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
This week, a trio of Summer 2022 fantasy releases!
Sunyi Dean’s The Book Eaters is a contemporary fantasy debut. It’s a story of motherhood, sacrifice, and hope; of queer identity and learning to accept who you are; of gilded lies and the danger of believing the narratives others create for you.
Out on the Yorkshire Moors lives a secret line of people for whom books are food, and who retain all of a book’s content after eating it. To them, spy novels are a peppery snack; romance novels are sweet and delicious. Eating a map can help them remember destinations, and children, when they misbehave, are forced to eat dry, musty pages from dictionaries.
Devon is part of The Family, an old and reclusive clan of book eaters. Her brothers grow up feasting on stories of valor and adventure, and Devon—like all other book eater women—is raised on a carefully curated diet of fairytales and cautionary stories.
But real life doesn’t always come with happy endings, as Devon learns when her son is born with a rare and darker kind of hunger—not for books, but for human minds.
The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean. Releases in August 2022 from Tor Books. Just when you thought all the good ideas were taken…doesn’t this sound good? And bizarre? I can’t wait to check out this debut fantasy novel:-D
In a fantastical version of New Orleans where music is magic, a battle for the city’s soul brews between two young mages, a vengeful wraith, and one powerful song in this vibrant and imaginative debut.
Nola is a city full of wonders. A place of sky trolleys and dead cabs, where haints dance the night away and Wise Women keep the order, and where songs walk, talk and keep the spirit of the city alive. To those from Far Away, Nola might seem strange. To failed magician, Perilous Graves, it’s simply home. Then the rhythm stutters.
Nine songs of power have escaped from the magical piano that maintains the city’s beat and without them, Nola will fail. Unexpectedly, Perry and his sister, Brendy, are tasked with saving the city. But a storm is brewing and the Haint of All Haints is awake. Even if they capture the songs, Nola’s time might be coming to an end.
The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings. Releases in June 2022 from Redhook. I will read any fantasy that takes place in New Orleans, or in this case a “fantastical version of New Orleans.” This sounds sooo good!
Elite courtesan Koré knew that meddling in politics could end badly, particularly when trying to sabotage his aristocratic father’s campaign for high office before it destroys the city loves. And when a chance encounter with a dying god imbues him with magic-breathing powers, it gets worse: he suddenly becomes a commodity, one the political establishment will do anything to control.
But the corruption in his city runs deeper than just one man, and an ally’s betrayal unleashes an army of the dead on his home district. Koré must trust the world with his deepest secret to stand beside the woman and man he’s finally let himself love, as only the bright truth of dragon’s fire can break the iron fist of a necromancer’s hold.
Silk Fire by Zabé Ellor. Releases in July 2022 from Rebellion. To be honest, this sounds a little on the strange side, but I seriously love this cover, and I want to learn more about Koré’s powers.
Hadn’t heard of Silk Fire but gotta agree with you on that cover! Also it sounds polyam or is that just me?
Yes! I was thinking that same thing, I think you’re right:-)
Ok, I was not expecting an idea like The Book Eaters . . . Colour me intrigued! This should make for quite the unique read 🙂
I agree, such a unique idea!
The premise of The Book Eaters is tantalising, thanks for the rec!
It does sound like fun, right?
They all sound good, especially The Ballad of Perilous Graves. (I love that title, too.)
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Me too, the title really makes me want to read it:-)
An interesting mix this time, that’s for certain.
Ha ha definitely!
The Ballad of Perilous Graves sounds like something delightfully weird: I can’t wait to learn what you think about it 🙂
I hope I get the chance to read it!
The Ballad of Perilous Graves sounds excellent; I love bonkers ideas like this and after reading P. Djèlí Clark’s The Black God’s Drums I’m all up for reading more fantasy New Orleans stories!
There’s something about New Orleans…
I like the sound of the Book Eaters! What a great concept!
I thought so too!
The Book Eaters sounds super intriguing! And like, of course the women are raised on cautionary tales.
The Ballad of Perilous Graves… first of all the title is awesome and then the synopsis gripped me right away. I love the sound of it being set in a fantastical version of New Orleans!
Silk Fire sounds amazing as well and that cover is KILLER! I’m very interested after reading the premise.
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I agree about the title of Ballad of Perilous Graves. And the cover makes it seem like it’s going to be great!
Oooh, I think I saw The Book Eaters on Edelweiss last week. It looks good! All of these look good this week. Great picks!
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Thanks Lisa!
2022 is looking pretty good for SF reads!
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I know! It’s going to be impossible to read everything:-)
Ohhhh, you do have such a talent for picking the most interesting CWW picks, tammy! The Book Eaters And the Ballad of Perilous Graves in particular have such creative worlds!
Thanks Verushka:-)
I love the sound of all of these, especially The Book Eaters!
Me too, I can’t wait to read The Boo Eaters!
I love the premise of The Book Eaters and that cover is so cool!
The idea is so unique, I hope it’s good!
The only one I have on my list is Silk Fire, which does sound a bit strange and it makes me a bit wary, but heck yes that cover!
The cover is striking, right?
I love the Silk Fire cover too! I just am not totally sure it is a “me” book? But I am keeping it on my radar either way! I am also a sucker for a NOLA book, so I am for sure interested in that, even though musical themed books and I don’t always get along. And wow you are right about a super unique concept for the first one! My TBR truly grows every time you post one of these!
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I like the sound of all of these but The Ballad of Perilous Graves is really drawing me in.
Lynn 😀