Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Check out upcoming Top Ten themes on Jana’s blog!
This week’s prompt is all about the books we’re most excited for in the first half of the year. You can of course check out my Unmissable SFF of 2024 list for pretty much every book I’m looking forward to, but these here are the ten I’m most grabby-hands for from January to June!
Genres: Queer Protagonists, Science Fantasy
Representation: Queer Black MC, Black MC
Published on: 18th January 2024
Goodreads
Unmissable for fans of the spacefaring found family of Becky Chambers, the alternate London of V. E. Schwab, and the virtuosic climate-craft of N. K. Jemisin.
A century-spanning space fantasy novel that will take you on a whirlwind adventure, from a Regency Era love affair between a time-traveller and the prince waiting for him in the past, to a rescue mission in the 60th century, where a girl desperately races against time as she searches for the sister the emperor stole.
6066: In Emperor Thracin’s brave new galaxy, humans are not citizens. Instead, they are indentured labourers, working to repay the debt they unwittingly incurred when they settled on Gahraan - a desert planet already owned by the emperor himself. Asha Akindele knows she’s just another voiceless cog working the assembly lines that fuel his vast imperial war machine. Her only rebellion: studying stolen aeronautics manuals in the dead of night. But then a cloaked stranger arrives to deliver an impossible message, and her life changes in an instant.
1812: Obi Amadi is done with time-travelling. Never mind the fact he doesn’t know how to cure himself of the temporal sickness he caught whilst anchoring his soul to Regency London, the one that unmakes him further with every jump. Or if the prince he loves will ever love him back. Or why his father disappeared. He is done. Until he hears about the ghost of a girl in the British Museum. A girl from another time.
When Obi’s path tangles with Asha’s and a prophecy awakens in the cold darkness of space, they must voyage through the stars, racing against time, tyranny, and the legacy of three heroes from an ancient religion who may be awakening, reincarnated in ways beyond comprehension.
I’ve said this many times, and I’m gonna say it again: I’ve been waiting for this book since 2020! Everything about it makes me go heart-eyes – the blurb, the hints and details Jikiemi-Pearson’s dropped on social media, snippets I’ve seen of early reviews (I haven’t properly read any early reviews, because I don’t want spoilers), and – DUN DUN! – the first few pages of my illumicrate special edition, which arrived a few days ago!!!
(Which is a very big deal indeed because I’m disabled and can’t hold paper books anymore without a lot of pain. BUT I DID IT AND I REGRET NOTHING.
AND ALSO THOSE FIRST PAGES WERE EPIC.
SO THERE.)
Genres: Sci Fi
Published on: 6th February 2024
Goodreads
Imagine a world where your position in society depended on what bit of the colour spectrum you could see. This is the world inhabited by Eddie Russett (red, middle-level) and Jane Grey (monochromatic, lowest in society). Eddie and Jane must negotiate the delicate Chromatic politics of society to find out what the 'Something that Happened' actually was, how society got to be this way, and crucially, is there Somewhere Else beyond their borders - and if there is, could there be Someone Else, too, someone whose unseen hand has been guiding the fortunes and misfortunes of the nation for the past 500 years?
It's a tale of a young couple's thirst for justice and answers in an implacably rigid society, where the prisoners are also the guards, and cages of convention bind the citizens to only one way of thinking - or suffer the consequences. . ..
The first book in this series, Shades of Grey, blew me away with its incredibly weird weirdness, which read as really fun and whimsical…until things were gradually revealed to be much more complicated, and sinister, than they first appeared. It’s phenomenally unique and funny and clever! So LE DUH I feel feral about getting my hands on the sequel! AFTER THAT ENDING, I MUST KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!
Representation: Nonbinary lesbian MC, major bisexual Asian-American character, major Black queer character, major lesbian character
Published on: 26th March 2024
Goodreads
The Craft for Gen The Feast Makers , indie bestselling author H. A. Clarke crafts an action-packed conclusion to the Scapegracers trilogy, as our beloved teen coven tackle college acceptances, queer romance, and a witch trial to remember for the ages.
After restoring their powers, Sideways just wants to get on with senior year. But the covens have convened for the trial of Madeline Kline. When this stubborn, independent witch begs the Scapegracers to save her from a cruel and unusual punishment, Sideways knows they have to get involved. It’s the right thing to do, even if Madeline did steal their soul and wear it for a time. Right?
Making an example out of Madeline seems, strangely, just as important to the most powerful covens as divvying up the Scapegracers amongst themselves. Sideways, Jing, Daisy, and Yates are reluctant to abandon what they’ve built together, but as the college acceptances (and rejections) roll in, the offer of a magical family beyond Sycamore Gorge becomes increasingly tempting.
Unfortunately, choosing a new coven will have to witchfinders are gathering in town, and some of these visitors make the Chantrys seem tame in comparison. Every witch—Scapegracer or not—is about to be in grave danger.
And on top of all that , Sideways thinks they just might be in love.
In H. A. Clarke’s signature raw and explosive style, The Feast Makers brings the indie-bestselling Scapegracers trilogy to a dynamic end as Sideways, Jing, Daisy, Yates, and Shiloh tackle college acceptances, queer romance, and the meaning of justice in an ever-challenging world.
The Scapegracers trilogy is almost literally my Everything, and I am not ready for this series to be over – but I also can’t wait for the next book. I don’t know WHAT Clarke’s going to do with it, except turn me into a supernova. I CANNOT WITH THE EVEN, OKAY???
My review of The Scapegracers
My review of The Scratch Daughters
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: F/F
Published on: 2nd April 2024
Goodreads
Discover this creepy, charming monster-slaying fantasy romance—from the perspective of the monster—by Nebula Award-winning debut author John Wiswell
Shesheshen has made a mistake fatal to all monsters: she's fallen in love.
Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorphous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by hunters intent on murdering her, she constructs a body from the remains of past meals: a metal chain for a backbone, borrowed bones for limbs, and a bear trap as an extra mouth.
However, the hunters chase Shesheshen out of her home and off a cliff. Badly hurt, she’s found and nursed back to health by Homily, a warm-hearted human, who has mistaken Shesheshen as a fellow human. Homily is kind and nurturing and would make an excellent co-parent: an ideal place to lay Shesheshen’s eggs so their young could devour Homily from the inside out. But as they grow close, she realizes humans don’t think about love that way.
Shesheshen hates keeping her identity secret from Homily, but just as she’s about to confess, Homily reveals why she’s in the area: she’s hunting a shapeshifting monster that supposedly cursed her family. Has Shesheshen seen it anywhere?
Eating her girlfriend isn’t an option. Shesheshen didn’t curse anyone, but to give herself and Homily a chance at happiness, she has to figure out why Homily’s twisted family thinks she did. As the hunt for the monster becomes increasingly deadly, Shesheshen must unearth the truth quickly, or soon both of their lives will be at risk.
And the bigger challenge remains: surviving her toxic in-laws long enough to learn to build a life with, rather than in, the love of her life.
Listen, everything about this sounds like it was written for me, specifically, and also I have a MIGHTY NEED to see what kind of book could inspire two such drastically different covers!!! (Both of which I love.)
Genres: Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Nonbinary MC
Published on: 7th May 2024
Goodreads
These are the voyages of the Starship Glam. The further adventures of Dess and Mira and Oort, and introducing Marvin the half-human, half-Esca ingenue on drums. Earth is safe, for the moment, and taking its first steps into the greater galactic community—you know that won’t go well. Another Grand Prix is always right around the corner. And of course, other possibly-sentient species can emerge at any time…
Catherynne Valente could write anything she pleases and it would be in my Top Ten Most Wanted, okay? But as it happens, this is the sequel to the glitterpunk Space Opera, which I loved, and I’m just SO EXCITED to revisit these characters and the marvellously delightful bonkers-whimsy aliens Valente populated her universe with!!!
Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists, Science Fantasy
Representation: Queer MC
Published on: 14th May 2024
Goodreads
An electrifying, gritty fantasy from debut author Hana Lee that takes a royal messenger on a high-speed chase across a climate-ravaged wasteland, featuring motorcycles, monsters, and magic.
Jin-Lu has the most dangerous job in the wasteland. She’s a magebike courier, one of the few who venture outside the domed cities on motorcycles powered by magic. Every day, she braves the wasteland’s dangers—deadly storms, roving marauders, and territorial beasts—to deliver her wares.
Her most valuable cargo? A prince’s love letters addressed to Yi-Nereen, a princess desperate to escape the clutches of her abusive family and soon-to-be husband. Jin, desperately in love with both her and the prince, can’t refuse Yi-Nereen’s plea for help. The two of them flee across the wastes, pursued by Yi-Nereen’s furious father, her scheming betrothed, and a bounty hunter with mysterious powers.
A storm to end all storms is brewing and dark secrets about the heritability of magic are coming to light. Jin’s heart has led her into peril before, but this time she may not find her way back.
I have been waiting with GREATLY PASSIONATE PATIENCE (patience because we do not pressure writers to hurry up on this blog, thank you, and anyway publishing is slow, nothing anyone can do about that) for this book since the pub deal was announced! CAN YOU BLAME ME??? NO, NO YOU CANNOT. Magic and motorbikes and deadly secrets and hopefully polyamory??? SIA NEEDS VERY BADLY!!!
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: mlm MC, bi/pansexual love interest, M/M, secondary asexual character, secondary Indigenous American characters
Published on: 21st May 2024
Goodreads
The 4th book in The Tarot Sequence series, announced by author K.D. Edwards
Do we have a blurb? No. Do I care? Also no. I’ve adored every book in this series, and I know I’m going to love this one too. Plus, Misfit Caravan is the beginning of the second ‘trilogy arc’! Edwards has said that the planned 9 books are divided into three major plot-arcs, and it is VERY EXCITING to know we’re moving onto an even bigger playing field, story-wise!!! And honestly, even if we weren’t, I’d just be happy to be seeing these incredible characters again.
My review of The Last Sun
My review of The Hanged Man
My review of The Hourglass Throne
Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Brown cast, M/M, major nonbinary character
Published on: 13th June 2024
Goodreads
Avra Helvaçi, former field agent of the Arasti Ministry of Intelligence, has accidentally stolen the single most expensive secret in the world―and the only place to flee with a secret that big is the open sea.
To find a buyer with deep enough pockets, Avra must ask for help from his on-again, off-again ex, the pirate Captain Teveri az-Haffar. They are far from happy to see him, but together, they hatch a plan: take the information to the isolated pirate republic of the Isles of Lost Souls, fence it, profit. The only things in their way? A calculating new Arasti ambassador to the Isles of Lost Souls who's got his eyes on Avra's every move; Brother Julian, a beautiful, mysterious new member of the crew with secrets of his own and a frankly inconvenient vow of celibacy; the fact that they're sailing straight into sea serpent breeding season and almost certain doom.
But if they can find a way to survive and sell the secret on the black market, they’ll all be as wealthy as kings―and, more importantly, they'll be legends.
Alexandra Rowland has already established themself as one of my favourite authors, so anything they write would be an auto-buy – but I’ve also gotten to read drafts of the earlier chapters on Rowland’s Patreon, and so I know that on top of its great premise (and seriously, isn’t that premise GREAT?) it’s also hysterically funny! There’s just nothing about this I don’t love.
Genres: Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi, Science Fantasy
Representation: M/M
Published on: 18th June 2024
Goodreads
Rakesfall is a groundbreaking, standalone science fiction epic about two souls bound together from here until the ends of time, from the author of The Saint of Bright Doors
Some stories take more than one lifetime to tell. There are wrongs that echo through the ages, friendships that outpace the claws of death, loves that leave their mark on civilization, and promises that nothing can break. This is one such story.
Annelid and Leveret met after the war, but before the peace. They found each other in a torn-up nation, peering through propaganda to grasp a deeper truth. And in a demon-haunted wood, another act of violence linked them and propelled their souls on a journey throughout the ages. No world can hold them, no life can bind them, and they'll never leave each other behind. But their journey will not be easy. In every lifetime, oppressors narrow the walls of possibility, shaping reality to fit their own needs. And behind the walls of history, the witches of the red web swear that every throne will fall.
Tracing two souls through endless lifetimes, Rakesfall is a virtuosic exploration of what stories can be. As Annelid and Leveret reincarnate ever deeper into the future, they will chase the edge of human possibility, in a dark science fiction epic unlike anything you've read before.
After last year’s Saint of Bright Doors, I will read ANYTHING Chandrasekera writes! And this? This sounds AMAZING! Again, queer reincarnation, but so completely and wildly different from Emperor of the Endless Palace! And with how fantastically strange and unique Bright Doors was – and all the weirdness hinted at in the blurb – GAH! I can’t WAIT!
My review of Saint of Bright Doors
Genres: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Sapphic MC
Published on: 25th June 2024
Goodreads
A standalone novel following young warrior Galva dom Braga on her journey from untested academy swordswoman to feared and bloodied veteran knight, set during the war-torn, goblin-infested years just before The Blacktongue Thief.
The goblins have killed all of our horses and most of our men. They have enslaved our cities, burned our fields, and inflicted a waking nightmare on the known world. Yet humanity persists, fighting back with all we have against the their bottomless hunger for human lands and human flesh.
Now it's up to the daughters of Manreach to save what's left of the human kingdoms. They'll fight every weapon at hand, with fearsome gods at their backs and brutal monsters at their sides.
Galva - Galvicha to her three brothers, also under arms against the foe - has defied her family's wishes and joined the army's untested new unit, the Raven Knights, to serve at the side of women who, like her, have chosen the battlefield over the marriage bed. She and her sisters in arms march toward a once-beautiful city now overrun by the goblin horde, accompanied by scores of giant war corvids. Made with the darkest magics, these fearsome black birds may hold the key to stopping the goblins in their war to make cattle of mankind.
The road to victory is bloody and the stakes are high; the goblins are clever and merciless in their prosecution of this third war against us. The Raven Knights can take nothing for granted - not the bonds of family, nor the wisdom of their leaders, nor their own safety against the dangerous war birds at their side.
But some hopes are worth any risk.
This is a prequel to Blacktongue Thief, which I love so much, and it’s even about Galva, which – BEST DECISION EVER, MR BUEHLMAN SIR! Galva was incredible in Blacktongue and I don’t imagine a single one of us was anything but delighted to hear she’d be getting her own book. Plus, WAR CORVIDS, PLEASE AND THANK YOU!
So that’s my ten – what are yours???
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