Hello and happy Friday, heffalumps and woozles! As of next week, this newsletter will have a new writer: the very excellent Alex Acks! I can’t wait to see what ze does with it. In this my final installment, we’re talking time travel, eco-disasters, Game of Thrones playlists, high fantasy, Star Wars, The Deepest Blue by Sarah Beth Durst, and more (whew!).
This newsletter is sponsored by HMH.
The Emperor of the vast Burnt Empire has died, leaving a turbulent realm without a sovereign. Two young princes are in line to rule, but birthright does not guarantee inheritance: For any successor must sit upon the Burning Throne and pass The Test of Fire. Imbued with dark sorceries, the throne is a crucible—one that incinerates the unworthy. The princes pass The Test . . . but there is another who also survives: a girl from an outlying kingdom. When she is denied her claim, her father, a powerful demonlord, declares war—leaving the princes to rule a shattered realm embroiled in rebellion.
Biggest of cosigns on this short time travel reading list — I especially appreciate the “Doctor Who angst level equivalent” rating for each pick.
If, like me, you enjoy imagining potential catastrophes, here are 50 must-reads about eco-disasters.
And speaking of the environment, Sharifah and I talked about naturey SF/F on this week’s podcast.
Ready your fantasy-reading engines! Here are 10 excellent-looking fantasy novels aimed at adults and coming out soon.
Also, ready your fantasy-listening engines, because SYFY WIRE has a list of high fantasy podcasts for you.
Listening-related: Spotify has a bunch of Game of Thrones playlists to celebrate the final season!
Now that we’ve all had some feelings about the latest Star Wars trailer, here’s a wishlist of characters who deserve their own stand-alone books and/or movies.
The Tolkien estate is NOT ON BOARD with the new biopic, apparently.
If you were looking for spoiler-free reactions to Avengers: Endgame, io9 has a round-up and they are very positive.
I am both charmed and a little weirded out by this video with various UK military personnel about the best way to slay a dragon.
Let’s talk about The Deepest Blue by Sarah Beth Durst:
You might remember me reviewing all the Queens of Renthia books; this one is set in the same world, with at least one recurring character (oh hey Garnah!), but is otherwise a stand-alone. And if you like stories about women banding together to overthrow an unjust system plus magic and sea beasties, this is for you.
Not only do the inhabitants of the islands of Belene have to contend with the usual dangers of island life, but the seas and islands themselves are full of malevolent spirit creatures. Some held in check by the power of the Queen and her heirs; others are wild, and must be avoided at all costs. Those women with the power to control the spirits and become potential heirs are even less safe than your average citizen, because the testing process is brutal. Either be abandoned on an island full of wild spirits for a month, where only the strongest survive, or give up your identity, friends, and family to become a Silent One, living entirely under the control of the Queen and the ruling Families. Either way, it sucks to be you. Because of this, deep sea diver Mayara has been hiding her power away — but on her wedding day, a storm of spirits sweeps across her island, she has no choice. She saves everyone in her village and then tries to make a run for it, only to be captured and sent to the island.
As Mayara meets the other women, she discovers each has their own story, and some have sinister secrets. Is it safer to make it on your own, or rely on someone who might turn on you? Are there truly only the options presented to these young women, or could things change? As she tries to answer these questions while also staying alive, her new husband Kelo makes his way to the Queen’s court to plead on her behalf and finds himself enmeshed in a political tangle and in way over his head.
A secret princess, a touch of the Mafia, a lot of bloodthirsty supernatural critters, and a woman known for risk-taking who finds the limits of her strength make The Deepest Blue a compelling read. For someone who hasn’t read Durst before, it’s a great introduction to a fascinating fantasy world. For those who have, it’s a deeper exploration of Renthia and its magic and origins. It also does what I’ve begun to see as Durst’s trademark, in that she asks different questions for her characters. For instance, The Reluctant Queen gave us a mother who continues to parent throughout her epic quest. The Deepest Blue gives us a couple who accept each other fully and are made stronger by each other. It’s far easier for me to think of recent books that use love as a weapon against its heroes and heroines than as a weapon for them, and it’s a lovely change of pace. If that sounds a little Disney to you, not to worry; there’s lots of blood, gore, and backstabbing as well. Please note: I do not recommend taking this on your next beach vacation, for obvious reasons.
And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books I’ve recommended in this newsletter on this handy Goodreads shelf. You can still find me talking science fiction and fantasy with my co-host Sharifah on the SFF Yeah! podcast. For many many more book recommendations you can find me on the Get Booked podcast with the inimitable Amanda, or on Twitter as jennIRL.
Live long and prosper,
Jenn