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
Three exciting new books today! Take a look:
A woman with the gift to speak to the dead—and the assassin pursuing her—may be the only chance a crumbling empire has of holding back true evil, in this electrifying fantasy romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Radiance.
Siora has been on the run for longer than she cares to remember, from her past and her gift. Born with the ability to see and speak to ghosts, she has heard their desperate pleas as an otherworldly predator stalks the dead amid the fertile killing fields of the collapsing Krael Empire. The creature’s power and reach are growing with every soul it consumes, but Siora is preoccupied with her own troubles: namely an assassin who has sworn an oath of vengeance against her.
Gharek of Cabast was once the right-hand man of the reviled empress but is now a wanted fugitive. Although his reasons for hunting Siora are viscerally personal, what Gharek can’t anticipate is that when he finally does find her, she will hold the key to saving his world, or what’s left of it. To make good on old debts and protect the vulnerable dead from a malevolent force, Gharek and Siora will both need to make an ally out of an enemy—and trust that will be enough to save each other.
Raven Unveiled (Fallen Empire #3) by Grace Draven. Releases in November 2022 from Ace. I had no idea this was even on the horizon! I really love this series, and I’m excited there’s another book coming this year.
Boardwalk Empire meets The Vanishing Half with a touch of earth magic in this sexy and action-packed historical fantasy set in the luminous Golden Twenties from debut author Desideria Mesa, where a part-time reporter and club owner takes on crooked city councilmen, mysterious and deadly mobsters, and society’s deeply rooted sexism and racism, all while keeping her true identity and magical abilities hidden–inspired by an ancient Mexican folktale.
Yo soy quien soy. I am who I am.
Luna–or depending on who’s asking, Rose–is the white-passing daughter of an immigrant mother who has seen what happens to people from her culture. This world is prejudicial, and she must hide her identity in pursuit of owning an illegal jazz club. Using her cunning powers, Rose negotiates with dangerous criminals as she climbs up Kansas City’s bootlegging ladder. Luna, however, runs the risk of losing everything if the crooked city councilmen and ruthless mobsters discover her ties to an immigrant boxcar community that secretly houses witches. Last thing she wants is to put her entire family in danger.
But this bruja with ever-growing magical abilities can never resist a good fight. With her new identity, Rose, an unabashed flapper, defies societal expectations all the while struggling to keep her true self and witchcraft in check. However, the harder she tries to avoid scrutiny, the more her efforts eventually capture unwanted attention. Soon, she finds herself surrounded by greed and every brand of bigotry–from local gangsters who want a piece of the action and businessmen who hate her diverse staff to the Ku Klux Klan and Al Capone. Will her earth magic be enough to save her friends and family? As much as she hates to admit it, she may need to learn to have faith in others–and learning to trust may prove to be her biggest ambition yet.
Bindle Punk Bruja by Desideria Mesa. Releases in September 2022 from Harper Voyager. 1920s fantasies are all the rage these days, and I have to say I’ve really enjoyed the ones I’ve read. I’m definitely going to consider this one!
This riveting debut novel with shades of Jessica Jones is equal parts gripping crime thriller and supernatural horror in its atmospheric portrayal of life in the Navajo Nation.
Rita Todacheene is a forensic photographer working for the Albuquerque police force. Her excellent photography skills have cracked many cases—she is almost supernaturally good at capturing details. In fact, Rita has been hiding a secret: she sees the ghosts of crime victims who point her toward the clues that other investigators overlook.
As a lone portal back to the living for traumatized spirits, Rita is terrorized by nagging ghosts who won’t let her sleep and who sabotage her personal life. Her taboo and psychologically harrowing ability was what drove her away from the Navajo town of Tohatchi, where she was raised by her grandmother. It has isolated her from friends and gotten her in trouble with the law.
And now it might be what gets her killed.
When Rita is sent to photograph the scene of a supposed suicide on a highway overpass, the furious, discombobulated ghost of the victim—who insists she was murdered—latches onto Rita, forcing her on a quest for revenge against her killers, and Rita finds herself in the crosshairs of one of Albuquerque’s most dangerous cartels. Written in sparkling, gruesome prose, Shutter is a blood-chilling debut from one of crime fiction’s most powerful new voices.
Shutter by Ramona Emerson. Releases in August 2022 from Soho Crime. Wow, there are so many elements I love in this story: a character who is a forensic photographer, Native characters and ghosts! I can’t wait to read this:-)
Oh hello, Bindle Punk Bruja! I didnt realise 1920s fantasies were so popular these days (though i can see why by that blurb!)
It sounds intriguing, right?
All three look intriguing, but Shutter sounds especially good!
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I agree! I love that there is a “ghost” element:-)
I have yet to start Draven series, but I have it on my TBR and the books I have read so far by her were good so… I hope to start this one soon! And Bindle Punk Bruja sounds mighty intriguing too!
At some point I want to read Draven’s other series, since this one is so good.
Shutter is the one that catches my attention. Can’t wait to read more about it.
I thought you might be interested, because of the photography angle;-)
Shutter sounds amazing! Bindle Punk Bruja could be really good too, although the bits about 1920s, jazz clubs, corruption, etc all feel like ground that gets covered a lot (but not with magic!).
I agree about Shutter, the plot seems to have some unique elements:-)
I’m always up for Grace Draven and I’ve read the first 2 in the series.
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Me too, it’s a strong series.
I haven’t read the Fallen Empire series but if you love it then the books must be great!
Bindle Punk Bruja sounds amazing! It had me at “sexy and action-packed historical fantasy set in the luminous Golden Twenties”
Shutter also seems like a great read. I love that according to the synopsis it has shades of Jessica Jones! Also the native characters make me go YES GIMME!
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The Fallen Empire is really good and has romances in each book, you’d enjoy it, I think!
Ooh, Bindle Punk Bruja sounds interesting!
I agree, even though it’s “trendy” right now, I love the title and the story sounds promising:-)
Bindle Punk Bruja and Shutter are going on my tbr. Thanks for introducing me!
They both sound so good, right?
I love Grace Draven ‘s books!!!!
Me too Sophie! I look forward to each new book of hers:-)
Oh wow these all look promising. I especially like the sound of that last one! And yeah I’m kinda loving the 20’s setting that’s been popping up lately- I need toread more of ’em!!
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The 20s with a fantasy twist is a trend right now, and I like it:-)
That first cover is absolutely stunning! I’ve been wanting to start that series for a while now and my interest started as a major case of cover love, lol.
You can probably read this series in any order, it’s mostly new characters and plot in each one. But I agree, all three covers are beautiful!
Interesting mix of books here. Still need to start on the series included here though. Shutter definitely sounds like a unique crime read & the inclusion of Mexican Folklore in the second book intrigued me too.
Also snap on our current reads, was surprised to see we’re both reading City Of Dusk atm.
I hope we both end up enjoying City of Dusk, it’s a bit slow for me at the moment…
I hope it picks up for you then. I got really into it last night but I still have a long way to go I just feel a bit lost with some of the place names at time I really hope it gets better for you.
I just need to focus and read it for more than 30 minutes at a time, lol! Thanks Charlotte:-)
Yay! Another Fallen Empire book! And I remember seeing Shutter somewhere, but had no idea it had a ghostly/paranormal element! I’ve added it now because of that, lol
Ha ha I know the ghost/mystery is such a great combo lately!
I love the sound of all of these but in particular Shutter appeals to me with the ghostly aspects.
Lynn 😀