Sneak Peek: April Indie Next List

The April 2024 Indie Next List includes FIVE Macmillan titles!

THE FAMILIAR BY LEIGH BARDUGO
9781250884251 | 4/9/24

4 starred reviews!

“Part fairy tale, part political thriller, part romance, the novel unfolds like a winter tree bursting into unnatural bloom in response to one of Luzia’s refranes, as she and Santángel learn about power, trust, betrayal, and love. Lush, gorgeous, precise language and propulsive plotting sweep readers into a story as intelligent as it is atmospheric.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“[This] highlights all of the things that make Bardugo so well loved: a romance with maddening chemistry, an artfully built world, side characters with their own deep backstories, and a plot full of dark twists and spiderweb connections. The Sephardic Jewish representation is intricate and lovely… A new Bardugo is a major event for adult and teen readers alike, and this historical fantasy is sure to dazzle.”–Booklist, starred review

“Bardugo puts an earthy spin on heavenly miracles, with much attention given to the mundane drudgery of daily life that is not erased—even with magic that can unburn bread. Luzia’s pursuit of her powers, even at risk of burning at the stake, comes across as both empowering and practical compared to a life of unrewarding toil, making it easy to root for her through the competition. The sharp realism mixes with a genuine feeling of enchantment to create a top tier historical fantasy.”–Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Bardugo masterfully weaves magical realism with historical fiction and romance, which makes this book impossible to put down. Great for fans of Rebecca Ross…and Holly Black.”–Library Journal, starred review

THE WOODS ALL BLACK BY LEE MANDELO
9781250790316 | 3/19/24

“[This] blends revenge, identity, and love in a tense and slow-building story that surges to a horrifically satisfying conclusion. This is a viscerally brutal and ultimately hopeful tribute to queer forebears, both known and lost to time.”–Booklist, starred review

THE TREE DOCTOR BY MARIE MUTSUKI MOCKETT
9781644452776 | 3/19/24

“Through a yearning first-person narration, the protagonist’s trials evoke difficult but vital questions about survival and endurance… These interrogations are threaded seamlessly into the narrator’s pursuit of her own power, a pursuit that reveals just how liberating the decision to dismantle and reassemble one’s self can be. An affecting story of personal transformation, as broody as it is erotic.”–Kirkus Reviews, starred review

WOMEN! IN! PERIL! BY JESSIE REN MARSHALL
9781639732272 | 4/2/24

“Stocking these stories with an eclectic cast ranging from robots to divorcées and sideshow performers, Marshall explores with humor and tenderness the complex emotional interiors of characters who find themselves at a crossroads. This heralds the arrival of an arresting new voice.”–Publishers Weekly

LIKE HAPPINESS BY URSULA VILLARREAL-MOURA
9781250882837 | 3/26/24

“Villarreal-Moura’s…emotionally astute novel offers a moving perspective on the different kinds of victims abusers leave in their wake. Memorable and incisive, this debut grapples elegantly with the complexity of betrayal.”–Kirkus Reviews