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Fantasy and Science Fiction May 2025
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| The Way Up Is Death by Dan HanksWhen an ominous tower suddenly appears in the sky over England, 13 strangers are pulled from their everyday lives as a countdown begins. They are left with only one option, written above the doorway: ASCEND. A heady blend of science fiction and horror "with displays of the best and worst human qualities" (Publishers Weekly), Dan Hanks' latest title will thrill and chill fans of Matt Dinniman's Dungeon Crawler Carl series looking for a more gruesome edge. |
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A Curse Carved in Bone
by Danielle L. Jensen
The secret of her divine heritage revealed, Freya finds herself on a path that will see thousands of lives lost to the magic in her blood. Desperate to avoid this dark fate, she risks an alliance with Skaland's greatest enemy to seek answers from the seer who foretold her future--the same seer who sent Bjorn to kill her. While Freya still seethes with rage over Bjorn's betrayal, the blood oaths that bind her demand that she keep him close as she hunts for a way to avert the looming war. Her magic draws her to the front lines of an old enmity, embroiling her with Nordeland's Unfated--children of the gods who serve the king she was raised to fear. The same king who, unlike Bjorn, is now willing to fight at her back. For despite the desire that burns hot between Bjorn and Freya, his growing distrust of her chosen path threatens to drag them further apart.
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| Soma by Fernando Llor; illustrated by Carles DalmauMaya is a comic artist in the middle of a creative rut and struggling to make her deadlines. Just then, her crisis is interrupted by an alien crash landing into her living room. The creature, Soma, warns Maya that she is the only one who can stop an oncoming alien invasion. Colorfully detailed and packed with action, this graphic novel will hit home for "new adult readers and millennials who are continually exhausted with living in unprecedented times" (Booklist). |
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| Splinter Effect by Andrew LudingtonTime-traveling Smithsonian archaeologist Rabbit Ward discovers that a sacred menorah he once lost in Rome, along with his friend Aaron, has made a reappearance in 535 CE Constantinople. Seeking to redeem himself to both the historical community and Aaron's family, Rabbit makes a second attempt to retrieve this sacred relic. Fans of this history-bending science fiction thriller will also enjoy Nick Jones' And Then She Vanished or The Tourist by Robert Dickinson. |
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| Symbiote by Michael NayakAs World War III rages in 2028, two groups of scientists -- one American, one Chinese -- suddenly face chaos when a dead body in their Antarctic base triggers a dangerous biological threat. As an infectious parasite wreaks havoc, the remaining survivors struggle to resist the siren call of the hive mind. Tense, compelling, and chilling, this contagious science fiction read will be a welcome recommendation for fans of Contagion, The Walking Dead, and John Carpenter's The Thing. |
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| Two Truths and a Lie by Cory O'BrienIn a mostly underwater future Los Angeles, veteran Orr Vue lives an idle life and trades in information. However, things take a dark turn when cops show up at his door looking for help solving a murder he's never heard of, and his ex-boyfriend is the prime suspect. For fans of: cyberpunk narratives with complex characters and intricately plotted twists such as Olivia Waite's Murder by Memory. |
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| A Dragon of Black Glass by James RollinsIn the 3rd novel of the Moonfall series, Nyx and her allies must find an ancient weapon buried in the sands of a scorching desert. Beneath the earth lies an ancient army tasked with protecting their secret to the death. Can Nyx uncover these secrets before Moonfall strikes -- or before she loses control of her growing powers? For fans of: cinematic and atmospheric fantasy such as Mai Corland's Five Broken Blades. |
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House of Striking Oaths
by Olivia Wildenstein
There are few people I loathe more than Dante Regio, but my aunt Bronwen, my former grandfather Justus, and my Shabbin grandmother Meriam sit right alongside the Faerie monarch on my list of despicable beings. Especially after they assist the pointy-eared ruler with my kidnapping. Locked in an obsidian underworld no Crow can reach, not even their king, I soon learn things aren't as they seem. People aren't as they seem. And history... I'm still attempting to reconcile the truth with what I was previously told. My new allies have an agenda, but I have one of my own. Though there's overlap-we all agree Dante must die.
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Down in the Sea with Angels
by Khan Wong
In the year 2106, climate change has altered the world, transforming borders, cities, and socioeconomic structures. Additionally, a cosmic event known as the 'Bloom" has awakened psionic abilities in a small percentage of the population. One such individual is Maida Sun, who possesses the ability to know the history of objects she touches...When a chance encounter with a political leader's watch reveals a plan to eliminate psions--people like her--Maida must find a way to stop his agenda before it gains traction.
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| The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-GwangThey say that if you send a letter detailing your troubles to an abandoned house on the edge of Rainbow Town, you could receive a ticket to the Rainfall Market that will change your life. Dissatisfied and lonely Serin, accompanied by a magical cat, must find her happiness at the market within one week or lose herself forever. For fans of: cozy and whimsical magical realism such as The Lantern of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi and The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee. |
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