May is a great month for sci-fi and fantasy lovers. A big part of that comes from the Star Wars fandom celebrating May 4th, and this year’s release of The Mandalorian and Grogu film on May 22nd. But May also brings senioritis for kids and adults alike. The transition to summer has many of us looking for an escape from reality, which is the perfect reason to get excited for these fantasy and science fiction books!
We would never overtly advise reading fiction to cure senioritis, but it is true that taking a break and doing something you enjoy can help you reset and regain your motivation. As with past months, we’ve found the newest releases in fantasy and sci-fi that every book nerd should know about, and can give you the break from reality you need.
The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean | Image: Tor Books
The Girl with a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean — May 5
The Girl with a Thousand Faces is the second novel by Sunyi Dean, author of The Book Eaters and several short stories. Dean’s fantasy is dark and often delves into horror, and The Girl with a Thousand Faces adds another layer of genres with historical fiction. The story takes place in Japanese-occupied China during World War II.
Dean based this novel on her past, having attended high school in an old mission home in Kowloon Walled City, and her grandparents’ experiences living during the occupation. With such personal connections and her dark wit, Dean presents a story that will haunt you long after reading the last page.
When Mercy Chan washed up on the shores of Hong Kong with no family, no money, and no memories, she was thrust into the horrors of World War II. She only survived by hiding in Kowloon Walled City, an infamous, ghost-infested slum full of lost and traumatized civilians. Since the end of the war, she has rebuilt her life and found work with the local triad as a ghost-talker, dealing with the angry and bitter spirits who haunt this place. These days, the filthy gutters and cramped alleyways of Kowloon feel like home.
But the past she can’t remember won’t let her go. An unusually powerful ghost has infested Kowloon’s waterways, drowning innocents and threatening the district. Unnervingly, it claims to know Mercy―and her forgotten childhood. As Mercy is drawn into a deadly cat-and-mouse game with this malignant spirit, she begins to realize that the monster she fights within these walls may well be one of her own making.
33 years before, mere days ahead of the Japanese invasion, Sung Siu Yin and her mother flee Hong Kong, intending to hide out on her mother’s ancestral island home. It’s beautiful, tranquil, and remote. . . but also inhabited by ghosts ever since the entire village drowned in a storm many years ago. Still, it’s better than living under occupation.
But as the war drags on and isolation sets in, Siu Yin is increasingly drawn into the island’s grim past―a past that may still have a hold on the present. There is a darkness lurking beneath that idyllic ocean, and it has been waiting many years for someone to return.
The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee | Image: Orbit
The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee — May 5
From Fonda Lee, author of The Green Bone Saga, comes her adult science fiction debut, The Last Contract of Isako. The first book in The Green Bone Saga, Jade City, was named by TIME Magazine as one of the Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time. So we can expect great things from this new standalone.
The Last Contract of Isako is a space opera influenced by Japanese culture and swordsmanship. If you’re a Star Wars fan who would enjoy swapping light sabers for katanas and military strategy for espionage among corporations, this novel is a must-read.
Isako is a legendary swordswoman, but every legend has to come to an end. When her long-time client unexpectedly retires, she plans to follow–to walk out into the frozen wasteland of their planet with her head held high and her family enriched by her legacy. But when a competitor offers her a final mission, it’s one she can’t refuse. Soon, she’s thrust deep into a world of corporate espionage, duty-bound duels, and shadowy secrets. What she uncovers will change humanity’s existence in the stars forever.
The Last Contract of Isako is epic science fiction like only Fonda Lee can write it—set in a world where money trumps loyalty, the elite have the power to extend life or end it, and one woman in the twilight of her calling must decide what’s ultimately worth living—or dying—for.
Platform Decay by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries #8) | Image: Tor Books
Platform Decay by Martha Wells (The Murderbot Diaries #8) — May 5
If you haven’t read The Murderbot Diaries yet — why not? It’s one of the most popular science fiction series for a reason! The story follows an artificial intelligence cyborg who begrudgingly protects the humans it considers family, while also running from the corporation that “owns” it. According to author Martha Wells, the eighth book in the series sees Murderbot “in a really good place.”
Platform Decay continues Murderbot’s story after downloading a mental health module and going on a rescue mission that feels like “a family road trip from hell.” It may be the penultimate book in the series, with Wells saying that she’s considering winding down Murderbot’s journey in a ninth installment.
Everyone’s favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment in Martha Wells’ bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.
Having someone else support your bad decision feels kind of good.
After volunteering to run a rescue mission, Murderbot realizes that it will have to spend significant time with a bunch of humans it doesn’t know.
Including human children. Ugh.
This may well call for… eye contact!
(Emotion check: Oh, for f—)
The Bone Door by Frances White | Image: Hanover Square Press
The Bone Door by Frances White — May 12
The Bone Door is Frances White’s second novel, which, just from the cover and the blurb, gives off some Alice in Wonderland mixed with horror vibes. Could the main character, Hop, be the White Rabbit of the classic story? He is trapped in a labyrinth with an unknown girl, and must focus on the time it takes to complete each step to escape. This is all speculation, but it will be fun to read and find out how close these ideas are to the plot.
White writes LGBTQIA+ representation and fat positivity into each of her stories, wanting to see more of them in fantasy. Her first book, The Voyage of the Damned, was a queer murder mystery fantasy, and though The Bone Door tells a completely different story, it still has elements of queer identity, mystery, and dark fantasy.
How far will you go to open The Bone Door?
When Hop awakens in an ancient labyrinth, he has no memory of his life, or how he got here. He does not recognise the mysterious girl trapped with him. And he certainly cannot identify the shadowy figure stalking him, whispering terrible things…
But there is one thing he is certain of: He must escape.
The only way out of the labyrinth is through The Bone Door. But it lies behind a series of locked doors hidden across an array of strange realms. To open the way, Hop must complete impossible tasks before his time runs out.
As Hop travels deeper into the maze, he discovers that he and his companions may be more connected to the place and its horrors than he could ever imagine.
Unless Hop is able to unravel the true mystery of the labyrinth and his own role within it, the Bone Door and any hope of escape will be lost forever.
The Franchise by Thomas Elrod | Image: Tor Books
The Franchise by Thomas Elrod — May 12
What if The Truman Show was set in a fantasy film? That’s the question Thomas Elrod asks in his debut novel, The Franchise. The people who star in these films don’t realize they are actors, and they believe the magic to be real.
Elrod has concocted an intricate tale meant to confound his readers until the very end. Early reviews say they don’t know whether to call it sci-fi or fantasy, but whatever it is, it’s cleverly written. The premise alone feels fresh and unique, making The Franchise one of our top recommendations to check out.
The Truman Show meets Game of Thrones in this epic tale of a studio-owned Fantasy world.
A land filled with magic and dragons and wizards and warriors. Thousands of people live and work within its borders — fearful of their enemies and loyal to their king.
The classic fantasy world of The Malicarn has been brought to life on the big screen in a series of epic movies, almost entirely populated by characters in total belief that their sham fantasy lives are real.
A fan-favorite actor finds himself doubting the studio’s work, but the world of The Malicarn has an almost unstoppable momentum, and bringing freedom to a population who already believe themselves to be free won’t be as easy as he thinks.
All the world’s a stage. Meet the players.
All Hail Chaos by Sarah Rees Brennan (Time of Iron #2) | Image: Orbit
All Hail Chaos by Sarah Rees Brennan (Time of Iron #2) — May 12
All Hail Chaos is the sequel to Long Live Evil in the Time of Iron series by Sarah Rees Brennan. This series is Brennan’s debut in adult literature, but she’s written YA fantasy for over a decade. Most notable are her Demon’s Lexicon Trilogy and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Collection.
Long Live Evil began with a reader who found herself in the fantasy world of one of her books, but as the villain instead of the heroine. All Hail Chaos continues the tale with Rae realizing that her choices have lost the plot, literally. Her favorite character wants her to rule by his side, though, so silver lining? If you’re a fan of transmigration or isekai stories, you’ll definitely want to read the Time of Iron series.
THE EMPEROR IS HERE. AND SHE MADE HIM WORSE.
Rae is a fantasy reader who’s been transported to her favorite fictional world of swords and sorcery, castles and monsters. Playing the villainess, she thought she could change the narrative, but this version of the plot is far more deadly than the one she knew. Her friends are on the run: the Cobra shelters in an eerie manor haunted by dark secrets, while Emer and Lia stoke a revolution in the gutters. Undead armies roam the kingdom, raiders camp at the city gates, and the all-powerful Emperor–Rae’s favorite character ever, now possibly the greatest monster in the land–wants her to be his evil queen.
Romantic in fiction, complicated in reality. What’s a villainess to do? Time for wicked bargains and fake engagements, in a fantasy where the most dangerous thing you can do is believe in someone.
The Devil and Mrs. Gooch by Oliver Darkshire (Household Gramarye #2) | Image: W. W. Norton & Company
The Devil and Mrs. Gooch by Oliver Darkshire (Household Gramarye #2) — May 12
If you are a Terry Pratchett fan or love all types of witty, cozy fantasy, you need to add Oliver Darkshire’s Household Gramarye series to your TBR list right now. The Devil and Mrs. Gooch is the second book in the series, but it can be read in any order, because “wizards care little for strict sequentiality.”
When an evil real estate scheme involving house spirits comes to light, people think it is the work of the Devil. But the unassuming hero, Professor Green, comes to learn that the real culprit has bewitched the Devil to do her bidding. Green must stop the villainous Mrs. Gooch before the entire city crumbles to dust. The book sounds so Pratchett-like, we wouldn’t be surprised if Darkshire had summoned the ghost of the late writer to act as a sounding board.
In the storm-drenched city of Verdigris, home to indolent sorcerers and spectral hotels, something is dreadfully wrong. Buildings are starting to crumble due to the kidnapping of their hobs, the many-legged house spirits that keep each home in order. In such times, one would ordinarily blame the Devil, but he has been enchanted by a new and enticing evil: The jackbooted villainy of Gwendolyn Gooch, who has taken the hobs for her latest diabolical scheme—apartments for rent. As the hobs retrofit the gaudy Gooch Towers, the fate of the city lies in the hands of the arboreal Professor Green; his rare, complete set of the Household Gramarye; and its famulus, the prim Mrs. Bobkins.
Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth (The Burning Empire #1) | Image: Tor Books
Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth (The Burning Empire #1) — May 12
Recently, Veronica Roth left Divergent fans thunderstruck when she announced her return to that universe with The Sixth Faction. The book, which is set in an alternate timeline, comes out on October 6, 2026, and some readers are already asking: “What do we do until then?” Roth has, thankfully, provided another story to focus on until autumn, though you might binge-read it, then be left waiting for its sequel and The Sixth Faction.
Seek the Traitor’s Son is the first book in Roth’s newest series, The Burning Empire. This dystopian romantic fantasy follows a girl soldier and the prophecy that changes everything. Pitted against her rival, Elegy must make sure that the prophecy is fulfilled in her favor. And to do that, she must find the man that she’s allegedly destined to love. It sounds similar enough to keep fans sated until we are reintroduced to Tris Prior’s world, but interesting enough to stand on its own.
Elegy Ahn did not ask for destiny to find her.
She is happy with her life as a soldier, defending her small country from the Talusar, a powerful nation who worships a deadly Fever. A fever that blesses half of its victims with mysterious gifts.
But then she’s summoned to hear a prophecy–her, and the most ruthless of Talusar generals, Rava Vidar. Brought face to face, they learn that one of them will lead their people to victory over the other…but they don’t know which. And at the center of both of their fates: a man. A man that, Elegy is told, she will fall in love with.
In just one day, Elegy’s old life–her job, her purpose, and her future–is over. She and Rava are destined to collide, with the fate of their nations hanging in the balance. And when they do, only one will be left standing.
Elegy intends to make sure it’s her.
The Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty (Amina al-Sirafi #2) | Image: Harper Voyager
The Tapestry of Fate by Shannon Chakraborty (Amina al-Sirafi #2) — May 12
Amina al-Sirafi is back in another tale of pirating, magic, and motherhood! The Tapestry of Fate is the second book in the Amina al-Sirafi trilogy by Shannon Chakraborty, author of the Daevabad series. The historical setting mixed with Persian mythology and a strong female lead sets Amina’s story apart, and will have readers ready for another high-stakes adventure at sea.
The Tapestry of Fate, and the entire Amina series, are a breath of fresh air for readers tired of YA fantasy heroines getting all the fun. It is a story of a mother and daughter as much as it is about pirates, peris (Persian fairies), and daunting tasks. Chakraborty’s novels are a treasure worth plundering, but you should probably just purchase them legally.
Amina al-Sirafi thinks she’s struck gold. Tasked with hunting down arcane artifacts for the council of immortal peris, she can savor the occasional rollicking adventure on the high seas with her cherished criminal companions while still returning home to raise her beloved daughter, Marjana. But when Raksh, the spirit of discord with whom she is reluctantly wed, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina is charged with a seemingly impossible quest: steal a spindle capable of rewriting fate from a mysterious sorceress on an island no one can escape.
Forced to leave Marjana—who is increasingly frustrated at being peddled what are clearly lies about her mother’s life and her own past—Amina finds her mission almost immediately thrown into peril. But deadly storms, an erratic poison mistress, and old enemies are the least of her worries. For the peris’ story is unraveling, hinting at a far deadlier game whose rules Amina must swiftly puzzle out. A game that sets her against an adversary more cunning and powerful than she has ever faced.
A game that not everyone on her crew wants her to win.
We Dance Upon Demons by Vaishnavi Patel | Image: S&S/Saga Press
We Dance Upon Demons by Vaishnavi Patel — May 12
Vaishnavi Patel has written several novels, including Goddess of the River and Kaikeyi, that are retellings of ancient Hindu religious stories. We Dance Upon Demons, however, is a contemporary fantasy that is still rich in Indian culture and history.
Patel also uses her experience in constitutional law and gender rights to weave a story of an ancient Indian magic, and the health care worker who absorbs it. Having to deal with supernatural powers on top of trying to protect her clinic and patients’ rights? Nisha is in over her head. But she’s used to fighting against social evils, so how different could fighting demons be?
As a reproductive health care worker in Chicago, Nisha is barely staying afloat in the ocean of abortion bans, screaming protestors, and her own all-consuming depression.
When she escapes to the Indian art exhibit at her favorite museum for a brief respite, Nisha suddenly finds herself bleeding, disoriented, and collapsed on the ground. The last thing she remembers is the statue that beckoned her to touch it. In the days that follow, Nisha feels a strange power coursing within her, one that attracts a host of dangerous and enigmatic characters who covet it for themselves.
Facing threats both otherworldly and distinctly human, Nisha must navigate uncertain alliances to piece together the centuries-old mystery of her odd and terrifying abilities. And as danger closes in on her loved ones, community, and the clinic she’s determined to protect, Nisha must make a choice about the life she wants—and fight all the demons standing in her way to get it.
Mortedant’s Peril by R.J. Barker (The Trials of Irody Hasp #1) | Image: Tor Books
Mortedant’s Peril by R.J. Barker (The Trials of Irody Hasp #1) — May 19
Mortedant’s Peril is the first installment in R.J. Barker’s latest trilogy, The Trials of Irody Hasp. Barker is known for his fantasy trilogies: The Wounded Kingdom, The Tide Child, and Forsaken. Now, he gives us a fantasy murder mystery, where a cleric who can speak to the dead must exonerate himself after the murder of his assistant.
One of the common themes in Barker’s works is disability representation. Barker has Crohn’s Disease and uses his experience in the disability community to shape his characters and normalize disability in fantasy. It’s not clear yet how this theme will play out in Mortedant’s Peril, but if that type of representation is important to you, you’ll want to read this and Barker’s other books.
Irody Hasp is a Mortedant, a cleric tasked with reading the last thoughts of the dead—though no one thanks him for it. No Mortedant is popular, but Irody is scarcely tolerated even by the other members of his own guild, and rarely selected for anything but the lowliest of jobs.
This impoverished existence would be dismal enough—but after reading the corpse of a low-level records keeper, Irody’s troubles quickly multiply when his own apprentice is murdered, and all fingers point to him as a suspect. The only way to save his own skin is to find the real culprit himself, an investigation that quickly attracts powerful enemies with few scruples, and draws him into a plot that threatens the entire corrupt yet wondrous city he calls home.
Perfect for fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora, Foundryside, and Witness for the Dead, this investigative misadventure begins a perilous new series by award-winning author RJ Barker.
Startup Hell by Caitlin Rozakis | Image: Titan Books
Startup Hell by Caitlin Rozakis — May 19
Startup Hell is set in the same world as Caitlin Rozakis’s previous novel, The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association, but is to be read as a standalone. It is sure to have the signature snark that Rozakis writes into her stories, especially when telling the story of how hellish the corporate world can be.
Morgan is the regular, magicless daughter of a famous wizarding mother. She tries to stay in non-magic spaces, but gets sucked into her mother’s world when one of her office coworkers summons a demon. Morgan just wanted a normal life, but now she’s got to help the extremely good-looking demon in getting a human soul. Rozakis wrote a fun, romantic contemporary fantasy for those who can commiserate with overworked office workers.
Morgan Blackwater’s mother is a kickass, world-saving, demon-slaying Shadow Council wizard. As for Morgan? Morgan’s a junior salesperson at a tech startup that can’t even decide what its product is. But with magic dyslexia and a disinclination to kick ass, Morgan is doing her best carving out a niche for herself in the mundane world.
Leaving work late one night, she discovers her boss dead from the effort of summoning a demon to trade his soul in order to make his quarterly target. The disturbingly-attractive demon, Lucareoth (Luke for short), is trapped here until he finds someone to sell their soul. While trying to sneak Luke out of the building, Morgan runs into her infamous mother. Apparently, someone has been summoning demons, and she’s here to get to the bottom of it.
Trying to protect Luke from her mother, Morgan gets sucked into the Infernal Plane and discovers hell really is a corporate nightmare. She only gets back home with a promise to deliver a human soul of her own. While her coworkers are really annoying, she’s not willing to sacrifice their souls. The company’s tech bro CEO, though, is another story.
With Caitlin Rozakis’s signature wit, STARTUP HELL is a contemporary fantasy that exposes the demonic nature of the corporate world.
And Side by Side They Wander by Molly Tanzer | Image: Tordotcom
And Side by Side They Wander by Molly Tanzer — May 19
Molly Tanzer is known for her collections of horror fantasy short stories and her Diabolist’s Library series, which includes the award-winning third book, Creatures of Charm and Hunger. And Side by Side They Wander is her first science fiction novella, and it appears to be more of a thrilling adventure drama than her usual dark fantasy.
Earth allowed an alien museum to house priceless art in exchange for peace between species. But three centuries later, the humans have decided they want their art back. So, they send in a team to steal it. A gritty Ocean’s Eleven adventure with a sci-fi twist, Tanzer’s And Side by Side They Wander is a quick but intense read.
An intergalactic art heist by a ragtag group of underqualified misfits. What could go wrong?
For three hundred years, humanity’s greatest works of art have been on loan at the Greenwood Museum. It was finally time for them to come home…but the alien curators were disinclined to return them.
Force was out of the question. Earth’s government was clear: They were not going to press the issue. So, all we had was guile and hubris to fuel our little intergalactic art heist.
My old friend Tarquin was our leader, but not the captain. That was Tchik-tchik, though whether Tchik-tchik was our insectoid pilot’s name or species is still unclear to me. Misora, with her extremely illegal biotech mods, was our muscle.
Jack was there to hack the security systems of the biggest museum in the galaxy. He was a sensynth, a sentient synthetic being, and the most powerful machine intelligence on Earth, uncorrupted by alien technology.
My name is Fennel Tycho. I’d like to tell you I was there because of my expertise in Art History. Truth is, I was there because, without me, Jack would not have agreed to go. He was notorious for being difficult to work with—but it was a mistake to think I could make things any easier.
Palaces of the Crow by Ray Nayler | Image: MCD
Palaces of the Crow by Ray Nayler — May 19
Palaces of the Crow is an intriguing historical fantasy by Ray Nayler, author of The Mountain in the Sea and The Tusks of Extinction. Nayler often focuses on themes of ecology, environmentalism, and philosophy in his science fiction, so it will be interesting to see how his latest novel, set during World War II, ties those same themes in as a fantasy.
A group of young teens are all on the run from the Nazis for different reasons, but they form their own family with each other and with a murder of intelligent crows. The crows look out for the kids and help them avoid harm from many different forms. Nayler’s story of survival during a crushing war feels almost hopeful in the bonds forged among these kids and their crows.
Neriya, a young Jewish girl who dreams of becoming a biologist, has befriended a local flock of crows in her shtetl. Czeslaw is an underage Polish soldier who deserts the Red Army and runs into the freezing Lithuanian woods. Kezia is a Roma horse trader whose family is on the run from Soviet collectivization. As the German blitzkrieg crashes across the border in June 1941, all three are caught up in the onslaught. Along with Innokentiy, an abandoned boy who cannot speak, they are driven into the primeval forest, where they survive by forming an unbreakable bond with one another—and with Neriya’s intelligent crows, who for years have been bringing her intricate gifts suggesting they are no ordinary corvids.
As the war goes on, the crows warn the children of danger and help them hide from the human threats of the forest—not only the Germans but also Russian deserters, Polish partisans, fascist Lithuanian police, and the other bandits and outcasts wandering the benighted landscape.
The Redemption Center is Closed on Sundays by Andrea Hairston | Image: Tor Books
The Redemption Center is Closed on Sundays by Andrea Hairston — May 26
If you loved the supernatural horror film, Good Boy, which is told through the dog’s point of view, or if you wish Cosmo, the dog from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, had his own movie, The Redemption Center is Closed on Sundays is the perfect read. The story follows a dog that can travel through dimensions and has to solve a murder.
Andrea Hairston is a renowned science fiction and fantasy author and playwright. Her most well-known book was her debut novel, Mindscape. Her works are wondrously strange, as expected of a theater professor, but also poignant in discussing African-American cultures through a sci-fi lens.
Every Sunday, Oona the St. Berdoodle and her current owner, Zsuzsu, make their way through the winding paths of the State Park to the enigmatic Redemption Center—a place often mistaken for a haunted mansion.
When a local celebrity is found murdered, the unexpected brings Oona together with a rag-tag group of local misfits. Together they venture into the depths of the Center’s mystery to untangle the threads of murder and deception.
But Oona holds two secrets: she’s a citizen of the multiverse, able to travel between dimensions at will, and more importantly, she knows the killer’s identity. Unfortunately, the killer knows she knows, and he’s determined to find her and silence her for good.
An extra-dimensional murder mystery with conundrums, alien tricksters, and a dog detective who just doesn’t know the meaning of “stay”.
The Rainshadow Orphans by Naomi Ishiguro (Rainshadow #1) | Image: S&S/Saga Press
The Rainshadow Orphans by Naomi Ishiguro (Rainshadow #1) — May 26
The Rainshadow Orphans is Naomi Ishiguro’s first fantasy novel, and the first book in the Rainshadow series. Ishiguro has written literary fiction and a collection of short stories that all explore her Japanese heritage and culture. The Rainshadow Orphans also draws on Japanese folklore and is inspired by anime, including Studio Ghibli films.
Ishiguro writes a cozy fantasy/sci-fi, but does not shy away from deep emotions. Three teens seek revenge against the organization, the Lucky Crows, while another is forced to be the Crows’ lackey. A fifth teen, the son of the Emperor, must figure out which side he wants to be on: that of power and corruption or that of justice. There are also Spirits and cyberpunk elements that add to the adventure that feels familiar to fans of Spirited Away.
Life is hard for the inhabitants of Rainshadow City, a place where poverty and corruption are rife and where they are terrorized by an underground criminal organization known as the Lucky Crows.
Toshiko, Jun, and Mei Kawakami are a family, bonded through loyalty if not blood, who live outside the increasingly corrupt law and who are seeking revenge for the murder of their beloved “aunt” Reiko by the Lucky Crows. Haru is the son of the Emperor, destined to one day rule over the Archipelago and uphold his mother’s ignoble legacy, but he is more interested in making friends with the magical Sun Spirits, it seems only he can see. Theo, forced to leave his homeland, is a reluctant foot-soldier for the Lucky Crows. He doesn’t want to be a gangster, but as an illegal immigrant to the city, his choices are severely limited.
When Toshiko steals a dragon pearl from the leader of the Crows, it sets them all on a thrilling path that will determine the future of Rainshadow City. Tightly set across two days and peopled with unforgettable characters, The Rainshadow Orphans blends the anime fantasy of works like Pokémon and Studio Ghibli and the anime science fiction of revolutionary cyberpunk like Akira to explore what it means to stand up to corruption and take charge of destiny.
I Hear a New World by Alan Moore (Long London Quintet #2) | Image: Bloomsbury Publishing
I Hear a New World by Alan Moore (Long London Quintet #2) — May 26
From the brilliant mind that gave us Watchmen and V for Vendetta, Alan Moore’s latest series, The Long London Quintet, is full of murder and magic. The second book in the series is I Hear a New World, which continues the story of Dennis and his travel to an alternate, magical London. Though it’s been nine years since the events of the first book, and Dennis is now reluctant to return to the “Great When.”
Alan Moore is one of the most iconic authors alive today and his works speak for themselves. But the historical fiction of The Long London Quintet combined with Moore’s stellar world-building of the fantasy London make this series a must-read. Check out The Great When now and be prepared for I Hear a New World on May 26th.
It’s 1958 and Dennis Knuckleyard has decided to leave his adventures in the Great When in the past where they belong. For nine years, he’s avoided so much as thinking about the magical version of London, until he rediscovers an unpleasant reminder of his last adventure-a key that he’d secretly brought into his own world from the other for safekeeping.
But while Dennis may believe he’s done with the Great When, it’s far from done with him. When Dennis gives the key to a friend, its magical properties reawaken, bringing creatures from the other world into Dennis’s and sparking riots in Notting Hill. Even worse, Dennis’s old crush, Grace Shilling, has been forced into the Great When to investigate strange happenings in both cities.
Desperate to keep Grace safe, Dennis follows her into Long London. But once inside the other city, it will not let him go away again so easily, and Dennis and Grace must fight to set things right in the Great When and their own world, or forever lose their lives-and each other.
Full of Moore’s characteristically stunning world-building and rollicking prose, I Hear a New World is the extraordinary second adventure in the Long London series.
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