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How Long 'til Black Future Month by N.K. Jemisin
Spirits haunt the flooded streets of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In a parallel universe, a utopian society watches our world, trying to learn from our mistakes. A black mother in the Jim Crow South must save her daughter from a fey offering impossible promises. And in the Hugo award-nominated short story “The City Born Great,” a young street kid fights to give birth to an old metropolis’s soul.
Why you should read it: This collection of short stories is incredible, and easily the best book I've read this year. Usually I have trouble making it all the way through story collections—or at least I take a while because I'll read whole other books between stories—but this one was impossible to put down. Breathtaking sci-fi and fantasy. I don't think I could pick a favorite story from the lineup if I tried.
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Spellbound by Allie Therin
Arthur Kenzie’s life’s work is protecting the world from the supernatural relics that could destroy it. When an amulet with the power to control the tides is shipped to New York, he must intercept it before it can be used to devastating effects. This time, in order to succeed, he needs a powerful psychometric…and the only one available has sworn off his abilities altogether.
Rory Brodigan’s gift comes with great risk. To protect himself, he’s become a recluse, redirecting his magic to find counterfeit antiques. But with the city’s fate hanging in the balance, he can’t force himself to say no.
Being with Arthur is dangerous, but Rory’s ever-growing attraction to him begins to make him brave. And as Arthur coaxes him out of seclusion, a magical and emotional bond begins to form. One that proves impossible to break—even when Arthur sacrifices himself to keep Rory safe and Rory must risk everything to save him.
Why you should read it: This book was thrilling from start to finish. Another one I read uncharacteristically quickly because I couldn't bring myself to put it down. The characters are charming and earnest, the prohibition-era setting is beautifully painted, and the found family vibes are exactly what I crave.
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A Gentlemen's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.
But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.
Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.
Why you should read it: This book surprised me in ways I don't want to describe for fear of spoilers, so I'll just stick to saying it was a delight. There's some slow pacing in the middle, but stick with it, you'll be so glad you read the whole thing. I especially adored Felicity, and am currently reading the sequel because I need more of her in my life.
Spirits haunt the flooded streets of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In a parallel universe, a utopian society watches our world, trying to learn from our mistakes. A black mother in the Jim Crow South must save her daughter from a fey offering impossible promises. And in the Hugo award-nominated short story “The City Born Great,” a young street kid fights to give birth to an old metropolis’s soul.
Why you should read it: This collection of short stories is incredible, and easily the best book I've read this year. Usually I have trouble making it all the way through story collections—or at least I take a while because I'll read whole other books between stories—but this one was impossible to put down. Breathtaking sci-fi and fantasy. I don't think I could pick a favorite story from the lineup if I tried.
- — - — - — - — -
Spellbound by Allie Therin
Arthur Kenzie’s life’s work is protecting the world from the supernatural relics that could destroy it. When an amulet with the power to control the tides is shipped to New York, he must intercept it before it can be used to devastating effects. This time, in order to succeed, he needs a powerful psychometric…and the only one available has sworn off his abilities altogether.
Rory Brodigan’s gift comes with great risk. To protect himself, he’s become a recluse, redirecting his magic to find counterfeit antiques. But with the city’s fate hanging in the balance, he can’t force himself to say no.
Being with Arthur is dangerous, but Rory’s ever-growing attraction to him begins to make him brave. And as Arthur coaxes him out of seclusion, a magical and emotional bond begins to form. One that proves impossible to break—even when Arthur sacrifices himself to keep Rory safe and Rory must risk everything to save him.
Why you should read it: This book was thrilling from start to finish. Another one I read uncharacteristically quickly because I couldn't bring myself to put it down. The characters are charming and earnest, the prohibition-era setting is beautifully painted, and the found family vibes are exactly what I crave.
- — - — - — - — -
A Gentlemen's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.
But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.
Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.
Why you should read it: This book surprised me in ways I don't want to describe for fear of spoilers, so I'll just stick to saying it was a delight. There's some slow pacing in the middle, but stick with it, you'll be so glad you read the whole thing. I especially adored Felicity, and am currently reading the sequel because I need more of her in my life.
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