It’s that time of the month again when I share some of the best new books to keep an eye out for, and there are plenty of great releases to add to your TBR (to be read) list or bookshelf in February.
From Matt Dinniman’s new standalone to Brandon Sanderson, Uketsu, Taylor Adams, and more, I’ve tried to pick a range of genres and mix of stories – as always – with something for everyone. And you never know, some of the picks might just get you out of your usual comfort zone.
These are the new books that you won’t want to miss in February.
Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman
Operation Bounce House
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Release date: February 10 (US) and February 12 (UK)
You might be familiar with Matt Dinniman’s magnificent Dungeon Crawler Carl series; however, he has a brand new standalone novel coming out this month that we know we won’t be able to put down. Set on the planet of New Sonora, Oliver has a feeling it will be a good thing when the transfer gate between his world and Earth opens up fully, restoring travel and communication between the two. However, Earth has other ideas.
As the government and the immense Apex Industries go back on their promise of peace between the two planets, an ‘eviction action’ is served. But instead of them having to spend the money and resources of sending their own AI soldiers to New Sonora, they decide to turn it into a game – Operation Bounce House, charging bored Earthers to remotely destroy his planet from the comfort of their sofa. Oliver and his friends are soon fighting for their lives. Could an old book from his grandfather and a bucket of rusty parts help them defend their home?
Isles of the Emberdark by Brandon Sanderson
Isles of the Emberdark
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Release date: February 3
Expanding upon the world that Brandon Sanderson first introduced in the Sixth of the Dusk novella way back in 2014, Isles of the Emberdark follows Dusk as he and his people race to modernise before they can be conquered by a collective of invaders from the stars, called the Ones Above, who want to exploit them and their home.
Salvation hangs in the balance and sees Dusk set to sail beyond a mystical portal into the emberdark. At the same time, a young dragon who has been forced into human form has also found an ancient map to a hidden portal. Could an unlikely allegiance between the two see them save one another? Or will it end in tragedy?
You can check out the rest of the books set in the Cosmere universe as Brandon Sanderson continues work on his Apple TV adaptations.
Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams
Her Last Breath
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Release date: February 17
Is there anything more terrifying than the thought of being trapped deep underground in a series of caves? Well, prepare to feel incredibly claustrophobic with Taylor Adams’ new book, Her Last Breath. Seriously, who else did The Descent traumatise all those years ago? It hasn’t left me, that’s for sure.
Allie has finally convinced her best friend Tess to go caving with her, but as they start to descend deeper, they soon realise that they’re not alone. What ensues is a fight for their lives hundreds of feet down in increasingly narrow tunnels and crawl spaces, as Tess recounts exactly what happened to them from her hospital bed – but all is not as it seems.
A true thriller, with plenty of horror movie-style scares, this had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. It’s also the perfect book to get anyone out of a reading slump.
And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison
And Now, Back to You
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Release date: February 24 (US) and February 26 (UK)
After we absolutely adored B.K. Borison’s take on the rom-com classic, Sleepless in Seattle with First Time Caller last year, her charming Heartstrings series continues with a brilliant opposites-attract romance in And Now, Back to You.
Following Jackson and Delilah, who couldn’t be more different, despite them both reporting the weather – him for the radio and her for TV – they find themselves thrown together to cover a once-in-a-century snowstorm.
And in doing so, they begin to realise that maybe they could be friends, or even a bit more. With a wintery mountain setting and an assignment that Delilah needs to nail to hopefully – and finally – start being respected as a journalist, it turns out that maybe their unlikely partnership isn’t so unexpected after all.
Strange Buildings by Uketsu (Translated by Jim Rion)
Strange Buildings
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Release date: February 26
You’ll likely have spotted or picked up Uketsu’s Strange Pictures or Strange Houses, Japanese mystery books, with them being some of the most popular of the past few years. And now he’s taking on a series of Strange Buildings in this latest volume.
Said to be the most bizarre and darkest of the books so far, this one revolves around eleven strange buildings. From a hidden chamber and a mysterious shrine to a lonely hut out in the woods and a harrowing prison, like the previous stories, you’ll need to have your detective hat on to see how each building is connected, all while they spin their own narrative. Will you be able to work out what secrets have been hidden?
Pretenders to the Throne of God by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Pretenders to the Throne of God
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Release date: February 12
The fourth book in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s The Tyrant Philosophers series, this latest installment is the “portrait of a city under siege,” according to the author, and we are so looking forward to seeing where the action picks up next.
Taking place during the winter in Eres Ffenegh, also known as “the City on the Back of a Crab”, it’s the next state set for conquest in Palleseen’s campaign of Perfection and Correctness, yet its citizens are not ready to give up that easily. This latest story revolves around a good man who makes a bargain with hell, as well as a child of privilege who has become the city’s champion, yet both must fight for survival while forging their own path.
Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi
Cleopatra
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Release date: February 24 (US) and February 26 (UK)
Think you know the story of Cleopatra? Think again. From the author of the Faebound and Ending Fire trilogies comes a captivating reimagining not of how the famous Egyptian queen died, but how she lived.
Taking us through the varied stages of her life and into womanhood, this retelling flips the narrative on the woman who was often called a seductress, capable of witchcraft, or even a monster, with it being told from Cleopatra’s POV.
She does break the fourth wall to speak directly to readers, and in doing so, highlights that this isn’t the story that has been told by historians over the years, and because of that, it’s certainly piqued our interest.
The Red Winter by Cameron Sullivan
The Red Winter
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Release date: February 24 (US) and February 26 (UK)
The year is 1785, and the horrifying Beast of Gévaudan has returned, the surrounding French countryside running red with blood. Yet, monster-slayer Professor Sebastian Grave is all too familiar with its path of destruction, after taking it on two decades earlier and almost losing his life in the process.
Once again, he finds himself recruited to be part of the hunt, this time by his estranged lover, who also just happens to share quite a dark history with the Beast. Blending fantasy, historical fiction, horror, and a queer love story, could Sebastian finally have the opportunity to slay the Beast once and for all, while simultaneously reconciling with his past love? We can’t wait to pick up a copy to find out.
Mother Faker by Anna Brook-Mitchell
Mother Faker
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Release date: February 24 (US) and February 26 (UK)
How far would you go for a year off work? It turns out, quite a way if you’re Barri. As a happily childfree-by-choice English teacher whose husband has just upped and left her, along with her life savings, a year’s worth of paid maternity leave seems like a dream at this point. Or maybe a plan? The only catch is that she isn’t actually pregnant.
With seven foam bumps and plenty of loose-fitting smock dresses to hand, all she has to do is convince a few people before disappearing for good. That’s before she’s caught or sent to prison for fraud, of course. And things get even trickier when this fake pregnancy of hers starts to bring her closer to her family and friends for the first time in years. Can she really pull it off? We’re so looking forward to seeing how this story plays out.
Ellis is a freelance journalist, based in the UK, with a love of all things books. She also routinely chairs bookish events up and down the country, getting the scoop from some of the biggest and bestselling authors to keep you in the know.
