Let’s start the new year out right and take a look at some exciting SFF books I can’t wait to read! Many of these I’ve already talked about in Future Fiction posts, but here are the fifteen books I’m most excited to read in January, February and March. I’m linking up with The Top Ten Tuesday over at That Artsy Reader Girl! And at the end of this post, I’ll do a recap to see how well I did with last quarter’s books. Let’s get started!
January 2021
In the Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce. I’ve already read this and I loved it! I was so curious to see what Camilla Bruce would do for a follow up after the amazing You Let Me In, and I was not disappointed. This is a fictionalized account of a real life female serial killer who lived in the 1800s, and I could barely stop turning the pages. My review is already up, so click the link if you missed it! Release date: January 19th.
The Mask of Mirrors (Rook & Rose #1) by M.A. Carrick. I’m so curious about this collaboration between authors Maria Brennan and Alyc Helms. I’m am a little worried by the length—it’s almost 700 pages long, which is usually a big red flag for me. But I’m going to give it a shot. Release date: January 19th.
Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor. Tor.com has some good books coming up this year, and this is one of my most anticipated. Remote Control‘s beautiful cover grabbed me, and I think the story sounds really good. Release date: January 19th.
Hall of Smoke by H.M. Long. I’ve been hearing lots of buzz for this book, and I’m so happy to have a review copy. Will be reading soon! Release date: January 19th.
The Forever Sea (The Forever Sea #1) by Joshua Phillip Johnson. I think this environmental fantasy sounds so good, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s already getting rave reviews on Goodreads. Release date: January 19th.
(OK publishers, what’s up with conspiring against me? These are all coming out on the same day! lol)
February 2021
The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey. Gailey has yet to disappoint me—I’ve read a lot of their books, and I’ve been anticipating this one for almost a year! The publisher is comparing it to Big Little Lies and Westworld. Release date: February 16th.
The Future is Yours by Dan Frey. This seems like it’s going to be a fast-paced sci-fi thriller, and I’m here for that! Release date: February 9th.
The Russian Cage (Gunnie Rose #3) by Charlaine Harris. I’m tempering my excitement a bit because I was disappointed by the last book in the series, A Longer Fall. But I have faith that Harris will get back on track for this third book. Release date: February 23rd.
Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell. I’m excited to have an ARC for this book, and I keep seeing glowing reviews for it everywhere. Can’t wait! Release date: February 2nd.
Amid the Crowd of Stars by Stephen Leigh. This sounds like a different take on interstellar space travel, and I’m looking forward to it. Release date: February 9th.
March 2021
The Fall of Koli by M.R. Carey wraps up Carey’s amazing Rampart Trilogy, and I can hardly wait to get my hands on a copy of this! Release date: March 25th.
The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers. I absolutely fell in love with Sayers’ A Witch in Time last year, so her latest is very high on my “must read” list:-) Release date: March 23rd.
Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill. The minute I saw this cover I knew I would read it. I’m curious to see if this ties into the author’s Sea of Rust at all. Release date: March 15th.
Birds of Paradise by Oliver K. Langmead. This is a magical tale about the Biblical Garden of Eden, and I think it sounds so unique. I will always read Langmead’s books, I just love his writing. Release date: March 16th.
We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep by Andrew Kelly Stewart. This novella sounds so different from anything I’ve read before, and for that reason I can’t wait to read it. Release date: March 9th.
Now for a peek at how I did last quarter (4th Quarter of 2020). And…not so hot. I actually completed October’s most anticipated books, but I failed miserably in November. But hey, that’s the way it goes. Blame it on 2020? Ha ha. Red X’s are books I read:
The Fall of Koli (such an ominous title!!! should we worry?) and Day Zero are the two I’m looking forward to with greater expectations… 🙂
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…THE LAST COYOTE (Harry Bosch #4), by Michael Donnelly
I’m a little worried about The Fall of Koli too…
The cover for Birds of Paradise vaguely reminds me of Borne, by Jeff VanderMeer, one I’ve not yet read but I think I remember you enjoying it.
It reminds me of Borne as well, now that you said that:-) I adored Borne!
So many pretty covers, Tammy, and they all sound so good. I read The Echo Wife last year and it’s unforgettable. I can’t wait for your thoughts on that one!
I can’t wait to read it!
Mask of Mirrors I struggled with (I’ll have that reviewed on Friday), but Hall of Smoke I finished over the weekend and actually reviewed today. 🙂
The Echo Wife & We Shall Sing a Song Into the Deep are both on my TBR list.
Oh shoot, I was hoping Mask of Mirrors was going to be good. I’m worried because it’s so long. I will wait for your review:-)
I didn’t manage to read Magic Lessons yet either and I was so anticipating that one. The more I hear about The Echo Wife the more interested in it I am. Let’s face it, we’ll probably never be able to read the amount of books we want to read!
It’s true, no matter how hard I try, I can’t read everything.
Most of these are new to me and I must check them out! Thanks for sharing them:) I’m still hesitant about In The Garden Of Spite. A bit pricey for an eBook. We’ll see.
Laura Thomas recently posted…Eventually Evie ~ An adult comedy romance by Cat Lavoie
Oh bummer. I’m sorry it’s so expensive:-( Maybe it will go down once it’s published?
Great list! I’ve seen Winter’s Orbit on so many lists this week that I think I need to give it a try.
Jess @ Jessticulates recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | Anticipated 2021 releases!
I have too! I hope that’s a good sign:-)
I have a copy of The Echo Wife and I’m so excited to start it!
Me too, Paul. It sounds amazing:-)
I’m pretty much excited for all of these as well! The Ladies of the Secret Circus seems to have slipped past my notice so far and it sounds amazing, so I’m off to add that to my 2021 release list as well, haha. I think it looks like you did a pretty good job with your fourth quarter books! Here’s to an exciting new start of 2021 releases. 🙂
Agreed, I think we’re already off to a good start:-)
There’s so many great books to look forward to this year!
There really are, and more on the way:-)
So many hear I’m planning to read and/or want to try to read! I need a copy of Remote Control, and I hope to start In the Garden of Spite this week. Can’t wait for the 3rd Koli book!
I’m dying for the Fall of Koli!
After reading your review of In the Garden of Spite I’m highly anticipating it. I also have my eye on The Ladies of the Secret Circus now after seeing it on your list
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Top Ten Tuesday | Most Anticipated Releases
I’m very excited about The Ladies of the Secret Circus, I just loved her first book:-)
Remote Control was also on my list!
My post.
I have seen Remote Control on lots of lists, hopefully that’s a good sign.
Great list! Many of these sound really interesting and will definitely going on my TBR list. Thanks for the suggestions!
Karley
http://www.bookishfawn.com
Thanks for visiting, Karley:-)
These lists are killing me. How can I get to my backlist books if you keep tempting me with the new books?
I know what you mean about The Longer Fall. It wasn’t as good as the first book. Hopefully The Russian Cage will be better.
I had only heard about The Ladies of the Secret Circus in the past week or so and that is a must read for me. It sounds so good. The cover doesn’t hurt either. I still need to read A Witch in Time.
LOL, I know what you mean! And I highly recommend A Witch In Time, it was unexpectedly wonderful!
Love your January recs as I’m hoping to read most of those as well 🙂 Funnily enough last November was not a great reading month for me either (like at all not just review books). I’m hoping to read more indie published books this year, but I’m most excited to be reading all the new stuff coming out.
I’d love to check out some indie books, but the new ones are calling to me, lol.
I think that Winter’s Orbit will be in one of my subscription boxes tammy!
Oh cool! I can’t wait to see it:-)
I am SO ready for In the Garden of Spite. It’s on my list too. Glad to hear you really loved it.
-Lauren
I hope you love it too!
There are so many good ones to be looking forward to. I’m super excited for The Future is Yours as well as Day Zero though!
Way too many good books to start the year off, lol.
I’m in love with the cover for The Ladies of the Secret Circus! I still have A Witch in Time on my kindle but want to read that and this new one in 2021.
Isn’t it pretty? Definitely read A Witch in Time, it was not at all what I was expecting, even better:-)
I just started In the Garden of Spite, and The Mask of Mirrors is probably going to be next! 2021 is off to a great start!
It is off to a great start! I’ve heard some mixed things about The Mask of Mirrors, so we shall see:-)
So happy to see you loved the new Camilla Bruce. I cannot wait to get hold of a copy of that one. It’s not yet available to the U.K.
Lynn
I hope it becomes available, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Oh, In The Garden of Spite looks right up my dark alley! Will have to check that one out along with a couple of others you have listed!
Yes, read it Alex!
How can there still be so many books I haven’t even heard of but sound so good? Remind me to never try and track how many anticipated releases I’ve read, else I’ll just make myself all mopey
I feel a little mopey too, but then I think “I’ll do better next time…”
Sooooo many titles sound so good!! I’m especially looking forward to Remote Control, In the Garden of Spite (I blame your rave review!), Winter’s Orbit and Day Zero! 😀
Maraym recently posted…24 Books I Want to Read in 2021
Ha ha I love when people blame me for books they want to read:-)
The next Harris is out??? Oh no, i still need to read A Longer Fall. I better get on that.
So many books to look forward to, it’s a bit overwhelming haha. Hope you enjoy some of these, Tammy!
It’s not out yet but soon. It’s hard to keep up!
I am looking forward to Hall of Smoke and Winter’s Orbit! I really hope to read them both soon!!
I just started Hall of Smoke and love it so far:-)
In the Garden of Spite looks creepy! And The Forever Sea has a great cover. I want to listed to the audiobook of Ready Player Two, it’ll probably be the next purchase I make when my Audible subscriptions starts again in April.
HERE are the books I’m looking forward to in 2021.
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature) recently posted…Review with Giveaway: The Fourth Time Charm (Fulton U #4) by Maya Hughes
I’ll bet the audio is very good:-)
Mask of Mirrors is almost here! You still did awesome on your Q4 2020 list…and from what I’ve been reading, you may have dodged a bullet not getting to Ready Player Two.
Ha ha I have heard that from several people, but I’m still curious and may try to fit it in at some point:-)
oh my god how did I not realize until now that The Mask of Mirrors is 700 pages … oops probably shouldn’t have requested an ARC; that’s a red flag for me as well – I usually get fussy around 400 pages Ah well fingers crossed it’s still enjoyable! The first few pages seemed promising at least.
Jenna @ Falling Letters recently posted…The Last Voyage of the Karluk [NF List]
Ha ha! Well, I hope we both like it anyway. I have heard good things!