Best New Upcoming Sci-fi & Fantasy Books of 2019

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best fantasy books 2019

Science fiction and fantasy flourished in 2018 with a number of debuts and series conclusions. Pierce Brown continued his fast-paced sci-fi series Red Rising with Irongold. We were introduced to a 20th-century-Chinese-history infused fantasy in R. F. Kuang’s powerful debut, The Poppy War. Sabaa Tahir continued to deliver with the third book in her An Ember in the Ashes series with A Reaper at the Gates. Could 2019 top that? Considering that Irongold and The Poppy War are just a few of the books receiving sequels, it’s safe to say that it could.

If you’re looking for a fresh voice, you have several debuts to choose from. Suyi Davies Okungbowa’s “Nigerian God-Punk” David Mogo, Godhunter is exactly what it sounds like—something bold and completely new. Kalyn Josephson imagines a tropical kingdom whose society revolves around elemental crows in The Storm Crow. And Shana Silver explores deletable memories in her YA debut, Mind Games.

For a standalone adventure, check out Richard Kadrey’s stunning city of squalor and bliss in The Grand Dark. Nicky Drayden takes a look at humanity on a space journey with no destination in living vessels in Escaping Exodus. With Middlegame, Seanan McGuire tells the story of two god-like twins and their ambitious creator.

Whether you’re looking for original concepts, classic epic fantasy, or the sequel to your favorite series, there’s a good chance you’ll find it in 2019’s colorful and generous collection of new releases. Hopefully, your to-be-read shelf has plenty of space. Keep scrolling at your own risk.

We will update this list monthly to make sure you don’t miss out on any major releases and always have something new to read.

Here’s the list of our most anticipated sci-fi and fantasy books of 2019 for the entire year (and check out March’s new releases here!)


The Winter of the Witch (Winternight Trilogy #3) by Katherine Arden

Release date: January 8
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 384 (Hardcover)

The highly anticipated conclusion to the Winternight trilogy, Arden’s Russian-folklore-inspired fantasy, returns to a Moscow that can only be saved by Vasya and her powers that let her see the spirits.

The Grand Prince of Moscow is bent on leading his people to war. A powerful demon is wreaking havoc, and the people of Russia are angry and afraid. Vasya holds her own fate and the fate of Russia in her hands.

In her attempt to protect Russia and Morozko the frost demon, Vasya may have to choose what is most important to her.

Buy it here


The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air #2) by Holly Black

Release date: January 9
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336 (hardcover)

Black follows up the hugely popular The Cruel Prince with a sequel that raises the stakes.

Jude now controls the throne of the Courts of Faerie after binding herself to Cardan, the charming son of the High King. The politics of Faerie are treacherous, and Cardan is doing his best to hinder her every move.

Meanwhile, the discovery that her brother Oak is the heir to Faerie puts him in more danger than ever. Jude knows that someone she trusts is a traitor, and she must figure out who to trust to protect those she loves—all while struggling with her feelings for Cardan.

Buy it here


Shadow Captain (Revenger #2) by Alastair Reynolds

Release date: January 15
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 448 (paperback)

Reynolds’ sequel to his Locus-award-winning Revenger sends two reunited sisters, Adrana and Fura Ness, on the cosmic treasure hunt of a lifetime.

Adrana is on the run from space pirates who seek to enslave her, while Fura Ness has become fixated on Bosa Sennen’s treasure.

Flying the spaceship of a dead space pirate with many enemies comes with its risks. This is not an adventure that either Adrana or Fura Ness will escape from unscathed or unchanged.

Buy it here


The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy #2) by S. A. Chakraborty

Release date: January 22
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Pages: 640 (hardcover)

2019 is shaping up to be a year of sequels, with Chakraborty’s highly anticipated follow-up to The City of Brass taking us back to a world of dangerous djinn and ancient magic.

When Nahri summoned the djinn Dara, her life was turned upside down. Daevabad is a treacherous place with a royal court that Nahri struggles to navigate. With Daevabad recovering from a massive battle, Nahri is in great danger as she comes under the eye of a king who holds the throne that should belong to her own family.

Prince Ali is in exile and has a price on his head, forced to use the powers that bind him to water spirits, endangering himself and his family.

Tensions are mounting in Daevabad as powerful forces gather behind its walls. Chakraborty has put everything on the table in this intriguing sequel.

Buy it here


Ship of Smoke and Steel (Wells of Sorcery Trilogy #1) by Django Wexler

Release date: January 22
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 368 (hardcover)

Wexler begins a new epic fantasy trilogy, Wells of Sorcery, with Ship of Smoke and Steel, which promises cinematic magic battles and a mysterious ship.

Isoka is a young ward boss who uses the Well of Combat to follow the orders of the cruel thugs who control her life. This dirty work helps her to feed her sister, who lives a safe life far from the lower wards of Kahnzoka.

When her magic gets her arrested, Isoka is tasked with a quest to steal the infamous ghost ship Soliton. No one who has attempted to steal the ship has escaped with their life. But Isoka has to succeed if she wants to have any hope of saving her sister.

After boarding the Soliton, she becomes a part of the crew, joining them in their fight against terrible creatures. Isoka forms unexpected relationships with a charming fellow fighter with combat magic and a powerful princess, all while striving to do the impossible.

Buy it here


The Hod King (Books of Babel #3) by Josiah Bancroft

Release date: January 22
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 624 (paperback)

We return to Bancroft’s wondrous and terrible Tower of Babel for Thomas Senlin’s third chapter in his quest to find his wife, from whom he became separated during their honeymoon.

Now serving the secretive individual known as the Sphinx, Senlin is ordered to investigate and put an end to an uprising in Pelphia, one of the Ringdoms of the Tower. Meanwhile, his companions Iren and Voleta search for Senlin’s wife Marya by taking the guises of nobles. Edith is now the captain of the Sphinx’s flagship and must follow the Black Trail to find a missing friend, drawing her closer to the Hod King.

The identity of the strange and powerful Hod king is a looming question in the heads of Senlin and his friends as they struggle to stay afloat in the wonders, conspiracies, and tribes of the Tower of Babel.

Buy it here


King of Scars (King of Scars Duology #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Release date: January 29
Publisher: Imprint
Pages: 528 (hardcover)  

Bardugo returns to her beloved Grishaverse with the first book in a new duology.

From the publisher:

Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war―and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried―and some wounds aren’t meant to heal.

Buy it here


February Books

Station Zero (Railhead #3) by Philip Reeve

Release date: February 1
Publisher: Capstone Editions
Pages: 320 (hardcover)

Reeve concludes the fast-paced Railhead trilogy with Station Zero, which sends a retired Zen Starling on one more adventure.

Nova, a humanoid AI, was Zen’s closest friend in the universe. Now, she is on a distant planet, unreachable for Zen, whose new mellow lifestyle has become deeply unfulfilling. When Zen receives a strange message, he once again embarks on the mysterious rails that connect the celestial bodies of the galaxy to find whatever awaits.

The ending of Black Light Express left us with plenty of questions, and knowing Reeve, we will find just the right amount of answers in this adventurous finale.

Buy it here


Smoke & Summons (Numina #1) by Charlie N. Holmberg

Release date: February 1
Publisher: 47North
Pages: 319 (hardcover)

Holmberg, author of the Paper Magician series, brings us something fresh and inventive in the first book in her Numina series.

Sandis is the host of an ancient being who can turn her into a monster at any time. When this happens, she has no control and must do his bidding. She isn’t the only vessel, but she is capable of hosting spirits far more dangerous than any other vessels, a quality that puts her in extreme danger.

She befriends a thief named Rone, who has a device which makes him invincible for one minute at a time. To escape her master, Sandis runs away from the corrupt city she called home.

With Rone and his device, she may be able to outwit her master, but he sends everything he has to track her down and bring her back under his control.

Buy it here


The Ruin of Kings (A Chorus of Dragons #1) by Jenn Lyons

Release date: February 5
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 560 (hardcover)

The first book in Lyons’ A Chorus of Dragons series launches an epic fantasy tale of the likes of The Name of the Wind and A Song of Ice and Fire.

Kihrin is a man broken and imprisoned, with nothing to do to pass the time but tell his tale to his keeper.

A rough childhood as a thief in the slums of Quur has given Kihrin a unique set of skills—skills that become useful when he is recognized as missing prince of a major house of Quur and is imprisoned in a palace full of scheming nobles.

When Kihrin learns that the stone around his neck is a powerful device that will protect the wearer, he begins to understand his place in the plans of other far more powerful players in a game that is bigger than he can imagine.

The Ruin of Kings is one to watch and is shaping up to be one of the biggest releases of 2019.

Buy it here


The Test by Sylvain Neuvel

Release date: February 11
Publisher: Tor.com
Pages: 112 (paperback)

Neuvel, known for The Themis Files, returns with a near-future dystopian Britain.

To gain British citizenship, individuals must pass the 25-question citizenship exam. When Idir takes the test, something unexpected happens—he is handed power over the lives of others.  

We don’t know much more than this Black-Mirror-esque premise, but Neuvel is bound to impress as always.

Buy it here


Kellanved’s Reach (Path to Ascendancy #3) by Ian C. Esslemont

Release date: February 19
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 352 (hardcover)

This entry into the Malazan world, co-created by Stephen Eriksen and Ian C. Esslemont, wraps up Esslemont’s Path to Ascendancy trilogy, which serves as a prequel to the Malazan Empire series.

The cities of Quon Tali are at war, while a mage of Dal Hon is quietly conquering the southern seas.

Meanwhile, Kellanved and his friend Dancer are traveling a perilous world in search of the legendary Army of Dust and Bone.

This entry into the Malazan canon is bound to please fans of this massive universe and its beloved gods and mages.

Buy it here


The Past and Other Things That Should Stay Buried by Shaun David Hutchinson

Release date: February 19
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 304 (hardcover)

Described by the publisher as “Six Feet Under meets Pushing Daisies,” Hutchinson mixes reality with the supernatural this strange tale of friendship.

Dino has always been surrounded by death, thanks to his parent’s funeral home. But when Dino’s former best friend July dies and is returned to something sort of like life, he begins to look at death in a new way.

July and Dino try to understand July’s strange return, all while putting together the puzzle of their ended friendship.

This quirky story of death and friendship promises to be fun, charming, and fairly morbid.

Buy it here


The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie

Release date: February 23
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 432 (hardcover)

Hugo winner Ann Leckie makes her fantasy debut with The Raven Tower, a tale of men and meddling gods.

Raven has looked after the land of Iraden for hundreds of years. The Raven’s Lease is the human sacrifice and leader chosen by the god himself to look after the land and provide blood to the god.

When the throne is taken over by another, the Raven grows frail and invaders vie to break down the borders of Iraden.

Eolo is a warrior who serves the original Raven’s Lease and aims to help him return to power. When Eolo investigates the Raven’s Tower, he uncovers secrets that threaten to permanently destroy Iraden.

Buy it here


March Books

Ancestral Night (White Space #1) by Elizabeth Bear

Release date: March 5
Publisher: Saga Press
Pages: 512 (hardcover)

Elizabeth Bear is launching an ambitious and idea-packed space opera with Ancestral Night.

Salvage operators Halmey Dz and her partner Connla Kurucz live meager lives in the hopes of landing a big score. While searching for debris from ancient human and alien ships in scars left from failed White Transitions, they discover something about an alien race thought long gone. This revelation could launch the fragile peace of humanity into a deadly war.

Buy it here


Prism Cloud (The Harbinger Series #4) by Jeff Wheeler

Release date: March 5
Publisher: 47North
Pages: ?

The penultimate Harbinger novel explores a friendship tested to its limits in a fragile kingdom on the brink of war.

With the emperor killed, Sera Fitzempress is positioned to take the throne. The last step to the crown is her marriage to the prince. Were she in control, she might be the only one capable of preventing a war between Kingfountain and Muirwood.

However, Cettie has discovered something that not only redefines her life but also threatens to unravel the kingdom and send it to war. She is forced to give up her life and her love to prevent her best friend from marrying the prince and destroying the kingdom.

Tensions are high in this tale of a kingdom on the edge of destruction. And Sera and Cettie’s friendship may be the only thing preventing mass devastation.

Buy it here


Unfettered III, edited by Shawn Speakman

Release date: March 19
Publisher: Grim Oak
Pages: 480 (hardcover)

If there’s one anthology you pick up in 2019, Unfettered III is a pretty safe bet.

From the publisher:  

Be haunted by the chilling ghost story of Megan Lindholm. Revisit the Magicians world with Lev Grossman. Return to Osten Ard in an epic first look at Tad Williams’s Empire of Grass. Share a heartfelt story of loss and gain with Callie Bates. Cross the sands of the desert planet Dune with Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Travel the Ways in a new Wheel of Time novella with Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson. Enter the amazing potter city of Seven with Naomi Novik. And many more stories, all wondrous alongside beautiful art by Todd Lockwood!

Buy it here


Tiamat’s Wrath (The Expanse #8) by James S. A. Corey

Release date: March 26
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 608 (hardcover)

Whether you’re a fan of the books or the recently-revived Amazon series, the latest installment of The Expanse is not one to miss.

There are thirteen hundred new gates in various solar systems, and most of them lead to ancient alien ruins. Elvi Okoye is on a quest to discover what genocide occurred long before humanity’s existence and to discover weapons to fight in a massive war.

Meanwhile, Teresa Duarte must quell her father’s efforts as the emperor. Her primary threats in the palace include the prisoner James Holden and the sociopath and scientist Paolo Cortázar.

There are massive forces at work, and the mysterious nightmares between solar systems may be more than humanity can handle.

Buy it here


Sky Without Stars (System Divine #1) by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell

Release date: March 26
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 592 (paperback)

Brody and Rendell offer a retelling of Les Misérables unlike any you’ve ever seen.

In this rendition, the French planet Laterre, once a haven where families could look forward to generations of prosperity, has become a place divided by its two classes. The wealthy control every aspect of society while the rest of the citizens of LaTerre struggle to survive.

The heroes stand at the center of an incoming revolution.

The street-smart thief, Chatine, sets out to spy on the grandson of Laterre’s most powerful individual.

The military officer, Marcellus, aims to take over the military. But a strange message hidden behind a code gives him reason to doubt the government he serves.

The guardian of the last library, Alouette, visits the planet’s surface for the first time after a strange murder.

This imaginative and ambitious reimagining promises to introduce a French Revolution like we’ve never seen it before.

Buy it here


April Books

The Devouring Gray (The Devouring Gray #1) by Christine Lynn Herman

Release date: April 2
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 368 (hardcover)

Christine Lynn Herman explores family mythologies in a story of a small town that may appeal to fans of Stranger Things.

After her sister dies, Violet Saunders and her mother travel to Four Paths, New York, where Violet learns that her family’s history is not what she thought. The Saunders are one of the legendary founding families of Four Paths.

Justin Hawthorn should be able to protect the town from the dimension known as the Gray, but unlike the rest of his family, he is without powers. Unable to do his duty as a Hawthorn, Justin struggles with his identity and his deficiency that shames his family. He has made some enemies along the way, like Harper Carlisle, who was trapped in the Gray for days as a result of Justin’s inability.

With more and more falling victim to the Gray and its terrible monster, tensions are building as family histories and struggles for power threaten to send the town into the hands of the Gray.

Buy it here


Holy Sister (Book of the Ancestor #3) by Mark Lawrence

Release date: April 9
Publisher: Ace
Pages: 368 (hardcover)

The final chapter in Book of the Ancestor examines the woman Nona Gray has become since her training began.

Nona is close to becoming a full-fledged sister and donning her nun’s habit. But besides the usual obstacles between a trainee and the habit, Nona’s chances are also lessened by the threat of the Scithrowls’ siege upon the struggling empire and the narrowing Corridor.

She is a warrior, but she can’t stop a war alone. As a final fight approaches, Nona must choose whether to claim a power that threatens to destroy her—it may be the only hope of protecting those she cares about.

Lawrence is sure to deliver in this conclusion to his bestselling trilogy.

Buy it here


The Last by Hanna Jameson

Release date: April 9
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 352 (hardcover)

Jameson introduces a familiar world in the middle of nuclear war in this psychological thriller.

Joe and twenty other survivors are holding out in the Swiss L’Hotel Sixieme while the rest of the world burns.

He never responded to the last text message from his wife, which haunts him daily while he works on a response. Then he received several notifications informing him of various major cities struck by nuclear blasts.

Months later, Joe and the other survivors find themselves disturbed by an eerie hotel that pushes several to suicide. When the body of a young girl is discovered, the uneasiness grows.

Joe takes on the mystery of the girl as a way to cope in a devastated world. Leaving the hotel could mean starvation and death, but staying may be worse.

Buy it here


Seven Blades in Black (The Grave of Empires #1) by Sam Sykes

Release date: April 9
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 704 (paperback)  

Sam Sykes begins a new epic fantasy that looks at a lost magician in a world at war.

Sal the Cacophany is without her magic and without friends. But she still holds the weapon that she used to mold her life. The only thing she can trust is her instinct.

Revenge is her goal, and she seeks in in the Scar—the land between empires where forgotten mages vanish. There are seven people that Sal and her weapon owe a visit to.

Buy it here


A Time of Blood (Of Blood & Bone #2) by John Gwynne

Release date: April 16
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 672 (paperback)

John Gwynne, winner of the David Gemmell Morningstar Award, continues his Of Blood & Bone series with a grand and action-packed sequel.

After the battle of Starstone Lake, Drem and his allies witnessed the return of a demon and must spread the word—before they are hunted down.

Meanwhile, Riv is still wrapping her head around her newly discovered heritage. Her existence could disrupt—and possibly destroy—the warrior angels.

Fritha, the high priestess of demons, is launching a war against the weakened warrior angels that may be more than they can handle. But Drem steps up to the challenge to fight for the place he has called home.

Buy it here


Winds of Marque (Winds of Marque #1) by Bennett R. Coles

Release date: April 16
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Pages: 368 (paperback)

Described by the publisher as “Master and Commander in space,” The Winds of Marque is a space epic with a healthy dose of pirate.

Solar winds guide the starfaring vessels—the variety that uses massive masts and sails to propel themselves through the cosmos. The HMSS Daring is hunting down ships involved in illegal trading, hoping to track down the pirates’ hideout.

Liam Blackwood and Amelia Virtue, the second-in-command and quartermaster of the Daring, respectively, are doubting the decisions of their captain. The crew is losing trust, and murmurs of mutiny are growing louder. Meanwhile, Liam and Amelia are struggling to understand their feelings for each other.

Coles is committing fully to the space-pirate theme of his world, and it sounds like it’s going to be a blast.

Buy it here


May Books

Empire of Grass (Last King of Osten Ard #2) by Tad Williams

Release date: May 7
Publisher: DAW
Pages: 736 (hardcover)

Fantasy veteran and pioneer Tad Williams returns to the world of his groundbreaking Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series in a follow-up to his 2017 The Witchwood Crown.

A new war is brewing in the land of Osten Ard as its many kingdoms struggle to maintain peace.

The royal couple Simon and Miriamele are helpless as their allies turn to other kingdoms for support. The kingdoms of Osten Ard are growing bitter and restless, and war looms closer than ever. Amid the chaos is the Witchwood Crown, which Simon and Miriamele must understand to have any chance of saving their kingdom.

This second book in the trilogy promises to examine a land brought to its knees by its own fear, mistrust, and dark magic.

Buy it here


Middlegame by Seanan McGuire

Release date: May 7
Publisher: Tor.com
Pages: 528 (hardcover)

Multi-award-winner Seanan McGuire has a new standalone fantasy that follows a pair of twins who are somewhere between god and human.

Roger understands the world through words and stories. His twin sister, Dodger, sees the world through math and numbers. They aren’t gods—but they could be someday.

Their creator is a man named Reed, who studies the alchemical arts. In helping his creations to reach their maximum potential, Reed plans to claim their power for himself.

It’s hard to say what McGuire’s world will look like, but with a premise like this, it’s hard not to be intrigued.

Buy it here


Finale (Caraval #3) by Stephanie Garber

Release date: May 7
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pages: 416 (hardcover)

Stephanie Garber concludes her bestselling Caraval trilogy with Finale, which picks up two months after Legend took the empire’s throne and the last Caraval ended.

Legend has not officially been crowned yet—which means that Tessa still has a chance to stop it. She knows that it is her mother who has the rightful claim to the crown.

Scarlett has arranged a competition between Julian and Nicolas d’Arcy to determine which man will take her hand in marriage. She feels as if she is in control of her life, but she is entirely unaware of her family’s dark past and the danger it poses to her.

With Caraval ended, forces of empires and love are at play, and not everyone can win.

Buy it here


A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay

Release date: May 14
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 560 (hardcover)

Guy Gavriel Kay is back with another historical-style fantasy, this time mimicking Renaissance Italy.

Danio Cerra has had an interesting life. Despite his low birth, he was given entry into a prestigious school and later served a ruling count known as the Beast.

When he saw Adria Ripoli sneaking into the Beast’s chambers, Danio made a decision that changed his life forever.

In this seaside city and its network of waterways, we follow a variety of characters and their parts in this intricate drama of love, fate, and power.

Buy it here


Last Tango in Cyberspace by Steven Kotler

Release date: May 14
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 336 (hardcover)

In a near-future Earth where emotions have become a commodity to be studied and controlled, strange new dynamics are emerging in this prescient thriller.

Lion Zorn is the first empathy tracker—a position not unlike a trend forecaster in which he looks for large emotional shifts in various cultures and informs his employer of forthcoming changes in perspective.

While doing some digging for Arctic Pharmaceuticals, Lion discovers a terrible murder and falls deep into a gritty realm of eco-assassins and other less than savory types.

Based primarily on technology that already exists or is in development, The Last Tango in Cyberspace promises to be a dark and chilling thriller in a familiar future.

Buy it here


Lent by Jo Walton

Release date: May 28
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 336 (hardcover)

In a book with one of the most evocative covers of 2019, Hugo- and Nebula-award winner Jo Walton reimagines 15th Century Florence through the eyes of a powerful man who interacts with demons and other celestial forces.

From the publisher:

Young Girolamo’s life is a series of miracles.

It’s a miracle that he can see demons, plain as day, and that he can cast them out with the force of his will. It’s a miracle that he’s friends with Pico della Mirandola, the Count of Concordia. It’s a miracle that when Girolamo visits the deathbed of Lorenzo “the Magnificent,” the dying Medici is wreathed in celestial light, a surprise to everyone, Lorenzo included. It’s a miracle that when Charles VIII of France invades northern Italy, Girolamo meets him in the field, and convinces him to not only spare Florence but also protect it. It’s a miracle than whenever Girolamo preaches, crowds swoon. It’s a miracle that, despite the Pope’s determination to bring young Girolamo to heel, he’s still on the loose…and, now, running Florence in all but name.

That’s only the beginning. Because Girolamo Savanarola is not who―or what―he thinks he is. He will discover the truth about himself at the most startling possible time. And this will be only the beginning of his many lives.

Buy it here


June Books

Fall; Or Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson

Release date: June 4
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages: 880 (hardcover)

With a massive tome whose perplexing title makes as much sense as any other Stephenson title, the consequences of a digital life after life are explored through a man named Dodge.

Richard “Dodge” Forthrast had a pleasant life of luxury in which he could enjoy time with his family while continuing to work with his business, a massive gaming corporation.

When a normal medical procedure leaves him braindead, his family follows the directives of his will and gives him to a cryonics company to preserve his mind.

Years later, he is returned to a sort of life in what is known as the Bitworld—a digital space for human souls that have passed on.

Stephenson asks big questions and examines the very definitions of life and death in this latest epic of a digital Utopia.

Buy it here


The Grand Dark by Richard Kadrey

Release date: June 11
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Pages: 400 (hardcover)

Richard Kadrey has created a city of drugs, automatons, and ordinary people trying to get by in this intriguing standalone fantasy.

In Lower Proszawa, a war carries ever onward as the people of the city numb themselves with drugs and parties while they lose their jobs to intelligent automata. It’s a city as much filled with wonders as it is with horrors.

Largo may be an addict, but he also has dreams. He has a decent life and a wonderful girlfriend, but he has an opportunity to take his life and his career to the next level through a contact with the upper class.

There are many forces and powerful individuals at work in a city on the brink of collapse, and Largo will have more trouble than he thinks claiming a piece of the city as his own.

Buy it here


The Sol Majestic by Ferrett Steinmetz

Release date: June 11
Publisher: Tor Books
Pages: 384 (paperback)

If you’re looking for a cozy and lighthearted sci-if, Ferrett Steinmetz’s The Sol Majestic may be the perfect book for you.

Kenna is roaming the galaxy in the hopes of beginning his career as an adviser to the galaxy’s elite when he makes a breakthrough at a legendary restaurant known as The Sol Majestic. The meal is free, but the publicity surrounding it threatens to destroy the restaurant.

In an attempt to save the restaurant and everything he cares for, Kenna makes unlikely friends and learns about what matters most in life.

Buy it here


The Last Tsar’s Dragons by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple

Release date: June 19
Publisher: Tachyon Publications
Pages: 192

An ailing Russian monarchy meets dragons in this co-authored book by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple.

The Russian monarchy is controlled by one man and his dragons. He uses the beasts to destroy his enemies, destroying his own country in the process.

Everyone surrounding the Tsar believes that his corruption runs too deep and that his power is vanishing—even his wife. The Red Army is gathering power, and a revolution draws near.

This is far from the first time Yolen and Stemple have collaborated, so great things are expected from this fun and inventive historical fantasy.

Buy it here


July Books

Wanderers by Chuck Wendig

Release date: July 2
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 800 (hardcover)

Former Marvel and Star Wars author Chuck Wendig has a new tale of an America plagued by a strange disease.

When Shana’s younger sister begins sleepwalking toward an unknown location, she has no choice but to follow her and protect her at all costs. But Shana isn’t the only “shepherd”—thousands of people are making the mysterious journey with those they love.

As they cross the country, they discover the scale of the epidemic and its effect on society. Militant forces are arising and taking control as fear of the disease grows. Only discovering the secret behind the disease can save America and the sleepwalkers, but it has just as much of a chance as destroying the country for good.

Buy it here


Across the Void by S. K. Vaughn

Release date: July 2
Publisher: Skybound Books
Pages: 320 (hardcover)

An unnamed Hollywood director has a realistic space thriller in the vein of Gravity, written under the pseudonym S. K. Vaughn.

From the publisher:

Commander Maryam “May” Knox awakes from a medically induced coma alone, adrift in space on a rapidly failing ship, with little to no memory of who she is or why she’s there.

Slowly, she pieces together that she’s the captain of the ship, Hawking II; that she was bound for Europa—one of Jupiter’s moons—on a research mission; and that she’s the only survivor of either an accident—or worse, a deliberate massacre—that has decimated her entire crew. With resources running low, and her physical strength severely compromised, May must rely on someone back home to help her. The problem is: everyone thinks she’s dead.

Back on Earth, it’s been weeks since Hawking II has communicated with NASA, and Dr. Stephen Knox is on bereavement leave to deal with the apparent death of his estranged wife, whose decision to participate in the Europa mission strained their marriage past the point of no return. But when he gets word that NASA has received a transmission from May, Stephen comes rushing to her aid.

What he doesn’t know is that not everyone wants May to make it back alive. Even more terrifying: she might not be alone on that ship. Featuring a twisting and suspenseful plot and compelling characters, Across the Void is a moving and evocative thriller that you won’t be able to put down.

Buy it here


David Mogo, Godhunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

Release date: July 9
Publisher: Abaddon
Pages: 360 (paperback)

If the title and cover of this original debut don’t intrigue you, how about the book’s unusual genre: Nigerian God-Punk.

In Lagos, David Mogo is a demigod who works as a freelance Godhunter in a city ravaged by Orisha. When David captures a high god for a famous Eko wizard, the wizard tries to conquer Lagos by summoning an army of Taboos.

By uniting with the wizard’s twin sister and a teenage Muslim girl, the trio tries to thwart the wizard’s efforts and protect the place that they call home.

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The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson

Release date: July 9
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 368 (hardcover)

Kalyn Josephson makes her debut with The Storm Crow, which introduces a tropical world of elemental crows.

Magical crows are commonplace in the kingdom of Rhodaire and are a central part of its society. When the Illucian empire attacks, the crows are lost, leaving the kingdom in a state of chaos.

Princess Anthia just wants life to return to normal. Her sister Caliza is busy running the kingdom while Anthia is forced into a marriage with the prince of Illucia. When Caliza and Anthia find a lost crow egg, they set into motion a plan to take back what is theirs.

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Age of Legend (Legends of the First Empire #4) by Michael J. Sullivan

Release date: July 9
Publisher: Grim Oak Press
Pages: 432 (hardcover)

Michael J. Sullivan, known best for his Riyria Revelations series, explores his beloved fantasy world in the Legends of the First Empire prequel series. The latest installment focuses on a humanity approaching the end of the war with the Fhrey.

From the publisher:

Each culture has its own myths and legends, but only one is shared, and it is feared by all.

With Age of Myth, Age of Swords, and Age of War, fantasy master Michael J. Sullivan riveted readers with a tale of unlikely heroes locked in a desperate battle to save mankind. After years of warfare, humanity has gained the upper hand and has pushed the Fhrey to the edge of their homeland, but no farther. Now comes the pivotal moment. Persephone’s plan to use the stalemate to seek peace is destroyed by an unexpected betrayal that threatens to hand victory to the Fhrey and leaves a dear friend in peril. Humanity’s only hope lies in the legend of a witch, a forgotten song, and a simple garden door.

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Dark Age (Red Rising #5) by Pierce Brown

Release date: July 9
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 480 (hardcover)

Pierce Brown continues to explore his imaginative Red Rising universe, which explores a society divided by its color-coded caste system in a futuristic colonized solar system.

Darrow has become an outlaw of the republic he built with his own hands. In attempt to piece things back together, he leads a war on Mercury—but his legacy is in great danger.

Meanwhile, Lysander au Lune, an old enemy of Darrow’s, journeys to the core to try to move the Gold families against Darrow on Mercury.

A cast of familiar characters struggle to find their place in a republic gone wrong—a republic that seems to be on the edge of a dark age.

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August Books

The Dragon Republic (The Poppy War #2) by R. F. Kuang

Release date: August 6
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Pages: 560 (hardcover)

The story of the hugely popular The Poppy War continues in a sequel that examines a hero on the run from herself and her crimes.

At the end of her third battle in the Poppy Wars, Rin is guilt-ridden and opium-addicted. She is fleeing both her past and the commands of the Phoenix, a god who granted Rin her profound powers.

The only thing driving Rin forward is her deep desire to take down the Empress who sold out Rin’s homeland.

Rin forms dangerous alliances and uncovers secrets that just might force her to use the deadly power of the Phoenix once more.

Buy it here


Escaping Exodus by Nicky Drayden

Release date: August 20
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Pages: 368 (paperback)

In a new standalone that blends science fiction and magical realism, Nicky Drayden explores a desperate humanity in the far reaches of space.

Humanity has been searching for a new home for decades. For now, they live inside massive space beasts and harvest resources from them, until they can find a habitable planet.

Seske Kaleigh is a whimsical girl who is reluctant to prepare for her role as clan leader. Instead, she and her best friend (who is a beast worker) explore forbidden areas to figure out why their home has been quivering.

When Seske is suddenly made clan matriarch, she finds herself with more power and responsibility than she is used to, and her unconventional way of doing things will either doom her people or provide a much-needed new perspective to help humanity persevere.

Buy it here


Mind Games by Shana Silver

Release date: August 27
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 320 (hardcover)

In her debut, Shana Silver explores the tenuous nature of memories and a girl who makes a living by stealing them.

Arden is a student who can hack into someone else’s memories and give them to you, allowing you to live them as if you really experienced them. When fifteen minutes of her life are erased and Arden can no longer remember anything about one particular classmate, her life begins to unravel. The strangest part is that her friends insist that she has had feelings for this mysterious boy for years.

Sebastian, Arden’s crush, has also lost his memories—but in his case, he remembers nothing of who he was. The two of them must work together to track down a person who has the power to remove any memories from their minds—no easy task.

Buy it here


The Burning White (Lightbringer #5) by Brent Weeks

Release date: August 27
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 650 (hardcover)

Brent Weeks concludes his epic Lightbringer series with much-anticipated The Burning White.

Kip Guile prepares for the final fight to protect everything that he cares about. The Chomeria is wracked by treason and war as the White King prepares to unleash his plan.

Only the Lightbringer can put things right.

We don’t know much about this final chapter in a spectacular series, but longtime fans of Lightbringer probably won’t need much more than this to conclude an epic story.

Buy it here


September Books

Darkdawn (The Nevernight Chronicle #3) by Jay Kristoff

Release date: September 3
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 448 (hardcover)

Jay Kristoff wraps up his bestselling Nevernight Chronicle trilogy with a grand and daring adventure.

Mia Corvere is fleeing from her many enemies as she tries to escape the City of Bridges and Bones. A gladiatii and former slave, she is more than familiar with violence, and she will need her skills to survive.

With her partner, Ashlinn, and brother, Jonnen, Mia travels across the republic to discover her own secrets before Truedark sends the republic into darkness for good.

Buy it here


The Testaments (The Handmaid’s Tale #2) by Margaret Atwood

Release date: September 10
Publisher: Nan A. Talese
Pages: 320 (hardcover)

Margaret Atwood is returning to her groundbreaking world of Gilead 34 years after the first book was published.

The Hulu series has already moved beyond the story of the first book. Now, we will get the author’s perspective of Offred’s future.

Revisiting Gilead 15 years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale, the story is narrated by three women giving their accounts.

Who these characters will be is not yet known, but this sounds like a similar perspective to the original story’s experimental narrative.

Buy it here


Wildcard (Warcross #2) by Marie Lu

Release date: September 18
Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352 (hardcover)

Marie Lu continues the story of Emika Chen in the follow-up to her 2017 bestseller.

After discovering the secret behind Hideo’s NeuroLink Algorithm, Emika Chen is without allies she can trust.

She turns to the Phoenix Riders for help and soon discovers that someone has put a bounty on her. Zero and the Blackcoats offer protection, but it will come at a high cost.

Emika is in more danger than ever, and the only way she can protect herself—and others—is to put an end to Hideo and his plans.

Buy it here


Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments!
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