Must-Have Monday is a feature highlighting which of the coming week’s new releases I’m excited for. It is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all books being published that week; only those I’m interested in out of those I’m aware of! The focus is diverse SFF, but other genres sneak in occasionally too.
SIX books this week!
(Books are listed in order of pub date, then Adult SFF, Adult Other, YA SFF, YA Other, MG SFF.)
Genres: Fantasy, High Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Chinese cast, sapphic PoV character, minor nonbinary characters
Published on: 22nd August 2023
Goodreads
Inspired by a classic of martial arts literature, S. L. Huang's The Water Outlaws are bandits of devastating ruthlessness, unseemly femininity, dangerous philosophies, and ungovernable gender who are ready to make history—or tear it apart.
In the jianghu, you break the law to make it your own.
Lin Chong is an expert arms instructor, training the Emperor's soldiers in sword and truncheon, battle axe and spear, lance and crossbow. Unlike bolder friends who flirt with challenging the unequal hierarchies and values of Imperial society, she believes in keeping her head down and doing her job.
Until a powerful man with a vendetta rips that carefully-built life away.
Disgraced, tattooed as a criminal, and on the run from an Imperial Marshall who will stop at nothing to see her dead, Lin Chong is recruited by the Bandits of Liangshan. Mountain outlaws on the margins of society, the Liangshan Bandits proclaim a belief in justice—for women, for the downtrodden, for progressive thinkers a corrupt Empire would imprison or destroy. They’re also murderers, thieves, smugglers, and cutthroats.
Apart, they love like demons and fight like tigers. Together, they could bring down an empire.
If you keep up with fantasy releases, you’ve almost certainly heard of Water Outlaws, and the hype is justified! Delightfully over-the-top anime-esque fight scenes are balanced by unflinchingly thorny themes; underdogs out for justice face off against a cruel and corrupt Empire, and the results are rarely bloodless. Parts are very dark, but it’s also really light-hearted – I realise that sounds impossible, but if you read it, you’ll see what I mean.
Content warning for View Spoiler »
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: F/F
Published on: 22nd August 2023
Goodreads
A witch struggling to regain what she has lost casts a forbidden spell—only to discover much more than she expected, in this enchanting new rom-com by New York Times bestselling author Lana Harper.
Six months after having been hit by a power surge that nearly obliterated her memory, Delilah Harlow is still picking up the pieces. Her once diamond-sharp mind has become shaky and unreliable, and bristly, self-sufficient Delilah is forced to rely on friends, family, and her raven familiar for help. In an effort to reclaim her wits and former independence, she casts a dangerous blood spell meant to harness power with healing capacities.
While the spell does restore clarity, it also unexpectedly turns Delilah into an irresistible beacon for the kind of malevolent supernatural creatures that have never before ventured into Thistle Grove. One night—just as things are about to go terribly sideways with a rogue succubus—a mysterious stranger appears in the nick of time to save Delilah's soul.
Gorgeous, sultry, and as dangerous as the knives she carries, Catriona Quinn is a hunter of monsters—and half-human, half-fae herself, she is the kind of sly and morally gray creature Delilah would normally find horrifying. Though Delilah balks at the idea of a partnership, she has no choice but to roll the dice on their collaboration. As the two delve deeper into the power that underlies Thistle Grove, they uncover not only the town's hidden history but also a risky attraction that could upend Delilah's entire life.
I’ve been a fan of Harper’s since her debut, and the Thistle Grove books are one of my favourite easy-on-the-brain escapist series. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the amount of worldbuilding in Thistle Grove (rare in contemporary fantasy-romance, in my experience!) and it sounds like we’ll be learning a fair bit more in Charm’s Way (there are fae and monster-hunters in this verse?! GIMME!) So yes, I’m excited!
Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: F/F
Goodreads
Award-winning author Anna Burke delivers the shivers in this daring queer dark fantasy romance teeming with sensuous vampires, dark academia, plant horrors, and terrifying fungal fae.
When Clara Eden is offered a job as an archivist working for eccentric estate owner Agatha Montague, she thinks her prayers have been answered. Soon, she finds herself sucked into her research world, captivated by a romantic correspondence thousands of years old. But as her feelings for her employer's assistant, Fiadh, deepen, so does her suspicion that something about Agatha Montague isn't right. Unfortunately for Clara, it is far too late to run by the time her suspicions are confirmed..
My dear, you had me at FUNGAL FAE. The rest of the blurb is just gravy!
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Gay MC
Published on: 22nd August 2023
Goodreads
"Hilarious and irreverent! The only thing I don't like about this is that I didn't think of this premise first." - Steve Hofstetter, comedian
It's autumn 2001, and a fire-breathing dragon is destroying London. With most of her military overseas, the Queen decides to do what previous Queens would've done and call in her Knights! The only problem is that the Queen has only knighted celebrities.
Worst Knights Ever is the hilarious tale of four celebrities who volunteer to hunt down the dragon and try and save all of London.
Apparently this story was originally meant for the big screen, starring Elton John, Sean Connery, Anthony Hopkins, and Michael Caine – the celebrity knights in question – what a hilarious film it would have made! But I’m willing to bet it’s a lot of fun as a book too, and I’m definitely going to give it a go!
Genres: Queer Protagonists
Representation: Queer MC
Published on: 22nd August 2023
Goodreads
In a trendy Salt Lake City, Utah, neighborhood, Ben Rosencrantz's board game shop has become a community hotspot for players of all ages--and for killer collectors.
Back in his hometown of Sugar House running his family's board game shop and cafe, Ben Rosencrantz just can't seem to get his life to pass go, much less collect $200. Once he was a happily married English professor in Seattle. Now he's a divorced caregiver, looking after his ill father and a chihuahua named Beans while still figuring out the rules of retail management. At least the town has become more LGBTQ+ friendly than when Ben was a teenager--and that flower shop owner Ezra McCaslin enjoys flirting with him.
But despite his usual clientele of gamers, Ben is barely earning enough to keep the store running and stay on top of his father's medical bills. Then a local toy and game collector named Clive offers him a winning strategy--to purchase a turn-of-the-twentieth-century edition of The Landlord's Game, the realty and taxation game that inspired Monopoly, at a tenth of the rare edition's true value. Suspicious of Clive's shady, low-priced deal, Ben turns the offer down.
Then Clive turns up dead in the dumpster behind Ben's shop and a backpack full of $100 bills appears on his doorstep. Now Ben is the #1 suspect in Clive's death, and unless he and Ezra can prove his innocence and find the real killer, he'll go to jail for murder--and no amount of double dice rolls will set him free . . .
This sounds weirdly cosy and adorable, despite the murder??? And I have a definite Thing for characters (and real people) who are passionate about their hobbies or collections or interests in general, so an MC big into board games? Who ALSO has a chihuahua named Beans??? I’m pretty much guaranteed to love him.
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Sapphic Black MC
Published on: 22nd August 2023
Goodreads
Sometimes love is the strongest magic of all
Nineteen-year-old Rhia Greenbrook has lived in the sleepy town of Oakriver in a house with three generations of witches her entire life. Rhia draws her magic from the earth and likes to spend her time amongst plants and nature. Her practice is gentle, sacred, and—per her family’s tradition—secret.
New-to-town witch Valerie Morgan is looking for answers about her mother’s disappearance from Oakriver seventeen years ago. Without her mother’s guidance, Valerie has cultivated her fire magic on her own and she makes no effort to keep her powers hidden. Although Rhia is immediately annoyed by Valerie's blatant use of magic, she can’t deny the instant magnetism between them.
But amidst their magical connection, a dark presence looms over Oakriver. Unsettling visions from Rhia’s grandmother and dangerous sleepwalking episodes throw into question Valerie’s past and what role her presence plays in the strange happenings. And as Valerie gets tangled up further into the darkness, it’s up to Rhia to tap into the full potential of her power in order to save the town she loves and the girl she’s fallen for.
Sweet sapphic witchery! I’m curious about the ‘in the broom closet’ vs ‘out and proud’ approach to magic – which now I write that out seems an obvious metaphor for queerness. But – are witches known about in this world? What are non-witches’ views on magic? There’s probably a good reason Rhia’s family keeps their magic secret… I have questions, and must read the book for answers!
Will you be reading any of these? Let me know!
I might check out the Thistle Grove series, and I’m definitely trying Worst Knights Ever. What a smart concept!
SUCH a great concept – still wish it had been a film! But looking forward to getting my hands on the book 😀
“Fungal Fae” is indeed a great selling point.
Right???