Must-Have Monday is a feature where I gather together the books I think you should know about from the coming week’s new releases. It is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all books being published that week; only those I want to highlight out of those I’m aware of! The focus is diverse SFF, but other stuff occasionally makes it in too. Corrections and suggestions are very welcome!

TWENTY-NINE books this week!

(Books are listed in order of pub date, then Adult SFF, Adult Other, YA SFF, YA Other, MG SFF.)

A Long and Speaking Silence (The Singing Hills Cycle, #7) by Nghi Vo
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: East Asian-inspired setting and cast, nonbinary MC
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

From USA Today bestselling author Nghi Vo comes a beautiful new tale in the Hugo Award-winning Singing Hills Cycle, drawn from the earliest days of Chih's career as a wandering cleric.

"Nghi Vo is so good."—NPR on The Brides of High Hill

Every story begins somewhere.

On the banks of the Ya-lé River, the town of Luntien gathers to celebrate the start of the rainy season, but the celebration is marred by the arrival of refugees from the sea. Everyone has a story about the foreigners newly in their midst—lazy, violent, unwanted—while the refugees themselves grieve the loss of the home they loved.

Cleric Chih, very recently still Novice Chih, is also a stranger in Luntien. A moment of carelessness and bad luck leaves them waiting tables as they struggle to establish themself as a real cleric. A cleric’s job is to listen and record, but the stories emerging in Luntien are ugly and violent, as hard to predict as the river itself. With their hoopoe companion Almost Brilliant by their side, Chih must help the refugees while also unraveling a mystery that may have roots in their own faraway home in the abbey of Singing Hills.

In the seventh entry of the award-winning Singing Hills series, we meet Chih and Almost Brilliant just beginning their journey together as Chih assumes their place on the road and in the world.

The novellas of the Singing Hills series are standalone stories linked by the Cleric Chih, and may be read in any order.

NEW NGHI VO NEW NHI VO AHHHHHHHH!!! Anything from Nhi Vo is a gift, but I admit to especially loving the Singing Hills series! And since this novella is chronologically earliest in the series, if you’re NOT reading these books yet, you ought to be able to start here!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Read Excerpt beneath the book cover)

Platform Decay (The Murderbot Diaries, #8) by Martha Wells
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Asexual agender MC
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment in Martha Wells' bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.

Having someone else support your bad decision feels kind of good.

Having volunteered to run a rescue mission, Murderbot realises that it will have to spend significant time with a bunch of humans it doesn't know.

Including human children. Ugh.

This may well call for... eye contact!

(Emotion check: Oh, for f—)

NEW MURDERBOT NEW MUDERBOT EEEEEEEEEE! Yes, like everyone else on the planet I love this series and have been counting down the days to the next instalment! I believe this should be one of the longer instalments, too!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Read Excerpt beneath the book cover)

When Everything Was Fresh and Green (The House Coven Chronicles Book 1) by Bethany Tap
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Queer MC, F/F, BIPOC characters
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

When Tessa, a single foster mom, is charged with the care of Astrid, an abandoned teen witch, the world as she knew it disappears. Discovering secrets about her lost foster child Theo, Tessa follows Astrid and a fabulous witch named Cece to a magical house. There, she joins the ranks of Magix, including a burly siren, a snake-charming ogress, a morbid little vampire, a pair of wild werewolf toddlers, and a coven of ice fairies, all of whom are in hiding from a murderous organization hell-bent on destroying the magical and non-magical worlds alike.

Interwoven with Tessa's journey is the story of three friends: Val, Tish, and Gunner. Letters between the three outline their work to prevent a looming climate crisis at all costs. As their story collides with Tessa's, it becomes clear that Tessa, Astrid, Cece, and even sweet Theo are mixed up in something far more sinister than they realized. Tessa must set aside her disbelief, fear, grief, self-doubt, and even her growing infatuation with Cece to join Astrid on a journey to find her family, finding her own family and the truth of herself along the way.

Love the sound of this, and especially happy to see a foster parent featured!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Free Preview beneath the book cover)

The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee
Genres: Adult, Sci Fi, Dystopia
Representation: Japanese (?) MC
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

Get ready to be blown away by this searing standalone space opera where corporate samurai fight beneath merciless stars, and death is always a mere breath away.

Isako is a legendary swordswoman, but every legend has to come to an end. When her long-time client unexpectedly retires, she plans to follow--to walk out into the frozen wasteland of their planet with her head held high and her family enriched by her legacy. But when a competitor offers her a final mission, it's one she can't refuse. Soon, she's thrust deep into a world of corporate espionage, duty-bound duels, and shadowy secrets. What she uncovers will change humanity's existence in the stars forever.

The Last Contract of Isako is the space opera you didn't know you needed: corporate samurai... in space. This is the first adult science fiction novel from the award-winning author of Jade City.

This one wasn’t for me, but only because it’s fairly bleak, not because it’s objectively bad at all! I get the strong impression that if you loved the feel/vibes of Green Bone Saga, you’ll love this as well.

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Free Preview beneath the book cover)

The Wives of Herrick Hall by Julie Lew
Genres: Adult, Horror, Queer Protagonists
Representation: F/F
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

Herrick Hall doesn’t let anything go without a fight. Least of all its masters’ dead wives...

After a dalliance with another woman leaves her reputation in shambles, Josephine Carter is banished to the isolated manor to serve as lady’s companion to Herrick’s mistress. Lady Nora Blake is a headstrong, capricious woman, who spends her days convalescing from a mysterious illness—and her nights witnessing her imminent death over and over. Shackled to her side, Josephine is certain life could not get worse. But then she meets the Herrick wives. Ghosts veiled in shadow stalk the halls and trespass into Josephine’s dreams, trapped forever in the fury of their last dying to destroy Herrick and everyone beneath its roof. Josephine determines to escape by any means necessary.

Until she and Nora fall in love.

Together, Josephine and Nora must confront Herrick’s curse to battle their way to freedom. But Herrick has already claimed them as its next ghostly brides, and neither the house nor its vengeful wives will relinquish them without bloodshed…

I have been hearing SUCH great things about this one, and I love the set-up!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Preview Now beneath/beside the book cover)

She Waits Where Shadows Gather: A Novel by Michelle Tang
Genres: Adult, Horror
Representation: Filipino MC
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

Parents should pass down stories, not spirits…

Avery and Carlos Tam have built their lives on logic, not legends. Carlos, the host of a hit reality show that exposes paranormal hoaxes, has made a name disproving the supernatural.

But when they travel to his ancestral home in the Philippines, darkness clings to every corner. The mirrors are shrouded. The housekeeper won't stay in the house alone. And no one will speak of the tragedies the family has seen.

Then a brutal car crash leaves Carlos trapped in his own body—silent, helpless, and utterly vulnerable. As Avery tends to him, the house begins to stir. It watches. It listens. And it speaks—in a voice only Carlos can hear—offering a twisted kind of comfort.

And as the lies buried by Carlos and his family begin to surface, Avery must confront the if the past won't rest, their future may never begin.

Some inherit memories. Others inherit monsters.

I feel like we’ve been seeing more books lately about supernatural-deniers getting hit with actual ghosts et al, and I do not disapprove in the slightest.

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Preview Now beneath/beside the book cover)

The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy
Representation: Hongkonger MCs and setting
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book Eaters comes a dark fantasy set in a historical Hong Kong that combines ancient myths and local legends into a haunting story of ghosts, grief, and women who will not forgive.

When Mercy Chan washed up on the shores of Hong Kong with no family, no money, and no memories, she was thrust into the horrors of World War II. She survived by hiding in Kowloon Walled City, an infamous, ghost-infested slum full of lost and traumatised civilians. Since the end of the war, she has rebuilt her life and found work with the local triad as a ghost-talker, dealing with the angry and bitter spirits who haunt this place. These days, the alleyways of Kowloon feel like home.

But the past she can’t remember won’t let her go. An unusually powerful ghost has infested Kowloon’s waterways, drowning innocents and threatening the district. Unnervingly, it claims to know Mercy—and her forgotten childhood. As Mercy is drawn into a deadly cat-and-mouse game with this malignant spirit, she begins to realize that the monster she fights within these walls may well be one of her own making.

Thirty-three years before, mere days ahead of the Japanese invasion, Sung Siu Yin and her mother flee Hong Kong, intending to hide out on her mother's ancestral island home. It’s beautiful, tranquil, and remote… but also inhabited by ghosts ever since the entire village drowned in a storm many years ago. Still, it’s better than living under occupation.

But as the war drags on and isolation sets in, Siu Yin is increasingly drawn into the island's grim past—a past that may still have a hold on the present. There is a darkness lurking beneath that idyllic ocean, and it has been waiting many years for someone to return.

I suspect this one won’t be for me, but from the reviews it IS for a lot of other people!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Preview Now beneath/beside the book cover)

The Republic of Memory (The Song of the Safina #1) by Mahmud El Sayed
Genres: Adult, Sci Fi
Representation: Arabfuturist cast
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

A Memory Called Empire meets Children of Time in this Arabfuturist debut set on a generation ship on the brink of revolution as its crew begin to ask why they should toil for a people, and an empire, none of them remember.

The Safina is a city ship halfway through its four-hundred-year voyage from the ruins of Earth to a new colony world. Its crew maintain the ship, generation after generation, while protecting their ancestors in cryostasis so that one day they will be able to enjoy a fresh start under clear blue skies.

But when blackouts start, unrest follows.

The ship can only continue running smoothly with the cooperation of the crew. And the crew has had enough. As coordinated acts of resistance coincide with a much more complex conspiracy, a chain of events is set into motion that will change life on the Safina forever.

Inspired by the real-world events of the Arab Spring, The Republic of Memory is a bold interrogation of empire and an energizing portrait of revolution.

So incredibly excited for this one – Arabfuturism! Generation ships! And inspiration from the Arab Spring! HERE FOR IT.

Earthly Playing Field by Radhika Singh
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi, Speculative Fiction
Representation: Indian and American-Indian MCs
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

A speculative novel of anti-imperialist queer imagination set in a science-fictional future that is rooted in the lovingly-portrayed context of the Punjabi global diaspora.

Love and revolution in a crumbling world order . . .

Roma has a full-time job, a mortgage, and a loving family in Queens. Life is good in the center of the Empire, but on the outskirts, soldiers wage a brutal war against a besieged people. When her stepbrother Ranbir entrusts her with a mysterious plant, Roma discovers it’s a startlingly sophisticated piece of bioengineered technology that opens a portal for an extra-terrestrial spirit body that brings news of a liberated future.

While Ranbir joins forces with the spirit body to confront the nucleus of automated warfare, his brother Khushbir has more local concerns, and is organizing the Punjabi farmers’ protest. Meanwhile, Roma is occupied with existential questions about complicity and faith that have her reconsidering her role within this global struggle.

What follows draws Roma and her family onto the frontlines of the resistance – and in Roma’s case, into the path of a woman whose heart will only ever belong to the revolution.

This sounds amazing to me and I’m grabby-hands for it!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Preview Now beneath/beside the book cover)

Shy Trans Banshee by Tony Santorella
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Gay MC, major nonbinary character, major trans character
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

The much-anticipated follow-up to the word-of-mouth bestseller Bored Gay Werewolf! Order now to get your copy with glow-in-the-dark ink!

Brian, Nik, and Darby—three friends well-versed in battling supernatural crime (when Brian isn't busy committing it once a month as a werewolf)—are dispatched to London to track down a missing colleague. But prowling the city leads them straight into a clairvoyancy smuggling ring.

Who is kidnapping all the fortune tellers in Soho, and why? And is it a coincidence, fate, or something far more sinister that Maeve—a timid trans woman searching for her birth mother—arrives on their doorstep with the uncanny ability to predict what's coming next?

This is the sequel to Bored Gay Werewolf, which earned a spot on my favourites shelf! I got to read Shy Trans Banshee when it released in the UK, and I didn’t love it quite as much as Werewolf but it still rocks!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Preview beneath the book cover – make sure you allow pop-ups!)

Penric's Intrigues (World of the Five Gods) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Cosy Fantasy
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

TWO OF PENRIC’S MOST INTRIGUING TALES—A SHORT NOVEL AND NOVELLA, COLLECTED TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME

From Lois McMaster Bujold come the latest entries in the fan favorite fantasy series, Penric & Desdemona. With a brand new introduction from the Science Fiction Grand Master herself, this collection is a must have for fans!

The Assassins of Thasalon, the short novel

An unholy attack upon his brother-in-law, General Arisaydia, pitches sorcerer Learned Penric and his Temple demon Desdemona headlong into the snake-pit of Cedonian imperial politics. But they will not travel alone. The mission from his god brings Penric some of his strangest new allies yet, and the return of some of his most valued old ones.

Knot of Shadows, the novella

When a corpse is found floating face-down in Vilnoc harbor that is not quite as dead as it seems, Temple sorcerer Penric and his chaos demon Desdemona are drawn into the uncanny investigation. Pen’s keen questions will take him across the city of Vilnoc, and into far more profound mysteries, as his search for truths interlaces with tragedy.

New Penric omnibus from Baen! This one collects Assassins of Thasalon, thus far the only novel in the series, with Knot of Shadows. I so adore the covers Baen’s been commissioning for these omnibuses!

Shadow Winged (The Shadow Winged Chronicles, 1) by Jilleen Dolbeare
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Representation: Indigenous Alaskan MC
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

The dark gods of my people are back, and they’re hunting the shadow-winged — like me.

Being a bush pilot is the third most dangerous job in the world. I’m Piper Tikaani, and I take that in stride. As an Inupiaq Raven Clan shapeshifter—flying is second nature, whether in my supernatural form or tackling the skies in my Super Cub.

Strong winds, rugged terrain, and rough clients are all the excitement I need. But when a family friend is found dead on the roof of his wilderness cabin, I find myself caught in a world of hidden treasure and a new, dark reality.

Now the people I love hide things from me and ancient, terrifying beasts stalk the land.
To survive, I must discover the truth about the treasure, my clan, and myself—which means exposing my secret to the very creatures hunting me: ice age were-predators determined to see me dead.

Urban fantasy, but with Alaskan folklore! I think this trilogy was previously published a few years back, but now we have gorgeous new covers!

You can read an excerpt of the earlier edition here!

Cousins From a Distant Sun by Tamar Myers
Genres: Adult, Sci Fi, Cosy Sci Fi
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

An archaeologist is drawn into a mission to save a mysterious community of supernatural beings hiding deep within the Andes in this humorous, offbeat novel.

Archaeologist Ruth Baker is in Peru for a new dig, but discovers more than she bargained for—a secret community of giant supernatural beings hiding in the mountains.

The Wanami were originally kidnapped from Earth by aliens thousands of years ago to work on planet Qoom. Eventually they were shipped back and lived happily alongside the Inca civilization—until they were forced to take refuge in the treasure-filled caves beneath the Incan monuments they helped to build.

Now, a new threat has emerged—and Ruth is the only thing that stands between them and real extinction! Can she persuade the outside world to help ensure their survival, or will the human lust for gold cause her efforts to backfire spectacularly?

A rollicking adventure perfect for fans of quirky, fun science fiction from Riley August and Becky Chambers.

I’ve thought this sounded adorable since I first heard about it; here’s hoping it’s as sweet and cozy as it sounds! (And if you haven’t preordered it yet, the ebook is currently just over €1 on Kobo!)

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Preview Now beneath/beside the book cover)

Homebound by Portia Elan
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi, Speculative Fiction
Representation: Queer MC/s
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

Five interlocking lives. One beloved story. A dazzling adventure across centuries and continents in search of the things that hold us together.

It’s 1983 and Becks can’t wait to get the hell out of Cincinnati. She’s nineteen, blasting her Walkman, and hiding from the fact that her beloved uncle, the only person who understood her, is dead. But she has work to he left her a half-finished game to complete—one last collaboration to find her way out of loneliness.

Little does she know, what Becks is making will echo far into the future and shape the lives of a scientist, a sentient automaton, and a flinty sea captain in ways she cannot imagine. All are bound together by their search for connection—and by a futuristic traveler on a mysterious mission through space.

A novel about our deep interconnectedness, Homebound is a clear-eyed, hopeful adventure into humanity’s future and capacity for love.

Possibly too literary for my tastes, but I’ve seen such glowing reviews that I plan on giving it a try anyway!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Excerpt beneath About This Book)

Sisters of the Lizard (The Rakada, #2) by Jackson Ford
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Representation: Central Asian-coded cast
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

The thrilling continuation of a no‑holds‑barred, action‑packed fantasy series from Jackson Ford where a group of charmingly-named Bone Raiders harness the power of gigantic, fire-breathing lizards to defend their homeland from an invading enemy.

"Awesome. Masterfully executed. Frequently hilarious." — Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld on The Bone Raiders

All Sayana wanted was to enjoy her life in the rolling grasslands of the Tapestry. After she and her fellow Rakada managed to ride humongous, fire-breathing lizards to face down the Great Khan’s army, they should have been able to kick back a little for once. Not too much to ask, right?

Instead, the Tapestry is in turmoil – invading armies threaten, the other raider clans are at war, and inside his fortress city of Karkorum, the Khan broods and plots. What’s more, the Rakada’s giant lizards are getting sick, and they have no idea how to cure them. If they die, there's no telling what might happen to the Tapestry.

But then the Rakada receive a vision – apparently from the gods. A deep emerald pool surrounded by bone-white sands – one that may be able to heal their lizards. With no other option, the raiders set out on an epic quest across the mountains and into the desert.

But the danger that awaits them will be one greater than they’ve ever faced before. These guys really can’t catch a break.

This series sounds so fun, and honestly I’d feature it just for the covers!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Free Preview beneath the book cover)

The Shipwright and the Shroudweaver by Rafael Torrubia
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
Representation: Minor M/M, minor nonbinary character
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

MEET YOUR NEW EPIC FANTASY OBSESSION

No one remembers the calamity that killed the gods and stole the names of their people. Now Shipwright and Shroudweaver are known only by their professions.She's a master of magical shipbuilding. He's a maker of the gilded gods that fuel their sails, stitched from the souls of dead sailors. When a chance to save their world sets the horizon alight, they decide they'll stop at nothing to vanquish the ultimate evil, embarking on a deadly race against time to beat the grief-wracked sorceress

The Shipwright and the Shroudweaver introduces the most exciting new voice in Scottish fantasy with an epic adventure set in a post-apocalyptic landscape of god-fuelled ships, goth-as-hell villains, shadow-warping assassins, effortless queerness, and well-worn love - unmissable for fans of by Jay Kristoff, The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, and Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.

Finally, the hardcover makes it to the US! I admit, I ended up DNFing, but lots of others have loved it – I recommend checking out the reviews before you decide to take this one on.

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Free Preview beneath the book cover)

Ghoul by Kasey Iris
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, YA
Representation: Filipino American MC
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

Be careful what you wish for! This graphic novel about a lonely Filipino American teen and her ghoulish companion puts a spooky twist on the imaginary friend. When they were little, Lyn and Meg promised to be friends forever…but now Meg is dead, and Lyn is 15 and miserable. Moving into a new condo with her family doesn’t help, especially given the gossipy neighbors. But just when Lyn needs a friend the most, a monstrous cartoon ghoul climbs out of the pages of a comic book and into her life! The bizarre duo will soon discover just how many secrets lie within the walls of Forest Court Apartments.

A sweet and spooky-looking graphic novel!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Look Inside beneath the book cover)

That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall
Genres: Horror, YA
Representation: Hawaiian MC
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

A native Hawaiian teen travels to a luxury island resort in search of her missing twin and uncovers the dark side of paradise, in this YA supernatural thriller that's Mexican Gothic meets She is a Haunting.

For the world’s wealthiest, Kōpaʻa Island Resort is more than a destination. It’s the ultimate escape. With no cell service or Wi-Fi, the Hawaiian island is a coveted wellness retreat renowned for its persimmon orchard and promises of rejuvenation.

But their dream vacation is Lehua’s nightmare. When her twin sister, Ohia, goes missing, Lehua follows her trail to Kōpaʻa to find her. Instead, Lehua is cut off from civilization—and help—after the island’s boat leaves without her, stranding her with the resort’s lavish guests and enigmatic staff.

As Lehua investigates Ohia’s disappearance, she discovers her missing sister isn’t the island’s only mystery. Kōpaʻa’s rich exterior and sweet persimmons hide its dark plantation past. And Lehua can’t ignore the dreams haunting her each night—nor the warning telling her to leave the island at once. To uncover what happened to Ohia, Lehua will have to unearth the island’s bloody history and face the horrors that lurk within its sugarcane fields—or risk being consumed by them.

Sharply observed and gorgeously written, That Which Feeds Us explores the true cost of paradise as Lehua must fight to reclaim the land, the stories, and the very souls of her people.

MORE SPOOKINESS! Possibly too creepy for me? But I’m tempted to give it a try anyway…

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Preview Now beneath/beside the book cover)

Between Sun and Shadow by Laura Genn
Genres: Queer Protagonists, Science Fantasy, YA
Representation: F/F
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

Hades and Persephone reimagined on a tidally locked planet, for fans of queer romance, mutant superpowers, eccentric robots, and speculative tech.

Sixteen-year-old Kori struggles to be a dutiful heiress to the Daylands, a post-cataclysmic society reliant on chip implants to retain memory. With a strict routine and an overly cautious mother, Kori has only one friend, Aspect—an industrial robot she’s repurposed. Determined to awaken sentience in her metal companion, Kori crash-lands in enemy territory while hunting for a memory that might do the trick.

Ravaged by radiation from a meteorite, the citizens of the Shadowlands have evolved into beast-like creatures with supernatural abilities. Adria, a winged mutant, has wrested control of the Shadowlands from her bloodthirsty parents—but not everyone is so willing to embrace her leadership. What better way to instill confidence in her court than by capturing a foreign princess and demanding ransom?

However, what began as a political maneuver transforms into a potent attraction as Kori’s longing for relationship echoes Adria’s own. Granted free rein of Adria’s fortress, Kori stumbles upon a startling revelation that could upend the Daylands entirely. As rebellion grows and Adria’s precarious hold on her throne wavers, Adria and Kori must join forces to avert all-out war. Does a queen of shadows really stand a chance with a princess of sunlight? Or has the chasm between their nations grown too wide?

A science fantasy "Beauty and the Beast," this action-packed adventure is written in dual point of view and layered with a charming robot, a cuddly three-headed dog, mind-bending twists, and sapphic yearning.

I believe this is a standalone? And I’ve seen praise for the worldbuilding in this one, which has me intrigued!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Free Preview beneath the book cover)

The Author Immortal Volume 1: Death of the Author by Frank J. Barbiere, Morgan Beem, Kate Kasenow, Lauren Affe, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, Portal Fantasy, YA
Representation: Hispanic/Latino MC, Hispanic/Latine nonbibary MC
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

A queer, literary fantasy about the stories that shape us -- and what happens when we outgrow them.

Hector Ramirez dreamed of changing the world with words. Years later, he’s given one last chance: to help reboot the fantasy series that shaped his childhood. But when he discovers the author has vanished into his own creation, Hector is pulled into a realm built from fiction and ruled by a story that refuses to end.

He’s not alone. Along for the journey is Al, his nonbinary teen child searching for their place in both the real world and the story that now threatens to consume them. Alethea, once the series’ bright young mage heroine, also fights alongside them as a battle-worn warrior, questioning whether she still belongs to the story she was created to serve. Together, they must uncover the forces tearing this world apart and what it means to live inside a story that no longer wants you.

As fiction and reality collide, Hector, Al, and Alethea face a painful truth: to move forward, they’ll have to confront the very story that made them.

From writer Frank J. Barbiere (Five Ghosts) and artist Morgan Beem (Swamp Thing: Twin Branches), The Author Immortal is a lush, character-driven fantasy for fans of Nimona, Lore Olympus, and Monstress—a mythic, deeply human story about creation, queerness, and finding yourself in the ruins of someone else’s myth.

Another graphic novel, this one with fairly mixed reviews. I love the premise, though, so on the tbr it goes!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Look Inside beneath the book description)

Body Count by Codie Crowley
Genres: Horror, Queer Protagonists, YA
Representation: Lesbian MC
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

In this sapphic slasher novel, Sundae Valentine made a deal with a monster in Wildwood, N.J., when she was a child, and barely escaped with her life. Six years later, Sundae’s braving Wildwood again for a killer beach party to celebrate prom with the cheerleaders and the football team. But the monster is back, too, and this time he’ll stop at nothing to make sure she pays her debts.

Reviews for this have been pretty mixed, but I still like that premise so…

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Free Preview beneath the book cover)

You Pierce My Soul by Jessica Mary Best
Genres: Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi, Dystopia, YA
Representation: Sapphic (fat?) MC, F/F
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

In the utopian city of New Ionia, everyone gets a soulmate and Zada can’t wait for hers. Now that she’s eighteen, it’s her turn to meet her destiny with the help of Heartsong, an algorithm that chooses your perfect match for you.

Then Zada crashes into her soulmate, setting off their shared Heartsong, and the unthinkable happens: She feels nothing for him. But the program doesn’t make mistakes, and by the end of the night, Zada is engaged to a man she doesn’t love.

Desperate, Zada turns to a surprising ally: her daringly beautiful former best friend, Daphne. Despite their estrangement, Daphne may be the only person who can help Zada uncover the truth about Heartsong. But can she trust her after all this time? And if what they find upends everything, can Zada find the courage to choose what she believes—and who she loves?

Packed with shocking plot twists, You Pierce My Soul is a romantic and thrilling queer dystopian YA novel from a writer to watch.

Probably not for now-me, but good gods baby!Sia would have been all over this a decade or two back!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Free Preview beneath the book cover)

Where There Be Spies (The Outersphere #2) by Alby C. Williams
Genres: Fantasy, MG
Representation: Black MC
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

Monsters, magic, and mischief abound once more in the spellbinding sequel to Where There Be Monsters, perfect for fans of The Marvellers and Amari and the Night Brothers.

Glory Brown is finally set to start her training as a junior spherinaut at the Parliamentarium. Will she turn out to be an owl, a bee, a fox, or a magpie, like her mama? She's been waiting a lifetime for this adventure . . . and yet all she wants to do is make her family proud and try not to be homesick for the Seam and all its charm.

As Glory struggles to find her place as the new kid—one with a lot of questions and a soft spot for monsters—she's also coping with the after-effects of Paxton's treachery, like the curse that still plagues her. In fact, the worlds of the Outersphere are all in the process of recovering—and Glory suspects they haven't seen the last of Paxton, either.

When top secret spherinautical charts go missing, parcels are tampered with, and the pocket-orreries go haywire, the Parliamentarium of Junior Spherinauts plunges into chaos. Now, Glory, Marcus, and their new friends must work together to figure out who the thief is and if they have what it takes to save the worlds again.

I haven’t gotten around to reading the first book yet, so I’ve not let myself look at the description of this one for fear of spoilers…

The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia: An Illustrated Novel by Leia Ham
Genres: Fantasy, MG
Representation: Chinese MC
Published on: 5th May 2026
Goodreads

Welcome to a world that depends on magic - but where each person's magic fades away before they reach adulthood.

The pressure is on for Sparrow Xia to develop her pitifully limited fire mage abilities at Zenith Academy. It doesn’t help that expectations are extra high for her because her older brother Ainsley’s magic is exceptionally powerful – the burn scar on Sparrow’s cheek is proof of that. Sparrow can only hope that her studies will help her discover her fire and finally make her family proud.

At Zenith, Sparrow does indeed gain magical strength – and new friends – but her life at school raises more questions than answers. Should she risk her own future in order to help others? And is Sparrow’s magic the most important thing about her?

Then a mysterious illness breaks out at school, draining students of their powers. Sparrow and her friends are drawn into the search for the cause, but they need to be in a world where magic means everything, some people will go to terrible lengths to try to keep it…

Been hearing good things about this one, and the illustrations I’ve seen look lovely!

You can see some pages and illustrations here! (Beneath the book cover)

The Forgetting Navigations by Marlee Jane Ward
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: F/F
Published on: 6th May 2026
Goodreads

Abandoned in a lifepod in the vastness of space, Evey is left for dead. When the bookish freight hauler Shirr rescues her, the two form a connection over tea and unspoken trauma. Just when things feel safe again, their peace is threatened by a relic of their past, and they’re forced to embark on a mission across the stars to protect themselves and others from the threat of violence. THE FORGETTING NAVIGATIONS is a brutally honest exploration of what it means to be a survivor, set against the brilliant backdrop of the cosmos.

Here for bookish freight haulers!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Preview Now beneath/beside the book cover)

Mercutio by Kate Heartfield
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Bisexual MC
Published on: 7th May 2026
Goodreads

From Sunday Times bestselling author of The Embroidered Book and The Valkyrie comes an opulent 13th century epic retelling of the life of Mercutio before he ever encountered Romeo and Juliet.

On the battlefield, as warring factions deal out death, young Mercutio chances upon the charismatic poet Dante Alighieri. In their desperate stand against the enemy, they inadvertently open a crack between our world and Faerie, literally changing the stars over Mercutio’s head, and creating a mysterious presence who will follow Mercutio for all the days of his life.

With new stars come new destinies for young men who will travel to the ends of the Earth to honour the bonds of love and friendship.

As outcasts and exiles, Mercutio and Dante find family in a band of fighters called the Montecchi, near Verona. With his friends at his side, Mercutio will battle to change his stars, and to free the changeling upon whose fate hangs the future of the human world.

I’ve enjoyed a few of Heartfield’s books now and I’m so excited for this one!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Preview Now beneath/beside the book cover)

Havisham by Elle Machray
Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Queer MC
Published on: 7th May 2026
Goodreads

Charlotte Havisham has a secret.

She's been underestimated for too long: by her former fiancé, Compeyson; by her family; and by society.

But now her true heart's desire is within reach for the first time. And she will stop at nothing to get it.

This is the story of Miss Havisham as you've never heard it before.

And she will exceed all expectations.

A thrilling and immersive historical novel, Havisham is a queer feminist reimagining in which Dickens' most infamous female character tells her side of the story at last.

Did anybody have ‘Great Expectations retelling queering Miss Havisham’ on their bingo card? No? Me neither, but this sounds marvellous and I can’t wait to check it out!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Preview Now beneath/beside the book cover)

The Victors by Wren James, Beth Fuller, Lauren James
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary Fantasy, Queer Protagonists, YA
Representation: Trans MC, queernorm world
Published on: 7th May 2026
Goodreads

Contemporary-meets-fantasy in a YA graphic novel about what happens after the chosen one has saved the world.

The prophecy foretold they would be enemies … it didn’t mention they’d be flatmates.

At fifteen, Dirk Earnest led the world to victory in a savage battle against the evil overlord Rárog and his demon horde. Now he’s just a normal university student – or he’s trying to be. As the poster boy for fighting evil, Dirk has many adoring fans who follow his every move, but he’s crushingly lonely.

Cue his new housemate, Medusa de la Nuage: art student, former demon soldier, war criminal … and Dirk’s nemesis.

With Dirk haunted by the ghosts of his past, and Medusa’s desire for human connection battling her demonic nature, the two are about to discover that the best friend you need most might be your (ex) mortal enemy.

A witty, compassionate and inventive graphic novel from Wren James, who has writing credits on the TV show Heartstopper, paired with an exciting debut artist.

LOVE the sound of this, love what I’ve seen of the art style, have heard nothing but glowing praise for all of it!

You can see some of the art (and read about the making of the graphic novel) here!

Storm Bringer (Storm Chasers Book 1) by Tig Wallace
Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists, YA
Representation: Queer MC
Published on: 7th May 2026
Goodreads

Obey the storm, or die with it ...

Amelio’s world is divided by the Fault, a canyon separating him from Nimira, the storm-ravaged kingdom on the other side where magic is used freely.

When Amelio’s storm chaser mother goes missing, he is forced across the Fault, joining a mission to locate the source of a leviathan storm. As magic stirs within him, Amelio must also contend with Paige, a wildcard with a thirst for chaos, and Vintane, a criminal with an agenda of his own.

The storm chase of a lifetime is underway and Amelio must unite warring provinces and confront his own destiny – before the most powerful storm ever seen destroys them all . . .

The first book in an epic all-action fantasy series from new YA star Tig Wallace
The magical setting of Shadow and Bone meets the breathtaking action-peril of Twisters
Close-up action in an intricately-crafted, extraordinary fantasy world where magic and science collide – and divide
Think Mad Max chase scenes, a unique magic system and a queer love triangle

'A pulse-pounding ride through a unique, thrilling new world that's crackling with adventure, romance and magic' EMILY SUVADA, author of THIS MORTAL COIL

'Electric ... STORM BRINGER shakes with thunder' CASS BIEHN

'An exhilarating adventure through a dazzling fantasy world whirling with storms, magic and romance.' M.A. KUZNIAR

'This is the fantastical love triangle I've been waiting for since Twilight and The Hunger Games, but make it queer' PAGE POWARS

'A perfect storm of adventure and intrigue!' ERIK J. BROWN

'This one-of-a-kind book is a high-voltage thrill ride that you'll never forget.' CALE DIETRICH

'A book of massive scope and scale written fearlessly and brilliantly' BEN OLIVER

Not clear on whether this is going to feature storm-magic, but I’m hoping so!

You can read an excerpt here! (Where it says Preview Now beneath/beside the book cover)

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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