Categories
Swords and Spaceships

African and Africanfuturist SFF

Happy Friday, shipmates! It’s Alex, coming at you with new releases and a bit of African SFF, and…how the heck is it almost the end of January? Who gave this year permission? I haven’t gotten hardly anything done! (I haven’t read nearly enough books…but I imagine that’s a common affliction.) Well, that’s how the calendar goes, I guess. Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Tuesday!

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.

Bookish Goods

a journal cover showing a Black person wearing futuristic clothing with a galaxy scene behind them

Journal With Afrofuturist Cover by thetrinigee

Since we’ve got a bit of an African SFF theme going in this newsletter, I wanted to get something that celebrated Afrofuturist or Africanfuturist imagery. And this is one cool-looking journal cover image. (They also have it as a tote bag!) $25

New Releases

cover of Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase

Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase

Nelah is trapped in a marriage with a police officer who tracks her constantly using microchip monitoring, though to anyone looking from the outside, her life seems perfect. Even that appearance is shattered after a car accident; desperate, she hides the body of her victim. But the mundane horrors of her life are soon joined by the supernatural as her victim’s ghost begins to hunt down all those she loves. If she wants to save those she has left, she will need to unravel the conspiracy they were about to expose.

Cover of Three Eight One by Aliyah Whitely

Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley

Rowena is the curator of a vast archive of twenty-first-century internet material. One day, she finds a story that was posted during the summer of 2024, in which the number 381 is used repeatedly. As she follows the story of this fantasy character, she begins to question her own life path and choices.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

With Womb City coming out, I wanted to grab a couple of other SFF books by African authors!

cover of Jah Hills by Unathi Slasha

Jah Hills by Unathi Slasha

Jah Hills is alone in the bush of Kwafindoda, waiting for the elders to deliver him home. But he is instead tricked and transformed into an isithunzela, a creature that is trapped in a wardrobe by day and free by night to travel between the realms of the dead and the living. When he finally escapes, his only wish is to return home…but home is no longer home.

Cover of Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

The Kintu clan in Uganda is a bloodline cursed by the actions of their leader in 1750. As the history of their nation unfolds, different members of the clan work to reconcile the curse, their history, and the unfolding of time and modernity.

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.

Categories
Swords and Spaceships

A Double Dose of Faeries

Happy Tuesday, shipmates! It’s Alex, with a double dose of new releases, half of which are sequels. This week, I’m excited and thankful because I found a nice carpenter to make new steps in my garage — my joints are happier already. Did I expect as a teenager that I’d become the kind of person who is super excited about having new steps? No, but that’s how life is. At least I’m still super excited about books! Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Friday!

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.

Bookish Goods

an image of a tiara made of thick black metal in the shape of bare branches with a red jewel in the center

Fae Crown by PernCirclets

Since we’re talking a dark fae book this week, I went looking for something that had that flavor, and what I found was this gorgeous circlet! $89

New Releases

cover of Exordia by Seth Dickinson

Exordia by Seth Dickinson

Anna is a survivor of a genocide, a refugee-turned-office worker who one day has a close encounter of the third kind…with a multi-headed, serpent-like alien named Ssrin. But rather than a happy occasion, their meeting reveals a danger that threatens the entire universe, and Anna must join a small team of people from many walks of life to investigate this unknowable horror and the mysterious broadcast that heralds it.

Cover of Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

Yeeran is a warrior in the elven army and knows only that she will die as she has lived: on the battlefield. Her sister, Lettle, is a diviner who searches for prophecies of a better future. But when Yeeran is exiled after a mistake, Lettle is forced out with her into the wilderness, where they find a danger both impossible and wondrous: the fae court.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

There are several sequels coming out this week, and I wanted to call your attention to two of them!

kinning book cover

Kinning by Nisi Shawl

Sequel to Everfair

Everfair may now be at peace, but the heroes of our story are certainly not done with their journeys. Tink and Bee-Lung travel the world in an aircanoe, following a fungus whose spores cause empathic links — and will spread, they hope, understanding. Princess Mwadi and Prince Ilunga have returned from Egypt to vie for rule after their father abdicates…while being manipulated all the while by their mother.

Cover of Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Sequel to Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries

Emily has learned many secrets of the fae, from her journeys and from Wendell Bambleby, who is secretly an exiled faerie king. She’s not ready to accept his proposal of marriage; she’d rather work on her maps of the fae lands, but then he gets her in trouble again, putting her in the line of fire of assassins sent by his mother. And that’s just the start…

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.

Categories
Swords and Spaceships

Serpentine Speculative Fiction

Happy Friday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I’ve got new releases and some…snakey new releases as a bonus. I hope everyone had a good week and has fun stuff to look forward to this weekend — or perhaps just a lot of sleep, as the case may be. Both of those sound pretty good. Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Tuesday!

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.

Bookish Goods

a photo of a mug with an image of a snake and the text Morally Grey Book Club

Morally Grey Book Club Mug by DetailedBeautyShop

This isn’t quite what I was thinking of when I went looking for snake-related things on Etsy, but this is a great mug and it definitely goes with our kind of books! $18

New Releases

Cover of Somewhere in the Deep by Tanvi Berwah

Somewhere in the Deep by Tanvi Berwah

The death of Krescent’s parents has left her nothing but their crushing debt; her only chance at a new life is to battle monsters in an underground fighting pit. But one fight going terribly wrong earns her a lifetime ban, and starvation seems certain…until she’s offered a chance to have her debts erased if she helps protect a hunting party delving deep into the caves below the island.

cover of The Parliament by Aimee Pokwatka

The Parliament by Aimee Pokwatka

Madigan had just gone to her library with her students like normal when tens of thousands of owls descended on the building, rending apart anyone who tried to leave. While a solution is sought, Madigan does her best to keep her students calm and safe, but soon, food and fresh water are running low…

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

A couple of new releases caught my attention as being a bit…snake-themed, so here they are!

Cover of The Serpents of Eden by RW Goldsmith

The Serpents of Eden by RW Goldsmith

Clay Middleton has made a habit of journeys into the remote desert, fueling his work as a wilderness artist. It’s also earned him a reputation as a deranged loner, and that suits him just fine…until his wife suddenly dies, and then their daughter abandons her son (his grandson) in his care. Clay thinks things can’t get worse, so of course they do: supernatural beings kidnap his grandson, and if Clay wants to save him, he’s going to have to take the world’s most annoying chatterbox of a paranormal detective along.

Cover of A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel

A Drop of Venom by Sajni Patel

Manisha has spent her whole life running, both from monsters and from soldiers who hunt her people, the naga. She thought she found safety as a priestess in a temple atop a floating mountain…but then Pratyush, a monster hunter for whom each kill will add years to his life, frequents her temple. Against all odds, they fall in love — but when they are separated by the mundane horrors of the kingdom, Pratyush is sent to kill one last monster, and he doesn’t realize it’s Manisha. (Content warning: sexual assault)

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.

Categories
Swords and Spaceships

Ice Planets, Frost Creatures, and More SFF to Make You Shiver

Happy Tuesday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I’ve got new releases and some very cold reads for you. The good news is I survived the weekend and didn’t freeze! I praise past me’s wisdom of looking at the weather and thinking, no, I will arrange my life so that I do not have to leave my house for at least four days. I hope those hit by the cold snap have stayed equally toasty! Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Friday!

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.

Bookish Goods

Europa National Park T-shirt

Europa National Park T-shirt by WhereWeWanderArt

This cute T-shirt has a nice retro design, so you, too, can pretend you’ve been to the national park we’ll someday have on Europa! $23+

New Releases

Cover of So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole

Five years ago, Faron channeled the power of the gods to free her island home from the Langley Empire and their dragons. Since then, there has been nothing more to fight, and she’s found there’s no ordinary life to return to for someone such as her. But when she and her sister, Elara, are sent to a peace summit, things go quickly south as Elara bonds with one of the dragons that once darkened the skies of their home. And worse, the gods that once used Faron as their instrument tell her that the only way to break that dragon bond is to kill Elara.

Cover of Unbound by Christy Healy

Unbound by Christy Healy

Rozlyn ó Conchúir is a woman cursed, the daughter of a king exiled to a tower who must wait patiently for a man to arrive and free both her and her land. When the promised suitor arrives—a man named Jamie, who is far too charming for his own good—she begins to hope she will have her freedom…only to quickly face betrayal and greater threats coming toward her. Perhaps some curses are best left in place.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

We’ve been having “Stock Show Weather” in Colorado, which means it’s cold as heck. The snow hasn’t been deep, but the chill will bite your nose off…so I’ve been thinking about SFF where freezing to death is a real possibility.

Cover of We Have Always Been Here by Lena Nguyen

We Have Always Been Here by Lena Nguyen

This sci-fi/horror/thriller takes place on a ship that’s bound for an ice planet named Eos. Their mission is to investigate the three-man crew that went missing before them, but like in all ships, sea or otherwise, headed into an icy unknown, interpersonal crew conflicts and mental health deterioration are almost inevitable…

spinning silver cover

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Miryem comes from a family of moneylenders, except that her father is terrible at it: he hasn’t been collecting on debts. She sets out to claim what is owed to her family, which earns her a reputation for metaphorically turning silver to gold… but it’s a reputation terrifying fey creatures of ice and frost called the Staryk take quite literally.

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.

Categories
Swords and Spaceships

IT Guy Turned Reluctant Secret Agent

Happy Friday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I’ve got new releases, and a couple of books I consider to be my favorite airplane reads. And wowie, I hope you’re all warmer than I am. We’re in the cold weather now, what we locally call “Stock Show Weather” because it feels like there’s always a nasty cold snap when the National Western Stock Show is happening. It’s not as bad as it could be — at least we’re not into negative numbers — but I’m sure sticking under a warm blanket with a book this weekend. Stay safe (and warm) out there, space pirates! I’ll see you on Tuesday.

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.

Bookish Goods

a t-shirt with the text "I'm Not A Bookworm I'm A Book Dragon" with wings around the word "dragon"

Book Dragon T-shirt by EnochDesignUS

This is just a delightful T-shirt — bookworm versus bookwyrm, amiright? It comes in a variety of fun colors, too! $18+

New Releases

Cover of Sons of Darkness by Gourav Mohanty

Sons of Darkness by Gourav Mohanty

The Mathuran Republic teeters on the edge of oblivion after too many violent clashes with the Magadhan Empire. A senator and his wife set plans that span nations into motion, hoping to save their home from destruction — but they are not the only players on this political game board, and they soon find that gold and loyalty run out shockingly quickly.

Cover of Sanctuary of the Shadow by Aurora Ascher

Sanctuary of the Shadow by Aurora Ascher

Harrow has come to Salizar’s as a place to hide after her clan was slaughtered — and maybe forget her past. Then, a monster with wings and power and no memory of who he is or where he came from arrives. Harrow recognizes someone who knows a loneliness like hers, and so she chooses him, working to unbury his secrets — something that will put them both in terrible danger.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

My mom hopped on an airplane yesterday to visit family, and that got me thinking about a good airplane read. In my opinion, you want a book that’s just fun and an easy read to help the time pass quickly. So here’s a couple I’d take on a plane flight any day.

Cover of The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu

The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu

Roen is a schlubby IT guy who lives a very normal life…up until he suddenly acquires a voice in his head. Worse, it’s an alien named Tao riding along with him — and Tao’s got a mission to stop his people’s ancient enemy, the Genjix, before they sacrifice all humanity. Since he’s just a voice in Roen’s brain, well, looks like Roen needs to train up to be the ultimate secret agent. No problem, right?

The Unspoken Name cover image

The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood

This — and I mean this in the most positive possible way — reads like an epic D&D campaign got turned into a gripping and fun-as-heck novel, in which an orc rogue who decides she doesn’t want to be a sacrifice to a nameless god acquires an employer, loses said employer, but then gains an elven wizard girlfriend.

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.

Categories
Swords and Spaceships

The 12 Most Popular Romantasy Books on TikTok

This post is written by R. Nassor.

Dragons. Magic. Romance. The most popular romantasy books on TikTok truly have everything a reader could want. After all, it’s undeniable — romantasy has recently taken BookTok by storm.

Romantasy is a subgenre that combines the romance and fantasy genres. By now, other Book Rioters have discussed the budding Romantasy genre and offered their own recommendations. As a lover of fantasy, romance, and any combination of the two, I am fully prepared for the recent rise in popularity of the books. In the past, some romantasy books contained too much romance for the fantasy section and too much fantasy for the romance section. However, because the most popular romantasy books on TikTok sold so well, traditional publishing took notice. Now these books are coming out in droves, and BookTok is paying attention.

I cannot understate the impact of romantasy book sales on publishing decisions. Traditional publishing is picking up independent romantasy authors because they see how popular the genre is. Orbit recently acquired Kimberly Lemming, Harper Voyager acquired A. K. Mulford, and Bramble (TOR’s new science fiction and fantasy romance imprint) acquired Rebecca Thorne. I’m happy these excellent authors are getting the book deals and support they deserve for their romantasy novels.

Popular Romantasy Books on TikTok

The following books are just some of the most popular romantasy books on TikTok. My algorithm naturally impacts the videos I see most often; however, I also searched the romantasy hashtag for additional input. I can guarantee that these dragons, demons, vampires, magic users, and other fantastical beings are swoony enough to make even a long-time romance reader blush.

High Fantasy-Style Popular Romantasy Books on TikTok

book cover of trial of the sun queen by Nisha J. Tuli

Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli

For twelve years, Lor and her siblings survived the worst of Aurora’s prisons. That is, until a mysterious winged man flew her to the castle of the Sun King. Suddenly, she has to learn everything from combat to history to win a contest and become the Sun Queen. Lor doesn’t know why she, of all people, was chosen, but with her and her siblings’ lives on the line, she will learn quickly and try not to fall for the King who promises her freedom. Who doesn’t want a bachelorette-esque romantasy with ever-expanding stakes?

Content warnings: sexual harassment, sexual assault, death of parents, imprisonment, misogyny

book cover of A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford

A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford

Twin orphan wolf shifters Calla and Briar’s tenuous claim to royalty will be lost if Briar fails to marry the man Calla loves. Even though Briar prefers women, she is willing to marry Prince Grae for a chance to lead her people. Although Calla wants to protect her sister and lead their armies, she can’t help but love her childhood best friend, Grae. But at her twin’s wedding, expected matches change, and the evil sorceress who killed their parents comes to steal Briar and place her under a sleeping curse. Calla will get her sister back, even if she/they must run away from the person she belongs within this “Sleeping Beauty” retelling reimagined as a queer shifter romance.

Content warnings: death of a parent, transphobia

paperback cover of That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming

Cinnamon, the spice farmer, embarks on a journey to defeat an evil witch at the request of the demon she drunkenly saved. Fallon quickly falls in love with the woman who broke the evil witch’s spell and returns his autonomy. Naturally, he wants to woo Cinnamon and free other demons from the witch’s thrall. He manages both in the course of their adventure. Cinnamon is a “hero who denies the call” to her core and is more than a little wary of falling for a demon dragon shifter, but even her strong will cannot deny the appeal of her new traveling companion.

Content warning: enslavement

book cover of King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair

King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair

In a world long at war with vampires, there is nothing more horrifying than becoming affianced to Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, the vampire king. As a princess, Isolde de Lara knew her hand was not hers to decide. So, when the vampire king offers to spare everyone in exchange for her hand, she says yes. Just one problem — Isolde is wildly attracted to her new husband. It doesn’t help that the more she learns about him, the less he meets her expectations. Isolde will have to make the difficult choice to either trust her gut or stab his in the first novel in a vampire romantasy series.

Content Warning: death of a parent

Cover of A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

When an envoy from the neighboring country discovers Velasin’s preference for men, they quickly change the marriage contract to swap the family’s daughter for the son. Coming from a homophobic country, Vel is still coming to terms with being able to marry a man for a political marriage. To complicate matters further, someone doesn’t want Vel and his new husband Cae’s alliance to succeed. Even the politically astute Vel finds trouble navigating unknown deadly threats, but Cae’s kindness and strength might just be what he needs to save them both.

Content warnings: sexual assault, homophobia, suicidal ideation, self-harm

book cover of A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair

A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair

Keera knows how to be the King’s Blade. When someone threatens the Crown, she is tasked with finding and killing those threats. But, when she must journey into the Faeland to find her next target, she uncovers hard truths about the king she serves and reevaluates her role as his Blade. Keera will have to learn who to trust fast if she wants to finally do what’s right, even if it is alongside a person she thought was her enemy.

Content warnings: suicidal ideation, self-harm

book cover of Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This fated mates romantasy follows Calistia, an orphan seer, who uses her abilities to ensure she and her best friend Grady remain safe. Recently, that means acting as the Baron of Archwood, Claude’s lover, to read the thoughts of those around him. Her life is upturned when she overhears people are torturing a Hyhborn, and she must help him. Prince Thorne is grateful, and now Calistia can’t help longing for him. One thing is for sure: her life gets even more complicated now that the new Hyhborn prince in her life will do anything to keep her safe and at his side.

Cover of The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

This is a dragon-centered new adult romantasy that everyone’s been buzzing about. Violet Sorrengail is a 20-year-old book-loving woman with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome whose mother orders her to become a candidate dragon rider at Basgiath War College. She wouldn’t have chosen this path herself, but if she fails to bond with a dragon, death awaits her. Now, Violet will have to use every tool, ally, and skill she possesses if she wants to survive.

Content warnings: ableism, animal death, death of a loved one

Popular Historical Romantasy Books on TikTok

A Marvellous Light cover

A Marvellous Light by Freya Marske

A queer magical mystery set in Edwardian England, the first book in The Last Binding trilogy introduces readers to Edwin Courcey, a surly magical bureaucrat, and his new cheery non-magical coworker, baronet Robin Blyth. As a titled man in need of a job to support his and his sister’s lives after their parents passing, Robin was not expecting to fall in the middle of a deadly magical secret. Now, he must rely on the expertise and kindness of Edwin if he wants to get himself out of this mess and live to see another day. This is the perfect romantasy series for anyone who has ever found themselves in a bind.

Content warning: homophobia

Cover of Even Though I knew the End by C.L. Polk

Even Though I Knew the End by C. L. Polk

1940s Chicago has a divine monster problem and Helen Brandt is tasked with tracking the worst of them down if she wants to reclaim her soul and spend the rest of her life with the woman she loves. The last case she needs to solve is finding the White City Vampire, a serial killer whose crimes plague the city. In this noir romantasy novella, one woman will put her life on the line to save her soul and, more importantly, the woman who holds her heart.

Content warnings: homophobia, misogyny

Popular Romantasy Books on TikTok with Ships on Ships

cover of Hunt on Dark Waters

Hunt on Dark Waters by Katee Robert

Evelyn’s ex-vampire girlfriend is out for blood — and this time, it’s hers, unfortunately. Her skills as an accomplished witch and thief fail her when she steals from her ex and escapes through a dimensional portal. Evelyn knows her ex is after her, but now she also has to pledge her life service to the pirate ship she winds up on when she falls through the portal. Plus, there’s Bowen, the attractive telekinetic captain who’s in charge and is far too noble and appealing for his own good. Now, she has to avoid falling for her captor, find a way back home, and escape her deadly ex’s pursuit.

cover of A Song of Silver and Gold

A Song of Silver and Gold by Melissa Karibian

Sapphics at sea engaged in an enemies-to-lovers journey take center stage in this “Little Mermaid”-inspired romantasy. The notorious Captain Kae is secretly Princess Kaelyn of Avalon, hunting sirens on the sea to avenge her dead brother. When Kae kills a siren princess, the deadly siren warrior of Meyrial, Aqeara is banished as punishment for not protecting royalty. Now, Aqeara will do anything to regain what she lost, even if it means making a deal with a sea witch, becoming human temporarily, and stealing Kae’s heart. Aqeara makes it aboard Kae’s ship, but her sudden attraction to the captain might be the most dangerous challenge she’s ever faced.

Now you have a big old list of popular romantasy books on TikTok to pick up. With so many authors on the app, the list grows every day. It really is quite thrilling. I would also recommend checking out the most popular fantasy books and romance books on TikTok.

Categories
Swords and Spaceships

The Shop Where Lost Things Go

Happy Tuesday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I’ve got your first real round of actual new releases for 2024 coming — a double, actually, since we had a couple of sequel releases that I wanted to highlight as well. I hope the year is off to a good start for everyone. Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Friday!

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.

Bookish Goods

a photo of a spiral-bound journal with the title 2024 Reading Tracker

2024 Reading Tracker by NovellyYours

New year, new attack at the TBR pile. I’ve not tried tracking my reading before, but I’m thinking I should maybe give it a whirl this year, since I did pretty poorly in 2023. $32

New Releases

cover of The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan; photo of woman kneeling on pillows with a red veil over her head

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan

The ruined mansion of Akbar Manzil is a place people go specifically to disappear…except for Sana, who enters its doors looking to unravel its secrets. What she finds is a 100-year-old mystery watched over by an invisible, grieving djinn.

Cover of The Glass Box

The Glass Box by J. Michael Straczynski

Riley Diaz has been incarcerated under extremely shady circumstances, thanks to a new “defense act” that’s established reeducation facilities charmingly called American Renewal Centers. She faces the choice to give in and be freed, or resist and be punished…and declares a one-woman war on the system. But she needs allies, and it’s hard to gain trust in an environment like this…

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao

Dark Star Burning, Ash Falls White by Amélie Wen Zhao

Sequel to Song of Silver, Flame Like Night

With the Demon Gods risen, Lan and Zen have chosen opposite sides. Lan thinks the only way to free the Last Kingdom is the destruction of the Demon Gods with the power of the Silver Dragon. And Zen sees the Demon Gods as the only path to freedom.

Cover of Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan Mcguire

Mislaid in Parts Half-Known by Seanan McGuire

Wayward Children, book 9; start with Every Heart a Doorway

I love these books!! In this one, Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children gets its newest student, Antsy, who has a preternatural talent for finding things. When the school’s mean girl realizes that this might extend to doors, Antsy has to go on the run with friends, looking for a way back to the Shop Where Lost Things Go.

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.

Categories
Swords and Spaceships

The Most Anticipated SFF Sequels of 2024

Happy Friday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I’m bringing you a continuation of my most-anticipated books of 2024 (the first half of the year, at least). These ones are all specifically sequels or later books in a series because they always deserve more love than they get. Hope everyone has been having a great first week of the new year. Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Tuesday!

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.

Bookish Goods

an Iron Widow print with the text, "This world can make monsters out of anyone."

Iron Widow Quote Print by TsundokuChronicles

Since I’m back on my Iron Widow BS, you bet I’m going for something in that theme. This is an excellent quote from an excellent book. The seller also has a lot of other nice little prints like this! $3

(Soon-to-be) New Releases

Cover of The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older

Sequel to The Mimicking of Known Successes. Of course, I’m excited for another cozy little space mystery with Investigator Mossa and Pleiti. This time, it’s a missing person’s case, with students and staff from Valdegeld University vanishing and…no one noticing. Release date: February 13

Cover of Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao

Sequel to Iron Widow, which was one of my favorite reads of 2021. Zetian has a lot of revelations she needs to deal with, all while figuring out how to navigate deeply misogynistic politics — and still find her vengeance. Through it all, those she loves the most are being held hostage, used as leverage against her. Release date: April 30.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Round two of sequels, incoming!

Cover of The Sunforge by Sascha Stronach

The Sunforge by Sascha Stronach

Sequel to The Dawnhounds. I read the first book after it won the Sir Julius Vogel Award back in 2020, and it has stuck with me since because it was so…vivid and crunchy. The sequel promises to bring us more of the same, with the city of Radovan consumed by fire and the Kopek trapped there unless the pirate crew can find a way to escape. Release date: August 6.

Cover of The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo

The Brides of High Hill by Nghi Vo

This is the fifth book in the novella series that started with The Empress of Salt and Fortune, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. The stories follow the travels of Cleric Chih and the stories they learn — or, in this case, make for themself. Release date: May 7

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.

Categories
Swords and Spaceships

Pulpy Space Operas and Mysterious Hotels in Space

Happy Tuesday, shipmates — and happy New Year! It’s Alex, and since there isn’t much getting released this week since we’re still in the holiday doldrums, I’m going to instead take this opportunity to tell you about books coming out later in 2024 that I’m really looking forward to. Though let me tell you, it was extremely difficult to pick just these few. We’ve got an exciting year coming our way! Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Friday!

2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.

Bookish Goods

Cicada print by certified retro

Be Nice to Cicadas by CertifiedRetro

One of the books I’m hyped about this week has me thinking of pulpy/retro art, and I love this particular Etsy artist for that. He’s got a big selection of video game-related prints that are a delight as well. $18

(Soon-to-be) New Releases

Cover of The Principle Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

This book promises a delightfully pulpy space opera concept, with an evil emperor, an enslaved girl who discovers she has a sister and goes on a quest to save her from the aforementioned emperor, and a time traveler from 1812. And this one is coming soon: January 18!

Cover of Escape Velocity by Victor Manibo

Escape Velocity by Victor Manibo

The pitch on this is Knives Out with a twist of Parasite but in space. There’s an old murder mystery threatening the privileged at a luxury resort, with something nasty cooking in the back hallways where the workers go about their business. You have my attention! Release date: May 21.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

Round two of books I’m looking forward to!

Cover of Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis

Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis

Another hotel in space? Seems so. This is about a traveling hotel that goes from planet to planet and carries with it an array of mysteries, including the very important “who is actually flying this thing?” I love a good cozy mystery, and if you put it on a spaceship, all the better. Release date: March 19.

Cover of Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

Faebound by Saara El-Arifi

I’ve always found the sword & sorcery fantasy take on elves a bit…annoying if I’m being honest, with all their immortality and singing and whatnot. This is a different take on elves, and I am on board. A warrior in the elven army who’s never known anything but battle, a sister who seeks prophecies of a better future…and both exiled together where they must fight for their survival. Release date: January 23.

Cover of Road to Ruin by Hana Lee

Road to Ruin by Hana Lee

Motorcycles, monsters, and magic? A courier on a high-speed, two-wheeled chase across a wasteland? As someone who has also written an SFF novel with motorcycles and a bit of magic, I am HYPED. This is a sub-sub-sub-subgenre that deserves more love, and I could not be more excited. Release date: May 14.

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.

Categories
Swords and Spaceships

Tea Served With a Side of Revenge

Happy Friday, shipmates! It’s Alex, and I’ve got a second installment of 2023 standalones for your perusal and enjoyment. And…this is it — the last newsletter of the year. I won’t get into detail, but 2023 has really sucked for me on a personal level, so I am beyond glad that we’ll soon see it only in the rearview mirror. Whether you had a rotten year like I did, or a great one, I think it’s safe to wish that 2024 will bring better things for us all. Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you in 2024!!

It’s happening, readers — we’re bringing paperbacks! Whether you (or a reader you know and love) hate carrying around bulky hardcovers, you’re on a budget, you want a wider range of recommendations, or all of the above, you can now get a paperback subscription from TBR, curated just for you by one of our Bibliologists. The holidays are here, and we’ve got three different levels for gifting (to yourself or others) to suit every budget. Get all the details at mytbr.co.

Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.

Bookish Goods

Dragon eating gingerbread

Gingerbread Dragon Sculpture by ArtByAelia

The dragons will continue until morale improves. We had a dragon made out of gingerbread, but here’s a helpful little guy who is here to dispose of your extra holiday cookies. #helping, truly. $67

(Not) New Releases

Cover of Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

The Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa

The war between the Holy Vallbaran Empire and the Ominirish Republic has ended, not that scribe Enitan really cares. Her ambition is to quit her day job and dedicate herself fully to her tea business…until her lover is assassinated and Imperial agents kidnap her sibling. With tea tray in hand, she embarks on a mission of rescue — and revenge.

cover of The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins

The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins

Thirty years after the worst of the climate crisis begins to truly ravage the globe, society has been remade by the so-called Great Transition into something imperfect, but still potentially utopian. But when a dozen climate criminals are publicly assassinated, a young woman whose parents were involved in that world-changing movement must go searching for her mother Kristina, who is one of the suspects in this crime.

For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.

Riot Recommendations

And here are excellent standalones, part the second!

cover of The Deep Sky

The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei

With the climate collapsing, Earth sends a single ship out to carry humanity’s last hope, crewed by eight people who will birth the next generation in deep space. But halfway to their destination, a bomb kills three of the crew and knocks the ship badly off course…and Asuka is the only witness and therefore chief suspect.

Cover of The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz

The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz

Destry is part of the environmental rescue team terraforming Sask-E, the newest generation of her family to have done so. But then she discovers a city in a volcano, which should not exist, let alone be populated by people. This is just the first thread she tugs — and soon the tapestry of her life is unraveling.

See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.