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.
TWELVE books this week!
(Books are listed in order of pub date, then Adult SFF, Adult Other, YA SFF, YA Other, MG SFF.)
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Pansexual nonbinary brown MC
Published on: 24th September 2024
Goodreads
Return to the greatest contest in the galaxy in the sequel to the hilarious USA TODAY bestseller Space Opera from New York Times bestselling author and finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, and Ursula K. Le Guin awards.
The Metagalactic Grand Prix—part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past returns and the fate of the Earth is once again threatened. The civilizations opposed to humanity have been plotting and want to take down the upstarts. Can humanity rise again in this sequel to the beloved Hugo Award–nominated national bestselling Space Opera by New York Times bestselling author Catherynne M. Valente?
ONLY A NEW BOOK BY ONE OF THE GREATEST ENGLISH-WRITING STORYTELLERS OF ALL TIME.
NO BIG DEAL.
Suffice to say, I am ALL THE EXITCEMENT for this one, the sequel to the incredible, and incredibly FUN, Space Opera! I don’t expect to get any sleep tonight; I will be too busy fizzing with anticipation!!!
You can read my review of book one here!
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Disabled trans MC
Published on: 24th September 2024
Goodreads
Every story has its fugitives. I, a deviant self-hacker with three arms, two stomachs, and no name, is on the run from RSCH, an high-tech, authoritarian government that mandates wellness and carves the contours of truth itself. When I is kidnapped at axe-point to be mined for forbidden memories, they must struggle against RSCH’s medical abuse to recapture their history, reunite with their lover, and rewrite their future –– or risk remaining Patient forever.
Set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic future, this literary sci-fi novel presents a world where humans have been unshackled from disease and their basest desires thanks to the genetic engineering and societal supervision of RSCH—an inscrutable entity with unimaginable power (including the ability to literally shape reality). In RSCH's march toward perfecting the species, however, there are "deviants" (including LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities) who are fighting for a different vision of humanity. But where can they find hope when horror abounds, projected into their own bodies and minds by RSCH?
I crosses an epistolary, time-flipped dreamscape as they recollect their memories from RSCH’s hungry archive, and, in the process, write the story of their liberation.
By all accounts this does very unconventional things with its page layouts, using text placement to indicate mood and things like that. I hope the ebook edition gets to have that! Also, Failure To Comply apparently needs you to concentrate while reading, so maybe don’t pick this one up when you’re in the mood for something breezy? Not that anything in that blurb sounds very breezy…
You can read an excerpt here!
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy
Published on: 24th September 2024
Goodreads
“It’s amazing what the spirit can cope with to preserve the body. My spirit is a mighty oak that just won’t fall.”
In a fantastical aftermath of the Salem witch trials, magical women known as the Dirty have signed a contract swearing off their innate magic in exchange for freedom from violence by non-magical Freemen. Two hundred years later, in a Catskills orphanage, headmistress Whitetail has sprouted antlers—proof of a violated contract. When her wealthy benefactor visits, proposing marriage, her appearance sparks abuse. Rushing to her teacher’s defense, eight-year-old Rabbit curses the Beard dead, and Whitetail’s arrested on trumped-up charges.
As Whitetail awaits her trial and execution, Rabbit is groomed as the Freemen’s star witness and learns of the terrifying reality to which they aspire. With her magic at stake and a loose tooth in her mouth, Rabbit has little left to lose. And a revolution to gain.
Necrology is one of those books that capture my imagination even though I know almost nothing about them. I can’t put my finger on exactly why I’ve become obsessed with getting my hands on it…but I’ve become obsessed with getting my hands on it! It’s the start of a series, if that makes a difference to you, but either way I can’t WAIT to start reading it!
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy
Published on: 24th September 2024
Goodreads
A librarian with a knack for solving murders realizes there is something decidedly supernatural afoot in her little town in this cozy fantasy mystery.
Librarian Sherry Pinkwhistle keeps finding bodies—and solving murders. But she's concerned by just how many killers she's had to track down in her quaint village. None of her neighbors seem surprised by the rising body count...but Sherry is becoming convinced that whatever has been causing these deaths is unnatural. But when someone close to Sherry ends up dead, and her cat, Lord Thomas Crowell, becomes possessed by what seems to be an ancient demon, Sherry begins to think she’s going to need to become an exorcist as well as an amateur sleuth. With the help of her town's new priest, and an assortment of friends who dub themselves the "Demon-Hunting Society," Sherry will have to solve the murder and get rid of a demon. This riotous mix of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Murder, She Wrote is a lesson for demons and murderers.
Never mess with a librarian.
Waggoner’s previous two novels – Unnatural Magic and The Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry – both became instant faves for me, so I’m obviously Extremely Interested in her third book! Unlike the previous two (which share a setting) I think this one’s set in our world, and this one’s written in first-person.
You can read an excerpt here!
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, High Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: M/M
Published on: 23d September 2024
Goodreads
Skye
My whole life, I’ve heard stories of the Dark Lord of Ashfuror, horrifying tales of torture and death that gave me nightmares as a child. When I turned eighteen, I committed myself to defending my home city of Greatfalls against the threat, and in six short years I rose to the rank of Commander of the Archers. All I want to do is keep my city safe.
But when war finally comes, I find myself not on the front lines, but engaged to be married to the Dark Lord as part of a fragile treaty. I arrive for the wedding intent on destroying the source of the Dark Lord’s power and preserving my home’s security and autonomy forever.
But soon I find that all is not as it seems. The Dark Lord is not a monster, but a handsome, infuriating man. And my home city of Greatfalls is not the innocent sanctuary I always thought it was.
The Last of the Dark Lords is a 49,000-word MM fantasy romance with a guaranteed HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains a snarky dark lord and the too-noble-for-his-own-good military commander that falls fast for him. It also contains steamy scenes between two men and moderate violence. Not suitable for readers under 18.
I’m a bit wary, because first-person blurbs always rub me the wrong way for some reason – but I’m intrigued by the idea of a ‘last’ Dark Lord. Why the last??? Is it a good or bad thing that there’s only one left? You’d think it would be a good thing, but I am suspicious…
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Horror
Published on: 24th September 2024
Goodreads
There are always two sides to a story. This dark and twisted reimagining of Cinderella, told from her stepsister's POV, is perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher and Naomi Novik.
Eunice lives her life by three simple rules: One, always refer to Cinderella as family. Two, never let Cinderella gain access to rats or mice. Three, never look upon Cinderella between the hours of twelve and three a.m.
Cinderella has dark and terrifying powers. As her stepsister, Eunice is expected to care for her and keep the family’s secret. For years, Eunice has faithfully done so. Her childhood flew by in a blur of nightmares, tears, and near-misses with the monster living in the cellar. But when she befriends the handsome Prince Credence and secures an invitation to the ball, Eunice is determined to break free.
When her younger sister, Hortense, steps up to care for Cinderella, Eunice grabs her chance to dance the night away—until Cinderella escapes. With her eldritch powers, Cinderella attends the ball and sweeps Prince Credence off his feet, leaving behind a trail of carnage and destruction as well as a single green glass slipper.
With Cinderella unleashed, Eunice must determine how much of herself she is willing to sacrifice in order to stop Cinderella. Unsettling and macabre at every turn, this page-turning horror will bewitch horror fans and leave its readers anxiously checking the locks on their cellar doors.
This is the kind of bonkers premise I cannot resist; eldritch Cinderella ftw!
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Queer MCs
Published on: 24th September 2024
Goodreads
Book 1
In a small town shattered by violent animal attacks, four first responders must confront their pasts and embrace their destinies as they become humanity's last line of defense against a supernatural threat.
In the quiet, quintessential small town of Hudson, Massachusetts, a dedicated group of first responders—Kitty, Zuri, Angell, and Eric—commit themselves to the safety of their community. Kitty, a Southern transplant and new medic, is eager to prove her worth and find her place, not knowing that the woman of her dreams, Zuri, is more than just an EMT. Eric, who struggles in his role as a paramedic, learns to lean on his partner, Angell, a skilled medic with a mysterious, bewitched past.
When a series of violent animal attacks shatters the town's tranquility, it unearths hidden secrets and thrusts these healers onto a warrior's path. As they rush from one medical emergency to another, each pulse-pounding call brings them closer to each other and their destiny. The perils of the paranormal threaten to destroy everything they hold dear, forcing them to confront their pasts to save their future.
In this adrenaline-fueled world of EMS, the lives of Kitty, Zuri, Angell, and Eric intertwine in ways they never expected. Their call to duty transcends the ordinary as they become humanity's last line of defense against a supernatural threat. Every siren heralds a potential showdown, challenging them to redefine what it means to be 'of service.' Follow these warriors on a gripping journey where every heartbeat could signal a supernatural confrontation.
I’ve seen some ex-EMTs be effusive about this one, which is promising! I’m actually not sure I’ve ever seen EMTs in fantasy before, but I love the premise already!
Genres: Adult, Horror
Published on: 24th September 2024
Goodreads
Devils Kill Devils is perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Certain Dark Things and Southern gothic horror. Johnny Compton brings his trademark terror and dread that readers fell in love with in The Spite House to a new roster of monsters—angels, devils, vampires—and a heart-pounding race to save the world.
When all hell breaks loose, you need a devil on your side
Sarita has been watched over by a guardian angel her entire life. She calls him Angelo, and keeps him a secret. But secrets can’t stay buried forever… When Angelo murders someone she loves, Sarita begins to see what's really been lurking in the shadows surrounding her. And she will have to embrace the evil within if she hopes to make it out alive.
Johnny Compton, critically acclaimed author of The Spite House and master of dread, takes you on a terrifying race of one woman against the hordes of hell.
Protective – or not-so-protective – monsters? Um, yes PLEASE? Plus, I’m always interested in seeing how dark/serious SFF does angels.
Genres: Adult, Speculative Fiction
Published on: 24th September 2024
Goodreads
Franz Kafka meets Yorgos Lanthimos in this provocative new novel from one of America’s most brilliant and distinctive writers
In a speculative future, Abel, a menial worker, is called to serve in a secretive and fabled jury system. At the heart of this system is the repeat room, where a single juror, selected from hundreds of candidates, is able to inhabit the defendant’s lived experience, to see as if through their eyes.
The case to which Abel is assigned is revealed in the novel’s shocking second act. We receive a record of a boy’s broken and constrained life, a tale that reveals an illicit and passionate psycho-sexual relationship, its end as tragic as the circumstances of its conception.
Artful in its suspense, and sharp in its evocation of a byzantine and cruel bureaucracy, The Repeat Room is an exciting and pointed critique of the nature of knowledge and judgment, and a vivid framing of Ball’s absurd and nihilistic philosophy of love.
WELL. This sounds fascinating – although I’m immediately wondering why only one juror goes through the repeat room; why not all of them??? Regardless, very cool concept, and I can’t wait to see what Ball does with it!
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Queer Protagonists, YA
Representation: Bisexual trans MC, sapphic love interest
Protagonist Age: 16
Published on: 24th September 2024
Goodreads
In the gripping first novel in the Daughters of the Empty Throne trilogy, author Margaret Killjoy spins a tale of earth magic, power struggle, and self-invention in an own-voices story of trans witchcraft.
Lorel has always dreamed of becoming a witch: learning magic, fighting monsters, and exploring the world beyond the small town where she and her mother run the stables. Even though a strange plague is killing the trees in the Kingdom of Cekon and witches are being blamed for it, Lorel wants nothing more than to join them. There’s only one problem: all witches are women, and she was born a boy.
When the coven comes to claim her best friend, Lorel disguises herself in a dress and joins in her friend’s place, leaving home and her old self behind. She soon discovers the dark powers threatening the kingdom: a magical blight scars the land, and the power-mad Duchess Helte is crushing everything between her and the crown. In spite of these dangers, Lorel makes friends and begins learning magic from the powerful witches in her coven. However, she fears that her new friends and mentors will find out her secret and kick her out of the coven, or worse.
Sapling Cage is Crossover, which means it that if you drew a Venn diagram of YA and Adult, Sapling Cage would be in the middle, overlapping part. It infuses the traditional Medieval-esque setting with anarchist thought and philosophy, putting a trans girl front and centre without making it a story about being trans. I’m so happy it exists!
You can read an excerpt here!
Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists, YA
Representation: Polyamory
Published on: 24th September 2024
Goodreads
Spirit away with a whimsical fantasy filled with dark magic and flirty, polyamorous romance.
Cursed to haunt the river running through the magical spa town where she drowned, Gisela is a water nymph who dreams of returning to the living world and the family she left behind. All it takes to regain her humanity is a kiss from a mortal...but everyone sees her as a monster.
And then there’s Kazik, the brooding, interfering, spirit-hunting grandson of a local witch. He's determined to rid the world of unholy creatures like Gisela. After Kazik botches Gisela’s exorcism, she strikes up a deal. She won’t tell the other spirits that he’s losing his magic, if he agrees to play matchmaker and helps her get a kiss. But Gisela’s plan goes awry when Kazik also falls for the devilishly handsome young man that she sets her heart on—someone who could be linked to Gisela’s troubled past.
Finely crafted with a magical setting, this delectable quest through the spirit world is an enchanting read for fans of queer romantasy.
Another author releasing her third novel after I adored her first two! Jasinska’s prose is, frankly, sinfully gorgeous, and I am SO HERE for her take on fantasy polyamory!
You can read an excerpt here!
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists, YA
Representation: M/M
Published on: 24th September 2024
Goodreads
Before he can be reborn, Zan has spent 499 years bound in a 500-year curse to process souls for the monstrous Ferryman―and if he fails he dies.
In Portland, Bastian is grieving. He survived a car accident that took his mother and impulse-purchased a crumbling bookstore with the life insurance money.
But in sleep, death’s mark keeps dragging Bastian into Zan’s office. It shouldn’t be a problem to log his soul and forget he ever existed. But when Zan follows Bastian through his memories of grief and hope, Zan realizes that he is not ready for Bastian to die.
The boys borrow time hiding in the memories of the dead while the Ferryman hunts them, and Zan must decide if he’s willing to give up his chance at life to save Bastian―and Bastian must decide if he’s willing to keep living if it means losing Zan.
Calling it now: this is going to put my heart through the ringer. Meep!
Will you be reading any of these? Did I miss any releases you think I should know about? Let me know!
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