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
Lots of great covers were revealed last week! It was actually hard to pick just three:-)
An eccentric detective and her long-suffering assistant untangle a web of magic, deceit, and murder in this sparkling fantasy reimagining of the classic crime novel—from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy.
In Daretana’s most opulent mansion, a high Imperial officer lies dead—killed, to all appearances, when a tree spontaneously erupted from his body. Even in this canton at the borders of the Empire, where contagions abound and the blood of the Leviathans works strange magical changes, it’s a death at once terrifying and impossible.
Called in to investigate this mystery is Ana Dolabra, an investigator whose reputation for brilliance is matched only by her eccentricities.
At her side is her new assistant, Dinios Kol. Din is an engraver, magically altered to possess a perfect memory. His job is to observe and report, and act as his superior’s eyes and ears–quite literally, in this case, as among Ana’s quirks are her insistence on wearing a blindfold at all times, and her refusal to step outside the walls of her home.
Din is most perplexed by Ana’s ravenous appetite for information and her mind’s frenzied leaps—not to mention her cheerful disregard for propriety and the apparent joy she takes in scandalizing her young counterpart. Yet as the case unfolds and Ana makes one startling deduction after the next, he finds it hard to deny that she is, indeed, the Empire’s greatest detective.
As the two close in on a mastermind and uncover a scheme that threatens the safety of the Empire itself, Din realizes he’s barely begun to assemble the puzzle that is Ana Dolabra—and wonders how long he’ll be able to keep his own secrets safe from her piercing intellect.
Featuring an unforgettable Holmes-and-Watson style pairing, a gloriously labyrinthine plot, and a haunting and wholly original fantasy world, The Tainted Cup brilliantly reinvents the classic mystery tale.
The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan #1) by Robert Jackson Bennett. Releases in February 2024 from Del Rey Books. This book came out of nowhere, as it seems the book announcement happened at the same time as the cover reveal! In any case, I’m very excited for a new RJB series, and this sounds fabulous.
A young couple find themselves haunted by a string of gruesome murders committed along an old deserted road in this terrifying new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases.
July 1995. April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn. They’re looking for the small resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to a lone hitchhiker along the deserted road, they stop to help. But not long after the hitchiker gets into their car, they see the blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down Atticus Line after them.
When the hitchhiker dies at the local hospital, April and Eddie find themselves in the crosshairs of the Coldlake Falls police. Unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Line for years and the cops finally have two witnesses who easily become their only suspects. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work, something that could not only tear the town and its dark secrets apart, but take April and Eddie down with it all.
Murder Road by Simone St. James. Releases in March 2024 from Berkley. I need more Simone St. James! The last book I read of hers was The Book of Cold Cases, and I cannot wait to read this one.
Spice trader Cinnamon’s quiet life is turned upside down when she ends up on a quest with a fiery demon in this irreverently quirky rom-com fantasy that is sweet, steamy, and funny as hell—perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes and The Dragon’s Bride.
All she wanted to do was live her life in peace—maybe get a cat, expand the family spice farm. Really, anything that didn’t involve going on an adventure where an orc might rip her face off. But they say the Goddess has favorite, and if so, Cin is clearly not one of them…
After saving the demon Fallon in a wine-drunk stupor, all Fallon wants to do is kill an evil witch enslaving his people. And, who can blame him? But he’s dragging Cinnamon along for the ride. On the bright side, at least he keeps burning off his shirt.
That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon (Mead Mishaps #1) by Kimberly Lemming. Releases in January 2024 from Orbit. I believe this series was originally self published, and it sounds very funny! It’s got a Legends & Lattes vibe to it, so on the wish list it goes:-)
The Tainted Cup sounds like a really great read. I do love a good Holmes-and-Watson style pairing so that alone along with the amazing synopsis peaks my interest for sure!
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…Can’t-Wait Wednesday: What Monstrous Gods by Rosamund Hodge
I’ve loved his books in the past so I’m very curious about The Tainted Cup:-)
The new Kimberly Lemming book sounds EXTREMELY fun! Three excellent book choices
Right? I am so curious about it:-)
I love the sound of The Tainted Cup – like you, I’m a fan of this author’s writing. And thanks to you – I’ve now nicked across to Amazon and got hold of a copy of the Kimberly Lemming books, which is on KU:))). As ever, Tammy – you’re the one with the cool books!!
I’m really looking forward to Kimberly’s book, it sounds so funny:-)
All of these books sound great, and I didn’t know Simone St. James had a new book coming out. That Time I Got Drunl and Saved a Demon has to be a blast – gotta check it out when it releases!
The new Simone St. James surprised me too!
I enjoyed The Book of Cold Cases, so I will certainly be on the lookout for St.James’ new one! 🙂
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…THE JUDAS BLOSSOM (The Nightingale and the Falcon #1), by Stephen Aryan
I loved The Book of Cold Cases, I can’t wait to see what she does next:-)
That Time I Got Drunk definitely has a Legends & Lattes feel to it1 The Tainted Cup looks like one I’ll want to check out too. Great picks!
Thanks, it was a great week for new book announcements:-)
Robert Jackson Bennett and Simon St. James – I can’t wait!
Lots of exciting announcements this week!
I can’t wait for Murder Road!!! I love Simone St James’s books!
Me too, sooo excited:-)
I got an invite for The Tainted Cup and I’m sure I will read it.
Anne – Books of My Heart recently posted… Stolen Sorcery & Other Misadventures by Annette Marie, Rob Jacobsen @AnnetteMMarie @therobj #IggyToma @TantorAudio #LoveAudiobooks #KindleUnlimited
I did too! I hope we both love it:-)
That last book doesn’t look like a you book…lol. Hope you enjoy them!
Stormi recently posted…Review of What Have We Done by Alex Finlay
LOL I know right? But I want to try it:-)
Murder Road sounds like one I would definitely enjoy. I have not read anything by Simone St James The Sun Down Motel. Great choices, Tammy
Jody recently posted…I Can’t Wait For ~ A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand (Can’t-Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday) #CWW #WOW @liz_hand @wishfulendings
I love Simone St. James! I can’t wait to read her new book:-)
That second one definitely sounds good.
Yes! I can’t wait:-)
The Tainted Cup sounds like a great murder mystery with a twist of magic.
I loved The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James so would like to read more by her too.
Pages and Tea recently posted…Book Review: The Trust (Astrid Swift #1) by M. H. Eccleston
I’m very excited for new books by both authors:-)
Cool covers indeed!
Emma @ Words And Peace recently posted…Top Ten Books With One-Word Titles
It is a good batch of covers:-)
The cover of the third one is gorgeous! I was gonna say, I know I’ve seen that with a different cover. I do think it was self-pubbed. It sounds fun!
Kit @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted…Bookish News: 10 Queer SFF Books I’m Excited For in 2023 (Part 2)
It does sound fun! I’m always curious when self pub authors get a deal with a traditional publisher. I can’t wait:-)
This post has me all kinds of excited since I had no idea Robert Jackson Bennett. and Simone St. James had new books coming out. They both sound fantastic too!
The Robert Jackson Bennett came out of nowhere!
I am so excited for The Tainted Cup!!!
Me too!
A new Bennett! Give it to me.
Lynn 😀
I know, pretty exciting:-)