5 Books for Speculative Fiction Fans

This week's roundup is all about escaping real life through speculative fiction. These days my world is full-on hard realities, so I want my reading to transport me to words that don't exist (at least not yet). The books I feature today represent some of the variety of stories found under the umbrella of fantasy and science fiction. I hope at least one will make it to your wish list.

Followers by Megan Angelo (Graydon House, Jan. 14) is a dual-time story that focuses on the effects of social media--first in 2015 and then in 2051. While some of the elements will seem familiar to our everyday lives in contemporary times (influencers and reality TV), how Angelo imagines that social media will evolve and change in the fairly close dystopian future gives us something to think about. The novel has garnered starred reviews and is billed as appealing to literary fiction lovers as well as dystopian fans. Opener:

Prologue / New York / 2051

So she still believed in mail, this woman, whoever she was. The first thing Marlow saw when she walked into the building was a grid of metal boxes, each with its own window and cobwebbed keyhole.

Audiobook: Read by Jayme Mattler (HarperAudio; 13 hr, 29 min)

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez (Del Rey, Jan 14) is the proof that science fiction is much more than the Earthlings-meet-aliens scenario of old television shows. Nia pilots a faster-than-light ship, which means she barely ages in comparison to her friends and family, eventually leaving her alone and lonely. When she meets an apparently orphaned boy, something tugs at her, and she takes him in. Others, however, have not forgotten the child, and they may want him back. Another novel with starred reviews and much buzz. Opener:

He was born with an eleventh finger. A small bead of flesh and bone beside his right pinky. The doctor calmed the worried parents and told them the nub was a harmless thing. “But still,” he said, unlacing a small cloth pouch, “a farmer needs only ten fingers to work the dhuba.” He coaxed the child to sleep with the smoke of torched herbs, and sliced the nub from the hand with a cauterizing knife.

Audiobook: Read by Shayna Small (Random House Audio; 13 hr, 17 min)

Strange Exit by Parker Peevyhouse (Tor Teen, Jan. 14) is a stand-alone science-fiction/dystopian thriller in which the only survivors of a nuclear holocaust are in orbit around Earth awaiting the time until it's safe to return to the planet. The people are kept alive in a virtual reality version of San Francisco, meant to ease their fears. When the system starts to break down and supplies run low, two teens manage to escape the simulation--one wants to rescue everyone on board before it's too late; the other decides that only some are worth saving. The reviews have been mixed. Opener:

The San Francisco Zoo: gates rusted open, weeds bursting through cracks in the asphalt, trees like many-armed scarecrows, broken and stunted. Lake figured she was the only person to set foot in the place in years. Not counting the boy in the tiger exhibit. Lake peered in at him through a curtain of dirt over the viewing glass. She guessed he was around her age, seventeen. He sat on a log, hunched over something she couldn’t see. No tiger in sight.

Audiobook: Read by Caitlin Davies (Blackstone; ~6 hr)

A Beginning at the End by Mike Chen (Mira, Jan. 14) is a different kind of dystopian story set in the aftermath of deadly flu pandemic that killed all but about 2 billion people on Earth. After a six-year quarantine, people emerge into public to start over, whether in closed cities, on communes, or in marauding gangs. Amid rumors of another flu outbreak, some survivors learn that it isn't all that easy to make a new beginning, especially when the secrets of their "before" life may be exposed. Another novel with mixed reactions. Opener:

People were too scared for music tonight. Not that MoJo cared. Her handlers had broken the news about the low attendance nearly an hour ago with some explanation about how the recent flu epidemic and subsequent rioting and looting kept people at home. They’d served the news with high-end vodka, the good shit imported from Russia. . . .

Audiobook: Read by Emily Woo Zeller (Harlequin Audio; 11 hr, 39 min)

Diamond City by Francesca Flores (Wednesday Books, Jan. 28) is a dark fantasy debut about a young adult orphan who is trying to make her way in a violent world. Aina, a professional assassin, takes on an assignment that will give her the funds to be her own boss--if she can evade her enemies long enough to make the successful hit. To complicate matters, she must justify her life choices against the lessons taught by her murdered parents, who used their magic to protect those in need. Reviewers feel the world-building could be stronger but praise the action and the plotting. Opener:

The baker’s final words were smothered by a whimper.

“You know how they say you should watch out for the quiet ones?” Aina’s breath fogged the blade of the dagger she held. “They were right.” She took her time with the blade, heedless of his screams.

Audiobook: Read by Frankie Corzo (Macmillan Audio; 9 hr, 59 min)

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8 Good Books for Teens and Tweens

March has been a great month for fiction geared to younger readers. You may shy away from middle grade and young adult books, assuming they lack a certain, shall we say, sophistication. In my experience, many contemporary novels written for teens and tweens deal with real-life issues in a authentic and frank manner and can be every bit as intense as adult fiction. Of course, you’ll also find plenty of books with teen angst, magic, and love gone awry.

Today’s roundup covers just a few of this month’s middle grade and young adult titles that caught my attention. Some are set in real life, but others contain elements of speculative fiction. All are worth looking into for yourself or for the young readers in your life.

Contemporary Stories

• Far Away by Lisa Graff (Philomel, March 5): This middle grade story is about 12-year-old CJ who lives with her itinerant aunt, who makes her living as a psychic. CJ is grateful that her aunt can commune with spirits because that’s the only way she can talk to mother, who died when she was a baby. But when her aunt says that she can no longer receive messages from CJ’s mother, the girl takes off with a teenage friend to try to reforge the connection. Magical realism, family secrets, and a road trip create a moving coming-of-age story. Note: this novel has gotten very mixed reviews. Audiobook: read by Monika Felice Smith Listening Library; 7 hr, 3 min)
• XL by Scott Brown (Knopf BYR, March 26): Set in San Diego, this young adult novel focuses on 16-year-old Will who still hasn’t had his growth spurt. Measuring in at just under 5 feet, he feels invisible and unattractive. But what happens when he starts growing . . . and growing? Is life any better on the other side of the yardstick? Romance, popularity, self-acceptance, friendship, and family round out Will’s story, which (according to reviews) contains a good dose of humor. Audiobook: read by Robbie Daymond (Listening Library 9 hr, 50 min)
• In Another Life by C. C. Hunter (Wednesday Books, March 26): When teenage Chloe and her just-divorced mom move to Texas to start over, Chloe has trouble adjusting. First, she begins to imagine that she remembers her life before her parents adopted her when she was just a toddler. Then when she befriends a cute boy living with foster parents, she begins to question everything her adoptive parents ever told her. This young adult thriller involves family secrets, lies, mental illness, adoption, and cancer. Audiobook: no information

Speculative Fiction

• The Revenge of Magic by James Riley (Aladdin, March 5): Set in a future Earth in which only children can learn magic, this is the first entry in a middle grade fantasy / adventure series. Young Fort Fitzgerald loses his father when Washington, D.C. is destroyed by monsters. Thus he jumps at the chance to attend a government-run school that teaches magic to promising tweens. Perhaps he’ll find a way to recover his dad and stop further creature attacks . . . or maybe he’ll just be haunted by disturbing dreams and barred from learning the truth of who’s really in control of the world. Fort must find allies and his own inner strength. The academy is less wizardy and more military, as the kids are being trained to fight the monsters. Audiobook: read by Kirby Heyborne (Simon & Schuster Audio; 9 hr, 2 min)
• Sky without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell (Simon Pulse; March 26): Centuries after the French colonized the planet Laterre, rebellion is in the air as the one-percenters have all the power and the rest have few resources and little hope. Can three teens of very different backgrounds, personalities, and skills lead a successful uprising? This is the first in an action-packed young adult space opera series that is a futuristic retelling of Les Misérables, complete with the politics, romance, and class divides. Audiobook: read by Vikas Adam, Joy Osmanski, and Emily Woo Zeller (Simon & Schuster Audio; 18 hr, 33 min)

Finish Up a Series

• Winter War Awakening by Rosalyn Eves (Knopf BYR; March 19): Final entry in the Blood Rose Rebellion trilogy. This series is set in eastern Europe (basically Austria and Hungary) and contains elements of alternate history, real history (rebellion against the Hapsburgs) and fantasy. Series themes and issues: overcoming prejudice, self-acceptance, romance, strong female protagonists, learning to trust. Audiobooks: read by Fiona Hardingham & Steve West (Listening Library)
• The Everlasting Rose by Dhonielle Clayton (Freeform; March 5): Second book in the Belles duology. These books are set in an alternate history New Orleans and contain dystopian and steampunk elements. Series themes and issues: corruption of power, LGBTQ, class differences, the worth of beauty. Audiobooks: read by Rosie Jones (Blackstone Audio)
• The Shadowglass by Rin Chupeco (Sourcebook Fire; March 5): Final book in the Bone Witch trilogy. Set in an alternative world with an Asian feel, the trilogy follows Tea and her brother as she struggles to find her place in a world that is hostile and dangerous; high fantasy elements. Series themes and issues: LGBTQ, romance, self-discovery, personal growth, family, leaving the past behind. Audiobooks: first two read by Emily Woo Zeller and Will Damron (Blackstone Audio); no information on book three

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Another Week of Mixed Success

I don't know about your part of the world, but winter is here with a vengeance. One way I cope is to cheer myself up by buying new winter clothes. Which I did. But I'm not a style blog (I can hear my family and friends laughing), so I'll step away from thoughts of wool blazers and new jeans to what you really care about: what the heck did I read lately?

My surprisingly busy January is winding down to sane levels (at least for the moment), but last week I managed only two audiobooks and one short story. I DNF'd a print book, put one print book on hold (more on that in a different post), and DNF'd an audiobook.

Either I've suddenly gotten really picky or I've had bad luck in my choices. In any case, the week ahead is filled with all great expectations. I'm forever optimistic when it comes to reading.

What I Liked

When I accepted Dorothy Butler Gilliam's Trailblazer: A Pioneering Journalist's Fight to Make the Media Look More Like America (Center Street, January 8) for an audiobook review assignment from AudioFile magazine, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I like autobiography / noninspirational memoir and I knew who Gilliam was, but was her book going to be name dropping, a rags to riches story, or a snapshot of an era? Gilliam's story is all that (in a good way) and more. She was born black in a world ruled by Jim Crow restrictions and born female at time when women's choices were extremely limited. Even with two strikes against her, Gilliam remained determined to hit one out of the park. I was caught up in her transformation from preacher's daughter with a narrow future to first black woman reporter and, later, columnist for the Washington Post. Her life and career spans both the feminist and the civil rights movements and allowed her a front-row seat at some of American's most significant turning points. If you're a woman or a person of color (especially if you were born in the mid-20th century), her story will resonate on a personal level, depending on your age and situation. For anyone still facing socially sanctioned restrictions (in other words if you're not white, male, and Christian), you'll find so much of Gilliam's story to relate to. Don't miss Trailblazer, which would also be perfect for those looking for a Black History Month read. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 8 hr, 58 min) read by the fabulous January Le Voy. Her delivery of Gilliam's words hit all the right tones. If you're into autobiography and are an audiobook fan, read this with your ears. You won't be sorry. (audiobook copy provided for a freelance assignment.

Sob! I'm all caught up with Sebastien de Castell's Spellslinger series, though I can't complain too much because books 5 and 6 will be released this year. Soulbinder, the 4th in the series, continued to both amuse me (I love de Castell's sense of humor) and keep me glued to my (now wireless) earbuds. To recap for those who missed my earlier reviews (find them here) of the series, de Castell has created a unique fantasy world that has a Wild West flavor, a variety of creatures and cultures, lots of action, great bantering dialogue, and a wonderfully flawed hero who's easy to root for. Kellen is now about seventeen and still exiled from his home. Though he's getting better at living the outlaw life, he has a knack for getting himself into trouble and often needs help getting out of it. In this installment, he gains insight into his semi-estranged family and experiences a shift in how he sees himself and the life fate has granted him. Of the many things I love about about these books, I especially appreciate that, while sexual/love relationships could happen, Kellen is awkward, sometimes fickle, and isn't truly sure he's ready to take any friendship to next step. This installment also touches on LBGTQ+ issues in a causal, everyday way, which is how it should be. Soulbinder doesn't end on cliffhanger, but it does set Kellen off on an uncertain path, which makes me all the more impatient for book 5. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 11 hr, 36 min) brilliantly read by Joe Jameson. I've said it before: Jameson has the characters down pat and is great at delivering the quips, keeping the characters straight, adjusting the pacing to the action, and hitting the emotions. He had better be around for the next two books. (audiobook copy provided by the publisher)

This Week's Short Story

"Layla's Nose Job," by Nicoloa Barker, from The Three Button Trick and Other Stories (Ecco, November 2018): This is a story collection I've had my eye on for a few months because, as I wrote in November, the stories "embrace the strange and stretch reality to get at the truth of the human condition." I picked the first story in the collection, which was about a girl who was born with a truly larger-than-normal nose. Her whole life, Layla had to contend with people staring at her and teasing her and treating her as an outsider. After her best friend makes a blunder that reveals just how much Layla is defined by her nose, Layla tells her parents that she must have a nose job for psychological reasons. Thus, a few days after her sixteenth birthday, Layla undergoes the knife. What does she learn about herself and others once the healing begins? Barker's concept held my attention, and I was curious about Layla's fate, but the ending may have been a little too open for me. I liked the writing enough to give The Three Button Trick another chance, but I'm not sure if I'll read all the stories. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

What I Gave Up On

Talent by Juliet Lapidos (Little, Brown, January 22) had a couple of elements that should have pulled me right in. First it stars a graduate student struggling with her dissertation in literature, which is supposed to focus on what inspires writers to write. Second, the reviews and blurbs of Talent promised a bit of a psychological thriller. As the book opens, Anna (the grad student) helps a stranger in need, who then changes the course of Anna's life. I stuck it out for about 25 percent of the novel, but, frankly, I just didn't really care very much about Anna, her dissertation, or her relationship with the woman stranger to find out what ultimately happens. I read enough to know how the woman Anna helps can, in turn, help Anna with her research, but that still didn't pull me in. You may have better luck. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi (Wednesday Books, January 15). I had such high hopes for this book that I actively requested an audiobook copy (Macmillan Audio; 11 hr, 55 min). Thus I feel kind of bad that I just couldn't connect. I loved Chokshi's Aru Shah and the End of Time (my thoughts here), I'm a big fantasy fan, and I particularly like the alternate history subgenre. This book takes place in 1889 Paris and involves powerful families and an underground organization that is out to capture that power for themselves. There's an art thief and hotelier, a landscape artist, a cook/baker, displaced/disinherited people from widely diverse backgrounds, and the hunt for a piece of the Tower of Babel, which will give the owner prestige and power and estates. I wish I could explain the concept better but the plot was confusing and I wasn't really sure what was going on. I started the audiobook three times--that's how much I wanted to love it. I finally made it about a quarter of the way through before giving up for good. It wasn't the fault of narrators Laurie Catherine Winkel and P. J. Ochlan (though I thought Winkel's performance was stronger); their performances were fine. Was it my mood? I have no idea. Whatever the reason I just didn't click with the universe, the magic, or the characters. Kirkus gave it a star and it was Indie Next pick, so you'll probably love it.

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8 New Speculative Fiction Books for Your Wish List

It's just two weeks into the new year, and my reading list is already overflowing. As you know, I enjoy books from many genres, but I will always have a soft spot for speculative fiction, especially fantasy. January is bursting with so many great books for those of us who like to venture into different worlds that I had a hard time narrowing down my choices for today's post. Featured here are the 8 books at the top of my speculative fiction reading list this month. Which titles have you read? Which January releases have I missed?

• Between the Blade and the Heart by Amanda Hocking (Wednesday Books; Jan 2): I really like Hocking’s writing and am looking forward to this first in a young adult fantasy duology (yay! no long series), especially because it features Valkyries. The plot centers on a conflict between a mother and daughter and promises good action, Norse mythology, and young love.
• The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (Flatiron, Jan 30): You won’t want to miss this young adult contemporary fantasy: It deserves all its prepub hype and starred reviews. The story involves three generations of women, a book of fairy tales with a cult following, and dark magic. This is not your sugar-coated princess kind of tale, but it is bewitching.
• Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, Jan 2): Middle grade readers will love this story about Emmeline, a girl who can control and befriend shadows. When her parents decide to “cure” her of magical abilities, Emmeline is caught up in a dangerous game of survival that tests her and her shadow's friendship and loyalties.
• The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson (Scribner, Jan 2): Looking for an adult dystopian that may seem scarily possible? Johnson's novel is about a woman trying to survive in a frozen, post-nuclear world. The story, set in Canada, has been described as having elements of outdoor adventure, thriller, and coming-of-age.

• Chainbreaker by Tara Sim (Sky Pony Press, Jan 2): This second entry in the steampunk Timekeeper series is set in Victorian (British-occupied) India and stars a gay clock mechanic. Sim’s stories are more than mashups of diversity themes; the fast-paced adventures feature gods, magic, and mythology; clockworks; and time bending, all set on a foundation of facts tweaked into an alternate world.
• Reign the Earth by A. C. Gaughen (Bloomsbury, Jan 30): A trusted publicist told me about this fantasy in which a young woman agrees to marry the enemy king and suppress her magic in return for the safety of her people. After her brother turns rebel and her powers call to her, she must weigh the costs of taking control of her own future.
• Sinless by Sarah Tarkoff (Harper Voyager, Jan 9): What if your sinfulness were made manifest for all to see? In Tarkoff’s dystopian world, each wrong act results in physical disfigurement, but who decides what is good and what is evil? Our hero, the preacher’s daughter, begins to notice the gray areas, making her question everything she’s been taught as true and threatening the very fabric of her world.
• The Beginning Woods by Malcolm McNeill (Sky Pony Press, Jan 9): Although geared to a middle grade audience, this story of a boy found abandoned in bookshop should have wide appeal. Full of magic, dreams, mysterious disappearances, and a quest to a dangerous place, the novel puts a fresh twist on familiar fantasy elements and introduces you to Max, who will win your heart.

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