★ 02/05/2018
Brown adroitly builds upon the intricate future he introduced in his Red Rising trilogy with this accessible space opera, set in a near future where the fledgling Solar Republic has freed Mars from the villainous ruling Society, and is attempting to do the same for several other planets in the solar system that are still under the sway of a military leader called the Ash Lord. The novel combines elements of The Expanse and Game of Thrones: the plot lines include world-shattering developments, but Brown’s focus on crafting memorable individuals means that events such as a devastating attack on Mercury are very emotionally affecting for the reader. That assault was launched by Darrow, the military leader of the Solar Republic. His bombing campaign enabled Mercury to join other free worlds under the Republic’s banner, but his actions were not officially sanctioned, and his wife, Mustang, may face repercussions in her role as sovereign. The repercussions of Darrow’s rogue operation alternate with the situations that three other major characters confront. The most memorable involves Lyria, a Martian, for whom the liberation of her planet was not a happy ending: she faces even more trauma at this book’s outset, “two years and a thousand broken promises” after the Republic’s rise. Fans of thoughtful blends of action, intrigue, and prosaic human drama will find this hits the spot. Agent: Hannah Bowman, Liza Dawson Associates. (Jan.)
Marlon loves The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang as much as we do, and luckily it’s the first volume in a three-part series (with The Dragon War and The Burning God ) that blends the history of 20th Century China with gods, magic and monsters and an unforgettable heroine named Rin. Ready … Set … […]
It’s the end of another year and the perfect time to look back at the moments that defined 2018. For readers, of course, that means choosing the books that defined the preceding 12 months. It was a great year for science fiction and fantasy readers, certainly—from epics spanning centuries of invented lore, to chronicles of […]
We’ve already shared the Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog’s picks for the best new science fiction and fantasy books of 2018 (not to mention the best SFF as chosen by B&N’s team of experienced booksellers). But we’re not done yet: We also asked our crack time of bloggers, reviewers, and essayists—the folks behind […]
Every month, we bring you Barnes & Noble’s bestsellers in sci-fi and fantasy over the prior 30-day period. But which books had staying power throughout the year? Below, we take a look at the books that sold, and sold, and sold throughout 2018. Hardcovers What’s the best new book you bought in 2018?
As the real world grows each day stranger by leaps and bounds, the skewed secondary worlds, fantastical lands, and alternate histories that are the realms of science fiction and fantasy have only grown more vital, not only as a means of escape from blaring headlines, political turmoil, and the crescendo of climate change, but as […]