Must-Have Monday #201
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.
FIVE books this week!
(Books are listed in order of pub date, then Adult SFF, Adult Other, YA SFF, YA Other, MG SFF.)
Long Live Evil (Time of Iron, #1) by Sarah Rees Brennan Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Portal Fantasy
Representation: Sapphic POV character, secondary brown character, secondary F/F
Published on: 27th August 2024
Goodreads
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A TALE FOR EVERYONE WHO’S EVER FALLEN FOR THE VILLAIN…
When her whole life collapsed, Rae still had books. Dying, she seizes a second chance at living: a magical bargain that lets her enter the world of her favourite fantasy series.
She wakes in a castle on the edge of a hellish chasm, in a kingdom on the brink of war. Home to dangerous monsters, scheming courtiers and her favourite fictional character: the Once and Forever Emperor. He’s impossibly alluring, as only fiction can be. And in this fantasy world, she discovers she's not the heroine, but the villainess in the Emperor's tale.
So be it. The wicked are better dressed, with better one-liners, even if they're doomed to bad ends. She assembles the wildly disparate villains of the story under her evil leadership, plotting to change their fate. But as the body count rises and the Emperor's fury increases, it seems Rae and her allies may not survive to see the final page.
This adult epic fantasy debut from Sarah Rees Brennan puts the reader in the villain's shoes, for an adventure that is both 'brilliant' (Holly Black) and 'supremely satisfying' (Leigh Bardugo). Expect a rogue's gallery of villains including an axe wielding maid, a shining knight with dark moods, a homicidal bodyguard, and a playboy spymaster with a golden heart and a filthy reputation.
Long Live Evil was out in the British Isles at the start of the month, and this week it’s releasing in the US! It’s absolutely marvellous; this is one that made me ache, laugh my head off, AND ship the straight pairing!!! Can’t remember the last time THAT happened!
Embodied Exegesis by Ann Leblanc Genres: Adult, Queer Protagonists, Sci Fi
Representation: Trans and nonbinary MCs
Published on: 27th August 2024
Goodreads
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I’m VERY excited for this collection, but it’s being published by Neon Hemlock, so I can’t swear it’ll actually be available on the 27th. If you’re interested, you can preorder a paper copy here!
Come Out, Come Out by Natalie C. Parker Genres: Horror, Queer Protagonists, YA
Representation: Nonbinary bisexual MC, lesbian MC
Published on: 27th August 2024
Goodreads
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A spine-tingling LGBTQIA+ YA horror about queer teens who accidentally invoke a twisted spirit who promises help but delivers something sinister. Perfect for fans of Kayla Cottingham, Andrew Joseph Smith, and Aiden Thomas.
It's never been safe for Fern, Jaq, or Mallory to come out to their families. As kids their emerging identities drove them into friendship but also forced them into the woods to hide in an old, abandoned house when they needed safety. But one night when the girls sought refuge, Mallory never made it back home. Fern and Jaq did, but neither survivor remembered what happened or the secrets they were so desperate to keep.
Five years later, Fern and Jaq are seniors on the verge of graduation, seemingly happy in their straight, cisgender lives—until a spirit who looks like Mallory begins to appear, seeking revenge for her death, and the part Fern and Jaq played in it. As they’re haunted, something begins to shift inside them.
They remember who they are.
Who they want to love.
And the truth about the vicious secrets hiding in their woods.
This delightfully dark and pointed novel calls out the systems that erase gay and queer and trans identity, giving space to embrace queerness and to unleash the power of friendship and found family against the real monsters in the world.
The blurb has me thinking that our MCs have their memories suppressed or wiped – it seems like they lost more than just the one night. It feels like a while since I’ve read something with memory fuckery, and the reviews are very positive. I’ll be checking this one out!
Island of Whispers by Frances Hardinge, Emily Gravett Genres: Fantasy, MG
Published on: 27th August 2024
Goodreads
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Part gothic thriller and part coming-of-age story, Island of Whispers is an original illustrated middle-grade fantasy from award-winning author Frances Hardinge and acclaimed illustrator Emily Gravett about a strange island filled with ghosts and long-buried secrets
On the misty island of Merlank, the lingering dead can cause unspeakable harm if they’re not safely carried to the Island of the Broken Tower, where they can move on. Milo’s father always told him that he wasn’t suited for dealing with the dead and could never become the Ferryman—but one day, he’s unexpectedly thrust into the role. And his father is his first passenger . . .
Milo’s father was killed by the Lord of Merlank, in pursuit of his dead daughter who he’s unwilling to give up. It’s a race to the island as Milo must face swarms of sinister moths, strange headless birds, and dangerous storms to carry his ghostly passengers across the secret seas.
Filled with suspense and Frances Hardinge’s signature sparkling prose, this story—accompanied throughout by striking illustrations by award-winning illustrator Emily Gravett—will keep you on the edge of your seat in this remarkable and ultimately heartwarming story of grief, family, kindness, and being true to yourself.
Frances Hardinge is a wonder – I’ve been trying to figure out how to review her incredible Unraveller all year – and a new book from her is always cause to celebrate! I think this is the first time one of her books will be illustrated like this!
Point of Knives by Melissa Scott Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Secondary World Fantasy, Queer Protagonists
Representation: Gay MC, bisexual MC, M/M, queernorm world
Published on: 29th August 2024
Goodreads
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Queen of Swords is rereleasing the Asteiant series – one of my all-time faves – and this is book two! The covers don’t do this series justice, but it’s REALLY wonderful to have an edition with lovely modern typesetting!
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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