Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson, Atalanta by Jennifer Saint, & The Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr

 

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

The Lost War by Justin Lee Anderson
Publication: May 16th, 2023
Orbit
Paperback. 528 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"The war is over, but peace can be hell.

Demons continue to burn farmlands, violent mercenaries roam the wilds, and a plague is spreading. The country of Eidyn is on its knees.

In a society that fears and shuns him, Aranok is the first mage to be named King's Envoy. And his latest task is to restore an exiled foreign queen to her throne.

The band of allies he assembles each have their own unique skills. But they are strangers to one another, and at every step across the ravaged land, a new threat emerges, lies are revealed, and distrust could destroy everything they are working for. Somehow, Aranok must bring his companions together and uncover the conspiracy that threatens the kingdom—before war returns to the realms again."

I'm currently reading an ARC of The Lost War and I'm really enjoying it! I've been looking for a new big fantasy to get into, so I'm hoping this fills that void. 

Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
Publication: May 9th, 2023
Flatiron Books
Hardcover. 304 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"When Princess Atalanta is born, a daughter rather than the son her parents hoped for, she is left on a mountainside to die. But even then, she is a survivor. Raised by a mother bear under the protective eye of the goddess Artemis, Atalanta grows up wild and free, with just one if she marries, Artemis warns, it will be her undoing.

Although she loves her beautiful forest home, Atalanta yearns for adventure. When Artemis offers her the chance to fight in her name alongside the Argonauts, the fiercest band of warriors the world has ever seen, Atalanta seizes it. The Argonauts' quest for the Golden Fleece is filled with impossible challenges, but Atalanta proves herself equal to the men she fights alongside. As she is swept into a passionate affair, in defiance of Artemis's warning, she begins to question the goddess's true intentions. Can Atalanta carve out her own legendary place in a world of men, while staying true to her heart?

Full of joy, passion, and adventure, Atalanta is the story of a woman who refuses to be contained. Jennifer Saint places Atalanta in the pantheon of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology, where she belongs."

Too many Greek myth retellings have been coming out lately, but... I'm still going to read them! I'm really excited to see this story about Atalanta and I feel like it's in good hands with Jennifer Saint. 

The Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr
Publication: May 2nd, 2023
Graydon House
Hardcover. 384 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"An exhilarating, awe-inspiring debut from a master storyteller writing for children for the first time, perfect for fans of Philip Pullman, Katherine Rundell and Eva Ibbotson.

Rachel and Robert live a grey, dreary life under the rule of cruel Charles Malstain. But when their librarian father enlists their help to steal a forbidden book, they are plunged into adventure. With their father captured, it is up to Rachel and Robert to uncover the secrets of the Book of Stolen Dreams and track down its mysteriously missing final page in order to save him.

What they are not expecting is to discover a family of ghosts, a door to the dead and that the Book grants the power of immortality. But they will do anything to stop it falling into Malstain's hands - for if it does, he could rule for ever.

Step inside the pages of an immortal adventure and discover a truly unforgettable journey of wonder, courage and magic..."

This sounds so fun! I haven't read any middle grade books in a while and I've missed their magic and joy, so I'm hoping to get a chance to check this one out. :) I'm a huge sucker for premises like this!

Top Ten Tuesday: Self-Published Fantasy

This week's topic is: Self-Published Books

I haven't done a Top Ten Tuesday in a little while, but when I saw this week's topic was about indie and self-published books I really wanted to make sure I participated because there are so many amazing self-published books out there that I love and want to recommend to everyone! I also might cheat a little bit (but whether or not it's cheating depends on who you ask) because I'm going to include some books that were self-published only when I read them, but have now been picked up by publisher. I'm a little out of the loop with new self-published fantasy these days, but I'm hoping later this year I'll have a bit more time to get back into things. Without further ado, let's check out some amazing self-published books!

Kings of Paradise by Richard Nell

This was a very dark fantasy that was entirely unpredictable, compelling, and grabbed me instantly. I remember being really impressed with this book and couldn't wait for the sequel (which was equally amazing, by the way). 

About: "YA deformed genius plots vengeance while struggling to survive. A wastrel prince comes of age, finding a power he never imagined. Two worlds are destined to collide.

Only one can be king.

Ruka, called a demon at birth, is a genius. Born malformed and ugly into the snow-covered wasteland of the Ascom, he was spared from death by his mother's love. Now he is an outcast, consumed with hate for those who've wronged him. But to take his vengeance, he must first survive. Across a vast sea in the white-sand island paradise of Sri Kon, Kale is fourth and youngest son of the Sorcerer King. And at sixteen, Kale is a disappointment. As the first prince ever forced to serve with low-born marines, Kale must prove himself and become a man, or else lose all chance of a worthy future, and any hope to win the love of his life. Though they do not know it, both boys are on the cusp of discovery. Their worlds and lives are destined for greatness, or ruin.

But in a changing world where ash meets paradise, only one man can be king... The first installment of an epic, low- fantasy trilogy. Kings of Paradise is a dark, bloody, coming-of-age story shaped by culture, politics, and magic." Goodreads

We Ride the Storm by Devin Madson

I still remember how much I fell in love with this story when I first read it and I'm so happy that it was picked up by Orbit and the entire series is now out! I am actually planning to start a re-read of this series soon in order to read the final book. I also still love this original cover of the self-published version so much (though I love Orbit's as well!)

About "War built the Kisian Empire. War will tear it down.

Seventeen years after rebels stormed the streets, factions divide Kisia. Only the firm hand of the god-emperor holds the empire together. But when a shocking betrayal destroys a tense alliance with neighboring Chiltae, all that has been won comes crashing down.

In Kisia, Princess Miko Ts'ai is a prisoner in her own castle. She dreams of claiming her empire, but the path to power could rip it, and her family, asunder.

In Chiltae, assassin Cassandra Marius is plagued by the voices of the dead. Desperate, she accepts a contract that promises to reward her with a cure if she helps an empire fall.

And on the border between nations, Captain Rah e'Torin and his warriors are exiles forced to fight in a foreign war or die.

As an empire dies, three warriors will rise. They will have to ride the storm or drown in its blood." Goodreads 

Flesh Eater by Travis M. Riddle

You might see a few books by this author on this list, but first up is Flesh Eater! I loved this fantasy following a group of compelling characters as they are basically shuttled from one obstacle and adventure to another–it's loads of fun and plays with some really interesting ideas. 

About: "Branded as a Flesh Eater, Coal is on the run from Palace Stingers: soldiers tasked with tracking down those who have consumed flesh and locking them away in specialized prisons.

After a year of avoiding capture and struggling to scrape by working odd jobs for a local crime lord, Coal is growing desperate. He learns of someone in the city's underbelly who can erase his record, but her services don't come cheap.

Seeing no other option, he enters a spiderback race with a grand prize valuable enough to pay for his fresh start. But he's not the only one after the prize, and Coal is about to find out exactly how far he's willing to go to win." Goodreads

Dreams of the Dying by Nicolas Lietzau

I picked this up after hearing Petrik Leo rave about it and thought it was a fascinating and richly crafted world and story. There's a very unique magic system that grabbed me and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel. 

About: "If your mind is the enemy, where do you run?

Years after a harrowing war experience, ex-mercenary Jespar Dal'Varek has taken to drifting. It's a lonely existence, but, barring the occasional bout of melancholia, he has found the closest thing to peace a man like him deserves. Life is "all right."

Or so he believes. Hoping to turn the page, Jespar accepts a mysterious invitation into the beautiful but dangerous archipelago of Kilay-and everything changes.

Plagued by explosive social tensions and terrorism, the tropical empire is edging ever closer to civil war. Kilay's merchant king is the only person able to prevent this catastrophe, but he has fallen into a preternatural coma-and it's Jespar's task to figure out what or who caused it. As the investigation takes him across the archipelago and into the king's nightmares, unexpected events not only tie Jespar's own life to the mystery but also unearth inner demons he believed to be long exorcised.

Battling old trauma while fighting for his life, his sanity, and the fate of Kilay, the line between dream and reality blurs until only one question remains: If your mind is the enemy, where do you run?" Goodreads

Kingshold by D.P. Woolliscroft

This fantasy is packed with political intrigue, clever plotlines, rich world-building, and characters you can't help but love. 

About: "Mareth is a bard, a serial under achiever, a professional drunk, and general disappointment to his father. Despite this, Mareth has one thing going for him. He can smell opportunity. The King is dead and an election for the new Lord Protector has been called. If he plays his cards right, if he can sing a story that will put the right person in that chair, his future fame and drinking money is all but assured. But, alas, it turns out Mareth has a conscience after all.

Neenahwi is the daughter to Jyuth, the ancient wizard who founded the Kingdom of Edland and she is not happy. It’s not just that her father was the one who killed the King, or that he didn’t tell her about his plans. She’s not happy because her father is leaving, slinking off into retirement and now she has to clean up his mess.

Alana is a servant at the palace and the unfortunate soul to draw the short straw to attend to Jyuth. Alana knows that intelligence and curiosity aren’t valued in someone of her station, but sometimes she can’t help herself and so finds herself drawn into the Wizard’s schemes, and worst of all, coming up with her own plans.

Chance brings this unlikely band together to battle through civil unrest, assassinations, political machinations, pirates and monsters, all for a common cause that they know, deep down, has no chance of succeeding – bringing hope to the people of Kingshold.” Goodreads

The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French

This was an SPFBO winner and has now been picked up by a publisher! I had so much fun with this gritty story of a band of half-orcs and their adventures. 

About: "Jackal is proud to be a Grey Bastard, member of a sworn brotherhood of half-orcs. Unloved and unwanted in civilized society, the Bastards eke out a hard life in the desolate no-man's-land called the Lots, protecting frail and noble human civilization from invading bands of vicious full-blooded orcs.

But as Jackal is soon to learn, his pride may be misplaced. Because a dark secret lies at the heart of the Bastards' existence - one that reveals a horrifying truth behind humanity's tenuous peace with the orcs, and exposes a grave danger on the horizon.

On the heels of the ultimate betrayal, Jackal must scramble to stop a devastating invasion - even as he wonders where his true loyalties lie.

A standout adventure fantasy debut that's down, dirty and damn good fun - perfect for fans of Joe Abercombie, Mark Lawrence, Markus Heitz's Dwarves series and Stan Nicholl's Orcs series." Goodreads

On Lavender Tides by Travis M. Riddle

I had to include another Travis Riddle novel because they're just so good! Plus, this post is about books, not authors, so I think it's fine. On Lavender Tides is an incredibly fun, action-packed Pokemon-inspired fantasy that is the start of a series I can't seem to get enough of. 

About: "Ever since he was a kid, all Balt Vana wanted was to be a world-renowned Jekua Summoner like his grandmother, battling other Summoners in front of audiences of thousands. But from where he stands now, living up to the Vana name feels impossible.

When his best friend Alani, an initiate at the local Church, is sent on a pilgrimage to find her path in life and the god she will follow, Balt sees the perfect opportunity to launch his career by escorting her across the archipelago and its purple seas. The islands are filled with monsters to imprint and Summoners to battle, with every victory bringing him one step closer to his dream.

It will take more than just his family name to reach the same heights as his grandmother, but Balt won't stop until he does." Goodreads

The Blighted City by Scott Kaelen

The Blighted City made it to the semifinals in Mark Lawrence's SPFBO4, and for good reason! It's an ambitious dark fantasy that I recall having a mix of horror elements and complex world-building and characters that really made this one something special. 

About: "To challenge the gods is to invite their wrath.

So it is written of Lachyla, the Blighted City, in the Codex of the Ages. But who reads codices? And who really believes the tall stories of the Taleweavers?

Dagra does. If it’s a story about the gods – even a dead god – he believes every word. When his sellsword team is offered a contract to cross the Deadlands and find a burial jewel in the crypts of the Blighted City, Dagra wants no part of it. His companions are undaunted by the legend; to them, the blurred divide between the living and the dead is superstitious nonsense. Completing the contract would earn their guild’s failing reputation a much-needed boost and secure them the bounty of a lifetime. They’re going, with or without him. Torn between the convictions of his beliefs and the importance of his friendships, Dagra reluctantly journeys into the godless region in search of the fabled city. But the Deadlands are only the first challenge.

The sellswords uncover an age-old deception when they learn that Lachyla’s foul seed is much darker than its legend, that its truth must forever remain untold or risk plunging humanity into an eternal nightmare. Snagged on the barbs of the blight, Dagra faces the toughest choice of his life … and of his death." Goodreads

Never Die by Rob J. Hayes

This was a really fun Asian-inspired fantasy that is a standalone and has some companion standalone novels available set in the same world.

About: "Samurai, shinigami, vengeful spirits, and an impossible quest. 

The Emperor of Ten Kings has plunged Hosa into war, and the gods are angry.

When the god of death gives Ein a mission to kill the immortal emperor, he knows he can't do it alone. He needs allies, heroes who will fight for him. How else can an eight-year-old boy hope to do the impossible?

Whispering Blade, Iron Gut Chen, the Century Blade, and Flaming Fist. These are all names of legend. And the god of death has given Ein a way to bind them to his cause. There is only one catch. In order to serve him, they must first die.

Never Die is a stand alone set in the world of Mortal Techniques. It’s a wuxia adventure filled with samurai, shinigami, heroes, and vengeful spirits." Goodreads 

They Mostly Come Out at Night by Benedict Patrick

This has one of the coolest covers–and it's also a really interesting plot as well!

About: "He locked himself away from the dark, but in the Magpie King’s forest nowhere is safe…

Lonan is an outcast, accused of letting the monsters that stalk the night into the homes of his fellow villagers. Now, he will not rest until he wins back the heart of his childhood love and reclaims the life that was stolen from him. However, locked safely in his cellar at night, in his dreams Lonan finds himself looking through the eyes of a young prince…

Adahy has a destiny, and it terrifies him. How can he hope to live up to the legend of the Magpie King, to become the supernatural protector of the forest and defender of his people? But when the forest is invaded by an inhuman force, Adahy must rise to this challenge or let the Wolves destroy his people.

Watching these events unfold in his sleep, Lonan must do what he can to protect his village from this new threat. He is the only person who can keep his loved ones from being stolen away after dark, and to do so he will have to earn back their trust or watch the monsters kill everyone that he holds dear." Goodreads

Have you read any of these books? Are there any self-published books you love?

Review: Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee

Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee

Tordotcom

Publication Date: April 11th, 2023

Hardcover. 160 pages.

About Untethered Sky:

"Ester’s family was torn apart when a manticore killed her mother and baby brother, leaving her with nothing but her father’s painful silence and a single, overwhelming need to kill the monsters that took her family. 

Ester’s path leads her to the King’s Royal Mews, where the giant rocs of legend are flown to hunt manticores by their brave and dedicated ruhkers. Paired with a fledgling roc named Zahra, Ester finds purpose and acclaim by devoting herself to a calling that demands absolute sacrifice and a creature that will never return her love. The terrifying partnership between woman and roc leads Ester not only on the empire’s most dangerous manticore hunt, but on a journey of perseverance and acceptance."

Untethered Sky is a novella so I'll probably keep this review a little shorter so as to avoid giving too much away!

Untethered Sky follows Ester, a young woman who is on her way to begin her training as a rukher. A rukher is someone who trains with and is eventually paired up with a roc–a large bird of prey type of animal–in a long and complex process. Rukhers, along with their rocs, then train together to hunt the terrifying manticores which pose a large threat to humans and can wreak havoc on villages. Being a rukher is a dangerous job, and even the pairing process with a new roc can be a fatal endeavor if things don't go well, as rocs are also highly dangerous animals.

In this story, Ester is especially determined to become a rukher because of a deadly manticore attack in her childhood that killed her mother and brother, so she wants her own revenge against the manticore and to help ensure that this doesn't happen to anyone else. One thing that I think endeared Ester so much to me was how much she felt like a real, generally balanced person. A lot of protagonists tend to suffer from being so incredibly irresponsible or bullheaded that I find it hard to even relate, and I was so pleased to find that Ester wasn’t irresponsible and didn’t really take any unnecessary or poorly planned risks. She’s really a smart character and had so much nuance within her thoughts, motivations, and actions that I found myself unable to look away from her story.

I loved how much time and attention Lee put into describing and walking us through the training and bonding process between Ester and her roc, Zahra. It reminded me a lot of training a dog, but obviously far more intense and with a much wilder beast that comes with much greater potential consequences when things go wrong. I think there was a part of me that wondered at times at the notion of capturing these beautiful wild beasts and "taming" them to be hunters, but Lee makes a good case for them in this story and human's purposes for doing so. It was really interesting to see the dynamic between rukhers and their rocs and how seriously rukhers take their jobs and have such immense respect for their rocs.

The world created in Untethered Sky is vibrant and incredibly well-developed for the short amount of time we spend in it, which is usually something that I find to be a main issue in most fantasy novellas. There wasn't actually an excessive amount of world-building or description at the start, but somehow it still managed to feel fully realized and slowly expanded as the story progressed and we explored some new locations. I found that I could easily imagine the world outside of Ester and the King's Royal Mews location and really liked getting to learn a bit more about the world. I only wish this story would have been longer so that I could learn even more about the world because I liked it so much.

It’s hard for novellas to get a good balance of plot, character development, world-building, and a strong ending, but Untethered Sky really excelled at all of these, especially the latter. I thought this was one of the strongest endings to a story I’ve read in a while and fit the rest of the story perfectly. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending and it left me feeling incredibly satisfying with how much it both hurt and was beautiful at the same time.

It must be a testament to Fonda Lee's writing how much I loved this novella because I managed to read it in one day, and that happens very rarely these days! The fact that this book was able to hold my attention for so long is fairly remarkable, and speaks to what a compelling story this was. Not one word felt wasted and the pacing was exceptionally consistent throughout the entire story. Overall, I've give Untethered Sky five stars!

*I received a copy of Untethered Sky courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Buy the book: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Month in Review: March 2023

Well, somehow we're through another month of 2023. It's been a rough year, man. How was everyone's month? It has been so unseasonably cold and wet in California this year and it's been a wild ride. We've got a consistenly leaking bedroom roof, kitchen window, and living room window, and just last week our neighbors knocked on our door to let us know that our detached garage's roof was not draining properly and had water pooled all up in it and that it might cave in. So, yay! (For reference, they live in a big beautiful two story house that can easily see the roof of our one story abode from their second floor windows, if that seemed confusing.) And for the icing on the cake, our heater broke a couple days ago and I'm typing this in the biggest, fluffiest robe I own with gloves and a beanie and three layers of socks! I've definitely grown up in a warm climate and am admittedly a huge wimp, haha. But for all my complaining, I'm still very grateful that we even have a home to avoid the elements in and a really nice neighborhood with caring neighbors. 

But on the bright side, my reading was much better in March! I really tried to focus and take my time with reading this month while also removing pressure to get through books, and it really helped. I caught up on a bunch of series and read some really fantastic books. Highlights include The Tyranny of Faith, Makanuele Rumble, A House with Good Bones, and The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill. I also managed to get a lot of reviews up in March in attempts to stay on top of things, so that feels pretty good also. I need to catch up on some blog comments and visiting other blogs, so if you haven't heard from me in a while I apologize and I'll hopefully be stopping by soon. :) 

So how was your March? What books did you read? Any new favorites (or new least favorites)? Let me know!

# books read: 12
   

The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan
Source: Publisher | Format: Hardcover

Thoughts: This was such a fantastic sequel! I had such an enjoyable time reading this book and am really wishing I could just go ahead and read the third book already!

A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC

Thoughts: My review for this is already up and I loved it! T. Kingfisher always delivers with her horror and I can't get enough of it. 

The Bone Shard War by Andrea Stewart
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: This was a pretty solid conclusion to this trilogy. I'm still a bit up and down on the series as whole, but it's one I'd definitely still recommend as a great fantasy trilogy.

The Sapphire Altar by David Dalglish
Source: Publisher | Format: Paperback

Thoughts: Another great sequel! I'm not sure if I had quite as much fun with this one as I did the first book, but still an incredible installment. 

The Exiled Fleet by J.S. Dewes
Source: Libby | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: I'm not sure if it's because I read this so much longer after I read the first book, but I just didn't love this book quite as much as The Last Watch. That being said, it was still a very thrilling and exciting ride and I love what Dewes did with this story. 

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: Another delightful book from Rowenna Miller! This was a very charming story full of fae intrigue and clever bargaining and I had a great time. 

Makanuele Rumble by Travis M. Riddle
Source: Author | Format: eARC

Thoughts: I am loving this series so much and this was an amazing additional installment. 

What's Eating Us: Women, Food, and the Epidemic of Body Anxiety by Cole Kazdin
Source: NetGalley | Format: eARC

Thoughts: This was a really fascinating and thoughtful examination of society's struggle with food, eating, and all the mental challenges that come with that. I didn't love the author's writing at all points, but overall I would absolutely recommend this one to anyone struggling with the aforementioned topics.

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
Source: Libby | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: This was a fun sequel to Once Upon a Broken Heart, but I can't say it really did all that much for the series. I'll probably keep reading and finish the trilogy out when the next book comes, but I feel like it'll probably remain a three star series for me. 

A Fire Among Clouds (Codex Black #1). by Angel de Santiago
Source: Publisher | Format: Physical ARC

Thoughts: This was fun! This was sent to me by the publisher and I wasn't expecting it, but I'm glad I read it. I think it's definitely a bit on the younger side, but still so much fun and I loved the Mesoamerican setting and focus. I would happily keep reading this series and recommend it.

Hooked by Emily McIntire
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: This is another Peter Pan-inspired dark romance that was recommended to me, and while it wasn't the best I've read, it was still pretty fun. I might check out some of the other books in this series from the author in the future sometime.

Riot House by Callie Hart
Source: Library | Format: Audiobook

Thoughts: Another one recommended to me, and again not a favorite, but still pretty entertaining overall. 

DNF/To-Be-Finished:

None! At least, none I can remember...

 

The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older
The Sapphire Altar (The Vagrant Gods #2) by David Dalglish
Makanuele Rumble (Jekua #3) by Travis M. Riddle
Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland
Rubicon by J.S. Dewes
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill by Rowenna Miller

Original Posts:

(other than reviews)

February 2023

Anticipated April 2023 Releases

Blog Memes:

Can't-Wait Wednesday:

3/1: The Bone Shard War by Andrea Stewart, The Wager by David Grann, & In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

3/8: Ascension by Nicholas Binge, Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina, & Greek Lessons by Han Kang

3/15: Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling, Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang, & The Last Animal by Ramona Ausubel

3/22: The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro, The Thick and the Lean by Chana Porter, & Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

3/29: Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee & The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox

The Friday Face-Off:

Current Read

Current Read #2

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee & The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox

 Can't-Wait is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights exciting upcoming releases that we can't wait to be released! This meme is based off of Jill @ Breaking the Spine's Waiting on Wednesday meme.

This week's upcoming book spotlights are: 

Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee
Publication: April 11th, 2023
Tordotcom
Hardcover. 160 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"From World Fantasy Award-winning author Fonda Lee comes Untethered Sky, an epic fantasy fable about the pursuit of obsession at all costs.

Ester’s family was torn apart when a manticore killed her mother and baby brother, leaving her with nothing but her father’s painful silence and a single, overwhelming need to kill the monsters that took her family.

Ester’s path leads her to the King’s Royal Mews, where the giant rocs of legend are flown to hunt manticores by their brave and dedicated ruhkers. Paired with a fledgling roc named Zahra, Ester finds purpose and acclaim by devoting herself to a calling that demands absolute sacrifice and a creature that will never return her love. The terrifying partnership between woman and roc leads Ester not only on the empire’s most dangerous manticore hunt, but on a journey of perseverance and acceptance."

So I actually read an ARC of Untethered Sky a couple months ago, but I loved it and can't wait for it to come out! This is one you should definitely keep on your radar. 

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library by Hester Fox
Publication: April 4th, 2023
Graydon House
Paperback. 336 pages.
Pre-order: Amazon | Bookshop.org

From Goodreads:
"In post–World War I England, a young woman inherits a mysterious library and must untangle its powerful secrets…

With the stroke of a pen, twenty-three-year-old Ivy Radcliffe becomes Lady Hayworth, owner of a sprawling estate on the Yorkshire moors. Ivy has never heard of Blackwood Abbey, or of the ancient bloodline from which she’s descended. With nothing to keep her in London since losing her brother in the Great War, she warily makes her way to her new home.

The abbey is foreboding, the servants reserved and suspicious. But there is a treasure waiting behind locked doors: a magnificent library. Despite cryptic warnings from the staff, Ivy feels irresistibly drawn to its dusty shelves, where familiar works mingle with strange, esoteric texts. And she senses something else in the library too, a presence that seems to have a will of its own.

Rumors swirl in the village about the abbey’s previous owners, about ghosts and curses, and an enigmatic manuscript at the center of it all. And as events grow more sinister, it will be up to Ivy to uncover the library’s mysteries in order to reclaim her own story—before it vanishes forever."

I'm probably always going to want to read anything about heirs to libraries–I mean, it's the dream for most of us readers, right? Add in a bit of mystery and I'm in!