New Books : 17 November 2020

Religious fanaticism threatens humanity in THE SAINTS OF SALVATION, THE CHILDREN OF RED PEAK, and THE BURNING GOD.

New books this week are by Andrew Caldecott, Craig Dilouie, John Fleskes, Peter F. Hamilton, Essa Hansen, E.E. Knight, R.F. Kuang, Jonathan Maberry, Chloe Neill, J.K. Rowling, Brandon Sanderson, Harry Turtledove, and Kimberly Unger.


+ Caldecott, Andrew : Lost Acre
(Jo Fletcher 978-1787473768, $26.99, 496pp, hardcover, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 17 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: B07WR9PD4Y
Rotherweird #3

Fantasy novel, third in a series following Rotherweird (2017 UK) and Wyndertide (2018 UK), about a town that’s been independent of the rest of England for 400 years.
• The UK edition appeared in July 2019.
• The publisher’s site has this description.

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Dilouie, Craig : The Children of Red Peak
(Redhook 978-0-316-42813-2, $16.99, 384pp, trade paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 17 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780316428118

Horror novel about four childhood survivors of a religious group’s last days who reunite years later after a fifth survivor commits suicide.
• Hachette’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “An impressive twist, meanwhile, feels both shocking and inevitable. Horror readers will be hooked.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Fleskes, John, ed. : Spectrum 27: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art
(Flesk Publications 978-1640410336, $49.95, 304pp, hardcover, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 10 Nov 2020

Anthology of over 350 artworks by 220 contributors from 2019.
• Contributors include Rovina Cai, Dan dos Santos, James Gurney, Greg Ruth, and Terryl Whitlatch. Winners of this year’s Spectrum Awards are included.
• The publisher’s site has this description and order page.
• A trade paperback edition ( 978-1640410343) is also available.

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Hamilton, Peter F. : The Saints of Salvation
(Del Rey 978-0-399-17888-7, $32, 528pp, hardcover, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 17 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780399178894
Salvation Sequence #3

SF novel, third in a trilogy following Salvation (2018) and Salvation Lost (2019), in which humanity is threatened by an alien race driven by intense religious extremism.
• Penguin Random House’s site has this description with an excerpt.
Publishers Weekly gives it a starred review: “Hamilton keeps the pages turning with riveting action and intrigue, making the hefty page count fly by. Fans will be thrilled to see this series go out on a high note.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Hansen, Essa : Nophek Gloss
(Orbit 978-0-316-43065-4, $16.99, 448pp, trade paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 17 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780316430661
Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781549186448
The Graven #1

SF novel, first of a trilogy and the author’s first novel, about a quest for revenge by a young man whose planet was destroyed.
• Hachette’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review comments, “Hansen packs a lot of novelty and a fair number of ethical dilemmas into Caiden’s adventures, as he realizes that killing the Casthens will create a devastating ripple effect. Caiden’s ability to control technology also extends to sentient beings, making him wary of his heritage and uncertain of his relationships. But in the end, his essential decency prevails.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Knight, E.E. : Daughter of the Serpentine
(Ace 978-1-984804-08-2, $16.99, 496pp, trade paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 17 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781984804099
Dragoneer Academy #2

Fantasy novel, second in a series following Novice Dragoneer (2019), about a girl entering a military order of dragoneers.
• Penguin Random House’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review comments, “Through these myriad adventures, Ileth, with her innate honesty, unyielding determination, and kind heart, proves a catalyst for change in the Republic. Her leisurely paced coming-of-age will put readers in mind of the classic YA fantasies of Tamora Pierce and Mercedes Lackey.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Kuang, R.F. : The Burning God
(Harper Voyager 978-0-06-266262-0, $26.99, 640pp, hardcover, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 17 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9780062662651
Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9780063034235
The Poppy War #3

Military fantasy novel, third in a series following The Poppy War (2018) and The Dragon Republic (2019), inspired by 20th century China.
• HarperCollins’ site has this description with a sample.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Kuang pointedly underlines the ambiguous moral choices and personal costs of the path toward victory and lasting peace, sparing neither characters nor readers from the horrors and consequences of war. The result is a satisfying if not happy end to the series.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Maberry, Jonathan : Ink
(St. Martin’s Griffin 978-1250765888, $17.99, 464pp, trade paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 17 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781250200952
Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781250772725

Fantasy novel about people whose tattoos of lost loved ones begin to fade, taking memories of those loved ones with them.
• Macmillan’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review comments, “Moments of gruesome violence and abuse mark this as not for the faint of heart, though Maberry’s focus on the strength and resilience of his heroes offers a glimmer of light in the darkness.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Neill, Chloe : The Bright and Breaking Sea
(Berkley 978-1-984806-68-0, $15.99, 384pp, trade paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 17 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781984806697
A Captain Kit Brightling #1

Fantasy novel about a young woman with a special affinity to the sea who becomes a female captain in Queen Charlotte’s fleet.
• Penguin Random House’s site has this description with an excerpt.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Neill’s creative reinterpretation of the Napoleonic Wars is diverse and gripping, and the growing bond between the well-matched Kit and Grant is sure to conquer readers’ hearts.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Rowling, J.K. : The Ickabog
(Scholastic Press 978-1338732870, $26.99, 304pp, hardcover, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 10 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: B08DF6VYQS
Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 978-1713586005

Young adult fantasy novel about a kingdom, renowned for its food, that’s threatened by a monster called the Ickabog.
• Scholatic’s site has this description with the first chapter.
• Dedicated site The Ickabog has background and a competition.

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Sanderson, Brandon : Rhythm of War
(Tor 978-0765326386, $34.99, 1232pp, hardcover, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Tue 17 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 9781429952040
Audiobook ISBN [link to Amazon]: 9781250771544
The Stormlight Archive #4

Epic fantasy novel, fourth in a planned 10-book series following The Way of Kings (2010), Words of Radiance (2014), and Oathbringer (2017), about a war over mystical weapons on a world wracked by power sweeps.
• Macmillan’s site has this description.
• Amazon’s “Look Inside” function provides previews.

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Turtledove, Harry : Salamis
(Arc Manor/Caezik SF & Fantasy 978-1-64710-007-0, $16.99, 268pp, trade paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Wed 11 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: B08BLTMG3D

Alternate history novel, standlone fifth in the Hellenic Traders series, about the great sea battle fought in 306 BC.
• The publisher’s site has this description on its home page (scroll down).
• Amazon’s “Look Inside” function provides previews.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “There’s no speculative hook here; instead, Turtledove carefully crafts a detailed and realistic vision of the Greek world in 306 BCE and delivers a humane message of commonality that shines over language barriers and social differences. Readers expecting a twist on the history may be disappointed, but all will be impressed by Turtledove’s immersive ancient world.”

• Purchase this book from Amazon | Indiebound

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* Unger, Kimberly : Nucleation
(Tachyon 978-1-61696-338-5, $15.95, 288pp, trade paperback, November 2020)
Nominal Publication Date: Fri 13 Nov 2020
Ebook ISBN [link to Amazon Kindle edition]: 978-1-61696-339-2

SF novel, the author’s first novel, about a VR pilot whose attempt at first contact fails both in virtual reality and in outer space.
• Tachyon’s site has this description.
• Amazon’s “Look Inside” function provides previews.
• The Publishers Weekly review concludes, “Though science fiction fans will be captivated by Unger’s smart, plausible vision of the future of space travel, especially the elegant solution of utilizing quantum entanglement to communicate across light years, the first contact scenario is less well defined, bringing this immersive sci-fi thriller to a murky close. Still, Unger offers readers plenty to chew on.”

• 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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