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
It’s science fiction and fantasy week! Take a look at these intriguing titles:
This Hindu philosophy-inspired debut science fantasy follows a husband and wife racing to save their living city—and their troubled marriage—high above a jungle world besieged by cataclysmic storms.
High above a jungle-planet float the last refuges of humanity—plant-made civilizations held together by tradition, technology, and arcane science. In these living cities, architects are revered above anyone else. If not for their ability to psychically manipulate the architecture, the cities would plunge into the devastating earthrage storms below.
Charismatic, powerful, mystical, Iravan is one such architect. In his city, his word is nearly law. His abilities are his identity, but to Ahilya, his wife, they are a way for survival to be reliant on the privileged few. Like most others, she cannot manipulate the plants. And she desperately seeks change.
Their marriage is already thorny—then Iravan is accused of pushing his abilities to forbidden limits. He needs Ahilya to help clear his name; she needs him to tip the balance of rule in their society. As their paths become increasingly intertwined, deadly truths emerge, challenging everything each of them believes. And as the earthrages become longer, and their floating city begins to plummet, Iravan and Ahilya’s discoveries might destroy their marriage, their culture, and their entire civilization.
The Surviving Sky (Rages #1) by Kritika H. Rao. Releases in April 2023 from DAW Books. OK, this sounds epic and slightly confusing, lol. But I’m very curious about it. Plus the cover is fantastic!
If you had to endure a debilitating condition of body or mind, which would you choose? In this world, everyone suffers.
In the far-future aftermath of a genetic plague that separated human society into two different groups – sickly yet super-intelligent Subterraneans and healthy but weak-minded Omniterraneans – a brilliant Subter girl is tasked with fixing the broken genetic code to reunite the two groups in the next generation.
But when a newer plague turns fatal for the surface-dwelling Omnits, the only group able to reproduce (giving birth to both Subter and Omnit children), Zuzan must find a cure or humanity won’t simply remain divided, it will become extinct.
But there’s more conflict at hand than a broken genetic code. The fragile connection between Subters and Omnits has frayed to the point of breaking – to the point of war – and it will take more than genius to repair; it will take heart.
Burrowed by Mary Baader Kaley. Releases in January 2023 from Angry Robot. This story sounds pretty unique! And think about it. If you had to pick whether to be a Subter or an Omnit, which would you choose? Hmmm…
In this xianxia-inspired contemporary fantasy, a Chinese immortal and a French elf navigate romance, family loyalty, and workplace demands. In her debut novel, Mia Tsai has created a paranormal adventure that is full of humor, passion, and depth.
As a descendant of the Chinese god of medicine, ignored middle child Elle was destined to be a doctor. Instead, she is underemployed as a mediocre magical calligrapher at the fairy temp agency, paranoid that her murderous younger brother will find her and their elder brother.
Using her full abilities will expose Elle’s location. Nevertheless, she challenges herself by covertly outfitting Luc, her client and crush, with high-powered glyphs.
Half-elf Luc, the agency’s top security expert, has his own secret: he’s responsible for a curse laid on two children from an old assignment. To heal them, he’ll need to perform his job duties with unrelenting excellence and earn time off from his tyrannical boss.
When Elle saves Luc’s life on a mission, he brings her a gift and a request for stronger magic to ensure success on the next job—except the next job is hunting down Elle’s younger brother.
As Luc and Elle collaborate, their chemistry blooms. Happiness, for once, is an option for them both. But Elle is loyal to her family, and Luc is bound by his true name. To win freedom from duty, they must make unexpected sacrifices.
Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai. Releases in March 2023 from Tachyon. Ooh I love this cover. And come on: a Chinese immortal and a French elf??? I am definitely going to get my hands on this book:-D
The Surviving Sky and Bitter Medicine both sound pretty great! Thanks for introducing me!
I hope we both get to read them:-)
Since I’m unable to resist a post-apocalyptic story, I guess Burrowed would be my first choice… 😉
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Me too, not sure what that says about us;-)
Bitter Medicine sounds like nothing I’d normally be interested in, but the book description is pretty intriguing!
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I think it has a lot of potential. I’m definitely keeping my eye on it:-)
Wow, the cover of The Surviving Sky is gorgeous! These are all great choices.
Agreed, I need that cover on my wall:-)
I’ve been curious about The Surviving Sky for a while, love seeing the pretty cover!
Caitlin G. recently posted…Review: BABEL by R.F. Kuang
It’s really pretty! I hope the story is good too:-)
Surviving Sky sounds very interesting. A floating city is always awesome and a married couple as main characters is a great bonus.
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I do like stories with a married couple. You don’t see enough of them:-)
I have just loved that cover for The Surviving Sky! Burrowed sounds really interesting, that’s a very tough question, haha. These all sound so good, great picks. 🙂
Agreed, The Surviving Sky cover is a piece of artwork:-)
If you get a chance to read them, I hope you enjoy them!
Thanks Stormi!
The idea of living on floating cities and plant life reminded me of Larry Niven’s classics, The Integral Trees and The Smoke Ring, both of which I loved when younger. But there may not be much else in common between them other than the floating and the plants. 🙂
I’ve read some other stories that have floating cities as settings, I’m always intrigued by that idea.
Okay the cover for Surviving Sky may be my favorite of 2023 so far? Also the premise sounds incredible! Added that one SO fast! And I am a fan of DAW books usually. Also NEED Burrowed, that sounds fabulous too! Angry Robot is another with such unique titles! I would choose Subter but I suppose one doesn;t get to choose. I seriously cannot wait for this book, where do you find all these amazing titles!? I am curious about Bitter Medicine too- magic is hit or miss with me but this sounds really good so I will be keeping an eye on it! Thank you for putting these on my radar!
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Angry Robot has had some really good titles lately! I’m looking forward to Burrowed.
All three of these sound really good. The premise of Burrowed really intrigues me and I’m in love with the cover for Surviving Sky.
Surviving Sky wins the best cover award this week:-)
Love the cover of The Surviving Sky! It makes me want to grow wings and fly up there! 😀
Ha ha now that you mention it—me too!
The Surviving Sky is so pretty! And I’m hoping to score a review copy of Bitter Medicine, that one sounds so intriguing!
Bitter Medicine definitely sounds different from my usual reads.
Love the cover of Surviving Sky and the synopsis of Bitter Medicine.
I agree, that cover of Surviving Sky is so pretty:-)
wow, I like the mix of genres and elements in these!
Too bad it’s ultimately about a troubled marriage in the first one, a theme I’m really not interested in in literature, otherwise I would have given it a try, seeing the intriguing mix
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I’m not always up for “troubled marriage” stories either, but I may try this one.
I love the sound of all three books – but I think I’ll give Burrowed a miss right now. As I am now staggering away from the effects of Long Covid, it sounds all too plausible… But the other two are definitely ones to look out for – thank you for once again highlighting the coolest books, Tammy:)).
I can see why Burrowed might be too much for you. Luckily there are lots of non-plague books out there!
OMG a French elf that seems so charming LOL Given that I love rather sweet books it’s the last one that got my attention!
Right?? I’ve never heard of a French elf in anything I’ve read:-)
With “Hindu philosophy-inspired debut science fantasy” The Surviving Sky does sound really epic. Definitely adding this to my wishlist!
The premise of Burrowed freaks me out because a genetic plague could easily happen to our world too I fear. But it does sound like an unique book like you said. I’m really not sure which I would choose!
Bitter Medicine also sounds great! I had to google xianxi and apparently it’s a genre of Chinese fantasy heavily inspired by Taoism and influenced by Chinese mythology. So of course I’m loving this already!
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You’re ahead of me, I didn’t even look up xianxi. Now I want to read it even more!
I love the sound of all of these, but the second one especially! What a cool premise. and that’s a tough call but I think I’d have to go with Subter. 🙂
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The Surviving Sky has an amazing cover! And Bitter Medicine is the one that sounds more interesting to me! Thanks for sharing them!