Happy Tuesday, shipmates — and happy New Year! It’s Alex, and since there isn’t much getting released this week since we’re still in the holiday doldrums, I’m going to instead take this opportunity to tell you about books coming out later in 2024 that I’m really looking forward to. Though let me tell you, it was extremely difficult to pick just these few. We’ve got an exciting year coming our way! Stay safe out there, space pirates, and I’ll see you on Friday!
2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Sign up today!
Let’s make the world a better place, together. Here are two places to start: Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which provides medical and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East regardless of nationality, religion, or political affiliation; and Ernesto’s Sanctuary, a cat sanctuary and animal rescue in Syria that is near and dear to my heart.
Bookish Goods
Be Nice to Cicadas by CertifiedRetro
One of the books I’m hyped about this week has me thinking of pulpy/retro art, and I love this particular Etsy artist for that. He’s got a big selection of video game-related prints that are a delight as well. $18
(Soon-to-be) New Releases
The Principle of Moments by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson
This book promises a delightfully pulpy space opera concept, with an evil emperor, an enslaved girl who discovers she has a sister and goes on a quest to save her from the aforementioned emperor, and a time traveler from 1812. And this one is coming soon: January 18!
Escape Velocity by Victor Manibo
The pitch on this is Knives Out with a twist of Parasite but in space. There’s an old murder mystery threatening the privileged at a luxury resort, with something nasty cooking in the back hallways where the workers go about their business. You have my attention! Release date: May 21.
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations
Round two of books I’m looking forward to!
Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis
Another hotel in space? Seems so. This is about a traveling hotel that goes from planet to planet and carries with it an array of mysteries, including the very important “who is actually flying this thing?” I love a good cozy mystery, and if you put it on a spaceship, all the better. Release date: March 19.
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
I’ve always found the sword & sorcery fantasy take on elves a bit…annoying if I’m being honest, with all their immortality and singing and whatnot. This is a different take on elves, and I am on board. A warrior in the elven army who’s never known anything but battle, a sister who seeks prophecies of a better future…and both exiled together where they must fight for their survival. Release date: January 23.
Road to Ruin by Hana Lee
Motorcycles, monsters, and magic? A courier on a high-speed, two-wheeled chase across a wasteland? As someone who has also written an SFF novel with motorcycles and a bit of magic, I am HYPED. This is a sub-sub-sub-subgenre that deserves more love, and I could not be more excited. Release date: May 14.
See you, space pirates. If you’d like to know more about my secret plans to dominate the seas and skies, you can catch me over at my personal site.