Must-Have Monday #95

Posted 25th July 2022 by Sia in Must-Have Mondays / 0 Comments

We have ALIENS, we have UNICORNS, we have KIDS ON HOLIDAY FROM HELL amongst this week’s NINE new releases!

A Half-Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys
Genres: Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Queernorm world, Jewish sapphic MC, Jewish trans spouse, F/F, major character with prosthetic limb, major trans character, multiple neogenders
Published on: 26th July 2022
Goodreads

On a warm March night in 2083, Judy Wallach-Stevens wakes to a warning of unknown pollutants in the Chesapeake Bay. She heads out to check what she expects to be a false alarm--and stumbles upon the first alien visitors to Earth. These aliens have crossed the galaxy to save humanity, convinced that the people of Earth must leave their ecologically-ravaged planet behind and join them among the stars. And if humanity doesn't agree, they may need to be saved by force.

The watershed networks aren't ready to give up on Earth. Decades ago, they rose up to exile the last corporations to a few artificial islands, escape the dominance of nation-states, and reorganize humanity around the hope of keeping their world liveable. By sharing the burden of decision-making, they've started to heal the wounded planet.

But now corporations, nation-states, and networks all vie to represent humanity to these powerful new beings, and if any one accepts the aliens' offer, Earth may be lost. With everyone’s eyes turned skyward, everything hinges on the success of Judy's effort to create understanding, both within and beyond her own species.

I called this one of the best books of the decade in my review, and I stand by that. If you have any interest in futuristic scifi at all, you have to read it!

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows
Genres: Fantasy, Secondary World Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Brown cast, gay MCs, M/M, major mute character, secondary nonbinary character, secondary trans character, queernorm culture
Published on: 26th July 2022
Goodreads

“Stolen me? As soon to say a caged bird can be stolen by the sky.”

Velasin vin Aaro never planned to marry at all, let alone a girl from neighboring Tithena. When an ugly confrontation reveals his preference for men, Vel fears he’s ruined the diplomatic union before it can even begin. But while his family is ready to disown him, the Tithenai envoy has a different solution: for Vel to marry his former intended’s brother instead.

Caethari Aeduria always knew he might end up in a political marriage, but his sudden betrothal to a man from Ralia, where such relationships are forbidden, comes as a shock.

With an unknown faction willing to kill to end their new alliance, Vel and Cae have no choice but to trust each other. Survival is one thing, but love—as both will learn—is quite another.

Byzantine politics, lush sexual energy, and a queer love story that is by turns sweet and sultry. A Strange and Stubborn Endurance is an exploration of gender, identity, and self-worth. It is a book that will live in your heart long after you turn the last page.

This is another incredible book – very different from Half-Built Garden, but one I loved just as dearly! It’s a queer romantic fantasy, with political intrigue, great worldbuilding, and a fabulous cast, and although it does deal with some darker themes, it’s actually enormously escapist.

You can read my review here!

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
Genres: Fantasy
Published on: 26th July 2022
Goodreads

INCLUDES A NEW INTRODUCTION BY PATRICK ROTHFUSS

Experience one of the most enduring classics of the twentieth century and the book that The Atlantic has called “one of the best fantasy novels ever.”

The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone...

...so she ventured out from the safety of the enchanted forest on a quest for others of her kind. Joined along the way by the bumbling magician Schmendrick and the indomitable Molly Grue, the unicorn learns all about the joys and sorrows of life and love before meeting her destiny in the castle of a despondent monarch—and confronting the creature that would drive her kind to extinction....

In The Last Unicorn, renowned and beloved novelist Peter S. Beagle spins a poignant tale of love, loss, and wonder that has resonated with millions of readers around the world.

“Peter S. Beagle illuminates with his own particular magic.”—Ursula K. Le Guin

The Last Unicorn, originally published in the 60s, is getting a new edition with the author’s preferred text! This is a slightly less-big-deal in the US, where The Last Unicorn has never been out of print, but next month it’s also being republished in the UK, where it’s been out of print for decades. And in both the US and UK, it’s finally getting an ebook edition!

ABOUT TIME!

All the Hometowns You Can't Stay Away from by Izzy Wasserstein
Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Queer MCs
Published on: 26th July 2022
Goodreads

In her debut collection, Izzy Wasserstein pries the lid off fourteen different worlds from an already impressive short fiction career. In these pages, you'll meet ne'er-do-wells and orphans, investigators and revolutionaries, diplomats and doctoral students. Wasserstein has a gift for putting her finger on the meaty parts of grief, the catalysts of change, and the pain points of community.

This collection contains fourteen stories, two of which have never been seen before! Case of the Soane Museum Thefts unveils a crime of magical curation for its protagonist to puzzle over, while Blades, Stones, and the Weight of Centuries brings us the heir to an empire poised at the threshold of change.

Any book published by Neon Hemlock is worth a closer look, and All the Hometowns You Can’t Stay Away From has garnered some seriously impressive praise from some names I very much respect. Definitely pouncing on this one when it arrives!

The Truthspoken Heir: The Stars and Green Magics Season One by Novae Caelum
Genres: Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Published on: 26th July 2022
Goodreads

Two shapeshifting heirs, one interstellar kingdom. When royals can be anyone else including each other, who will rule?

Arianna can impersonate anyone in her star kingdom, keeping nobles in check as the Truthspoken Heir. But Arianna's shapeshifting powers fail her when she's attacked at her betrothal to a rival prince, her title torn away.

Dressa never wanted to be the Heir, but she has a crush on the beautiful prince, and someone needs to hold the kingdom against plotting nobles.

One sibling cast out, one sister in the fray, and enemies all around. Can they steer their kingdom from the coming storm?

Fans of Ancillary Justice and Winter's Orbit will enjoy The Stars and Green Magics, an ongoing space opera serial with diverse main characters, epic worldbuilding, and strong romantic undertones. The Truthspoken Heir collects episodes 1-36, the complete first season, as well as three extra beginning episodes.

As hard as I looked, I couldn’t find details on what kind of representation is included in the ‘diverse cast’, but I love the premise of a royal heir who keeps nobles on their toes with their shapeshifting ability!

The Witchery by S. Isabelle
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Queer and BIPOC MCs
Published on: 26th July 2022
Goodreads

A bewitching debut by S. Isabelle, perfect for fans of Maggie Stiefvater, Zoraida Córdova, and Leigh Bardugo!

THE HAUNTING SEASON IS HERE AND THE WOLVES ARE AWAKE.

Haelsford, Florida is a Hellmouth. Or at least, that’s what Logan, a baby witch struggling to control her powers, thinks as she arrives to the witchtown to begin the new school year at Mesmortes Coven Academy. She is immediately taken under the wing of the infamous Red Three. Iris is a deathwitch who wants nothing more than to break the town’s curse; Jailah is one of the most powerful witches at the academy but her thirst for power may lead her down a dark path; and Thalia, the talented greenwitch, is on the run from her religious family and a past that still haunts her.

Fear and prejudice still fuel the uneasy truce between humans and witches who are forced to work together when the Haunting Season begins and Wolves rise from the swamp to feed. With this approaching, two Hammersmitt boys prepare to make their first sacrifices to the witches in exchange for protection. But as they become involved with the Mesmortes witches’ plan to end the Wolves’ reign of terror once and for all, old dangers lie in wait.

The cost to break the curse may be greater than any witch or human could ever know.

I’ve seen nothing but praise for this book, and I’m eager to give it a go. IT’S NOT POSSIBLE TO HAVE TOO MANY QUEER WITCH STORIES!

(Also I had to include both covers – UK on the left, US on the right – because they’re both freaking gorgeous!)

Grounded for All Eternity by Darcy Marks
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Queer MC
Published on: 26th July 2022
Goodreads

A group of kids from hell come to Earth on one of the craziest nights of the year—Halloween—in this snarky, witty middle grade adventure about teamwork, friendship, shattering expectations, and understanding the world (or otherworld) around us.

Mal and his friends are just your regular average kids from hell. The suburbs that is, not the fiery pit part. But when Hell’s Bells ring out—signaling that a soul has escaped from one of the eternal circles, Mal and his friends can’t help but take the opportunity for a little adventure.

Before they know it, they’ve somehow slipped through the veil and found themselves in the middle of Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween night. And what’s even worse, they’ve managed to bring the escaped soul with them! As the essence of one of history’s greatest manipulators gains power by shifting the balance on Earth, Mal and his squad-mates—along with some new friends that they meet along the way—work desperately to trap the escapee, save the people of Earth from the forces of evil, and find the portal back to their own dimension.

If they can’t manage it before their parents realize they’re gone, they’ll be grounded for an eternity. And an eternity in hell is a very, very long time.

This sounds super cute and adorable??? Omg??? I need it immediately???

Stolen Token (Divine Envoys, #1) by Felix J. Léon
Genres: Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: M/M
Published on: 27th July 2022
Goodreads

Thibault's life is good. He has friends, family, and a hopeless crush on the most brilliant guy in class. At least he thought so until he meets Osten, the fabulous Allegory—a divine envoy walking the Earth on behalf of the gods—who opens up a whole new life to him. One that could be so much more than he'd once believed.

However, Osten needs help—the kind that could either ruin Thibault's career or let corruption spread to the city. He is at a crossroads: continue living his suddenly monotonous life, or plunge feet first into a world of glitter and mirrors that he does not yet undestand.

Supposedly this features some kind of peacock shapeshifter? Or humanoid peacock, or something? I’m unclear on the specifics, but I like the premise and I’m hoping for really gorgeous prose to match the vibe of the cover!

Unicorn Shifter Academy by J.R. Thorn
Genres: Fantasy, Contemporary or Urban Fantasy
Goodreads

There are three rules at Unicorn Shifter Academy.

1. Keep unicorns a secret.
2. Never compare horn sizes.
3. No girls allowed.

Whoopsie. I broke all three.

You’d think that unicorn shifters would be chicks, right? Yeah, me too, but turns out unicorns are always males.

Until me, that is.

I’ve never shown a drop of magic in my life, even though I’m from a family of powerful witches. Well, my parents had the grand idea of performing an awakening ceremony courtesy of Fortune Academy’s best and brightest… and I think it worked a bit too well. Imagine their surprise when I sprouted a horn. A FREAKING HORN.

Not. Cool.

Turns out there was some serious rainbow hanky-panky in my family history and now the unicorn shifters are pissed off I’m in on their secret community.

Seriously, spilling the magic beans is the least of my worries.

Being a unicorn means bonding with seven other shifters for life—a life I never asked for. And since I’m the first girl in a male-only tradition, I expect this could cause some serious problems, especially because these guys are obsessed with me right off the bat. Like overly protective to the extreme. A girl can take care of herself, you know?

Thing is, we better get our act together because this Academy isn’t just for show. Unicorns are the only creatures who stand between good and evil on a cosmic scale. A monster lurks in a terrifying pit in the center of the Enchanted Forest.
And it looks like somebody let it out.

The clock starts now to trap the beast before it eats my home realm as a snack. I’ve got my big girl panties on—even if they are rainbow-colored.

Unicorn Shifter Academy is a Paranormal Shifter Romance novel with mature scenes and all the rainbow glitter unicorn shifter, uh… horns… a girl could possibly want—no choosing required. Since this is a series, book one ends in a cliffhanger.

I included this in a previous Must-Have post, but the pub date was changed and it’s out this week instead! Is it the kind of book I usually read??? Not even a little, but there are so few unicorn books for adults that I’m determined to give it a go – and I unashamedly love that rainbow cover!

Will you be reading any of these? Let me know!

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