Author: Jenn Northington

Happy Friday, friends! Today we’re talking After the Flare and the Call of Crows series, plus Fahrenheit 451, Octavia Butler, fantasy comics, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by The Philosopher’s Flight by Tom Miller.

In an alternate history where only women are strong enough to practice a dangerous art of magic and science, a uniquely talented young man goes where none has gone before. Joining the ranks of powerful, flying women, he takes to the sky to fight prejudice, injustice, and the men seeking to destroy their world.

In the tradition of Lev Grossman and Deborah Harkness, Tom Miller writes with unrivaled imagination, ambition, and humor. The Philosopher’s Flight is both a fantastical reimagining of American history and a beautifully composed coming-of-age tale for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.

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Having trouble keeping track of what SF/F books are being adapted? Me too. But Tor.com is keeping track for us. This list, it is long!

Speaking of adaptations, have you watched the trailer for Fahrenheit 451 yet? Michael B. Jordan is metaphorically and almost literally fire in this.

Speaking again of adaptations, I was initially doubtful about anyone adapting Ursula Le Guin’s The Telling but then I saw Rekha Sharma’s name and now I am FULL SPEED AHEAD excited.

The anniversary of Octavia Butler’s death was on February 24, and I love this post of facts about her. Fans will recognize some of her jobs as the inspiration for certain moments in her book (potato-chip sorter shows up in Kindred, for example!).

Need some more fantasy comics in your life? There are titles on this list that I hadn’t heard of, which is always delightful.

Cheap ebook alert! The Reluctant Queen (sequel to The Queen of Blood) by Sarah Beth Durst is only $2.99 from Kindle, and I really loved it. You could read the series out of order if you were feeling really eager, but I do recommend the first one as well.

And don’t forget, we’re running an Instagram giveawayand you could win $500 worth of the (gorgeous) Penguin Clothbound classics.

Today in reviews, we’ve got Afrofuturism and a way more diverse take on Norse mythology.

After the Flare by Deji Olukotun

Friends, you should probably read Nigerians in Space first. In fact I am almost positive that you should do that, even though I did not. But I am here to tell you that if, like me, your library is taking forever to get a copy of the first book for unknowable reasons but After the Flare is easily available to you, you should definitely read it.

A huge solar flare has hit the Earth and wiped out technology in most of Europe, North America, and Asia — and there’s an astronaut stranded on the international space station. The newly formed Nigerian Space Program is determined to get her back, and Kwesi Brackett, former NASA employee, is lucky enough to find himself a head engineer in the program. But between political shenanigans and resource issues, he’s struggling to to make his deadlines. Then some workers discover an ancient artifact on site, triggering a chain of supernatural occurrences. On top of it all, Boko Haram is on its way to take over the program’s perceived riches.

Olukotun is exploring so many things in this novel — colorism, the space race, the vagaries of love, the fall of current First World powers, religion and politics, and of course the supernatural occurrences mentioned (but no spoilers here). The ending of this book has me craving another installment; I sincerely hope there is more coming, and in the meantime I impatiently await my hold on Nigerians in Space.

The Call of Crows series by Shelly Laurenston

Sit back and get ready for the premise of this paranormal romance series: the Norse gods have warriors on Earth, who act on their behalf — which includes warring with other clans and finding stuff the gods keep losing (why DO they lose so many godly artifacts??). Most of the gods pick the descendants of their original worshippers — so, largely white and blonde. But the goddess Skuld finds her warrior Crows from the descendants of the women that the Vikings enslaved, and their motto is “Let rage be your guide.” What you end up with is a diverse, kick-ass group of women who are very ready to wreak vengeance — and have wings and talons to get the job done.

The books follow three different Crows: Kera, Jace, and Erin. Do not make me pick between them, I love all my romance heroines equally! But, of course, for different reasons. Kera, heroine of The Unleashing (Book 1), is a military veteran with a pitbull, and she could not be more surprised than when Skuld shows up to give her a second chance at life. Adjusting to the riotous lifestyle of the Crows, however, is something else. And then there’s this pesky goddess who wants to destroy everyone, and a big beefy Viking hero named Vig to fall in love with. Kera’s love of her pitbull and her clipboard made my pet-owning, organizer-loving heart sing, and Kera’s trip to Valhalla is one of my all-time favorite romance plot points.

Then there’s Jace, heroine of The Undoing, who just wants to be left alone THANK YOU VERY MUCH. A survivor of a cult, she’s got a lot of baggage that people just don’t understand. When Ski Erikson hires her to translate some ancient texts, it turns out she might find someone who gets her — and who she can fight ancient evil with.

And then there’s Erin, heroine of The Unyielding, who is a tormentor of one and all throughout the series. She’s the hugest jerk to everyone, but it’s just — if you ask her — because they take themselves too seriously! She swears! Her adventures with hero Stieg add a ton of world-building to the series, as well as hilarity.

These books are so fun, occasionally very silly, and enormously heartfelt. I can’t think when I laughed so much while also celebrating the power of righteous anger, especially in regard to women. If you need a palate cleanser that will also gear you up and get you going, get these immediately.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and 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.

Rock on, rockstars,
Jenn

Happy Friday, judges and juries! Today we’re doing a dive into some of the Nebula Award nominees, plus vampires, Black Panther, contemporary magic, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton. In a world where Beauty is a commodity only a few control, one Belle will learn the dark secrets behind her powers, and rise up to change the world.

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Have you seen Black Panther yet? I have, and need to go see it at least once more in the theater (but hopefully more than that) — it’s incredibly lush, it has amazing actors, and it is downright revolutionary in so many ways. Cannot recommend highly enough. Bonus: we’re doing a giveaway to celebrate its release!

Where to start with Black Lightning: If, like me, you’re curious about the new CW superhero show but want a little background, Jessica has put together a primer.

Modern magic: Want some supernatural with your everyday world? Here’s a roundup of contemporary fantasies that fit the bill. (Cosign on Labyrinth Lost, Good Omens, Practical Magic, and Akata Witch!)

Less triggers, please: If, also like me, you sometimes need a break in your fiction from news-cycle-related plot points, I put together a reading list of SF/F that doesn’t include any sexual violence against female characters.

Or not: If, on the other hand, you would like some SF/F that comments directly on the current state of the world, there’s a list for that too.

Vampires, check: There’s a new Deborah Harkness novel coming, and it’s about vampires during the Revolutionary war.

Magic wand laser tag: I am SO READY for these interactive toy wands. Take my money immediately!

And a quick reminder: we’re running an Instagram giveaway and you could win $500 worth of the (gorgeous) Penguin Clothbound classics.

Today I’ve got a special reviews spotlight on the Nebula Award nominees for Novel in 2018! Not least because I’ve read and reviewed 5 of the 7, and my Book Riot compatriots covered the other two. I don’t know how the judges are going to call this one, and I don’t envy them — it’s an incredible pool.

Amberlough by Lara Elena Donnelly

Donnelly has written a spy thriller set in an alternate world, and I absolutely devoured it. (Technically this is speculative fiction, folks, as there is no magic.) I’ve been trying to come up with my elevator pitch, and keep getting stuck somewhere around “It’s like if The Great Gatsby and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy went through a wormhole and then had a baby.”

Cyril dePaul is a spy, and a louche one at that. His lover Aristide Makricosta is a smuggler, dealer, and cabaret emcee. Their arrangement involves them pretending they know nothing about each other’s real jobs while half-heartedly spying on each other, and also definitely not falling in love, not even a little. They live in Amberlough City, center of graft, whimsy, and liberalism. When Cyril falls into the hands of the conservative neighboring province’s spy forces, their relationship has to come to an end — but neither wants to let go. In the meantime, streetwise singer and small-time dealer Cordelia is just looking to keep herself in rent and food, but finds herself sucked into the darkest side of politics as the encroaching One State Party makes its move.

The plot is meticulously paced, as are the switches in POV (close third, in case that matters to you). The parallels to historical and current politics are obvious and, for some readers, perhaps a little on the nose. But what made this book such an incredible read for me were the character arcs. Cyril’s cynicism and self-interest; Aristide’s savvy and force of character; Cordelia’s political awakening; their interactions with the richly imagined and portrayed supporting cast, all held me from the first to the last page. Not to mention the ending! It hit me in the feelings place, I tell you what.

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss

Theodora Goss typically writes lovely and rich fairytale short stories and poems. She’s one of my favorite short story writers. I briefly talked to her about her newest novel last year at a fairytale conference (because I’m the kind of person that goes to fairytale conferences, duh), and she told me with this novel she wanted to tell the stories of Victorian lit’s voiceless girls. The girl monsters, often doomed to die or remain unheard. So Mary Jekyll, Diana Hyde, Justine Frankenstein, Catherine Moreau, Beatrice Rappaccini all have a chance to tell their own stories in this novel. What’s not to love? Victorian classics retold from a feminist perspective, with empowered girl monsters? And a beautiful book cover? Sold.
– Margaret Kingsbury, Must-Read June Releases

Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory

Once upon a time, the Telemachuses were famous. With a telekinetic, a psychic, and a human lie detector in the family, they were a wonder to citizens and secret agents everywhere. But twenty years later, the family is disgraced and in shambles, trying desperately to make ends meet. A visit from an old friend at the CIA checking to see if they have any remaining powers seems to be a waste of time, but what the family doesn’t know is that one of the children has just discovered he has the ability to leave his body. This is a funny, heartfelt dysfunctional family comedy with a supernatural twist.
– Liberty Hardy, New Books newsletter

The Stone Sky by NK Jemisin (Broken Earth #3)

The Stone Sky is the jaw-dropping conclusion (literally, my jaw dropped) to the Broken Earth series and it’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a third installment.

Mild spoilers for the series follow, so if you want zero plot discussion just go ahead and get yourself all three books and start reading!

The Obelisk Gate left Nassun and Essun finally aware of each other’s location and powers, but many miles apart. The stone eater factions have revealed their goals, and now the fate of the world is hanging in the balance. While The Stone Sky takes us forward to the moment of truth, it also takes us back in time and reveals more history of the Guardians, the obelisks, and the sundering of the Moon. If you’ve been wanting a deeper look at the history of this world, you will be delighted; Jemisin balances the plotline that began in The Fifth Season with a new past narrative that is just as compelling as any other thread we’ve had throughout the series — and there have been many. The conclusion had me white-knuckling my way through the final chapters, and devastated that the story has come to an end. Jemisin’s best, most complex series to date, Broken Earth has reached the top five in my personal list of favorite series, and it will take a hell of a lot to dethrone it.

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty

This is a locked-room mystery, except it’s a locked spaceship and it’s mid-space flight crewed by clones!

Six Wakes is a page-turner and then some. The ship’s crew, all of whom have criminal pasts, wake up 25 years into a colonization mission to find themselves — Their previous selves? Past selves? They are clones, selfhood become weird — floating around, very dead. Very messily dead. Some were stabbed, someone was hanged, someone else was stabbed and poisoned, and none of them have any memory of what happened. The only surviving crew member, the captain, is in a coma and not telling. What follows is both a whodunit, a look at the backstory of our protagonists, and a highly detailed imagining of what the legality surrounding clones could come to look like. Six Wakes is engrossing and thoroughly satisfying, and Lafferty succeeds at both laying down a mystery and creating a stand-alone sci-fi novel.

Jade City by Fonda Lee

Jade City is an Asian The Godfather plus magic, and the first installment in a trilogy that is off to a page-turning, action-packed start.

Kekon is the only source of “bioreactive” jade, a stone that grants the right wearer supernatural abilities. Only some people can harness the powers of jade, and the Green Bone warriors-turned-mobsters that do are feared, respected, and unofficially run the country. The grown Kaul siblings are each doing their best to make a life — Hilo and Lan as the newest leaders of the family and operation, and Shae as a person an entirely separate from her family’s activities. But when the other major clan starts pushing into the Kaul’s territory, Lan’s negotiating skill and level head might not be enough to keep the peace. In the meantime, other nations around the world are developing drugs to help them create their own jade-sensitive warriors. Can peace be maintained, and at what cost? It’s not just the fate of the clans that rides on the outcome — it’s the fate of the jade trade and the country itself.

Lee has created a rich second world that feels familiar enough to be comprehensible, but different enough to house its magical system — she wrote about the process here. The family interactions are complex and emotionally resonant; the fights are well-paced and gorily entertaining; in short, Jade City delivers on its promises. And the ending! Just enough resolution to keep me from throwing the book across the room, just enough questions unanswered to have me eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Autonomous by Annalee Newitz

This is a story about artificial intelligence, submarine pirates, and Big Pharma. It’s also about human trafficking, gender perceptions, and what choice looks like in constrained circumstances. There’s a lot going on here, and Newitz doesn’t shy away from asking provocative questions or creating ambiguous situations. Which wasn’t a surprise to me, knowing her work; Newitz is the co-founder of io9, along with Charlie Jane Anders, and when I interviewed her for our Recommended podcast ambiguity in particular was on her mind.

The story follows two main narrative threads. Jack, our submarine pirate, has made it her life’s work to create open-source drugs for people who can’t afford the patented, Big Pharmacy-controlled ones. She’s also not above selling some for recreational use as well as medicinal, to help fund her operations. When a batch of a new productivity drug she sold starts claiming victims, she has to do her best to put things to right. On her trail are Eliasz, an operative hired by the pharmaceutical company, and his robot colleague Paladin. As they work together, Paladin — whose sentience is never in question — becomes increasingly confused and increasingly engaged by his relationship with Eliasz.

Each character introduced throughout the novel is working through a major trauma or life moment, and I found my sympathies morphing and changing with each new revelation. Characters I thought I despised suddenly became not only relatable but important to me, and some I thought I completely understood became much more complicated. And then there’s the actual (and very action- and gore-packed) plot! There’s nothing straightforward about Autonomous, but there’s a lot to enjoy and a lot to ponder.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and 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.

Don’t forget to pack your towel,
Jenn

Happy Friday, fellow travelers! Today we’ve got reviews of the Xenogenesis series and Jagannath, plus Firefly novels, ASoIaF news, Slytherin reads, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre.

Meet your new favorite kickass heroine in this daring series by New York Times bestselling authors Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre, perfect for fans of Claudia Gray’s A Thousand Pieces of You.

Zara Cole has a painful past that’s made her tough. After committing a crime that has her running scared, Zara assumes she’s headed for jail. Instead – she’s recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected to explore the universe on sentient alien ships. Zara’s ready to flee her troubles on Earth – but nothing could have prepared her for the truths she’ll uncover among the stars.

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Giveaway alert! We’re giving away $500 worth of Penguin clothbound classics on our Instagram, and you definitely should enter.

It’s Black History Month! Here are some black SF/F authors you should be reading now and always, courtesy of The Portalist.

Shiny: the Firefly ‘verse is getting novels! I am not much of a screen-to-page, expanded universe reader to be honest; I only have read a handful of the Star Wars novels, and that might be my sum total across franchises, but I’m very curious about these. Sharifah and I talked about it in a little more detail on SFF Yeah! this week.

In the continued saga of A Song of Ice and Fire news, Martin has declared that there will be seven books total. Probably. Maybe.

Slytherins, your time has come. By which I mean, we put together a reading list for you. Because Merlin was a Slytherin too!

Speaking of Hogwarts: one of our contributors wrote an homage to the Houseless. While I am firmly Ravenclaw and cannot imagine not having a House, I really enjoyed this look at what fandom can look like from different perspectives.

Next-level costuming: an artist designed a bard and mage hijabi, which then turned into a whole thread of amazing art with fantasy hijabi characters, and I am over here with big heart eyes. I love them all, but the bard is my favorite.

Spoiler alert: this interview with Michelle Yeoh is wonderful, but also gives away some recent plot points for Star Trek: Discovery. Read at your own risk! (But, so good.)

Cheap ebook alert! The entire (R)Evolution series, Gemsigns, Binary, and Regeneration by Stephanie Saulter, are on sale right now for $2.99 each. I love this series like whoa, and if you like science fiction that explores questions of humanity while also giving you action and superpowered individuals, then you should grab them.

And now: reviews of books that have nothing in common except I read them recently!

Lilith’s Brood, a.k.a. The Xenogenesis Trilogy by Octavia Butler

Reading Octavia Butler while the world is a garbage-fire has made me feel a bit like I’m seeing double. First published in 1987, the Xenogenesis books ask us to consider if humanity is worth saving, and on what terms.

In Dawn, we meet Lilith Ayepo. She, along with a few other remnants of humanity, were saved from the total nuclear destruction of Earth by aliens called the Oankali. Centuries later, the Oankali have made the Earth inhabitable again and they begin waking up the humans — but since they were salvaged, the aliens have also edited their DNA. Humans can no longer reproduce without the involvement of the Oankali, who survive and evolve by trading genetic material with the other species they encounter as they explore the universe. Her choice is simple: to help the aliens wake up the rest of the humans and acclimate them to their new reality, or to resist the Oankali and be put back in stasis. Her choice and the consequences make up the next two books, Adulthood Rites and Imago.

The nuances of consent and compulsion are recurring themes for Butler (Fledgling is also a deep — and deeply disturbing — look at these concepts). And as I tore through this series, I found myself marveling at the complicated portrait she paints. She never shies away from presenting humanity at its worst, and she searches for the best while she does it.

Trigger warnings: sexual assault, harm to children. 

Jagannath by Karin Tidbeck

If you’ve read the Brothers Grimm or other pre-Disney folk/fairytales, you know that they’re often grotesque, morally neutral, and/or just plain weird. (So many feet get cut off!) Tidbeck is writing contemporary fables in that tradition. Be prepared to be enchanted and disturbed in equal measure.

It’s hard to sum up or call out the stories — reading this collection felt a bit like being in an extended fever dream. Some stories felt as though they had related threads; others were completely singular; still others reached out to familiar material (Alice in Wonderland, for example) and then twisted it into strange new shapes. A woman turns into a mouse; a girl disappears on a mountain; strange beings populate a vacation village; a switchboard operator is in hell. Some of them, I can’t think of without shuddering, while others were more whimsical. Regardless, I don’t recommend eating and reading this collection at the same time. For reasons.

If you’re a fan of weird fiction; if you love dark fairytales and have a strong stomach; if you enjoy a hefty dose of the surreal; then Jagannath is for you.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and 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.

Strap in and hold tight,
Jenn

Happy Friday, necromancers and Neolutionists! Today’s installment includes reviews of The Other Lands and River of Teeth, a Hugo Awards spreadsheet, South Asian speculative fiction, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by Reign of the Fallen by Sarah Glenn Marsh.

Odessa is one of Karthia’s master necromancers, catering to the kingdom’s ruling Dead. Whenever a noble dies, it’s Odessa’s job to raise them by retrieving their soul from a dreamy and dangerous shadow world called the Deadlands. But there is a cost to being raised: the Dead must remain shrouded. If even a hint of flesh is exposed, a grotesque transformation begins, turning the Dead into terrifying, bloodthirsty Shades. Odessa is forced to contemplate a terrifying question: What if her magic is the weapon that brings the kingdom to its knees?

Reign of the Fallen is a gutsy, unpredictable read with a surprising and breathtaking LGBT romance at its core.

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Prepare your ears: The Audie Award finalists have been announced, and the SFF contenders include my personal favorites The Stone Sky and Provenance.

Calling all voters: The 2018 Hugo Awards are open for nomination by Worldcon members. If you’re a voting member OR if you just want to see what’s eligible, there’s an epic collabroative spreadsheet to track titles.

Get regional: This beautifully thorough first installment of the history of South Asian speculative fiction goes back to the 1800s, and considers both how to define the genre and its benchmark books.

Immortality for all: Netflix’s new adaptation Altered Carbon is playing with consciousness transfer, and so are actual scientists.

Dueling in a dress: This thread on the logistics of swordfighting in a ballgown made my … week? Possibly my month.

Need some spacey gifts, for yourself or another? Here are some excellent options (that Hitchhiker’s bag!).

Already read all of Le Guin’s work? Never fear: Danika rounded up 75+ books that Le Guin herself recommended over the course of her career.

In this week’s reviews, we’ve got an incredible Book 2 and some very angry (also hungry) hippos.

The Other Lands (Acacia #2) by David Anthony Durham

I wouldn’t normally review a Book 2 — either I’d do the first one, or wait til I’d read the entire series. But I just finished The Other Lands, and it’s in the top 10 second-in-trilogy books I’ve read, so you’re gonna hear about it.

The Acacia series is my go-to read-alike, alongside Kameron Hurley’s Worldbreaker Saga, for fans of Game of Thrones who are desperate for something to read in the long dry years of ASoIaF. The War With The Mein (Acacia #1) introduces us to the main players: the Akarans, a dynasty headed by the addicted widower king Leodan; the Mein, a violent tribe out to take over control of the empire and resurrect their dead ancestors; the League, who control trade and have a vested interest keeping up the status quo. When Leodan is assassinated, his four children are flung out into the world under the (occasionally dubious) protection of separate guardians. Through Leodan’s children, we get a varied and truly global view of the world Durham has created. The children grow up in very different circumstances and when they’re put back in touch years later, in a plot to overthrow the Mein, they must reinvent their relationships as well as take back their kingdom.

While there’s plenty of action in The War with the Mein, it’s also a deeply introductory book, and it ends on a fairly satisfying note. So it took me a bit of time to get to The Other Lands; I am here to tell you that you should get to it ASAP. After a helpful recap of the first book, it plunges into an intricate, complicated plot that had me almost missing my train stops. Here is a fantasy series that complicates Good and Bad, that includes swords and sorcery as well as diverse populations, that gives you many sides of the same story and lets you decide who to root for. And the ending? Pure cliffhanger. Happily, The Sacred Band (Acacia #3) is out and waiting for me at the library.

River of Teeth by Sarah Gailey

This novella packs a bigger punch than you might expect, and its premise is a delight. In Gailey’s alternate 1890s America, the US government has imported hippos for ranching. Which sounds great in theory, until they start to escape, turn feral, and murderously infest Louisiana. Enter Winslow Houndstooth, former hippo rancher and mercenary for hire. Houndstooth receives a contract to rid the bayou of its giant violent pests, and puts together a crew to get the job done. The crew includes, for reasons only Houndstooth knows at the beginning, the expert thief Regina “Archie” Archambault, knife expert Adelia Reyes, demolitions expert Hero, and requisite patsy Cal.

Of course, nothing goes to plan. Revenge, love, and bribery all complicate the situation. People get eaten by hippos, stabbed, blown up, you name it. This is a gloriously fun, inclusive, queer, “Weird West” frontier romp — and it’s just the first in the series.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and 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.

Live long and prosper,
Jenn

Happy Friday, troubadours and Time Lords! Today includes reviews of Markswoman and Eternal Life, 1970s covers, Black Panther costumes, the apocalypse, and more.

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This newsletter is sponsored by The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert.

Seventeen-year-old Alice and her mother have spent most of Alice’s life on the road, always a step ahead of the bad luck biting at their heels. But when Alice’s grandmother, the reclusive author of a book of pitch-dark fairy tales, dies on her estate, the Hazel Wood, Alice learns how bad her luck can really get…

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’70’s style: Tor.com is doing a series of posts on the female authors of the 1970s, and I both love the concept and feel blinded by the covers. Here’s A-F, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Are you counting down to Black Panther? Because I am. Please enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at the style and costuming of the movie, courtesy of EW!

Less capes, more heroes: If you need a break from caped crusaders but still want some deeds of supernatural derring-do, here’s a round-up of 18 comics you’ll enjoy. Several personal favorites (Saga! Bitch Planet! Pretty Deadly!) are on there.

The Name of the Wind has a director, and it’s Sam Raimi. Who I still haven’t forgiven for the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies, womp womp.

Fight on: I deeply appreciate this SF & F for the Resistance post.

Sometimes you need to wallow: If you’re feeling like it’s the end of the world and want to get really into those feels, here are five apocalypse novels to add to your stack.

Follow up: retail therapy! Because who doesn’t need an “As you wish” throw pillow, or Merlin beard oil?

Supernatural swords and immortality, ahoy!

Markswoman by Rati Mehrotra

Meet Kyra, the newest Markswoman in the Order of Kali. She’s just taken out her first mark — by which I mean, assassinated him with her super-powered knife — and she’s not feeling as great about it as she would like. Then, the chain of command is upset within the Order and her mentor dies unexpectedly. She believes it was murder, and consequently finds herself on the run.

There are several layers to the story. Kyra was orphaned by the murder of her parents and family, and that murder turns out to have wider ramifications than she knew. The Order is struggling even before the death of her mentor, and the resulting political jockeying is complicated and potentially deadly. Then there’s the Order of Khur, composed of men, outcast by some of the other Orders. Family, gender, tribal alliances, conservatism vs. progression, all contribute to the twists and turns of the plot. And then there’s that alien technology I mentioned.

You all know that I have a weakness for fantastical assassins, and Mehrotra has hit that sweet spot in Markswoman. She’s also built a world that I am dying to hear more about. It’s a post-catastrophe version of our world, far in a future in which aliens have come and gone and left mysterious technology behind. The region Kyra lives in, Asiana, is clearly inspired by India and Asia, which is a refreshing new addition to the genre. So much to love here! Markswoman is action-packed, thoughtful, and a brave new world for readers to explore.

Eternal Life by Dara Horn

What if you were immortal and a child-bearing woman? This question lies at the heart of Dara Horn’s newest novel. Rachel made a bargain with God to save the life of her son, and 2,000 years later she’s still alive with millenia worth of husbands, children, and grandchildren behind her.

Technology is finally catching up to Rachel; one of her current grandchildren works in genetic engineering, and has started asking questions. It’s also not as easy to fake your death and disappear as it used to be. And Rachel can’t help but wonder if she should reveal her secret — maybe technology could help her finally die. Complicating things is Elazar, the father of her first son, who was made immortal in the same bargain. Their relationship is stormy, complicated, and deeply conflicted.

The storyline switches mainly between the beginning of Rachel’s life in Roman-occupied Jerusalem and the present day. The juxtaposition of ancient Jewish scholarship with modern day concerns like bitcoin and genetics is occasionally jarring, deliberately I’m guessing, and highlights the strangeness of Rachel’s experience and longevity. Rachel’s story also alternates from dreamy and mundane moments to dark, violent ones. All that combined meant that the story never quite went where I expected it to go.

As Horn is playing with what immortality looks like, the focus is primarily on what motherhood means to Rachel. She gave up her death for her son; was it worth it? She’s had and lost husbands, more children, grandchildren — does the pain of losing them outweigh the joy and meaning they bring to her life? There are no easy answers given. If you’re interested in taking the journey with her, pick this up post-haste.

And that’s a wrap! You can find all of the books recommended in this newsletter on a handy Goodreads shelf. If you’re interested in more science fiction and fantasy talk, you can catch me and 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.

Your fellow booknerd,
Jenn