February Science Fiction/Fantasy (2/24/23)

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February science fiction and fantasy collage

A wide variety of science fiction and fantasy titles came out this month. From new installments in favorite series to standalone, timely novels, February packed a punch!

A DAY OF FALLEN NIGHT: A Roots of Chaos Novel BY SAMANTHA SHANNON

3 starred reviews and a LibraryReads pick!

“The very real struggles these characters face, whether they ride dragons or bear the suffocating rules of monarchy, make this a consuming read…the pages keep turning because of the heart-wrenching reasons that characters are driven to action. The heroes shine in their uniqueness, with diverse family dynamics interwoven throughout and representation ranging from queer lords and warriors to genderfluid alchemists…This is expansive, emotionally complex, and bound to suck you in.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“As with its counterpart, A DAY OF FALLEN NIGHT is essentially a fantasy trilogy in one volume, allowing for deep exploration of each protagonist as they navigate a brutal cataclysm. This richly detailed epic roars to a satisfying conclusion; both PRIORY devotees and newcomers are in for a treat.”–Booklist, starred review

“Shannon skillfully grounds high-stakes fantasy action in human emotion and a mature exploration of duty, bodily autonomy, identity, and motherhood. Series fans and any reader looking for queernorm fantasy will be thrilled by this self-assured adventure.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

THE CRANE HUSBAND BY KELLY BARNHILL

A LibraryReads pick!

“This dark novella is woven from threads of classic fairy tales of crane wives and men who turn into beasts, braided with the bleak sensibility of the midwestern gothic and the compelling determination of a young girl who needs to protect her little brother. It is a fast-moving, lush story that refuses to end neatly, a story of flighty mothers and the daughters who die a little keeping their families alive. Fans of fairy-tale retellings will eat this one up.”–Booklist, starred review

ARCH-CONSPIRATOR BY VERONICA ROTH

“Readers who are tapped out on The Handmaid’s Tale as a parable for the current cultural moment will celebrate this taut, defiant reenvisioning of Sophocles’s Antigone, which brilliantly probes many of the same themes…The plot preserves the shape of the original without ever losing the capacity to surprise and, more importantly, prod reflection and recognition. This powerful tale of reproductive oppression is sure to wow.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

SISTER, MAIDEN, MONSTER BY LUCY A. SNYDER

“This is a book for horror aficionados to exult in. It’s seamlessly constructed, frequently funny, joyfully queer, and unapologetically gross, with plot twists that feel both wholly unexpected and inevitable. Recommend to readers of feminist cosmic horror.”–Booklist, starred review

HOPELAND BY IAN MCDONALD

“McDonald writes with spellbinding lyricism, weaving together insights regarding Icelandic culture, South Pacific societies, and gender identity, in this sprawling fantasy of a possible future.”–Booklist, starred review

THE CRADLE OF ICE BY JAMES ROLLINS

“The writing is gorgeous, textured and full of detail, a notable shift from the stripped-down prose of the Sigma Force novels, and the world and its inhabitants are beautifully crafted. For lovers of fantasy fiction, a must-read.”–Booklist

THE CAGE OF DARK HOURS BY MARINA LOSTETTER

“The second installment in the Five Penalties trilogy is just as riveting as the first, with a cast of relatable characters and multiple plotlines that Lostetter masterfully weaves together in her signature style.”–Booklist

WILD MASSIVE BY SCOTTO MOORE

“Throughout this sprawling, ambitious romp, Moore draws from numerous perspectives and gleefully embraces the inherent absurdity of both setting and premise, especially as metatextual aspects become increasingly blatant…Readers are in for a rollicking trip through the fun house.”–Publishers Weekly

A DAY OF FALLEN NIGHT by Samantha Shannon; 9781635577921; 2/28/23
ARCH-CONSPIRATOR by Veronica Roth; 9781250855466; available now
THE CRANE HUSBAND by Kelly Barnhill; 9781250850973; 2/28/23
SISTER, MAIDEN, MONSTER by Lucy A. Snyder; 9781250825650; available now
HOPELAND by Ian McDonald; 9780765375551; available now
THE CRADLE OF ICE by James Rollins; 9781250766748; available now
THE CAGE OF DARK HOURS by Marina Lostetter; 9781250757470; available now
WILD MASSIVE by Scotto Moore; 9781250767745; available now

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