Recently arrived fantasy fiction
Continuing Saint's reimaging of the pantheon of Greek goddesses, Hera is questioning her role beside Zeus, fearing her brother is now mirroring their cruel Father Cronos. The book explores her struggle: to wield power without perpetuating violence. Saint portrays Hera as a complex queen, balancing ruthlessness with compassion, offering a fresh perspective on the classic myth.
Marigold Mind Laundry by Chŏng-ŭn Yun
At the Marigold Mind Laundry, all mental miseries are washed away - painful memories, dark secrets and emotional burdens turned into marigold flowers. Let Jieun, the proprietor clean and iron your pain away. A magical novel of healing, empathy, redemption and overcoming trauma, for readers of Toshikazu Kawaguchi's Before the Coffee Gets Cold series.
Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L Wang
In Tiran, a seemingly utopian city powered by intricate magic, Sciona, a fiercely ambitious woman, strives to break societal barriers and become the first female Highmage. Her pursuit of knowledge and power, however, leads her down a treacherous path, unearthing a deeply rooted conspiracy that threatens to shatter the city's carefully constructed facade. Dark academia for those who enjoyed R.F Kuang's Babel.
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yamabo
Hana Ishikawa inherits a mystical pawnshop in a dreamy, Ghibli-esque Tokyo where regrets can be pawned. When the shop is ransacked and her father vanishes, Hana teams up with a mysterious stranger and together they depart on a fantastical journey: navigating rain-slicked portals, soaring on paper crane wings, traversing the liminal bridge between night and day, and delving into a bustling cloud-borne night market. But as they get closer to the truth, Hana must navigate a world where desires come with a price, and redemption is found through confronting the past.
1949 London, a city still recovering from the devastations of World War II. Dennis Kuckleyard, a bookshop employee stumbles upon a book from a hidden, magical version of the city, one where metaphors become real, plunging the hapless Dennis into a shadowy under world of occult secrets. Rich in detail and complex characters, the novel sets the stage for a sprawling, multi-volume exploration of London's hidden depths.
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong
Haunted by a shadowed past, Tao, an immigrant fortune teller, drifts through the arid lands, her mule her sole companion. She trades in simple fortunes, wary of the heavy price grand prophecies demand. Her solitude is shattered when she's drawn into a perilous quest by a hardened ex-mercenary and a reformed thief, their mission: to find a missing child. Their unlikely band expands with a baker yearning for adventure, and a feline with a touch of magic. As Tao forges bonds with these kind souls, the walls she's built begin to crumble, forcing her to choose: risk everything to protect the newfound family she never believed possible, or retreat into the lonely safety she once knew.
The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman
Two weeks after the death of King Arthur, young Collum arrives in a fractured Camelot, where lesser-known knights struggle to maintain order and the king has left no heir. They face political turmoil and magical threats, including Morgan le Fay. Grossman deconstructs the idealized myth of Arthur, portraying Camelot's decline and the flawed heroes tasked with its renewal, blending classic Arthurian elements with modern perspectives, emphasizing the human cost of legend and the challenges of rebuilding a fallen kingdom.
The Serpent and the Wolf by Rebecca Robinson
Vaasa Kozár, a woman with dangerous magical abilities, is forced into a political marriage with Reid, the Wolf King, but their alliance is strained by distrust and hidden agendas. Vaasa must navigate the treacheries of court politics while battling her own dark magic and looming threats from within her own family and a growing attraction to the Wolf King. The story blends dark fantasy with a slow-burn romance, perfect for fans of Kristen Ciccarelli and Kerri Maniscalco.
