Discovering the perfect sci-fi or fantasy book today can be a delightful challenge with so many sub-genres, authors, tropes, and special editions to pick from. But worry not, our series of bookseller recommendations is here to guide you.
Today, our resident sci-fi and fantasy expert, Harveen, shares her favourite recent reads, sharing a variation of fantasy recommendations packed full of wagon chases, dragons, magical books, assassins, and thrilling adventures.
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I’m not sure I can remember a time that I wasn’t adamantly a fantasy fan. Ever since the early days of my older sisters’ love for Lord of the Rings and reading The Chronicles of Narnia in school, I’ve had a love for magic, mythological creatures, and grand epic tales outside of my own reality. But I always say that second to it, my love of history has led to an enjoyment of historical fiction which often overlaps – the further back in history the better is what I say. But along with grand adventure, there has to be a plot that keeps me interested and characters I grow increasingly attached to.
Currently Reading: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang, She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, and too many more
The Hunters by David Wragg (Tales of the Plains book 1)
If you were to ask me to recommend one of my favourite underrated fantasy books of the last 5 years, The Hunters would be one of those I’d recommend almost immediately. The story follows Ree, a woman with a violent past, and her niece, Javani, as they live their lives in hiding. But one day, professional killers come looking for a young girl and an older woman. What ensues is a gripping, action packed adventure through deserts and mountains. Wragg writes action sequences that are cinematic in their visuals and keep you on the edge of your seat up to the explosive conclusion. Two epic wagon chases alone make this book worth reading.
The sequel continues to follow Ree and Javani this summer in The Company of the Wolf.
Order your copy of The Hunters here AND pre-order The Company of Wolf here!
Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland
A poison maiden, the son of a count, a thief, and a hitman, are all hired by a royal spymaster for a single objective – to kill the God King Joon and replace him with the disgraced exiled prince. One thing I love about a cast of characters like this one is that not a single character can trust the other though they all have to rely on each other’s skill and the need to complete the mission before they can betray each other. It adds an element of tension and excitement, especially when it’s told from each character’s perspective and as the reader, you end up rooting for all of them to achieve their goals – even if it’s quite impossible. One of the things I love about this book as well is that, though it’s the start of a trilogy, it ties up most of the loose ends and stands on its own quite well but still has multiple threads that can be further explored in the sequel.
Unfortunately, we are currently sold out of our edition of Five Broken Blades!
Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu
Growing up, Eragon was one of my absolute favourite fantasy books, especially when it came to dragons. So when I saw that there was an upcoming book about a buy who had been enslaved by the empire that killed his family and becoming bonded to a dragon, it moved right up to the top of my TBR! Though it had some similar notes to my old favourite, Dragon Rider stands on its own as a unique and new story in this particular space of fantasy. The story puts the protagonist, Jai, at the heart of cruelty of the empire as a royal hostage punished for his people’s rebellion against conquest. With a world richly inspired by the ancient history of the nomadic Indo-Scythians, the Roman Empire, and old pagan magical practices.
Unfortunately, we are sold out of our edition of Dragon Rider!
The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
Georgia Summers’ The City of Stardust follows Violet Everly from the age of 12 up to her early 20s while she searches for a way to break a generational family curse that endangers her life and any others that would come after her. The way Summers approached Violet growing up reminded me of Katherine Arden’s Winternight trilogy, taking that journey through adulthood whilst immersed in a world of magic overlapping with our own. Written with a beautifully ethereal style, you’ll almost miss the darker moments that take place in the story making them incredibly chilling while lost in the magic of it all.
Order your copy of The City of Stardust here
The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown
Whenever I recommend, The City of Stardust, I always recommend The Book of Doors with it, and vice versa. Being someone who regularly reads multiple books at the same time, I’m glad I read these two separately but one immediately after the other. The Book of Doors follows a bookseller in New York who is left a book by one of her regular customers that can take her anywhere she thinks of when standing at any door. She quickly becomes immersed in a world of special books – the Book of Memory, Mist, Shadows, Joy, Pain – and collectors who will go to extreme lengths to acquire them. Though they are tonally quite different, The Book of Doors gave me the satisfaction of reading a book that was different from what I had just read but made me feel the exact same way. Two books that hid their darker moments in a type of magic I could easily believe existed in our world.
Unfortunately, we are fully sold out of our edition of The Book of Doors!
The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley by Sean Lusk
In 18th century London, Zachary Cloudesley is a boy who grows up around his father’s workshop building clockwork automata. But Zachary is no ordinary child – he has a remarkable gift, said to be inherited from his late mother, that allows him to see into the hearts of and minds of the people around him. He grows up to be an extraordinary boy but across many years, he is missing the father that was forced to sail away to the Ottoman Empire and hadn’t been heard from in years. But Zachary’s gift gives him hope even when others give up. The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley is an excellent historical mystery and a tale of hope, love, and adventure.
We're sold out of The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley but you can Pre-order the special edition of A Woman of Opinion here!
Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan
After two adventurous sci-fi novels, Kate Dylan’s next book is a foray into the realm of fantasy with Until We Shatter. A fantasy heist novel set in a world where magical abilities is decided by colour, Cemmy is a half-Shade whose existence is outlawed by the Church and Council of Shades. When she’s hired for a job that would see her ill mother healed and safety from persecution, it’s impossible to resist. The boundaries of magic and family are tested to the brink all while the threat of the collapse of magic hangs over her. In this book, you’ll find all the trademarks of Kate Dylan’s signature writing style with fast-paced thrills, sharp-witted characters, found family, and earth-shattering reveals. I am really excited for readers to discover this one. Just make sure you’re ready for chapter 24.
