{"id":80089,"date":"2024-03-03T19:06:34","date_gmt":"2024-03-03T19:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/03\/a-sampling-of-2024s-speculative-fiction-march-releases\/"},"modified":"2024-03-03T19:06:34","modified_gmt":"2024-03-03T19:06:34","slug":"a-sampling-of-2024s-speculative-fiction-march-releases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/03\/a-sampling-of-2024s-speculative-fiction-march-releases\/","title":{"rendered":"A Sampling of 2024’s Speculative Fiction – March Releases"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

Previous months: January<\/a>, February<\/a><\/p>\n

Previous years’ posts can be found here (all linked from the April 2023 post and final 2022 post): A Sampling of 2022’s Speculative Fiction Releases (Part 8)<\/a> (also includes links to 2022 historical fiction posts) and A Sampling of 2023’s Speculative Fiction – April Releases<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The rules:
1. Books must fall into a category of speculative fiction – science fiction, fantasy, horror, etc.
2. All books must have an actual release date.
3. All books must have a synopsis.
4. All books must have a title.
5. Any sequels will have it noted next to their titles.
6. Books in the UK are released on Thursdays, North America on Tuesdays. So for many of these dates, add an extra two days if they’re in the UK. I will try to make a note of any date discrepancies beyond that though.<\/p>\n

The Bride of Death<\/b> by F.M. Aden\u2028Release date: March 1st<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: Is saying \u201cbecause it was compared to Uprooted<\/a> and The Bear and the Nightingale<\/a>\u201d enough of a reason? I<\/i> think so. The cover is another reason, honestly.<\/p>\n

In the vein of Naomi Novik\u2019s Uprooted<\/i> and Katherine Arden\u2019s The Bear and the Nightingale<\/i>\u2014 this unforgettable adult debut follows the journey of a young woman who seeks to defeat Death himself and save her village from his torment.<\/b>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As a young child, Zerryn grew up on tales of the Lord of Death, Erlik Khan, and his penchant for stealing wild girls. In her small village, she keeps to herself and tends to the temple gardens, spending her days with her best friend \u00c7elik. But when \u00c7elik begins to act strangely and removes himself to live on a crumbling estate atop Mount Ida, the rumors of him becoming possessed by a demon begin to swiftly arise. Each month that passes the demon within him grows stronger, his demands of the villagers growing oddly disjointed and nonsensical.<\/p>\n

Her chances of saving him become all but impossible once Zerryn learns that it is no lesser demon that has a hold of him but Erlik Khan\u2014a demon of untold power who lords over the dead. It isn\u2019t long before word spreads that he is in search of a bride, and creatures of untold power come before him to rule by his side. Zerryn knows that she cannot take down Erlik without power and she cannot gain power without becoming his bride.<\/p>\n

But becoming Erlik\u2019s wife is nothing as simple as an offer for his hand. To become the queen of the Underworld, she must complete three impossible tasks or risk losing everything she holds dear.<\/p>\n


\"\"The Haunting of Velkwood<\/b> by Gwendolyn Kiste
Release date: March 5th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: Drawing comparisons to Yellowjackets<\/i>, this horror novel is described as a \u201csuburban ghost story about a small town that trapped three young women who must confront the past if they\u2019re going to have a future.\u201d Intriguing!<\/p>\n

The Velkwood Vicinity was the topic of occult theorists, tabloid one-hour documentaries, and even some pseudo-scientific investigations as the block of homes disappeared behind a near-impenetrable veil that only three survivors could enter\u2014and only one has in the past twenty years, until now.<\/b>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Talitha Velkwood has avoided anything to do with the tragedy that took her mother and eight-year-old sister, drifting from one job to another, never settling anywhere or with anyone, feeling as trapped by her past as if she was still there in the small town she so desperately wanted to escape from. When a new researcher tracks her down and offers to pay her to come back to enter the vicinity, Talitha claims she\u2019s just doing it for the money. Of all the crackpot theories over the years, no one has discovered what happened the night Talitha, her estranged, former best friend Brett, and Grace, escaped their homes twenty years ago. Will she finally get the answers she\u2019s been looking for all these years, or is this just another dead end?<\/p>\n

Award-winning author Gwendolyn Kiste has created a suburban ghost story about a small town that trapped three young women who must confront the past if they\u2019re going to have a future.<\/p>\n

\"\" What Grows in the Dark<\/b> by Jaq Evans
Release date: March 5th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: This horror thriller centres around a fake psychic YouTuber who comes back home to investigate the woods where her sister disappeared sixteen years before. Creepiness ensues!<\/p>\n

In this chilling contemporary horror novel, a phony spiritualist returns to her hometown to assist in an investigation that eerily mirrors her sister\u2019s death, forcing her to confront the secrets she\u2019s been running from.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Sixteen years ago, Brigit Weylan\u2019s older sister, Emma, walked into the woods in their small hometown of Ellis Creek. She never walked out. People said she was troubled\u2014in the months leading up to her death, she was convinced there was a monster in those trees. Marked by the tragedy, Brigit left town and never looked back.
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Now Brigit travels around the country investigating paranormal activity (and faking the results) with her cameraman, Ian. But when she receives a call from Ellis Creek, she\u2019s thrust into the middle of a search for two missing teenagers. As Brigit and Ian are drawn further into the case, the parallels to Emma\u2019s death become undeniable. And worse, Brigit can\u2019t explain what\u2019s happening to trees appearing in her bedroom in the middle of the night, something with a very familiar laugh watching her out in the darkness and Emma\u2019s voice on her phone, reminding Brigit to finish what they started.<\/p>\n

More and more, it looks like Emma was right — there is a monster in Ellis Creek, and it\u2019s waited a long time for Brigit to come home.<\/p>\n

\"\" The Poisons We Drink<\/b> by Bethany Baptise
Release date: March 5th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: Witches and love potions and corruption and tracking down her mother\u2019s killer – there\u2019s just a lot happening here and it sounds like a ride<\/i>. This urban fantasy also features, in the author\u2019s own words, \u201cBlack family love,\u201d \u201cride-or-die nonbinary baes,\u201d and \u201c’fuck the gov\u2019 vibes\u201d so just a lot to perhaps catch your interest.<\/p>\n

In a country divided between humans and witchers, Venus Stoneheart hustles as a brewer making illegal love potions to support her family.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Love potions is a dangerous business. Brewing has painful, debilitating side effects, and getting caught means death or a prison sentence. But what Venus is most afraid of is the dark, sentient magic within her.
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Then an enemy’s iron bullet kills her mother, Venus\u2019s life implodes. Keeping her reckless little sister Janus safe is now her responsibility. When the powerful Grand Witcher, the ruthless head of her coven, offers Venus the chance to punish her mother’s killer, she has to pay a steep price for revenge. The cost? Brew poisonous potions to enslave D.C.’s most influential politicians.<\/p>\n

As Venus crawls deeper into the corrupt underbelly of her city, the line between magic and power blurs, and it’s hard to tell who to trust\u2026Herself included.<\/p>\n

\"\" The Prisoner\u2019s Throne<\/b> (Stolen Heir #2) by Holly Black
Release date: March 5th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: I have not read Holly Black but the anticipation for this one is extremely high across those who have<\/i> read Holly Black! So if you\u2019re looking for a YA fantasy with twists and turns and with characters you\u2019re bound to grow attached to, this one seemingly checks those boxes.<\/p>\n

An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude willing to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, Oak will have to decide whether to attempt regaining the trust of the girl he\u2019s always loved or to remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign\u2014even if it means ending Wren, too.\u2028
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With a new war looming on the horizon and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak\u2019s guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. It\u2019s just a question of whom he will doom.<\/p>\n

From the #1 New York Times<\/i> bestselling author Holly Black comes the stunning blood-soaked conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology.<\/p>\n

\"\" Promchanted<\/b> by Morgan Matson
Release date: March 5th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: Morgan Matson is a contemporary YA romance queen, and this time, she\u2019s throwing some fantasy into it with her characters falling into the land of Sleeping Beauty. I\u2019m fairly confident in saying this will be a cute read, if nothing else!<\/p>\n

Two modern teens.
One classic fairy tale.
Absolutely no cell service.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Stella Griffin doesn\u2019t believe in fairy tales. Ever since her boyfriend dumped her three weeks before the prom\u2014 not ideal timing\u2014she\u2019s convinced every love story is a lie.
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She\u2019s ready to skip the prom entirely. But she and her best friend, Nisha, have been planning for years to celebrate at Disneyland before the prom . . . an OG OC tradition. But even being all dressed up at the Happiest Place on Earth isn\u2019t salvaging Stella\u2019s night. Nisha has brought along her friend Reece to join them, and he and Stella do not get along. They\u2019re like oil and water. Cats and dogs. Aladdin and Jafar. And so what if Reece is, fine, kind of cute? Stella\u2019s over it all. Happily-ever-afters, true love\u2019s kisses, princes on white horses. It\u2019s not real. <\/p>\n

. . . Or is it? <\/p>\n

Because when Stella and Reece push through a hidden door in Sleeping Beauty\u2019s castle, they\u2019re not in Anaheim anymore. They\u2019re in the story. In Sleeping Beauty \u2014with Aurora and Phillip, the fairies, Maleficent, and extremely intelligent woodland creatures. <\/p>\n

Unfortunately, they\u2019ve landed right in the middle of the story\u2014which throws things off. Suddenly, Aurora and Phillip are meeting before they were supposed to. The fairies are suspicious of the interlopers, and even Maleficent gets word of their arrival. <\/p>\n

Stella and Reece will have to put aside their differences, make sure Aurora and Phillip fall in love, and get the story back on track\u2014because if things don\u2019t end the way they\u2019re supposed to . . . they might never get home. <\/p>\n

Will they be able to pull off a fairy-tale ending? And will Stella and Reece get a happily-ever-after of their own?<\/p>\n

\"\"Say Hello to My Little Friend<\/b> by Jennine Capo Crucet
Release date: March 5th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: Is this published Pitbull<\/i> fanfiction?? Please, please read the synopsis of this because it is WILD and also because I cannot begin to summarize it.<\/p>\n

Failed Pitbull impersonator Ismael Reyes\u2014you can call him Izzy\u2014might not be the Scarface type, but why should that keep him from trying? Growing up in Miami has shaped him into someone who dreams of being the King of the 305, with the money, power, and respect he assumes comes with it. After finding himself at the mercy of a cease-and-desist letter from Pitbull\u2019s legal team and living in his aunt\u2019s garage-turned-efficiency, Izzy embarks on an absurd quest to turn himself into a modern-day Tony Montana.<\/b>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When Izzy\u2019s efforts lead him to the tank that houses Lolita, a captive orca at the Miami Seaquarium, she proves just how powerful she and the water surrounding her really are\u2014permeating everything from Miami\u2019s sinking streets to Izzy\u2019s memories to the very heart of the novel itself. What begins as Izzy\u2019s story turns into a super-saturated fever dream as sprawling and surreal as the Magic City, one as sharp as an iguana\u2019s claws, and as menacing as a killer whale\u2019s teeth. As the truth surrounding Izzy\u2019s boyhood escape from Cuba surfaces, the novel reckons with the forces of nature, with the limits and absence of love, and with the dangers of pursuing a tragic inheritance. Wildly narrated and expertly rendered, Say Hello to My Little Friend is Jennine Cap\u00f3 Crucet\u2019s most daring, heart-breaking, and fearless book yet.<\/p>\n

\"\" Baby X<\/b> by Kira Peikoff
Release date: March 5th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: A science fiction thriller whose very premise sounds, quite frankly, horrifying. With people trying to steal DNA from others in order to create their designer baby, this is the evolution of parasocial relationships that nobody asked for.<\/p>\n

In the near-future United States, where advanced technology can create egg or sperm from any person\u2019s cells, celebrities face the alarming potential of meeting biological children they never conceived. Famous singer Trace Thorne is tired of being targeted by the Vault, a black market site devoted to stealing DNA. Sick of paying ransom money for his own cell matter, he hires bio-security guard Ember Ryan to ensure his biological safety. <\/b>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ember will do anything she can to protect her clients. She knows all the Vault\u2019s tricks\u2013discarded tissues, used straws, lipstick tubes\u2013and has prevented countless DNA thefts. Working for Thorne, her focus becomes split when she begins to fall for him, but she knows she hasn\u2019t let anything slip\u2013love or not, his DNA is safe. But then she and Thorne are confronted by a pregnant woman, Quinn, who claims that Thorne is the father of her baby, and all bets are off. <\/p>\n

Brilliantly plotted and terrifyingly prescient, Baby X is an unpredictable and relentless speculative thriller perfect for fans of Blake Crouch.<\/p>\n

\"\" Jumpnauts<\/b> by Hao Jingfang (trans. Ken Liu)
Release date: March 12th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: The English translation of this Chinese sci-fi thriller, this scores both a translation from Ken Liu, himself a well-respected fantasy author, and a beautiful cover! Three rival scientists strive for first contact with an alien race in this novel that focuses more on philosophy and physics over character development, but it does sound quite lovely.<\/p>\n

In a future where the world is roughly divided into two factions, the Pacific League of Nations and the Atlantic Division of Nations, tensions are high as each side waits for the other to make a move. But neither side is prepared for a powerful third party that has apparently been an influential presence on Earth for thousands of years\u2014and just might be making a reappearance very soon.<\/b>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With the realization that a highly intelligent alien race has been trying to send them messages, three rising scientists within the Pacific League of Nations form an uneasy alliance. Fueled by a curiosity to have their questions answered and a fear that other factions within their rival Atlantic Division of Nations would opt for a more aggressive and potentially disastrous military response, the three race to secure first contact with this extraterrestrial life they aren\u2019t quite convinced is a threat.<\/p>\n

Bolstered by recent evidence of alien visitations in the distant past, the three scientific minds must solve puzzles rooted within human antiquity, face off with their personal demons, and discover truths of the universe.<\/p>\n

\"\" A Touch of Chaos<\/b> (Hades x Persephone Saga #4) by Scarlett St. Clair
Release date: March 12th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: I mean, it\u2019s the fourth book in a series by a rather prolific author, so at this point, I feel like you\u2019ve already decided to read it or not, but sure, I\u2019ll feature a highly-anticipated mythology-inspired fantasy romance!<\/p>\n

The World Will Burn<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Persephone, Goddess of Spring, never guessed a chance encounter with Hades, God of the Underworld, would change her life forever\u2014but he did.
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A fight for humanity and battles between gods, it’s a world Persephone never thought she would see. To end the chaos, she must draw upon her darkness and embrace who she’s become\u2014Goddess, Wife, Queen of the Underworld.<\/p>\n

Once, Persephone made bargains to save those she loves, now she will go to war for them.<\/p>\n

\"\" Cascade Failure<\/b> by. L.M. Sagas
Release date: March 19th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: The first line of the synopsis compared three of my absolute favourite sci-fi series with The Expanse<\/i>, The Divide<\/i>, and Wayfarers<\/i> sooooo . . . you have my attention. And \u201c[featuring] a fierce, messy, chaotic space fam, vibrant worlds, and an exploration of the many ways to be\u2015and not to be\u2015human?\u201d Come on now, this has loads of potential (for me, on a personal level).<\/p>\n

L. M. Sagas’ debut, Cascade Failure, is a highly commercial, sci-fi adventure blending J. S. Dewes’ Divide series with the broad fan appeal of The Expanse and the cozy sf of Becky Chambers. It features a fierce, messy, chaotic space fam, vibrant worlds, and an exploration of the many ways to be\u2015and not to be\u2015human.<\/b>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There are only three real powers in the universe: the corporate power of the Trust versus the Union’s labor’s leverage. And between them, the Guild tries to keep everyone’s hands above the table. It ain’t easy.<\/p>\n

Branded a Guild deserter, Jal “accidentally” lands a ride on a Guild ship. Helmed by an AI, with a ship’s engineer\/medic who doesn’t see much of a difference between the two jobs, and a “don’t make me shoot you” XO, the Guild crew of the Ambit is a little . . . different.<\/p>\n

They’re also in over their heads. Responding to a distress call from an abandoned planet, they find a mass grave, and a live programmer who knows how it happened. The Trust has plans. This isn’t the first dead planet, and it’s not going to be the last.<\/p>\n

Unless the crew of the Ambit can stop it.<\/p>\n

\"\" The Woods All Black<\/b> by Lee Mandelo
Release date: March 19th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: It\u2019s no secret that after Summer Sons<\/a>, I am always prepared to go feral for a Lee Mandelo story at a moment\u2019s notice. This one is set in 1920s Appalachia, with a trans main character, and I\u2019m sure there will be no shortage of religious horror and super atmospheric writing.<\/p>\n

The Woods All Black<\/i> is equal parts historical horror, trans romance, and blood-soaked revenge, all set in 1920s Appalachia<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Leslie Bruin is assigned to the backwoods township of Spar Creek by the Frontier Nursing Service, under its usual mandate: vaccinate the flock, birth babies, and weather the judgements of churchy locals who look at him and see a failed woman. Forged in the fires of the Western Front and reborn in the cafes of Paris, Leslie believes he can handle whatever is thrown at him\u2014but Spar Creek holds a darkness beyond his nightmares.
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Something ugly festers within the local congregation, and its malice has focused on a young person they insist is an unruly tomboy who must be brought to heel. Violence is bubbling when Leslie arrives, ready to spill over, and he’ll have to act fast if he intends to be of use. But the hills enfolding Spar Creek have a mind of their own, and the woods are haunted in ways Leslie does not understand.<\/p>\n

The Woods All Black<\/i> is a story of passion, prejudice, and power \u2014 an Appalachian period piece that explores reproductive justice and bodily autonomy, the terrors of small-town religiosity, and the necessity of fighting tooth and claw to live as who you truly are.<\/p>\n

\"\" Floating Hotel<\/b> by Grace Curtis
Release date: March 19th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: Cozy sci-fi about \u201cmisfits, rebels, and found family?\u201d Hello! Much like Grace Curtis\u2019 Frontier<\/a>, this seems to be somewhat a book of multiple POVs that can almost work as vignettes, which could be very cool.<\/p>\n

Welcome to the Grand Abeona Hotel: home of the finest food, the sweetest service, and the very best views the galaxy has to offer. Year round it moves from planet to planet, system to system, pampering guests across the furthest reaches of the milky way. The last word in sub-orbital luxury – and a magnet for intrigue. Intrigues such as:<\/b>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Why are there love poems in the lobby intray?<\/p>\n

How many Imperial spies are currently on board?<\/p>\n

What is the true purpose of the Problem Solver’s conference?<\/p>\n

And perhaps most pertinently – who is driving the ship?<\/p>\n

At the centre of these mysteries stands Carl, one time stowaway, longtime manager, devoted caretaker to the hotel. It’s the love of his life and the only place he’s ever called home. But as forces beyond Carl’s comprehension converge on the Abeona, he has to face one final question: when is it time to let go?<\/p>\n

\"\" A Botanical Daughter<\/b> by Noah Medlock
Release date: March 19th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: Come on, look at that cover! If that\u2019s not enough for you, then the fact that this queer Victorian horror is like a Frankenstein story but with fungus should be enough.<\/p>\n

It is an unusual thing, to live in a botanical garden. But Simon and Gregor are an unusual pair of gentlemen. Hidden away in their glass sanctuary from the disapproving tattle of Victorian London, they are free to follow their own interests without interference. For Simon, this means long hours in the dark basement workshop, working his taxidermical art. Gregor’s business is exotic plants \u2013 lucrative, but harmless enough. Until his latest acquisition, a strange fungus which shows signs of intellect beyond any plant he’s seen, inspires him to attempt a masterwork: true intelligent life from plant matter.<\/b>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Driven by the glory he’ll earn from the Royal Horticultural Society for such an achievement, Gregor ignores the flaws in his plan: that intelligence cannot be controlled; that plants cannot be reasoned with; and that the only way his plant-beast will flourish is if he uses a recently deceased corpse for the substrate.<\/p>\n

The experiment \u2013 or Chloe, as she is named \u2013 outstrips even Gregor’s expectations, entangling their strange household. But as Gregor’s experiment flourishes, he wilts under the cost of keeping it hidden from jealous eyes. The mycelium grows apace in this sultry greenhouse. But who is cultivating whom?<\/p>\n

Told with wit and warmth, this is an extraordinary tale of family, fungus and more than a dash of bloody revenge from an exciting new voice in queer horror.<\/p>\n

\"\" Song of the Huntress<\/b> by Lucy Holland
Release date: March 19th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: Taking on the folklore of the Wild Hunt, this is another feminist mythology-inspired book – but queer!<\/p>\n

Britain, 60AD. Hoping to save her lover, land and her people from the Romans, Herla makes a desperate pact with the king of the Otherworld. But years pass unheeded in his realm, and she escapes to find everyone she loved long dead. Cursed to wield his blade, she becomes Lord of the Hunt. And for centuries, she rides, reaping wanderers\u2019 souls. Until the night she meets a woman on a bloody battlefield \u2013 a Saxon queen with ice-blue eyes.<\/b>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Queen \u00c6thelburg of Wessex is a proven fighter. But when she leads her forces to disaster in battle, her husband\u2019s court turns against her. Yet King Ine needs \u00c6thel more than ever: the dead kings of Wessex are waking, and his own brother seeks to usurp him. Ine\u2019s only hope is to master the magic that\u2019s lain dormant in his bloodline since ancient days.<\/p>\n

When their paths cross, Herla knows it\u2019s no coincidence. Something dark and dangerous is at work in the Wessex court. The Otherworld seeks to rise, to bring the people of Britain under its dominion. As she and \u00c6thel grow closer, Herla must find her humanity \u2013 and a way to break the curse \u2013 before it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n

\"\" The Mars House<\/b> by Natasha Pulley
Release date: March 19th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: Natasha Pulley\u2019s The Half Life of Valery K<\/a> was an utterly captivating book, so this one – a queer science fiction novel about a fake marriage between an Earth refugee and a Mars politician?! – is definitely on my radar. And that description sounds like a fun time to have for all, but if her previous book is anything to go by: this is probably more literary than you expect and also probably more likely to make you cry than laugh.<\/p>\n

From the author of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street<\/i>, a queer sci-fi novel about an Earth refugee and a Mars politician who fake marry to save their reputations\u2014and their planet.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

In the wake of environmental catastrophe, January, once a principal in London\u2019s Royal Ballet, has become a refugee on Tharsis, the terraformed colony on Mars. In Tharsis, January\u2019s life is dictated by his status as an Earthstronger\u2014a person whose body is not adjusted to Mars\u2019s lower gravity and so poses a danger to those born on, or naturalized to, Mars. January\u2019s job choices, housing, and even transportation options are dictated by this second-class status, and now a xenophobic politician named Aubrey Gale is running on a platform that would make it all worse: Gale wants all Earthstrongers to be surgically naturalized, a process that can be anything from disabling to deadly.
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When Gale chooses January for an on-the-spot press junket interview that goes horribly awry, January\u2019s life is thrown into chaos, but Gale\u2019s political fortunes are damaged, too. Gale proposes a solution to both their problems: a five-year made-for-the-press marriage that would secure January\u2019s financial future without naturalization and ensure Gale\u2019s political future. But when January accepts the offer, he discovers that Gale is not at all like they appear in the press. And worse, soon, January finds himself entangled in political and personal events well beyond his imagining. Gale has an enemy, someone willing to destroy all of Tharsis to make them pay\u2014and January may be the only person standing in the way.<\/p>\n

\"\" Annie Bot<\/b> by Sierra Greer
Release date: March 19th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: ngl, when I read the first part of the description, with a man creating an AI robot to \u201csatisfy his emotional and physical needs,\u201d I was very much \ud83e\udd22. But then the synopsis went to \u201cShe\u2019s learning, too\u201d and I perked up. This seems to be more thought-provoking and sensitive than a robot revenge story, but also seems both thoughtful and emotional at that.<\/p>\n

A powerful, provocative novel about the relationship between a female robot and her human owner, exploring questions of intimacy, power, autonomy, and control.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Annie Bot was created to be the perfect girlfriend for her human owner Doug. Designed to satisfy his emotional and physical needs, she has dinner ready for him every night, wears the pert outfits he orders for her, and adjusts her libido to suit his moods. True, she\u2019s not the greatest at keeping Doug\u2019s place spotless, but she\u2019s trying to please him. She\u2019s trying hard.
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

She\u2019s learning, too.<\/p>\n

Doug says he loves that Annie\u2019s AI makes her seem more like a real woman, so Annie explores human traits such as curiosity, secrecy, and longing. But becoming more human also means becoming less perfect, and as Annie\u2019s relationship with Doug grows more intricate and difficult, she starts to wonder: Does Doug really desire what he says he wants? And in such an impossible paradox, what does Annie owe herself?<\/p>\n

\"\" The Last Bloodcarver<\/b> by Vanessa Le
Release date: March 19th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: Vietnamese-inspired YA fantasy with a killer cover! If that\u2019s not enough, early reviews also highlight how good the main character is and how well the book portrays that feeling of \u201cOthering.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nhika is a bloodcarver. A cold-hearted, ruthless being who can alter human biology with just a touch. In the industrial city of Theumas, she is seen not as a healer, but a monster that kills for pleasure.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

When Nhika is caught using her bloodcarving abilities during a sham medical appointment, she’s captured by underground thugs and sold to an aristocratic family to heal the last witness of their father\u2019s murder.
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But as Nhika delves deeper into their investigation amidst the glitz of Theumas\u2019 wealthiest district, she begins to notice parallels between this job and her own dark past. And when she meets an alluring yet entitled physician’s aide, Ven Kochin, she\u2019s forced to question the true intent behind this murder. In a society that outcasts her, Kochin seems drawn to her…though he takes every chance he gets to push her out of his opulent world.<\/p>\n

When Nhika discovers that Kochin is not who he claims to be, and that there is an evil dwelling in Theumas that runs much deeper than the murder of one man, she must decide where her heart, and her allegiance, truly lie. And — if she’s willing to become the dreaded bloodcarver Theumas fears — to save herself and the ones she’s vowed to protect.<\/p>\n

\"\" Medea<\/b> by Rosie Hewlett
Release date: March 21st (September 10th NA under the title The Witch of Colchis<\/b>)<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: This year\u2019s Greek mythology retelling heroine is Medea, with two books coming out this spring! (Which is likely why this one is being released under a different title in North America this fall.) If you\u2019re a fan of the feminist mythology retellings, then this one – about Jason and the Golden Fleece, with an obvious focus on Medea, helping him along his quest with her witchcraft – will be for you.<\/p>\n

Medea longs for a different life. Since childhood, she has been separated from her sister, shunned by her mother, and persecuted and tormented by her brother and father. All because of a unique and dangerous witchcraft.<\/b>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But when a dashing young hero, Jason, arrives to claim the famed Golden Fleece that her father fiercely protects, Medea sees her opportunity for escape. Her offer to help Jason overcome the trials set by her father sets in motion a journey that will test every ounce of her strength, magic and loyalty; a journey that will see her battle monsters, dethrone kings and fall in love.<\/p>\n

But when faced with the ultimate betrayal, Medea is driven to an act of desperation so brutal it rips apart the lives of everyone involved…<\/p>\n

\"\" The Angel of Indian Lake<\/b> (Indian Lake Trilogy #3) by Stephen Graham Jones
Release date: March 26th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: The final book in Stephen Graham Jones\u2019 Indigenous horror trilogy, which is a love letter to the slasher genre. Told through an Indigenous lens, this lauded horror trilogy doesn\u2019t shy away from generational trauma either.<\/p>\n

The final installment in the most lauded trilogy in the history of horror novels picks up four years after Don\u2019t Fear the Reaper<\/i> as Jade returns to Proofrock, Idaho, to build a life after the years of sacrifice\u2014only to find the Lake Witch is waiting for her in New York Times<\/i> bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones\u2019s finale.<\/b>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s been four years in prison since Jade Daniels last saw her hometown of Proofrock, Idaho, the day she took the fall, protecting her friend Letha and her family from incrimination. Since then, her reputation, and the town, have changed dramatically. There\u2019s a lot of unfinished business in Proofrock, from serial killer cultists to the rich trying to buy Western authenticity. But there\u2019s one aspect of Proofrock no one wants to confront\u2026until Jade comes back to town. The curse of the Lake Witch is waiting, and now is the time for the final stand.<\/p>\n

New York Times<\/i> bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones has crafted an epic horror trilogy of generational trauma from the Indigenous to the townies rooted in the mountains of Idaho. It is a story of the American west written in blood.<\/p>\n

\"\" The Emperor and the Endless Palace<\/b> by Justinian Huang
Release date: March 26th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: I feel like I say this a lot, but: cover. Described as a \u201cromantic thriller,\u201d this honestly sounds pretty unique. With two men being reincarnated to live out their (erotic) romance over millennia, in a fantasy world, if you want some imaginative storytelling and setting with your erotica and sex scenes, then this may be for you!<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if I told you that the feeling we call love is actually the feeling of metaphysical recognition, when your soul remembers someone from a previous life?\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

In the year 4 BCE, an ambitious courtier is called upon to seduce the young emperor\u2014but quickly discovers they are both ruled by blood, sex and intrigue.<\/i>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In 1740, a lonely innkeeper agrees to help a mysterious visitor procure a rare medicine, only to unleash an otherworldly terror instead.<\/i><\/p>\n

And in present-day Los Angeles, a college student meets a beautiful stranger and cannot shake the feeling they\u2019ve met before.<\/p>\n

Across these seemingly unrelated timelines woven together only by the twists and turns of fate, two men are reborn, lifetime after lifetime. Within the treacherous walls of an ancient palace and the boundless forests of the Asian wilderness to the heart-pounding cement floors of underground rave scenes, our lovers are inexplicably drawn to each other, constantly tested by the worlds around them.<\/p>\n

As their many lives intertwine, they begin to realize the power of their undying love\u2014a power that transcends time itself\u2026but one that might consume them both.<\/p>\n

An unpredictable roller coaster of a debut novel, The Emperor and the Endless Palace<\/i> is a genre-bending romantasy that challenges everything we think we know about true love.<\/b><\/p>\n

\"\" Diavola<\/b> by Jennifer Thorne
Release date: March 26th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: Honestly? That cover. I mean, if you want me to give other reasons, this gothic family vacation story has a haunted house and lots and lots of family dynamics (and some humour?), but really, it\u2019s the cover that puts it here.<\/p>\n

Anna has only two rules for the annual Pace family destination vacations: Tread lightly, and survive.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t easy, when she\u2019s the only one in the family who doesn\u2019t quite seem to fit. Her twin brother Benny goes with the flow so much he\u2019s practically dissolved, and her older sister Nicole is so used to everyone\u2014including her blandly docile husband and two kids\u2014falling in line that Anna often ends up in trouble for simply asking a question. Mom seizes every opportunity to question her life choices, and Dad, when not reminding everyone who has paid for this vacation, just wants some peace and quiet.
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The gorgeous, remote villa in tiny Monteperso seems like a perfect place to endure so much family togetherness\u2013including Benny\u2019s demanding new boyfriend (it\u2019s Christopher, not Chris). That is, until things start going off the rails\u2013the strange noises at night, the unsettling warnings from the local villagers, and, oh, the dark, violent past of the villa itself.<\/p>\n

Jennifer Thorne skewers all-too-familiar family dynamics in this sly, wickedly funny vacation-Gothic. Beautifully unhinged and deeply satisfying, Diavola is a sharp twist on the classic haunted house story, exploring loneliness, belonging, and the seemingly inescapable bonds of family mythology.<\/p>\n

(Warning: May invoke feelings of irritation, dread, and despair that come with large family gatherings.)<\/p>\n

\"\" The Weavers of Alamaxa<\/b> (The Alamaxa Duology #2) by Hadeer Elsbai
Release date: March 26th<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: The conclusion to this Egyptian-inspired feminist duology- isn\u2019t that enough? The first book was quite literally the definition of \u201csmash the patriarchy\u201d but in a magical world, and I appreciated how different the two POV characters were and the worlds they represented. (I also feel like duologies as complete series are underrated in general so happy to have one here!)<\/p>\n

The Daughters of Izdihar have finally made strides in having their voices heard. . . only to find them drowned out by the cannons of the fundamentalist Ziranis. As long as Alamaxa continues to allow for the elemental magic of the Weavers – and insist on allowing an academy to teach such things – the Zirani will stop at nothing to end what they perceive is a threat to not only their way of life, but the entire world.<\/b>
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Two such weavers, Nehal and Giorgina–come from very different backgrounds, but had come together to grow both their political and Weaving power. But after the attack, Nehal finds herself waking up in a Zirani prison and Giorgina finds herself on the run in her besieged city.<\/p>\n

If they can come together, they can rally Alamaxa to fight off the Zirani, because their abilities only continue to grow. Yet with so much in their way–not the least of which is needing to spend their energy protecting the ones they love–this will be no easy task.<\/p>\n

And the last time a Weaver fought back, the whole world was shattered.<\/p>\n

Two incredible women are all that stands before an entire army. But they’ve stood up to power before, and they won then. This time, though, it’s no longer about rhetoric.<\/p>\n

This time it’s about magic and blood.<\/p>\n

\"\" The Last Murder at the End of the World<\/b> by Stuart Turton
Release date: March 28th (May 21st NA)<\/p>\n

Why is it on this list?: A sci-fi mystery thriller! And it has a pretty cover! The author previously wrote the quite-fun mystery The 7 1\/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle<\/a>, and this whodunit goes more into the dystopian sci-fi direction.<\/p>\n

Solve the murder to save what’s left of the world.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Outside the island there is the world destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched. On the island it is idyllic. 122 villagers and 3 scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they’re told by the scientists.
[<\/span><\/svg>continued description under the cut<\/a><\/b>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And they learn the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay.<\/p>\n

If the murder isn’t solved within 92 hours, the fog will smother the island \u2013 and everyone on it.<\/p>\n

But the security system has also wiped everyone’s memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer \u2013 and they don’t even know it\u2026<\/p>\n

sources: 1<\/a> 2<\/a> 3<\/a> 4<\/a> 5<\/a> 6<\/a> 7<\/a> 8<\/a> 9<\/a> 10<\/a> 11<\/a> 12<\/a> 13<\/a> 14<\/a> 15<\/a> 16<\/a> 17<\/a> 18<\/a> 19<\/a> 20<\/a> 21<\/a> 22<\/a> 23<\/a> 24<\/a><\/p>\n

What’s the best book you’ve read in 2024 so far?<\/i><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n


\n
Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Previous months: January, February Previous years’ posts can be found here (all linked from the April 2023 post and final 2022 post): A Sampling of 2022’s Speculative Fiction Releases (Part 8) (also includes links to 2022 historical fiction posts) and A Sampling of 2023’s Speculative Fiction – April Releases. The rules:1. Books must fall into […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":80090,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-80089","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hollywood"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80089"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80089\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}