|
|
|
|
|
|
Rites of the Starling: Shield of Sparrow book 2
by Devney Perry
Calandra's five kingdoms are on the verge of destruction. The crux migration is coming, and in the wake of a devastating attack, I've been separated from the man who owns my heart. Hunted by monsters, driven to exhaustion, and kidnapped by a powerful priest, the only thing keeping me going is the little girl counting on me to keep her safe. It's my turn to become the Guardian. Our lives change one fateful night, when I learn the real meaning of fear--and the depth of my own strength. Everyone wants me to be something I'm not--a queen, a spy, a sacrifice. But what if I embrace my crown? What if the secrets I uncover save our realm? What if my sacrifice means salvation for the man I love?
For fans of Raven Kennedy, Hazel McBride and Penn Cole.
|
|
|
|
Bloodsinger: Fire that Binds book 2
by Juliette Cross
Lela Bihari’s village was invaded on her wedding night, her betrothed murdered right in front of her. While her sisters were either dragged away or escaped, Lela was sold to Valerius, a consul of Rome. When she tried to kill Valerius her first night as his slave, her bloodsinger gift manifested… and she was punished for it. Now she’s paraded in front of the other senators for their amusement. But Trajan Tiberius, the newly elected tribune to the senate, is different. He has no love for the brutality around him. When he frees Lela from enslavement and hides her, Lela is set on a path of vengeance, and using her gift puts her in more danger than ever before.
For fans of Callie Heart, Julie Soto and Carissa Broadbent.
|
|
|
|
Year of the Mer by L. D. LewisMermaid Arielle made a bargain with Ursla the sea witch to win a happy ending and a human throne. Years later, Arielle's granddaughter Yemi is dealing with the consequences: distrust among her subjects, tense relations with the Mer, and a disconnect from her own humanity. When a coup unseats her, Yemi turns to Ursla for aid, against the better judgment of her bodyguard/lover Nova. Ursla's favors are not free, and Yemi learns too late that the witch has her own plans for the throne. Lewis (The Dead Withheld) offers a bloody re-imagining of what happens after The Little Mermaid's fairy-tale ending. This first entry in a planned duology starts slowly but builds to a violent conclusion when Yemi's grief and fury expose her to perilous bargains and divine magic. Lewis's characters are drowning in legacies of family trauma, and Yemi's desire for vengeance and power may drag her, Nova, and their kingdom into the depths.
Review: "For readers who crave dark fantasy retellings centering women's rage with no promise of a happy ending." ~ Erin Niederberger, Library Journal
|
|
| Nine Goblins: A Tale of Low Fantasy and High Mischief by T. KingfisherGoblins aren't known for their fighting prowess, but Sergeant Nessika and her Whinin' Niners squadron have no choice against the humans encroaching on their territory. When a wizard teleports them behind enemy lines, they'll have their work cut out for them surviving long enough to go home.
Fans of Delilah S. Dawson's Kill the Farm Boy and Terry Pratchett's Discworld series will enjoy this irreverent and thoughtful fantasy. |
|
| The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto YambaoPassengers find their way to The Elsewhere Express when they need help rediscovering their dreams and finding their purpose. Follow Q and Raya, two souls recovering from emotional pain and grief, as they search for themselves and save the Express from a stowaway.
For fans of: magical realism driven by characters finding emotional catharsis in whimsical settings, such as The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World by J.R. Dawson and The Keeper of Lonely Spirits by E.M. Anderson. |
|
| Apparently, Sir Cameron Needs to Die by Greer StothersSir Cameron, a handsome but cowardly knight, teams up with the reclusive and short-tempered sorcerer Merulo when a prophecy ties them together and puts Cameron in immediate peril. As Merulo's ambitious plans come closer to fruition, Cameron realizes he may be more drawn to the sorcerer than previously planned.
This "ambitious and decidedly weird" (Library Journal) debut combines fantasy cliché deconstructions with thoughtful explorations of queer self-discovery and autonomy. |
|
| The Book of Blood & Roses by Annie SummerleeIn this paranormal fantasy series starter, vampire hunter Rebecca Charity goes undercover at a school for vampires in the Scottish Highlands to get revenge for her murdered parents; however, her plans are disrupted as she starts falling for her powerful and beautiful roommate Aliz Astra.
For fans of: LGBTQIA+ romantic fantasy and intricately plotted stories where the hunter falls for their quarry, such as Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell and As Many Souls As Stars by Natasha Siegel. |
|
| The Poet Empress by Shen TaoWei Yin has only joined the Azalea House as a concubine out of desperation to save her family. But civil war may be on the horizon, and to survive, Wei may have to put herself directly in danger by harnessing the power of poetry magic in a world where women are forbidden to read.
This tale of imperial court drama and immersive fantasy features a compelling and complex heroine who will do anything to survive, perfect for fans of R.F. Kuang's The Poppy War and Shelley Parker Chan's She Who Became the Sun. |
|
A Court of Thorns and Roses
by Sarah J. Maas
Dragged off to a treacherous magical land as retribution for killing a wolf, huntress Feyre learns that her captor is one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled her world.
Review: "Maas masterfully pulls the reader into this new dark fantasy series which feels like a mix of fairy tales, from Beauty and the Beast to Tam Lin." ~ Jessica C. Williams, LibraryReads 2015
For fans of Rebecca Yarros, Lauren Palphreyman, and A. K. Mulford.
|
|
|
Entreat Me
by Grace Draven
Afflicted by a centuries-old curse, a warlord slowly surrenders his humanity and descends toward madness. Ballard of Ketach Tor holds no hope of escaping his fate until his son returns home one day, accompanied by a woman of incomparable beauty. His family believes her arrival may herald Ballard's salvation...until they confront her elder sister. Determined to rescue her sibling from ruin, Louvaen Duenda pursues her to a decrepit castle and discovers a household imprisoned in time. Dark magic, threatening sorcerers, and a malevolent climbing rose with a thirst for blood won't deter her, but a proud man disfigured by an undying hatred might. Louvaen must decide if loving him will ultimately save him or destroy him.
For fans of Sarah Hawley, Jeffe Kennedy and T. Kingfisher.
|
|
|
The Wolf and the Crown of Blood
by Elizabeth May
A princess and a war-weary god met in the ashes of a broken city, forging a pact in blood and sacrifice.
Now, centuries of fragile peace are on the brink of collapse...Bryony Devaliant was born to die — again and again. In Vartena, royal blood is the currency of peace, with every monarch sacrificed and resurrected to appease the gods. But when rebellion stirs, the god-king sends his deadliest weapon to restore order: an immortal assassin known only as the Wolf.
Inspired by Beauty and the Beast and Eros and Psyche, this dark, seductive tale is perfect for fans of Raven Kennedy's Plated Prisoner series, with the wit and spice of Callie Hart's Quicksilver.
|
|
|
Heart's Blood
by Juliet Marillier
Anluan has been crippled since childhood, part of a curse that has besieged his family and his home of Whistling Tor. But when the young scribe Caitrin is retained to sort through family documents, she brings about unexpected changes in the household, casting a hopeful light against the despairing shadows. But to truly free Anluan's burdened soul, Caitrin must unravel the web of sorcery woven by his ancestors before it claims his life-and their love.
For fans of Katherine Arden, Tasha Suri and Brian Naslund
Review: "Fans of Marillier, Patricia Wrede, and Sharon Shinn should enjoy this elegant tale of one woman's fight to save her beloved from himself." ~ Jackie Cassada, Library Journal
|
|
|
Uprooted
by Naomi Novik
Agnieszka has no plans to leave her village on the edge of the forest until she is unexpectedly chosen to serve the local wizard, a mysterious man known as the Dragon. Agnieszka's exploration of her new life coincides with an attack from the deadly sentient forest, a kissing queen, and a prince on a quest. Novik's newest is a departure from her previous military influenced Napoleonic dragon fantasies, so much so that readers can't be blamed for thinking it's a completely different writer.
Review: "Drawing on her Polish heritage and fairy-tale tropes, the author has penned an original and fully realized fantastical place guaranteed to enthrall her longtime fans and attract new readers."
|
|
|
The Beast's Heart
by Leife Shallcross
A retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in 17th-century France is told by the Beast himself, who has been given one last chance at reclaiming his old life when the beautiful Isabeau agrees to spend a year with him.
For fans of Naomi Novik, Tanith Lee and Brandon Sanderson.
|
|
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
Forsyth County Public Library
660 W. Fifth St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-703-2665forsythlibrary.org |
|
|
|
