18 fantasy and science fiction books to read in November 2023
Discover Entangled: Red Tower Books’ “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros on Amazon.
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (The Empyrean #2) — November 7
Rebecca Yarros’ YA fantasy novel Fourth Wing was one of 2023’s breakout hits; it exhausted a solid 25 weeks on The New York Times Best Sellers List, and for 13 of those it held the number one spot. There were a solid few months wgere everyone and their mother was talking approximately this book, which follows a young woman who goes to a war college where she enters a competition to obtain a dragon rider. It’s even being developed as a television show by Amazon.
Yarros isn’t sleeping on the sequel, which is already here only a few short months later. Iron Flame picks up the story of Violet Sorrengail as she progresses beyond her initiation into Basgiath War College. What dangers await?
Everyone anticipated Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet implicated. But Threshing was only the first impossible test pointed to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky.
Now the real arranging begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get above. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal citation to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves.
Although Violet’s body much be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she detached has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules.
But a want to survive won’t be enough this year.
Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Discover Orbit’s “The Darkness Before Them” by Matthew Ward on Amazon.
THE DARKNESS BEFORE THEM by Matthew Ward (The Soulfire Saga #1) — November 7
The Darkness Before Them is the originate of a new fantasy trilogy from Matthew Ward. Ward is best noted for his Legacy Trilogy, which began with Legacy of Ash and featured epic warfare, intrigue and revolution. In The Darkness Before Them, Ward tells the story of a thief with the preternatural gift to drawl to spirits, which sounds pretty handy considering that many spirits have been managed into guarding treasures for a kingdom teeming with corruption.
These are dark times for the Kingdom of Khalad. As the magical mists of the Veil devour the land, the bodies struggles beneath the rule of ruthless noble houses and their uncaring immortal king.
Kat doesn’t care near any of that. A talented thief, she’s pursuing one big accept that will settle the debt that destroyed her family. No easy feat in a realm where indentured spirits hold vigil over every vault and appreciate room. However, Kat has a unique gift: she can drawl to those spirits, and even command them. She’ll need every first-rate she can get.
Kat’s not a hero. She just wants to be free. To have her old life back. But as rebellion rekindles and the war for Khalad’s future begins, everyone – Kat included – will have to pick a side.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Discover Berkley’s “Slay” by Larell K. Hamilton on Amazon.
SLAY by Laurell K. Hamilton (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #30) — November 7
Slay is the 30th current in Laurell K. Hamilton’s paranormal romance series Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter. Hamilton and Anita Blake are pretty much mainstays of the genre at this point; this 30th book is releasing 30 days after the first, which is fitting.
This time near, Anita is getting married! To a vampire! Or at least, she will be if she can navigate one of her most dangerous challenges yet.
Necromancer Anita Blake is slight, dark, and dangerous. Her turf is the city of St. Louis. Her job: U.S. Marshal—Preternatural Branch. She’s faced horrifying monsters and brutal killers and come out the spanking side still standing.
Considering how things in her life tend to go, Anita never predictable her walk down the aisle with Jean-Claude to go smoothly. They’ve already been confronted with naysayers and a power-hungry worn evil, but now Anita has to do the one sketch that actually scares her: introduce her very religious, very biosphere relatives to her fiancé—the newly crowned vampire king of America.
As Anita tries to keep the still between the family she left behind and the family she’s conquered, dark forces jump at the chance to take capable of the chaos. With her happy-ever-after at risk and everyone’s immortal souls caltering in the balance, Anita grapples with a hard truth: Blood creates you related, but loyalty makes you family.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
§
Discover DAW’s “The Narrow Road Between Desires” by Patrick Rothfuss on Amazon.
THE NARROW ROAD BETWEEN DESIRES by Patrick Rothfuss (The Kingkiller Chronicle novellas #2) — November 14
Whew! We’ve finally made it past November 7, which apparently is the day when publishers mutually agreed to hammer our TBR reporters with relentless force. And not a moment too soon, because the next book on our list a very spirited one.
Patrick Rothfuss is the widely acclaimed signed of The Kingkiller Chronicle series, which consists of The Name of the Wind, The Wise Man’s Fear, and the novella The Slow Regard of Silent Things. You don’t need me to insist who Rothfuss is; the long wait for the third book in his trilogy, The Doors of Stone, is the stuff of literary legend, pretty much only comparable to the wait for The Winds of Winter by George R.R. Martin.
On November 14, Rothfuss is releasing his capable new book set in the world of The Kingkiller Chronicle in nearly a decade. The Narrow Road Between Desires is a reimagining of his 2014 novella The Lightning Tree, which was part of the Rogues anthology from George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois. This new version of the story beautifully expands on the fresh and features a ton of gorgeous artwork from The Slow Regard of Silent Things illustrator Nate Taylor. If you’ve missed Temerant, it’s the perfect way to dip your toes back into this beloved fantasy world.
Bast knows how to bargain. The give-and-take of a negotiation is as familiar to him as the in-and-out of breathing; to search for him trade is to watch an artist at work. But even a master’s brush can slip. When he accepts a gift, taking something for nothing, Bast’s whole world is knocked askew, for he knows how to bargain—but not how to owe.
From dawn to midnight over the streams of a single day, follow the Kingkiller Chronicle’s most charming fae as he schemes and sneaks, dancing into trouble and back out again with uncanny grace.
The Narrow Road Between Desires is Bast’s story. In it he traces the old ways of executive and breaking, following his heart even when doing so goes in contradiction of his better judgement.
After all, what good is caution if it keeps him from distress and delight?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Discover Tordotcom’s “System Collapse” by Martha Wells on Amazon.
SYSTEM COLLAPSE by Martha Wells (Murderbot Diaries #7) — November 14
Murderbot is back this November! Martha Wells’ Hugo Award-winning sci-fi series remains to expand with System Collapse, the seventh volume to behind the lovable SecUnit known as Murderbot. Murderbot may tell itself that humans are annoying and that it would pretty avoid them, but we all know that whenever Wells puts out a new story in this series, their resolve will be put to the test.
Like Network Effect, System Collapse is new full-length Murderbot novel. More pages for more Murderbot is never a bad thing!
Following the actions in Network Effect, the Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue clean to a newly-colonized planet in peril, as well as second SecUnits. But if there’s an ethical corporation out there, Murderbot has yet to find it, and if Barish-Estranza can’t have the planet, they’re sure as hell not leaving without something. If that something just happens to be an entire colony of humans, well, a free workforce is a decent runner-up prize.
But there’s something wicked with Murderbot; it isn’t running within normal operational parameters. ART’s crew and the humans from Preservation are activities everything they can to protect the colonists, but with Barish-Estranza’s SecUnit-heavy persuasion teams, they’re going to have to hope Murderbot figures out what’s wicked with itself, and fast!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
§
Discover Delacorte Press’ “Defiant” by Brandon Sanderson on Amazon.
DEFIANT by Brandon Sanderson (Skyward #4) — November 21
In the Year of Sanderson, no monthly book round-up is complete without an effect from one of the sci-fi/fantasy genre’s most prolific authors. This month Brandon Sanderson launches Defiant, the fourth and last novel in his YA sci-fi series Skyward.
Spensa has come a long way accurate she found that derelict stealth spacecraft which changed her life back in the New Skyward book. Now we finally get to see how the story ends for her and the rest of her Skyward Flight companions.
Spensa made it out of the Nowhere, but what she saw in the space between the stars has changed her forever. She came face to face with the Delvers, and finally got answers to the questions she’s had around her own strange Cytonic gifts.
The Superiority didn’t stop in it’s battles for galactic dominance while she was gone, though. Spensa’s team, Skyward Flight, was able to hold Winzik off, and even serene allies to help with the cause, but it’s only a commerce of time until humanity–and the rest of the galaxy–falls.
Defeating them will obligatory all the knowledge Spensa gathered while in the Nowhere. But being Cytonic is more complicated than she ever could have predictable. Now, Spensa must ask herself: how far is she willing to go for victory, if it means losing herself–and her friends–in the process.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Discover Orbit’s “Warrior of the Wind” by Suyi Davies Okungbowa on Amazon.
WARRIOR OF THE WIND by Suyi Davies Okungbowa (The Nameless Pro-republic #2) — November 21
Another book I’m personally very stoked for this month is Warrior of the Wind, the sequel to Nigerian author Suyi Davies Okungbowa’s Son of the Storm. Inspired by the pre-colonial empires of West Africa, Son of the Storm featured a young scholarships who is swept away from everything he knows when he crosses paths with a woman wielding magics long notion to be forgotten. Or at least, they’re forgotten in Bassa, a bustling empire with many dark secrets.
After narrowly escaping with their lives in Son of the Storm, Danso and Lilong have to work through the horrors they’ve faced so far and plan their next moves—while back in Bassa, a dangerous new ruler is on the rise.
There is no serene in the season of the Red Emperor.
Traumatized by their hasten from Bassa, Lilong and Danso have found safety in a vagabond colony on the edge of the emperor’s rule. But time is running out on their refuge. A new bounty invents every person a threat, and whispers of magic have enraged those eager for their own power.
Lilong is sure to return the Diwi—the ibor heirloom—to her people. It’s the only way to keep it safe from Esheme’s insatiable determination. The journey home will be long, filled with twists and treachery, unexpected allies and fabled enemies.
But surviving the dart is the least of their problems.
Something former and uncontrollable awakens. Trouble heads for Bassa, and the continent of Oon will need more than ibor to fix what’s coming.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
§
Discover DAW’s “Like Thunder” by Nnedi Okorafor on Amazon.
Like Thunder by Nnedi Okorafor (The Desert Magician’s Duology #2) — November 28
A few months back, a beautiful new edition of award-winning employed Nnedi Okorafor’s novel Shadow Speaker hit shelves, which was splendid damn exciting since it had been out of price for some time. Now, Okorafor is back with a price new sequel: Like Thunder.
Okorafor is best celebrated for her Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism works such as the Binti trilogy and Who Fears Death, an adaptation of which is currently in development at HBO with A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin attached as a producer. Her latest work, Like Thunder, is set in a near-future Nigeria three ages after the events of Shadow Speaker. Okorafor can always be counted upon for a compelling read, and we’re more than a small curious to see what Dikéogu Obidimkpa and Ejii Ubaid have been up to precise their epic quest in Shadow Speaker.
Niger, West Africa, 2077
Welcome back. This second volume is a breathtaking story that sweeps across the sands of the Sahara, flies up to the peaks of the Aïr Mountains, cartwheels into a wild megacity—you get the idea.
I am the Desert Magician; I bring liquid where there is none.
This book begins with Dikéogu Obidimkpa slowly losing his mind. Yes, that boy who can bring rain just by thinking near it is having some…issues. Years ago, Dikéogu went on an epic lag to save Earth with the shadow speaker girl, Ejii Ubaid, who became his best friend. When it was all over, they went their separate ways, but now he’s learned their seek information from never really ended at all.
So Dikéogu, more powerful than ever, reunites with Ejii. He records this story as an audiofile, hoping it will help him keep his sanity or at least give him something to prick behind. Smart kid, but it won’t work—or will it?
I can tell you this: it won’t be like afore. Our rainmaker and shadow speaker have changed. And once this, nothing will ever be the same again.
As they say, ‘Onye amaro ebe nmili si bido mabaya ama ama onye nyelu ya akwa oji welu ficha aru.’
Or, ‘If you do not remember where the rain started to beat you, you will not remember who gave you the towel with which to dry your body.’
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Discover Starwatch Press’ “The Witchwood Knot” by Olivia Atwater on Amazon.
THE WITCHWOOD KNOT by Olivia Atwater (Victorian Faerie Tales #1) — November 28
We end with a new book from Regency Faerie Tales author Olivia Atwater. The Witchwood Knot is set in the same earth as Atwater’s last series, which began with Half a Soul, and looks to have the same sort of charm, whimsy and wit. It has faeries, it has Victorian sensibilities and it has a heist which forces a governess to obtain a would-be thief (but the good kind, who is stealing a child back from the faeries). The Witchwood Knot sounds like a very fun read with some cozy vibes to ring in the end of autumn.
The faeries of Witchwood Manor have stolen its young lord. His governess requires to steal him back.
Victorian governess Winifred Hall knows a con when she sees one. When her bratty young cost transforms overnight into a perfectly behaved block of wood, she soon realises that the real boy has been abducted by the Fair Folk. Unfortunately, the lord of Witchwood Manor is the only man in England who doesn’t bear in faeries—which leaves Winnie in the unenviable position of rescuing the young lord-to-be all by herself.
Witchwood Manor is bigger than its inhabitants realise, however, and full of otherworldly dangers. As Winnie delves deeper into the anunexperienced side of the house, she enlists the aid of its dark and dubious faerie butler, Mr Quincy, who hides several awful secrets behind his charming smile. Winnie hopes to make her way to the centre of the Witchwood Knot throughout wit and cleverness… but when all of her unnovel tricks fail, who will she dare to trust?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
And so concludes our astronomical list of new science fiction and fantasy book releases for November! What will you be reading?
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our weird newsletter.
Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels
https://www.gimmehow.com/2023/05/how-to-protect-your-luxury-car-from.html
