LibraryAware September 2025

Fantasy and Science FictionSeptember 2025

Recent Releases

The free people's village
by Sim Kern

"English teacher by day, Maddie Ryan spends her nights and weekends as the rhythm guitarist of Bunny Bloodlust, a queer punk band living in a warehouse-turned-venue called "The Lab" in Houston's Eighth Ward. When Maddie learns that the Eighth Ward is to be sacrificed for a new electromagnetic hyperway out to the wealthy, white suburbs, she joins "Save the Eighth," a Black-led organizing movement fighting for the neighborhood. At first, she's only focused on keeping her band together and getting closer toRed, their reckless and enigmatic lead guitarist. But working with Save the Eighth forces Maddie to reckon with the harm she has already done to the neighborhood--both as a resident of the gentrifying Lab and as a white teacher in a predominantly Black school. When police respond to Save the Eighth protests with violence, the Lab becomes the epicenter of "The Free People's Village"--an occupation that promises to be the birthplace of an anti-capitalist revolution. As the movement spreads across the U.S.,Maddie dreams of a queer, liberated future with Red. But the Village is beset on all sides--by infighting, police brutality, corporate-owned media, and rising ecofascism. Maddie's found family is increasingly at risk from state violence, and she must decide if she's willing to sacrifice everything in pursuit of justice"

A Letter From the Lonesome Shore
by Sylvie Cathrall

In this conclusion to the Sunken Archive duology, E. and Henerey continue their search through a mysterious underwater city while their siblings look for clues to their disappearance. As both pairs grow closer and find more answers, a mysterious cosmic threat looms. For fans of: emotional and well-characterized academia fantasy such as the Hart and Mercy series or the Emily Wilde series.

The capital of dreams : a novel
by Heather O'Neill

"Sofia Bottom lives in Elysia, a small country forgotten by Europe. But inside its borders, the old myths of trees that come alive and faeries who live among their roots have given way to an explosion of the arts and the consolations of philosophy...no artist is as revered as Sofia's brilliant mother, the writer Clara Bottom. How can fourteen-year-old Sofia, with her tin ear and enduring love of ancient myths, ever hope to win her mother's love? When the country's greatest enemy invades, and the Capital is under threat, Clara turns to her daughter to smuggle her new manuscript to safety on the last train evacuating children from the city. But when the train draws to a suspicious halt in the middle of a forest, Sofia is forced to run for her life and loses her mother's most prized possession"

Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil
by Oliver Darkshire

Isabella Nagg simply tries to get through her miserable existence one day at a time, tolerating her irresponsible husband, tending to their strange farm, and taking care of her pot of basil. When her husband returns home one day with a stolen spellbook, Isabella sees a chance to brighten her life. In his whimsical, humorous fiction debut, Oliver Darkshire "jokes his way through the English canon" (Publishers Weekly) with a flair that fans of Terry Pratchett will appreciate.

Overgrowth
by Mira Grant

"Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Day of the Triffids in this full-on body horror/alien invasion apocalypse. This is just a story. It can't hurt you anymore. Since she was three years old, Anastasia Miller has been telling anyone who would listen that she's an alien disguised as a human being, and that the armada that left her on Earth is coming for her. Since she was three years old, no one has believed her. Now, with an alien signal from the stars being broadcast around the world, humanity is finally starting to realize that it's already been warned, and it may be too late. The invasion is coming, Stasia's biological family is on the way to bring her home, and very few family reunions are willing to cross the gulf of space for just one misplaced child. What happens when you know what's coming, and just refuse to listen?"

The Witch Roads
by Kate Elliott

When an arrogant prince gets himself and his entourage stuck in the village of Orledder Halt, it's up to former child slave Elen to guide them to safety. But the prince refuses to heed her warnings about the mysterious Spire, and the danger increases when he returns from the ruin a changed person. Readers will devour this new fantasy series rife with rich worldbuilding, political intrigue, and sharp tension with every page turn.

Automatic Noodle
by Annalee Newitz

In this cozy near-future novella, a group of decommissioned robots suddenly come back online in an abandoned ghost kitchen in San Francisco and decide to make it their own, serving delicious hand-pulled noodles to the humans recovering from the aftermath of war. For fans of: science fiction with hope and heart such as Becky Chambers' Monk & Robot series.

The Potency of Ungovernable Impulses
by Malka Older

In this 3rd entry in the Mossa and Pleiti science fiction mystery series, Pleiti agrees to help a former classmate resolve a case of false plagiarism while grappling with the sudden aloofness of her partner Mossa. However, the stakes of this academic defense may turn deadly as a conspiracy unravels. For fans of: Mur Lafferty's Midsolar Murders and Jessie Mihalik's Starlight's Shadow series.

Royal Gambit
by Daniel O'Malley

In this 4th entry in the Chequy Group fantasy thriller series, botanist Alix -- also known as the 12th Lady Mondegreen -- must uncover the truth behind a royal assassination while protecting the heir apparent in disguise as her lady-in-waiting. Richly detailed while still maintaining a witty sense of humor in the juxtaposition of bureaucracy and the supernatural, this new novel is sure to be devoured by fans of the series.

Of Monsters and Mainframes
by Barbara Truelove

Demeter, an interstellar ship that ferries humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri, would rather do anything than ally herself with monsters. However, when an infamous ancient evil begins killing her beloved passengers, she'll have no choice but to assemble a paranormal crew of her own to take him down. For fans of: chilling science fiction horror with authentic and entertaining characters such as Peter Watts' Echopraxia and Mason Coile's William.

Contact your librarian for more great books!