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Fantasy and Science Fiction December 2025 |
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These Memories Do Not Belong to Us: A Constellation Novel
by Yiming Ma
Decades from now, the world is run by an authoritarian state called Qin. In Qin, every citizen is fitted with a Mindbank, an intracranial device capable of not only recording but transferring memories between minds. The technology gives birth to a new economy, referred to as Memory Capitalism, where anyone with means can relive the life experiences of others. It also unleashes opportunities for manipulation-memories can be edited, marketed, and even corrupted for personal gain. When a man inherits his deceased mother's Mindbank--a collection of memories from before, during, and after the global war that landed Qin atop the international food chain--he's unsure what he'll find inside, or whether the Party has gotten to her memories first, altering the experiences she left for him. Either way, he is adamant that he must share them with the world before they are destroyed forever, even if the cost of doing so is his own life--Provided by publisher.
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| Thief of Night by Holly BlackIn this conclusion to the Charlatan duology that started with Book of Night, Charlie Hall has to hunt down a mass murderer at the behest of a Cabal leader while dealing with the memory loss of her monster lover, Red. For fans of: urban fantasy with suspenseful intrigue and romance such as Magic For Liars by Sarah Gailey and One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. |
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| Katabasis by R.F. KuangAlice Law has sacrificed everything to climb to the top of the field of Magick, all to work with world famous magician Jacob Grimes. But then Grimes dies, and Alice may have caused the accident that killed him. Now Alice must travel through Hell to get her advisor back, because not even death will keep her from getting a recommendation. R.F. Kuang's latest delves back into dark academia with her usual atmospheric and thought-provoking flair. |
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The Island of Last Things
by Emma Sloley
A novel about two zookeepers at the last zoo in the world, in the vein of Tâea Obreht and Charlotte McConaghy--
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| Hole in the Sky by Daniel H. WilsonIn this first contact story set on a Cherokee reservation, a long dormant piece of alien technology awakens while a probe hurtles towards Earth. The effects of these close encounters are told from the perspectives of a father and daughter, a NASA scientist, an isolated eccentric, and a CIA investigator. Author Daniel H. Wilson calls on both his Cherokee heritage and his experience as a threat assessor for NASA to craft this thrilling and intricately plotted novel. |
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A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping
by Sangu Mandanna
Sera Swan used to be one of the most powerful witches in Britain. Then she resurrected her great-aunt Jasmine from the (very recently) dead, lost most of her magic, befriended a semi-villainous talking fox, and was exiled from her Guild. Now she (slightly reluctantly and just a bit grumpily) helps her great-aunt run an enchanted inn in Lancashire, where she deals with her quirky guests' shenanigans, tries to keep said talking fox in check, and longs for the future that seems lost to her. But then she finds out about an old spell that could hold the key to restoring her power. Enter Luke Larsen, a handsome and icy magical historian, who arrives on a dark winter evening and might just know how to unlock the spell's secrets--
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| Brigands & Breadknives by Travis BaldreeFoulmouthed bookselling rattkin Fern has moved into the city of Thune in hopes of revitalizing her spirits. But that all changes when a drunken night walk leads to her stumbling directly into the path of an adventuring team. This third book in Travis Baldtree's series that began with Legends and Lattes is "[a] truly entertaining romp with the assurance of warmth, welcome, and delicious treats at the end of the road" (Booklist). |
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| The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie LeongNovice mage Certainty Bulrush wants to be useful to the Guild, but her lack of power hasn't made it easy for her to keep up. When she is assigned to work with chronic overachiever Aurelia, the two of them form an unlikely bond moving magical artifacts -- and may learn that magic is stronger when shared instead of hoarded. For fans of: queer romantic fantasy with charm and whimsy such as Maiga Doocy's Sorcery and Small Magics or Rebecca Thorne's Can't Spell Treason Without Tea. |
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Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore
by Emily Krempholtz
A powerful plant witch and a grumpy alchemist must work together to save their quiet town from a magical plague in this debut cozy fantasy romance about starting over, redemption, and what it really means to be a good person. Guy Shadowfade is dead, and after a lifetime as the dark sorcerer's right-hand, Violet Thistlewaite is determined to start over--not as the fearsome Thornwitch, but as someone kind. Someone better. Someone good. The quaint town of Dragon's Rest, Violet decides, will be her second chance--she'll set down roots, open a flower shop, keep her sentient (mildly homicidal) houseplant in check, and prune dark magic from the twisted boughs of her life. Violet's vibrant bouquets and cheerful enchantments soon charm the welcoming townsfolk, though nothing seems to impress the prickly yet dashingly handsome Nathaniel Marsh, an alchemist sharing her greenhouse. With a struggling business and his own second chance seemingly out of reach, Nathaniel has no time for flowers or frippery--and certainly none for the intriguing witch next door. When a mysterious blight endangers every living plant in Dragon's Rest, Violet and Nathaniel must work together, through their fears, pasts, and growing feelings for one another, to save their community. But with a figure from her previous life knocking at her door and her secrets threatening to uproot everything she's worked so hard to grow, Violet can't help but wonder...does a former villain truly deserve a happily-ever-after?
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| Best Wishes from the Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai MochizukiThe cats welcome you back to the Full Moon Coffee Shop, where you may find answers to your problems if you are kind to its enigmatic owners. Three new customers find themselves at a crossroads at Christmas, and the mysterious Kyoto coffee shop may be the key to helping them sort through their problems. Fans will enjoy the "whimsical tone with time-worn wisdom and copious astrological chart readings" (Publishers Weekly) in this lighthearted and calm sequel. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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