of a betting crowd. Desil is already famous from his brawling days and is deemed a favorite, while Lythlet is seen as a burden. As their matches progress, however, it becomes evident that Lythlet’s quick wit is the thing leading them to win after win. Dothilos decides to personally train her, hoping to mold her into the ultimate fighter. Lythet’s ambition quickly grows, but when she uncovers the corruption and politics at play in the conquessor arena, she must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to escape her former life. Lau nimbly weaves complex themes of oppression, loyalty, and friendship into the action-packed and suspenseful plot. The writing can be a bit flowery—especially in the dialogue from supposedly uneducated characters—but that doesn’t diminish the impact of Lau’s powerful story. This leaves a mark. Agent: Keir Alekseii, Azantian Literary. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 12/13/2024 | Details & Permalink

A ridiculous premise—what if the moon actually was made of cheese?—is treated with a straight face in this cleverly entertaining sci-fi romp from Hugo Award winner Scalzi (the Old Man’s War series). A new lunar cycle begins with a confluence of odd phenomena: the crescent moon is far brighter than it should be, and all of the lunar mineral samples on Earth have turned into cheese. This leads to the discovery that the moon itself has suddenly and inexplicably become cheese—or an “organic matrix,” as NASA prefers to put it. The narrative takes the reader on a day by day journey through this unprecedented lunar cycle, with each day focusing on the perspective of a different character. This structure provides a comprehensive view of the transformation’s effects, from the expected (astronauts are disappointed that their upcoming lunar mission has been canceled) to the wildly unanticipated (including the actions of an Elon Muskesque billionaire, who seizes the moment for personal gain), while also returning to enough of the established characters to keep the potential apocalypse from feeling impersonal. Scalzi’s ability to balance scathing satire with heartfelt optimism shines. Agent: Ethan Ellenberg, Ethan Ellenberg Literary. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 12/13/2024 | Details & Permalink

Bestseller Maguire explores Elphaba Thropp’s origins in this charming prequel to Wicked. Dragged around the marshlands by her traveling minister father, Frexspar, green-skinned Elphie grows up isolated from all children other than her younger siblings. She doesn’t know much about her father’s work, only that he is propelled by a personal mission to find and apologize to the family of the prophet Turtle Heart, whose death Elphie’s parents feel responsible for. By the time Elphie is 13, Frexspar’s mission leads them to Ovvels, a small town in the south of Oz, where they stay a while, allowing Elphie to begin to carve a path for herself despite her dermatological difference. Charting Elphie’s growth from a young child to a prospective student at Shiz University, Maguire enchants with his whimsical narrative voice and the detailed wonders of the world he’s spent so many years playing in. This is a must-read for fans of both the original novel and the Broadway musical. Agent: Moses Cardona, John Hawkins and Assoc. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 12/13/2024 | Details & Permalink

Humorist O’Brien (Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes) spins the wheel on cyberpunk shenanigans in this clever sci-fi murder mystery. In a flooded future Los Angeles where information is literally currency (“Two Rumors and a Scandal was a month and a half’s rent”), geriatric combat drone operator Orr Vue stumbles onto a valuable Rumor involving the death of a powerful tech-bro at a monastery where memories are removed. Dogged by both the police and the dead man’s daughter, Orr is pulled into the investigation by his long-lost love, the murder victim’s protégé. But memories can be deceiving, especially when they have been off-loaded into hidden storage units. O’Brien cleverly plays with the concept of monetizing recordable and erasable memories, including the palimpsest traces left behind. Readers must rely on Orr’s erratic recall to see how the clues play out, but his heart can navigate the course even when his mind draws a blank. This is good fun. Agent: Jessica Felleman, Jennifer Lyons Literary. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 12/13/2024 | Details & Permalink

Wurth (White Horse) disappoints in this underdeveloped paranormal horror novel. Indigenous paranormal investigator Olivia Becente bounces from case to case while reeling from her sister Naiche’s suicide. Then a mysterious organization of socialites who call themselves the Sacred 36 asks her to investigate room 904 of Denver’s storied Brown Palace hotel, the site of Naiche’s death. Olivia learns that her sister’s soul is trapped there by an ancient curse—and after her mother checks into the hotel, she may be the curse’s next victim. Wurth puts a refreshing twist on standard paranormal investigation procedurals by incorporating Indigenous faith traditions and real historical elements, like the Sand Creek Massacre, but the herky-jerky plot lacks focus, careening between digressions and miring itself in a series of interpersonal dramas and romantic misadventures among a thinly drawn supporting cast. Meanwhile, attempts to cut the scares with humor lend the prose a flippant, and occasionally juvenile, feel. Wurth’s diehard fans will enjoy the tough as nails narrator, but those seeking narrative cohesion will struggle with this. Agent: Rebecca Friedman, Rebecca Friedman Literary. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 12/06/2024 | Details & Permalink

Corporate politics and experimental physics clash in this exciting sci-fi outing from Fracassi (A Child Alone with Strangers). Soon after quantum science researcher Colson and his brilliant wife, Beth, create a wormhole in their laboratory at Langan Corporation allowing them to time travel, Colson dies in a freak car accident, leaving Beth in charge of the laboratory. How the time machine works—beyond finagling with the neurophysics of human consciousness—is anyone’s guess, but sharp-tongued Beth is determined to continue the dangerous experiments that sent Colson, and now her, back in time for sessions that last only 90 seconds. When Langan’s unscrupulous CEO invites a journalist to witness the machine in action, Beth risks back-to-back journeys to save her position as project lead. Each journey forces her to relive her most painful memories, including the plane crash that killed her sister and parents. Meanwhile, during the downtime between voyages, strange things begin happening: she hallucinates Colson and discovers a ghost computer file written by him warning her of malicious glitches in the software. Underlying the brisk time-caper plot is Colson’s ominous warning that scientists should not play God. Sci-fi fans with a taste for noir will savor this one. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 12/06/2024 | Details & Permalink

YA author May (Court of the Undying Seasons, written as A.M. Strickland) makes her adult debut with this sensuous if puzzling romantasy retelling of the Minotaur myth. Sadaré, a witch with a gift for drawing magic from pain, wakes up in a labyrinth, unable to remember who she is or how she got there. With her is a beautiful, minotaurlike daemon named Daesra, who hates Sadaré, holding a grudge from their tangled past, which only he remembers. To escape, the pair must defeat the monster at the center of the labyrinth. By traveling through a series of mirrors scattered across their path, Sadaré slowly regains her memories—including the truth about her kinky and tumultuous relationship with Daesra. Reluctant allies, the duo must overcome deadly obstacles and their conflicted feelings for each other if they hope to make it to the center of the ever-changing maze—but Sadaré’s past bargain with a god causes an unexpected setback to their quest for freedom. The morally gray main characters come across as immature, but their enemies-to-lovers dynamic—enhanced with plentiful, if often out of place, BDSM-infused flashbacks—will draw in romantasy fans. Less successful is a massive late-stage plot twist, which readers will struggle to wrap their heads around. This starts with a fascinating premise, but falls short in execution. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 12/06/2024 | Details & Permalink

Ogundiran brings the Yoruba mythology–inspired Guardian of the Gods duology to a satisfying close (after In the Shadow of the Fall) with this taut story of outnumbered heroes. In the first book, Ashâke learned that she is the living vessel of the few remaining orisha spirits, who were largely wiped out 400 years prior. Six months later, she seeks a way to defeat the resurfaced godkillers, creatures capable of possessing human bodies. Despite warnings from the orisha, she sneaks into the city of Inysha, only to find the godkillers have multiplied supporters and are brutally executing any who still worship the gods. After being tricked by her old friend, Simbi, who hopes turning in Ashâke will earn the release of her family, Ashâke narrowly escapes death with the help of double agent Djábri. As Ashâke goes on the run, Djábri discovers that a strange blue stone he pocketed from Ashâke protects against possession. Both Ashâke and Djábri independently seek answers. Meanwhile, a troublesome orisha’s machinations appear clearer and flashbacks explain the origins of the godkillers. Ogundiran packs a lot into the limited page count, combining a fast-paced story, solid worldbuilding, and complicated ethical dilemmas. It’s a thrilling ride. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 11/22/2024 | Details & Permalink

Inception meets Stranger than Fiction in this ambitious meta adventure from Mills (The Fragments of My Father). When Jaime wins a contest to interview reclusive author Augustus Fate, he mostly hopes to impress his online crush Rachel, the woman who introduced him to Fate’s books. Fate has other plans, however. The novelist has hit on a mystical solution to his plotting problems: he kidnaps people, drugs them, and sends their consciousnesses to inhabit the characters in his novels. Transported to a fictionalized Victorian-era Oxford, Jaime obliviously lives as Thomas, a young Dickensian protagonist—until he meets beautiful governess Rachel, and they realize they’re trapped. But the only way out of Fate’s book is into someone else’s. Careening through stories, from an idealized present in Manchester to the bleak past of czarist Russia and a future full of angst and robots, Jaime and Rachel live out entire lives together in hopes of finding their way back to the only one that matters. Mills piles five books into one and, aside from a few too-cute moments, manages to largely avoid the pitfalls of writing about writing. Her fluid command of each vastly different genre serves to highlight what stays the same in each—the strengths, faults, and deep bond of Rachel and Jaime. Readers will be impressed. Agent: Dan Milachewski, UTA. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 11/22/2024 | Details & Permalink