 Supporting COMMUNITY. Inspiring DISCOVERY. Promoting LITERACY. |
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Fantasy and Science Fiction December 2025 |
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I, Medusa
by Ayana Gray
A new kind of villain origin story, reimagining one of the most iconic monsters in Greek mythology as a provocative and powerful young heroine.
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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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| A Philosophy of Thieves by Fran WildeIn a heavily divided post-climate change future, the ultra rich hire thieves to pull off elaborate heists more as entertainment than crime. When their father's latest scheme goes awry and he ends up in custody, siblings Dax and Roosa must figure out how to buy his freedom. This "cyberpunk Great Gatsby, anchored by a thrilling heist" (Kirkus Reviews) will appeal to fans of Robert Jackson Bennett's Foundryside and the works of V.E. Schwab. |
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Cinder House
by Freya Marske
Ella is a haunting. Murdered at sixteen, her ghost is furiously trapped in her father's house, invisible to everyone except her stepmother and stepsisters. Even when she discovers how to untether herself from her prison, there are limits. She cannot be seen or heard by the living people who surround her. Her family must never learn she is able to leave. And at the stroke of every midnight, she finds herself back on the staircase where she died. Until she forges a wary friendship with a fairy charm-seller, and makes a bargain for three nights of almost-living freedom. Freedom that means she can finally be seen. Danced with. Touched. You think you know Ella's story--the ball, the magical shoes, the handsome prince. You're halfway right, and all-the-way wrong. Rediscover a classic fairy tale in this debut novella from 'the queen of romantic fantasy.
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| Sunward by William AlexanderIn this cozy science fiction, space courier Tova Lir decides to start training "baby bots," young emergent AI machines who behave more like teenagers than computers. When Tova and her latest charge, Agatha Panza von Sparkles, accidentally catch the attention of an assassin, the two must race across the solar system to evade death and save the rest of her foster bots. For fans of: LGBTQIA+ space opera with memorable characters such as Riley August's The Last Gifts of the Universe. |
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The Bookshop Below
by Georgia Summers
Below the streets of London, a secret network of magical bookshops has existed for millennia. But they're slowly disappearing, and no one knows why. Only one dishonored bookseller can uncover the truth and rewrite her story--in this spellbinding standalone fantasy novel from the author of The City of Stardust.
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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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| Witches of Dubious Origin by Jenn McKinlayWhen humble librarian Zoe Ziakas discovers a strange grimoire, she learns that she's descended from a long line of powerful witches. With the assistance of the staff of the Museum of Literature, Zoe discovers what it takes to decipher the tome and learn her family's deepest secrets. With outlandish characters and vivid inventive worldbuilding, this series opener will enchant fans of Emily Krempholtz's Violet Thistlethwaite Is Not a Villain Anymore. |
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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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Mary Riley Styles Public Library
120 N. Virginia Ave, Falls Church, Virginia 22046 703-248-5030 (TTY 711) www.mrspl.org
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