Future Fiction #80: Cover Reveals & Newly Discovered SFF Books

Welcome to Future Fiction, my reimagining of the Waiting on Wednesday meme! There are so many amazing new books coming out, that I can no longer pick just one. My goal with Future Fiction is to share at least three new books each week, a combination of recent cover reveals and books that I’ve recently added to my TBR pile. I’m still going to be linking up with Wishful Endings/Can’t Wait Wednesday, and I also want to give a shout out to Jill at Breaking the Spine for starting the original Waiting on Wednesday meme. I hope you’ll find some new books to add to your TBR piles, and as always, I look forward to hearing what YOU’RE looking forward to:-D


A tempting trio of new books, take a look:


The Hollows is gripped in unrest and on the brink of civil war as an insurgency of anarchists rise, and brother and sister vie for the throne in the second novel in the critically hailed Legacy of the Mercenary King series which Brandon Sanderson called “excellent.”

Michael Kingman thought he was going to die by the executioner’s axe, forever labeled as a traitor. Still alive, and under the protection of the Orbis Mercenary company, Michael and his family and friends are deeply involved in the seemingly rival conspiracies that are tearing The Hollows apart. With the death of the King, both the Corrupt Prince and his sister Serena are vying for the throne, while the Rebel Emperor is spreading lies amongst the people, and all of them want Michael dead. This is a story of betrayal, murder, and rebellion, and in this direct sequel to the debut novel The Kingdom of Liars, also some hope for justice.

For readers who love the intrigue and widening scope of epic fantasy like Sanderson’s Mistborn and Week’s The Black Prism, you will find your next must-read fantasy series.

The Two-Faced Queen (The Legacy of the Mercenary Kings #2) by Nick Martell. Releases in March 2021 from Gallery/Saga Press. I might be putting the cart before the horse, because I still haven’t read the first book in the series, The Kingdom of Liars. But I couldn’t resist sharing this gorgeous cover this week, and I do plan to read The Kingdom of Liars very soon. The covers for the two books are very different, and I almost didn’t realize what this was when I saw it.


The “ironborn” half-fae outcast of her royal fae family.
A tempestuous Fury, exiled to earth from the Immortal Realm and hellbent on revenge.
A dutiful fae prince, determined to earn his place on the throne.
The prince’s brooding guardian, burdened with a terrible secret.

For centuries, the Eight Courts of Folk have lived among us, concealed by magic and bound by law to do no harm to humans. This arrangement has long kept peace in the Courts—until a series of gruesome and ritualistic murders rocks the city of Toronto and threatens to expose faeries to the human world.

Four queer teens, each who hold a key piece of the truth behind these murders, must form a tenuous alliance in their effort to track down the mysterious killer behind these crimes. If they fail, they risk the destruction of the faerie and human worlds alike. If that’s not bad enough, there’s a war brewing between the Mortal and Immortal Realms, and one of these teens is destined to tip the scales. The only question is: which way?

Wish them luck. They’re going to need it.

A Dark and Hollow Star (A Dark and Hollow Star #1) by Ashley Shuttleworth. Releases in March 2021 from Margaret K. McElderry Books. I never tire of books dealing with the fae realm, so I’m very much looking forward to this. Plus, check out the girl’s wings on the cover. What are those scary claw/hands???!!


Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who practices magic in secret, terrified of the day she will be locked into a marital collar that will cut off her powers to protect her unborn children. She dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus and pursuing magic as her calling as men do, but her family has staked everything to equip her for Bargaining Season, when young men and women of means descend upon the city to negotiate the best marriages. The Clayborns are in severe debt, and only she can save them, by securing an advantageous match before their creditors come calling.

In a stroke of luck, Beatrice finds a grimoire that contains the key to becoming a Magus, but before she can purchase it, a rival sorceress swindles the book right out of her hands. Beatrice summons a spirit to help her get it back, but her new ally exacts a price: Beatrice’s first kiss . . . with her adversary’s brother, the handsome, compassionate, and fabulously wealthy Ianthe Lavan.

The more Beatrice is entangled with the Lavan siblings, the harder her decision becomes: If she casts the spell to become a Magus, she will devastate her family and lose the only man to ever see her for who she is; but if she marries—even for love—she will sacrifice her magic, her identity, and her dreams. But how can she choose just one, knowing she will forever regret the path not taken?

The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk. Releases in October 2020 from Erewhon. Erewhon is a fairly new SFF publisher, spearheaded by a former Tor Books editor, I believe. I have to say, this story sounds fabulous!


What do you think of this week’s Future Fiction picks? Let me know in the comments!

Posted July 8, 2020 by Tammy in Future Fiction / 44 Comments

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44 responses to “Future Fiction #80: Cover Reveals & Newly Discovered SFF Books

    • Tammy

      I keep up with publisher catalogs on Edelweiss (like far into the future, right now I’m looking at next spring) and then I add them to Goodreads if I want to read them. Then it’s just a matter of checking my “to read” list each week on Goodreads to see if any new covers have popped up!

  1. You know I’m not one for much romance in novels but I actually really like the sound of The Midnight Bargain! The Two-Faced Queen also sounds great! 😀

    • Tammy

      I agree, I’m getting picky these days with YA, but A Dark and Hollow Star is tempting me:-)

  2. I agree, from the covers I’d never have known The Two-Faced Queen was a sequel to The Kingdom of Liars. I’d be curious to try that series so I look forward to your thoughts on it.

  3. I’m joining in the chorus of love for Midnight Bargain – what a lovely premise. And that cover… In fact, ALLLL the covers:)). I hope you get a chance to dive into these, Tammy and thank you for sharing.

    • Tammy

      Me too, and I’m awfully glad they aren’t coming out for a while, so I can catch up:-)

  4. Some lovely covers this week and they all sound good. I don’t know about the first one but I’m definitely adding the second and of course you know I’ve already added the Polk book.

    • Tammy

      I’m sure I saw the Polk book on your blog first. I just got it on NetGalley too, woo woo!

  5. Oooh, The Midnight Bargain really calls out to me! A Dark and Hollow Star also sounds great, I also am always ready for more fae realm dealings. 🙂

  6. I was really torn on the Two-Face Queen cover! It looks GORGEOUS, but it makes it look like a completely different kind of story and series when compared to the first? Maybe it’s just me 😛

    • Tammy

      Me too, it’s odd that they used a different artist with a completely different style. It’s going to be tough for readers to mentally link the two books together with such different covers. At least, that’s how I feel. I’m a visual cover freak!

  7. Midnight Bargain is talking to me ‘read me, read me’
    And this is a reminder to finish the first Nick Martell book.
    Lynn 😀

    • Tammy

      I’m glad I just got approved for The Midnight Bargain on NetGalley. Not that I need more NetGalley books!!

    • Tammy

      I’m not sure why they changed the cover artist, but I’m sure there’s a good reason.

  8. verushka

    Midnight Bargain presents no easy choice, does it? I’m definitely curious to see how the author brings this book to a conclusion!

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