I've been fascinated by side characters my whole life. I always loved reading, but I was really young when I realized there were a lot of stories that didn't make it to the page. Why did the fairy godmother track down Cinderella in the first place? What did the mysterious old woman do before she ended up in the woods? I wanted to know as many of those stories as I could. It's one of the main reasons I became a writer, and I've spent years hunting down books by authors who feel the same way. There are still so many more stories to tell.
In a world where fairy tale situations are as much a fact of life as death and taxes, everyone knows hiring Fairy Godmothers, Inc. is the best way to assure that your children will get a socially appropriate happily-ever-after. Kate, an experienced Fairy Godmother, fights to do her job without the help of the company-approved love potion.
When she receives an assignment from upper management, things get complicated fast. Her client has no interest in marrying a prince, the ball itself might get canceled, and Kate's own heart keeps getting distracted by Jon a civil servant from the palace. What she doesn't know yet, however, is Jon has a secret that could ruin everything.
You know the group of guards who usually run in and immediately get decimated by the hero? What would happen if the big storybook hero wasn't there to fight them, but to get a job with them?
I will forever love this book because it introduced me to one of my favorite characters of all time, Captain Sam Vimes. According to Pratchett, he wasn't even supposed to be the main character in this book. But he was an easier head to get into than the big storybook hero, and before Pratchett knew it he'd taken over. This is the start of an equally delightful series, so settle back and enjoy the ride.
First book of the original and best CITY WATCH series, now reinterpreted in BBC's The Watch
'This is one of Pratchett's best books. Hilarious and highly recommended' The Times
The Discworld is very much like our own - if our own were to consist of a flat planet balanced on the back of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle, that is . . . _________________
'It was the usual Ankh-Morpork mob in times of crisis; half of them were here to complain, a quarter of them were here to watch the other half, and the…
I don't usually like science fiction as much as I do fantasy, but it's hard not to love Murderbot. (It doesn't actually murder much, as long as you don't look wrong at the humans it's protecting.) A security droid who hacked its own control unit, Murderbot is snarky, media-obsessed, and trying desperately to figure out what it wants in life.
It's a new spin on the "inner life of an android" story—Murderbot has zero desire to be human, and makes that very clear to anyone who asks. Still, watching it learn what it means to be alive celebrates humanity more than anything I've ever read. It makes me laugh and breaks my heart in equal measure, and I cherish every single book in this series.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells begins The Murderbot Diaries, a new science fiction action and adventure series that tackles questions of the ethics of sentient robotics. It appeals to fans of Westworld, Ex Machina, Ann Leckie's Imperial Raadch series, or lain M. Banks' Culture novels. The main character is a deadly security droid that has bucked its restrictive programming and is balanced between contemplative self discovery and an idle instinct to kill all humans. In a corporate dominated s pa cef a ring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by…
In most books, the mysterious figure in the woods is there solely to help the hero on his or her journey. When it comes to the Wild Man of Greenhollow, however, he has his own journey to take.
This novella feels more like an old-school fairy tale than anything else I've ever read. If you want to understand what the word "lyrical" really means, this is the book to show you. (For the record, the World Fantasy Awards agrees with me on this). There's a sequel that gives you more to the story, but this is the only book that gives you the uniquely enjoyable experience of being in the Wild Man of Greenhollow's head.
From Astounding Award winner and Crawford Award finalist Emily Tesh
An ALA RUSA Reading List Selection
"A true story of the woods, of the fae, and of the heart. Deep and green and wonderful.”—New York Times bestselling author Naomi Novik
There is a Wild Man who lives in the deep quiet of Greenhollow, and he listens to the wood. Tobias, tethered to the forest, does not dwell on his past life, but he lives a perfectly unremarkable existence with his cottage, his cat, and his dryads.
When Greenhollow Hall acquires a handsome, intensely…
This book haunted me for days after I read it, and I mean that in the best possible way. The story of a henchwoman's rise to power, it's a searing indictment of superheroes that also manages to be an incredibly gripping read. Anna is both deeply sympathetic and full of highly understandable rage, and her struggle against the local "heroes" is more exciting than any superhero movie I've seen in years. I stayed awake until 3 a.m. reading it the first time, even though I had work in the morning, and I'm still itching for Walschots to write a sequel. Once you read it, you will, too.
"This book is fast, furious, compelling, and angry as hell." -Seanan McGuire, New York Times bestselling author
The Boys meets My Year of Rest and Relaxation in this smart, imaginative, and evocative novel of love, betrayal, revenge, and redemption, told with razor-sharp wit and affection, in which a young woman discovers the greatest superpower-for good or ill-is a properly executed spreadsheet.
Includes a bonus story for the paperback.
Anna does boring things for terrible people because even criminals need office help and she needs a job. Working for a monster lurking beneath the surface of the world isn't glamorous. But…
While I wanted to know more about Cinderella's fairy godmother, Donnelly dug deep into the lives of her stepsisters. The result is a minor miracle, holding beautifully to the original story while still making both stepsisters (and Cinderella herself) heartbreakingly human. By the end, I wanted all three of them to have their happy ending.
There's also a lot of emotional truth here, with Isabelle working on her emotional journey right there on the page. It's a braver thing to do than any physical battle, and it only made me love her more. Even more importantly, it reminded me to look at my own heart.
'In an ancient city by the sea, three sisters - a maiden, a mother, and a crone - are drawing maps by candlelight. Sombre, with piercing grey eyes, they are the three Fates, and every map is a human life . . .'
Stepsister takes up where Cinderella's tale ends. We meet Isabelle, the younger of Cinderella's two stepsisters. Ella is considered beautiful; stepsister Isabelle is not. Isabelle is fearless, brave, and strong-willed. She fences better than any boy, and takes her stallion over jumps that grown men fear to attempt. It doesn't matter, though; these qualities are not valued…
I’m an avid reader of queer literary fiction not only because I write it but because I’m looking to see my life experience captured on the page. As a gay man, a father of two young boys, and one-half of an interracial married couple, I know the complexity of modern queer living firsthand. In recent years, I’ve been astounded by the breadth of great LGBTQ+ books that examine queerness fully and empathetically. I seek out these books, I read them feverishly, and I become a champion for the best ones. In an era of intense book banning, it’s so important to me to elevate these books and their authors.
The Birthright of Sons is a collection of stories centered around the experiences of marginalized people, namely Black and LGBTQ+ men. Although the stories borrow elements from various genres (horror, suspense, romance, magical realism, etc.), they are linked by an exploration of identity and the ways personhood is shaped through interactions with the people, places, and belief systems around us.
In each of these stories, the protagonists grapple with their understanding of who they are, who and how they love, and what is ultimately most important to them. In almost every case, however, the quest to know or protect oneself is challenged by an external force, resulting in violence, crisis, or confusion, among other outcomes.
The Birthright of Sons is a collection of stories centered around the experiences of marginalized people, namely Black and LGBTQ+ men. Though the stories borrow elements from various genres (horror, suspense, romance, magical realism, etc.), they're linked by an exploration of identity and the ways personhood is shaped through interactions with the people, places, and belief systems around us.
Underpinning the project is a core belief - self-definition is fluid, but conflict arises because society often fails to keep pace with personal evolution. In each of these stories, the protagonists grapple with their understanding of who they are, who and…
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