Every month I like to showcase a book that brought me joy, and might do the same for you!
September
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
If we’re going back to school this month, why not make it an occult-shadowed Yale seen through the eyes of high school dropout Alex Stern. Leigh Bardugo combines her proven abilities with her love for the setting and some chilling urban fantasy to produce a modern classic and staple of the dark academia genre.
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August
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
Colonization, postgenderism, artificial intelligence, religion, intrigue, ethics and more tea than you could drink in your lifetime. Ann Leckie’s breakout 2013 space opera opened up a universe of storytelling which has been explored by many of my favourite authors over the past decade.
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July
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula K. Le Guin is among the most important authors in the history of the speculative fiction genre. As a woman writing in a typically male field, Le Guin set the stage for many of my favourite storytellers today. First Published in 1968, A Wizard of Earthsea is both the original 'wizard school' book and stars Indigenous-inspired characters. It's short and sweet, so consider giving it a shot!
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June
Amberlough by Lara Elena Donnelly
For Pride Month, a heart-gripping tale about loveable characters fighting to maintain their way of life in the face of misplaced fear and discrimination. As culturally relevant as it gets, and thrilling all the way.
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May
The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty
For South Asian Heritage Month, a modern Fantasy classic about blood, djinn and choosing one's path forward. You'll need the stomach for some cutthroat politics, but will be rewarded with a novel which never refrains from taking the most stunning and intriguing course possible.
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April
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Environmentalism, prophecy, AIDS, magic, war and a family growing apart over the course of decades. This novel pulled me in and didn't let me go until I closed the final page in tears. Give it a look!
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March
Saga: Volume One by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
Romeo and Juliet, except their families are warring galactic empires and they must fight for their lives every day. A beautiful graphic novel with a brutal and heartfelt story to tell about humanity and choosing to survive in a world bent on the destruction of all you hold dear.
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February
The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
Cities are people, people are cities. Racism is as insidious as any Lovecraftian monster. Jemisin explores these ideas and more through her love of New York City.
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January
Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
A new age has come for the world, and figures out of Indigenous lore have returned with claims of authority. An action-packed and heartfelt tale putting a refreshing spin on the urban fantasy and dystopian literature genres.
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December
The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins
This book stands tall at the intersection between dark comedy, magic school, and cosmic horror. Content warnings aplenty, but this is a masterpiece of a debut novel.
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November
Inside Man by KJ Parker
This short, hilarious novel dives into the morality of complicity in a world much like our own - just with exorcists and demonic possession.
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October
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
Brutal, emotional, and based on real East Asian history. This book explores ambition and the quest for vengeance thoroughly, with disturbing and fascinating results.
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September
The Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons
This mind-bending science fiction series examines the worthiness of humanity: as individuals, populations, and as artists. It grapples with religious delusions, artificial intelligence, and even colonialism while telling a lot of heart-wrenching stories.
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