Happy May! This month I’m participating in Wyrd & Wonder, a fantasy reading event, so I’m going to separate my books into two piles: fantasy and other genres. I’m actually surprised how much of my May TBR is fantasy, although some of these are a mash up of fantasy and horror. If you don’t know about Wyrd & Wonder and you want to learn more, click on the links below. May is pretty busy as far as new releases, and I still have a few April releases I’d love to get to as well. Here we go:
Wyrd & Wonder is hosted by Imyril at There’s Always Room for One More; Ariana at The Book Nook; Annemieke at A Dance With Books; Jorie at Jorie Loves a Story; and Lisa at Dear Geek Place. Click on any of those links to learn more! As for my participation, I’m going to concentrate on reviews and lists. My plans aren’t finalized, but follow along so you don’t miss anything!
Here are the May fantasy releases I’d love to read:
The Girl With a Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean. I am currently reading this and loving it. Dean is a wonderful writer and her second book is (so far) just as good as The Book Eaters! Look for my review soon.
Strange Familiars by Keshe Chow. This debut is getting great reviews, and I’m excited to check it out!
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews. I’ve started this book, and so far it’s very good. I know lots of my blogging buddies love it, so I’m looking forward to reading more.
Mortedant’s Peril by R.J. Barker. I love the sound of this fantasy/mystery mash-up from the author of the incredible Bone Ships series!
Death’s Daughter by S.A. Barnes. Barnes is tackling romantasy in her latest book, and yes, I’m very curious to see how that will go, after reading and loving her previous space horror books.
The Fake Divination Offense by Sara Raasch. This is book #2 in Raasch’s Magic & Romance series, and I’ve been hearing good things about it!
Startup Hell by Caitlin Rozakis. In her last book, Rozakis tackled the PTA and elementary school, and this time she’s taking on the corporate world. I do love her brand of fantasy, so this should be fun.
The River Muse by Laura Resau. This sounds like a delightful fantasy! Resau has written quite a few books, but this will be my first.
The Temptation of Charlotte North by Camilla Bruce. I do love Bruce’s books, although so far none has been quite as good as You Let Me In. This sounds pretty good, fingers crossed!
Other May releases I hope to read:
Teddy Bears Never Die by Cho Yeeun. This could go either way, lol. It looks silly, but I’m hoping there’s hidden depths between the covers.
Dead Weight by Hildur Knútsdóttir. I loved the author’s last book, and I’m very much looking forward to this one. The story blurb is a little vague, but I can’t wait!
Model Actress Whatever by Kim Newman. It’s been years since I’ve read anything by Newman, and I’m curious about his latest, a weird sounding story about actresses and alternate realities.
The Gatepost by Tim Weed. This is without a doubt my most anticipated book of May! I will be reading it very soon.
Abyss by Nicholas Binge. This is a short Lovecraftian horror novella that takes place in a corporate setting. It sounds so good!
I hope you will have a ton of fun with Wyrd and Wonder!! This year I won’t take part in it because I may have overreached with my reading challenges as it is and I need to try and see where I stand with them (and try reading accordingly). But I will still follow on the sidelines because… Fantasy!!
I had a lot of fun with This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me and I hope to read Strange Familiars soon, too!! While I am quite curious about Mortedant’s Peril. I will wait for your thoughts on it!
I hope we both enjoy Strange Familiars, and I have high hopes for Mortedant’s Peril!
Whew, that’s a lot of fantasy to choose from! I wasn’t sure I’d feel motivated to do W&W this year, so I haven’t signed up. But maybe I will this weekend since I tend to read mostly fantasy anyway and at least my book review posts could be part of the event.
I don’t normally read this much fantasy, not sure what’s going on, lol.
The Gatepost sounds great!
Enjoy the Wyrd & Wonder event. Not for me, as you know
Thanks Emma!
How is it Wyrd and Wonder time already? Wasn’t it, like, two minutes ago that you last participated in it? Argh, time zipped by…
I’m not particularly drawn to fantasy, but sometimes I enjoy a mix of it with other genres (or UF), so I’m looking forward to your reviews.
That’s what it feels like!!
So many good ones! I’m definitely planning to read Dead Weight this month, and I hope to get to This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me as well, if I can find the time!
Finding the time is always the issue!
I am hoping to start the Teddy Bear book this weekend. Hope you have a great reading month and find some new faves.
Thanks Barb! I hope the Teddy Bear book is good.
Oh I’d like to try Mortedant’s Peril too.
It sounds really good, and I’d love to read something of Barker’s that I love as much as The Bone Ships.
I LOVED This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me. I’m still debating about Strange Familiars.
I need to get back to This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me. I’m concentrating on May releases at the moment.
It’s going to be a fun month!
I can’t wait to see everyone’s posts!
Sounds like a busy month! I’m shocked lol. Veeeery heavy into fantasy this month. I hope May proves a good month for you!
Thanks Will! I’m so surprised by all the fantasy! Although it’s more “my” type of fantasy than yours:-)
I’m soooo behind in my reading. So many good books dropping this month, but I haven’t even cleared some of my must-reads from 2025!
I feel you!! I’m also perpetually behind…
I’m oddly fascinated by the translated teddy bear book but I’m also excited to compare notes with everyone on Sunyi’s. Book! We all could have impromptu buddy read it!
I literally just finished the Sunyi Dean book and I’m definitely having a book hangover!
Looks like a great lineup!
Thanks! I think so too.
Oh wow Wyrd and Wonder is already upon us again. Well this month I actually happen to have a lot of fantasy in my catch up pile!
I am also reading The Girl With a Thousand Faces. So far so good!
Ooh I’d love to join in with Wyrd & Wonder but I feel a bit behind right now. Not arc wise, I only have one, but on blog hopping and library titles. Next year I’ll have to be better organised and make sure I get to join in.
I can’t wait to see your review of The Girl With A Thousand Faces. It’ll definitely be interesting to hear what you think of the Barnes title being such a different genre to normal for the author and I hope you love This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me as much as everyone else seems to. I’ve read Mortedant’s Peril and just as a heads up if you struggle (although I hope you don’t) I thought it was totally worth it by the end. I went from struggling to invest to finding a series with the potential to grow into a new favourite.
I hope you love The Gatepost too, particularly with how excited you are for it. Have a lovely month.
This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me was amazing and I have already preorderd Startup Hell!
The two above I’m most curious about are in your other list, Teddy Bears Never Die and Dead Weight. I feel like it’s been a short while since I’ve read any real fantasy so I’m feeling the urge to start one, but not sure if, or what, that’ll be.
Sounds like a fun list of possibilities!