New Books : 11 February 2020
Historical fantasies dominate this week’s new books in THE ILLNESS LESSON, THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, STORM FROM THE EAST, STORMSONG, SENSATIONAL, and A WITCH IN TIME.
New titles this week are by Clare Beams, Eric Brown, Andy Davidson, Sergey & Marina Dyachenko, Joanna Hathaway, Andrew Krivak, A.K. Larkwood, C.L. Polk, Constance Sayers, and Jodie Lynn Zdrok.
* Beams, Clare : The Illness Lesson
(Doubleday 978-0-385-54466-5, $26.95, 288pp, hardcover, February 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 11 Feb 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780385544672
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9780593169513
Historical fantasy novel, the author’s first novel, about a 19th century school for young women that is besieged by a strange illness.
• Penguin Random House’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Beams excels in her depiction of Caroline, an intriguingly complex character, and in her depiction of the school, which allows the reader a clear view of changing gender roles in the period, with parallels to today’s sexual abuse scandals. This powerful and resonant feminist story will move readers.”
• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound
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* Brown, Eric : The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Martian Menace
(Titan 978-1789092950, $9.95, 352pp, trade paperback, February 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 11 Feb 2020
SF novel inspired by famous works of H.G. Wells and Arthur Conan Doyle, in which a second wave of Martians arrives on Earth, claiming to come in peace, and some years later Sherlock Holmes travels to Mars and learns the truth.
• This is the first volume by Brown in the publisher’s series about Holmes, with previous volumes by James Lovegrove, George Mann, and others.
• Titan’s site has this description.
• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound
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* Davidson, Andy : The Boatman’s Daughter
(MCD x FSG Originals 978-0-374-53855-2, $16, 416pp, trade paperback, February 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 11 Feb 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780374720940
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781250261717
Horror novel about a young woman facing supernatural forces in the bayou.
• Macmillan’s site has this description with a sequel.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “With fluid prose and nimble worldbuilding Davidson brings his eerie swamps to life. Fans of the supernatural will savor the slow-burning tension of this heady, atmospheric Southern gothic.”
• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound
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* Dyachenko, Sergey, & Marina Dyachenko : Daughter from the Dark
(Harper Voyager 978-0-06-291621-1, $25.99, 304pp, hardcover, February 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 11 Feb 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780062916235
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9780062988515
Fantasy novel about a DJ who rescues a 10-year-old girl from the streets.
• HarperCollins’ site has this description with a sample.
• The Publishers Weekly review calls it an “alluring fantasy about the power of music” and concludes, “Fans of found family tropes will be pleased with this strange, ethereal tale.”
• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound
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* Hathaway, Joanna : Storm from the East
(Tor Teen 978-0765396440, $18.99, 496pp, hardcover, February 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 11 Feb 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780765396464
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781250263216
• Glass Alliance #2
Young adult fantasy novel, second in a series following Dark of the West (2019), about romance between a princess and a fighter pilot on opposite sides of a war.
• Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review of the first book concludes, “…once the plot gets underway, the charismatic characters, lush descriptions, a setting inspired by World War II–era Europe, and a charming if subtle romance offer rewards for readers.”
• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound
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* Krivak, Andrew : The Bear
(Bellevue 978-1-942658-70-2, $16.99, 224pp, trade paperback, February 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 11 Feb 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781942658719
SF novel about a father and daughter, the last two people on Earth, as the father teaches his daughter how to become an adult in harmony with nature.
• Bellevue’s site has this description.
• Amazon’s “Look Inside” function provides previews.
• Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “Krivak delivers a transcendent journey into a world where all living things—humans, animals, trees—coexist in magical balance, forever telling each other’s unique stories. This beautiful and elegant novel is a gem.”
• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound
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* Larkwood, A. K. : The Unspoken Name
(Tor 978-1-250-23890-0, $25.99, 464pp, hardcover, February 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 11 Feb 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781250238917
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781250264053
• The Serpent Gates #1
Fantasy novel, first in a series and the author’s first novel, about an orc priestess turned wizard’s assassin.
• Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “Larkwood’s intricately woven plot is jam-packed with intrigue and excitement. Lyrical, immersive prose masterfully conveys complex worldbuilding. Epic fantasy fans are sure to be impressed by this expertly crafted adventure.”
• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound
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* Polk, C. L. : Stormsong
(Tor.com 978-0-7653-9899-4, $17.99, 352pp, trade paperback, February 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 11 Feb 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780765398987
• The Kingston Cycle #2
Fantasy novel, second in a series following World Fantasy Award winning Witchmark (2018), in which noble families use magic to control the fates of nations.
• Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “Polk’s ambitious world-building never encumbers her assured, action-packed pacing, deep characters, and genuine emotion. This delectable treat is a worthy follow-up to her debut.”
• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound
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* Sayers, Constance : A Witch in Time
(Redhook 978-0-316-49359-8, $26, 448pp, hardcover, February 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 11 Feb 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780316493604
• Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781549150388
Fantasy novel, the author’s first novel, about a young woman who learns she has relived a doomed love affair through many lifetimes.
• Hachette’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Sayers traverses time periods effortlessly with lush, graceful descriptions of each era, though some readers will be turned off by graphic scenes of rape and abuse as Helen is brutalized across time. This spiraling narrative will appeal to fans of historical fiction and complicated love stories who can stomach violence.”
• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound
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* Zdrok, Jodie Lynn : Sensational
(Tor Teen 978-0765399717, $17.99, 336pp, hardcover, February 2020)
• Nominal Publication Date: Tue 11 Feb 2020
• Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780765399700
• Spectacle #2
Young adult fantasy novel, second in a series following Spectacle (2019), about a reporter in 1889 Paris tracking a series of beheadings.
• Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound
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These listings are based on publisher schedules and availability on Amazon (rather than on confirmation of physical publication via purchase, review copies, or sightings in bookstores). Titles are listed only once they are published (with rare exception). We do not list galleys or advance reading copies. Page counts are based on publisher or Amazon listings, and typically only approximate the bibliographic page counts of finished books. * = first edition + = first US edition Date with publisher info is official publication month. ‘Nominal Publication Date’ is the day of publication, typically as indicated by Amazon.com.
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