Looking for some fall reads? Explore the must-have paperbacks hitting the shelves this season. š š„§
September 24
All The Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows
After foiling a plot and securing the city of Qi-Katai, newlyweds Velasin and Caethari begin to explore their relationship, but political tensions still loom.Ā With Caethari newly invested as his grandmotherās heir and Velasinās old ghosts gnawing at his heels, what little peace theyāve managed to find is swiftly put to the test. Caeās recent losses have left him racked with grief and guilt, while Vel struggles with the disconnect between instincts that have kept him safe in secrecy and what an open life requires of him now. Pursued by unknown assailants and with Qi-Xihanās court factions jockeying for power, Vel and Cae must use all the skills at their disposal to not only survive, but thrive. Because thereās more than one way to end an alliance, and more than one person who wants to see them failā¦and they will resort to murder if needed.
October 01
Starling HouseĀ by Alix E. Harrow
Opal has been obsessed withĀ The Underland since she was a child. When she gets the chance to step inside Starling Houseāand make some extra cash for her brother’s escape fundāshe can’t resist. But sinister forces are digging deeper into the buried secrets of Starling House, and Arthurās own nightmares have become far too real. As Eden itself seems to be drowning in its own ghosts, Opal realizes that she might finally have found a reason to stick around. And now sheāll have to fight. Welcome to Starling House: enter, if you dare.Ā
Starter VillainĀ by John Scalzi
A divorced substitute teacher living with his cat in a house his siblings want to sell, all Charlie wants is to open a pub downtown, if only the bank will approve his loan. Then his long-lost uncle Jake dies and leaves his supervillain business (complete with island volcano lair) to Charlie. But becoming a supervillain isn’t all giant laser death rays and lava pits. Jake had enemies, and now they’re coming after Charlie. His uncle might have been a stand-up, old-fashioned kind of villain, but these are the real thing: rich, soulless predators backed by multinational corporations and venture capital. It’s up to Charlie to win the war his uncle started against a league of supervillains. But with unionized dolphins, hyper-intelligent talking spy cats, and a terrifying henchperson at his side, going bad is starting to look pretty good.
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson
Yumi has spent her entire life in strict obedience, granting her the power to summon the spirits that bestow vital aid upon her societyābut she longs for even a single day as a normal person. Painter patrols the dark streets dreaming of being a heroāa goal that has led to nothing but heartache and isolation, leaving him always on the outside looking in. In their own ways, both of them face the world alone. Suddenly flung together, Yumi and Painter must strive to right the wrongs in both their lives, reconciling their past and present while maintaining the precarious balance of each of their worlds. If they cannot unravel the mystery of what brought them together before itās too late, they risk forever losing not only the bond growing between them, but the very worlds theyāve always struggled to protect.
From the Forest by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
L. E. Modesitt, Jr. continues the Saga of Recluce, the long-running, best-selling epic fantasy series. In a new story arc,Ā From the Forest follows the early life of a man known by many names depending on who you askāhero, tyrant, emperor. Alayiakal, who will one day be known by many names ānot all of them flatteringāhas to climb the ranks of Cyadorās Mirror Lancers, fighting against unforeseen weapons and ancient technology. Alayiakal, however, has secrets of his own to protect: his ties to the Great Forest and his magus abilities. He must silently pretend to be a conventional soldier favored by fateāuntil that very same fate forces him to choose.
October 15
To Reign in Hell by Steven Brust; With an Introduction by Roger Zelazny
Originally published in 1984, Steven Brust’s To Reign in Hell is a retelling of Satan’s revolt against Heaven with much more sympathy for Lucifer and his allies. Heaven is threatened by the reemergence of a cataclysmic event, a wave of energy that can destroy life and result in the loss of many angels. In preparation for this Fourth Wave, the angel Yaweh consults the angel Satan. A plan to build Earth, a new and larger Heaven that would be equipped to withstand the disaster, is constructed. Satan questions the plan because doing so will sacrifice the lives of other angels, much like the Fourth Wave itself threatens to do. Charged with convincing their fellow angels to lay down their lives, Satan has reservations about their right to ask for such a sacrifice. This doubt, and the questioning of ethics, opens the door for a devious figure to manipulate Satan, developing a heavenly war.
Traitor of Redwinter by Ed McDonald
Traitor of RedwinterĀ is the second in Ed McDonaldās Redwinter Chronicles, full of shady politics, militant monks, ancient powers… and a young woman navigating a world in which no one is quite what they seem. The power of the Sixth Gate grows stronger within Raine each dayāto control it, she needs lessons no living Draoihn can teach her. Thereās only one chance to turn the tide of power surging within herāto learn the secrets the Draoihn themselves purged from the world. The book can teach her. Amidst threats old and new, Raine must learn the secrets promised by the book and magic promised by a queen with a crown of feathers. A queen to whom Raine has promised more than she can afford to giveā¦
Princess of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
Raised in the Imperial court and born to be a political bargaining chip, Irulan was sent at an early age to be trained as a Bene Gesserit Sister. Now of marriageable age, Princess Irulan sees the machinations of the many factions vying for powerāthe Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, the Spacing Guild, the Imperial throne, and a ruthless rebellion in the Imperial military. The young woman has a wise and independent streak and is determined to become much more than a pawn to be moved about on anyoneās gameboard. Meanwhile, on Arrakis, Chani is trained in the Fremen mystical ways by an ancient Reverend Mother. Brought up to believe in her fatherās ecological dream of a green Arrakis, she follows Liet around to Imperial testing stations, surviving the many hazards of desert life. Chani soon learns the harsh cost of Fremen dreams and obligations under the oppressive boot heel of the long Harkonnen occupation.
October 22
The Wolfe at the DoorĀ by Gene Wolfe
The circus comes to townā¦ and a man gets to go to the stars. A young girl on a vacation at the sea meets the man of her dreams. Who just happens to be dead. And an immortal pirate. A swordfighter pens his memoirsā¦ and finds his pen is in fact mightier than the sword. Welcome to Gene Wolfeās playground, a place where genres blend and a geniusās imagination straps you in for the ride of your life.
Monstrous Nights by Genoveva Dimova
With her magic reclaimed and her role in the community of Chernograd restored, Kosaraās life should finally be back to normalābut, of course, things canāt possibly be that simple. She is now in possession of twelve witchās shadows. Holding them may grant her unprecedented power, but that doesnāt mean theyāre always willing to do her bidding. Across the wall in Belograd, Asen chases his only lead on the latest witch murder case. He follows the trail of smuggling kingpin Konstantin Karaivanov to an underground monster auctionāwhich leads him right back to Chernograd. There, sinister events follow one after another: snow falls in midsummer, a witch with two shadows is found dead, and monsters that should only appear during the Foul Days are sighted. The barrier between worlds thins… and Kosara is certain it’s her faultāand her job to fix.
November 12
The Relentless Legion by J. S. Dewes
J. S. Dewes is back with her acclaimed and action packed Divide series (The Last Watch,Ā The Exiled Fleet)Ā whereĀ The ExpanseĀ meets the Night’s Watch. The Sentinels have rallied under the leadership of Adequin Rake, and Cavalon Mercer has uncovered the horrifying genetic solution his grandfather is about to unleash on the unsuspecting outer colonies. Both Rake and Cavalon race against time to save the universe once again. They’ll need every resource, every ally who might answer the call. It might not be enough.
December 03
Heartsong by TJ Klune
All Robbie Fontaine ever wanted was a place to belong. After the death of his mother, he has bounced around from pack to pack, forming temporary bonds to keep from turning feral. Itās enoughāuntil he receives a summons from the wolf stronghold in Caswell, Maine. Life as the trusted second to Michelle Hughesāthe Alpha of allāand the cherished friend of a gentle old witch teaches Robbie what it means to be pack, to have a home. But when a mission from Michelle sends Robbie into the field, he finds himself questioning where he belongs and everything heās been told. Whispers of traitorous wolves and wild magic aboundābut who are the traitors and who the betrayed? More than anything, Robbie hungers for answers, because one of those alleged traitors is Kelly Bennett, the wolf who may be his mate. The truth has a way of coming out. And when it does, Robbie will learn that packs and homes can disappear in an instant. The paperback edition features beautiful red sprayed edges, holographic cover and a bonus short story.