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Ongoing Series of 2023

Ongoing Series of 2023

Hey! Hot Continuations of Science Fiction and Fantasy Series in Your Area!

Check out our unfinished stories that continue to spin in 2023!


The Cradle of IceThe Cradle of Ice by James Rollins by James Rollins

The second book in the New York Times bestselling Moonfall series from thriller-master James Rollins, The Cradle of Ice is a page-turning tale of action, adventure, betrayal, ambition, and the struggle for survival in a harsh world that hangs by a thread. And check out his volume one, The Starless Crown, now available in paperback!

On Sale Now!


The Cage of Dark HoursPlaceholder of  -12 by Marina Lostetter

The Cage of Dark Hours is the second novel in the epic fantasy trilogy from acclaimed author Marina Lostetter, where the defeat of a serial killer back from the dead has pulled the mask off the myths and magics of a fantastical city.

On Sale Now!


Furious HeavenImage Place holder  of - 62 by Kate Elliott

Furious Heaven is Kate Elliott’s highly anticipated sequel to the thrilling space adventure Unconquerable Sun!

On Sale 4.18.23


Stan Lee’s The Devil’s Quintet: The Shadow SocietyStan Lee's The Devil's Quintet: The Shadow Society by Stan Lee & Jay Bonansinga by Stan Lee & Jay Bonansinga

Born of the legendary imagination that brought us Spider-Man, The Avengers, The X-Men, and an enduring universe of marvelous heroes and villains, Stan Lee’s The Devil’s Quintet return to take on a fiendish new adversary: The Shadow Society.

On Sale 5.9.23


Fractal Noise by Christopher PaoliniFractal Noise by Christopher Paolini

A new blockbuster science fiction adventure from world-wide phenomenon and #1 New York Times bestseller Christopher Paolini, set in the world of New York Times and USA Today bestseller To Sleep in a Sea of Stars.

On Sale 5.16.23


Cassiel’s ServantCassiel's Servant by Jacqueline Carey

The lush epic fantasy that inspired a generation with a single precept: “Love As Thou Wilt.” Returning to the realm of Terre d’Ange which captured an entire generation of fantasy readers, New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Carey brings us a hero’s journey for a new era.

On Sale 8.1.23


RavensongPlace holder  of - 42 by TJ Klune

The beloved fantasy romance sensation by New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune, about love, loyalty, betrayal, and joy. The Bennett family has a secret: They’re not just a family, they’re a pack. Ravensong is Gordo Livingstone’s story.

On Sale 8.1.23


Devil’s GunDevil's Gun by Cat Rambo

No one escapes their past as the crew of the You Sexy Thing attempts to navigate the hazards of opening a pop-up restaurant and the dangers of a wrathful pirate-king seeking vengeance in Cat Rambo’s Devil’s Gun.

On Sale 8.29.23


The Mystery at Dunvegan CastleThe Mystery at Dunvegan Castle by T.L. Huchu

Duels, magic, and plenty of ghosts await in The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle, the third book of T. L. Huchu’s USA Today bestselling Edinburgh Nights series.

On Sale 8.29.23


Traitor of RedwinterPoster Placeholder of - 35 by Ed McDonald

The second in Ed McDonald’s Chronicles of Redwinter, full of shady politics, militant monks, ancient powers… and a young woman navigating a world in which no one is quite what they seem.

On Sale 10.24.23


MalarkoiMalarkoi by Alex Pheby

Volume 2 of the Cities of the Weft

On Sale 10.24.23


Bookshops & BonedustBookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree

When an injury throws a young, battle-hungry orc off her chosen path, she may find that what we need isn’t always what we seek. Set in the world of New York Times bestselling Legends & Lattes, Bookshops & Bonedust takes us on a journey of high fantasy, first loves, and second-hand books.

On Sale 11.7.23


All the Hidden PathsImage Placeholder of - 96 by Foz Meadows

The follow-up to Foz Meadows’s A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, a sultry political & romantic fantasy exploring gender, sexuality, identity, and self-worth.

On Sale 12.5.23

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Snackable SFF To Help You Get A Jump On Your Reading Goals

Snackable SFF To Help You Get A Jump On Your Reading Goals

Here at Tor, we love a good list of good books, and we compile a lot of them! Having more books than time to read them is an all too common dilemma, but fear not! This list is for “snackable” SFF that are either easy to devour in one sitting OR won’t take up too much space on your TBR while delivering all the potency of flavor that sometimes, only brevity can bring.

Check it out!


Placeholder of  -66Arch-Conspirator by Veronica Roth

“I’m cursed, haven’t you heard?” Outside the last city on Earth, the planet is a wasteland. Without the Archive, where the genes of the dead are stored, humanity will end. Antigone’s parents – Oedipus and Jocasta – are dead. Passing into the Archive should be cause for celebration, but with her militant uncle Kreon rising to claim her father’s vacant throne, all Antigone feels is rage. When he welcomes her and her siblings into his mansion, Antigone sees it for what it really is: a gilded cage, where she is a captive as well as a guest. But her uncle will soon learn that no cage is unbreakable. And neither is he.


Nettle & Bone by T. KingfisherNettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher

Marra never wanted to be a hero. As the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter, she escaped the traditional fate of princesses, to be married away for the sake of an uncaring throne. But her sister wasn’t so fortunate—and after years of silence, Marra is done watching her suffer at the hands of a powerful and abusive prince. Seeking help for her rescue mission, Marra is offered the tools she needs, but only if she can complete three seemingly impossible tasks. But, as is the way in tales of princes and witches, doing the impossible is only the beginning.


Book of NightBook of Night by Holly Black by Holly Black

Book of Night is a decadent bookly snack. Its mood is both scrappy and sultry, full of long shadows, mystery noir, and twisty emotions. Charlie Hall is a thief, or she was. Now she just wants to tend bar and recover from her gunshot wound in relative peace. But in a world of power-hungry shadow magicians who will always want to take from each other, good thieves are in high demand. Unlike Charlie and an entire cadre of manipulative magi, Book of Night won’t place high demand on your TBR. It’s a friendly, snackable length, and it definitely should be your next read!


Legends & LattesLegends & Lattes by Travis Baldree by Travis Baldree

This book isn’t just snackable. It’s delicious! Battle-hardened adventurer Viv has decided to hang up her sword to build a more fulfilling life for herself as the proprietor of Thune’s first coffeeshop. We’re talking lattes, we’re talking cinnamon rolls, we’re talking good times and found family. This is the perfect comfort read to pair with a snack at your coziest local coffee spot.


The Echo WifeThe Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey by Sarah Gailey

Don’t let the relatively short length of this powerful novel fool you, this snack delivers an acutely emotional flavor. Evelyn Caldwell’s research was instrumental in the progression of cloning technology. Martine is a submissive clone of Evelyn that her husband created using that research so he could cheat on his wife with an adjusted version of his wife. Pretty gross, but don’t worry, he’s dead. And now Evelyn and Martine have to clean up after that death.

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The Buzz on the 5 Best Beekeeping Farms in the World

The Buzz on the 5 Best Beekeeping Farms in the World

The Last BeekeeperJulie Carrick Dalton’s The Last Beekeeper is a celebration of found family, an exploration of truth versus power, and the triumph of hope in the face of despair.

It’s been more than a decade since the world has come undone, and Sasha Severn has returned to her childhood home with one goal in mind—find the mythic research her father, the infamous Last Beekeeper, hid before he was incarcerated.

There, Sasha is confronted with a group of squatters who have claimed the quiet, idyllic farm as a way to escape the horrific conditions of state housing. While she feels threatened by their presence at first, the friends soon become her newfound family, offering what she hasn’t felt since her father was imprisoned: security and hope. Maybe it’s time to forget the family secrets buried on the farm and focus on her future.

But just as she settles into her new life, Sasha witnesses the impossible. She sees a honeybee, presumed extinct. People who claim to see bees are ridiculed and silenced for reasons Sasha doesn’t understand, but she can’t shake the feeling that this impossible bee is connected to her father’s missing research. Fighting to uncover the truth could shatter Sasha’s fragile security and threaten the lives of her new-found family—or it could save them all.

Sasha’s journey is a meditation on forgiveness and redemption and a reminder to cherish the beauty that still exists in this fragile world.

If you’re someone who’s passionate about saving the bees, then check out these wonderful beekeeping farms around the world!


Arataki Honey Ltd – Waiotapu, New Zealand

Arataki Honey-1
Arataki in New Zealand takes the bees and puts them at the core of their existence. This beekeeping farm understands the importance of beekeeping equipment that promotes hive health and is especially critical in controlling border entry of insects and animals that may impact the overall beekeeping process.

Rock Hill Honey Bee Farm – Stafford, VA

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Their farm sits on five acres of land, and their staff takes great pride in caring for the bees, offering advice and assistance, and providing the highest quality products.

The Inzerki Apiary – Agadir, Morocco 

Discover the World's Largest Traditional Bee Yard at Morocco's Inzerki Apiary

The Inzerki Apiary in the Souss-Massa region 82 kilometers north of Agadir is the largest traditional collective apiary, or bee yard, in the world. The population living around the apiary is only in the hundreds, and most of them are beekeepers. With at least 3,700 hives, the Inzerki Apiary welcomes tens of thousands of bees.

Big Island Bees – Captain Cook, HI

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Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, Bee Island Bees invites people to take a box seat on beekeeping at one of the world’s leading honey farms.  You can explore an actual hive and learn where the queen resides, how honey is made, and what makes bees so special and interesting, all from behind a safe, screened area.

Kashmir Apiaries Exports – Doraha, Ludhiana, India

Kashmir Appiaries Exports - Manufacturer from Village Mallipur, Ludhiana, India | About Us
Kashmir Apiaries has 50,000 bee colonies across India. It is considered the largest exporter in the country and supplies to a good number of nations around the globe. Their focus is on getting the right beekeeping equipment and technology to drive error-free processes to deliver the best products from bees and at the same time making sure the bees are thriving.


Click below to pre-order your copy of The Last Beekeeper, coming March 7th, 2023!

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Books That We’re Grateful For <3

Books That We’re Grateful For <3

It’s been a long 2022, so we’re taking a moment to think about all the books that helped us make it through the year. As we prepare to jump into 2023, Tor Publishing Group’s staff looks back on some of the stories we’re thankful for!


The Atlas ParadoxThe Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake by Olivie Blake

I’m grateful for Blake’s incredible Atlas series, and The Atlas Paradox in particular. I often find the world a bit scary and overwhelming, and as a result really enjoy media that unpacks the thorniness of being alive. None of the powerful magicians that comprise the cast of Paradox are okay, but in watching the complicated ways they struggle against, help, and even hurt each other, the real world feels less confusing and intimidating.

a cat, Digital Marketing Coordinator


Nettle & BoneNettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher by T. Kingfisher

I’m grateful for Nettle & Bone because despite its little fairy tale package, it’s real and raw, full of rage and blood and determination and love. Sometimes you just need a story that will gnaw uncomfortably at your insides and yet give you hope that impossible tasks are possible and you can earn your happy ending.

Tessa Villanueva, Editorial Assistant


Book of NightBook of Night by Holly Black by Holly Black

I’m thankful to exist in the same universe as Holly Black, and I’m so thankful that with Book of Night she’s expanding the type of stories she tells. I’ve loved her young adult books, and to see her progress into a different realm of storytelling has been fantastic. I’m so excited to be able to keep reading her, and see what she does next!

Julia Bergen, Marketing Manager


The Genesis of MiseryThe Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang by Neon Yang

I’m grateful for The Genesis of Misery because it’s an outrageously creative work of space opera, a delightfully genderspun/queered mecha novel, and also a deeply nuanced genre-reception/refraction/retelling of the Joan of Arc mythos. But more than that, I’m grateful for Neon Yang for 1) existing, 2) writing this book, and 3) continuing to be one of the most lovable human beings on the planet with one of the most staggeringly vast imaginations.

Yvonne Ye, Ad/Promo Assistant


Legends & LattesLegends & Lattes by Travis Baldree by Travis Baldree

This year, I am immensely grateful for Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and even more grateful for my extremely patient coworkers, as they listened to me rant about how much I loved this book at least three times per week since I read it. No, I am not sorry, and yes, you should definitely add this to the top of your TBR pile as soon as possible. I didn’t know I needed cozy fantasy in my life until I got my hands on this book. Warm, comforting, and joyful, Legends & Lattes follows Viv, a battle weary orc who hangs up her sword and takes a chance on building something for herself-the first ever coffee shop in the town of Thune. This book has found family, giant cinnamon rolls, and a gentle love story that will have you savoring this tale until you’ve turned the final page.

Rachel Taylor, Senior Marketing Manager


The Traitor Baru CormorantPoster Placeholder of - 57 by Seth Dickinson

I am grateful for Seth Dickinson’s epic fantasy novel The Traitor Baru Cormorant because it made my cold, dead heart feel so many things. This gorgeously written, tragic book was without a doubt one of my favorite reads of the year. Baru, a young woman from a colonized land who joins the enemy empire to take them down from the inside, is one of the most interesting characters I’ve ever read. I found myself rooting for her even as she made horrible, heart-rending decisions. If you want to cry ugly tears in 2023, give this one a read.

Merlin Hoye, Marketing Assistant


Just Like HomeJust Like Home by Sarah Gailey by Sarah Gailey

I’m grateful for Sarah Gailey and their novel Just Like Home. I’ve never read a haunted house book like this one, and believe me, I’ve read a lot of haunted house books. I took so much gratification in hand-selling Just Like Home this year at New York and San Diego Comic Cons. I’m so grateful I get to work with authors who are not only great writers, but great people.

Jordan Hanley, Senior Marketing Manager

What books are you thankful for? Let us know in the comments! 

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SFF Books We Read for the Romance

SFF Books We Read for the Romance

Love is in the stars and other faraway places! No, we’re not just talking about fate and honeymoons—this is an article about romance in Science Fiction and Fantasy! Check out these sometimes sizzling sometimes sweet SFF reads that’ll have you feeling the love 😍


A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz MeadowsA Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

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.

Winter's Orbit by Everina MaxwellWinter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell

Prince Kiem, a famously disappointing minor royal and the Emperor’s least favorite grandchild, has been called upon to be useful for once. He’s commanded to fulfill an obligation of marriage to the representative of the Empire’s newest and most rebellious vassal planet. His future husband, Count Jainan, is a widower and murder suspect. Neither wants to be wed, but with a conspiracy unfolding around them and the fate of the empire at stake they will have to navigate the thorns and barbs of court intrigue, the machinations of war, and the long shadows of Jainan’s past, and they’ll have to do it together. So begins a legendary love story amid the stars.

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline CareyKushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Born with a scarlet mote in her left eye, Phédre nó Delaunay is sold into indentured servitude as a child. When her bond is purchased by an enigmatic nobleman, she is trained in history, theology, politics, foreign languages, the arts of pleasure. And above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Exquisite courtesan, talented spy…and unlikely heroine. But when Phédre stumbles upon a plot that threatens her homeland, Terre d’Ange, she has no choice. Betrayed into captivity in the barbarous northland of Skaldia and accompanied only by a disdainful young warrior-priest, Phédre makes a harrowing escape and an even more harrowing journey to return to her people and deliver a warning of the impending invasion.

A Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra RowlandA Taste of Gold and Iron by Alexandra Rowland

Kadou, the shy prince of Arasht, finds himself at odds with one of the most powerful ambassadors at court—the body-father of the queen’s new child—in an altercation which results in his humiliation. To prove his loyalty to the queen, his sister, Kadou takes responsibility for the investigation of a break-in at one of their guilds, with the help of his newly appointed bodyguard, the coldly handsome Evemer, who seems to tolerate him at best. In Arasht, where princes can touch-taste precious metals with their fingers and myth runs side by side with history, counterfeiting is heresy, and the conspiracy they discover could cripple the kingdom’s financial standing and bring about its ruin.

Dance with the Devil by Kit RochaDance with the Devil by Kit Rocha

Maya uses her wealth of secrets to weaken the TechCorps from within. Dani strikes from the shadows, picking off the chain of command one ambush at a time. And Nina is organizing their community—not just to survive, but to fight back. When Maya needs to make contact with a sympathetic insider, Dani and Rafe are the only ones with the skill-set and experience to infiltrate the highest levels of the TechCorps. They’ll go deep undercover in the decadent, luxury-soaked penthouses on the Hill. Bringing Dani face-to-face with the man who turned her into a killer. And forcing Rafe to decide how far he’ll go to protect both of his families—the one he was born to, and the one he made for himself.

Under the Whispering DoorUnder the Whispering Door by TJ Klune by TJ Klune

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead. And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead. But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days. Hilarious, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home.

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Tor Books Presents…Dragon Week 4: Dragons 4Ever!!

Tor Books Presents…Dragon Week 4: Dragons 4Ever!!

We at Tor are SO excited to bring you Dragon Week 4! You heard us right: 4 consecutive years of dragons! And looks like we’re good for many more, because last year you voted on our Special Dragon Week title, so here we are! Dragons 4ever! Check out our roundup below for all the dragon fun we’ll be sinking our fangs into this week.


Monday, 7/25: Favorite Moments from Dragon Weeks Past

Foreground: A wizard with staff of lightning and magically powerful orb. Background: Enormous dragon with glowing mouth and eyes, wings extended


Tuesday, 7/26: Every Dragon Book Coming from Tor in 2022

Gray night with much moonlight bathing a distant castle as a dragon approaches through the sky


Wednesday, 7/27: What Kind of Burrito Would You Feed a Dragon? John Scalzi Answers

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Thursday, 7/28: 6 SciFi Books That Would Be Better If You Added a Dragon by Jenn Lyons

Star-studded space with a dragon that's the size of planet earth next to planet earth


Friday, 7/29: We Asked R. R. Virdi, Is a Snake a Dragon? 

Purply coiled constrictor snake, shrouded in shadow but glinting with small light


Friday, 7/29: QUIZ—Would You Survive A Dragon Attack?

Mist and / or sand partially obscuring a lithe and fierce dragon, mid-roar

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Five Fantasy Novels Perfect to Set Your Next DnD Campaign In

Five Fantasy Novels Perfect to Set Your Next DnD Campaign In

The TTRPG game masters among us know that behind all the epic moments and fun is a lot of work—preparing characters, setting up the fantasy world, and then you’ve got to set up the story of the campaign after that.

So in the interest of more fun and less work, we at Tor Books have put together a list of epic fantasy novels with worlds ready-made for your next DnD campaign! Check it out here.


Cover of Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonaldDaughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald

This brilliant fantasy first-in-series about how a single choice can change a universe has every element your TTRPG-playin’ heart could yearn for. Forbidden magic, an order of warrior-magi, and ancient evils fighting against the chains of the past that hold them there—that’s a recipe for tabletop greatness if I’ve ever heard one. We’re also running a sweepstakes for a chance to win your very own custom Daughter of Redwinter-inspired game master’s screen

Cover of In the Shadow of LIghtning by Brian McClellanIn the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan

Brian McClellan has a new fantasy series and it could be the setting of your next TTRPG campaign! Magic is running out in the world of In the Shadow of Lightning, and the violent struggles between factions makes stability as rare a commodity as the empowered Godglass they’re fighting over. 

Cover of Fate of the Fallen by Kel KadeFate of the Fallen by Kel Kade

Okay so this book. Basically all the rich and noble adventure-types have fled the world to the doom that they decided they just weren’t up to stopping. Who does that leave? Well, The B Team! Set your campaign in this world if you wish every class had a little mix of rogue. DnD for delightful scoundrels, if you will!

Cover for The First Binding by R. R. VirdiThe First Binding by R. R. Virdi

The setting of The First Binding takes inspiration from our world’s Silk Roads, and in this expansive series opener, R. R. Virdi takes us on a journey along a bustling fantasy trade route that spans a broad and diverse wealth of cultures. It’s kind of the perfect setting for a tabletop campaign! No coincidence that traditional DnD-style games begin in places like taverns—this is where travelers from different backgrounds meet! But the world of The First Binding is a world of travelers, where unfamiliar folks mesh at every point along the long, long road. 

Cover of The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher BuehlmanThe Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

Guilds of thieves, brutal goblin wars, fallen cities, and of course, the gods! The world of The Blacktongue Thief is a prime setting for fast-paced campaigns where characters (and players) have ample opportunity to quip and react quickly to ever-escalating situations. Aren’t the best TTRPG moments the ones that spiral indelibly out of hand? Set your next campaign within the realms of The Blacktongue Thief to maximize the chance of such beautiful moments. 

 

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5 Thrillers Set in Hawaii to Read This Summer

5 Thrillers Set in Hawaii to Read This Summer

Summer is upon us and if you’re looking for a Hawaiian thriller to tide you over until the next season of The White Lotus, look no further! John Teschner’s upcoming novel Project Namahana brilliantly combines all the gorgeous tropical scenery, dark secrets, and heart-pounding thrills that you crave. In anticipation of its release, here are a few thrillers examining the evil that lurks behind even the most idyllic setting…

11660590Micro by Michael Crichton and Richard Preston

A group of graduate students travel to Hawaii to work for a groundbreaking biotech company but soon find themselves stranded in the jungle and fighting for their lives.  Crichton shows us what happens when nature and technology clash in this thrilling techno-thriller full of murder, mysterious weapons, and the dangers of the natural world.

Blood Orchids by Toby Neal

The first installment in Toby Neal’s thrilling Paradise Crime series introduces readers to tough Hawaiian cop Lei Texeira. Lei has overcome a tragic past but when she finds two murdered teenagers, all her old memories come rushing back. To solve the case, she must battle her own ghosts as well as a killer who finds her increasingly fascinating. Soon Lei is trapped in a thrilling game of cat and mouse where she begins to question her very sanity.

Project NamahanaProject Namahana by John Teschner

After a string of deaths and disappearances in the jungles of Kauai, a pair of men set out to find answers to the mystery plaguing the island.  Tempers flare as the local community clashes with the greed of corporate farming and it soon becomes clear that amid the lush jungles and gorgeous beaches, all is not as it seems.

 

Death in Paradise by J.E. Trent

Jessica Kealoha is a L.A. homicide detective with a complicated family life and when her father dies in a plane wreck, she immediately suspects that it was no accident. She returns to her childhood home and reconnects with her family while also working to solve the mystery of her father’s death. Full of twists, turns, and a dash of romance, Death in Paradise will have you staying up past your bedtime to get to its thrilling conclusion.

Bones of Hilo by Eric Redman

Kawaka Wong is a young detective struggling to prove himself so when a wealthy businessman shows up murdered on a golf course with an ancient Hawaiian spear driven through his heart, Wong jumps at the chance to solve such a high-profile case. He soon finds himself tangled up in the mysterious history of the island as well as a string of grisly murders and he quickly realizes he may have gotten more than he bargained for.

Post written by Merlin Hoye

Click below to pre-order your copy of Project Namahana, coming June 28th, 2022!

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5 SFF Books Featuring Memorable Trips

5 SFF Books Featuring Memorable Trips

by Becky Yeager

Buckle up, readers. Do you hear the call of the road? These authors did, except the routes they have planned involve stops that are decidedly elsewhere. Don’t forget to pack your map.


Place holder  of - 62Last Exit by Max Gladstone

Have you ever gone on a road trip, had everything go completely wrong, and then decide maybe it’s worth trying that road trip a second time? Ten years ago, Zelda led a band of merry adventurers whose knacks let them travel to alternate realities and battle the black rot that threatened to unmake each world. The group’s center—its heart—was Sal, Zelda’s lover. On their last mission, Sal was lost. And they all fell apart. A decade later, Sal threatens to return, surrounded by the rot. Zelda cannot face this peril alone and needs to reunite the old band. Which brings us to Road Trip 2.0 where the stakes are higher than ever.

Poster Placeholder of - 13American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Shadow only wanted to go home when he finally got out of prison. Tragedy leads him to accepting a job offer from a mysterious man named Mr. Wednesday to become his bodyguard. Together they travel across America on a strange road trip. There’s far more than meets the eye to the places they visit and the individuals they meet.

Placeholder of  -83The Brotherhood of the Wheel by R. S. Belcher

Sometimes the road requires protectors. The Brotherhood of the Wheel descended from a small offshoot of Templars. They are a secret group of knights composed of truckers, bikers, taxi hacks, state troopers, bus drivers, and others. Their mission is to defend the roads of the world and to guard those who travel on them. Jimmy Aussapile is one such knight. He’s driving a big rig down South when a promise to a ghostly hitchhiker sets him on a quest to find out the terrible truth behind a string of children gone missing all across the country.

Image Placeholder of - 93Redwood and Wildfire by Andrea Hairston

This is one traveling act you won’t want to miss. Redwood and Aiden are gifted performers and hoodoo conjurors. At the turn of the 20th century they leave behind George and journey to Chicago, going from a haunted swampland to a “city of the future.” Their adventure is both magical and painful as they deal with trauma, a changing world, and the challenges their own abilities present.

Image Place holder  of - 75Deal with the Devil by Kit Rocha

Road trips are so much more challenging when the terrain involves a post-apocalyptic dystopia. Luckily, mercenary librarians are made of tougher stuff. The prospect of access to the long-lost U.S. Library of Congress is enough to convince Nina, Maya, and Dani to work with the Silver Devils, a rogue group of enhanced ex-soldiers. Together they will deal with numerous perils including no-good biker gangs and the secrets they’re keeping from each other. Now if Nina can avoid falling for the leader of Silver Devils then everything might go off without a hitch.

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Fantasy Novels That Subvert the Chosen One Narrative

Fantasy Novels That Subvert the Chosen One Narrative

By Zakiya Jamal & a cat

Image Place holder  of - 57We all know the story of the chosen one. Time and time again, we’ve watched the Fabled Hero rise from Humble Yet Noble Origins to unlock Hidden Power only to discover that their True Strength was Friendship All Along, or whatever. That’s not what we’re here to talk about today. No, today is about the books that take that familiar narrative and twist it up. Flip it on its precious, anointed head! 

And why today of all auspicious days for this task? Because we’re celebrating the release of The Discord of Gods, the thrilling conclusion to Jenn Lyons’ A Chorus of Dragons series, where chosen ones fall from grace, demons run rampant across the earth, and adventure is the most important word. 

So read on! Check out a whole list of novels that defy the heroic and shake up expectations!


The Ruin of Kings by Jenn Lyons

Placeholder of  -99Lyons’ debut novel follows Kihrin, a thief and minstrel’s son, who discovers he’s a long lost prince. However, being a prince isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Kihrin’s new family treats him as a prisoner and he’s caught up in their power plays and political ambitions. To make matters worse, Khirin does seem to have a part to play in the fate of the world–in that he might just be destined to destroy it.

Lyon’s has already followed up with The Name of All Things and she continues subverting the traditional versions of heroes and chosen ones.

 

Poster Placeholder of - 40Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade

In Kel Kade’s riotous fantasy, Fate of the Fallen, the learned wizards, gallant nobility, career adventurers, and anyone who might be considered an archetypical hero have all yeeted themselves away from a world that is dying. Who’s left? The flotsam. The broken. The ne’er-do-wells. But no one fights like the desperate, and dying though it may be, this is their world to save, damn it.

 

Place holder  of - 34The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which is why he makes the mistake of attempting to rob Galva, who is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death. And from these lofty beginnings, a sharply funny and bitingly thrilling fantasy adventure unfolds.

 

Image Placeholder of - 59Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald

The first installment in a brilliant new fantasy trilogy from critically-acclaimed author Ed McDonald, Daughter of Redwinter chronicles the adventures of Raine, a young woman with a history of unfortunate decisions who can unfortunately see the dead. It’s a powerful gift, and one she’d die for if anyone knew. No adulation or support for Raine, our chosen girl who just might save the world. It’s secrets and daggers in the dark until the climactic end. 

Daughter of Redwinter is on sale 6.28.22

 

Nevernight by Jay Kristoff

While one could argue that protagonist Mia Corvere does fall into the chosen one trope, Kristoff breaks out of the typical narrative style by having a narrator who reveals early on that Mia will die by the time the tale is done. So while Mia may seem like the center of the story, she’s not the one telling it and she won’t survive the story’s end.

 

The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty

Without giving too much away, Chakraborty does a great job of setting up the reader to believe that Nahri is the chosen one of this story, and though she certainly is at the center of the book, the novel becomes a dual narrative tale where the reader is left to wonder how Nahri’s story will converge with that of Prince Ali.

 

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

There are a lot of reasons why Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series was turned into a hit TV series and continues to bring in fans, but one of the big ones is Martin isn’t afraid to kill his heroes. From early in the series, Martin made it clear that the characters one might think are the saviors, or chosen ones, still aren’t safe.

 

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Often referred to as the adult Harry Potter, it shouldn’t be surprising that The Magicians makes the list. However, unlike Harry Potter, protagonist Quentin Coldwater doesn’t face a clear villain, at least not at first; instead Quentin’s main story is about exploring (and abusing) magic and discovering a world he’s always admired but doesn’t fully understand.

Originally published November 29, 2018.

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