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Fantasy and Science Fiction August 2025 |
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| Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie BurgisQueen Saskia, though a feared sorceress, is only concerned with keeping her people safe from the nearby empires. When she hires a new librarian, an archduke in disguise, their growing forbidden love will unravel both their secrets and threaten the uneasy peace between their lands. For fans of: atmospheric enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance such as The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig and The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley. |
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The Radiant King
by David Dalglish
The ever-living took a vow: no thrones, no churches, and no sharing radiance with humanity. They took this vow because their control over radiance, a kind of magic, plus their inability to die, means they can easily upset humanity's systems. Eder, one of a set of six ever-living siblings, has broken this vow; he has established a church that revolves around purging the sin of a person's soul, even from past lives. Eder's religion is cruel, unforgiving, and leads to a lot of human deaths. His siblings, particularly Faron and Sariel, want to stop Eder's grip on the human world. They have different motivations, with Faron wanting to uphold the vow and valuing humanity, and Sariel holding a grudge. In order to overthrow Eder, the brothers will need an army, a new ruler, and a lot of luck. Dalglish (The Sapphire Altar, 2023) is a master world builder. The complex world of this series starter comes together seamlessly on the page.
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The last wizards' ball
by Charlaine Harris
"Lizbeth Rose's sister Felicia attends the Grand Wizards' Ball, and as one of the most powerful--and beautiful--death wizards in a generation, she is highly sought after as one of the belles of the ball. However, war and violence are on the rise in Europe as German and Japanese wizards are also courting Felicia . . . and some are refusing to take no for an answer. As the faðcade of genteel wizard society turns deadly, Lizbeth must learn to not only protect her sister, but also navigate the arcane world that is pulling her sister and husband into a dangerous dance with death that could change the world as they know it"
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| A Spell for Change by Nicole JarvisIn the aftermath of World War I, three outcasts are troubled by supernatural gifts: Kate sees distressing future visions, veteran Oliver is haunted by the ghost of his best friend, and Nora Jo struggles to maintain the magic passed down from her mother. As dark forces converge on their town, the three must confront their destinies. For fans of: atmospheric historical fantasy with a touch of folk horror. |
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Arcana Academy
by Elise Kova
"Clara Graysword has survived the underworld of Eclipse City through thievery, luck, and a whole lot of illegal magic. After a job gone awry, Clara is sentenced to a lifetime in prison for inking tarot cards--a rare power reserved for practitioners at the elite Arcana Academy. Just when it seems her luck has run dry, the academy's enigmatic headmaster, Prince Kaelis, offers her an escape--for a price. Kaelis believes that Clara is the perfect tool to help him steal a tarot card from the king and use it to re-create an all-powerful card long lost to time. In order to conceal her identity and keep her close, Kaelis brings Clara to Arcana Academy, introducing her as the newest first-year student and his bride-to-be. Thrust into a world of arcane magic and royal intrigue, where one misstep will send her back to prison or worse, Clara finds that the prince she swore to hate may not be what he seems. But can she risk giving him power over the world--and her heart? Or will she take it for herself?"
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The palace of illusions
by Rowenna Miller
"In the run up to the 1900s World's Fair Paris is abuzz with creative energy and innovation. Audiences are spellbound by the Lumiere brothers' moving pictures and Loie Fuller's serpentine dance fusing art and technology. But for Clara Ironwood, a talented and pragmatic clockworker, nothing compares to the magic of her godfather's mechanical creations, and she'd rather spend her days working on the Palace of Illusions, an intricate hall of mirrors that is one of the centerpieces of the world's fair. When her godfather sends Clara a hideous nutcracker for Christmas, she is puzzled until she finds a hidden compartment that unlocks a mirror-world Paris where the Seine is musical, fountains spout lemonade, and mechanical ballerinas move with human grace. The magic of her godfather's toys was real. As Clara explores this other Paris and begins to imbue her own creations with its magic, she soon discovers a darker side to innovation. Suspicious men begin to approach her outside of work, and she could swear a shadow is following her. There's no ignoring the danger she's in, but Clara doesn't know who to trust. The magic of the two Parises are colliding and Clara must find the strength within herself to save them both"
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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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| 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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| 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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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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