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Fantasy and Science Fiction August 2025 |
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This Monster of Mine
by Shalini Abeysekara
A dazzling Ancient Rome-inspired romantasy debut, This Monster of Mine is a bloodbath of manipulation, deception, and forbidden love.
Eighteen-year-old Sarai doesn't know why someone tried to kill her four years ago, but she does know that her case was closed without justice. Hellbent on vengeance, she returns to the scene of the crime as a Petitor, a prosecutor who can magically detect lies, and is assigned to work with Tetrarch Kadra. Ice-cold and perennially sadistic, Kadra is the most vicious of the four judges who rule the land--and the prime suspect in a string of deaths identical to Sarai's attempted murder.
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| Once Was Willem by M.R. CareyIn 12th century England, recently deceased 12-year-old Willem returns from the grave in the village of Cosham, only to be ostracized and outcast to the forest. As Once-Was-Willem befriends other supernatural creatures, the sorcerer who brought him back claws for more magic and more power...even if it means the lives of all the children of Cosham. M.R. Carey's latest is "a dark and hopeful fable with obvious contemporary resonance" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| Idolfire by Grace CurtisIn this post-apocalyptic science-fantasy mashup, two women on opposite sides of the world set out towards Nivela, a once-powerful city teeming with ancient magic waiting to be reawakened. When Aleya and Kirby's paths converge, their alliance may be the key to saving the world. For fans of: LGBTQIA+ fiction with in-depth worldbuilding and bittersweet romance such as Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. |
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The Butcher's Masquerade
by Matt Dinniman
On the deadly sixth floor of a galactic game show dungeon, Coast Guard vet Carl and his feline companion Princess Donut face bloodthirsty dinosaurs, vengeful hunters, and a brutal masquerade as they battle for survival against increasingly deadly threats.
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The Cat Who Saved the Library
by Sosuke Natsukawa
"A chronic asthma condition prevents thirteen-year-old Nanami from playing sports or spending time with her friends after school. But nothing can stop her from one of her favorite activities. Nanami loves to read and happily spends much of her free time in the library, cocooned among the stacks. Then one day, Nanami notices that, despite the library being as deserted as ever, some of her favorite books...are disappearing from the shelves. When she alerts the library staff, they dismiss her concerns...That's when Tiger, the talking tabby cat who saves books, comes to the rescue. Are Nanami and Tiger prepared to face the dangerous challenges that lie ahead? Why are faceless gray soldiers burning books in a stone castle?"
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| The Two Lies of Faven Sythe by Megan E. O'KeefeWhen star navigator Faven Sythe's beloved mentor goes missing, she has no one to turn to but famed space pirate Bitter Amandine. The starpath of Faven's mentor leads to a space graveyard known as the Clutch, a place of which only Amandine knows the true secrets. "Nuanced characterization and a clever mystery keep the pages flying" (Publishers Weekly) in this space opera that fans of Adrian Tchaikovsky and James S.A. Corey will enjoy. |
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One Way Witch
by Nnedi Okorafor
As a teen, Najeeba let go of her destiny as the kponyungo and settled into a happy life. But now, in her forties and struggling with the death of her daughter Onyesonwu, she must turn to Onyesonwu's sorcery teacher to rekindle her powers so that she can kill something awful. This sequel to She Who Knows is a treat for fans of West African folklore-inspired fiction such as the works of Yaa Gyasi and Imbolo Mbue.
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| Greenteeth by Molly O'NeillWhen Temperance, falsely accused of witchcraft, is thrown into a lake, she is unexpectedly rescued by a sharp-toothed monster lurking within its depths. This monster, Jenny Greenteeth, forms an unlikely alliance with Temperance to save the town and Britain from an encroaching evil. For fans of: richly detailed fantasy laden with monsters who are more than their fangs, such as Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher. |
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| Shroud by Adrian TchaikovskyWithin the vast reaches of the galaxy lies the Shroud, a pitch black moon that is hostile to human life but ripe for exploitation. A catastrophic accident leaves Juna and Mai stranded there, forced to make a grueling trek across the planet and contend with the true dominant species of the Shroud. This engrossing science fiction teems with tension and danger, and will be a hit with fans of Semiosis by Sue Burke or The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz. |
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| The Incandescent by Emily TeshDoctor Walden is the Director of Magic at Chetwood School, and one of the most powerful magicians in all of England. Demonic forces converge on the school, and Doctor Walden must balance her considerable power, uphold her responsibility to keep the students safe, and even confront a potential evil from within. Fans of sapphic fantasy and dark academia "won’t want to miss this thoughtful exploration of privilege, power, and private school education" (Publishers Weekly). |
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Wheaton Public Library | 225 N. Cross Street | Wheaton, IL 60187 | 630-668-1374 | wheatonlibrary.org
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